THE CHAPTER CONTAINS SCENES OF VIOLENCE. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
///
In his endless dreams and thoughts, Xie Qing could not have expected such a development.
His neck seemed to rust and he turned his head with a characteristic creak, as if he were a rusted robot.
"Mama?"
Xie Qing's mother, Xie Rowe smiled softly and took him in her arms. It looked a little awkward, considering his real age.
However, for some reason, Xie Qing felt calm and safe.
"Baby girl, it's time to go to kindergarten. Let's brush our teeth first!" Xie Rowe gently kissed Xie Qing's face and headed for the bathroom.
The whole situation looked strange, but Xie Qing decided to play along. He got up on a chair and began to wash his little teeth.
Xie Rowe looked at him with a smile, and after Xie Qing finished brushing his teeth, she washed with him.
After changing, they left the house. Xie Qing looked around and inwardly inhaled.
All these landscapes seemed simultaneously close to him and alien at the same time.
The wave of contradictions in his heart made Xie Qing frown his eyebrows, but it made him look even lovelier.
It was spring, so it was still a little cold. However, green leaves were beginning to appear on the trees.
A slight breeze blew across Xie Qing's cheek, and his slightly long hair moved in the breeze.
They walked silently, but even so, Xie Qing felt happy. A feeling of peace he hadn't had in a long time.
However, the fact that it was an illusion... his heart was torn apart.
Some time ago he had already said goodbye to his mother and thought he would see her for the last time.
But who would have thought to sprinkle salt and boiling water on a wound that was half healing?
This feeling of loneliness and melancholy upset Xie Qing. Even though he had become rigid and his heart had hardened... After all, he was only eighteen years old.
A few months ago, he was still quietly and peacefully spending his time, waiting to die of illness or something.
But now? He is the husband of a cherub, and his ex-girlfriend was a projection of the Abyss, in fact his boss...
His life is threatened by powerful enemies who don't even know he exists.
Humiliation, anger, loneliness, and determination.
These emotions were like a tsunami that devoured his young heart. However, this did not mean that he would give up.
He had plans and goals to fulfill. He had the responsibility of a husband and a future father.
Therefore, Xie Qing must overcome this test, or illusions... it doesn't matter! What matters is that today will decide the value of his existence.
While he was immersed in thought, shouts rang out.
"Loser!"
"Ugly!"
Xie Qing came to his senses and looked at the neighborhood children who were mockingly insulting his mother.
Lifting his head, he saw his mother's indifferent face. It was as if she was used to it.
Xie Qing suddenly tugged at the hem of his mother's dress and smiled innocently: "Mother, can you buy me some juice?"
"Oh? Okay, just wait here, okay?"
"Sure!" Xie Qing smiled brightly at her and accompanied her with a glance until Xie Rowe finally entered the store near the park.
He glanced out of the corner of his eye at the backs of the children who were entering the alley with a nasty giggle.
Xie Qing put his hands behind his back and walked slowly after these children. There were three of them.
Two boys and one boy of fifteen.
The alley was narrow and a little dark, but it made it possible to take a shortcut from one street to the next.
Apparently these children were on their way to play somewhere else, but suddenly stopped when they heard footsteps.
They turned their heads and saw a five-year-old boy with black hair down to his chin and eyes as blue as the sky.
"Huh? You're that ugly woman's son!" The fifteen-year-old grinned and stepped forward, looking mockingly at Xie Qing.
The latter's reaction was simple: he examined the boy's body from head to toe, and then came so close that they were already touching each other.
"What's the matter? Do you want to beat me up? Come on!" The boy scattered, as did the two boys behind him.
"You're just like your mother! Poor, pathetic and ugly!"
"What are you, stupid? Big brother Jared will teach you a lesson!"
Xie Qing threw a glance at these children and sighed. A similar memory appeared in his mind.
The feeling of that time and the emotion of hatred. Being a weak child with poor health, he could not fight back against them.
Now, however...
"Shit-eater, you shouldn't have opened your garbage mouth." Xie Qing jumped up and... kicked the fifteen year old boy.
"Gha!"
He backed away slightly and grabbed his mouth, which was bleeding. The same was true of his nose.
One tooth was knocked out, and the blood wouldn't stop flowing. Jared's tears began to flow and he looked furiously at Xie Qing.
"YFU, BAFTAFD!! (YOU, BASTARD!)."
Jared tried to kick Xie Qing, but he easily picked him up and pulled him to him.
"Wo-!" Jared cried out in surprise, but soon cried out in pain. "AAH!"
The two boys behind him only just realized what the situation was and rushed to help.
Xie Qing grabbed Jared by the throat and slammed him against the alley wall, so hard that blood started dripping from his head.
He turned toward the boys, who unsteadily backed away. However, Xie Qing did not wait for the invitation.
Clutching once more at Jared's throat, he ignored his grunts and dragged him across the floor.
"Ahem... HR-R..." Jared wriggled and tried to say something, but Xie Qing tightened his grip.
His grunts and grunts made the boys so frightened that soon the unpleasant smell of urine spread throughout the alley.
"You're ten years old and you're still peeing in your pants? Terrible..." Xie Qing grinned, and his smile became insane.
"As long as I'm in an illusion, I might as well enjoy the situation a little."
"So you enjoy it, too."
The two children turned and began to run, but Xie Qing quickly caught up with them. Although his development was sealed here, his muscle memory allowed him to use his strength effectively.
Meanwhile, Jared had begun to turn pale, and his face was showing shades of blue.
A few more seconds and he would suffocate. Did Xie Qing care, however? No.
After a few seconds, he felt Jared's body stop resisting. Xie Qing didn't stop, however.
He squeezed Jared's throat tighter and slammed the boy's head against the runaway boy's head.
"AAH!!!"
The boy fell down and grabbed his head. The intense pain made his body twitch, and snot began to flow from all over his nose.
The second boy looked back for a second and turned pale. He sped up, but the feeling that the alley was endless began to give on him.
And then, almost the end of the lane. The second boy smiled weakly, then fell dead to the floor.
There was a deep wound in his neck, which Xie Qing had inflicted thanks to a sharp stone lying nearby.
He carried the corpses to one place and looked at the last survivor.
"If since my mother is 'ugly,' you're no better than a sewer roach."
Xie Qing grinned and punched the first boy in the stomach, causing him to shrink in place and pass out.
A strange sense of satisfaction gripped his heart. It seemed that he had finally dropped a heavy weight from himself.
But after the old weight comes a new one.
"Son?!"
A melodious and native voice, full of shock, fear, and disbelief.
It didn't take Xie Qing long to figure out whose voice it was.
Turning his head, he saw Xie Row. The juice bag was lying on the ground, and her hands were trembling with disbelief.
Beautiful blue eyes as clear as the sky were full of fear and confusion.
The scene was so real that Xie Qing felt pain and guilt. However, he took a breath and calmed down.
"How long are you going to do this nonsense, Chasm?" Xie Qing looked indifferently at Xie Row.
Her appearance began to fade, being replaced by Xie Qing's face.
"It was a pleasant experience, Guardian of the Abyss." Xie Qing, or more accurately, Abyss smiled.
"I can't say the same." Xie Qing snorted and walked over to Abyss, stepping on the corpses.
With each step he took, the space crackled with a distinctive sound. The corpses and the surrounding people who came running at the noise turned into digital data.
Soon the whole place was a dark and lifeless space. There was nothing here.
However, Xie Qing could clearly see the Abyss, which had his appearance.
"Do you only know how to copy?" Xie Qing raised an eyebrow and pointed at Abyss' body.
"Of course not. But in fact, you're part of me too, so logically you're the one copying me."
Xie Qing remained speechless at Abyss' response. Though it sounded like a casual joke, it revealed important information.
The existence of the Abyss did not become known until the Ancient War, when Melissa slaughtered all the gods.
At that time, powerful experts began to search for the Abyss, wishing to gain its power. But no one found it.
Scholars in the Supernatural world believe that the Abyss gave birth to the world. Which is also true.
The words of the Abyss may mean, "The Abyss is all that we see."
Simply put, there is no need to look for it. For the world is the Abyss.
It sounds confusing, but the truth is this. The Abyss is everywhere, and it can take on any form, from a tree to your loved one.
"Why did you call me here?"
Abyss smiled and assumed a sitting posture. Instantly the place changed to Lily's royal garden.
From the outside it looked strange. The two Xie Qings were sitting in a gazebo with cups of tea in front of them.
"We have plenty of time, so let's have some tea first."