Shushin slowly opened her eyes, her gaze fixed upon the ceiling above. She whispered to herself, "When I think back on my past, the things that have happened seem so vast and profound. My life, my love, my family, and my country. What do I owe to things that have given me nothing but pain?"
She looked to her side and saw Mimi sobbing uncontrollably, her voice filled with regret. "I'm sorry," Mimi repeated mournfully. "I'm so sorry, I can't do anything…"
Shushin reached out and gently placed her hands on Mimi's head. "Don't cry, Mimi," she reassured her. "I'm fine, I won't die."
Jianguo entered the room, glancing at Mimi with mild surprise. "It seems that you've made quite a friend," he remarked. "She came in the middle of the night, staying by your side, afraid for you."
Shushin let out a faint smile at Jianguo's words, touched by the depth of Mimi's concern for her. She could sense the genuine affection behind Mimi's tears, a reminder of the bond that had formed between them despite their circumstances. It was a comforting thought, knowing that in a world full of uncertainty, she had someone who truly cared for her well-being.
She gazed at Mimi, who was still crying quietly. Shushin's heart ached, seeing how distraught Mimi was over her own perceived helplessness. She knew that sometimes, even the strongest desire to help could be hindered by circumstances beyond one's control.
Jianguo assisted Shushin in sitting down, and Mimi suddenly collapsed onto her lap, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry," she sobbed. "For days and weeks, you fed me, talked to me, and when I was in danger, you were the first one to come to my rescue. Even when I was unconscious, you stayed by my side. I should have held your hand and never let you go."
Shushin gently patted Mimi's head, her voice filled with warmth and reassurance. "It's okay, Mimi," she comforted her. "You're like my little sister I have many little sisters, but you are the cutest. I wasn't lonely or sad missing them, because of you." Shushin said.
Despite her composure, Shushin secretly thought to herself, "I wasn't used to expressing myself or being a normal human. Then, their peaceful moment was shattered by the sound of an explosion outside. They exchanged worried glances and hurried towards the door, but what they saw that night would be a sight they hoped they could erase from their memories.
As they rushed through the forest towards the main street that led to the royal palace, the sight that greeted them was one of absolute carnage. The street was flooded with a sea of blood, like an endless waterfall, and the bodies of the dead lay scattered everywhere. Fire and smoke filled the area, making the air thick and oppressive.
They hurriedly searched through the carnage, desperately hoping to find someone alive. But their efforts were in vain, as not a single soul survived the onslaught.
Mimi's face contorted in shock and despair as she exclaimed, "Li Xin! Li Xin is at home!"
With a determined expression, she pushed through the carnage, her once-pure white clothes now stained with streaks of blood. Shushin and Jianguo shared a worried glance before chasing after Mimi, leaving the grim trail of dead bodies behind them.
Their hearts pounded with fear and anticipation as they ran through the streets, dodging flaming debris and avoiding the lifeless bodies in their path. The sight and stench of death hung heavy in the air, but they pressed on, their minds focused solely on reaching Li Xin's.
When the trio finally arrived, thoroughly out of breath, they found the royal palace slowly burning and succumbing to destruction. standing together.
"Wherever there is chaos and discord, it seems you three are always there," Shushin commented dryly.
referring to Ziyi, Lingjie, and Minghao.
Jianguo paid no attention to her words and urgently inquired: "Why are you three the only ones here? Where are the others?"
Shushin responded calmly, her voice tinged with resignation, "It's already too late. It was a trick."
Mimi, teetering on the edge of exhaustion, began to collapse. She grabbed the clothing of Ziyi, who stood closest to her, desperately. "Why are you just standing there?" she cried. "We have to rescue them! We can't just stand by and leave them behind!"
But as she realized that no one was answering, her resolve hardened, and she broke free from their grasp, intent on plunging into the fiery inferno to rescue her friends. She took a step forward, but they all quickly pulled her back, alarmed by her recklessness.
"Mi Mi, we can't just rush in like that," Jianguo cautioned, his voice thick with worry.
"It's too dangerous," Lingjie added, his grip tightening on her arm.
The world around them was in tumult and disarray, with people running in every direction, frantically seeking safety amid the chaos. Smoke and fire painted the sky in an apocalyptic tableau, adding to the sense of panic and desperation.
As Shushin watched the scene unfold, her eyes scanned the commotion around them, analyzing each movement and assessing the danger.
Despite her outwardly calm demeanor, her mind was in overdrive, weighing the risks and trying to figure out how to navigate through the treacherous situation. She wasn't healed yet and was breaking heavily.
Minghao said in a bewildered tone: "What do you mean by 'trick'?"
Shushin calmly elaborated: "I'm confident that you didn't manage to enter because you were hindered right from the onset. As for the smoke, it's becoming increasingly radioactive as it spreads. I've witnessed something similar before."
Lingjie interjected: "How is this a trick?"
Shushin replied in a detached tone: "The inside is unscathed by the fire, but this situation will not persist for long. If the victims aren't rescued within 6 hours, they will suffer through the gradual stages of torment until their inevitable demise. It's a horrible and drawn-out death." She paused momentarily before continuing, her voice tinged with ominous gravity: "This magic of death is not without its mysteries, for it leaves open the possibility of the victims' survival."
Her words hung heavily in the air as she prepared to leave the scene.
Lingjie, known for his usual composure, broke with emotion and exclaimed: "Shushin, why are you leaving? Don't you intend to save those inside? Or is it you who devised this trick?" Lingjie's voice trembled with anger and accusation.
Minghao stepped forward, interjecting with a firm voice: "What are you saying? You know she would never do such a thing!"
Shushin turned around, her expression filled with terror and disbelief, yet her voice remained steady and measured as she retorted: "Don't fear the one responsible for this trick. I've made it clear that their fate is not yet set in stone. Death could be their ultimate end, yes, but I am confident that I can exact unspeakable torment upon you all in the most brutal manner, but I won't."
She kept saying Things She didn't mean, Mimi, overwhelmed with frustration and despair, interjected with a desperate plea: "Stop it, please! Just stop!"
Jianguo placed a gentle hand on Shushin's shoulder and spoke in a soothing tone: "Please, try to stay calm and composed, okay?"
In response, Shushin brushed away his hand and told him: "Take Mimi to rest."
He nodded in agreement and went to help the troubled Mimi to her feet.
With a steely determination in her eyes, Shushin addressed the others: "You stay here while I go in. Let us see what can be done to salvage the situation."
Minghao, filled with determination, immediately stepped forward and offered: "I will accompany you."
Shushin responded, a playful smile tugging at her lips: "You want to try your luck again, huh? You never learn. My answer remains the same."
"I don't need your protection," she continued, her voice firm and resolute. "Just because I've lost a few times doesn't mean I'm not capable of handling myself. Protection isn't what I require. I am quite capable of guarding my own heart."
Despite the losses she had experienced, Shushin remained fiercely indomitable. She refused to accept defeat that wasn't hers to claim. She was a woman who didn't need anyone to guard her heart, as she knew perfectly well that she alone held the power to protect it.
There was a certainty in her words, a steely determination that could not be swayed. For Shushin, strength was not about being shielded, but about standing firm and defending what truly mattered - her own heart and convictions.
Every fiber of her being was a testament to her unwavering resolve to stand strong, even when fate seemed to be stacked against her. She was a woman who embraced her losses as lessons, using them to further fuel her resilience and determination to protect her innermost self.
As the others watched her, their faces etched with respect and a touch of awe, they could only admire her unwavering spirit. In her eyes, there was a fire that burned bright, illuminating the path of a woman who knew her worth, strength, and the importance of guarding her own heart.