Chapter 54: Nightmares
Lu Yuan walked alone.
Blood covered half his body. Some of it was his. The rest had dried darker across his sleeve and chest where Fei Ming’s blade had cut him earlier.
The front of his clothing hung open where he had torn it apart.
Beneath the torn fabric, the center of his chest was still split. Flesh parted around the gap between his ribs, and inside it the newly inserted heart pulsed steadily. Each beat pushed fresh blood along the exposed muscle before it slid down his abdomen in thin lines.
The night sky above the Gray Zone was dark and scattered with distant stars. Lu Yuan tilted his head back and looked up at them, breathing slowly as the heart inside the open cavity continued to beat.
Then he laughed.
The sound rose from deep in his chest and rolled out into the empty street. "That bastard RiaKai," he said, wiping a smear of blood from his jaw with the side of his hand. "Going after the family’s dejected... have you no shame?"
A star twinkled.
The exposed flesh across his chest began to move.
The torn muscle along the edges of the wound tightened and pulled inward. Tissues drew together, sealing the cavity around the beating heart until the ribs disappeared beneath new flesh. Skin formed at last, closing over the center of his chest until the surface smoothed completely.
At the same time, the thin grey veins beneath his skin faded. The discoloration across his neck and collarbone retreated gradually until his skin returned to its normal tone. The small red rashes along his throat flattened and vanished.
By the time he reached his encampment, no trace of the infection remained.
His abode occupied a wide section of the Gray Zone. Rows of tents stood arranged in neat lines across the open ground. Lanterns hung from tall poles, casting steady light over crates of goods, weapon racks, folded carpets, and stacks of sealed chests.
Lu Yuan walked straight through the center path.
Several soldiers stood guard along the way. Each of them wore the same dark uniform and carried a short blade at the hip. None of them reacted when they saw the blood soaking through Lu Yuan’s silk clothing. Their posture remained straight, eyes forward. This was a usual occurrence.
They had seen worse.
Lu Yuan pushed aside the entrance flap of a larger tent near the center of the camp. Four soldiers stood outside its corners, one at each pole supporting the structure.
Inside, the space was wide and richly furnished. Thick rugs covered the ground. Several carved chests lined the walls. A low table held cups and sealed bottles beside a tray of untouched fruit.
At the center was a large embroidered couch.
Lu Yuan lowered himself onto it and leaned back, exhaling slowly as he stretched his arms along the cushions. The blood on his sleeve smeared faintly across the fabric.
One soldier stepped inside and waited quietly near the entrance.
Glancing toward him, he ordered, "Call the second son," he said. "Tell him to meet me in the new Ymir’s shrine."
The soldier bowed his head once and left immediately.
Lu Yuan rose a moment later and changed into fresh clothing. The new silk robe hung clean and unmarked across his shoulders. Once finished, he stepped back outside and began walking toward the shrine.
The structure stood slightly apart from the tents.
Red lanterns hung around the entrance, their light washing the stone floor in a deep glow. Inside the shrine, the air smelled faintly of burnt incense.
At the center of the chamber stood Ymir’s altar.
It had been constructed entirely from human bones. Long femurs formed the base supports while stacked skulls built the raised platform. Smaller bones had been fitted between them to create a flat surface across the top.
Lu Yuan approached the altar and lit the waiting candles one by one.
Small flames rose along the edges of the bone platform. Their light flickered across the hollow eye sockets of the skulls.
When the last candle burned, he raised his hands above his head and clapped them together once before lowering them in front of his chest.
"Ymir. Creator and destroyer of the world. Pardon me for coming so late."
Footsteps sounded behind him.
Lu Tian had entered the shrine but stopped several paces from the altar.
He did not step into the candlelight. Instead he stood near the entrance and waited, arms folded across his chest.
Lu Yuan finished the offering before turning around.
Only then did Lu Tian speak. "I thought you hated serving the celestial pests."
Stepping away from the altar, the first son brushed wax from his fingertips. "Apparently, a brother of mine wasted all my resources and carried orders without my decree," he claimed.
"Thousands of coins lost. Several clients disappointed. I even almost got in trouble with the high rank Krats. Tell me, dear brother... how could I not pray?"
Lu Tian’s jaw tightened.
"Our cousin is neither a good nor a property for you to bid on and sell. Have the women you kill daily not satisfied you?"
Lu Yuan walked toward him.
The distance between them closed quickly as the first son stopped a single step away. The height difference forced Lu Tian to lift his chin slightly to keep eye contact.
Lu Yuan studied his face for a moment.
When Lu Tian did not move back, a small smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Oh. I see," he muttered. "You finally sobered up."
Lu Tian’s eyes widened.
Before he could utter any words, Lu Yuan reached forward and took his hand.
Something cold pressed into Lu Tian’s palm.
Lu Yuan closed his fingers around it briefly before letting go.
When the second son looked down, a small metal knife rested in his hand.
Leaning closer, Lu Yuan’s voice lowered as he spoke directly into his brother’s ear. "Do us both another favor... If you can’t shut your mouth like you used to, and keep your fucking eyes out of my business..."
His dark eyes shifted slightly to meet Lu Tian’s, leaning even closer.
"...Then kill yourself."
---
Justice slept curled tightly on a bed.
The bandages wrapped around his stomach had been tied carefully, the cloth clean but still faintly stained where the wound beneath it had bled earlier. His breathing was shallow but more stable than before.
Then his ears twitched.
In the darkness behind his closed eyes, he dreamt.
Dark empty ground stretched around him.
Looking around as he turned in circles, he called out. "Fei... Ming?"
’I have never said his name out loud before...’
No one answered him.
He called again, louder.
"Fei Ming."
His voice cracked. The ground beneath his paws felt colder. He took a step forward but the distance never closed.
Legs trembling, he crouched low. He wanted to cry. Everything hurts.
But then his whine turned shaky as he called for the last time.
"Dad..."
Justice jolted awake. His body jerked upright on the cot. Every muscle trembled. Eyes darting around the room, wide and unfocused, he heaved loudly...
...Until a warm hand moved through his golden fur, stroking from head to his shoulders.
Looking up, his pupils dilated when he saw him.
Fei Ming sat on the edge of the cot. His dark eyes watched the cat.
"You’re awake," he said. "Anything wrong?"
Justice stared at him for two full seconds. Then he pushed forward with his front paws and pressed his body against Fei Ming’s chest. Forelegs hooked over the man’s shoulders. Face buried into the crook of his neck.
"Don’t ever leave me."
’Hmm.’ Fei Ming continued patting him.
"I didn’t."