For a brief moment, Rong Ye stilled. But his breathing remained ragged, his eyes still filled with despair, as the silence that followed grew heavier than anything before.

So much had been given to him.

And he had turned it all into nothing.

Perhaps... he truly was useless.

He had nothing to offer. Nothing at all. Except for a face that others praised, a hollow shell that meant nothing in the face of true strength. And what use was that? In this world, beauty could not protect, could not fight, could not avenge.

It was worthless.

Just like him.

The thoughts came one after another, relentless and cruel, each one sharper than the last. They echoed in his mind, growing louder until they drowned out everything else.

His body leaned forward slowly until he was fully slumped on the ground. His vision blurred as his eyes began to sting, the tears gathering before he could stop them.

And then, without warning, the past came rushing back.

He saw his father.

He had been born late, when his father was already old. An unexpected child, one that should not have been cherished as much as he was, but his father had loved him deeply. Even with his aging body, that man had always been there, his presence warm and steady, his gaze filled with quiet affection.

He had been his father’s treasure.

The one most dearly held.

But that warmth did not last.

The memory shifted, turning cold and suffocating. His father’s body lay still before him, unmoving, lifeless. No matter how much he shook him, no matter how many times he called out, there was no response.

His lips trembled as the scene replayed itself mercilessly. He did not remember his mother clearly, she had passed away when he was too young, leaving behind only faint, fragmented memories. But his father... his father had been his entire world.

He had brothers. There were many of them, but the distance between their ages had kept them apart. They were strangers more than family. Only his sixth and seventh brothers had been close to him, along with his uncle, his mother’s younger brother, the man who had never taken a mate and had instead devoted himself entirely to their family.

That man had loved him like his own child.

Had protected him.

Had stayed by his side.

And yet, even that bond had been shattered. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The truth had come out slowly, cruelly. His father had not died a natural death. He had been killed... by his own son. By Rong Ye’s elder brother.

The memory twisted painfully as it continued. One by one, his brothers had begun to die. It had been so obvious, so painfully clear that even someone like him could see it... someone was hunting them, eliminating them one after another.

And his uncle had known.

That was why he had taken Rong Ye and his seventh brother and fled the city. They had run without stopping, chased like prey, always looking over their shoulders, always waiting for the next attack.

He still remembered that back.

Old, slightly bent, yet unyielding.

His uncle had stood in front of them again and again, shielding them from danger, facing enemies without hesitation. That frail looking figure had carried a strength Rong Ye could never hope to match.

Until the day it all ended.

That final moment was carved deeply into his memory. His uncle standing before him, taking the fatal blow meant for them. Blood spilling, staining everything, as that familiar voice urged them to run.

And then... silence.

"Uncle..."

Rong Ye’s shoulders shook violently as the tears finally fell, unstoppable, unrestrained. "I’m sorry..." His voice broke, choked by sobs he could no longer suppress. "I couldn’t do anything..."

He knew it was shameful. A man crying like this, breaking down so completely, it was something to be looked down upon. But what was even more shameful was the truth he could not escape.

He had been powerless then.

And he was still powerless now.

A member of the nine tailed fox clan, yet unable to protect even himself. Unable to avenge those who had died for him. What right did he have to continue living like this?

His body curled in on itself as the sobs grew heavier, his face buried against his knees. And in the midst of that despair, another face surfaced in his mind.

Lan Lan.

She was sunshine, warm, full of life.

Like the sun itself.

She was everything he was not. Blessed, strong, surrounded by love and light. And him? He was nothing but a shadow clinging to her side.

What kind of husband could not even protect his own mate?

What kind of man was he?

A dark thought crept into his mind, quiet at first but quickly growing louder. If he was truly this useless... then what was the point of continuing?

His hand slowly lifted, fingers curling into claws as they moved toward his chest. The sharp tips glinted faintly, aimed directly at his own heart.

Perhaps it would be better this way.

Perhaps everything would end.

But just before his claws could pierce through, a hand shot forward and grabbed his wrist tightly.

"Stop!"

An Mo’s sharp voice resounded along the wall. "What are you doing?!"

But Rong Ye did not respond.

His eyes were empty, devoid of focus, as if he could no longer process the world around him. He struggled weakly at first, then with increasing desperation, trying to pull his hand free.

"Let me go..."

His voice was low, hollow, completely broken.

"Let me go!"

He thrashed in An Mo’s grip, his movements frantic, almost like a beast driven mad. "I’m useless anyway! Why should I even live?! I can’t protect anyone, I can’t avenge them, I can’t even become stronger!"

His voice rose, cracking under the weight of his emotions. Tears streamed down his face without pause, his body trembling uncontrollably.

"What am I still alive for...?"

The question was heavy and suffocating.

An Mo did not let go.

Instead, his grip tightened, his expression turning cold and unyielding as he looked down at Rong Ye.

"Are you done?"