Chapter 181 - Gone (1/2)
Bai Lei stands before the burning palace without any emotion. Ren appears behind him and kneels before asking ”Did you find Nova?” A flicker of emotion crosses Bai Lei's face before it grows cold again. He turns away from the burning palace and walks past Ren while saying ”She's gone.”
Ren's heart nearly stops as his head whips up to look at the burning palace then back to his Master. He jumps up and stumbles to run in front of his Master. He falls to his knees before his Master and asks ”Please forgive this servant but... how is she gone? I... is she somewhere else?”
Bai Lei's cold eyes slowly look down to Ren before saying ”She's no longer here. She's gone.” Ren's face pales as Bai Lei disappears. Ren stays kneeling in the same spot as he tries to wrap his head around what his Master just said. Gone... No longer here... dead? She's dead?
~~~~~~
Bai Lei shifts back to the Demonic Realm and absentmindedly walks to his courtyard but when he sees the destroyed house, he falls to his knees. He couldn't even climb into the bed that smelt like her... it was all gone, just like her.
Thunder rolls through the dark sky before a nasty mix of rain and snow begins to fall. He remains on his knees as he drowns in the hollow pain left in his heart. He stayed like that for three days until Ren appeared next to him.
Bai Lei finally moves as he says ”Gather my Mother and the others... We'll leave today.” Ren solemnly bows and quickly leaves. Suddenly, a little white thing flies straight at Bai Lei but he doesn't try to stop it or catch it.
Little Bun lands before him and says ”M.. m.. my Master... Where's my Master?” Bai Lei looks down at the white fluff ball to find him looking up to him with large innocent eyes. Bai Lei leans over and picks the little guy up while saying ”She's gone.”
Little Bun's eyes start watering as he yells ”Bad man! You're lying! Master wouldn't leave me!” Bai Lei grits his teeth in pain and says ”I do not lie, can you feel your Master?” Little Bun's tears fall as he starts viciously biting Bai Lei's hands.
Little Bun sinks his teeth into his hands over and over as he says ”It's all your fault! It's all your fault!!” Bai Lei's blood drips down onto the white snow below but he doesn't stop the little guy. What he says is true... it was his fault. Instead, he grabs the little guy with one hand and lifts his finger to touch the little guy's head.
A small pulse of energy is released, causing little Bun to instantly fall asleep. Bai Lei holds the little guy close as he finally stands up. He will keep the little guy safe, even if he hates him for all eternity. Nova truly cared for this little guy so he will too.
As he leaves the courtyard, he places a seal on the entire thing. He has no idea when Zhen or his granddaughter will be back but if they come here, this seal will tell them everything that happened. It's the only thing he can do for now...
He walks into his mother's courtyard to see her and her servant, including Chyou, waiting with confusion. Ren stands guard over them with sad eyes. ”It's time to return to my real world. I will give you all a choice, you can follow me or you can stay here.”
Lady Xue looks at her son with confusion and worry but she's the first one to step forward as she says ”I will follow you, my son, wherever you may go.” Her older servant steps forward and says ”I will follow both my Masters.”
Chyou's tears fall silently as she steps forward and says ”I will follow the man my Lady loved.” Bai Lei then turns to look at Ren but Ren just nods his head in silent agreement. Bai Lei nods and says ”Let's go.” He walks closer to them as his power is suddenly unleashed.
Within a flash, they're all standing before a large black gate. Lady Xue and the others all look around the dark and dead surroundings with confusion and fear. As Bai Lei steps up to the large gates, the blackened ground under his feet instantly comes to life. The second he touches the gates, they come to life with a brilliant golden light.
The golden gates swing open as everything around them starts to come to life as well! Plants that were once dried up, shriveled, and dead uncurl themselves with a burst of light. Bai Lei keeps his back to the others as he softly says ”Welcome to your new home.” He then steps forward, leaving the rest in silence.