Red Peacock [English] (Original Novel by Ju~On, translation by LuckyCasualty)

27. Consequences of ones choices...

Lù Yī Péng had a dream since childhood-to become a good police officer, someone the public could rely on. He scored the highest in the police academy entrance exam and graduated with first-class honors, receiving praise in every subject. He started his career by solving several major cases and became an inspector at the age of twenty-four. Lù Yī Péng's career was just beginning. He had been in service for only five years... Four of those years, he was entangled with the legendary mafia figure who called himself Hóng Kǒng Què.

Lù Yī Péng opened his eyes and was met with a blinding light.

Where is this place?

Someone walked over and sat beside him. "Do you regret choosing to be a police officer now?"

Lù Yī Péng tried to see the face of the figure but could only see the glaring light shining in. "Why should I regret it?"

It seemed like the figure laughed. "Exactly, why should you regret it? You made your choice. There's no need to feel sorry."

The person finished speaking and got up to leave. Lù Yī Péng called out, "Wait, who are you...?"

The figure in the light seemed to turn to look at him, then replied, "I'm the one you didn't choose."

?!!

𓅈𓅈𓅈

Lù Yī Péng opened his eyes again. He saw a white ceiling above him. After blinking several times, the smell of disinfectant used for cleaning the floors hit his nose. the young inspector shot up immediately.

"Ah, Inspector Lù is awake?!" a voice exclaimed from someone sitting on the sofa nearby. As he looked over, Lù Yī Péng recognized the person as a fellow police officer he had worked with.

"What happened to me?" the young inspector asked. The officer looked at him with a confused expression.

"Inspector, don't you remember? You went on the ship with Hēi Yīng and Hóng Kǒng Què. Then those two blew up the ship. You're the only one who made it out alive."

?!!

Lù Yī Péng's eyes widened. It took him a moment before he could piece his words together.

"What did you say? I'm the only one? Are you sure you checked thoroughly?"

"Yes... We took the boat out again this morning to search, but the explosion was severe, and the water was rough. No one else survived. Only you, Inspector."

!!

"Inspector?!" the same officer called out, his voice sounding alarmed. "Are you crying, sir?!"

Lù Yī Péng raised his hand to touch his face and realized warm tears were streaming down from his eyes. His throat tightened as the tears flowed uncontrollably. The officer watched him for a while before slowly stepping out of the room.

This was the first time Lù Yī Péng had cried since he could remember. His father always taught him that a man should never show tears to anyone. But today, he couldn't follow that teaching anymore; the tears kept flowing beyond his control.

No one survived... Lù Yī Péng clenched his hands tightly.

On that ship, he had grabbed Hóng Kǒng Què's hand...

Warm tears ran down his cheeks.

On that ship, Hóng Kǒng Què had come according to his plan.

Warm tears dripped down, soaking his collar.

On that ship, Hóng Kǒng Què had sacrificed himself... to save him.