"Mother! Mother! Are you all right?! Don't hit my mother! Don't hit... you monster!"
The girl's screams came from behind the window lattice. She stood in front of the woman, but the drunken figure shoved her aside with one forceful slap.
He seized the woman's hair with one hand and clamped the other around her throat.
His drunken, slightly crazed panting drifted out.
"I've thought it through... I've finally thought it through... if I want a long life... there has to be a sacrifice... you know? Xiaoqing, I really do love you... I really think I married a woman beyond reproach..."
He staggered to his feet and grabbed his cane.
He brought it crashing down on her.
Bang-
"Mother!! Mother!! Stop hitting her! Father, please stop!!"
The girl sobbed and wailed.
But it made no difference. The man kicked her aside and once again swung his cane down hard on the woman lying on the floor.
Every blow struck her body with brutal force.
Every blow seemed intended to do the worst possible damage.
"At least tell me why! What did I do wrong? What have I done to displease you this time!!"
"I've been married to you for so many years. I followed you here... I gave up my life in the Demon Capital. At least tell me... I..."
Bang-
Bang-
The figure said nothing. As his cane fell again and again, crimson blood splattered across the window lattice. The woman's voice grew weaker and weaker, until she was barely clinging to life.
At last, the figure dropped his cane. Clutching a bottle of liquor, he staggered outside, steadying himself against the window lattice.
"We have plenty of days ahead of us... you filthy bitch..."
Only after the figure had left did she move.
The girl rushed to her