Chapter 126: Extra Chapter One: Gold‑Silver Demon Pupils — Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng

Sima Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng, ah, he truly is a disaster star; at birth he killed his mother; as soon as he opened his eyes, he killed his father.

You're talking about him? He's definitely a monster, at such a young age his eyes look like they want to eat people.

Without Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng, would our village have a plague? Killing him, only killing him can eradicate the root of evil!

Hey, though young, he's quite good-looking; look at those beautiful eyes… Ow! You little brat, someone, beat him! Beat him to death!

Sorry, Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng, it's not that the sister doesn't want to take you in. But your eyes, you are a natural-born omen, a freak who shouldn't live in this world… Sorry…

Monster! Ah——!! Run quick! The monster is using demonic arts!

Ten-year-old Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng dragged his weary body step by step through the remote mountains and forests. His body was covered in ferocious wounds; his clothes were tattered and ragged, blood stained with dust. Yet his face showed utter indifference.

""Bang—" he tripped unexpectedly and fell hard to the ground. His already injured body made him involuntarily groan.

""Ow! You little brat, you want to shake my old bones apart!""

A hoarse, painful cry from an old man came from beneath him, and Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng then realized his legs were still draped over someone.

He coldly glanced at the old man, whose beard and hair were gray-white, at least fifty or sixty years old.

The old man raised his head, just meeting his icy gaze, which flickered with an unusual gold-and-silver light. The old man stared a moment, then his disheveled gray brows furrowed slightly, a strange light flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly raised his hand and struck Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng hard on the head.

As killing intent gathered in Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's eyes, the old man, with a righteous air, lectured: "You little brat, when you bump into someone you should apologize—don't you even understand this simple principle?"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng froze; though young, his experience far exceeded that of ordinary people. This was the first time anyone had seen his eyes and reacted like this.

But it was only a moment; he coldly shook off the old man's hand and continued forward. A cave lay ahead, which he had discovered before—he would spend the night there.

His wounds became infected, and at midnight Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng ran a high fever. In his daze he felt as if his body were being boiled in scalding water, then suddenly as if drenched in cold water, an indescribable comfort.

Especially on his forehead, it felt icy, as if it could draw away his body's heat, making him intensely crave it.

After another half-night, his fever subsided but his body grew cold and shivered incessantly. Then he vaguely felt a wet, rough thing rubbing over his wounds. At first the wounds ached and itched, as if something were licking them; gradually the pain faded, and he felt a cool sensation spreading over his whole body, the pain mysteriously vanishing.

Only at noon did Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng slowly open his eyes; first he met a pair of eyes as clear as black glazed porcelain. He stared, then realized before him was a silver-furred little fox, its dark, gleaming eyes fixed on him curiously.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng, after all, was a child under ten; though wary of people, he had no guard against animals. He couldn't resist poking the fox's smooth head fur with his overly thin ten fingers.

The little fox squeaked twice, showed no fear, instead lowered its head and licked his two fingers. Its black-glazed eyes shimmered.

""Little Fox, has that brat woken up?" a voice came from outside, making Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng tense up involuntarily; he then realized he was not in the cave but in a wooden hut. The old man standing before him, beard full, was indeed the person he had bumped into that day.

""Oh, so you're awake!" the old man glanced at him, smiled slightly, and said, "Come, have some hot meat soup while it's hot!""

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng furrowed his brow, stared at him, his childish voice icy: "Who are you? What's your purpose in bringing me here?"

""Purpose?" the old man, seeming not to notice Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's anger, calmly set down the soup bowl and said, "Oh, right, there is a purpose."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's eyes turned cold, about to strike and kill. The old man clapped his hands, suddenly realizing, and said, "I happen to be lacking a laborer, don't I?"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng froze; his small head couldn't react in time, his fist raised in midair but he couldn't bring it down.

""Exactly!" the old man stretched, laughing, "These old bones of mine can't take much more labor. From now on you'll chop wood, hunt, and fetch water for me, and I'll provide you food and shelter—how about that?"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng froze again; a numb, itchy feeling spread over his lowered fist. He looked down and saw the fox's clear eyes, within which shone a sincere invitation, and he felt he could understand it.

""All right, it's settled. Anyway you have nowhere else to go." The old man brought the soup to him, seeing one hand injured and the other holding the fox, naturally took up the spoon and fed him, saying, "Kid, what's your name?"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng clearly wanted to refuse, but for some reason, seeing the old man's warm smile, he couldn't help opening his mouth to answer. A mouthful of warm, delicious soup had already been fed into him, and a surge of warmth rushed through his whole body.

""I'm Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng." He said softly, his face expressionless, yet as the soup approached his lips he obediently opened his mouth.

""Old geezer..." Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng swallowed a mouthful of meat soup, lifted his head to look at the old man, and said coldly, "You see my eyes and aren't afraid?"

The old man froze, then his face showed embarrassment; he suddenly reached out and tapped Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's head again, scolding, "You little brat, I told you to be polite. What 'old geezer'—you should call me Uncle!"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng snorted, turned his mouth aside, lowered his head to play with the fox, and outright ignored him.

The old man's anger spent, his face showed helplessness; he raised his hand and touched Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's dry, malnutrition‑withered hair, and said softly, "Earlier, my youngest brother also had gold‑and‑silver eyes. From childhood, because of those eyes he suffered goodness knows how much, and as his older brother I could do nothing. Now I don't even know how he's faring."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's body trembled slightly; he lifted his head, face full of shock, looking at the old man who seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.

""All right! Kid, you may have suffered a lot before, you might hate those who bullied you. Fortunately it's not too late; from today onward, the old man, Little Fox, and you will depend on each other to live on. Though these old bones of mine aren't much, I'll strive to live until you're sixteen, after which you won't need to worry anymore."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng felt a strange warm current surging in his heart, an unfamiliar, unprecedented sensation. Unconsciously he asked, "Why won't I need to worry after sixteen?"

The old man laughed, his expression pleased yet pained: "After sixteen, the gold‑and‑silver eyes will fade to ordinary black; unless your emotions swing wildly, no one will notice. Then you can start a new life."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng stared blankly at that beard‑covered, unremarkable aged face, and for a moment it seemed he saw another world, causing the corner of his mouth to involuntarily curl up slightly.

But only two days later, Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's mouth corner could no longer curl up.

""You little brat, I told you to chop wood—look what you're chopping! No dinner for you tonight!"

""You little brat, the herbs aren't enough—go up the mountain and gather some. What? You say you don't know them, how could I have taken in such a foolish person? Take Little Fox… and lunch… right, that's for Little Fox to eat, you get none!"

""And the water! You didn't go fetch water—how can you be so lazy at your age?"

""You little brat! I told you to practice martial arts, yet you ran off to play. Come over obediently and let me hit you, or else no dinner!"

……

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng chopped wood with practiced skill, tilting his head as he fumed, thinking that once he mastered the old man's martial arts he would give him a sound thrashing, then take Little Fox and leave.

The wooden door creaked open, the old geezer tossed an oil‑paper‑wrapped packet at him, face full of disgust: "This awful stuff, you want to choke me to death? The cooking of Great Achievement Hall is getting worse and worse, brat—here, take it!"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng picked up the oil‑paper packet, opened it, and a fragrant aroma immediately filled his nostrils, making him gulp down several mouthfuls of saliva. His youthful face looked fuller than a month ago, his gold‑and‑silver eyes flashing with desire; he opened his mouth and began to gnaw the golden chicken leg.

Having finished, Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng couldn't help but look down on himself a little—just moments ago he'd said he'd beat the old man senseless, yet now he was eating the food the man threw at him, truly lacking ambition.

Thinking this, Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng smiled—a pure child's smile. He picked up the axe and kept chopping wood.

Actually the old man is just all talk; each time he says no food at night, he ends up pretending not to toss him any, or else has Little Fox drag it to his room.

Each time they sent him out to hunt, when the old man returned a bit late he'd see Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's anxious figure at the crossroads; upon seeing him, the old man would put on a cold, impatient façade, claiming he was just out for a stroll.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng clapped his hands, stacked the chopped firewood together, bound it with thick rope, fluttered his long lashes, glanced at the crude wooden hut, then looked toward the distance, his heart filled with peace and contentment.

Although he faced the old man with a cold face every day and never fully let down his guard; although when the old man dispatched him he was mostly unwilling, yet occasionally he would think: If such days could continue, how wonderful that would be.

Deep autumn, the mountains awash with blood‑red maple leaves.

That day, Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng took Little Fox along to hunt in the deep mountains. This late‑autumn‑into‑winter season is the hardest to bag game, and also the toughest to sustain a livelihood thereafter. Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng hefted his already considerable haul, yet still pressed deeper into the forest.

Over the past year or more, he had been constantly drilled and pressured by the old man, training martial arts and doing chores; though he might not become a master, his body was far stronger than before. Ordinary prey posed no problem.

""Squeak——" the little fox in his arms suddenly let out a terrified shriek.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's heart jolted, and the old fellow's warning suddenly echoed in his mind: "Don't go deep into the forest; if you encounter a bear foraging for hibernation, it'll be bad."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng retreated softly, his heart beginning to regret his greed and rashness.

Sure enough, a rustling stirred the bushes ahead; a black bear twice Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's height exhaled a foul, murky breath, its eyes flashing with hungry ferocity as it stepped closer to Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng and the little raccoon.

……

The sun set, twilight fell, the hour of demonic encounter.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng trembled all over as he was held in the old fellow's arms; his small face had no trace of color, yet large patches of sticky crimson blood clung to his cheeks, black hair, red lips.

The old fellow clutched Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng tightly with one hand, his voice weak and trembling yet filled with unstoppable strength: "It's all right, you brat, don't be afraid, everything's fine now!"

He would normally have wrapped one arm around him and gently mussed his hair with the other; he would normally have scolded loudly, disparaging, "You brat, how useless you are." But there was… nothing…

Only the little raccoon kept squeaking, as if crying from its own helplessness.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng burst into a wail, clutching the old fellow tightly, guilt, self-reproach, regret, and sorrow winding around him: "Your hand, uh… your hand!!"

"Silly child…" the old fellow rasped, rubbing Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's hair with his beard‑stubbled chin, speaking softly, "Even with just one hand, I can still take care of you."

After the old fellow lost his hand, Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng began to learn to take on all the chores. Their way of getting along didn't change, but they grew ever more into interdependent kin, inseparable.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's eyes were unsuited to be seen in public, but sometimes he had to go out to buy grain and other heavy goods; then he would don a black gauze bamboo hat on his head to conceal his gold‑and‑silver eyes.

This year, Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng turned thirteen.

The old fellow suggested going to the market to buy him a side sword; Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng felt a certain excitement, so he put on the bamboo hat and went out.

The constant flow of people on the street made Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng, who disliked crowds, feel somewhat ill at ease, yet he walked with steady steps. In fact, as long as the old fellow was beside him, he inexplicably felt reassured.

A sudden pain shot through his body; Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng was knocked backward and fell into the old fellow's arms.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng found it no surprise—such collisions were normal on the street—but the old fellow, having only one hand, had to throw his body against a nearby wall to catch him, his face instantly turning pallid.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng felt a killing intent rise unbidden as he looked at the newcomer; a breeze brushed his face, bringing a coolness, and he saw shock flash in the other's eyes, then, like a blazing flame, sharp light burst forth.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng started, realizing his bamboo hat had fallen off. Before he could react, his vision darkened; the old fellow had already placed the hat back on his head, saying coldly, "We're going back. Quick!"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng had never heard the old fellow speak with such gravity—not even when facing the black bear did he worry more than fear. Yet now his voice trembled slightly, mixed with frightened breaths, making Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's heart jolt and an ominous feeling spread through his body.

He turned and hurried after the old fellow, feeling that if he did not flee, he would suffer utter ruin.

Before the wooden cottage, under the scorching sun, a gentle breeze blew, and killing intent flickered in waves.

"Are you Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng? Didn't you hear me?" the newcomer, about thirty years old, with a refined, otherworldly face bearing a gentle smile and deep dimples, a magnetic voice yet utterly cold and indifferent, said, "If you come with me, I guarantee you will learn peerless martial arts, grasp the world's situation, and even command the lives of all people."

"Those eyes of yours must have brought you much unjust treatment, right?" Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng stared blankly at the person's thin lips opening and closing; his mind began to churn, and unbearable memories and insults surged, setting his whole body ablaze like burning red fire.

"Don't you want revenge? Don't you want to taste the pleasure of making those people kneel at your feet? Don't you want to become a god who controls everyone's life and death?" The newcomer smiled faintly; though his words were tempting, his eyes remained cool and detached from start to finish, as if looking at a dead thing. "Come, follow me! I, Ice Soul King Xiao Yifei, promise to fulfill all your wishes."

"I…" Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's chest heated, and he blurted out—but his voice was cut short by a deafening bang and a searing pain in his head.

"You brat! You don't even know you've been hit with their Heart-devouring Art!" the old fellow's voice rang in his ears; Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's body jerked, his chest turned cold, his mind cleared, and seeing the refined man named Xiao Yifei before him, he was instantly shocked.

Xiao Yifei couldn't help but reveal a faint smile, a strange color flashing in his eyes: "I never expected to find a master of the Heart-devouring Art hidden in these deep mountains." He lowered his head, drew a wholly blood‑red jade flute from his bosom, shook his head, and said helplessly, "Had it not been stipulated that the Guardian must be brought back personally by the Ice Soul King, I would truly not want to stain my hands with blood."

"Loveless, heartless, emotionless… these are the three essential traits the Ice Soul King and the Guardian must possess, or else they may well suffer utter ruin." Xiao Yifei lifted the blood‑colored flute, his gaze indifferent as he looked at Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng: "Kid… Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng, don't blame me either; this is your fate, you were born with it… the destiny of those gold‑and‑silver demon eyes."

Having spoken, his blue robe and jade belt fluttered, sleeves flying. The blood‑colored flute, the loveless smile—along with the beads of sweat dripping under the scorching sun, thread by thread, drop by drop, layer by layer—were etched into Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's eyes and heart. Henceforth, it clung to him like a bone‑deep maggot, never to depart.

Xiao Yifei turned leisurely, reclaimed the jade flute in his hand, glanced at the old man lying on the ground with a pallid face, his groans growing louder, and, smiling yet cold to the core, looked at Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng and said lightly, "Kill him yourself."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's small body shuddered violently; his gold‑and‑silver eyes burst forth with heaven‑shattering, earth‑splitting radiance, and he let out a mournful howl. That howl carried despair, grief, and bone‑deep hatred; then his tiny frame lunged at Xiao Yifei.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng spat blood, tears streaming, and collapsed in a sorry heap beside the old fellow; his gaze shone with gold, silver, and red, bright yet tragically beautiful.

Xiao Yifei gave him a cold glance, then tossed over a sword mottled with rust and utterly unremarkable, repeating, "Kill him yourself, or else he will only suffer endless humiliation and torment before death. I'll be waiting for you in the woods ahead."

"Want revenge? Then get strong! Don't you know? In this world, weakness… is itself a sin."

That figure departed, leaving no blood, no dust, yet staining his whole body with sin.

The old fellow's shrill wail rang in his ears, echoing back and forth; no matter how he covered his ears or how he screamed and hoarsely shouted, it could not be drowned out.

He couldn't bear to look, couldn't bear to look at that bloody, mangled face, couldn't bear to look at that body, missing a hand and constantly rolling. No! How could he possibly look? Who could tell him how to look?!

"Ah——————!!" Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng bellowed, despair, hatred, unwillingness—everything, all of it, fading away. He seized the sword and drove it down, ruthlessly… ruthlessly—

Blood spattered over him; he loosened his grip, and the long sword fell to the ground.

Even in his madness, the old fellow's eyes suddenly began to glow with a dazzling light; gazing at Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng, he hoarsely murmured, "Little guest, little guest, don't be afraid, brother will protect you."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng bent his knees and knelt heavily on the ground, silently watching the old fellow whose vitality had faded, his heart sinking little by little.

Loveless, heartless, emotionless… despair.

A flash of light appeared in the old fellow's eyes, then grew brighter; his voice, urgent and reluctant, rose as he lifted his blood‑stained hands: "Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng… you brat…"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's whole body jerked violently; his small hand seized the old fellow's blood‑stained, withered hands, his lips moved as if to speak, but his throat felt like needles of fire, and he could utter no word.

"You brat… don't… hatred… cough cough…" The old fellow's eye light dimmed, then flared brighter again as he struggled: "In life… there cannot be only hatred… someday… someday you will meet someone… whether you are a monster or not… who will truly accept you… you must… wait for that…"

That final faint light went out, extinguishing the last spark of light in Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's heart.

The little raccoon squeaked, weeping, incessantly licking the old fellow's wound, as if believing, no matter what, that this could summon back his master's life.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng reached up to wipe the blood from his face; his tears, bit by bit, loosened the old fellow's withered hands, inch by inch sinking his own heart into the abyss of guilt and hatred.

He rose, snatched up the long sword from the ground, cradled the incessantly screaming little raccoon, and stepped step by step toward that forest.

There, a person he must utterly destroy awaited him; there, a road with no hope of light lay ahead; yet at this moment he walked without a trace of hesitation, without a pause.

Do not hate. Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's childish face broke into a pure, innocent smile; old fellow, you're joking.

(End of chapter)