Gentle Caresses

"Black feather!" Chen Ru cried out in horror, his entire frame trembling like a helpless leaf in the midst of a storm. "D–Does it mean this belongs to a de—"

"Sssh," Song Zhuyu hushed him softly, his expression grave. Gathering his strength, he pushed himself to his feet, only to stagger ever so slightly and promptly lean against the wall. After the ringing in his ears subsided, he walked over to Chen Ru and took the black feather, bringing it closer to his eyes. "Is this the only one?"

Blinking back to his senses, Chen Ru was quick to turn toward the tub, which was now fully drained, and replied in a trembling voice, "N–No, there's still one… two… three… three more, total four! Father Song, did you—" fight a demon? He wanted to ask, but the words caught in his throat as Song Zhuyu abruptly walked to the sink and ran the dirty, bloodstained feather under the running water before flicking it dry.