The ember at the tip of the cigar flickered again, its faint glow cutting through the darkness.
Xing Luoguang stared at the city for a long moment before finally speaking, his voice low and firm, carrying the weight of everything left unsaid.
"…We've already taken revenge."
He paused, his gaze unmoving as he continued to look at the city that did not belong to him.
"But what of it?"
There was no answer waiting for him, yet he asked anyway.
"Our city is still gone."
The wind howled softly around them, slipping through the silence like a quiet lament.
"Can we rebuild it like that?" he asked, almost to himself, his voice losing its edge as the question settled into something deeper.
"Can we go back… in just a moment?"
The words lingered in the air, unanswered, hanging between them like a truth neither wanted to face.
Then came the quiet response.
"…No."
Xing Luoguang's lips barely moved as he spoke; the answer was simple and final, leaving no room for doubt or hope.
