Dawn had broken, yet dreams were still dreams and reality was still reality. The line between them, however, was not particularly clear. Shangguan Cheng had several chaotic dreams in succession, so when he opened his eyes and saw Han Wuxian return, he was not surprised in the least. In his memory, the long-haired woman had never left..
"You killed Mother and tricked Father into leaving." Shangguan Cheng knelt beside Luo Ningcha and stared straight at his greatest enemy.
Han Wuxian sat cross-legged beside the kang. Her waterfall-like hair hung over her chest, and her pure-white robe and gentle smile formed a stark contrast with the shabby, filthy room. "People's impressions of the dead are usually stronger. If you want to remember what your mother looked like, take one last look at her."
Shangguan Cheng turned his head and saw an iron-blue face, half a tongue hanging from its mouth. Most striking of all were the eyes—unusually large, as if they might fall from their sockets at any moment.
This isn't Mother, he told himself. His heart was filled with terror. He could neither deny it aloud nor tear his gaze away.
Han Wuxian carefully observed the child's reaction and said with a smile, "Hmm, he's little, but not timid. Han Fen taught you well. Ah, what a pity. Such a clever, lively little fellow, and nobody wants him."
Shangguan Cheng closed his eyes and desperately recalled what his mother had looked like before.
Han Wuxian giggled. She bore the child no ill will. She was merely like a bored cat tormenting the little mouse beneath its claws for a scrap of amusement. "Don't worry. In a few days, she'll turn into a pile of rotting flesh, with bugs crawling in and out, until all that's left is a skeleton. I