When Crossbow Meets Blade

Chapter 33

side note: i bombed the math exam today😎

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The door slides open, a wounded figure standing in the doorway. Still traumatized by the events he just witnessed, Ling muttered out,

"I'm... back..."

Expecting someone to reply to him, he found it unusual that silence greeted him. He scanned the house, limping to get place to place.

No one but him was in the house. He checked everywhere, from the kitchen to the training field. He had no choice but to search the rooms, which he thought was an invasion on privacy.

Empty. Each and every room in the house was empty. At first, Ling brushed it off. 

"They must still be mad at me. Guess I'm at fault" He sighed, rubbing his head. He made his way back to the dimly lit living room and plopped down on the couch, letting out a long, exausted sigh.

"I dont even know whats happening anymore..." He said. He was terribly disappointed in himself. Abandoning his first squad, then witnessing the death of all the members of the second. The tears just wouldnt come out anymore. He has the urge to cry, but they wont let him.

He sat back up, back hunched over. Just then, he noticed a single apple placed on a plate, placed right in the middle of the dining table.

Seeing that apple brought him a certain memory. All the way back to the very first time he met Wanwan, the very first time he fell in love.

Ling covered his face with his hand. "Gosh, I'm such a jerk. Arent I?" He asked to no one in particular, laughing in disappoinment.

Suddenly, he experienced a mild headache. He thought it was because he was overworked, but it got worse and worse each second. It got so bad he grunted in pain. He knelt onto the floor, hunching his back and gripping tightly onto the sides of his head, avoiding contact with his horns.

From what was a hellish headache became flashes of places. Events. People. Sounds. Voices. It all went too fast he couldnt focus on at least one of them.

A muffled voice in the background seemed to grow louder, repeating the same words over and over again.

"Oi oi oi, what the hell is this?!" Ling groaned, getting dizzy from the flashes in his mind. The images playing were getting faster while the sounds and voices got louder. Ling shut his eyes tightly in hopes it would drain out the whole thing.

Beads of sweat trickled down the sides of his cheeks. He huffed and puffed, getting worked up from the images in his mind. He started to make out the pictures, from common parks and fields to dark and moist caverns.

A booming voice put everything to an end.

"Dont leave me!"

For a split second, an image of Wanwan in tears with scars on her face made its way to his mind before disappearing completely. All the flashing images and sounds disappeared as well. Ling remained in his position, completely in shock by what he just saw.

"No... dont tell me..." Ling trembled, the worst thought coming to mind.

He recalled the images that flashed though his mind. He managed to catch the faint outline of Chang'e on her crescent moon, Zilong with his spear and Baxia with his shield. He also recalled seeing two other figures. One a woman with long hair, the other with intimidating huge horns.

It all started to come together. The sights of the places that he saw, and voices of the people. It was obviously sending him a message.

Ling gasped for air. What he feared the most was coming true. Terrified, his trembling legs brought him up standing slowly. In the blink of an eye, he grabbed his sword and dashed out of the house, breaking the front door in the process.

He made his way to find the mage he thinks can help him, Harith. He ran around town, ignoring curious and weird stares from other people.

He was stopped by a voice in the alleyway. A hooded figure, face covered, looked at him and smirked.

"Ling, its been a while. Why not we hang out for a while?" Natalia looked up to him, stepping closer.

Ling grew uncomfortable, his mind somewhere else.

"No, Natalia. I dont want to deal with your bullshit anymore."

The hooded assassin frowned at him. "Come on, Ling. We have lots of stuff to catch up on. It'll be fun."

Ling only shook his head. "No, never. I've already told you once, I dont want to have to repeat myself."

Natalia's expression immediately grew dark. "Tch. I've already gotten rid of her... and yet..."

Ling's  ears perked up when she said that. She was obviously referring to Wanwan. Furious, he asked her, "You?! You did all that?! For what?!"

"I just wanted to be with you! Is that so hard?!"

SMACK

Natalia was shocked. A red mark started to form on her left cheek, swelling in pain. She cupped her cheek with her hand, staring at Ling wide-eyed. Ling only stared at her with hatred in his eyes.

"I'll never love a person like you." were his last words before turning away to go somewhere else.

Left behind, Natalia's eyes furrowed. She clenched her trembling fists, trying to suppress her anger. But she replaced it with a wicked smile.

"She may be dead already by now."

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