Chereads / THE MIDNIGHT BROKER. / Chapter 41 - CHAPTER 40: Flames of the Past

Chapter 41 - CHAPTER 40: Flames of the Past

Wei could never quite grasp certain memories, as if they were hidden behind a thick, impenetrable wall. Some moments, especially those surrounding his sister Liu and the fire that changed everything, remained distant, fragmented. What he recalled most vividly wasn't what had truly happened—it was what his parents had told him about that tragic day. They claimed he had been outside playing with his sister when the fire broke out and that, in his panic, he had abandoned her. He had accepted their version of the story, but deep down, it never felt right. He loved Liu far too much to ever leave her behind.

The last clear memory he had from that day was running around with her, pretending the sticks they found were swords, laughing together in the backyard. Then, everything went black. The gap in his recollection felt like an empty void, an aching chasm. Whenever he tried to push further, to remember, it was as if an invisible force was stopping him, keeping him from the truth.

But the truth, buried deep within, was far more complicated.

Years before the incident, Wei's grandfather had sensed something extraordinary within him. Wei wasn't like other children; he had been born with an immense, untapped power that was far too dangerous for someone so young. His grandfather, a man well-versed in ancient arts, knew that if this power went unchecked, it could cause great harm—not only to Wei but to those around him. So, he did what he thought was best: he sealed most of Wei's abilities, binding them until the boy was old enough to control them. Yet, without his grandfather's constant guidance, the seal began to weaken. The power, dormant for years, started to leak out, unnoticed at first.

On the day of the fire, the strain on the seal grew too strong, and in a moment of overwhelming pressure, Wei unknowingly entered a divine state. His body, far too fragile to contain the immense energy, began to break apart from within, as though he were on the verge of combusting. His grandfather, sensing the danger, descended in his spiritual form to intervene, hoping to prevent a catastrophe. But it was too late.

In a desperate attempt to save his grandson, Wei's grandfather was forced to release the excess energy. The resulting surge of power manifested as a raging fire that swept through the area where Liu had been playing. It was no ordinary fire—it moved with unnatural speed and intensity, fueled by forces beyond this world.

By the time the flames died down, Wei was nowhere to be found. His absence led everyone to believe that he had fled the scene in terror, leaving his sister behind. The burns that scarred Liu's body and soul became a constant reminder of that day, and Wei, in his confusion and guilt, came to believe the narrative his parents had told him—that he had abandoned his sister when she needed him most.

But in truth, he hadn't run away. The explosion of energy had transported him far from the fire, leaving him unconscious and unaware of the devastation left in its wake. His mind, unable to process the trauma, had locked away the memories, hiding them behind that invisible wall.

But Wei doesn't know this yet wink wink😉😂