He was a boy in his teens, his face deathly pale. He had long since stopped breathing.
A hideous, bloody hole gaped in his chest. His heart had been gouged out.
He was his grandson.
He had still come a step too late.
Before retreating, the eldritch beings had slaughtered a group of captives.
His grandson had been among them.
"Xiao Bao... oh, Xiao Bao..."
The Blood Shadow Immortal Emperor cradled his grandson's body and wept like a child, his voice filled with despair and remorse.
Everyone around him fell silent as they watched.
Blood Shadow had been wrong to collude with the enemy, but the sight before them still made their hearts ache.
Su Ming stood at the doorway, watching quietly.
He said nothing.
There was no greater pain in this world than for the white-haired to bury the black-haired.
Blood Shadow had sinned, but his suffering was real, too.
Only after a long time did the Blood Shadow Immortal Emperor stop crying.
He carefully gathered his grandson's body into his arms, rose, and walked over to Su Ming.
With a thud, he dropped to his knees.
"Hall Master Su, I am guilty."
"I colluded with the enemy and betrayed our people, causing the deaths of many brothers in the Alliance. Even ten thousand deaths could not atone for my crimes."
"I don't ask you to spare my life. I only ask... that you let me bury Xiao Bao with my own hands."
"Once he is buried, I will accept whatever punishment you decree."
He bowed his head, his voice hoarse and his face ashen.
Su Ming looked at him and fell silent for a moment.
"Get up," he said evenly. "Bury the child first."
"We'll settle your account when we return."
The Blood Shadow Immortal Emperor kowtowed, then