"Rui, I know you struggle to contain your emotions when you're bullied. But we can't always resolve our problems through fighting, right? There are many other ways to tackle the issue. If we want to live peacefully, we must endure even when we feel wronged. Otherwise, they will find another reason to bully us even more."
"Okay, promise Mommy that you will always keep your head calm, alright? And if you find yourself in trouble, seek another solution that doesn't involve violence. Whatever happens, you must tell Mommy first, okay? Or Mommy won't love you again. Hmph."
Mother Fang, as beautiful as moonlight and resembling Fang Rui quite a bit, began to educate him with a warm smile as she gently stroked his hair. If you glanced into her eyes, you could see that she did not want her son to be corrupted by his true nature. She knew he was more than what he displayed outwardly.
Fang Rui, only 9 years old, replied to his mother with a pout and annoyance:
"Geez, all I did was defend myself from being bullied!"
"Rui'er.."
"Okay, okay."
However, he didn't dare to meet the eyes that seemed like they could devour him at any moment. What he did was not merely self-defense; he had put the boy who bullied him into a coma.
Tsk, he should be grateful that he is still alive.
Fortunately, the boy in the coma has never woken up to this day. So others still do not know the true culprit of this incident. And the truth has remained hidden until now.
...
"It's been a long time since I, Fang Rui, laughed this heartily. How fascinating. Who cares about the promise, Mom? You broke it before I ever did. You told me you would never leave me, but you did."
Regret kicked him hard again as he remembered his parents' faces. As for his actions? He never did. Why would he care?
"Life was already messed up to the core, so why care about humanity and sanity when humans don't care about each other?"
"After remaining silent for quite some time, I discovered that… Violence was the answer. And it always will be."
"And you…"
He pointed his finger at Lu Gaolin.
"FUCK YOU!"
Fang Rui slashed harder this time. Lu Gaolin blocked it with a table but was still sent flying backwards, crashing into the wall.
'How does he suddenly get powered up?' Lu Gaolin was shocked. How could someone whose dantian was already broken be this powerful? The raw power emanating from Fang Rui was on par with his prime.
And the inn, which was a private venue for meetings, now served as their intense battlefield.
"Cough!"
This cough did not come from Lu Gaolin but from Fang Rui instead. From his expression, he seemed to have pushed himself much harder than before. One must know that his innate energy kept depleting with each passing second, little by little.
[Remaining Time until descending Ominous world: 1 hour 35 minutes]
Yet, his cold gaze surveyed everything before his crimson eyes. He remained unwavering.
"Tuh." Fang Rui spat on the ground, a mixture of blood and saliva.
"Yoo suckers… How can you be this naive? You know the rule, don't you? In this dog-eat-dog world, never leave your work unfinished. Or haven't you learned the theory of Revenge yet?" Fang Rui said, stepping forward with a cold smirk, his sword glinting in the dim light as he caressed its edge.
"You see, the universal truth is that water flows downwards, man rises upwards… But when men fall under the weight of their own madness, that time will be a disaster."
Fang Rui's gaze intensified, and the fading smile began to reappear. He spread his arms, absorbing the atmosphere around him.
"But I am not the man who succumbs to the weight of his own madness. Instead, Madness succumbs to me, hehehaha!"
"Words may ring hollow if we don't mean them, fading like a shadow if we cling to dreams that might be unattainable… But guess what?"
Fang Rui continued, his tone darkening.
As Fang Rui spoke, Lu Muchen glanced at him in silent horror.
'What emotional turmoil has he experienced? Or no. Is this his true nature?' he thought inwardly, his heart racing with fear, unable to look away.
"What the hell are you talking about… I'm gonna kill yo—"
Lu Gaolin stumbled backward, his face ghostly pale as he stared at his fallen brother, then back at the frail boy who loomed toward him like a door to death.
"Guess what? The changes you lead might be your own downfall and your opportunity."
Then he saw Fang Rui dash forward, startling him, who was already at a disadvantage. But confused, he kicked at Fang Rui, who did not charge at him but instead aimed elsewhere.
He quickly realized where Fang Rui was targeting.
"Lu Xiabobo, Lu Dongly… watch out!"
He warned his two brothers, who were ready to charge at Fang Rui. Lu Gaolin saw Fang Rui's figure, only 3 to 4 meters away from the two Lu brothers. Yet, he closed the distance in mere seconds.
"Fucker, come! Who is afraid of whom? You only managed to kill Lu Yao because he was unprepared!" Lu Xiaobo shouted as he charged forward with a knife in hand. Lu Dongly followed closely behind.
The battle intensified. Soon it became 3 vs 1 as Lu Gaolin joined in. They aimed to outnumber Fang Rui. Though the other two brothers were weaker than Lu Gaolin, they were still significantly stronger than regular outer disciples, as they both stood at mid-tier in the second stage of Body Forging Realm.
Fang Rui was pushed back, outnumbered as he endured blow after blow. One must understand that while his physique was superior, his cultivation level had also regressed along with his shattered Dantian.
His white hair danced in the tense air while drops of blood floated down like rain. Yet, the wild smile remained.
He showcased his raw skill, relying solely on instinct to fight. He knew nothing of swordsmanship, blade techniques, or Kenjutsu, Kendo, and Iaido. He was like a wounded beast. Honestly, he wasn't just fighting; he was here to… kill or be killed.
With each passing second, Fang Rui's body grew more exhausted.
Then he realized the wrist where the mark was located had become hot. No, his entire body was growing hotter, and he felt the curse's effect on him intensifying, but for now, he held it at bay.
Still not enough, still not… with this little bit of battle experience, how will I survive out there? Just a moment of distraction, and a kick landed heavily on Fang Rui's rib. The impact sounded as if his rib had cracked.
"Gotcha, son of a b*tch!" Lu Xiaobo said smugly.
"Kuugh!" Fang Rui coughed up blood as he staggered back to regain his footing, but he still lost it as he stepped on the broken furniture.
Despite that, he was still satisfied with what he managed to do. He smiled like a devil, as if he were pleased.
Suddenly, a cry escaped within the room.
Not from Fang Rui, but from Lu Xiaobo instead. He dropped to the ground, acting as if he were a fish left to suffocate on land.
"Ahhhh!"
The scream was loud and filled with pain. Everyone paused, glancing toward Lu Xiaobo.
"Lu Xiaobo, what happened—?"
They wanted to ask Lu Xiaobo, but the words wouldn't come. Their faces, once drenched in sweat, twisted further in a mix of fear, shock, anger, and hatred.
"SON OF A SLY BITCH!! I'm truly going to kill you!! Even if you hide under the nine heavens, I will chase you like hell itself!!"
Lu Gaolin's eyes burned with rage, eclipsing his fear. This time, his gaze was filled with hatred as he looked toward Fang Rui.
He was already consumed with anger at the sight of Lu Yao's headless body, and now Fang Rui had severed Lu Xiaobo's leg.
When did Fang Rui manage to do that? It happened when Lu Xiabo struck his leg against Fang Rui's rib.
Truly maddening. What a demon.
Lu Muchen's calculating mind raced with thoughts; he was caught in a dilemma: intervene or flee.
At that moment, he witnessed Lu Xiaobo's leg being severed. He could see that the sword wielded by Fang Rui was undeniably sharper than he had imagined—like a top-notch creation. What puzzled him was that the sword felt as if it were alive, reveling in blood.
'Fuck, that must be Echos, a soul-bonding weapon. How and where did he get it?' he thought, even more shocked.
Yet, he felt an urgency about what to do. He was left dumbfounded by the sheer madness of Fang Rui's actions. So, he did not contemplate anything else and began to think about his next move.
'Damn it, I need to get out of here and report this to someone who can handle this madman. I'm not even as powerful as Lu Xiaobo and Lu Yao, who are already finished. As for intervening? That's a gamble I can't take. Even if I manage to land a hit on this bastard, what if he does to me what he did to Lu Xiaobo? Oh wait, I heard that there is an outer elder of the Lu Clan near this place?'
With the tension in the room rising and his cleverness guiding him, he slipped away like a shadow.