Chapter 1376: Shame

Chapter 1377: Guilt

Author: Sanyin YinyuWord Count: 1238

"What a mess you're in, Yang Xiao."

The black-robed Chen Ling lightly raised a finger, and a boning knife automatically cut through the restraints and ropes on Yang Xiao. He narrowed his eyes slightly, the crescent-like crimson glowing distinctly in the darkness.

Yang Xiao, soaked through, stood up and looked at the black-robed figure, which was both strange and faintly familiar. He asked in confusion, "Director Chen... why have you become like this?"

"What? Is there something wrong with this?" The black-robed Chen Ling chuckled. "It's just a face. I am who I am. Why should I cater to your human notions of beauty and ugliness? I actually think this is great. This way, every time I kill someone, their expressions will be even more terrified... Hahahaha!"

Yang Xiao's brows furrowed slightly. He clearly felt that the Chen Ling before him was different from before... What exactly had happened to him?

As the black-robed Chen Ling continued to laugh, a look of struggle suddenly appeared on his face. He put one hand on his forehead and stumbled. He took deep breaths, his voice hoarse: "Wait for me..."

The black-robed Chen Ling turned and walked out of the cabin, closing the door behind him. Yang Xiao stared blankly at the scene, his face filled with confusion... About ten seconds later, the cabin door opened again, and Chen Ling, now wearing a large red theatrical robe, walked in. His previous aggression and sharpness were gone, but his expression was a little worn.

Yang Xiao was taken aback. "Director Chen, did you go out to change your clothes?"

Chen Ling: ...

In Yang Xiao's eyes, Chen Ling had merely changed into a different robe, but for Chen Ling, it had been a struggle to suppress his second personality. Although he had used his second personality in the Ghost Mockery Abyss before, those instances were brief. This time, he found that the longer his second personality dominated, the harder it became to suppress it.

In fact, during this process, he repeatedly had thoughts like, "Maybe I shouldn't change back," or "This personality isn't bad as the main one." After all, the thrill of overwhelming power and the wild, arrogant, vengeful nature were incredibly satisfying. That feeling of being reckless and peerless was addictive for anyone who experienced it. If Chen Ling's primary personality hadn't experienced so much and possessed an extremely strong will, it would likely have been very difficult to suppress the second personality... This also reminded Chen Ling that he absolutely couldn't maintain his second personality for too long in the future, or he could easily become completely lost.

"...Something like that," Chen Ling could only reply.

"But you seem different from a moment ago."

"Oh?"

"Yes... even though you just changed clothes, you feel much more approachable now." Yang Xiao hesitated for a moment. "How should I put it... you were quite scary earlier."

"Enough about me, how are you?"

Hearing Chen Ling's question, Yang Xiao opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word. Pain reappeared on his face, and his bloodshot eyes were filled with regret and self-blame:

"It's all my fault... I caused their deaths..."

"I thought I could change the trajectory of the nuclear bomb, like I did in Wushan, and save everyone..."

"Before that, I even swore to them, telling them not to run around and to stay close to me... I told them I had a way to save them."

"I even floated up from the ground like Lu Xun, calling myself the 'Aurora Monarch'... They truly believed me. They rushed desperately towards me, even lifting their children up to me..."

"But... but this time I was too exhausted. It was falling directly down on us, and even with all my strength, I couldn't move it completely away..."

"It exploded, and everyone vanished in an instant... only I remained..."

"I don't know how I survived. When I regained consciousness, I heard countless voices screaming in my mind. I couldn't make out what they were saying, only that my head felt like it was splitting open..."

"Then, my consciousness would be clear one moment and muddled the next. I seemed to hear them whispering something in my ear, and then, somehow, I just picked a direction and suddenly flew away... When I woke up, I was here."

Yang Xiao's fists clenched tighter and tighter. He clutched his head in self-reproach, tears continuously overflowing from his eyes. "It's all my fault... all my fault!! They trusted me so much, yet I... I thought I could be the next Lu Xun, but in the end..."

"I'm just a useless person, utterly useless!!"

Yang Xiao's voice trembled. He roared continuously as if he had completely broken down. It was the first time Chen Ling had seen him like this since they met.

"Of course, it's not your fault," Chen Ling said without hesitation. "The nuclear bomb was destined to fall there. Without you, they wouldn't have survived anyway... You did your absolute best to save them. Their deaths have nothing to do with you."

Yang Xiao's chest still heaved violently. His nature was too kind and introverted; for him, not being able to do something he felt he should have done, or failing to fulfill a promise, was incredibly painful. He was the kind of child who, after making plans with friends to see a movie, would secretly shed tears of guilt on his hospital bed because a sudden high fever sent him to the emergency room, preventing him from keeping his word. Moreover, this time, the burden on him was millions of lives.

Chen Ling simply watched him, recalling the dream Yang Xiao had just experienced... and the charred hands that had reached out from behind him.

"Yang Xiao, let me see your soul," Chen Ling suddenly said.

"...What?"

"Your aurora."

Yang Xiao looked at his hands hesitantly, seemingly uncertain... Before being hit by the nuclear bomb, he could release a tiny bit of aurora, but it was very faint. However, he vaguely remembered seeing a vast aurora during the period of blurred consciousness after being struck by the bomb. Deep down, he seemed to have already guessed something, but he dared not truly verify his suspicion... He feared he wouldn't be able to accept the outcome.

"Come on," Chen Ling said, looking into his eyes. "You have to face them eventually, don't you?"

Hearing this, a look of determination flashed in Yang Xiao's eyes. He took a deep breath and slowly closed them. Immediately, magnificent and beautiful auroras, almost solidified into tangible forms, spread outwards from him, illuminating the entire cabin!

"This is..." Yang Xiao sensed everything around him, a look of shock appearing on his face. "My soul... how did it become so powerful??"

"It's simple," Chen Ling said, his thoughts confirmed by the sight. "Because they didn't completely die. Their soul magnetic fields were captured by your ability, becoming a part of your soul... In other words, they have merged with you."