How did Hu Lijing end up finding himself in this predicament? Until the end of his days, he would be wondering just that.
His entire body was hurting yet simultaneously felt so hollow and numb. He didn't understand himself at that moment as he was lying curled up to himself amidst the cadavers of his people.
The harrowing guilt of not being enough, not being strong enough to protect his clan, it ate him alive, like a flesh eating parasite that crawled in his heart, eating its way deeper and deeper while carrying the heavy seed of self-blame and derision with itself.
Hu Lijing let out a weak sound, a shuddering breath in his lungs as he hugged his knees, curling tighter as though he wanted nothing more than to disappear into nothingness.
But he couldn't. He couldn't afford to disappear nor die. Not so soon, not without getting even just a sliver of revenge. Not without meeting the ten-tailed fox and facing the consequences of making a deal with that devil.
