Enchanting Cult Leader 24

"Young Master Gu, do you intend to wallow in this despair forever?!" Hong Xiu's voice trembled with fury as she looked at Gu Han, who sat on the couch, his frail form lifeless, devoid of spirit. How could the one whom the Sect Leader adored be such a coward?

"..." Gu Han paid no attention to Hong Xiu, his eyes vacant, staring blankly ahead.

"I have but a few words to say, then I shall leave." Hong Xiu did not expect a reply from Gu Han. If not for the Sect Leader, she would never have come here. "Do you remember when you were first injured and entered Nebula Sect? You came from a prestigious family, and many in the Sect opposed your stay. Some even wished to kill you. It was the Sect Leader who stood firm, defending you. Have you ever considered the great sacrifice that was for her? Her actions risked division within the Sect, she faced the threat of betrayal, yet she persisted, choosing to protect you. Since childhood, I have taken care of her needs—her food, her clothing, her living arrangements. She cannot even distinguish the different grains, yet for you, she willingly learned to cook. In the beginning, she often cut herself, or was burned by hot oil, yet she kept trying, and once she made a dish, she delivered it to you personally. And what about you?!"

"..." Pain flickered in Gu Han's eyes as he struggled to comprehend the extent of her devotion. He had thought that by avoiding her, she would forget him. How could he have known that she would go so far for his sake? He had no idea!

"She even learned to make sachets for you. I offered to help, but she refused. She insisted on making one herself, so that you could wear it around your waist or place it by your bedside, so that you would always think of her. If anyone else had done it, it wouldn't have worked." Hong Xiu laughed, though it was unclear whether she mocked Gu Han or Elora. "The leader of Nebula Sect, believing in such superstitions... how laughable!"

Gu Han clutched his chest, his face twisted in agony. The pain was unbearable. He had never realized how much Elora had done for him. But what had he done for her, except hurt her? He was the one to blame—he alone!

"This sachet was something she worked on for nights, and I accidentally found it in your garden. I don't know how it ended up there," Hong Xiu said as she pulled out the poorly stitched sachet, filled with Elora's boundless affection, and handed it to Gu Han. "Originally, she meant to give it to you. Since she's gone now, I think it's only right it be returned to its rightful owner."

Gu Han's trembling hands took the sachet, pressing it tightly against his chest. Was this the gift she had intended for him that day? Yet, he had crushed her sincerity underfoot. Was she heartbroken? Was she resentful of him? She had waited time and again, but all he had given her in return was pain.

"Now that the Sect Leader is gone, you should live on—for her sake, so that she can rest in peace. That's all I have to say. How you move forward is for you to decide." With that, Hong Xiu turned and walked away without a second glance.

After Hong Xiu left, Gu Han remained in the same position for what felt like an eternity. He remembered the first time he had seen Elora—her delicate, wounded form, her forced smile when he had rejected her... Scene after scene played in his mind, as vivid as though etched into his soul.

It was clear now—he had unknowingly allowed her to take root deep within his heart.

The bitter irony was that, for the sake of some misguided sense of righteousness, he had pushed her away time and time again.

Once entangled in such a web, how could one extricate oneself?

Gu Han examined the sachet in his hand. Elora had embroidered his name, "Gu Han," on it. Though it was far from perfect—the stitches uneven, the threads left loose—he felt it was the most beautiful gift in the world. It was the last token of her love for him.

Tightening his grip on the sachet, he placed it against his chest. A single, hot tear fell onto the fabric, merging with it as if it belonged there.

He cried... A man may not shed tears lightly, but only when grief runs deep.

"I was wrong, Elora... Please come back. I regret it—I truly regret it! If you return, I will never leave you again..."

The greatest distance in life is not between life and death, but when I gaze at you with tenderness, and you remain unaware of the love in my eyes, calling out to you.

Gu Han sat in silence for the entire night, reflecting on everything...