*POV: Hu Qinling*
I watched BaiShe disappear into the clouds, his back fading without even a glance back. No explanation. Not a word. Just a silent departure, as if everything that had happened five years ago meant nothing. As if he had never existed.
My heart pounded relentlessly, a rage consuming me. My fists trembled, my nails digging into the tender flesh of my palms, but I felt nothing but this burning hatred devouring me from within. How could he leave like that? After everything he had caused, after everything he had taken from me?
I had no intention of letting him get away so easily.
Without thinking, I rushed out of the hall, my footsteps echoing on the marble floor. I had to find him, confront him, tear out the explanations he refused to give me. He owed me that much. I sprinted in the direction he had vanished.
But as I was about to cross the estate's gate, a spatial distortion ripped through the air before me, and a familiar figure emerged from a swirling portal of energy.
My elder brother.
His expression was calm, which only fueled my anger.
"What do you want!?" I shouted, unable to contain the fury roaring inside me.
He looked at me with an odd serenity, his arms crossed over his broad chest.
"I don't think it would be a good idea to chase after him..." he said calmly.
"I'm not defending him, but even a piece of trash like him deserves a shred of pity."
"Pity?"
"Pity?!"
My vision blurred with rage and tears threatening to spill.
"I don't care! He owes me an explanation for his death! Otherwise, Master Sijin will have his son gutted!"
I hurled those words at him like a slap before brushing past him without a backward glance. I had neither the time nor the desire to hear his false, hypocritical advice. No one could feel what I felt. The loss of a loved one.
As I soared into the sky, my tears began to fall, despite myself. I didn't want to cry. I didn't want to feel this pain. But it was beyond my control.
Memories hit me full force, rising from the depths of my memory, pulling me back five years. We were only fourteen.
The night was dark, lit only by the faint glow of lanterns lining the street. My footsteps echoed against the cobblestones as I stormed forward, searching for Xuan Shen. I'd heard he'd gone with that piece of trash BaiShe to the Fragrant Lotus brothel.
And I found him. With BaiShe, staggering drunkenly, laughing.
In a brothel.
I felt a ball of rage rise within me at that precise moment. I stepped forward, arms crossed over my chest, an expression of indignation on my face.
"What are you doing here?" I snapped, my voice sharp.
Xuan Shen froze, eyes wide, his expression alternating between panic and embarrassment. He nervously ran a hand through his hair before forcing an awkward smile.
"It's... it's not what you think, ling'er! It's a misunderstanding!"
"Good luck, little brother. We're not together. Heh." BaiShe, watching the scene, flew away.
"Oh? A misunderstanding?" I repeated, sarcastic. "Then explain to me why you're here in the middle of the night with BaiShe in a place like this."
He hesitated, clearly searching for words.
"I just... came with BaiShe. I didn't do anything, I swear."
I raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"And you expect me to believe you?"
His expression shifted slightly, a mischievous glint crossing his eyes, and he flashed a teasing smile.
"Anyway, we're not together, are we?"
I flinched before flushing with anger and embarrassment. Without thinking, I pinched his ear hard, eliciting a pained whine.
"Say that again!? The alcohol's gone to your head!"
He burst into laughter, despite the situation.
"Ouch, ouch, okay, okay, you win!"
Silence fell after that little altercation. I watched him closely, my irritation slowly fading. He'd always been like this—carefree, playful—but there was something sincere in his gaze, something that reassured me despite everything.
We continued walking through the night, and as we approached another brothel pavilion, Shen suddenly stopped.
"Ling'er..."
I stopped too and turned to him.
"What?"
He seemed hesitant, as if carefully weighing his words. He opened his mouth, closed it, then finally shook his head, smiling softly.
"Nothing."
I looked at him, perplexed.
"You're acting weird tonight. I guess it's the alcohol."
He shrugged with an enigmatic smile.
It's only now, five years later, that I realized what he wanted to tell me that night.
He was leaving. BaiShe would take him to the Lower Realm. He knew I'd never let him go if he told me.
And now, he was gone.
My throat tightened violently.
I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms, a dull pain accompanying my grief.
"Why... why did you follow that cursed BaiShe?!"
The wind whipped my face as I continued flying at full speed, but I knew I wouldn't catch him.
And even if I did, would it change anything?
Shen was dead.
No matter how much I hated BaiShe for it, no matter how much I wanted to make him pay, it wouldn't bring Shen back.
I swallowed my sobs, but the pain was too deep to contain.
I wanted to see his carefree smile one last time.
But all I had left of him were these shattered memories, and this devouring rage to tear apart the Devourer and BaiShe.