Resurrected After Death
"How did he die?" Chu Lian asked softly after a long silence. She couldn't believe that the slightly chubby boy who had always watched her from the shadows had died like this. Although she wasn't directly responsible for his death, if she hadn't led them here, if these people hadn't shown up because of her mission, perhaps he would have been alive, at least not dead because of this incident.
"Before that huge monster fell, several smaller monsters had dropped from above. Most of them died instantly, but one was slowed by something during its fall, so it didn't die immediately. Zhang Feng happened to walk right where it landed… and then…" Chu Chu trailed off, but Chu Lian already knew what had happened.
She fell silent again, thinking that perhaps this study trip was a mistake. If not for her, none of this would have happened. "Take me to see him," she said, glancing around at her classmates, whose attitudes seemed to have changed—resentment, dislike, or indifference? She wasn't sure, but she knew she had to see him.
Chu Chu understood that her classmates had subconsciously blamed Chu Lian for what happened. Staying there would only make her more disliked, so it was a good time to leave. She nodded and spoke to the teacher for a moment before returning to Chu Lian's side. "Teacher Ning wants you not to carry this burden. She said this isn't your responsibility. She'll calm the students down, and eventually, they'll understand that this was just an accident, not anyone's fault."
Chu Lian didn't respond to those words. She already blamed Zhang Feng's death on herself, so she said nothing, only whispering words that no one could hear: "An accident? Maybe. But someone needs to pay for this, and someone must take responsibility."
Seeing her expression, Chu Chu knew she hadn't let go, but sometimes you have to come to terms with things yourself. No one else can do it for you, so she quietly held her hand and walked out with her and Inroi.
"She'll come around." Cai Ya, having grown up in a big family and been part of the music industry from a young age, saw things more clearly than her peers. She understood that the series of overlapping accidents led to this tragedy, unrelated to any individual.
"Chu Lian isn't that fragile. She feels guilty but won't become hopeless." Liuli Nana, sitting next to her, whispered in agreement.
"Don't underestimate Chu Lian. She has a much stronger heart than we do. This won't affect her too much. She's just going to see him to feel better," said Lux Lyle, twirling a lock of her golden hair and looking in the direction Chu Lian had gone.
Sometimes, observers can see more clearly than those involved. What Chu Lian didn't realize was crystal clear to others. Even Chu Chu, who regarded Chu Lian as the most important person, failed to see this layer of connection due to her concern.
"Chu Lian, I believe you will find peace," prayed Li Xiuer, unconsciously clasping her hands at her chest after hearing their analysis.
"Nana, do you know what these monsters are? Our family records don't mention anything like them. If they're unique to China, there should have been some leak about them. They're too dangerous," Lux asked Liuli Nana about the creatures.
"Our records in Japan also have nothing on these monsters. They don't look like anything that could evolve on Earth. Even in the hidden world, no such dangerous creatures exist. They're too dangerous, threatening all other life forms," Liuli Nana replied, though her speculation was close to the truth.
"Then we'll have to ask Chu Lian when she returns. Hopefully, these things won't appear again, or our world will be in danger." Lux sighed, eager to understand the origins of these creatures to prevent future incidents.
Watching the two girls whispering, Cai Ya felt a tinge of sadness. Her family was no less prestigious than theirs, but she knew far less about such things. It seemed few in China knew these secrets, and her purely business-focused family had no contact with such matters.
"Perhaps this is an opportunity, a chance to make our family even more prosperous." Cai Ya considered how to convince her family to support her efforts to befriend them.
While the girls chatted, Chu Lian and Chu Chu arrived at a large building. Chu Chu spoke to the guards outside, who, after glancing at them, nodded to let them through.
Inside were rows of beds covered with white sheets, and Chu Lian knew that every bed held someone who had died—victims of this accident, the most innocent ones. Compared to those parasitized, dismembered, and devoured by the aliens, they were lucky to have intact bodies.
Chu Chu glanced at Chu Lian's face, noting no sadness or distress, only her usual calm. Only a close look into her eyes revealed a misty sheen.
After walking several meters and turning a few corners, they reached another room. Before opening the door, Chu Chu said, "The people here were killed by those monsters in various ways, so their bodies might not be pleasant to see. You should be prepared."
Chu Chu assumed Chu Lian hadn't experienced such scenes. Humans react very differently to seeing their kind's corpses compared to other species. Even if the latter resembles humans, it doesn't replace the feeling. She asked Chu Lian to prepare her for the experience.
Seeing her nod, Chu Chu pushed the door open and entered. Just as Chu Lian was about to follow, Inori grabbed her hand. Looking up, she asked, "Inori, what's wrong?" Inori shook her head, unable to explain why she stopped Chu Lian. She felt an urge not to let Chu Lian see her classmates' bodies, sensing the despair it could bring. This resistance rose from deep within, prompting her to hold Chu Lian back.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I've already faced hellish scenes, so this won't bother me. Even if he is my classmate, I won't show weakness. I want to be your safe harbor," Chu Lian reassured her, seeing the conflict in Inori's wine-red eyes.
Reassured by Chu Lian's words, Inori felt more at ease, confident that she wouldn't be overwhelmed.
After calming Inori, Chu Chu called from inside, "Big sister, are you not coming?" She had noticed Chu Lian speaking with Inori and hesitating at the door, prompting her to ask.
"No, I was just thinking about what to say to him. After all, he was a suitor of mine, and now that he's gone, I should fulfill one of his wishes." Chu Lian joked as she approached, aware of her influence on those around her. To prevent worry, she suppressed her guilt and resumed her usual demeanor. She seemed carefree, but it was better than causing collective concern.
"Hmph, no way. Even if he was your suitor, he doesn't get any special treatment. Even Chu Chu can't get promises from you, so why should he?" Chu Chu teased, seeing Chu Lian bounce back quickly.
Chu Lian only smiled at her words, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, as she walked to her side, looking at the white bed. "Is this it?" she asked. The sudden incident meant hospitals and authorities were overwhelmed, with too many casualties to move all at once. Most bodies were temporarily housed here.
Hundreds of beds lay around, most occupied, making it hard to find one person. Even in this section, there were dozens of beds, and Chu Chu managed to find it quickly.
Chu Chu rolled her eyes, pointing to a number by the bedhead. "Big sister, there's a number there, with details about the deceased behind it. Since Zhang Feng was in our class, we were notified where he was placed."
Chu Lian looked up, spotting a number labeled 217, which presumably held his information on the back. "Ahem, I wasn't aware," she coughed, straightening her face. "Let's see him."
Honestly, she didn't believe Zhang Feng would die like this. In the data she'd accessed, his luck was rated B, suggesting no major life setbacks or early death. She didn't blindly trust the system but felt that the boy's fate wasn't meant to end here.
Just as Chu Chu reached to lift the sheet, the white blanket shifted, startling her, Chu Lian, and Inori, who all paled.
Feeling something is one thing; seeing it happen is another. Resurrection from the dead is quite terrifying...