Leaning over the stone bridge's rail, Chi Cheng absentmindedly watched his reflection ripple in little waves in the water. He poured all his heartache and sorrows uncontrollably into the Grandmaster's arms earlier, leaving him a hollow, unfeeling mess.
There was an emptiness in his chest, devoid of all the woes and worries that once accumulated in his heart over time. It felt as if his mind was set adrift, aimlessly floating on a sea of his thoughts but never reaching into them.
"Ah-Ran… " Chi Cheng muttered weakly, trying to block out the screams of his younger brother that still echoed in his ears. "What should I do to become a brother who won't fail you? How can I protect you from anything if… if I have become so weak."
'You've become too compassionate…' A voice, hoarse and dry, sounded in Chi Cheng's head.
