Swordsmanship Coach: Kill with One Slash

Chapter 285: Chapter 188: Dusk Crow (Part 2)

Hanhan’s father hadn’t died right away.

He was wearing a seatbelt, and the car had airbags, but the crash was just too severe. He managed to crawl out of the car, and after confirming his daughter was safe, he leaned against a nearby rock and bled to death.

Under normal circumstances, if Hanhan’s father had been anywhere else in Cang City, his injuries would have been treatable. But this was deep in the mountains, enveloped by a Secret Realm. There was no one who could save him.

At the same time,

Su Xing also realized something.

While the mist could alter a person’s personality and memories, it couldn’t truly change their fundamental instincts.

For example, it could turn a gentle father into a furious, savage one, but it couldn’t erase the fact that he was a father. The first thing Hanhan’s father did after crawling out of the car was check on Hanhan’s condition.

"There, there, don’t cry." Su Xing wasn’t as good with children as Lu Anning. He just did his best to soften his voice as he gently patted Hanhan’s back. "How long were you and your parents visiting here?" he asked.

"Two weeks."

Hanhan said, wiping away her tears.

"Sweetie, can you tell me something? While you were playing here, did you happen to see an older girl named Zhao Xue?"

Lu Anning seized the chance to ask.

"Zhao Xue..."

’Zhao Xue...’ Su Xing repeated the name to himself.

’So this must be the friend Lu Anning keeps mentioning. This is the first time I’ve heard her name. If I get the chance, I have to help Lu Anning rescue her.’

"I know her."

"Sister Zhao Xue came a few days ago. She was really nice to me. Before I left, she even gave me her teddy bear."

After speaking,

she began to search for it on her person,

but she couldn’t find it. She seemed to finally realize that the bear must have been lost in the crash.

A few days ago...

’A few days ago...’ Lu Anning thought to herself.

’The timing adds up.’

It was only in the last few days that she’d suddenly realized Zhao Xue and the friends she’d originally come here with had all vanished. They must have come here.

"So you’re saying..."

"When you and your family drove away, Zhao Xue was still at the Summer Resort?"

Su Xing asked.

"Yeah. She was there with some other older boys and girls."

Hanhan said with a nod.

She thought for a moment, then said with a sad expression,

"Are you going to look for Sister Zhao Xue, Mister?"

"...Could you tell her I’m sorry? I lost the teddy bear she gave me."

"..."

Seeing the sincere sadness in Hanhan’s eyes,

Su Xing was momentarily at a loss for words. He felt a lump form in his throat, knowing any words he might try to say would come out hoarse.

Lu Anning spoke up at just the right moment. "Don’t worry, I’m sure she won’t blame you. Sweetie, would you like to come back with us?"

"No, thank you."

Hanhan shook her head. "My mom and dad are still here. If I leave, they’ll be lonely."

Hearing this,

Lu Anning glanced at Su Xing.

Su Xing seemed to understand her look, but he ultimately shook his head. He turned to leave, but just as he did, Hanhan, who had been crying this whole time, suddenly spoke up,

"Mister, there’s a lady in that direction. Please go help her."

"Okay."

Hearing Su Xing agree, she watched his retreating back and waved vigorously, saying,

"Goodbye, Mister and Miss!"

Lu Anning followed Su Xing in confusion. After they had gone some distance, she couldn’t help but ask,

"Why didn’t we take her with us?"

"A little kid can’t survive in a place like this!"

"Turn around and look."

"Huh?"

Lu Anning stopped and turned. She was stunned to find Hanhan had vanished. Through the thin mist, she could faintly make out three bodies lying beside the wrecked car.

Three bodies—two large, one small. The small one was curled up, nestled tightly between the two adults, like a child fast asleep.

"..."

Lu Anning fell silent for a moment.

In that instant,

a lot of things suddenly clicked into place for her.

She didn’t say another word, simply following Su Xing forward. As they walked away, the faint sound of a child’s weeping began to drift from the area once more.

...

After a long while,

the two were still wandering through the mist.

"Coach Su, are you sure you want to look for the ’lady’ that girl mentioned?"

Lu Anning asked, her voice tinged with worry.

After thinking it over as they walked, she had come to a full understanding. The girl was a special phenomenon, a fusion of intense emotion and the surrounding mist. While such a phenomenon might possess a degree of consciousness, the path it pointed to wasn’t necessarily safe.

"It’s fine."

Su Xing shook his head.

"We don’t know anything about this place, so it can’t hurt to take a look. Besides, she pointed in the direction of the Summer Resort. We’re bound to run into it eventually."

"That’s true."

"But..."

Lu Anning trailed off.

Originally,

she had wanted to say that even if it was in the same direction, they could always just take a detour to avoid it.

But then,

she suddenly noticed a stir up ahead.

To be honest, when she first entered this place, she’d only felt it was dangerous without having a concrete concept of that danger. But one strange incident after another had deepened that impression.

Not far ahead, an indescribable sound drifted toward them. Listening closely, it sounded like a pretty woman singing opera. Judging by the direction and their path, this had to be where the "lady" Hanhan had mentioned was.

[My lord, I resent your sorrow, for you forget to return; You think of me, I know, yet have no time to spare...]

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