"Mhm, it really is beautiful."
Xiao Xiao smiled.
At least the Ghost of Wangliang and Chiu Chiu had met.
That was good.
"What's wrong?"
Noticing something off in Master Xiao's tone, Su Xun's smile faded slightly. "Did something happen?"
Xiao Xiao didn't answer. Instead, he turned to look toward the lakeside.
Though puzzled, Su Xun didn't press him. He followed Master Xiao's gaze.
The next second, he froze.
A... little bird was floating in midair.
Why did he put it that way?
Because the bird's wings were folded against its sides, not spread open.
Maybe he was just ignorant, but until now, he'd never known a bird could fly in that position.
It looked more like someone was holding the bird.
Someone... holding it?
Su Xun froze.
Then he realized, "Is that Chiu Chiu?"
"Is the Ghost of Wangliang holding it?"
"Mhm."
Xiao Xiao nodded.
"That little bird..."
Even from this distance, he could tell how battered and weak it was.
"It..."
"Won't live much longer."
Xiao Xiao's voice was quiet and flat.
"It's still a little too late."
If the Ghost of Wangliang had come to him for help the day Chiu Chiu disappeared—or even a day earlier—perhaps Chiu Chiu wouldn't have...
He didn't let himself finish the thought.
There were no what-ifs.
And time couldn't be turned back.
"Is that so..."
A hint of sadness crossed Su Xun's face.
He said nothing more. Like Master Xiao, he silently watched the little bird by the lake.
All he could see was the little bird by the lake.
He couldn't see the monsters that Master Xiao could.
He wondered what expression the Ghost of Wangliang wore right now.
It was hard for him to imagine a monster looking sad.
In fact, he'd always thought monsters couldn't feel sadness