Fated | Fangs Of Fortune [ZhuYi]

Chapter 31 : The Scars

The cold air flowed through Kunlun Mountain, its icy embrace gradually erasing the crimson stains and the echoes of violence from just hours before. The once chaotic battlefield now lay serene under a fresh blanket of snow, its silence broken only by the distant whistle of the wind weaving through ancient pines.

In a small room lit by the faint glow of a lantern, Pei Si Jing worked tirelessly. Her hands, steady despite her exhaustion, gently adjusted Wen Xiao's position. The goddess's breath was shallow, her complexion pale, a result of the internal injuries she'd sustained when Zhu Yan's malicious energy had surged unexpectedly. It had severed her connection to the Baize Token just as she was about to accept its power, leaving her unconscious. Yet even in such a state, Wen Xiao's earlier efforts to save Zhu Yan had only worsened her condition.

Pei Si Jing sighed softly, her gaze flickering to the token lying beside Wen Xiao. It radiated a faint, divine glow, as if mourning the harm it had caused. Pei Si Jing tightened her grip on the cloth she was using to clean Wen Xiao's wounds, her heart heavy.

Elsewhere, Ying Zhao knelt beside his unconscious brother, Ying Zhen. The mountain god's serene expression belied the worry etched into his furrowed brow. Ying Zhen had shielded him from one of Zhu Yan's wild attacks, taking the full brunt of its force. Now, his breathing was ragged, his complexion ashen. Ying Zhao worked quietly, his hands glowing with soft green energy as he poured his divine power into stabilizing his brother's condition. Though Ying Zhao himself bore injuries, he remained steadfast, muttering prayers under his breath.

In another room, Pei Si Heng and Ying Lei sat side by side, their bandaged arms resting on their laps. They had only minor wounds from fending off the lesser demons, but the worry in their eyes wasn't for themselves. Their gazes drifted to the bed where Bai Jiu lay motionless. His chest rose and fell with labored breaths, the injury inflicted by YiChen's attack refusing to heal as quickly as it should.

Ying Lei adjusted Bai Jiu's blanket for the third time, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a quiet tension. "He'll be fine" Ying Zhao had assured them earlier, but doubt lingered in their hearts.

YiChen had been by Bai Jiu's side until moments ago, but guilt had driven him away. Now, he wandered aimlessly through the courtyard, his footsteps crunching softly against the snow. The courtyard was almost unrecognizable—the traces of battle vanishing beneath the snowfall. Yet, no amount of snow could cover the scars left behind in their hearts.

YiChen found himself drawn to the entrance of the temple. Its heavy doors were ajar, revealing a figure sitting on the stone steps a few meters ahead. The sight stopped YiChen in his tracks.

Zhu Yan sat hunched forward, his long hair cascading over his trembling shoulders. Snowflakes landed softly on him, melting before they could linger, as if even the cold couldn't bear to touch him.

For the first time, YiChen saw Zhu Yan in a different light—his figure seemed diminished, his shoulders burdened by an unbearable guilt that threatened to crush him completely. He appeared fragile, as though the immense weight of his remorse had reduced him to this solitary, shadowed form.

YiChen's mind echoed with Ying Zhao's words from earlier that evening:

"His guilt is too vast" Ying Zhao had said, his voice tinged with sadness. "Even though he doesn't remember what he does, he knows. He feels it. Every time he opens his eyes, he looks at his hands—those cursed hands, the same ones that killed his own people."

Ying Zhao pressed on, his expression almost pleading.

"He's a demon who seeks death. He must've told you. It's not an empty phrase. Every year, on the anniversary of the day he was first consumed by malicious energy—the day he..." Ying Zhao hesitated, the words heavy on his tongue. "The day he killed your family. Every year, he tries to kill himself. But he's a demon, YiChen. A demon who doesn't even have the option to die, and he can't stop himself from killing others, either."