Darkness enveloped the sky as night arrived before the world.
Stars followed suit behind the night sky.
'It was a beauty to hold sight of.'
Xu Ning looked on the dark sky, the dark sky clashed with his pale constituion.
The darkness darkened his before golden brown hair, it was now like a dark brown.
He looked towards the stars, as he heard the night bell befall, a notice for all patients to rest for the night.
Xu Ning went to his bed and slept, the silent night was calming, sounds of crickets can be heard.
The moonlight was the only thing that accompanyied his sleep.
Calmness enveloped everything.
Silence was a friend for the night of everyone.
That was until, red filled everyone's eyes.
The alarms on the clinic rang in everyone's ears, piercing the silence that was once before.
It ringed and ringed, as the sound of screaming is heard. Panic drived everyone to run. Patients ran desperately, this was a moment of survival. Doctors bleed here and there. It felt like death was glaring everyone In that medium—sized clinic.
Some patients even cried aloud to the heavens. But their cries were only answered with bloodshed.
Amidst all, one stood tall. Blood only further driving it's force to kill.
It's once elegant and infatuationg figure is now a figure of bloodshed, mass slaughter.
Red scarlet bloomed and poured upon it, There was no end to the obssession of the scarlet red invading it's mind.
It looked wildly at its prey, it's golden eyes intimidated all around.
It was beastly.
As it knocked upon everyone's doors to befall judgement of death on them.
***
The head doctor urgently used an emergency spiritual communicator to communicate to the Xu family.
As it ringed, Xu Nian was the only one who picked up.
" Young master of the Xu family! I urgently ask for help from you! This small doctor only asks for help.! "
Xu Nian felt irritated but hearing the urgency he went there as soon as possible.
His older brother was on his mind, he couldn't face himself now if he couldn't see the bright comforting smile of his older brother.
The only drive that helped him become unwavering.
As he arrived, his head was spinning, he told the guards to check around for survivors.
As the guards brought back patients, nurse, and doctors he is unfamiliar with, his heart starts to sink deeper.
Then he saw it, the head doctor running to him.
And someone following behind him. The silhouette of it looked like his brother's.
Yet something about it felt off.
As the head doctor was seconds in touch with one of the guards.
Blood spilled upon the guards.
The head doctor's eyes widened in shock. His drive now has stopped there and there.
Scarlet covered the white robe of the head doctor.
Only a hole was seen on his chest.
The culprit behind it was a pale white hand, but the hand's nails was long and sharp like a beast's.
Xu Nian felt something was wrong seeing the familiar pale hand that used to hold and comfort him.
" Xu Ning? "
He said trembling. His eyes lost life, he couldn't take off his eyes off of the silhouette.
It was no longer Xu Ning. It was a beast.
The moonlight shown brightly towards Xu Ning showing him now transformed.
He was now like a blood demon hound. He now had the features of it.
Black hound ears tipped with red, a symbol was on the hound ear.
His before beautiful blue lapis eyes now turned golden with pupils resembling a beast.
He had canine—like fangs suitable for hunting his prey.
A red sun symbol was seen on where his neck bite was.
It glowed brightly.
Xu Nian froze in horror.
Xu Ning looked like he was targeting Xu Ning, he was ready to pounce onto him.
Guards seeing him getting ready to attack got ready to defend and protect Xu Nian.
Xu Nian only looked soullessly.
He bit his lip, blood dripped from the lip.
From onwards, he couldn't do more for Xu Ning.
He felt terrible, he hated himself. He hated his father. He hate he was even born.
He looked as Xu Ning was pinned down and chained up.
The only thing Xu Nian saw was Xu Ning crying in pain just like how it was when it happened.
He knew the day would come when he has to see his older brother like that.
" I'm sorry "
Xu Nian then informed his parents. When they saw the transformed Xu Ning, madam Xu cried tearfully. No words could describe how resentful she was towards heaven.
Mr. Xu only looked at Xu Ning as if he was a disgusting being, a vile dog.
Mr. Xu was indifferent.
Xu Nian silently looked at his brother.
From that moment, Xu Ning was banished from the Xu family.
He then was put to undergo an excorsicm and banished to a far away village chained next to its temple.
•••
In that village, everyone called him a Gou.
Everyone belittled and physically hurt the still unconscious Xu Ning.
As people saw not the Prestigious genius of the Xu family but a vile dog mutant, a thing.
Slowly but surely, days passed.
Xu Ning awoke near the outer walls of the temple chained, he felt a gut wrenching pain in him, he realized his human ears have been partially cut, even stabbed to the point his human ears was now deaf. Traces of old blood from him was on his ragged clothes.
His body was bruised, it was skinny as people took his daily leftover food from the temple.
Xu Ning felt confused, and tired.
He felt he wanted to end it all, but endured that feeling. Then his body growled, his inevitable unending hunger creeped on him.
The left over that just now was given couldn't satisfy him, hunger tormented him endlessly.
He felt mentally exhausted.
As everyday he gets thrown insults at. Used as an object of physical violence.
He couldn't find a single light in that village. That was when a group of kids went to see him.
The kids who didn't know much played with the gentle Xu Ning who tried to endure his hunger.
Xu Ning played and talk with them sweetly just like how he did with his younger brother.
The kids felt bad seeing him in that state, they started to secretly give them their leftover lunch.
One of the kids frequently came to him, a young boy, the young boy was bright and cheerful.
His black hair clashed with the dark ashen brown of Xu Ning.
Xu Ning, always did his best to entertain him and enjoyed having him with him as he sees light in him, a drive to keep living.
At first Xu Ning didn't know much of the boy except his looks.
That was until he asked about the boy's identity.
" Little brother, what is your name? "
"Me? My name is Ah Yen! "
"You can call me Yen yen! Since your my best friend! "
Xu Ning smiled and laughed a little at the nickname, Ah Yen pouted seeing him laughing.
Ah yen then offered his leftover lunch to Xu Ning.
" Brother Gou I hope this keeps you full! "
Xu Ning smiled and patted his head. The sound of the rusty chains on his hand dangled and clashed with one another.
Xu Ning then helped Ah Yen on his homework from his school.
It was a moment of bliss, a moment of escape from his harsh reality.
That all ended one day.
While he as usual was enduring his hunger, he saw the small figure of Ah Yen coming to him.
Xu Ning felt it was off to see Ah Yen coming to him before school hour.
" Yen yen! Why aren't you at school? "
Ah Yen looked dissapointedly towards Xu Ning.
Xu Ning felt something was off with Ah Yen, the stare of his dissapointed eyes scared Xu Ning.
"Your weak. "
Xu Ning hearing it felt guilty.
"Heh, that is true I am weak.. "
He looked down at the dirt floor.
"I don't wanna see you anymore "
Xu Ning froze as he heard the words leave Ah Yen's voice.
He was confused,scared.
"Why? " he said desperately waiting for Ah Yen to take it back.
Ah Yen only looked coldly and left.
Xu Ning felt sad. He didn't feel resentment only loneliness.
He started to slowly lose his motivation.
Even the kids that used to give him food secretly didn't come again.
He became exhausted and tired.
He couldn't bear anything.
Suddenly one night as he was trying to sleep, he felt the presence of light coming towards him. The light was burning hot.
He woke alerted. He saw the villagers coming to him.
One of the Mothers shouted to kill him, Xu Ning was scared and confused.
He shielded himself with his arms as a defense mechanism.
Then Ah Yen came to shield him.
" Mom! Please don't hurt him! He was nice to me, he even taught me! If he didn't teach me I wouldn't be the smart son you knew! "
"It was my choice so don't hurt him! "
The mother was Ah Yen's mother.
She looked soft and scared for Ah Yen.
"But he touched you! Who knows if he might infect you with his vile dog tendency! "
"That doesn't mean it is actually gonna happen right? It was just a possibility! "
Ah Yen's mother looked irritated a bit. Everyone looked riled up to beat up Xu Ning.
Ah Yen looked down at the villagers.
Everything was in discord until the head of the temple came out.
The Aura of the Taoist Monk glared at everyone. The heavy spiritual energy pressured everyone.
"Greetings everyone, I do not mean harm but please mind that you are near a sacred place, I don't want you to disturb the prayers of my brothers inside"
After saying that everyone calmed down, but one stayed, the mother of Ah Yen.
The mother of Ah Yen complained to the monk about Xu Ning.
The monk stayed neutral and calmed down the mother by showing proof of the relationship between the two, and how Xu Ning doesn't hurt or infect anyone, as the monk always watched Xu Ning.
The mother of Ah Yen accepts it and takes Ah Yen home.
The monk then silently enjoy the night sky.
Xu Ning watches the monk silently, a look of gratitude is laced within him.
" Thank you. "
The monk smiles and goes back inside the temple.
Xu Ning enjoys the night as he feels contemplated on why Ah Yen protected him if he doesn't want to be with him anymore.
His now lapis eyes shines brightly.
•••
Years passed as everyone went on with their lives, the Taoist monk made a room that looked more like a prison cell for Xu Ning with the limited funds he had, and much more than enough food for him.
Because of that room, Xu Ning no longer suffers the intolerable verbal and physical bullying.
Altough he is still chained inside it and the only light he gets is from the cell bars on a small window.
He enjoyed it and lived on without worry, he even enjoyed the scenery of the backyard of the temple from a cell bar.
Though one thing that haunts Xu Ning is Ah Yen's words to not wanting to be with him anymore.