Li Huowang stood where he was, chills running through his whole body as he suppressed the rage in his heart and looked at Qing Wanglai, who had said those words.
The other man's words were so sincere that, if Li Huowang had not known his true nature, he might almost have believed they came from the heart.
Though he had long known Qing Wanglai was a beast in human skin, Li Huowang was still shocked anew every time the man revealed it.
To deal with an enemy, he could make his companions serve as bait without even batting an eye.
"You... you!!" Li Huowang shook his head, wanting to say something, yet in the end, nothing came out.
He turned and went to Chen Hongyu, whose face was a bloody, mangled mess. Trembling, Li Huowang reached out and helped her corpse up.
"Sister Chen, how could you just die like this? You're the Ruler of Fate who governs decay, for heaven's sake!"
"You can't die! If you die, decay will disappear again!"
Chen Hongyu always made Li Huowang think inexplicably of the Abbess. Yet just like with Qian Fu, watching someone who had once spoken with him die so lightly, so casually, right before his eyes truly hurt.
"Enough. Get ready. We're setting out again."
Feeling someone pat his shoulder, Li Huowang fiercely raised his hand and knocked theirs away.
He turned around and glared at the owner of that hand, Zhao Shuangdian.
Zhao Shuangdian offered no explanation. She merely looked calmly at Li Huowang and repeated, "What did I say before we came? Follow orders, no matter what happens. We don't have time to grieve."
Staring into her eyes, Li Huowang slowly lowered Chen Hongyu back down. "You're all the same! Every last one of you is the same!