Ren Chao's past was a twisted mirror of Qing Feng's. Born without blessings, into a family possessing nothing but simplicity, Ren Chao was greeted not with smiles, but with gazes colder than winter. The villagers treated his family like a thorn in their side, always trying to uproot them from their lives.
Like a bolt from the blue, a false accusation of stealing expensive beef shattered the fragile peace of Ren Chao's family. His father, who should have been their protector, was turned into a punching bag by the villagers' blind rage. Every blow that landed on his body was a reflection of the gaping wound in Ren Chao's heart.
The sight of his battered parents ignited a burning rage within Ren Chao. Without hesitation, he ran towards the house where the meat was sold, his resolve as strong as steel.
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The Butcher's House.
In front of that grim house, Ren Chao found the butcher waiting for him, his face as hard as stone. Behind him stood elderly figures who had lost a part of themselves, a sight more terrifying than the worst nightmares. Ren Chao's gaze locked onto a missing hand, a silent, gaping wound.
CRASH!!
Like a storm unleashed, Ren Chao slammed into the house's door with his fury. The wooden planks splintered and groaned, creating a deafening sound that drew the attention of the entire village. Amidst the chaos, the butcher's parents looked deathly pale, imagining the impending doom.
Like the roar of a wounded lion, Ren Chao's voice tore through the silence of Tianen Village. "You have defiled my parents' honor!" he shouted, his eyes blazing with burning rage. "What crime have they committed to deserve such torment?!" The cry echoed throughout the village, summoning every pair of eyes to witness the unfolding drama.
Fate seemed to play its hand when the butcher emerged from within, leading a child marked with a Sun Engraving. Behind its golden gleam, the Engraving held both promise and curse, a destiny to lead or destroy, a destiny to become the Heavenly Emperor.
Like lightning striking in broad daylight, realization crashed into Ren Chao. His gaze fixed on the child, and the color drained from his face. Destiny had played him, confronting him with someone destined to sit on the high throne, someone whose power was unimaginable, a Heavenly Emperor.
An oppressive aura filled the air as the child opened his mouth. "Why do you disturb the peace of my home?" he asked, his voice flowing like a river of ice. "Ah, it seems there's dust daring to soil this place. What brings you here, you lowly creature?" His words were like invisible swords, piercing Ren Chao's pride.
Like an unseen shockwave, the child's aura spread in all directions. The earth trembled and cracked under its influence, and Ren Chao felt his body betray him, his knees shaking as if about to give way to the overwhelming power.
Demonic whispers crept into the air as the butcher's father opened his mouth. "Crush him, my son," he hissed, his voice like a stabbing dagger. "Annihilate the trash that dares to defile your sight." His words were poison seeping into the soul, urging his son to commit a heinous act.
The child's face twisted into a demonic mask, adorned with a smile more terrifying than death itself. The killing intent radiating from him was like a suffocating black fog, stealing hope and leaving behind a profound fear. Ren Chao felt his feet as if planted in the ground, but the instinct to survive forced him to turn and run as fast as he could, away from the hell that had just opened before him.
With a movement as swift as lightning, the child leaped high, passing over the roof of the butcher's house, and lunged towards Ren Chao, who was trying to escape. The force of his leap was so powerful that it created a small explosion in the air.
BOOM!!
The impact of the attack shook the earth, causing the ground to crack and shatter into pieces. Dust billowed into the air, enveloping the butcher's house in a gray haze. Ren Chao's parents arrived just in time to witness the horrifying scene: their son lying on the ground, barely alive.
With a trembling voice and tears streaming down his cheeks, Ren Chao's father said, "Ren Chao... why did you risk your life for us, son? It would have been better for your mother and I to endure all the insults and blows than for you to be hurt like this..." His mother, standing beside him, could only sob hysterically.
The sorrow of Ren Chao's parents was like fuel igniting the flames of cruelty within the butcher's child. His smile bloomed like a poisonous rose, radiating a terrifying happiness. With light steps and without hesitation, he approached Ren Chao again, ready to continue the dance of death he had begun.
BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!
Each blow was a declaration of war, an echo of unrestrained power. The earth trembled and wept, split apart by the fists that struck it mercilessly. Finally, the ground surrendered, exploding in blinding rage, sending dust and debris into the sky as silent witnesses to the destruction that had occurred.
"How does it feel, Ren Chao? Good?" the child asked with a mocking, piercing tone. "But I'm not satisfied yet. Now it's your parents' turn to feel the pain. Villagers, torture them slowly, start by cutting off their limbs one by one!" The expression on his face was so evil that it was hard to believe he was a candidate for Heavenly Emperor.
The order was like fuel igniting the fire of hatred in the hearts of the villagers. Their eyes gleamed with anger and revenge, imagining the satisfaction of punching the face of the arrogant Ren Chao's father and the haughty Ren Chao's mother.
The horrific scene burned Ren Chao's heart. Every blow that struck his beautiful mother's face felt like a whip lashing his soul. However, as he was trapped in that nightmare, a sharp pain snapped him back to reality. A terrible scream escaped his lips as both of his legs were cruelly torn off, separating him from the earth.
Just as the butcher's child's hand was about to take Ren Chao's life, a willow tree suddenly appeared, radiating a golden light that soothed the soul. Its sudden and dignified presence silenced everyone, including the butcher's child, who was frozen in disbelief.
"Enough..."
The voice echoed like thunder from the sky, and the willow tree responded with unimaginable power. Golden auras emanated from every strand of its leaves, sweeping away everything around it. Houses crumbled into dust, and the ground trembled under the pressure of the overwhelming spiritual energy.
The willow tree's wave of aura swept over the villagers, collapsing them like puppets that had lost their strings. Some lost consciousness, lying helplessly on the ground. Others shivered in fear, trying to resist the irresistible pressure. However, the butcher's child suffered the most. The aura seemed to tear at his soul, making him kneel with cold sweat drenching his face.
"You are truly audacious!" exclaimed the willow tree with a thundering tone of anger. "Have you forgotten that this village is my domain? I am your village chief, and I will not tolerate acts of bullying!"
"Ren Chao, are you badly injured?" asked the willow tree in a gentle, caring voice.
The tree's touch was like a stream of energy touching Ren Chao's body, and instantly his body radiated a dazzling golden light. The villagers gasped, realizing the meaning of the light.
The village leader's eyes widened in disbelief as he saw the light emanating from Ren Chao's body. "Impossible..." he whispered with a tone full of hope and worry. "Could it be that Ren Chao has been chosen? Perhaps he is destined to become the Heavenly Emperor?"
In unison, the villagers prostrated themselves before Ren Chao, acknowledging the power and destiny he now possessed. From afar, Ren Chao's parents watched with tears of emotion, seeing their once weak and oppressed child now transform into a respected and revered figure.
"Hah... hah..." Ren Chao's father gasped, but a proud smile was etched on his face. "You finally became the greatest, my son. But remember, never oppress the weak with your strength." Those were his last words.
"No, Father! Don't go!" Ren Chao roared, clutching his father's hand, which was beginning to cool. Tears streamed down his cheeks, reflecting the pain of his broken heart.
Seeing both of his parents die right after he received the Heavenly Emperor's engraving, Ren Chao's eyes filled with burning vengeance against the villagers who had betrayed him.
With a voice trembling with anger and sorrow, Ren Chao raised his face to the sky. "I swear in the name of both my parents," he said with a determined tone, "You will all feel my wrath. I will surpass the power of the willow tree, and when that time comes, not a single one of you will survive."
Moments after Ren Chao's oath was spoken, the once bright sky suddenly turned pitch black. Lightning struck with unprecedented force, hitting a mountain that was said to be indestructible. A tremendous explosion shook the entire village.
The sky answered Ren Chao's oath with darkness and lightning, causing the villagers to scream in terror and run for cover. Their faces were deathly pale, filled with regret and fear of the wrath to come.
"Don't punish us, Ren Chao!" cried the villagers, their voices breaking with fear. They knelt before him, bowing their heads and clasping their hands as a sign of repentance. "We were just pawns in the butcher's child's game," they sobbed, hoping Ren Chao would be moved by their confession.
"Forgiveness?" Ren Chao sneered, his eyes flashing with anger. "You think I will forgive you after what you did to my parents? I, Ren Chao, will make sure you all die."
The Willow Tree watched Ren Chao leave with steps full of anger and vengeance. His departure left a deep sadness in the willow tree's heart, which felt the burden of Ren Chao's suffering.
The Willow Tree sighed inwardly, "How tragic," it thought. "Tainted goodness can give birth to terrible evil. Ren Chao is a heartbreaking example."
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Chapter 5 Part 2 Completed