Duie trembled with rage. He knew now that he had voluntarily stepped into this conflict. And if he left without taking Su Nian with him, his own mother would unleash her fury upon Su Nian. He forcefully removed Su Nian's hand from his mother arm and helped him up.
Su Nian's entire body was trembling. Duie was shocked beyond words. The person he had been seeing until now… was only a mask. The one shaking before him....this was the real Su Nian.
He held him with a gentle, almost delicate touch, as though he were lifting a doll made of cotton. Without a moment's delay, he grasped Su Nian by the wrist and began pulling him away.
All the students standing outside watched in stunned silence. They saw Su Nian crying ....tears flowing....and Duie dragging him without a word. At the gate, Duie traced a talisman into the air with his fingers. The seal at the gate broke open.
Teachers rushed over to stop him, but it was too late....Duie had already taken Su Nian away.
Su Nian was resisting, arguing, trying to shake free from his grip. But he had no idea what was happening inside Duie's heart.
Years ago, when Duie was just ten years old, a drunkard had broken into their home one night. That man had tried to harm his elder sister....and just before that, he had slapped her in the same way Su Nian's mother slapped him today.
Back then, Duie had been helpless.....unable to protect his sister.
But now… he had a chance.
A chance to protect someone.
That night's screams.....his sister's cries.....still haunted his dreams.
And Duie knew: if he failed to help Su Nian today…
he would never be able to live with himself.