Second Lead Syndrome (1-187) | ✓

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“...I don’t sense any trace of demonic blood or dark magic in my body, Cecil and Hana aren’t capable of removing it,” Xue clenched and unclenched his fists, looking at K’xug. “You removed it, didn’t you?” 

K’xug nodded again with a look of disapproval in his eyes. 

I did, and are you stupid? 

Why would you do something like that? 

Xue recognised that look immediately, it was a look he received too often in the past from this man. He crossed his arms, raising his eyebrows. 

“I know that look, you are calling me stupid.”

K’xug shrugged.

“If I am stupid, you are also stupid yourself for getting locked up in here.”

It was K’xug’s turn to raise his eyebrows now. 

“If you are like the K’xug I know back in the heavenly realm,” Xue said, shrugging his shoulders. “You wouldn’t let yourself be so easily captured.”

K’xug couldn’t respond to that. 

“Even if you did get yourself captured, you would have freed yourself long ago.”

K’xug gave Xue a deadpan. 

Do you even know who had locked me up here? 

Seeing that expression on K’xug, Xue ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “You are angry, I get it. But are you really angry to the point where you don’t want to speak with me, even though it has been decades?” 

K’xug gave Xue the same “are you stupid” look again. 

Am I that petty in your eyes? 

Even if I am angry, that anger isn’t directed to you.

He raised his hand, waving it over his face and neck. In an instant, a magic circle of glowing black symbols hovered in front of his face and neck. 

Xue immediately recognised those patterns, he went back to his alert state. 

“Black magic, and of the highest tier,” Xue furrowed his eyebrows. “No wonder you couldn’t escape, Veau and Zeau had you locked up in here.”

K’xug nodded. 

“...you can’t speak either, can you?” 

K’xug shook his head. 

Xue closed his eyes, resting his hand on his forehead. “Shit, so...that’s what happened. That explains why you were gone for so long.” 

K’xug tapped Xue on the shoulder, getting his attention. He had an expectant look in his eyes, pointing to the magic seals on his face and neck. 

“What? Are you telling me to remove them?” 

K’xug nodded. 

Xue gritted his teeth, clenching his fists. “...I can’t, I lost...all my powers, including my light magic.” 

K’xug didn’t respond in any manner, speechless and he finally reached an understanding. 

It wasn’t just Hana who lost her powers, Xue did too. 

It wasn’t just Xue having his soul split up, the process took away all his powers as well.

Now, K’xug finally understood why no one came to rescue, even if they believed that he did not betray Xue.