The following evening, Hei Long was outside in the town, helping the local demons with their usual work. The streets were calmer than the night before, though the broken stalls from the previous incident were still being repaired. Near one of the shops, an older stone demon was struggling with a heavy wooden cart that had become stuck between two uneven stones. Hei Long walked over, looked at the cart, then at the demon. "You need help?" The stone demon snorted. "No. I can handle it." Hei Long looked at the cart again. "You've been trying for ten minutes." The stone demon's face tightened. "I was thinking."
Hei Long placed both hands against the back of the cart. "Then think faster." With one push, the cart finally came loose and rolled forward. The stone demon stumbled after it and quickly grabbed the handle. He looked annoyed. "I could have moved it myself." Hei Long dusted his hands. "Then you should have." A demon carrying a basket nearby laughed loudly. The stone demon turned toward him. "What's so funny?" "Nothing," the other demon said, still smiling. "I just thought you looked very strong while thinking." The stone demon glared at him. "Keep talking and I'll make you carry the next cart." "Then I'll start thinking too."
Hei Long quietly walked away while the two demons continued arguing behind him. A little farther down the street, he heard rushing water. He turned and saw a young water demon crouched beside a broken channel, struggling to block a leak with pieces of wood. Every time he pushed one into place, the water knocked it loose and sent it spinning into the street. Hei Long stepped closer and caught the next piece with his foot before it could float away. "Hold it here." The young demon looked up. Hei Long crouched beside him and shifted the board slightly. "The current is pushing from this side. Put another piece underneath."
The demon followed his hand and quickly wedged another piece of wood beneath it. The water struck the boards, pushed against them, then slowed. "Oh." Hei Long picked up a loose stone and handed it to him. "There." The demon placed it beside the boards, and the leak finally stopped. He stared at the repaired channel, then gave a small laugh."That was easier than I thought." Hei Long stood and brushed the water from his sleeve. "You were making it harder." "I noticed that." The young demon gathered the scattered pieces of wood, still smiling then he glanced toward the rooftops. His smile faded.
Dark clouds had begun gathering above the town. He quickly looked back down and started stacking the wood faster. Hei Long noticed the change but said nothing. The demon picked up the last piece and hurried toward the shop. "Finish your work before the rain comes." Hei Long looked toward the sky. The clouds were spreading across the rooftops, turning the afternoon light dull and gray. He remained still for a moment. "The rain again..." he murmured.
As Hei Long continued through the town, he noticed a small group of demons repairing the roof of a shop. One of them was a crane demon, tall and slender, with pale gray feathers along his neck and narrow wings folded neatly against his back. A few loose feathers clung to his dark blue work robe, and a bundle of roof tiles rested against one shoulder. He looked down when Hei Long passed. "You're still here?" Hei Long stopped beside the shop."Should I not be?" The crane demon hesitated before placing another tile on the roof. "After last night, I thought your group might leave." Hei Long glanced at the damaged street. "Most outsiders don't stay after seeing something like that." The crane demon's hands slowed.
For a moment, he said nothing. Then he continued fixing the roof. "It's better not to stay too long." Hei Long watched him. "That's what everyone keeps saying." The crane demon gave a quiet sigh and adjusted another tile. "Maybe everyone has a reason." Hei Long looked toward the dark clouds gathering above the rooftops. "The rain?" The crane demon's fingers tightened around the tile for a moment. He lowered his eyes and carefully set it in place. "Rain is rain." Hei Long noticed the hesitation but said nothing. The crane demon picked up another tile and returned to his work, suddenly much more careful not to look at the sky.
Hei Long stayed beside the shop for a moment, watching the crane demon work. The demon kept his eyes on the roof, placing each tile.Hei Long glanced at the dark clouds again. "You said most outsiders leave after seeing what happened last night." The crane demon adjusted a tile. "They usually do." "Because of the rain?" His hand paused. "Because of what comes with it." Hei Long's eyes narrowed slightly. "What comes with the rain?" The crane demon lifted another tile and set it down. "Some things only happen when the sky remembers them." Hei Long stared at him. "Does the rain affect demons?" The crane demon's fingers tightened around the tile. "Rain falls on everyone." He smiled. "Maybe you're asking the wrong question."
Hei Long looked toward the empty street. "Then what's the right one?" The crane demon was quiet for a moment. "Ask what happens after the rain stops." Hei Long's expression changed slightly. "The demon who attacked yesterday." The crane demon said nothing. Hei Long watched him place another tile. "He didn't remember attacking anyone." The crane demon's hand slowed. "Some memories don't survive the rain." His eyes finally met Hei Long's. "Enough to make people afraid."
Another demon on the roof called out, "We're finished here." The crane demon stepped back and checked the last row of tiles. "Good. Pack the tools." The others climbed down, carrying ropes and wooden boards. The crane demon folded his wings against his back and brushed a loose feather from his sleeve. Hei Long remained where he was. "If the rain starts tonight?" The crane demon looked toward the clouds. "Don't stand beneath it." Hei Long waited. The crane demon's expression became unreadable. "And hope you remember who you were before it began." He picked up the last bundle of tiles and carried it inside.
A faint scraping sound came from the alley beside the shop. Hei Long turned and saw a mantis demon sitting beside a stack of wooden crates. Thin green limbs, dark eyes, and two long folded forearms gave him a strange, delicate appearance.He was repairing a broken lantern frame with a piece of wire. Without looking up, he said, "You shouldn't listen too closely to what the old ones say." Hei Long glanced toward the shop. "Why?" The mantis demon twisted the wire around the frame. "Because they remember more than they tell."
The wire snapped. He calmly picked up another piece. Hei Long looked toward the darkening sky. "You've seen the rain before." The mantis demon's hands stopped. "Everyone here has." He fixed the wire in place and lifted the lantern. "Sometimes the rain takes something. Sometimes it leaves something behind." Hei Long's eyes narrowed. "What does it leave?" The mantis demon lowered the lantern. "That depends on who stands beneath it." He looked toward the rooftops as the last light faded. "You should go." Hei Long followed his gaze. Several doors were already closing along the street. The mantis demon lowered his head and returned to his work. Hei Long said nothing more. He turned and began walking toward the inn.
Hei Long walked toward the inn at a slow pace, his hands resting by his sides.His fingers moved slightly against his sleeves as he thought about everything he had heard that day.The rain takes something... Sometimes it leaves something behind... His eyes narrowed.Every demon had spoken around the same subject without saying what they truly feared.Even the crane demon had avoided giving him a clear answer. And yet they all know.Hei Long glanced at the quiet streets.One shopkeeper was pulling down his shutters.
A pair of young demons hurried past him, speaking in low voices before disappearing into an alley. Hei Long slowed.His eyes followed them for a moment before he looked away. He had seen the Wind Demon lose control. He had seen him remember everything until someone called his name, and then nothing. His thumb rubbed slowly against his palm. If the rain is connected to that... His hand stopped. He did not finish the thought. He looked toward the distant lanterns of the inn. His steps became a little faster. I should ask the others what they noticed... He took another step.
Then the first drop of rain landed on his hand. Hei Long stopped and lowered his eyes and watched the small drop shine against his skin. Another drop touched his cheek. His fingers slowly closed and he lifted his head.The clouds had covered the last light, spreading across the sky above the rooftops. Another drop struck his face. Then the rain suddenly became heavy.Hei Long raised one arm to shield his eyes as water ran down from his hair. Under the lanterns, the rain looked strangely dark. He lowered his arm and looked around. The streets were already empty. Doors closed one after another. Windows shut. Wooden shutters dropped over the shops. A few demons who had been outside hurried inside without looking back.
Hei Long watched them disappear. His eyes stayed on the last closing door for a moment.They knew...He pulled his sleeve over his hand and started walking faster toward the inn. The rain grew heavier before Hei Long could reach the inn. The clear water slowly changed until the same strange crimson color from the night before appeared beneath the lantern light. Hei Long's steps slowed. His eyes dropped to the water running along the street. It's happening again...Red water ran through his dark hair and down his face, slipping along his jaw and beneath his collar.He wiped his eyes with one hand and kept walking.His wet robe clung to his body, and water dripped from the ends of his sleeves with every step.
He pulled his sleeve closer around himself, but it did little to keep the rain away. His hand tightened slightly. Why does everyone here fear this so much?... His eyes moved over the empty street. They knew the rain was coming before it even started. They closed their doors. They hid their families.No one asked what was happening. No one seemed surprised. His steps slowed again. And yesterday, that demon lost control after standing beneath it. He remembered everything until someone called his name. Then there was nothing...
Hei Long's jaw tightened. If the same thing happens again tonight, how many demons will be affected? And what happens if they don't remember what they did afterward?... He looked toward the dark road ahead. Maybe the rain isn't taking their memories. Maybe it's taking something else first... something that makes them forget afterward.His fingers slowly loosened. But what?... Hei Long lowered his eyes. And if that is true... then what happens to someone who stays beneath it for too long?... He did not let himself finish the thought and started to walked fast.
By the time he reached the inn, he was completely soaked. The inn door opened almost at once when the others saw him. Lin Chen stepped forward and pulled him inside by the arm. "You're soaked." Hei Long looked down at himself. Water dripped from his sleeves onto the floor.Lin Chen grabbed a dry cloth and held it out."Where were you?" Hei Long took it and wiped the water from his face. "Looking for some answers." Lin Chen gave him an annoyed look."You could have looked for them without standing in the rain."
Hei Long glanced at him. "I know." Lin Chen sighed and reached up with the cloth. "Hold still." He rubbed the cloth over Hei Long's wet hair. Hei Long went quiet. He was about to take the cloth from him, but Lin Chen moved it away first and continued drying his hair. Hei Long's hand stopped halfway. He slowly lowered it. Qing Li walked over and took another cloth from Lin Chen. "Give it to me."Lin Chen handed it over without a word. Qing Li stepped closer and began drying the back of Hei Long's hair.
Hei Long stayed still but his eyes slowly moved toward Qing Li.He watched him without blinking. Qing Li was busy drying the rain from his hair.The cloth moved through Hei Long's wet hair again.Hei Long's eyes followed the movement before settling on Qing Li's face. He kept watching.Qing Li continued drying his hair for a few moments before his eyes shifted slightly. He noticed Hei Long staring at him. He did not stop what he was doing. He only glanced at Hei Long once, then continued drying his hair as if he had noticed nothing. Hei Long still did not look away.
Qing Li moved the cloth through his hair again, then said calmly, "You never listen to us!" Hei Long blinked and finally looked away. "I can't stay here and wait for another trouble." Qing Li placed cloth against Hei Long's chest and wiped the water from his wet robe. "So you went to invite trouble." Hei Long lowered his eyes and said nothing. Qing Li continued for another moment, then stepped back.Hei Long glanced at him again,but Qing Li was already looking elsewhere.Yan Luo looked at for second then came over and handed Hei Long a set of dry clothes. "Go change." Hei Long took them quietly.He gave Qing Li one last glance before turning away and walking toward the room.
Lin Chen moved the wet cloths away from the fire and hung them over a wooden chair. Chen Yu added another piece of wood to the fire. Wei Han sat near the table, slowly turning the ring on his finger. Su Yuan stayed close to the window, watching the red rain slide down the wooden frame. Yan Luo leaned against one of the posts, his arms loosely crossed. Qing Li stood near the fire, folding the cloth he had used to dry Hei Long's hair. "The rain is getting heavier." Su Yuan said quietly. Chen Yu glanced toward the window. "It wasn't this strong yesterday."
Su Yuan touched the edge of the window and quickly pulled his hand back. A drop of red water had slipped through the gap and landed on his finger. He wiped it against his sleeve. "It still feels like normal rain." "That doesn't mean it is." Yan Luo said. He walked toward the window. He looked outside for a moment before lowering his voice. "The Wind Demon was normal before the rain touched him." Lin Chen stopped arranging the cloths. "And after it stopped, he couldn't remember what happened." Qing Li placed the folded cloth beside the fire. "Hei Long was outside even longer." His eyes moved toward the room where Hei Long had gone to change. "But he came back with nothing. He didn't loose control and no missing memories." Chen Yu frowned. "Maybe it hasn't happened yet."
Wei Han slowly turned the ring on his finger. His eyes stayed on the rain outside. "But why him?" Yan Luo glanced at him. "What?" "He was out there the longest." Lin Chen looked toward the closed room. "And he's fine." Qing Li's hands slowed as he folded the cloth. "Maybe we're just lucky." Chen Yu shook his head. "The other demon wasn't." The room went quiet for a moment. Su Yuan looked from one person to another. "So why didn't it happen to Hei Long?" Yan Luo walked to the window and looked at the red water running down the wooden frame. "I don't know." He wiped away a drop that had slipped inside. His fingers came back wet with red.
Qing Li watched him. "Don't touch it." Yan Luo looked at his fingers, then wiped them on his sleeve.Yan Luo looked at his fingers, then at Qing Li. "Worried about me?" Qing Li gave him a flat look. "I'm worried you'll touch everything you shouldn't." Yan Luo smiled slightly and wiped his fingers on his sleeve. "You sound like a worried wife." Qing Li's expression did not change. "Keep talking and I'll let you touch it again." Yan Luo gave a quiet laugh. "All right. I'll behave."
Lin Chen frowned. "Do you think it only affects some demons?" "Maybe," Chen Yu said. Wei Han's hand stopped on his ring. "Then there has to be something different about him." Su Yuan lowered his voice. "Like what?" No one answered. Qing Li looked toward the closed door again. "We'll know if something happens." Lin Chen gave him a worried look. "And if nothing happens?" Qing Li was quiet for a moment. "Then that's even stranger." The rain hit the roof harder. Wei Han slowly looked toward the doorway. "Let's just watch him tonight." Yan Luo nodded. "Without telling him?" Qing Li glanced at him. "If you tell him, he'll probably go outside again just to prove us wrong." Yan Luo looked at him and sighed."You know him too well." Qing Li didn't answer. He simply looked back at the closed door. The red rain continued falling outside.
Then the door opened. Hei Long stepped outside from the room wearing dry clothes. His hair was still slightly damp, and a few loose strands rested near his eyes. Everyone looked at him for a moment.Hei Long did not seem to notice. He walked across the room and sat down near the window. He rested against the wall, and his eyes moved toward the rain outside. The red water ran down the glass in thin lines. Yan Luo watched him for a moment. "Hei Long." Hei Long did not answer.
Yan Luo straightened slightly. "Hei Long." Still nothing. Hei Long's eyes remained on the window. His face was calm, almost too calm. Lin Chen glanced at Chen Yu. Chen Yu quietly lowered his hand from the table. Wei Han's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Hei Long. Su Yuan stopped moving near the window. Qing Li looked at Hei Long. "He probably didn't hear you." Yan Luo stepped away from the post. "Hei Long." This time his voice was louder. Hei Long slowly turned his head. For one second, his eyes met Yan Luo's then his gaze moved past him. Something about the way he looked made the room fall silent.
Xu Yang was sitting near the table, watching Hei Long closely. His golden eyes followed every small movement. Hei Long's face showed nothing.Hei Long slowly stood. His chair scraped across the floor, making everyone look at him. Xu Yang's ears lifted. He lowered his bowl and watched Hei Long take one step toward him, then another. "Hei Long?" Xu Yang asked quietly. Hei Long did not answer. Xu Yang placed his bowl on the table. "Black—"
Hei Long suddenly moved. His fist came straight toward Xu Yang's face. Xu Yang quickly moved aside and fist missed him by inches and smashed into the table behind him. Wood broke apart, and bowls and cups fell to the floor. "Xu Yang!" Lin Chen shouted. Xu Yang landed on one knee and looked back at the broken table. Before he could stand, Hei Long was already coming again.
Xu Yang rolled away. Hei Long's fist hit the floor where he had been. The wooden boards cracked under the force. Chen Yu stepped forward, green light gathering around his hand. "Hei Long, stop!"
Hei Long did not even look at him. His eyes stayed on Xu Yang. Qing Li quickly moved Su Yuan farther away from the fight. "Stay back." Yan Luo's hand closed around his sword. His eyes stayed on Hei Long. "Something is wrong with him." Wei Han stood near the table, slowly turning the ring on his finger.Xu Yang noticed the movement. His eyes flicked toward the ring, then back to Hei Long. "Don't." Wei Han looked at him. "What?" Xu Yang quickly stepped toward him and caught his hand before he could use the ring. "Don't use your power." Wei Han's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?" Xu Yang tightened his grip around his hand. "I don't know what this is doing to him. If you attack him with your power, we might make it worse." Wei Han looked at Hei Long, then down at Xu Yang's hand holding his.
For a moment, he said nothing. The ring stopped turning beneath Xu Yang's fingers. "Then what do we do?" Wei Han asked quietly. Xu Yang looked back at Hei Long. "We stop him without hurting him." Wei Han slowly nodded. Xu Yang released his hand, but his eyes remained on Hei Long.Hei Long moved again and rushed forward again. Xu Yang moved away from the first strike, then ducked under the second.
The attack passed over his head and hit the wall behind him. The wood shook hard. Xu Yang jumped back as another strike came toward him. He caught Hei Long's wrist with both hands, but the force pushed him several steps across the floor. Xu Yang let go before he was forced down. "Hei Long, listen to me."There was no answer. Hei Long attacked again. Xu Yang moved aside, but Hei Long turned quickly and struck again. Xu Yang ducked. The fist passed over his head and hit a wooden post. The whole room shook. Lin Chen grabbed the edge of the table to keep himself steady. "He's not stopping!" Chen Yu moved closer, but Yan Luo raised one hand. "Hei Long What are you doing?!"
Hei Long turned toward Yan Luo then towards Xu Yang again.Xu Yang slowly stepped back. His eyes stayed on Hei Long's face. "It's me." Hei Long walked toward him. Xu Yang took another step back. "It's me. Your friend!" Hei Long looked at him for several seconds. Xu Yang waited, hoping he would say something. Hei Long's fingers slowly tightened. Then, without warning, he rushed forward. Xu Yang moved at the last second, and Hei Long's shoulder hit the wall with a loud crack. Dust fell from above. Lin Chen flinched and took a step back. "Hei Long!" Hei Long pushed himself away from the wall as if he had felt nothing. Xu Yang quickly moved away. Golden light appeared around his fingers for a moment. He looked at it, then closed his hand and made it disappear.
Hei Long turned around and came at Xu Yang again.Xu Yang caught his arm and pushed it away, then stepped back.Hei Long followed without slowing down. Xu Yang moved left. Hei Long followed. Xu Yang moved right. Hei Long followed again. It was almost as if he knew where Xu Yang would move before he moved. Xu Yang ducked under another strike, feeling the wind of it brush past his ear. He quickly stepped away, but Hei Long was already behind him.
Xu Yang turned and blocked his arm with both hands. The force pushed him back until his heel hit a broken piece of the table. "Xu Yang!" Chen Yu called. Xu Yang pushed Hei Long's arm away and jumped back. "I'm fine!" he called, though his breathing had become harder.Chen Yu took another step forward, but Yan Luo held out an arm to stop him. "Wait." Qing Li watched Hei Long carefully. His eyes narrowed. "He's not even trying to avoid us." Su Yuan moved closer to Lin Chen, keeping his eyes on Hei Long. "Then why is he only attacking Xu Yang?"