The smoke and debris slowly settled across the funeral grounds, revealing the devastation Jiangshi and Lei Gong had left behind. Those who had shielded themselves from the explosion cautiously rose to their feet, brushing ash from their faces and coughing as the thick air cleared. Jin stood unmoving, a dark silhouette among the trembling survivors. His eyes pierced the horizon, his body emanating an unsettling calm.
From the ground, Jingwei frantically pushed himself up, his hands trembling as he waved away the remaining dust. His sharp, darting eyes searched every inch of the ground. "Father! Where is he? Where is his body?" he screamed, his voice raw and desperate. The weight of the loss crashed over him. He dropped to his knees, clenching his fists. "No… this can't be… not his body too… they can't take everything!"
The echoes of his fists striking the ground resonated, a desperate attempt to vent his helplessness. Tears brimmed in his eyes, though he fought them back. "Damn it all! They stole him… they stole him!"
As Jingwei continued his anguished search, Seiji slowly rose from where he had shielded himself. His usual calm demeanor cracked as he muttered a single word under his breath: "Lei Gong." His voice carried a venom that hadn't been there before. Without waiting for anyone to stop him, Seiji began to walk away from the funeral ground. His fists tightened at his sides, his glowing marks flickering faintly as he whispered to himself, "He won't ge. Next ltime."
Before Seiji could leave entirely, he turned, helping the king—now frail and quiet—to his feet. Together, they stepped away, the faint sound of Seiji muttering to himself as they disappeared from sight.
Rebekah, dusting herself off, approached Jin cautiously. She had never seen him like this before—his body stiff, his aura darker than it had ever been, his gaze locked on the skies as if he were peering into another world. She hesitated, her voice soft but concerned. "Jin… are you okay? What's going on in your head?"
For a long moment, Jin didn't respond. The silence between them felt heavy, suffocating. Then, without looking at her, Jin finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an icy edge. "Nothing." He paused, his jaw tightening. "Just planning how I'm going to kill my uncle."
Rebekah's eyes widened slightly, but before she could respond, Jin corrected himself, his tone sharper now. "Jiangshi," he clarified coldly, almost spitting out the name. His eyes finally left the sky, briefly meeting hers before he turned away, walking off without another word.
The scene shifted to Drake and Jingwei inside Shenlog's grand quarters. The atmosphere inside the room was tense, grief lingering heavily in the air. The maids and servants had done their best to prepare a meal for the Free World's warriors after the funeral. Bowls of steaming rice, roasted meats, and freshly prepared fish covered the long table. The aroma of the food was inviting, but the circumstances dulled its appeal. The meal, meant to honor Shenlog's memory, now felt hollow after the chaotic interruption.
Jingwei sat in the corner of the room, his head buried in his hands as he fought to keep his composure. The weight of his father's absence hung over him like a dark cloud. Across from him, Drake was hunched over the table, shoving rice and fish into his mouth with the vigor of someone who hadn't eaten in weeks.
CRUNCH. SLURP.
The sounds of Drake eating broke the silence, loud and unapologetic. The tension in the room snapped as Jingwei abruptly stood, his chair screeching against the floor. He glared at Drake, his eyes blazing with frustration. "Are you serious right now?! Father's body is gone! We're supposed to be mourning him, and all you're doing is stuffing your face like nothing happened!"
Drake paused mid-bite, a piece of fish hanging precariously from his chopsticks. He swallowed slowly, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward Jingwei. "This," he said, gesturing to the food, "is how I mourn."
Jingwei's jaw dropped. "Eating?! That's how you mourn?!"
Drake leaned back in his chair, his usual rugged demeanor unbothered by his brother's anger. "Yeah," he said simply. "I don't know how to sit around and cry like you. So I eat. It's what I know how to do. You've got your way of dealing with things, and I've got mine. Now sit down and leave me alone."
Jingwei clenched his fists, his anger bubbling beneath the surface, but he said nothing. He slumped back into his chair, muttering under his breath as Drake resumed his meal.
CRUNCH. SLURP.
The chapter closed with the sound of footsteps echoing through the palace halls. Cade, his expression grim and his body tense, approached the king's quarters. His presence carried a weight that hinted at news or a decision that would soon change the tide of events.