《Sovereign of Primal Chaos》 water buket In a village within a certain country, a boy ran carefully, his face beaming with joy as he carried a bucket of water in both hands. He moved through the grass and giant tree trunks, the cool breeze brushing against his face, accompanied by the melodic chirping of birds. After running for a while, amidst all this, his caution waned, and it wasn''t long before he tripped over a rock, fell onto the bucket of water, and soiled his heavily stitched clothes with mud. Not only that, but the stitching was terribly poor! As he lay there, a voice called out to him, growing closer and closer until a small, white hand extended toward him. "I told you the bucket was too heavy for you, and yet you ran! How careless you are, Chang Yu," said a soft, childlike voice that reached the boy''s ears. It belonged to the girl whom the villagers had dubbed the "Fairy of the Village." Many envied the boy for his relationship with her and often bullied him because of it. The boy, his muddy hand slightly trembling, grabbed hers and stood up. He was slightly taller than her. At that moment, he scratched his neck and let out a childlike laugh. "Haha, I''m sorry. I just wanted to hurry and bring water for Father so he could prepare lunch faster! Believe me, that was my only intention." The girl, known as the Fairy of the Village, was an orphan whom the boy''s father had found while chopping wood in the forest. He brought her back, intending to care for her only until she recovered. However, things didn''t go as planned. The girl insisted on staying, going so far as to beg and promise to work as a servant if necessary. If he couldn''t bear her presence, she was willing to live in a small hut in his yard. The kind-hearted man couldn''t refuse such a sweet little girl, so he accepted her and adopted her as his daughter. The girl frowned and scolded him again, and they headed home. There, a middle-aged man awaited them. Despite his appearance suggesting so, he was in his late fifties. The boy''s father never explained the reason for this contradiction, though he speculated that during a challenging time in his youth, he had stumbled upon a river in the mountains while utterly exhausted. Drinking from it, he felt a surge of energy that had not waned to this day. This story became a well-known legend in the village, sparking numerous rumors and theories. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Yu''er!" the father called out sharply. "How many times have I told you not to overexert yourself just to impress your adopted sister? Don''t think I don''t know why you do these things, you teenage boys!" "Father! You... I told you not to say that! Damn it! How will I face my adopted sister now?" The boy''s face turned green, then red with embarrassment. The girl covered her mouth, releasing a laugh that warmed both the boy''s and the father''s hearts. Their faces softened, smiles creeping onto them. At that moment, a knock came at the door. The father opened it to reveal a tall, dark-skinned man. "Brother Chang, how have you been lately? Would you mind letting your son accompany me? I need his help with some work. My son is also eager to see him again," the man said, a sly smile playing on his lips. The father''s eyes narrowed, and he was about to refuse when the boy intervened, pleading to go. Reluctantly, the father sighed and allowed it. The man thanked him slyly, and once they were out of sight, the father''s face darkened with regret. The girl approached, confusion evident on her face. "Father, where is my brother going?" she asked curiously. "Don''t worry, my daughter," the father replied, feigning optimism. "Your brother is a man. He must experience all kinds of work; otherwise, how will he take care of you in the future?" He chose his words carefully, and they hit the mark. The girl''s ears turned red as she became lost in thought, stumbling away awkwardly. Despite the humor of her reaction, the father sank into deep thought. He knew his son was being bullied and beaten again. Over the past few years, every time he went out with that man, he never returned unharmed. The father had tried refusing multiple times, but one night, he found threatening letters from an unknown source, promising to rob and destroy their home if he continued to resist. Tears fell as his hands trembled. When he returned home, his face pale, he was shocked to find his son awake and reading the letter. The boy''s face was serious. "Father, please, if they come again, don''t refuse them. I''ll endure it¡ªfor now. Once I grow up, I''ll make them regret it!" The father saw the determination in his son''s eyes and couldn''t refuse, not even this time. But what neither he nor the girl knew was that this time would be unlike any other. Back in the present, though the boy displayed unparalleled courage in front of his father and adopted sister, it was all an act. Inside, he was trembling. When he looked into the man''s cunning eyes, countless terrifying thoughts raced through his mind. He was living in hell¡ªwho, as a child, could bear such pressure? The man noticed the sweat on the boy''s brow and smiled wider. "No need to worry. You''ll only work twelve hours this time, and don''t forget to play with my son for two hours. Only then will I let you live for another three months." The boy froze, his face turning dark. All hope drained from him, replaced by an expression of despair and terror. "Two hours?! Two hours of play?! You bastard! You call that playing?!" he thought. The man turned to look at him, and the boy''s fearful expression vanished. He forced a bitter smile and followed. They walked until they reached a flat plain where a cart drawn by two horses awaited. Their path led through a vast plain toward an enormous mountain called the Great Mountain. It was named for two reasons: its seemingly inexhaustible natural resources and its worship by some locals. Its peak resembled a sword piercing the sky. Despite its fame, the mountain had another, far less known name. Only a few knew it: the "Sky-Sealed Mountain". stone ground ???? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????????? ??????. ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ?? ?????. ????????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ??????. ??? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????. ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ??????. ???? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????. "??????! ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????????? ???????? ????????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ??????" ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ???????. ???? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ????? ???????? ?????. ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????. ???? ??????? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????. ??? ???? ????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???. ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????? - ???????? ???? ????????? - ??? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ?????. ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ???????. ??? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?? ????????. ??? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?????. ???? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????. ???? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ???????? ???? ??????: "???? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ?????. ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ???????". ?? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ???. ?? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ??? - ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????. ?? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ????????? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????. ????? ???? ????? ??????? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ?????. ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ?????. ????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????. ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????? ????????? ??????. ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????. ???? ???? ?????. ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?? ????. ???? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ????. ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ????. ????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ????. ????? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? - ??? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ??????. ????? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ????.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ?? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??????. ?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ?????. ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?????. ???? ??? ????? ????? ???. "???? ?????! ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ???????!" ?? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?????????? ????????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????. "?? ???? ??? ?? ??????. ????? ??? ?????? ???????"? ??? ????? ????????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ???. ???? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? "???? ????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?????. ?????? ???? ?????. ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?????!" ???? ??????? "???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????. ??? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ???????... ???? ??? ??? ???? ???". ????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?????. ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ???? - ????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ???. ????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????. ????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?????. ??????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ????. ?? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ??? ????. ??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ?????. ??? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????? ???? ????. ??? ????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???. ????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ????. ????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????. ?? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??? ???. ?? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?????. ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ????? ???? ????? ??????. ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ???????. ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????. ???? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?????. ??? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?????. ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ????. ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????. ?? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????. ?? ???????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ???. ?? ??? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??? ????? - ???? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ??????. ??? ????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ???. ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ??. ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?? ?????. ????? ???? ????? ??????. ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ???? - ????. ???? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???. ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ???? ???? ???? ??????. ?????? ??????????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ????. ???? ??? ???? ????? ??????? "??? ?? ?? ?????? ?????". ?? ???? ???. ??? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ????. ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?????: "??????". Return The boy''s face showed a mix of shock and fear. The word was engraved in his mind, and he couldn''t understand how it had appeared. The more he thought, the more fear grew inside him. The darkness, the strange place, and the word¡ªit was terrifying. By nature, the boy was cautious. Had things been normal, he wouldn''t have dared to turn the pages of the book, especially not knowing what lay ahead. But with no other option, he found himself under intense psychological pressure. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he tried to flip a page but kept hesitating. He wasn''t sure how long he''d been sitting there, folding and retreating, but his hunger was growing unbearable. As his mental and physical exhaustion increased, he was forced to turn a page. His hand shook as he did so. Despite everything, nothing happened. This only deepened his terror. His thoughts spiraled, and he started flipping the pages desperately. But again, nothing changed. He stopped and simply sat, listening to his stomach growl. His eyes reflected hopelessness, and he remained motionless for a long time. Eventually, he stood up, clenching his fist and muscles, as though making a decision. Suddenly, he punched his face, repeatedly hitting his head until blood poured from it, even losing some teeth. Then, just as he was about to strike again, he stopped. It seemed like his awareness returned, but it didn''t. He dropped to his knees, hitting his head once more. Thankfully, the ground was soft, but he wished it weren''t. Blood spilled onto the book. Earlier, he only wanted to torture himself, but now he genuinely wished for death. Any hope had vanished. He thought the pages must be ruined by the blood, but surprisingly, that wasn''t the case. At that moment, as blood dripped and death thoughts flooded his mind, words appeared before him: "Heir of Emperor Chang Yu." Then, he collapsed into unconsciousness. --- Meanwhile, far away in another world, a loud scream echoed in a vast, empty sky, red like blood. The source of the scream was deep in the earth, hundreds of meters below the surface. In the very center of the deepest pit, a man hung from a massive stake that seemed to melt, yet remained rigid and solid. The man appeared to be dead in the most horrific way, but suddenly, he came back to life, full of vitality. However, his skin began to melt away, followed by his flesh being consumed. A mysterious force entered his body, grinding his bones and squeezing his nerves. His screams tore through his throat. Slowly, the unknown power moved to his head, consuming him piece by piece, while he endured the agony, fully aware of every second. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. What''s strange is that no blood spilled. Instead, it gathered above him, boiling, and was burned in bursts. Then, the cycle began again¡ªhe died, came back to life, and the process repeated. You might wonder what the man did to deserve such torment. This man is the very one who led the boy to the sealed mountain area. During an earthquake, he mysteriously disappeared, and since then, he has been enduring this gruesome fate. --- Back with the boy, after a while of unconsciousness, he slowly opened his eyes, struggling to focus. He looked up at the familiar ceiling, just as he heard the sound of pottery breaking. He tried to move his head, but the pain was unbearable. His head was held still as he sensed someone approaching him. Tears welled up in his eyes as he saw his adopted sister holding him, crying out, "Dad! Dad, hurry! My brother''s awake! Thank God you''re safe, Chang Yu!" Her sweet voice, which had accompanied him on his journey, echoed in his ears again. It was a scene too unreal to believe. Suddenly, an old man entered the room. The boy forgot about his sister''s cries as he stared at the man''s face¡ªonce youthful and miraculous, now aged and wrinkled. His eyes widened in shock. Time seemed to freeze as he looked at his father, who now appeared to be in his sixties. The boy couldn''t speak, feeling that all the fatigue and aging on his father''s face was his fault. If only he hadn''t gone, none of this would have happened! He closed his eyes, drowning in tears and thoughts, unable to say a word. But the old man didn''t move. He just stared at him with tired eyes filled with longing, then left without saying anything. --- "Chang Yu! Promise me you won''t go again! Your father and I almost died of grief when Uncle Feng found you lying in the plains, covered in your blood. Please, stay here and don''t carry this burden! We''ll leave this savage village!" Her words were full of sorrow, and she waited for his reply with bated breath. With great effort, she reached out and touched his cheek, holding his hand. After a moment, she cried on his chest, murmuring his name over and over. His eyes softened as he watched her cry, and for the first time, his feelings shifted from sibling affection and perhaps a bit of admiration to love. Suddenly, his eyes stiffened, and his whole body followed suit! The girl quickly grabbed his hand, shouting, "Chang Yu! What''s happening to you? Wait a moment, I''ll get Dad!" The moment she left the room, his body relaxed and appeared lifeless. A few minutes later, the girl returned, helping her adopted father walk. Just as she entered, she fell to the ground with a loud scream, "Brother!" Her feet froze, unable to move, as she stared desperately at him, tears streaming down her face. It was as if her heart might burst out of her chest at any moment. --- The old man approached his son, checking his pulse without saying a word. A smile appeared on his face, and he turned, gently patting the girl''s head. But suddenly, she grabbed his hand, lifting her head, and said, "Dad, save him!" The old man carried her gently, placing his hand on her forehead and whispered in her ear, "Your brother is still alive. He may have lost consciousness, but just let him rest a bit, and he will wake up." The girl finally calmed down and fell into a deep sleep. --- Despite what the old man said, the boy did not wake up for weeks. They brought every doctor in the village and nearby towns, but none could find any reason for his condition. They even brought charlatans who spoke of strange, expensive remedies, but nothing worked. The family lost hope, day by day, until they came to the grim conclusion that he was in a permanent coma. The father, though loving, was a realist. After trying every possible solution with no result, what other explanation could there be? But his adopted sister never gave up, even in despair. She continued with the daily rituals, cooking for him, burning incense, praying, and making medicines. But, as the days passed, even the fire in her eyes seemed to fade. After two months, she finally gave up. That day, she didn''t do anything she had been doing for the past three months. --- Suddenly, one night, while everyone else was sleeping, a loud scream pierced the night. The father and the girl woke up in panic, rushing toward the source of the sound. What shocked them even more was that it came from the boy''s room! They rushed inside to find the boy holding his head and screaming in agony, writhing in pain. Just moments later, when they reached him and grabbed his hands, he fell back into unconsciousness, as if nothing had happened. Sacrifice This incident carved terror into both the old man''s and the girl''s hearts. It wasn''t just because of the boy; in fact, he was merely a secondary source of fear. What truly terrified them was the flood of thoughts¡ªfear, hatred, contempt, and murderous intent¡ªfrom millions of people when they touched the boy. This had a deep impact on the girl, to the point where she became mute, deaf, and completely paralyzed, not eating for an entire week. The duration might have lasted longer if she hadn''t been unable to resist and was on the brink of death. Her adoptive father was forced to bring her back to her senses by sheer force. After two slaps, she regained some clarity, responding with a few mutterings, as if her soul had been sealed deep within her. It was as though her father''s hand had brushed the edges of the seal, leading to her faint response, but it was enough to feed her a large amount of food. As for the father, while he hadn''t escaped the shock, he had seen much blood, corpses, and the crying of women and children, living among them. So, the impact on him wasn''t as severe as it was on the girl. It took him only two days to regain his composure. Suddenly, while the old man was lost in his thoughts, there was a loud knock at the door, followed by a scream, "Chang! Come out, we have something to ask you!" The old man''s heart skipped a beat. First, his son, then his daughter, and now these people. He secretly wondered why trouble had been coming at him from every direction recently. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see a group of people, three of them physically imposing and appearing powerful. As he looked at them, the old man''s concern grew quietly in his heart. "Please, honored guests, what brings you here this time?" One of the three stepped forward and looked down at the old man with disdain. "Mr. Tu Yuan hasn''t been seen in three months, and it so happens that you were the last one to visit him. Tell us all the details, and don''t you dare hide a single glance from us!" The deep voice entered the old man''s ears, unsettling his heart and causing signs of worry to show. "Honored guest, it''s true that Mr. Tu Yuan visited me three months ago, but he only asked for my son to accompany him and play with his own son. Believe me, honored guest, I had no involvement in Mr. Tu Yuan''s disappearance!" The old man hesitated as he justified his position, but the large man showed no expression, which turned the old man''s worry into fear. Suddenly, the man''s expression changed, his face contorted into a snarl, and he shouted, "Old fool! How dare you lie! Mr. Tu always told us that if he disappeared for more than three months, we should go and search for Chang''s son. He''s involved in the disappearance, one way or another!"If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. As he spoke, he shoved the old man aside. "Move, old man, and let me check your damned son!" The old man grabbed the large man''s hand and begged, his eyes filled with sorrow and helplessness. Despite this, the large man remained silent and waved his hand. Soon, the other two men appeared and restrained the old man. He had no choice but to scream, "Honored guest! Please! I beg you, the boy is bedridden and unable to respond, please show mercy!" Once the old man stopped screaming, the large man paused for a moment, then turned and revealed a sinister smile. "Tell me, old Chang, I recall that you have a daughter who is said to possess angelic beauty, is that true? Well, you have two choices. First, hand over the girl, and we''ll leave peacefully. Or, allow us to check on your son. It''s obvious which one is easier, isn''t it?" The old man''s face grew pale, his complexion shifting between green and blue. He thought, "Check on him? You mean you want to take my son and turn him into a slave before my eyes! Damn you all, wherever you are!" As the old man''s silence stretched on, the large man''s patience wore thin. He waved his hand and revealed four fingers. After a very short while, it became three! The old man''s eyes widened in disbelief, and he quickly lost hope, saying with a defeated look, "Check on him, check on my son, just leave my daughter alone." A soft, broken voice entered the large man''s ears, causing him to reveal an evil grin. "Rest assured, you''ve made the right choice, Chang," he said, then entered the house, followed by the two men, who held the old man. After walking for some time, they arrived in front of a hut. In fact, it wasn''t a hut but more of an external room. After the large man examined it with his eyes, he pushed the door open and entered. He saw nothing but a bed with a boy lying on it. However, the strange thing was not the bed or the boy, but the girl sitting next to him. Suddenly, a sinister smile appeared on the large man''s face. At the same time, the old man''s eyes widened in shock. He screamed, "Yung Er! What are you doing? Get out now!" The large man waved his hand and said slyly, "Why are you in such a hurry, Chang? But I must say, your luck truly surprises me. Since fortune is on my side, I''ll take both of them. My deepest condolences, Chang. Haha!" As he spoke, the veins in the old man''s head were visibly bulging, showing his immense anger. In a faraway world, away from all of this, the girl did not respond to either her adoptive father or the large man. She just continued to gaze at her brother, sitting on the chair. Suddenly, the man behind her lifted her small hand. She tried to strike him, but it was too late. He struck her neck, knocking her unconscious. On the other side, the two men tied the old man''s hands and feet with thick ropes, covering his mouth. His only sound was a scream that would break the heart of any stone! A waterfall of tears fell from his eyes, revealing a deep desire for revenge, causing him to bleed slightly. Meanwhile, the man looked at him, showing that cursed smile and evil eyes. The man signaled with his hand, and one of the two men moved toward the boy. He reached out and touched the boy''s body. Suddenly, with a tearing sound, blood exploded, and parts of the boy''s body were scattered in an instant. The moment the man''s fingers made contact with the boy''s body, a strange aura entered, tearing his nerves apart and causing him to explode, turning him into a pile of bones mixed with flesh. The large man was so shocked that his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He quickly shouted at the man holding the old man to kill him. Indeed, no more than three seconds passed before the man drew his sword and swung it. In the moment the old man''s head fell, his body turned into a mass of flesh and a pool of blood. The large man, who didn''t have time to react, looked in disbelief as his body caught fire. He screamed loudly before turning to ash. The scattered ash revealed a boy standing behind it, gazing with sharp eyes, his hand open and arm outstretched. Paying the ultimate debt Suddenly, black lines appeared on the fingers of the boy''s hand. His eyes widened in shock as he alternated between blue and red hues, clutching his hand, which the black lines rapidly overtook, gaining complete control. He screamed, his body trembling in unbearable pain and extreme heat. Within seconds, sweat began to pour from his body, and veins protruded as if they might burst at any moment. The black lines continued to grow, spreading to his forearm, elbow, and eventually rendering his left hand entirely powerless. As the lines expanded, the heat intensified to the point where his body felt like a blazing furnace. After some resistance from the boy''s body, the black lines moved to the left side of his neck, branching into smaller lines that climbed up to turn the lower left side of his eye entirely black. Upon closer inspection, these lines were extremely fine¡ªso subtle that, without focus, they might appear as nothing more than a faint half-circle. Now, having reached this stage, the lines seemed to form a specific pattern or mark that appeared for a fraction of a second before vanishing. Left behind was a body whose blood seemed to boil, as though a few more seconds would have been fatal. Drenched in sweat, his tears fell like a waterfall. His veins were in turmoil, and he could feel his heartbeat through them, his mind a chaotic storm. Despite his dire condition, it seemed as though the boy had anticipated this event. He showed no signs of surprise or shock, only placing his hand over his left eye and breathing heavily as he gazed at the severed head before him with an expression of immense killing intent. He let out a mocking smile and sighed. With a snap of his fingers, the girl in the room was lifted into the air, surrounded by a bubble. Standing upright, he climbed down from the bed. Despite the supernatural display moments earlier, his legs shook more with every step he took toward the severed head. When he finally reached it, his legs gave way, and he fell to his knees. He picked up the head and raised it to his face. Now, two faces were visible. One belonged to the lifeless head, blood oozing viscously from the severed neck, the eyes slightly bulging. The other was the boy''s face, wrinkled with grief, streaming with tears. He clutched his father''s head tightly, raised his head to the heavens, and roared, "I will avenge you, Father! I will slaughter them to the last one! Let your soul rest in peace and watch as I annihilate these wretched bastards!" At the sound of his cry, the door was flung open by one of Tu Yuan''s men. His face, initially full of malice, turned pale upon seeing the boy''s blackened eye. The man''s skin began to melt suddenly¡ªnot burning or exploding but dissolving, as though liquefied. At the sound of the word "Assemble," the man''s body began to crack, blood seeping out as his flesh disintegrated until he was entirely drained. But instead of collapsing, his body remained upright as the blood gathered into a pool near the boy''s hand. The blood pulsated and writhed as though miniature explosions were taking place within it. The boy gestured, and the blood returned to the man''s body, sealing the cracks. A deafening sound followed, and the man disintegrated into a pool of blood that melted through the floor.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. The boy stood up, snapping his fingers. His father''s head rose into another bubble beside the one containing the girl. He walked heavily, his face grim, toward the door. Upon reaching it and taking a step outside the room, a voice shouted, "Stop! If you dare take another step, you won''t live to see daylight again!" Though the voice tried to sound threatening, it quivered with fear. Around him, Tu Yuan''s men began to gather in a disciplined formation, signaling that traps and assassins awaited him. The boy looked at them mockingly and smiled before stepping forward again. The men felt chills run down their spines, their legs trembling uncontrollably. Another step, then another, and by the seventh step, one of the men could no longer hold his composure. He shouted, "Y-You! This is your final warning! Take another step, and you won''t see the good in us!" "Oh, really? Let''s see." The boy stomped the ground hard, causing it to tremble beneath their feet. The vibration intensified with each passing second. Suddenly, the tremors ceased, and nothing happened. Suspicious, some of the men glanced at the ground beneath them. That was when spikes shot up, piercing their chests. The spikes extended inside their bodies, turning their faces blue and purple, their eyes rolling back as they spat blood, feeling their organs turn to stone. The remaining men, who had not lowered their heads, watched in disbelief as their comrades¡ªthose they had shared drinks and sworn oaths with¡ªwere turned into lifeless statues. Overwhelmed, they dropped their swords and fell to their knees, pleading for mercy. "Pleading now? How amusing," the boy said coldly. "Wuchi was right¡ªhumans will do anything to save their lives. They''ll endure humiliation, betray lifelong friends, kill their children, wives, even their parents. I want to test this theory. Show me your true selves¡ªthe ugliest, vilest side of your humanity. Let me see if filth is better than you! Devour each other, rip each other apart, and drink their blood like wine!" At his words, the once-organized men devolved into beasts, perhaps less rational than animals. Each turned on the other, tearing into the flesh of their former comrades. One extracted another''s skull, using it as a goblet to drink blood. They cursed, struck, and mutilated one another. Some shattered bones and used them as weapons to dig into the bodies of others still alive. "Hahahaha! Excellent, excellent! You were right, Wuchi!" Hours later, the once-beautiful courtyard, fragrant with blooming flowers, had become a grotesque slaughterhouse. The stench of rotting blood, flesh, and scattered bones filled the air, repelling even animals. The lush green grass was soaked red, the flowers withered, and the area was unrecognizable as a place fit for human habitation. Surveying the carnage, the boy''s heart felt slightly lighter. He sighed, stood upright, and began constructing a grave at a vantage point overlooking the bloody scene. He gestured, and his father''s head moved to rest before him. He slammed his forehead to the ground, prostrating himself. "Father! This unworthy son could not stop them from killing you. But at least I created this scene from their blood to ease some of your rage! I vow now, before your grave, as you watch from the heavens, that I, Zhang Yu, will tread a muddy and arduous path so I will never again be weak or ashamed. I will become a man capable of protecting our family. Yong''er¡ªI will take responsibility for her, and no harm will ever touch her again. Father! The debts have been repaid; everything is returned to its rightful owners. So please, rest in peace without worry!" Zhang Yu remained prostrated for nearly an hour before rising. His gaze was cold and determined. His thoughts held a singular focus: to never be weak again. His sole goal was to protect his sister and pursue strength. He placed his father''s head in the grave, sealed it, and engraved a single inscription: The Tomb of Zhang. Leaving the massacre behind, he walked through the house, reminiscing about his final memories there: playing with Yong''er, arguing with his father, hunting and eating together. "Wonderful memories," he thought. "Pity they''re just memories now." Finally, he reached the house''s main door. Turning one last time, he gazed at the home. He stood still for a few moments before turning away without a word. Externally, the house bore the name Zhang Manor. Staring at the nameplate, Zhang Yu smirked and thought, "Zhang Mausoleum. That sounds better." With a wave of his hand, the nameplate changed, and the new inscription glowed briefly before fading. Then, without looking back, he disappeared into the mist. Shadows of the past As Zhang Yu walked through one of the quiet forests, the large tree leaves formed a thick wall that blocked the sun''s heat. In a nearby area, a small circle of burning firewood appeared, with flames rising as though they were deliberately breaking the eternal silence. Next to it, a young girl was leaning against one of the trees. She appeared strange. Her skin was pale, and her eyes reflected a lifeless gaze, as though life had lost all hope of escaping. She listened to the crackling sound of the burning wood, and the flames seemed to dance, consoling her and forgetting the emptiness in her eyes. Suddenly, after a while, she hugged her knees and tried to hide herself deeply when she heard the sound of footsteps. Within seconds, the darkness revealed a young man with a slightly muscular build, though not overly large, carrying an animal he had hunted on his shoulder. Zhang Yu approached and lowered the animal. He glanced at her and sighed. This had been the case for almost a month and a half, ever since he first released her from the bubble and she looked at him. Though it was just one glance, it was definitely not a look of a sister to her brother, but rather one of fear, as if she had seen a bloodthirsty killer. Immediately, she shuddered and took a few steps back. Since then, she had always kept a safe distance, and if that distance was breached, she would tremble in fear and quickly fall. This time was no exception. She lowered her head and tried to hide from him. Zhang Yu, irritated, decided to ignore her once again. He held back his anger, but a spark still lingered in his mind. He sat down and began cleaning the animal. After finishing, he cut it into pieces, preparing it for grilling. After some time, he extinguished the fire and removed the meat from the wood. He took a medium-sized piece and approached the girl, coming within five steps. He bowed and placed it down, straightened up, and moved away to eat his meal out of her sight. He didn''t go far, only a few meters, but more importantly, it was an area where he could keep an eye on the girl from a distance. While eating, images of the girl running joyfully through the field appeared before him. A gentle breeze seemed happy to play with her, and animals happily jumped around her, making sounds. That girl, whose face never left a joyful expression, had now turned into a ghost, caught between life and death. His heart tightened as his eyes gazed at her in despair, and he saw that she was still sitting there, not moving an inch! Usually, the girl would slowly approach and take the food, but this time she didn''t, which ignited a spark in his mind! Disturbing thoughts raced through his head, and he bit his tongue, exhaling deeply. This was the method he had discovered to prevent himself from acting rashly. He sighed and thought, "What''s wrong with this girl? Wutchi said she would wake up in time, and ordered me to get used to the situation and focus on watching her. But how am I supposed to get used to this? She treats me like I''m the killer of her parents. This is so frustrating."Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Zhang Yu ignored her until after noon. He had finished his meal a while ago, but his angry eyes couldn''t leave her when he saw her slowly walking and throwing the piece of meat away. But that wasn''t enough; she started messing with his things, causing the veins on his head to bulge, and his eyes widened, revealing his frustration. The girl seemed to be looking for something specific. Despite his anger, he didn''t act rashly or rush. He just kept watching her as she held a knife and trembled. She slowly returned to her spot and carefully placed the knife on her other arm. Slowly, with a shaking hand, she made a small cut on her arm, and it quickly began to bleed. Although it was just a few drops. Zhang Yu watched intently as she used the blood to draw lines on her hand. After a short while, she had drawn something that resembled a pattern¡ªbeautiful and elegant, resembling ancient seals. But to Zhang Yu, it was just useless lines. After finishing the drawing, she stared at the pattern for a while, then grabbed some water and cleaned the knife first, then her hand. The pattern disappeared without a trace. She returned the knife and then sat back as she was, though she seemed a little more cheerful. Zhang Yu''s heart raced. This was the first time he saw her cheerful, and only in his absence! He thought, "Damn it! This is driving me crazy! Why does she hate me so much?!" Outwardly, Zhang Yu continued to stare at her for a while, but inside, it felt like a volcano was about to erupt, releasing all the lava inside him. He struck the tree beside him with force, causing a roar in the area like the growl of an angry beast. The girl''s body jerked in fear, her eyes widened, and she began to move her hands in the cold dirt, trying to pull herself backward. But woe to her attempts, as the tree behind her acted as a cage, preventing her from escaping, while the sound of heavy footsteps approached. With every step he took, her eyes widened more, and her tremors grew stronger. Until he was directly in front of her, and she instinctively wrapped her hands around her small head, thinking it would hide her. The last traces of her remaining hope fled her eyes, and the little joy she had would not dare show itself again. Suddenly, her heart raced violently as he grabbed her small hand with force. She shuddered under his grip as he dragged her and lifted her, bringing her terrified face, her tightly closed eyes, directly in front of his, which was filled with fury. He didn''t pay much attention to her features and quickly started shouting, "You! Do you see me as a monster? Do you know what it cost me to get where I am?! Do you understand the amount of suffering I endured?!! Or do you just see me as a heartless killer?!" "I did this for revenge! To avenge my father''s spirit! And now, you''re even running from looking at my face? What did I do to deserve this? You are my family! Do you understand what that means?!" While he tried to continue his yelling, unloading all his anger onto the little girl, finally, the painful mutterings reached his ears¡ªsome unintelligible words as if she were trying to express her feelings. Her eyes sparkled, tears flowed down her face like a small stream, her tiny body trembling, and her voice was rough and quivering. His eyes widened as he realized his mistake, sinking into silence. After all, she was just a ten-year-old girl¡ªhow could she understand such matters? He quickly released her hand and let it drop to the ground, leaving her to drown in her sorrow and mutterings. He stepped back a little, clutching his heart, the pounding of his pulse felt strongly. He thought, while placing his hand on one of the trees, "What have I done¡­ I''m shouting at a child? Wutchi was right, it seems I''ve only been pretending to be strong." Conflicting thoughts and emotions battled in his mind, as if two personalities were in constant struggle with each other. The first one dictated cruelty, letting go of the past, treating the girl according to orders, and ignoring her. The second one emphasized kindness and compassion, honoring the past and moving forward based on it, treating the girl as his sister, with warmth and goodness, not giving weight to those orders if they aimed at separating them. With every passing second, their struggle grew more intense, leaving the young man, not yet fifteen, confused, unable to be harsh with his sister or disobey orders. Amid the turmoil and the difficult situation, he couldn''t maintain his dignified facade. Soon, his tears began to overflow as he slowly sank down, as though something had escaped him. Leaning against a tree, he muttered, "Damn it!"? Only then did a voice appear in his mind "You look pathetic, disgusting." Between Orders and Emotions The sentence hit him like a thunderbolt! He froze in place, his eyes widening. This was the outward appearance of Chang Yu, but inside, it was a volcano covered in snow, beginning to erupt once more. Chang Yu gritted his teeth and clenched his fist tightly. After a few moments, his nails nearly pierced the flesh! But he felt no pain. The veins on his head swelled like a raging flood about to break the dam. Suddenly, his roar echoed through the forest, like a beast howling with the word "Wu Chi!" accompanied by a tone of intense anger! The storm that had been trapped inside his heart was finally unleashed all at once with the explosion of that dam! It drenched the trees'' leaves, which shook violently as if trying to calm his pent-up rage. "Wu Chi! You were the one who urged me to come to this cursed place! You told me you would contact me as soon as I arrived... A month has passed since then!" A few tears welled up in his eyes, his body trembling like small crystals. Drops of sweat fell from his forehead as his heartbeat quickened. He paused for a moment to catch his breath. He inhaled the cold air, filling his lungs, then expelled it quickly, shouting, "Did you intend for me to suffer?! Only to come here and mock me after everything I''ve been through?!" A cold voice emerged in Chang Yu''s head. It cut through his emotions, bringing an icy chill that turned the flames of his heart into ash, devoid of warmth. In addition to its lack of emotion, the voice showed no concern for the previous storm, but it had the power to crush it. This was Wu Chi when he said, "I didn¡¯t guide you to power so you could display foolishness. You have a specific task: to protect that girl and keep her safe until the critical point." "I told you to leave your past behind and focus on your future. All your childish past must be erased from your mind, or it will become a strong obstacle on your path ahead." "Any foolishness from now on, I will consider a challenge to my orders. I shouldn''t have to remind you of what happened back then every time, should I?" The snowstorm that Wu Chi had brought froze the floodwaters. It weighed heavily on the air of Chang Yu''s scorching storm. It turned the molten lava of his emotions into cold, solid stones! With a slight shudder, indicating his fear, Chang Yu stiffened in place! The color drained from his face. He had become pale, as if the blood in his veins had frozen!The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. In front of his eyes appeared images of that city¡­ or should I call it a human grinder? Piles of human emotions, their fear, hopes, love, screams of pain, crying voices, and terror. The bodies of children, dismembered in a disgusting display! A hand here, a head there. The distortions and burns on their bodies added a repulsive touch. The abandoned houses that had been burned, and the elderly who had been left behind. A puddle? No! It was a sea of blood covering the bodies! If only it were just blood, for it was mixed with pieces of intestines, hearts, and pulverized brains. A paste made from blood and powdered skulls had formed. The air was so heavy, it carried the scent of death and terror. Ravens gathered to feast on this abhorrent scene! Outside this city, one person emerged from it, walking slowly and staggering as though dancing between life and death. Pieces of flesh and some bones stuck to his crimson clothes, which were soaked in blood. There was no part of his body untouched by that nauseating red. Upon closer inspection, those lifeless features were still familiar. It was Chang Yu! Chang Yu fell to his knees, clutching his stomach and vomiting as thoughts crept into his mind, "No... no! This demon is not me! I am Chang Yu! I am still human!" The last trace of life faded from his face, replaced by terror! Those fleeing tears from his eyes soaked the ground as if they were expelling all his previous anger. Only fear remained, along with the sensation of a hand clutching his heart, stabbing it with needles of frost. He slumped his body and leaned against a tree. It shook slightly, dropping a few green leaves. It seemed as if it was trying to embrace his misery and joy. He laughed bitterly, thinking, "Even the tree has more humanity than me, cursed killer. I hate this." He raised his hand and covered his eyes, as if not wanting this side of himself to exist. After a while, suddenly, he opened his eyes with force as another message appeared in his mind. "Move. Forget these feelings. Get ready. In a week, you will go south, where you will find what guides you." A bitter smile crept onto his lips. He placed his hand on the cold earth and pressed down. While his other hand still covered his eyes, he straightened up, slowly lowering his hand. This hand revealed eyes as cold as ice. They showed a will that would not break this time, a will that would not waver. One word echoed in his mind: "A mission to be completed." He placed his hand on the tree and pushed with his weight. He moved slowly until he disappeared from the tree. Suddenly, a leaf fell where he had been sitting, as if recording the birth of a new person. Between Chang Yu, the emotional one who loved his family and could be shaken easily by memories of the past, and Chang Yu, the cold one, who would now care for nothing but his mission, with his priority being orders. After some time, Chang Yu returned, and once again, those troubled atmospheres appeared before his eyes. Previously, he might have been slightly disturbed. Now, there was no trace of emotion on his face, his eyes had become indifferent. A cold breeze hit his face, he closed his eyes, and silence enveloped him from all sides. It felt as though time had stopped, while his emotions were like a leaking boat sinking slowly in the raging sea of his heart. It had not yet stopped, but it was being sealed little by little. He opened his eyes, looked again at the blackness of the night, the group of trees, and the flames rising from the cold winds. All seemed to create an atmosphere full of life, dancing together to please that introverted girl. His expression remained unchanged. He continued walking until he sat near the fire. Suddenly, the cold winds became heavy, lowering the flames, and those green leaves stopped dancing. Previously, his heart would have shaken with anger, and he would have said, "Even nature hates me. What did I do?!!" But now, he would never again engage in such childish behavior. He showed no change in his expression. Still as solid as stone. Only the reflection of the flames appeared in his eyes. Amidst all this dry, dark atmosphere, while Chang Yu tried to hide his emotions, to show an indifferent attitude, he thought, "Calm down, Chang Yu, calm down. Your only task is to complete it. There is nothing else. Forget family, forget the past." "You are the one who accepted to be a tool for completing tasks in exchange for revenge. Calm down." The internal conflict within Chang Yu escalated, but this time, the balance tipped in favor of Wu Chi''s approach. Chang Yu''s emotions continued trying to break the seal placed on them until midnight, when they decided that there was no use in continuing. They quieted down and resigned themselves to their fate inside the seal for the time being. With the cessation of his emotional attacks, drowsiness overcame Chang Yu, and he fell into a deep sleep. Reflection of the Lost Fate Dewdrops hung on the delicate leaves, gently caressed by the cold breeze, swaying them back and forth, making the trees dance with the golden threads of sunlight falling. It looked like a painting being crafted by the sun as it rose. The wind suddenly surged with great force, turning the dance into a grand celebration, with even the tiny insects joining in among the waving grass. The twisted branches moved, adding to the joy with a gentle wave. Although the atmosphere was full of life, nearby, on one of the dancing thorny leaves, someone was sad. That tiny dewdrop, unable to withstand the cold windstorm, trembled at the edge of the leaf, burdened with worries that neither humans nor nature could see. It was alone, gently swaying, growing more fearful with each wild gust of wind. In the end, it surrendered and was torn from the place it had fought so hard to remain. It soared away with the wind. Suddenly, the dewdrop did not expect to feel relief for the first time. It quickly became joyful, teasing the air as the air responded kindly. The burden that had weighed it down vanished, leaving behind only the painful memory that clung to the leaf when it had accepted the current and ceased to resist. The dewdrop didn''t notice the passage of time, but it was very happy as it passed between the tall trees and lowlands, beside the quiet ponds under the blue sky, with happy sheep and cows grazing around the plains. Despite the initial happiness, it began to fade when it witnessed the wolves attacking the sheep, their cries spreading through the air. They couldn¡¯t resist, and their blood spilled, eventually becoming food for others. Its happiness continued to dwindle each time it saw a tragic scene: bandits attacking villages, the strong bullying the weak, and more. However, it suddenly shifted when it entered a forest with dense trees that added a melancholic atmosphere, and its joy was shattered by a foreboding aura. Its fear intensified. It wanted to turn back, but that was impossible. It struggled against the evil aura, but to no avail... it was swept by this aura through the sorrowful atmosphere until it reached an empty space between several trees. There, two people lay asleep¡ªa boy and a girl¡ªseparated by a gentle fire. Without warning, the dewdrop wanted to scream! An intensely monstrous aura overtook the place, condensing very slowly inside the sleeping boy¡¯s body. However, in truth, amidst this terrifying aura, the girl¡¯s aura sent a magical sense of life, warm and nurturing. The dewdrop hurried towards the girl, but was pulled forcefully, falling onto Chang Yu''s forehead. It gave one final cry before pouring all its remaining hope and joy, fear, and loneliness onto him, finding its way into his heart. Chang Yu stirred and turned several times, feeling a strange sensation. He slowly opened his eyes and felt the cold on his forehead. He reached out sluggishly and touched it. Eventually, he discovered it was just a small droplet, but a deep feeling stirred within him, as if something had moved inside him. He didn¡¯t quite understand, and remained frozen for a short time. He hadn¡¯t yet woken from his beautiful dream, still feeling as though he were a mirage drifting with the wind, free from worry or sorrow, far from the weight of the earth. Only happy. That is, until the droplet separated his temporary happiness from the emptiness he now felt. It was as if an unwelcome wake-up call had arrived, representing his simple dream of freedom and happiness, though it didn¡¯t last long. He looked around with difficulty, everything seemed the same. He sighed, the same happy trees behind the sleeping girl. The fire separating them, as if it divided her warm world that illuminates and nourishes everything it touches, from another world, like the twilight of night, silent, devouring life¡¯s colors bit by bit. He felt sadness rise within him, as if his emotions had found an opportunity to rebel against the seal. Waves of his heart clashed wildly with the giant wall that appeared before him, unwavering, showing no signs of care. On the surface, Chang Yu¡¯s face seemed void of expression. He thought, "Six days have passed in the blink of an eye. It¡¯s time to go." He sighed, as if releasing the steam of anger from the waves crashing against the unyielding dam. With difficulty, he rose, gathering his belongings into a bag he had stolen from some bandits in the forest. He snapped his fingers, and the bag floated in a bubble. He glanced at the other side where the girl lay. He thought, "Yong Er, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll have to ignore your actions and feelings. I have a mission to complete, and no distractions are allowed." His face remained unchanged, which made the seal even firmer against the fierce assault of his emotions. He approached her while she slept in an almost childlike manner. "Please forgive me, Yong Er!" He reached out, and as his fingers brushed her neck, an intense feeling squeezed his heart! Images of the girl he had recently fallen in love with flashed in his mind. He pressed his heart, causing her to lose consciousness. Again, his face showed no external change. He snapped his fingers, and the bag floated again in another bubble. Chang Yu appeared dark, as though he regretted his hesitation. He was slightly disturbed as he moved southward, following Wuchi¡¯s orders, leaving behind tons of suppressed emotions, the longing and memories of a lonely girl caught up in a complex conspiracy against her will. He walked through the gloomy trees, the long grass, and the small insects that sang a sad tune. This atmosphere made his emotions slip through. The wind moved his hair, and he began thinking about his future again, occasionally reflecting on his past. "How wonderful it would be if nothing happened, and we just kept playing, grew up, then... it would be nice to have many children. Hehe." A slight smile appeared on his lips. This was the first time he felt happiness since going to the mountain, a beautiful feeling that accumulated in his chest. Suddenly, the images of that city resurfaced, as if someone were watching him. He immediately jumped back, terrified! He assumed a fighting stance, his eyes widening sharply! He looked left and right quickly, but found nothing except the song of insects and the rustling of trees. When he realized what had happened, he erased the thoughts from his mind. A look of annoyance appeared on his face, and he clenched his teeth, almost grinding them. His fingers nearly broke from the intensity of his grip. "Damn your feelings, Chang Yu!" He punched his face! He spat out a few drops of blood and wiped his mouth. That sharp gaze returned again. He looked around, feeling the cold penetrate his eyes. "Wuqi, there was no need for this. A simple reminder would have sufficed."Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The air surged violently, the branches swaying intensely. Some small insects flew away as the air coursed between the gaps in the trees in a highly organized and terrifying manner. This combination produced a strong, cold sound. "This is the simple reminder. It won''t be so simple next time, remember that." Suddenly, the sound from the trees changed. This time, it was more natural, less cold and terrifying. "Continue your journey. There''s not much left before you meet the event." Chang Yu sighed. He was exhausted, but they both knew this was only the beginning. Chang Yu had yet to see anything. He moved southward quickly, against the wind, which slowed him down slightly. After some time, he stopped and hid among the tall grass. He heard the sound of wheels and many horse steps. "What''s going on? I don''t think anyone would come to this forest. How did so many horses get in?" Chang Yu thought. The sound grew closer and closer until it was right in front of him. He saw a majestic procession passing by. Dozens? No! Hundreds of warriors surrounded the carts, a mix of infantry and cavalry. Each cart was surrounded by a group of elite cavalry, sitting proudly, holding their spears and swords high. He could feel their auras, which were overwhelming. Their presence was far stronger than his own. There was no doubt that if he tried to fight them, he would meet a miserable death. Especially some of the knights, whose auras were unlike the other fighters, varying from sharp to light and others. They were overwhelmingly strong! If Chang Yu¡¯s strength was, for example, three, the strength of these knights would definitely be over ten! A sense of unease grew within him, and the seal wall slightly weakened. The flags held high by some of the knights caught his attention. Chang Yu was conflicted, as this wasn''t just a simple display. This was an immensely powerful force! Especially the flag raised high, fluttering in the wind. "Ji? Isn¡¯t this the neighboring empire? They have a good relationship with us. Why would they come with all this power?" Many questions filled his mind. Suddenly, his scalp went numb! He felt cold sweat running down his back, and his eyes widened in horror as a mighty voice rang inside his head. "Leave!" Involuntarily, he jumped in front of the procession, lowered his head, and clasped his hands together, shouting, "Honorable one! Please, rest assured that I mean no harm! I was just awestruck by the grandeur of your procession and forgot to show you the respect you deserve!" A cold breeze blew between them, entering their eyes, yet no one stirred. Only the sound of a horse¡¯s movement filled Chang Yu''s heart, and waves of agitation surged within him! The guards made way for him, and when he appeared, there was a towering knight with a stern expression, as solid as stone. Chang Yu shuddered involuntarily. This was one of the knights whose strength was exaggerated. The motion of his spear aimed at Chang Yu¡¯s head was the moment that shattered the dam in his heart! Chang Yu¡¯s emotions erupted, creating a flood within him, expressing its celebration of breaking the seal. The knight wore gleaming silver armor, resembling a giant white dragon. He was very tall, with his spear being the only thing longer than him among all the fighters around the procession. Chang Yu felt the cold sweat on his back increase. He swallowed hard as he stared closely at the sharp edge before his eyes. "Damn! If he wants to kill me, I won¡¯t even feel it! What¡¯s happening? The Ji Empire has been very good to us, there are even blood ties! Could they be here for war?" Suddenly, a sharp, threatening voice entered Chang Yu¡¯s ears, making his heart race madly. "Who are you? What are you doing here? I don¡¯t think you¡¯re just a passerby. Only madmen or those with great power enter this forest. Answer honestly, or you¡¯ll only see the world flip before your eyes." Chang Yu¡¯s head burned with the boiling flood of fear; it felt like hell. He didn¡¯t know how to act in this situation. His hands trembled violently. He said with fear, "S...sir! My name is C...Chang Yu! I-I''m from the Yu state, a village on a mountain... I came here because... I heard there was a great opportunity here! And whoever gets it¡ªgets fortune and endless wealth!" Before the guard could respond, one of the luxurious carts shook. A mighty voice resonated in the area, sounding like the roar of dragons at times, and at other times, like the gentleness of angels. "A great opportunity? Do you think we¡¯re children? If you¡¯re going to lie, lie properly. Speak! If General Kuang only makes your head dance, I¡¯ll make you wish for death and still never reach it if you lie again!" Chang Yu felt his heart being squeezed by this man. He appeared as an absolute ruler, a supreme emperor! His heartbeats became like the pounding of loud drums. His face darkened, and he began to feel the Grim Reaper knocking at his soul¡¯s door. After a short period of standing, Chang Yu¡¯s expression changed, as though he had been taken by surprise for a moment. His legs weakened, unable to bear the pressure, trembling violently before he fell to his knees. He saw the general, hands clasped, lowering his head, offering his respect in silence to the person sitting in the cart. The general turned back to Chang Yu, extending his silver spear until its sharp tip touched Chang Yu¡¯s scalp. He felt the cold, not just on his head, but throughout his entire body! It was as though his body became a battlefield between hell and the freezing cold, with lightning and thunder mixed in. He felt stings across his body, from his head to his toes. For the first time, Chang Yu cried out of pure fear. Transparent diamond-like tears fell, carving the earth as they dropped, as if trying to embrace Chang Yu¡¯s tragedies, the only one who truly knew all his feelings. The general''s patience wore thin. He pressed harder on Chang Yu¡¯s head, causing a small amount of blood to trickle out before it turned to lava. He shouted, "You! Didn¡¯t you hear the prince¡¯s words?! Speak!" He paused for a moment, his tone turning cold. "You have fifteen breaths before you wish for death. Use them as you will." Chang Yu could no longer endure. He had reached his limit¡ªterror, fear, cold, heat, electricity, trembling, unable to stand, and blood that only wanted to escape from the drums of his heart. He almost lost his mind. He thought, in a moment of madness, "I¡¯m not weak to this extent!" Suddenly, he raised his hand and struck the spear away in the blink of an eye. As the general was about to stab Chang Yu, he screamed with all his heart, all the pain, both psychological and physical, from the time he spent with his sister. The appearance of all these inhuman elements before his eyes¡ªthe sight of the loving mother he lost, the girl he had just started to love, controlling him like an animal tool¡ªmade him scream in agony with tears and snot pouring down his face. "You want to kill me?! Kill me! Kill me and make this tortured teenager rest in peace! My mother died young, leaving my father to suffer, and my sister! My sister, an adopted child, tortured by a rare disease!!" He gasped for air. He paused for a moment, as if realizing something. He wiped away his tears and continued, "Keep torturing me, demons, keep dragging me to do your hard work! Then leave me with a child, shackle my hands and feet and laugh while I suffer!! It hasn¡¯t been long since my father died by their hands!" Before he could continue, Chang Yu looked at the warriors. Not a single one of them flinched, like statues. Especially that general, who didn¡¯t utter a word, his face unchanged! Not even for a second did he flinch! It was as if his body ran with ice, not blood, and his heart was made of iron! But even iron can soften and bend if hammered hard enough. This was what Chang Yu thought as his eyes widened, watching the cart shake and hearing the mocking tone from inside. "Have you finished your silly story? You can¡¯t possibly think that these twisted words would make my well-trained forces speak a word? Are you joking? If you haven¡¯t finished, hurry up. Only five breaths left. You¡¯ve wasted our time." Suddenly, Wuqi¡¯s words appeared in Chang Yu¡¯s mind, when he asked about humans, about why some of them are so cruel that even if their parents were killed in front of them, they wouldn¡¯t flinch. What makes them different? Wuqi replied, "Humans... complex beings. If they show empathy, they become like sheep waiting for slaughter. It¡¯s the nature they were born with, the human trait of empathy, whether toward other humans or other things. But circumstances and reality¡ªthe reality of humans¡ªmade them cruel. They must become cruel to avoid mistakes that lead to betrayal, death. It¡¯s the new nature that reality imposes. That¡¯s why humans are selfish. When their lives are at stake, they are ready to change even the nature they were born with. Thus, the cruel ones are the ideal model of humanity, the superior class. I want you to sit on their throne. Do you understand?" Still, there are some exceptions to this rule, born with the nature of cruelty. Anyway, that¡¯s enough for now. Develop this concept on your own. It¡¯s about total selfishness. Be extremely selfish, Chang Yu." Chang Yu thought, his mind racing while facing the army of statues before him, "Wuqi... Is this what you wanted me to see? In the end, no matter how much I resist, no matter how much I fight for my feelings, will I just be kicked and humiliated? Is this the world you wanted me to see? A world of cruelty? Is there really no way to live in it except to become cruel? This is painful... so painful..." After a short struggle, Chang Yu surrendered. He surrendered and let go of all his principles. Every time he said he would change, he returned when faced with something new. Though a small resistance remained, he fell silent, feeling the breeze again, his body¡¯s temperature and heartbeats calming, the ice melting off the lava, creating balance, and the lightning returning to its clouds. He withdrew his hands and relaxed them. "Two breaths," the general said sharply again. Chang Yu straightened up, wiped his tears, clasped his hands again, and said naturally, "Sir, I came here only to find a cure for my sick sister. I heard it was available here. I hope you will allow me to leave, and I apologize for causing any trouble." Somehow, the general felt a change within him. He thought, "It¡¯s a pity, if this boy were trained well and disciplined, he would undoubtedly be a general leading the battlefield. It¡¯s unfortunate... truly unfortunate that he met the prince... He won¡¯t leave him like this, for sure!" He really wanted to talk to the boy in front of him, but disobeying orders meant death, something he couldn¡¯t allow. He waved his spear and returned it to its previous position. He said, more naturally, "And what proof do you have?" Chang Yu extended his hand, and in the blink of an eye, a bubble appeared before him, causing dust to rise and some grass to bend. For just a moment, everyone was shocked, some still stunned, as these were techniques they had never seen before. Chang Yu popped the bubble, revealing a child who seemed to be asleep. The general¡¯s eyes softened slightly. He let out a simple sigh and said, "You can go. No need to check further." "Thank you, sir!" Chang Yu¡¯s voice returned to normal as he bowed and showed his respect. Just as he was about to turn and leave, the cart shook again. The voice from inside said, "Hey, Chang Yu, wait a moment. Your stories are fascinating, and my little sister liked them. How about accompanying us and telling more stories? I¡¯ll definitely cure your sister when we arrive. What do you think? A good offer, right? I¡¯ll also give you a horse!" Thunder of the Dragons Abyss Under the force of the fierce winds, the trees and tall grasses swayed violently, as if sharing Zhang Yu''s shock. He stood frozen, his eyes wide open, silent. "The Prince of the Ji Empire himself... is calling me? No, and for storytelling specifically?! Even if I''m not the smartest person, this is very clear! How can this be a prince? Or... am I just overthinking it?" Zhang Yu turned completely, clasped his hands together again, and lowered his head. "Your Royal Highness, if you can confirm the treatment for my sister, forget about the stories¡ªwhether you ask me to climb the sky or dig into the depths of the earth, I will obey without hesitation!" Despite the deep respect in his voice, no response came from the prince. A moment passed. The loud chirping of the birds filled the silence, as if they could not bear it. Zhang Yu remained in place, his anxiety growing more and more. It seemed like his entire fate depended on a single word from the prince. He felt a lump in his throat, almost choking him. Half the incense stick had burned. The silence was so thick that the fall of a needle would sound like thunder. Beads of sweat appeared on the foreheads of some soldiers, as if they had lost their sense of time, not daring to even breathe audibly. "Is the prince... angry?" one of them wondered anxiously. "If so... we are as good as dead!" As for the generals, they remained completely still¡ªlike stone statues, showing no signs of life. They embodied the eerie calm before the storm. "He won¡¯t order my arrest, will he?" Zhang Yu thought. "I haven¡¯t said anything wrong!" Suddenly, small stones rose from the ground, hovering in the air. The earth shook slightly. The temperature rose. A suffocating feeling crept through the place. Although it was not directed at them specifically, fear found its way into the hearts of the soldiers in the back rows. Some of them trembled, while those closer to the center barely reacted¡ªthey were used to this. Only a few showed a change in their expressions. As for Zhang Yu, his eyes widened in terror. He realized his complete helplessness. The presence of a tyrant loomed over his mind, making him feel like nothing more than a trivial insect. A crushing pressure squeezed his chest, threatening to stop his heartbeat. His instinct was right. A suffocating aura seeped into the air, unnoticed at first. They only became aware of it when the winds turned into violent whirlwinds swirling around them. The nearby shrubs were uprooted. As for the birds? They fled in terror. It didn¡¯t take long for the winds to grow fiercer. The tangled currents turned into sharp blades cutting through the air. The massive trees that had withstood storms began to show deep, twisting cracks. Even some leaves were split into halves. From the middle of the procession, the aura flowed out from inside a luxurious carriage. Inside, the prince sat, tapping his finger rhythmically on the wooden surface¡ªas if composing a deathly tune.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. After a moment, he stopped. He rested his fist on his temple and exhaled deeply. His face darkened, and his eyes narrowed slightly. Then, with a nonchalant wave of his hand, he muttered, "Intriguing... Even rats have grown bold enough to bite. A mere peasant dares to bargain with me, a Prince of Ji? How strange. What kind of fools have I encountered? Does he think himself important?" Other thoughts flooded his mind. He closed his eyes as if lost in deep contemplation. A quarter of an incense stick passed before he inhaled the cool air, and his grim face slowly relaxed. Finally, he opened his eyes. Their gleam was unwavering, his confidence absolute. A sinister smile curled on his lips, as if a wicked idea had just been born¡ªa perfect trap. He said in a calm, confident voice, "Of course, my friend. If you doubt my words, I¡¯ll give you a promise. Fang Bai! Bring me the brush and the paper!" Outside, the suffocating aura began to fade, allowing the warriors to finally breathe again. Just moments ago, they had felt as if a mountain was crushing them. As the aura disappeared, the winds also calmed¡ªcompletely, as if exhausted from their frenzy. Among the soldiers, those who had kept calm suddenly found their bodies shaking¡ªnot from relief, but from pure terror. Some pinched their skin as if trying to confirm they weren¡¯t dreaming. One of them turned to his companion, his eyes wide in panic. "A-Are you sure this is the prince?!" His companion didn¡¯t answer¡ªnot because he couldn¡¯t, but because his tongue had dried up completely. His eyes trembled as his veins pulsed violently. Then, he dropped his gaze. In the blink of an eye, his hands were soaked in blood, holding a severed head. A surge of terror hit him like a lightning bolt. He felt as though he was staring at death itself. His legs gave way, but he barely stayed standing. "No... don¡¯t move! If you do... you¡¯ll die!" He almost dropped the severed head. Desperately, he raised his gaze. But¡­ he shouldn¡¯t have done that. But could it have made a difference? His eyes met the general¡¯s. One gaze pleaded for life, the other¡­ was the cold stare of a demon. All traces of fear vanished from the soldier¡¯s face, replaced by overwhelming despair. His skin turned pale, and finally, his knees buckled and he fell to the ground. In that moment, the general furrowed his brow. The air twisted, forming an invisible blade. A raven croaked before the soldier¡¯s head exploded in a burst of blood, his body collapsing lifelessly. The bird swooped down, tearing at the corpse, quenching its thirst with the crimson liquid. The general looked at the body indifferently. No emotion showed on his face as he spoke coldly, "Weaklings have no place among us. If you let your emotions control you, go serve that despicable prince, Ji Chang." The soldiers had no choice. They raised their weapons together, and their chant echoed through the air. "Long live Ji! Long live Ji! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" But their fear wasn¡¯t just of the general¡¯s words¡ªit was of the prince¡¯s actions themselves. He wasn¡¯t a forgiving man, but an arrogant tyrant who might kill for the slightest reasons. One word from him could determine the fate of thousands. Even animals weren¡¯t safe from his brutality. There was no room to oppose his will. He was an absolute ruler¡ªa true tyrant. In the midst of their shock, a horse moved from the center of the procession, ridden by a handsome knight. Immediately, the soldiers cleared the way for him, lowering their upper bodies in a sign of respect. They were elated. The knight¡¯s spear pierced the sky, looking like a celestial ruler. His eyes were far more beautiful than the twinkling stars. His muscles were defined, as if his body had been painted by an artist who perfected his masterpiece. He was perfect! There were no flaws in his appearance. He approached the prince¡¯s carriage, lowered his head, and his ear ornaments, shaped like white swords, swayed. He waved his hand and lowered the spear to the ground. "Your esteemed Highness, here is the brush and paper." Zhang Yu calmed down, his heartbeat slowed, and his trembling ceased. He stood naturally again. His facial expressions returned to normal, but more than that, he appeared relaxed, as though sinking into warm water. General Fang Bai¡¯s voice was angelic. It sounded like a musical instrument playing the tune of life, pulling you with it through the dancing grasses and above snowy mountains, in the springs and depths of the seas. Despite the dramatic entrance of General Fang Bai, what Zhang Yu or the soldiers did not realize was that behind this angelic appearance and what lay beneath it, there was a well-hidden ugliness... At the carriage, the prince extended his hand. The sunlight reflected off the green dragon coiled around it. To the prince, dragons seemed like mere lizards. It was made of metal, but it was extremely shiny. The scales were crafted with precision, making the soldiers feel as if they were truly moving. When the air struck the dragon, a terrifying roar echoed! This dragon was the symbol of Ji. He took the paper and brush, saying calmly, "Leave now." General Fang Bai nodded before bowing and disappearing among the hundreds of soldiers. A strong voice spread, but within it was a warning, "Say it, Zhang Yu, what do you want as a guarantee of my words?"