The black rain finally stopped over the forest. A few drops fell from the clouds before the sky slowly returned to normal. Water dripped from the branches into the puddles on the muddy ground. The leaves shook gently in the wind, and the air smelled of wet earth. Xu Yang lifted his head and looked through the trees. His small black cat ears twitched as he waited for another black drop to fall, but nothing came. He let out a relieved breath. Finally. I thought this rain would never end... He shook his body, sending water flying from his black hair and damp clothes. His cat ears flattened as droplets splashed across his face.
For a moment, he felt better. Then a cold drop fell from a leaf onto his nose. Xu Yang froze and glared at the branch above him. Really? The rain has stopped, but even the trees want to trouble me?...He rubbed his nose with the back of his hand and turned toward the young fox demon. The fox was still kneeling on the ground, holding the red cloth tightly against his chest. His shoulders shook as he cried, and his muddy fingers gripped the cloth so hard that Xu Yang wondered if he would ever let it go. Xu Yang's ears drooped slightly. The rain has stopped, but he hasn't even noticed.
Wei Han stood nearby, giving the young fox time to calm down. The older demon looked between the fox and the others before taking a step forward. "Should we not ask him a few more questions? Perhaps we can find out where he came from." Wei Han shook his head. "Look at him. He can barely speak." "But he might remember something if we try—" "Enough." Lin Chen's voice stopped him. He stepped forward, his expression serious, and looked at the older demon. "Give him some space. Crowding him will not help."
The horned demon glanced at the fox and slowly stepped back. The wolf demon followed, though he kept looking toward the trees. The older demon sighed and wiped the water from his face. "I am only trying to understand what happened," he said. "So are we," Lin Chen replied. He looked at the older demon calmly. "But we cannot force him to answer when he is not ready." The older demon pressed his lips together. After a moment, he nodded and moved aside. Xu Yang stood close to Lin Chen,His ears twitched as he looked at the crying fox and then at the dark forest around them. Good. At least someone here understands that asking a hundred questions won't magically fix everything... What a terrible thing to happen. How can you miss someone when you can't even remember who they are?...
Lin Chen turned toward the older demon. "You said you found him near the forest. Tell me exactly what happened." The older demon straightened and rubbed his hands together to warm them. "I was looking for shelter when the rain started. I found a large tree and stayed beneath it. The rain was strange, so I didn't dare move around." Lin Chen nodded toward the fox. "When did you see him?" The older demon pointed toward the edge of the clearing. "Later. The black rain was still falling when I heard something moving between the trees. Then he came stumbling out from there." Wei Han glanced at the fox before turning back to the older demon. "Did he seem injured?" The older demon shook his head. "I couldn't tell. His clothes were covered in mud, and he looked as though he had been running for a long time." He paused and looked toward the trees. "He kept looking behind him, as if someone were chasing him."
The older demon paused, rubbing his chin as he tried to remember. "It looked as though someone was chasing him." Xu Yang's little cat ears perked up, and he leaned forward slightly. "Did you see anyone with him?" Lin Chen asked. "No." The older demon shook his head. "I looked around, but there was no one nearby. I thought he might have lost his companions, so I asked if he needed help." He glanced at the fox, who was wiping his face with his sleeve. "He didn't answer me at first." Lin Chen followed his gaze. "What did he say when he finally spoke?" "He kept saying he had to find someone."
The older demon frowned, trying to recall the details. "I asked who he was looking for, but he couldn't explain. He just kept repeating the same words. Then he looked at the cloth in his hand and started asking about his brother." Xu Yang's ears twitched. He was looking for someone before he even remembered his brother... He glanced at the fox, who was still holding the red cloth tightly. Something about this bothered him. The fox hadn't simply remembered a brother and broken down. He had been searching for someone before he even knew who that person was.
Lin Chen's expression grew thoughtful. He looked toward the fox, then back at the older demon. "Did he mention a name?" "No." The older demon spread his hands helplessly. "The more I asked, the more confused he became." Lin Chen fell quiet. He turned toward the trees where the fox had appeared and studied the muddy path for a moment before looking back at the older demon. "Did you notice anyone else entering or leaving the forest during the rain?" The older demon's face grew serious. He glanced between the trees before shaking his head. "Not clearly. The rain was too heavy. I could barely see a few steps ahead." Lin Chen watched him for a moment. "But you heard something, didn't you?" Xu Yang straightened at once, his little cat ears standing upright as he turned toward the older demon. "What did you hear?"
The older demon looked at him, then lowered his voice slightly. "A shout. It came from deeper in the forest, shortly before the fox appeared." Yan Luo, who had been examining the muddy ground nearby, lifted his head. He brushed the dirt from his fingers and walked back toward them. "A shout? What did it sound like?" The older demon rubbed his jaw. "Someone sounded desperate, but I couldn't tell whether it was a man or a woman. The rain was too loud, and the voice was too far away." Qing Li stepped out from beneath a tree and approached the group. He glanced toward the forest before turning to the older demon, his damp hair clinging to the sides of his face. "Could you understand the words?" "No. I heard a few sounds, but before I could make them out, the voice stopped." The older demon shook his head. "After that, everything went quiet."
The wolf demon, who had been standing near the edge of the clearing, turned toward the direction of the shout. His ears tilted forward as he listened, but the only sound was water dripping from the branches. "Did you hear any footsteps afterward?" he asked. "No." The older demon looked uncomfortable with everyone questioning him. "I thought it might have been another demon caught in the rain. I had no reason to think the shout was connected to the fox." Lin Chen looked at him. "Why didn't you mention it earlier?" His voice was calm, but his eyes remained fixed on the older demon.
The older demon frowned. "You were asking me about the fox. I didn't think the shout was important, and I didn't know if the two were connected." Lin Chen studied him for a moment before giving a small nod. "All right. If you remember anything else, tell us." He turned toward the forest, lost in thought. Xu Yang followed his gaze. The trees stood still, their wet branches hanging over the muddy path. Someone had shouted, and then the fox had appeared alone.That could be a coincidence... He rubbed his damp hands together. But knowing our luck, it's probably the start of another problem...His tail curled behind him, hidden beneath his long outer robe. If someone else had been in the forest, where had they gone? Had they escaped before the rain stopped? Or had the rain shown the fox something so terrible that he had run without knowing where he was going?...
Xu Yang glanced at the young demon again. The fox had stopped crying for a moment. He remained on his knees with his head lowered, but his grip on the red cloth had loosened a little. He wiped his cheeks with his sleeve and placed one hand on the muddy ground, trying to stand.His arms shook as he tried to push himself up.Before he could push himself up, his elbow slipped, and he nearly fell forward.Wei Han quickly moved to stop the fox from falling. "Careful." He caught the fox by the arm and helped him stand. "Do not rush. You have been through enough already."
The fox held onto his sleeve, his fingers shaking as he tried to keep his balance. With Wei Han's help, he slowly stood up, but his knees almost gave way again. He leaned against the older demon and waited until the dizziness passed. "Can you stand?" Wei Han asked. The fox gave a weak nod. "I think so." "Then take your time." Wei Han stayed close in case he fell again. The fox took one slow step, then another. His face tightened, and he stopped to catch his breath before trying again. When he finally stood on his own, he let go of Wei Han's sleeve and lowered his head. "Sorry." Wei Han frowned slightly. "You have nothing to apologize for." He looked at the fox's pale face and muddy clothes. "Does anything hurt?" "I don't think so." Qing Li looked at him with confusion. "You are not sure?!"
The fox opened his mouth but said nothing. He looked down at his hands and turned them over, as if trying to remember something. Then he pressed the red cloth against his chest. "I cannot remember clearly." Wei Han watched him quietly. The fox held the cloth tighter, and his breathing grew uneven. "I remember holding someone's hand," he murmured. "But when I try to think about it, everything becomes blurred." He closed his eyes and tried to remember, but nothing came back. Wei Han did not ask him anything else. "You do not have to force yourself to remember."
The fox opened his eyes and looked at him in surprise. He seemed to expect more questions, but Wei Han did not press him. After a moment, the fox lowered his head again. "Can we leave?" he asked quietly. He glanced at the trees, then quickly looked away. "I do not want to stay here." Lin Chen looked toward the forest. The rain had stopped, but water still dripped from the branches, and the clearing remained quiet. The strange visions, the frightened demons, and the shout the older demon had heard gave him enough reason to leave. "We should leave," he said. "There is no reason to remain here any longer."
The fox moved closer to the others, still holding the red cloth. He kept looking back at the trees, as if he feared something might come after him. Lin Chen noticed but said nothing. Instead, he looked at the group. "Stay close to one another. After what happened, we cannot assume the danger has passed just because the rain stopped. If anyone hears a voice or sees something unusual, inform the rest of us immediately. Do not follow anything into the forest without knowing what it is." The horned demon quickly moved away from the trees. "I have no intention of going anywhere alone." Yan Luo looked at him, his expression serious. "See that you remember those words. You seemed rather eager to charge into danger earlier."
The horned demon glared at him. "I was not eager. I was trying to defend myself!" "Against what?" Yan Luo asked, raising an eyebrow. "You were swinging at empty air." "You did not see what I saw!" The horned demon raised his voice and clenched his fists. "Do you think I wanted to act that way? I knew it was not there, but I could still hear them. I could still see them!" His voice broke, and he looked away. When a branch moved nearby, he stepped back and stared at it. After a moment, he rubbed his face with both hands and took a deep breath. "I do not want to talk about it."
Yan Luo's expression softened. He watched the demon for a moment before giving a small nod. "Then do not." He moved aside, giving the demon some space instead of asking more questions. "But if it happens again, do not try to face it alone." The horned demon looked at him, surprised by his words, then gave a small nod. No one spoke after that. As the group prepared to leave, Xu Yang kept looking at the forest.
Xu Yang glanced at the others as they prepared to leave. The horned demon kept as far from the trees as possible, while the wolf demon stayed close to the group, glancing back at the dark forest every few steps. Xu Yang looked toward the trees again. We should leave. I have had enough of this forest, and I would rather not discover what else it has waiting for us...He adjusted his outer robe and followed Lin Chen, but his eyes kept moving over the wet ground.The rain has stopped, but we still don't know what caused those visions. We shouldn't assume we're safe just because everything looks normal again... He was about to look away when he noticed the fox had stopped walking.
The young demon stood beside Wei Han, his head lowered and the red cloth pressed tightly against his chest. He was staring at a narrow gap between two trees. Xu Yang slowed down. The fox had not moved at all. His ears stood straight, and his eyes remained fixed on the shadows. Slowly, his fingers tightened around the cloth. "What is it?" Wei Han asked. The fox did not respond. He leaned forward slightly, as though trying to see something between the trees. Then he took one small step toward them before suddenly stopping. The color drained from his face.
Lin Chen turned around. "What's wrong?" The fox swallowed, his lips parting as he stared into the forest. For a moment, he seemed to be listening. Xu Yang looked toward the trees, but all he could see were wet branches and dark gaps between the trunks. Please don't tell me something else is happening. Can't we get out of this forest first?...The fox shook his head, almost as if he were trying to clear something from his mind. "I thought..." His voice faded.
Wei Han moved closer to him and followed his gaze. "What did you see?" The fox pressed the red cloth harder against his chest. His breathing had become shallow, and he seemed afraid to move even an inch. "I thought someone was standing there." Everyone turned toward the trees. Yan Luo stepped in front of the fox, his golden eyes searching the narrow gap. Qing Li moved beside him, raising one hand slightly as a faint trace of spiritual power gathered around his fingers. Lin Chen approached the fox, but his attention remained on the shadows.
Even the horned demon, who had been eager to get away from the forest, stopped moving. Xu Yang's ears twitched beneath his hair. He stared between the trees, waiting for a branch to move or a shadow to disappear. Nothing happened. The wind stirred the leaves, and a drop of water fell from a branch, striking a root with a soft sound. Every small noise seemed louder in the silence. Lin Chen kept his gaze on the fox. "Did you see someone clearly?" The fox shook his head slowly, but his eyes did not leave the trees. "No," he whispered. "I just thought someone was standing there." No one else saw anyone.
By the time they reached the old shelter beside the main road, the sky had grown dark, and the forest behind them was barely visible through the trees. The shelter was old and poorly maintained, with a broken roof and wooden walls stained by years of rain. One of the doors hung crookedly, creaking whenever the wind blew. Lin Chen paused at the entrance when he heard a faint scratching sound from inside. Everyone stopped and listened, but the sound soon disappeared. Xu Yang looked into the room. There was an old table, a few broken stools, and little else. Please tell me it was a rat. I really don't want to deal with another strange thing tonight...
Xu Yang entered first and checked the corners before looking around the back of the shelter. He found nothing unusual. Once he was sure the area was safe, he let the others come inside. The demons gathered in the driest part of the room, though several of them kept glancing toward the doorway. Lin Chen noticed their uneasiness and decided to question the three demons who had suffered the worst effects of the black rain. "I want each of you to tell me what happened," he said. "Start from the beginning. Don't leave anything out, even if it seems unimportant."
The horned demon sat with his elbows on his knees, staring at the ground. His hands were still shaking slightly, and he kept rubbing his palms together as if trying to wash something off them. When Lin Chen approached, he looked up with a troubled expression. "I told you already. I saw people." Lin Chen pulled a stool closer and sat down in front of him. "What people?" The demon rubbed his face and let out a tired breath. "I don't know. I couldn't see their faces clearly, but I knew they were there. I could hear them screaming." His voice faltered as he looked away.
For a moment, he seemed to be listening to something only he could hear. Then his fingers curled tightly around his knees. "Then I saw myself standing over them. There was blood everywhere, and they weren't moving." Wei Han, who had been standing nearby, stepped closer. "You saw yourself killing them?" The horned demon nodded slowly. His gaze dropped to his hands again, and he turned them over as if expecting to find blood on his skin. "I think so. I remember raising my hands. I remember them trying to get away from me."
He swallowed hard before continuing. "But I don't know who they were. I've never seen those people before. At least, I don't think I have." His breathing grew uneven. He pressed his hands against his knees, trying to stop them from shaking, but it didn't help. "What if I really did it?" The question hung in the quiet shelter. A few drops of water fell from the roof, tapping on the floor. No one answered immediately. Even the other demons remained silent, watching him with uneasy expressions. Lin Chen studied him for a moment, then asked, "Did you recognize the place?" The horned demon shook his head. "No. Everything was dark. I could only see the people and the blood."
Lin Chen leaned back slightly, giving him time to collect himself. "Then we cannot conclude that it happened. What you saw might have been a memory, or it might have been something the rain made you see." "But it felt real," the demon muttered. He looked up, his eyes filled with fear. "I could hear them screaming. I could see them trying to escape. How am I supposed to know it wasn't real?" "You don't have to figure that out right now," Lin Chen replied calmly. "Tell us if you remember anything else. Even the smallest detail might help." The horned demon lowered his head and nodded, though the worry on his face remained.
Lin Chen moved to the wolf demon, who kept glancing toward the path and the trees beyond the shelter. "You said something was following you. What did you see?" "I don't know what it was." The wolf demon looked over his shoulder before continuing. "I could hear it behind me. Every time I turned around, there was nothing there. But when I started running, I heard it running too." Wei Han stepped closer. "Did you hear footsteps?" "Sometimes. Other times, it sounded like something dragging itself over the ground."
The wolf demon rubbed his hands together. "I never saw its face, but I knew it was there. It kept following me through the trees." Yan Luo folded his arms. "Did it touch you or say anything?" "No. But I could feel it getting closer." The wolf demon lowered his head. "I know how it sounds. I couldn't see anything, but I was so afraid that I kept running. When I stopped, I could hear it right behind me. I couldn't make myself turn around again." Lin Chen watched him for a moment before asking, "Did you notice anything unusual about the place? Any buildings, markings, or sounds besides the footsteps?"
The wolf demon shook his head. "No. I only remember the trees. I kept running until I came out of the forest." Lin Chen asked him a few more questions, but the answers remained the same. The wolf demon couldn't remember anything else. Lin Chen then turned toward the young fox, who sat beside Wei Han with the red cloth still in his hands. "You said you remembered a brother. Tell me what you remember about him." The fox looked down at the cloth. "He had black hair. There was a scar beside his left eye." His fingers moved over the worn fabric. "I remember holding his hand when the rain started. He told me not to let go. Then everything went dark." "Do you remember his name?" Lin Chen asked.
The fox shook his head. "No. I remember his face, but whenever I try to remember his name, there's nothing." He looked up, confusion clear on his face. "I was looking for him when I came out of the forest, wasn't I?" "Yes," Lin Chen replied. "You said you needed to find someone." The fox stared at him for a moment before looking down again. "But I don't have a brother." His grip tightened around the cloth. "I asked people who knew me, but no one had ever heard of him. I don't remember growing up with a brother, and no one in my family ever mentioned him." He lowered his head. "Then why do I remember holding his hand?" No one answered.
Xu Yang watched the fox quietly.How can someone miss a person they supposedly never had?...The poor guy remembered holding his brother's hand, remembered his face, and even remembered being told not to let go.And now he is telling he has no brother. So what is he suppose to do? File a missing person report for someone who officially never existed?...Xu Yang's ears drooped slightly.If the rain had only created illusions, why did the fox remember so many details? And why did he look as though he had truly lost someone? A nightmare should disappear when you wake up. It shouldn't leave you grieving for a person your own memories claim you never knew....
Chen Yu looked between the three demons, his expression thoughtful. "Their experiences were different, but they all reacted as though they were real." Qing Li, who had listened without interrupting, finally spoke. "They weren't all seeing the same thing, but every one of them believed it was real."
Chen Yu turned toward him. "You think the rain did more than show them frightening images?" "Look at their reactions," Qing Li replied. "The horned demon believed he had killed people. The wolf demon thought something was hunting him. And the fox..." His gaze settled on the young demon,"He believes he has lost someone he loved." Qing Li paused before continuing. "Whatever they experienced, it affected them as if they had truly lived through it." Wei Han frowned. "But the events cannot all be real. The horned demon cannot identify the people he supposedly killed, the wolf never saw what followed him, and the fox has no proof that his brother ever existed." "That doesn't mean the experiences were meaningless," Qing Li said. "We just don't know what they mean yet."