[Warning: This chapter contains disturbing content]
Sister Nuans eyes turn to with a level of seriousness.
I already know shes planning on telling sothing that I really dont want to hear.
Jas I know how you feel about so situations. You can already guess this is going to be pretty terrible. Consider your position and these families.
She looks away at my souring look.
There's undoubtedly sothing she knows of that she's not telling . Sothing that would
She gives a breath out before continuing.
Of course, if you want, I can still crush them for you. It will just make things tougher for later, when we want to do so to an actual threat.
Oh.
So thats what she ant. It seems shes just taking into account how I react to situations and considering future ramifications.
Sothing Ive been trying to grow in.
With that in mind, I try my hand at reassuring her.
You dont have to worry, Sister Nuan. Ill keep my word. I know this will be terrible, but Im hoping this senior will be a positive change in his family.
Her face turns dark as she spits out.
Theres little chance of that. You will understand when you see it, but nonetheless, we need to acknowledge his actions publicly. As coming from his position, normally they would cover up what they are going to show you up.
It was likely only my lingering spiritual sense that prevented such a thing.
The venom in her voice is palpable. With a slight shake of the sword qi in the area. Sothing that only happened when she was angry at that other elder in the sect, when I brought in my new recruits.
What the hell is over there, then? And do I even want to see with my scan?
If I use the scan, I will certainly know in detail.
Ill have to do that anyway when I heal them later. I might as well get it out of the way.
Ive decided.
Okay, Ill check it out now, then.
She raises a hand before lowering it.
stay inside the barrier while you do, alright?
Her voice is soft, contrasting with her vague warning. Terrifying in its kindness.
I sneak a look outside and notice a small fleet of carriages waiting outside the hospital. Long Chao anxiously stands outside of them, purposely shooing away others who co to make conversation.
Considering that Sister Nuan seems confident that hes lived up to his promise to bring them all, ans that there should be at least 300 people in these. But the normal size of a carriage should hold around 6 people, inferring that there should be around 50 carriages. In contrast, there are approximately 150 of them.
Not a small sum, even for a wealthy elder of a rchant family. But the Long family is a cultivator one, raising its spending power much higher.
What causes grave concern, though, is the overwhelming amount of talismans that were placed onto each of the carriages. ant to obscure and hide whats within.
Now that is worth a few big gold coins, or a relatively equal amount of superior spirit stones for cultivator currency.
The real question is, why was this much spent and evidently done in a rushed way, for sothing like this?
Theres only one answer.
It must be just that bad.
I calming my growing apprehension, before taking a few deep breaths in and out. Then I look inside.
what is that?
What am I looking at?
Where are the people? There are just leathery sacks of beef here.
I feel a cool rush of healing wipe over , like when I looked over the demonic works and cultivation.
My scan has been telling the truth the whole ti. I just didnt want to believe it. And let myself fall into denial and madness, with my mind hallucinating to compensate.
On par with what Ive seen from the demon cultivator that tried to take over my body.
These people have no skin or limbs. So parts are missing beyond even that, including their torso and heads.
Excavated orifices. New holes. Old holes that were sealed, re-healed, and changed. Holes of all kinds.
This just one carriage. Others are spliced together, split apart, and kept alive with cultivation techniques and materials used for the wrong purposes.
And several other situations and configurations.
They all share a common the.
No eyes, lips, or skin. No defining features remaining that identify them as humanoid.
Just at sacks. With holes.
The gaping eye sockets that I can identify stick with .
So, I just sit there.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Breathe in.
All the while, using my healing abilities on myself to calm my growing sickness and rage.
I thought it would mostly be nausea, if I ever saw sothing like this. However, now that I have all the ntal illness and other aspects thrown away I just want to destroy the person who did this.
But I wait further.
I mull. I reflect.
I was raised to be a kind and forgiving person. To watch how I react to situations and consider how it affects those around .
To understand that its not wrong to feel angry, its what you do with it.
So, I take everything Ive just seen and do my very best to take an unbiased view of the situation. Coming to the only conclusion I can of the right action here.
This motherfucker is going to die.
I look up at Sister Nuan, whos already seen this and warned of its brutality.
Nuan can you give an hour alone? I need to I want to think and try to co up with how I want to handle this.
I hear the slightest tremble in my voice sneak through. The look on her face tells she figured out that I used my scan to see them. And from what Ive told her about it, it can either be a high cost or low cost, based on information and ti.
What Im asking for is ti.
She nods before going to the door. Just before leaving out, she stops and turns back.
If you want to talk about it for a bit, we can
Im already shaking my head in refusal.
I dont want to burden her with all of this. Shell naturally want to do sothing about this when I tell her what I feel.
However, I stop as I see her shoulders drop ever so slightly.
A sign of resignation. Maybe sadness.
Im pushing her away. Right when I had just committed to bringing her closer. To relying on her more.
Not only that, but what about her? Shes seen this too. Even as cultivators, they have feelings too.
And this is still far out of the norm, even for this world. We both could be traumatized by this.
Actually, I want to be with you during this ti. If possible. We can talk about it, while I think. But having you there would help.
Just as she was about to walk through the door, she instantaneously turned around to walk rapidly toward and sit next to . Clutching my hands desperately. Her lips are tight with tension and stress.
yeah.
Were both suffering here.
I move my hands out of hers and just move to her side, holding her close to . A bit surprised at first, she leans in and does the sa to .
Its only a side hug, but enough for both of us.
Its quiet for a while, as we get used to each others presence. This closeness between us.
I speak first.
How can anyone do this? Could soone like that even be considered a person?
The question is in the open air. Neither of us have an answer to that.
The silence falls over us both. I feel her arm hold a little tighter, but nothing else cos to show she acknowledges my words. I use the ti to plan my courses of action.
Minutes later, I hear her voice co out, so muted and fragile that if I wasn't enhanced, I wouldn't be able to hear it.
Even the demonic cultivators have a reason to do things like that. But why would they?
Like my question, it's not sothing to answer at this mont.
With that, the rest of the hour is silent.
I continue to work through several batches of information while we both take refuge in each others company. Reminding of the tis Ive sat in the cave, with Ai and Lin on the bed. Making it through, day by day, finding comfort in the closeness.
Just before I finish my calculations, she speaks again. Louder and confidently than before.
Hes going to die.
Let handle it.
thats not the best plan.
But its also not a bad one.
Its ti to put into practice my principles and commitnt to this relationship.
Using a soft voice, I offer a thought.
Do you want to know so things that youll need to know that might help?
She nods and leans her head against my shoulder. The confidence and strength in her actions only marginally contrasting the dependent one she's done.
She doesnt actually need the information, though.
Of course, itd help. Not much, however. Id bet thats sothing already considered by her.
She doesnt need . But she wants in her life and involved.
I can live with that.
Almost together, we stand up.
We end up spending the next 10 minutes communicating plans with each other. All before we step out of the barrier, open the door, and head downstairs.
Towards the entranceway.
Reviews
All reviews (0)