Subtitle: Behind Them
Zero – It's Li's turn!
Hunter – Young lady, are you all right? You seemed to drift off for a moment.
Li – Sorry… I thought I heard something.
Hunter – Then you'll need to rest soon.
He probably hadn't heard the voice at all. He was treating me like I was insane.
We'd been wandering through the city for days, searching for clues. Still, nothing. The silence of failure was starting to suffocate me. Could it be…? No, Li, that's not who you are.
The air was freezing. The night's danger and uncertainty surrounded us like a living thing. Suddenly, the hunter stopped, as if trying to focus on something far away.
Hunter – There's something ahead.
Li – Then let's go.
He lifted me onto his back. Every step he took felt like it tore through space and time. The wind bit at my skin. I shut my eyes tight.
Hunter – Do you know what this is?
I opened my eyes and slowly slid off his back.
Li – What's broken glass doing in the middle of sand?
He buried his hand into the sand and looked around carefully.
Hunter – Strange…
He'd realized something. I walked closer, curious.
Li – What do you mean?
Hunter – Nothing.
His tone was sharp. He definitely knew something but didn't want me to. That's when my father's words echoed in my mind:"Curiosity kills, Li. It's good to be curious — but you must know where to stop."
I sighed and kept searching around.
Li – THERE'S SOMETHING OVER THERE!
Hunter – Can you bring it here? I want to examine this first.
I grabbed the hem of my dress and ran toward it. The moment I saw it, my eyes went wide. I whispered in disbelief:
Li – No… it can't be real…
I picked it up and hid it in my pocket. There was no way this object could appear here — because he had left China long ago.
Could it be him? No… impossible.
Hunter – What is it?
Li (thinking) – IT CAN'T BE REAL! IT CAN'T BE! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!
Hunter – Li, are you okay?
The hunter stood before me. I felt a little safer. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.
Li – It's nothing. I think seeing nothing there just… got to me.
The hunter stood silently. I was terrified to raise my head. His soulless stare chilled me to the core.
I forced myself to look up.
Li – What was it?
Hunter – Nothing.
The silence deepened. The wind howled through the space between us. My hair fell across my eyes. When I brushed it aside—I saw him. My brother.He raised a finger to his lips and whispered:
Poison – Shh…
The hunter must have seen him too, because he immediately drew his sword.
Hunter – WHO ARE YOU?!
Poison – You may call me Poison. Li, hand me my dagger.
I gripped it tightly in my pocket.
Li – I WON'T!
The hunter stepped in front of me, drawing his second sword. He swung at Poison, but my brother dodged easily.
Poison – If you won't give it to me, I'll just take it by force.
He swiftly approached and pulled the dagger from my pocket.
Poison – You misunderstand, Li. I didn't come back. I was just passing by when I saw a dome form nearby.
The hunter aimed his second sword at Poison's neck, snatched the dagger, and handed it back to me.
Hunter – Then talk. What did you see?
My brother turned around, calm as ever.
Poison – That thing in your hand is dangerous. Put it down, sister.
Just as the hunter was about to strike again, I grabbed his arm.
Li – STOP! He's my brother!
The hunter stared at me, stunned.
Poison used that opening to escape.
Poison – You both know you can't get through this alone.
The hunter lowered his weapon, as if giving up. Poison smiled triumphantly.
Poison – Let's settle this another time. I don't know any of you — except Li.
The hunter scanned the surroundings rapidly. I turned my head in panic, searching for him. He seized the moment, snatched the dagger from my hand, and jumped onto the rooftop.
Poison – Thank you, Li.
And with that, he vanished into the night.
The hunter clenched his fist.
Li – I'm sorry...
He raised his hand, signaling me to be silent.
Hunter – We'll see him again. But before that, you owe me an explanation.
He was angry — I could tell.
Li – It's a long story! We can't waste time now!
He slowly raised his sword and pointed it at me.
I swallowed hard. My hands trembled.
Li – What are you doing...?
My voice trembled like a string about to snap.
He looked down, conflicted.
Hunter – What was that dagger?
My throat locked up.
Li – I can't tell you. I WON'T TELL YOU!
His trust in me began to fade.
Hunter – Li, get a hold of yourself.
I fell to my knees. Mud covered my dress. I bowed my head — just like my mother used to."A person must know when to bow their head," she had said.
I had already surrendered myself to death. Summoning the last of my courage, I looked into his eyes.
Hunter – I'm going back to the Guild.
Then he vanished. He'd spared me.
I clenched my dress tightly. My nails had torn off completely. I couldn't even feel the pain.
I looked down at my hand. Blood dripped onto the ground. I tore a piece of my dress and wrapped it around the wound.Snake bite marks glared back at me.
I started running. Poison's goal was clear — he wanted that thing.I ran toward the Tang Clan as fast as my body could move.
Rain began to pour violently, blinding my sight. The blood from my hand mixed with the rainwater.
Finally, I reached the Tang Clan's gate.
It loomed before me like a giant ready to crush me. I pushed it open with all my strength.
I was home. Without stopping, I sprinted down the long corridor toward the main hall. My breath was ragged.
When I reached the hall, I raised my hand and shouted:
Li – STOP!
Poison stood there, glaring at me with hatred. He held the Breath of Hydra and looked as if he were about to drop it.
Poison – You figured it out, didn't you?
Li – It's your fault for thinking I'm stupid!
He held his breath.
Li – What's wrong? Afraid?
Poison – Tch.
Without even taking a step toward me, he threw the dagger he'd stolen. I didn't have enough time to dodge.
The blade pierced me. I spat blood onto the floor. The ground began to corrode from the poison in my veins.
Poison – Li, you—!
Li – AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! DID YOU REALLY THINK I JUST SAT THERE DOING NOTHING AFTER YOU LEFT?! I WON'T LET YOU HAVE THAT POISON!
He couldn't move. Shifting even slightly while absorbing that kind of toxin meant instant death.
I trusted that knowledge — and charged straight at him.
He stabbed me with his sword, but it didn't matter.
Poison – DON'T BE STUPID, LI!
Li – I'm not trying to kill you.
With the last of my strength, I grabbed the Breath of Hydra and drank it.
Poison tried to pull his sword out and step back.
Slowly, I turned my head. My skin was melting from the toxin I'd just consumed.
Li – Brother… I never once beat you in a fight. Not once. And I still can't. But I've accepted that. You don't need to be strong to win.
I hurled the rest of the Breath of Hydra away.
Poison – ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US BOTH, LI?!
Li – No. Just you.
With all my remaining strength, I lunged at him. I bit his hand with all my might. When I pulled away, I realized I had torn off a piece of his flesh. I spat it onto the ground.
Li – I hope you tell me everything before you die.
Poison – How foolish you are, Li…
My vision began to fade. Two figures draped in white cloth approached him.
Zero – What a mess you've made, Poison. Maybe I should've played with your sister instead.
Poison – DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!
My eyes closed. All I could hear were muffled, meaningless sounds.Maybe what I'd heard just now… was an illusion.My brother would never say such things.
Zero – I wonder what poor Odasaku is doing right now?
End of Chapter.