As the weight of Mei Lin's passing settled like a shadow, her mother fainted, her father barely holding on, supporting her mother with trembling arms. Zhìxué remained rooted, clutching Mei Lin's lifeless form, his eyes hollow, lost in sorrow. For two days, he sat there, unmoving, ignoring food and comfort, his gaze fixed solely on her serene, peaceful face. Her parents, equally devastated and worn by grief, watched his silent agony with tears streaming down their faces.
Finally, her father, voice shaking, gently approached. "Zhìxué… please, let her go. We have to give her peace… we must do the ceremony. It's… what she would have wanted."
Zhìxué barely moved, his voice a broken whisper as he continued to hold her close. "Mei Lin… I'll make them pay for this. I swear to you, a hundredfold."
Her mother, clutching her husband's hand, pleaded through her tears, "Zhìxué, please… for her sake, we need to let her rest. We… we have to do this, no matter how much it hurts."
Zhìxué, though his heart wrenched at the thought of parting with her, finally looked up, his face streaked with grief. He nodded solemnly, his words bitter but resolute. "I'll let her rest. But only after we've given her the farewell she deserves… then, I'll do what I must."
With tear-filled eyes, they prepared for the funeral. On the day of the ceremony, friends and family gathered to mourn. Mei Lin's parents, barely able to stand, clutched each other for support, their eyes hollowed by the pain only a parent can know. Zhìxué sat by Mei Lin's side, a silent sentinel of sorrow. Friends who had known them both from school approached him with hesitant condolences, their words faltering in the face of such overwhelming loss.
"We didn't expect this…" one friend whispered. "We just graduated—how could this have happened?"
Another friend gently stopped him, bowing his head. "Zhìxué, we're so sorry."
Zhìxué forced a nod, his voice raw but composed. "Thank you. She's at peace now… thank you all for coming."
After the ceremony, he stayed close to Mei Lin's parents, offering silent support, knowing that his pain mirrored theirs. For a full year, he stayed with them, helping to shoulder their grief, honoring her memory together. They lived through moments of quiet reminiscence and shared stories of Mei Lin—her laughter, her kindness, her love for life. Slowly, they found a fragile peace, like broken glass carefully pieced back together, though the cracks of loss remained.
Finally, after a year had passed, Zhìxué gathered the courage to speak with Mei Lin's parents. He had a new determination in his eyes, softened by grief yet hardened by purpose. He took a deep breath and looked at them, his voice filled with resolve.
"I need to go to the other world… the place from where those men came. I must find answers… and fulfill my promise."
As Zhìxué prepared to share his decision, Mei Lin's mother looked at him, her eyes filled with concern and the grief of a mother facing a second loss.
Mei Lin's Mother: [her voice trembling] "Zhìxué, please… don't go. You've been here with us for a year now, helping us survive this pain. I've come to see you as my own son. Losing Mei Lin was already too much. I don't think I can bear to lose another child. You're our only family now."
Her words broke, and tears welled in her eyes. Mei Lin's father stepped forward, his expression a mixture of pain and understanding. He placed a steady hand on Zhìxué's shoulder, his voice gentle yet pleading.
Mei Lin's Father: [his voice deep with emotion] "Son… what is it that you're going to do there? Why don't you stay here with us, build a future with us? Haven't we all been through enough? We'd be more than happy to have you by our side."
Zhìxué's heart ached as he looked at them, feeling the weight of their love and concern. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
Zhìxué: [voice steady but filled with sorrow] "Mom… Dad… I must go. I have to find answers and make those responsible pay for what we've lost. I can't just stand by, knowing they might come back, that they might continue to threaten us. I don't want them to put this world in danger again. I'll be careful, I promise. I'm nineteen now, and I know what I have to do. Please, trust me to return."
Mei Lin's mother struggled to hold back her tears. She reached out, wrapping her arms around him tightly, while Mei Lin's father, with a pained yet proud expression, placed a hand on his back. Together, they held him close, as if trying to give him all the strength they could.
Mei Lin's Mother: [her voice breaking as she hugged him] "You are our only son now. We know you have a path to follow, and we won't stand in your way. But remember, this is your home. We are your family. No matter how difficult things get, if you ever feel you can't go on, come back. Mei Lin wouldn't want you to sacrifice yourself for revenge. She'd want you to be safe."
Zhìxué nodded, feeling the warmth of their embrace and the weight of their words. Mei Lin's father took a breath, steadying himself as he spoke.
Mei Lin's Father: [trying to remain strong] "When… when will you leave?"
Zhìxué: [quietly, determined] "Tomorrow."
A heavy silence settled over the room, each of them grappling with the looming farewell. Mei Lin's mother wiped her eyes and managed a gentle smile, nodding.
Mei Lin's Mother: [with a soft, determined smile] "Alright, then tonight, let's have dinner together. I'll cook myself—something special. We'll celebrate everything you've brought into our lives."
She called for her maid to help, her hands still trembling as she tried to keep her voice steady. Mei Lin's father held Zhìxué's hand, offering a smile tinged with sadness, and the two men shared a quiet, understanding moment.
Mei Lin's Father: [looking at him with pride and sadness] "We'll make tonight a memory to keep us strong. Remember, no matter where you go, we're here. And when you're ready… come back home."
They spent the day together, cherishing every moment, their love unspoken yet deeply felt, the weight of the journey ahead present but softened by the warmth they shared as a family.
At midnight, Zhìxué sat alone under the vast sky, the ache of Mei Lin's absence as heavy as ever. Even though a year had passed, the void she left still felt fresh. He reached for the words that always brought him some comfort, a quote to give voice to the emptiness he felt:
"You left, yet you remain in every quiet moment, in the space between heartbeats. In the silence, I still hear you."
Tears gathered in his eyes as he looked up, whispering to the stars. Under his breath, he began to weave a gentle poem, an offering to Mei Lin's memory, his words carrying his sorrow:
"If only time could turn, I'd take your place in every scar and shadow. To hold you just once more, to shield you from all sorrow."
As he sat with his grief, lost in the memories of her smile and laugh, Xing'er's soft voice reached him, breaking the silence.
Xing'er: [gently, her voice tender] "Master, it's been a while since we last spoke like this. I hope your heart has found even a bit of comfort." From within the ring, Xing'er emerged, her soul form shimmering like stardust in the night. She reached out, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder, her gaze full of sympathy.
Xing'er: "Master, Mei Lin has found peace. She's in a place where she no longer feels pain. I'm… I'm sorry I couldn't protect her in time."
Zhìxué turned to her, managing a faint smile despite the tears in his eyes.
Zhìxué: [whispering] "It's not your fault, Xing'er. How could I blame you? I… I was her boyfriend. Her protector. And I couldn't react in time to save her. I see her face every night, and every morning. If I could turn back time, I'd take that blow for her without a second thought."
Xing'er stayed beside him, knowing words wouldn't be enough to soothe such a profound ache. She simply stayed with him, providing a quiet strength, as much as she could, as the two prepared for the journey that awaited them the next morning. Her presence was steady, her compassion a balm to his grief, even if it could never fully heal the wound.
Unbeknownst to Zhìxué, Mei Lin's parents were just outside, listening quietly. They had heard his every word, every painful admission. Mei Lin's mother held a hand to her mouth, her tears falling as she finally understood the depth of his pain. Mei Lin's father placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, his own face etched with sorrow.
Mei Lin's Mother: [whispering, choked with emotion] "He… he's still carrying this. After all this time. All this guilt… He loved her so deeply."
She wept silently, realizing that the pain he bore was as profound as their own. She had always known Zhìxué was loyal, but hearing his heartbreak and regrets, she felt more than ever that he had truly deserved her daughter's love.
Mei Lin's Mother: [voice trembling, her heart breaking] "He still holds onto this guilt… he's punishing himself for something he couldn't have prevented. It's so unfair, so cruel. How could such a kind, loving soul bear this weight alone? He doesn't deserve this pain."
She reached for her husband's hand, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Mei Lin's Mother: "I feel so sorry for him… seeing him like this. He's held on to Mei Lin's memory so fiercely, but he's trapped, reliving her loss over and over. I thought time would ease his heart, but… it hasn't."
Her husband nodded, his own eyes wet, his voice low and pained.
Mei Lin's Father: [with a heavy sigh] "He's kept all of this bottled up, carrying her loss like a burden. It breaks my heart… he blames himself for not saving her. How could he, though? None of us could have known, could have stopped it…"
Mei Lin's Mother: [her voice soft, trembling] "He's a loyal soul, so loyal he's been unable to forgive himself. Mei Lin would never want this for him… she'd want him to find peace, to live without this guilt. But how can we help him see that?"
She placed her hand gently against the wall, as if trying to reach out to Zhìxué through the barrier.
Mei Lin's Mother: "I wish… I could tell him it's not his fault. That we don't blame him, that we never did. That he doesn't have to suffer like this to honor her memory."
Her husband wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, as they shared the deep ache of watching Zhìxué's silent torment. They stood there, sharing their sorrow, hearts heavy with compassion and a desire to help him heal—even if, for now, all they could do was listen and mourn alongside him.
Zhìxué wiped away a tear, his gaze fixed on the vast, star-filled sky above. He took a deep, shaky breath, his heart heavy yet resolute.
Zhìxué: [whispering softly to the night] "Mei Lin… tomorrow, I'll begin a new journey, one that will take me far from here for a long time. I wish… I wish you could go with me. I'd give anything to have you by my side."
A soft breeze swept over him, and he closed his eyes, feeling as though her presence lingered with him for just a moment.
Zhìxué: [whispering with determination] "I love you, Mei Lin. Even though you're gone, my heart belongs to you. And I promise… I will make them pay. For every ounce of pain, I'll return it a hundredfold. They'll understand the cost of taking you from me."
He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his resolve and the depth of his grief merge into a fierce drive. This journey was no longer just for answers; it was for justice—for her memory and for the life they never had the chance to live. As he stood there, a new sense of purpose filled him, carrying her spirit within him as he prepared to face whatever lay ahead.