It was a sound I'd never heard before, not from Jimo, not from Fuxi. Yet it was calm and reassuring. I looked around, and all I saw was a noisy crowd, people who, though seemingly dead, still clung to life. Everyone was screaming in terror; no one would say a word to me like that.
But this one sentence felt like a lifeline to me; I wanted to live no matter what.
I huddled in the corner, holding the little girl. It was probably safer here; I could wait and see how things developed before making any further plans. She bent down and knelt against my shoulder. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly; everything before me was exactly the same as the moment before. Collapse, death, wails, struggle.
"Ah!" My arms suddenly felt empty. I looked down and frowned at the weight in my hands.
The very spot where she was kneeling collapsed. I was sitting on the edge, her body dangling in mid-air. She suddenly grabbed my hand, the force of which almost made me fall as well.
I bent down, trying to maintain my balance, and looked down at her, my heart aching.
That fear, I know it all too well.
Did she see my face and think I was a demon?
She squirmed her small body, desperately trying to break free from my hand. Didn't she know? If I let go, she would fall and die.
Or am I more frightening than death?
"Let me go! Let me go!" She struggled desperately, raising her other hand and grabbing the back of my hand forcefully.
The child was too weak, and the wound was shallow, yet blood continued to flow down her arm. Looking at the bloodstain, the fear and disgust in her eyes were palpable.
Suddenly, a sharp jolt struck the back of my head, followed by a deafening crash. I didn't even feel any pain, but her eyes widened abruptly, as if she had witnessed something utterly terrifying. Was it more terrifying than me?
Something scalding hot slid past my ear, and then a splash of bright red appeared before my eyes, dripping down like a broken string, splashing onto the next layer.
Her body, somehow, also fell down with the red liquid, her consciousness gradually fading away. She only remembered placing her own body underneath and holding the child tightly in her arms.
Before me, all was darkness. I didn't know if it was because everything had been turned upside down, or if only my dream and reality had been distorted. Perhaps, this was how I would die?
Live on! You must live on! Otherwise, I'll never forgive you, even if it kills me!
You'll never forgive me, even if it kills you?
Who would be willing to die with me?
Die for me...
A sudden, heavy tightness gripped my chest. I abruptly opened my eyes, only to find myself in darkness, just as before, surrounded by the smell of dust. But at least, I was still alive.
The warmth in my arms was a numb warmth.
Still alive? Is that child who was so afraid of me still alive?
"Help...help..." Her voice was weak, yet she kept calling for help. She longed to leave my side, unwilling to die with me.
No one came to rescue them, no one. There was only a deathly silence.
I lay there quietly, completely numb, the warmth in my limbs slowly fading, only the little girl in my arms remained warm. But this warmth wasn't for me.
Her voice faded away little by little, as if it had never been uttered at all. No one heard it, no one knew that she was tired and her voice was hoarse and she could no longer speak.
I was drifting off to sleep, my thoughts momentarily disconnected, when I suddenly heard a commotion. It sounded like someone was struggling beneath the ruins, just like us. But the person's movements were so violent, the layers of rubble rattling haphazardly. Suddenly, a piercing scream pierced through the ruins like a ghost, and then all was silent.
That person, the one who was alive just now, is dead.
She shivered in my arms and then fell silent.
If it is destiny, don't struggle in vain; at least leave with composure and peace.
It's as if my whole life has been like this. Born into the fear and hatred of others, even if Jimo could build a false image for me, at this moment, the illusion collapses, and the beautiful dream falls into silence along with this golden splendor. In the end, I will still die in the fear and hatred of others.
I closed my eyes, as if by doing so, I could see the lie he had so carefully crafted for me.
I didn't want to die, I was just exhausted. Even though my limbs were numb and I couldn't feel anything, I felt incredibly weary inside. I wanted to sleep soundly, and when I woke up, I wondered what awaited me on the other side of my dream.
"If you dare to die, I'll accompany you."
"If you dare to betray me, I will betray all living beings in the six realms."
"Even if you leave, I can haunt you for all eternity."
"When I die, I will surely vanish into nothingness, so you won't have to wait in vain for my return."
"I don't want your grave to be covered with asters."
When I die, I will surely be reduced to ashes.
Suddenly, I woke up from the dream.
A pair of eyes, blurry.
I haven't forgotten a single word from the dream; each word struck my heart like a resounding blow. Blood mingled with my tears.
No one has ever said such a thing to me, yet that dream is as vivid as a memory.
Every inch of my body felt like I was being slowly tortured to death.
"You're awake? Does your wound hurt?" A face approached, gentle and kind-looking. It was Fu Xi.
I shook my head slightly, but even such a small movement made me wince in pain.
His face was full of guilt: "I shouldn't have called you here."
I shook my head again, enduring the pain. I could see he was helpless in the face of the current situation. He always appeared and left in a hurry. If there truly was a dragon in the south, he would be in a very difficult situation; I understood, and I didn't expect him to come to save me. If he did come, I would be content and wouldn't blame him anymore.
“I can’t stay here too long. I need to keep an eye on the South. You…” He hesitated, then stopped.
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