5 He Was The One Who Changed (1/2)

A puff of air was slowly exhaled inside a dimly lit chamber from a figure sitting in his study room, his eyes trained on an object in front of him. Guiren finally tore his eyes away. He had already sent Yanmei away after checking her body for injuries. Other than a few mild injuries, the girl was fine. A sense of regret slithered into his heart. Was this what Daiyu wanted to tell him? Had he been too hasty in his actions?

His eyes flickered back to the object, a single branch of pink blossoms that laid on his table.

His fingers reached and gently stroke the flowers. Even if Daiyu didn't kill Yanmei, it could not be denied that Daiyu had intended to. Her heart was unreadable. With such a muddled head, he could not allow Daiyu to continue to keep the key. She might harm the sect.

Daiyu.

You really changed.

His fingers crushed around the flower and squeezed tightly. Making up his mind, he left the room. The door banged behind him, and a swarm of loose petals wafted away, leaving the room and scattering in the air.

Never to be seen again.

Gone

********

A pair of white shoes stopped its momentum outside a pair of tightly locked wooden doors.Guiren sighed. He hadn't wanted to come back tonight. Daiyu's stinging pleas still rang in his ears, and he shook his head.

”Daiyu.”

His voice rang out and carried through into the void of the night. The stillness seemed to cut into his heart. He frowned. Why hadn't Daiyu opened the door yet? Was this another of her schemes?

”Daiyu.”

This time his voice seemed to echo about the residence. It received no answer nor the slightest reply. The air seemed to be strangely quiet as though it was waiting for him to make another move. The pond nearby reflected the moon distinctly while the branches of the trees softly swayed. Only then did Guiren realized something seemed wrong. His eyes darkened, and he snapped the lock open.

As the rusty metal fell apart. The wooden door seemed to spread open with a sense of regret slowly. While the room was dark, the moonlight had dimly lit up the room. Beyond the stacks of carefully placed books, the considerately made pottery, and refined sword, a girl laid motionless on the ground.

Guiren felt his heart freezing for a minute.

”Daiyu?” His voice that was so quiet was congested with confusion. Where was she? Who was this on the ground? The scene seemed to blur as his questions grew. Where was his senior sister? Where?!

His feet seemed to lead on their own, reaching closer to the body. The sound of his shoes stepping in the sticky blood echoed painfully into his heart.

”Daiyu.”

The girl remained motionless.

Her black hair was swirled around her neck. Her eyes shut composedly with a gentle smile on her lips. The scene was oddly peacefully yet Guiren's heart throbbed achingly. His eyes stared blankly.

She was dead.

Countless recollections started to sail across his eyes.

A gentle figure smiling at him yet while everyone glared at him with hatred.

A soft hand grasping his fingers tightly.

The swirling black hair that covered her pale neck.

Her laugh.

Her smile.

Her gentle words.

How was it so hard to recall them until now?

No.

How long was it that he last saw Daiyu's smile?

He couldn't remember.