The battle now finished, everyone could take the time to mourn. As the adrenaline disappeared, more and more people began to cry. Cultivators were certainly different from mortals but they felt emotions just the same. Losing someone was never easy and never would be. In this case, there weren't many who didn't have a friend or a family member that died. And even if they didn't, the damages done to the city was enough to implicate whoever else was left.

Whether it be because they lost someone or something, all the inhabitants of the city and even the tourists were feeling it. The pain, the sadness, the anger...

Watching the scene, Jin couldn't help but recall some memories from his past. He once went to a country that was in the midst of an internal war in order to spar with someone... This kind of scene, he had seen before. And yet, it was still difficult to witness. There aren't any sane people who would enjoy seeing this.

He recalled how Min-Su and him were the ones who allowed Sophia to enter the exhibition. How he might have been able to prevent all this from happening if they had rejected her and succeeded. How all this might have been due to them. Then he looked at the sky. It remained unchanged as usual as if whatever happened down there was meaningless... It was hard to bear. The thoughts that he might be the origin of the disaster.

Which is why he found an easy way out. He decided to think of the future instead. There was after all no way to predict whether if he acted in a different way, things would have ended in a contrasting ending. Now that things happened, he could only go along with it. The guilt of taking lives...He was used to it. He rarely took those of innocents though. But it didn't mean it never happened.

Collateral damage was an existing expression for reasons.

He sighed once more as he began to move around, looking for survivors and helping the wounded. It might be hypocrisy and shallow but that's how it was. People died and he had played an indirect role. Now, he was helping those who suffered from this, even receiving their gratitude... It didn't feel good. It never would. But he felt comfort in the thought that he helped people.

Yes, it was a way to escape. Maybe cowardly. But it worked wonders. And as he looked around, he noticed how he wasn't the only one who picked that path. A lot of those involved were also helping out the poor ones who suffered because of them.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Actions have consequences. If Sophia was learning this for the first time, the others were only being reminded about it. In both cases, it brought unpleasant emotions that were hard to swallow...

Meanwhile, at the top of the tower, two people were enjoying themselves. However, while they were doing so, their attention was on something else. They were observing what happened under. Hae-Hyuk was the first one to take a break from their passionate moment and asked the one that should be caring about it the most: "Will you really not do anything about this mess?"

She caressed his torso playfully as she answered him: " Why do you think I made an organization? It is so that others will deal with it for me~"

He understood her point but he still had a tough time figuring her out. He knew her since long ago yet she remained a mystery. What he was the most curious about though was why she wasn't going down herself considering the state her daughter was in. He wanted to ask but before he could, she placed a finger on his mouth and answered his unspoken question: "She needs to face reality and grow up. She must understand that there are consequences"

Hae-Hyuk took her extended hand in his as he nodded. Then, he kissed her gently and they returned to their 'business'...

And down there, some people arrived. Or rather, they flew down from the tower and landed elegantly around Sophia. There were five men. Handsome was too lowly a word to describe their appearances and auras. They gazed at the devastated city with eyes devoid of emotions. One of them turned towards Sophia after long minutes and asked her: "Do you understand what you have done this time?"

Sophia was still on her knees. No more tears were falling and no longer was she crying but her eyes were empty. She didn't even answer the man who sighed at the sight of her. This time, she really messed up big time. For even her Mother to deny coming down and instead have them deal with this.

As the man thought of her Mother, he recalled the other man she brought in a few days ago. Hae-Hyuk. This fucking bastard. He hated that man who had been granted the honor of being invited into her highest Mansion where even he had yet to go... He had been her lover for close to 1300 years now and yet...

He grit his teeth as he suppressed his anger and jealousy. It wasn't time for that. He had a task. Once again, he looked around and sighed. It was arduous to even find where to start. They would need to rebuild most of the city center and at least half of the west-side.

Anyways, the first task was to help the remaining injured and take care of the deceased. He ordered the other four to go in different directions and take charge there. In mere minutes, hundreds and hundreds of cultivators belonging to the tower were in the field helping the people.

On the other hand, he stayed with Sophia and sat down next to her in the lotus position. He had to make sure she could recover from this. That was the task his lover gave him. As for the city...It was an add-on.

To Isla Crowe, the well-being of her daughter was the priority and as 'one of her fathers', he agreed.