Han Lie stood frozen in the doorway like a statue. The sight before him stabbed at his heart—the broken little family gathered around Xiao Mei's body, which lay on a simple mat. Small candles were placed around her, casting a dim light that made the little girl's face look as if she were sleeping peacefully.
Xiao Mei's father sat frozen beside the mat, his eyes red and swollen, his hands trembling as he held his daughter's small, cold hand. Her sick mother lay on the floor, crying silently and gently stroking Xiao Mei's hair.
"My child... why did you leave your father and mother..." the old man's voice trembled, filled with soul-crushing despair.
Han Lie felt a tightness in his chest. This was wrong. This was so wrong. He shouldn't be here. He shouldn't be the cause of this family's suffering.
[LOOK AT HOW FRAGILE THEY ARE]
[JUST ONE SMALL PUSH... AND IT WILL ALL BE OVER]
"No..." Han Lie mumbled, stepping back. "I won't—"
CREAK!
The wooden floor beneath his feet creaked loudly. The sound broke the silence of the night like thunder.
Xiao Mei's father slowly raised his head. His swollen, empty eyes looked at Han Lie with an unfocused gaze.
"You..." his voice was raspy like sandpaper. "You're the one who saved Xiao Mei earlier..."
Han Lie froze. His heart was beating so fast he was sure the old man could hear it.
"Young Master..." Xiao Mei's father got up shakily, his legs weak from grief. "Thank you... thank you for giving my daughter her last moments of happiness..."
Fresh tears streamed down Han Lie's cheeks. This man was thanking him. THANKING HIM. When he was the one behind Xiao Mei's death.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry to intrude..." Han Lie backed toward the door. "I just wanted to... check on you..."
"Don't go!" Xiao Mei's father stepped toward him with a pleading look. "Please... please tell me about my daughter's last moments. Was she... was she happy?"
The question was like a sword thrust into Han Lie's heart. He remembered Xiao Mei's sweet smile, her eyes sparkling when she called him a hero, her cheerful voice saying she wanted to become a good cultivator like him.
"She... she was very happy," Han Lie answered with a trembling voice. "She said she wanted to become a cultivator who could help people like..."
Like me. The words got stuck in his throat.
[THE IRONY IS TOUCHING]
[SHE WANTED TO BECOME LIKE HER MURDERER]
Xiao Mei's father smiled—the saddest smile Han Lie had ever seen. "Thank goodness... at least she died in happiness. Unlike us who... who are suffering like this."
The old man fell to his knees, his body trembling violently. "Young Master... I don't know what to do anymore. My wife's illness has gotten worse from the shock. Our daughter is gone. And I... I'm just a useless old farmer..."
"Father..." his mother's weak voice came from the floor. "Maybe... maybe it's better if we follow Xiao Mei..."
[PERFECT TIMING]
[THEY ARE ALREADY READY TO GIVE UP ON LIFE]
[YOU JUST HAVE TO... HELP THEM]
The timer in the corner of Han Lie's eye flashed faster: 9 hours 18 minutes 45 seconds...
"No..." Han Lie shook his head hard. "You can't give up. Xiao Mei wouldn't want to see you like this."
"What's the point of living without her?" Xiao Mei's father looked at Han Lie with empty eyes. "She was our everything. The only light in our dark lives."
Han Lie felt something cold crawl from his stomach to his chest. A small voice in his head—not the system, but his own voice—whispered: They already want to die. This will be a release for them.
"NO!" Han Lie screamed, more at himself than at the family. "I won't think like that!"
"Young Master?" Xiao Mei's father looked at him in confusion. "What's wrong?"
Han Lie backed up until his back hit the door. His hand fumbled for the doorknob behind him, wanting to run from this place as fast as he could.
But suddenly...
SLAM!
The door closed and locked on its own. Han Lie turned the handle frantically, but the door wouldn't budge.
[THERE IS NO ESCAPE, HOST]
[NO PLACE TO RUN]
[8 HOURS 52 MINUTES LEFT]
"Young Master?" Xiao Mei's father approached him with a worried face. "Why do you look so pale? Are you ill?"
Han Lie looked at the old man—a face full of wrinkles from hard work, tired eyes that still held kindness, and calloused hands that were warm as they touched his shoulder.
He's a good father, Han Lie thought. He doesn't deserve to die. He doesn't deserve to die because of me.
[BUT HE WILL SUFFER FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE WITHOUT HIS DAUGHTER]
[ISN'T DEATH BETTER THAN ETERNAL SUFFERING?]
"No... no..." Han Lie shook his head as he backed into a corner of the room.
"Young Master, please sit down. I'll make you some tea—"
"DON'T COME CLOSER!" Han Lie screamed hysterically.
Xiao Mei's father was startled and backed away. His mother, who was lying on the floor, also looked at Han Lie with frightened eyes.
"I'm sorry..." Han Lie cried. "I'm sorry... I'm... I'm not a good person..."
[YOU FINALLY ADMIT THE TRUTH]
[NOW DO WHAT MUST BE DONE]
[7 HOURS 34 MINUTES LEFT]
Han Lie felt the system's qi begin to flow through his body without his permission. The foreign power crawled through his muscles, strengthening his hand, sharpening his instincts.
"No... stop it..." he whispered to the system.
[I AM ONLY HELPING YOU OVERCOME... YOUR HESITATION]
Han Lie's hand moved on its own, slowly lifting towards the neck of Xiao Mei's father, who was still looking at him with a confused and worried expression.
"Young Master... what's wrong with you?"
Han Lie saw his reflection in the old man's eyes. A pale face full of tears, eyes that were beginning to lose their human light, and a trembling hand reaching for an innocent person's neck.
This is the end, Han Lie thought in despair. This is the moment I truly become a monster.
[YES, HOST...]
[WELCOME TO TRUE DARKNESS]
The timer flashed bright red: 7 hours 12 minutes 33 seconds...
And Han Lie's hand continued to move closer...
"I'm sorry..." he whispered in a dead voice. "I'm sorry for being a demon..."