They had barely finished talking when hurried footsteps came from outside.Chen Yu turned toward the entrance as a demon stumbled into the shelter. Wei Han straightened from the wall and watched him. The stranger had pale wings folded against his back, with dark patches along their edges. The feelers on his head shook as he kept glancing behind him, as though someone were following him. "You're investigating the black rain, aren't you?" he asked, still catching his breath.Lin Chen walked toward him. "Who are you? What happened?""I came from a settlement a few miles away. The same rain fell there." The moth demon rubbed his hands together. "People began acting strangely. Some attacked their own families. Others ran through the streets, shouting names no one knew. At first, we thought they had gone mad. But even after the rain stopped, some of them were still frightened."
Wei Han frowned. "How many people were affected?" "I don't know. There were too many." The moth demon's wings moved uneasily. He looked toward the entrance again before speaking in a quieter voice. "I heard my mother calling me during the rain."
Xu Yang looked at him. "Your mother?"
"She died years ago." The moth demon lowered his head. "I heard her calling from inside my house. I followed her voice, but whenever I entered a room, I heard it coming from somewhere else. I searched the whole house, but no one was there. Then I heard her voice behind me."Chen Yu leaned forward. "What did she say?" "She told me to open the wooden chest in the corner."
The moth demon gripped his sleeves tightly. "I knew something was wrong,but it sounded just like my mother. I couldn't bring myself to ignore her."Lin Chen studied his face. "What was inside the chest?"
"Nothing." The moth demon shook his head. "It was completely empty."He fell silent for a moment, then continued in a trembling voice. "But as soon as I opened it, I heard scratching from inside. Someone was crying and begging me not to leave them in the dark."
Chen Yu's expression changed. Wei Han glanced at Lin Chen. "Did you look inside again?"Chen Yu asked."Of course! There was nothing there." The moth demon shook his head harder. "I even moved the chest and checked underneath it. But whenever I turned away, the scratching started again."
He covered his ears, then quickly lowered his hands. "I could still hear it after the rain stopped. Whenever I close my eyes, I hear it again.
Xu Yang's ears tilted backward. An empty chest with someone crying inside. Wonderful. As if the black rain wasn't frightening enough already. Now I have to worry about haunted furniture, too...
He glanced at the moth demon's shaking wings and kept the thought to himself.Wait, if the box was empty, then where did the crying come from? Was someone trying to make the demon believe his mother was trapped inside, or did he hear a sound that wasn't really there? And if it was only a sound, why did he remember it so clearly after the rain stopped?... Xu Yang frowned slightly. I can't just assume everything was an illusion. The paper spirit remembered someone who had vanished from every record, and the young fox still mourned a brother no one else remembered. What if the rain isn't simply showing people frightening things? What if it's making them remember things that never happened?...He let out a quiet breath. Either way, we still have the same problem. We can't trust their memories completely, but we can't dismiss them all as nonsense, either. Great. How am I supposed to investigate something when even the evidence might be lying to us?
Chen Yu turned toward the moth demon. "Was anyone else affected in a similar way?" The moth demon nodded. He reached for the cup beside him, took a hurried sip, and nearly spilled the water when his hand shook. He quickly set it down and wiped his wet fingers on his clothes. "A mirror demon lives near the center of our settlement. During the rain, he began shouting that his reflection was moving on its own." Yan Luo looked up from where he sat. "Could he have been mistaken?" "I thought so at first." The moth demon shook his head. "But I saw him afterward. He won't even look at a mirror now."
Qing Li stopped playing with his sleeve and leaned forward. "What happened?" The moth demon took a breath before continuing. "He told us he was washing his face when he noticed his reflection smiling at him. He wasn't smiling himself. He tried making different expressions to see if he was imagining things, but the reflection kept smiling no matter what he did." Xu Yang's ears twitched. So he tried making faces at a mirror to check whether the mirror was making faces at him. Fair enough. I'd probably do the same thing. Then I'd leave the room and never wash my face again...
He glanced at the others. None of them looked amused, so he kept the rest of his thoughts to himself. "The demon said he stepped away from the mirror," the moth demon continued. "But his reflection stayed where it was. Then it slowly raised one hand and pressed its palm against the glass." Chen Yu's fingers went still against his sleeve. "What did he do?" "He backed away and tried to leave. But before he reached the door, the reflection pointed behind him." The moth demon paused and wet his dry lips. "He turned around at once, but there was nothing there. When he looked back, the reflection was still pointing. Then its face changed. It looked frightened and kept shaking its head, as though it wanted him to run."
Wei Han leaned forward slightly. "Did he see anything else in the mirror?" "No. He ran out and didn't go back inside until the rain stopped." The moth demon rubbed his forehead. "We thought he had been frightened by the rain and needed rest. But the next morning, he covered every mirror in his house." That seems reasonable, Xu Yang thought. If my reflection started acting strangely, I wouldn't stand around asking it questions either. I'd cover the mirror, leave the house, and find somewhere with no reflective surfaces. A pond? No. A bowl of water? Apparently not. At this rate, even washing my hands could become a life-threatening task...
Qing Li folded his arms. "And after the rain stopped?" "The reflection seemed normal again, but he still wouldn't look at it. He covered the mirrors with cloth and even turned the polished metal bowls toward the wall." The moth demon shook his head. "We told him he couldn't avoid his own reflection forever. He said he didn't care. As long as he couldn't see it, he could pretend everything was fine." Chen Yu nodded slowly. "I can't blame him for that." "Neither could we," the moth demon replied. "But last night, he was drinking water when he saw his reflection in the bowl. He turned away to call his wife, then heard the bowl scrape against the table. When he looked back, his reflection was still staring at him."
Yan Luo's brows drew together. "But he had already turned away?" "Yes." The moth demon spread his hands. "He said he stood there watching for a while, then slowly stepped to the side. His reflection didn't move. He stepped back, and it still didn't move." Chen Yu's expression grew serious. "What happened then?" "He dropped the bowl and ran out of the room." The moth demon looked down at his hands. "His wife heard the noise and went to see what had happened. The bowl was broken, and water had spilled across the floor. She saw nothing strange." Wei Han glanced at Lin Chen before returning his attention to the moth demon. "Did he hear anything else?" The moth demon nodded. "As he left the room, he heard water dripping behind him. He thought the sound came from the broken bowl, so he turned back. But the dripping continued even after he entered the next room. His wife heard nothing, and there was no water anywhere else in the house."
Xu Yang rubbed one ear. That part makes even less sense. If the bowl broke, the water should have stayed on the floor. How did the dripping follow him? Unless the sound was only in his head. But then why did the reflection stop copying him?... His ears lowered slightly. I really hope this is just the rain making people see things. The alternative is that mirrors have been hiding a terrible secret all this time, and I have enough problems without worrying about what my face does when I'm not looking...
Wei Han watched the moth demon for a moment, then asked, "Did anyone else see it?" "No." The moth demon shook his head. "Everyone thinks he's frightened himself into imagining things. But I saw how he looked when he told us. He wasn't trying to convince anyone. He was terrified." Lin Chen glanced at Qing Li. Qing Li met his eyes, his expression thoughtful.Neither Lin Chen nor Qing Li spoke, but from the look they exchanged, Xu Yang suspected they were beginning to see a connection.
The moth demon had been rubbing his hands together while the others spoke. After a moment, he looked up as if he had remembered something. "There was another incident in the settlement." Lin Chen turned toward him. "What happened?" "A serpent demon attacked his own brother." The moth demon's expression tightened. "He accused his brother of helping bury someone alive. He kept describing the place, the soil, even the face of the person beneath it." Yan Luo's expression grew serious. "Why did he believe his brother was involved?" "He said they had buried someone together. But his brother swore it had never happened. He said they'd never buried anyone at all."
The moth demon rubbed his hands more quickly. "The serpent demon wouldn't listen. He was convinced he'd committed a terrible crime and that his brother was helping him hide it." Qing Li leaned forward slightly. "Did he recognize the person he claimed to have buried?" "No. He said he'd never seen that person before the rain. But he remembered digging the grave with his own hands." The moth demon wrapped his arms around himself. "He begged his family to take him to the place. He wanted to find out whether there was really a body buried there."
Chen Yu frowned. "Did they take him?" The moth Demon shook his head."No. They were afraid he might attack someone again." Lin Chen rubbed his chin, thinking. "Has he calmed down now?" "A little. But he still believes it happened." Wei Han looked troubled. "If these are only illusions, why does he still believe them after the rain has stopped?" "We don't know that they're only illusions," Qing Li replied. "We don't know what the rain shows them, or why each demon experiences something different."
Xu Yang glanced between them. A dead mother calling from an empty box, a reflection that seems to have a life of its own, and now a murder someone remembers committing. This rain really knows how to ruin a day...His ears twitched as another thought occurred to him. But if these are just frightening images, why do they keep affecting people after the rain stops? A nightmare should end when you wake up. It shouldn't leave you convinced you've committed a crime...
"The serpent demon wasn't the only one who remembered something impossible." the moth demon continued. He paused to take a sip of water before speaking again. "A paper spirit has been searching for someone who disappeared during the rain." Lin Chen turned toward him. "Who disappeared?" "She couldn't tell us a name. She said the person had lived with her for years, but none of her neighbors remembered them." The moth demon shook his head. "She showed us a second cup on her table and a bed in another room. She said the missing person used to eat with her and sleep there every night."
Yan Luo rested his arm on his knee. "Those things could belong to a guest." "We thought so too. But she showed us her household records. She had written down everything about her home, yet the pages that mentioned this person were completely blank." Chen Yu leaned forward. "The writing disappeared?" "That's what she told us. She remembered writing those words, but there was nothing left on the pages. She even remembered what she had written." The moth demon lowered his eyes. "She kept asking us how someone could disappear from every record when she still remembered them so clearly."
Xu Yang's ears drooped slightly. First a fox who remembers a brother nobody knows, and now a paper spirit whose missing companion has vanished from every record. Either the rain is putting memories into people's heads, or it's taking them out of everyone else's. Neither sounds good... He glanced at Lin Chen. The others had gone quiet too, each seeming to think over what they had heard. "Did she know any of the other victims?" Lin Chen said. "No. They live in different parts of the settlement. They weren't together when the rain began, and their experiences were completely different."
Lin Chen fell silent, his fingers resting against his chin. The horned demon in the forest believed he had killed strangers. The wolf demon had run from something no one else could see. The young fox remembered a brother his family insisted had never existed. Now there was a paper spirit whose memories no longer matched the records in her own home. None of these demons know each other, and they didn't even see the same things. So why are they all suffering after the same rain? Lin Chen looked back at the moth demon.
Lin Chen looked back at the moth demon. "What happened to the others?" Wei Han added. "Have they recovered?" "Some have calmed down enough to speak normally. Others are still frightened. A few become angry whenever someone questions what they saw." The moth demon hesitated, rubbing his thumb along the edge of his cup. "There's one more. He hasn't spoken much since the rain stopped. He sits facing a blank wall and keeps asking someone to forgive him." Chen Yu frowned. "What does he think he's done?" The moth demon looked up, unease clear on his face. "He says he killed his own son." Chen Yu stared at him for a moment. "Does he have a son?" "No. He's never had a child."
Silence settled over the shelter. Even Yan Luo had nothing to say. Xu Yang felt his stomach tighten. A man grieving for someone who never existed. Another begging forgiveness for a child he never had. How many impossible memories can one rain leave behind?... He looked toward the doorway.The black rain had stopped, but its effects were spreading farther than they had imagined. Lin Chen remained quiet for a while, rubbing his thumb against his chin as he thought over everything the moth demon had told them. His gaze moved from the moth demon to Qing Li and Chen Yu, who were sitting beside each other. "The blue rain was different," he said. "You two couldn't hide the truth when you were caught in it. You said things you would normally have kept to yourselves."
Chen Yu's face changed at once. He shifted uncomfortably on his stool and looked away. "I'd rather not remember that part." Qing Li picked up his cup instead, taking a calm sip as if he had no intention of continuing that topic.Xu Yang looked between them.The blue rain forced people to tell the truth, while the black rain made them believe things that might not be true. One dragged secrets out of people's mouths, and the other stuffed strange memories into their heads. Were they really two different effects, or were they somehow connected?...
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. If the blue rain reveals what people are hiding, does the black rain reveal something they're hiding from themselves? No, that doesn't explain the fox's missing brother or the paper spirit's vanished companion. Unless... His ears twitched before he shook his head. Nope. Not enough evidence. I'm not going to solve a mystery by making up another mystery. That's how people end up digging holes in the ground because a stranger in a dream told them to...He glanced at Qing Li and Chen Yu again. Still, if both rains are connected, I wonder what would happen if someone got caught in both.Would they confess the truth and then forget it? Or would they confidently confess to something that never happened?Wonderful. Now even the rain has complicated rules.
Lin Chen looked at them then other demons. "The blue rain forced people to reveal what they were hiding. The black rain makes them believe things that may never have happened. If they're connected, we need to find out how." Yan Luo rested his hands on his knees, his earlier silence giving way to thought. "You think both rains come from the same source?" "I think it's possible." Lin Chen replied. "But we have no proof." Wei Han shook his head slightly. "Two things having strange effects doesn't mean they share the same cause. We shouldn't decide they're connected before we know more."
"He's right," Lin Chen admitted. He glanced toward the doorway, where a few drops of water still fell from the roof. "But both rains appeared in this region, and that makes it difficult to ignore the possibility." He straightened and looked around the shelter, meeting each person's eyes in turn. "We can't treat these as isolated incidents anymore. We need to find out how many settlements were affected and whether the victims experienced anything else in common." Chen Yu leaned forward, "And if this is happening across the region?" "Then there may be dozens, perhaps hundreds, of demons who need help." Qing Li replied.
Yan Luo's gaze shifted toward Lin Chen. "I think it's all connects with Rao Jin, we need to find out what actually happened to Rao Jin. His name keeps coming up, but we still know very little about him." The moth demon, who had been listening quietly, suddenly raised his head. "Rao Jin? Why does that name sound familiar? I feel like I've heard it somewhere before." Xu Yang's ears perked up. He turned toward the moth demon at once. "Where did you hear it? Try to remember."
The moth demon frowned and rubbed his forehead, searching his memory. For several seconds, he said nothing. Then his eyes lit up slightly. "I remember now. A traveler from a small village mentioned that name when he came to our settlement. The village is not far from this forest." Lin Chen straightened. "Did he say anything else about Rao Jin?" The moth demon shook his head. "Not much. But if you want to find out more, you could go there and ask the villagers. Someone might know something about him." Xu Yang glanced at the others, He turned toward Chen Yu. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go find out what's going on with this rain!"
The group left the moth demon's settlement and followed the narrow road through the forest. The trees grew thicker as they went, their twisted branches blocking the sunlight. Roots coiled across the muddy path, and pale mist clung to the ground. Xu Yang had expected to hear birds or insects, but the deeper they went, the quieter everything became. Even the wind had stopped. He slowed down and glanced at Lin Chen. "Is the forest supposed to be this quiet?" Lin Chen scanned the trees, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "No. Animals usually avoid places where they sense danger."
Yan Luo stopped walking. He looked at the dark woods on either side of the road, then at the path behind them. "And you couldn't have mentioned that before we entered?" "Would you have stayed behind?" Lin Chen asked. "Obviously." Qing Li laughed softly and flicked a leaf from his sleeve. "You followed us because I came along." Yan Luo turned to him. "Don't flatter yourself. I came because someone has to stop you from doing something stupid." "How Sweet! You were worried about me." Qing Li clasped his hands behind his back and leaned closer as he walked. "Should I be grateful, or shall I offer you a token of my affection?" "Offer me silence. It would be the most precious thing you own." "I'm afraid I can't. You see, my heart grows restless whenever you're near."
Yan Luo's steps faltered for the briefest moment. Qing Li noticed at once. His smile widened. "Ah. So you do have a heart." "Keep talking, and I'll make certain you never use that mouth again." "Careful, Yan Luo. Such bold words in the middle of the forest." Qing Li tilted his head, lowering his voice. "Someone might think you have improper intentions." Chen Yu abruptly turned his attention to a nearby tree. Xu Yang pressed his lips together to hide a grin. The forest is silent, the animals have fled, and these two are determined to become the greatest threat to our survival. If we die here, I hope someone records the cause accurately...
Yan Luo reached out and caught Qing Li by the back of his collar just as he was about to step over a thick root. Qing Li stopped and glanced down at the root, then slowly turned his head toward Yan Luo. "My hero. If you keep saving me like this, how will I ever repay you?" Yan Luo let go of his collar and brushed his hand against his sleeve. "By learning to watch where you're going." "Such a cold answer. I was hoping you'd ask for a kiss." Chen Yu nearly stumbled over his own feet.He quickly turned away, pretending to examine the trees, but the tips of his ears had already turned red.
Lin Chen closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if silently asking the heavens for patience. "Can you two behave yourselves for even half a day?" he asked. Qing Li looked at him innocently. "What have I done? I merely offered to repay a kindness." "Then repay it by keeping your mouth shut," Yan Luo replied.Xu Yang lowered his head, pretending to adjust something. Half a day? Lin Chen, my friend, you need to lower your expectations. These two couldn't survive half an hour without turning an ordinary conversation into a romantic drama...Wei Han glanced at Qing Li and Yan Luo before turning his attention back to the dark trees. Su Yuan watched them and smiled.
Yan Luo gave Qing Li a flat look. "I'd rather ask the tree to fall on me." Qing Li laughed and stepped closer, blocking his way on purpose. "You say such cruel things, yet you keep reaching for me. Tell me, Yan Luo, do your hands act before your heart can stop them?" Yan Luo caught his wrist before he could poke at his chest. "My hands are trying to keep you alive. Don't give them another reason to regret it." Qing Li glanced down at the hand around his wrist, then raised his eyes with a pleased smile. "You could have held my hand instead. It would be much more pleasant." "For whom?" "For me, naturally. But I'm willing to consider your feelings."
Yan Luo pulled him forward and released his wrist. "Walk." Qing Li stumbled half a step, then caught himself against Yan Luo's shoulder. He looked up at him, eyes full of amusement. "You could at least pretend you wanted me close." Yan Luo's gaze lingered on him for a moment. "If I wanted you close, you wouldn't need to guess." Xu Yang watched them from a few steps ahead.Xu Yang watched them from a few steps ahead. Oh? That was smooth. Yan Luo, you can't just drop a line like that and expect everyone to keep walking as if nothing happened. Qing Li looks like he's just been handed a marriage proposal, and honestly, I don't blame him. If someone looked me in the eye and said something like that, I'd need at least three business days to recover...
Qing Li's smile grew as he leaned closer to Yan Luo. "Then perhaps I should stop guessing and see how close you really want me." Yan Luo's ears turned faintly red. "Try it, and I'll leave you tied to a tree." There it is. The classic 'I like you, but I'll threaten you instead of admitting it.' Truly a timeless romance. Someone should write a book about these two. No, wait. I already have a front-row seat to the disaster, and I haven't even been paid for it... Xu Yang turned away before his grin became too obvious. Still, I have to admit, the chemistry is impressive. If these two ever actually kiss, I might witness a miracle. The real question is whether the forest will survive the shock...
Before Xu Yang could enjoy the moment any longer, a sharp crack came from the trees. Everyone stopped. A thick branch broke above them and fell onto the road with a heavy thud. Lin Chen drew his sword at once and stepped in front of Chen Yu. "Stay behind me." Chen Yu nodded and reached for the charm hanging at his waist. Yan Luo moved away from Qing Li and drew his sword, watching the trees on their left. Qing Li stepped beside him, his fingers brushing Yan Luo's sleeve before he raised his guard.They looked at each other for second then looked away. "Something is following us," Qing Li whispered. "Or waiting for us," Xu Yang replied. He pulled the small knife from his belt and studied the branches overhead.
The forest was still. There was no wind, yet the leaves trembled as if something were moving among them. A dark shadow slipped between two tree trunks. Xu Yang turned sharply toward it. "There!" Lin Chen rushed toward the trees. His boots sank into the damp earth as he pushed through the hanging vines. He swung his sword, cutting through the thick growth blocking his way. A sudden rustle came from above him. Before Lin Chen could look up, something dropped from the branches. "Lin Chen, behind you!" Xu Yang shouted.