The leader of the dark underworld gazed silently at the two snake demons, brother and sister, who knelt before him. Beside him, the tattooed brute known as Glor the Shattered Blade roared in fury,
"A mere boy, clueless about martial arts, and you failed to catch him?"
The brother snake demon hung his head, his scales dimming."I… I can't explain it. That toad... its repulsive flesh, quivering... I couldn't help myself. The need to devour it overwhelmed me, clouding my mind. I was consumed by it, lost in the hunger."
The boss's face twisted in disgust."Enough! And what of the Shaolin monk you encountered? He helped the boy escape?"
"Indeed, that man's skills were genuine acient Kung Fu, quite impressive. But he couldn't withstand many rounds against me,and I cornered him easily!" the brother snake demon boasted.
Glor slammed his fist on the table, the wood cracking under the force."Escape? How did he manage that if you had him cornered?"
The brother snake demon's voice wavered between shame and defiance."I lost control, Glor! But even with every exit sealed, he disappeared like a ghost. There was no trace—no sign. One moment he was there, the next... gone."
Lady Gong raised a hand, silencing Glor's outburst. Her eyes, cold and calculating, fixed on the sister snake demon."Tell me everything, from the moment you saw him. I need to know exactly how he slipped through our grasp. Leave no detail out."
Lady Gong's fingers drummed rhythmically on her chair's armrest as she listened."Fetch me the file on Mr. Richman," she said, eyes narrowing.
Moments later, a dossier was handed to her. She leafed through it, scanning his tale. A boy from a nameless village, driven by poverty to the army's stern embrace. Skills honed in service, then turned to sharp business acumen. A rags-to-riches story, stained by betrayal and relentless ambition.
During his work, he met his ideal woman, his"Unattainable Beauty", but despite his efforts, he couldn't win her affection.
Fortune smiled briefly when he crossed paths with city officials, his charm and cunning opening doors to riches. He funneled his newfound wealth to aid his"unattainable beauty"through her difficult times.
Once she overcame her troubles, she repaid him with the money she got from her new wealthy boyfriend and left, displaying extreme coldness and indifference. This shattered Mr Richman's heart, especially when her boyfriend disdainfully threw money on his desk, deeply humiliating him.
From then on, he pursued wealth ruthlessly, bribing officials, hiring thugs, running casinos, brothels, and coal mines, amassing a vast fortune. Surrounded by many women, he enjoyed toying with and discarding them, sometimes right after the act. Mr Richman obsessively believed that money was the only thing that mattered.
Lady Gong sneered coldly,"No matter how you dress it up, a toad remains a toad."She put a poem at the end of the file:
A merchant saves a swan, her heart still lost in love's old ember;
A toad turns gold, with wealth his only kin to remember.
The swan flies on, her soul bound to a past, forever aglow;
The toad gleams cold, his riches vast but heart hollow below.
The small restaurant's private room was simply and quaintly decorated, with landscape paintings on the walls creating a serene atmosphere.
The monk Red Raven ordered a lavish spread: stir-fried lamb, braised fish, fried chicken wings, and a plate of steamed dumplings. Mowen swallowed his saliva but turned his gaze to Red Raven, observing his reaction.
With a pleased grin, Red Raven downed a large mug of beer in one go, clearly enjoying the meal. The freshly emptied mug was promptly refilled, and he took another big gulp, followed by a long, satisfied sigh.
Feeling grateful, Mowen raised his glass,"Master, I have no way to repay your life-saving grace!" He toasted sincerely. Red Raven accepted the toast with a broad smile, then picked up his chopsticks, eagerly savoring the dishes.
Mowen had many questions but refrained from asking them hastily. It wasn't until Red Raven swiftly picked up a few slices of garlic pork and threw them into his mouth, washing it down with a large gulp of beer, that Mowen cautiously asked,
"Master Red Raven, what were those creatures that attacked us? And why does the world seem so eerily silent today?"
Red Raven's laughter echoed through the room, but his eyes remained shrouded in mystery."Questions, questions, Mowen. But remember, ignorance can be a shield against the dangers that lurk in the shadows."
Yet Mowen persisted, his resolve unyielding."Forgive my impertinence, Master, but I cannot shake the feeling that we have merely glimpsed the tip of a far greater mystery—one that threatens to shatter the illusion of peace that surrounds us."
"Mowen, Mowen, did your father name you to tell you not to ask questions?" Red Raven retorted.
"Master Red Raven, Mowen do means never asking in our language, but it is from an ancient poem:
Fate's hand guides both rich and poor,
Why mourn the path we can't ensure?
In deeds of kindness, let us find,
Never ask the reward, peace of mind.
A subtle shift in Red Raven's expression hinted at a deeper truth concealed beneath his jovial façade, but his response was cryptic."There are forces at play, young Mowen, forces beyond mortal comprehension. Be wary of what you seek, for some truths are better left undiscovered."
The flicker of uncertainty in Red Raven's eyes sent a shiver down Mowen's spine, igniting a spark of curiosity that refused to be extinguished. As the shadows lengthened and the night deepened, Mowen sensed that their journey had only just begun, and darker mysteries awaited them in the depths of the unknown.
Mowen poured a mug of beer down,"Master, I want to be ignorant too, but I keep pondering what happened last night. Is it possible that what we saw then was the true face of the world, and that the peace we see now is just an illusion?"