A deep sigh spread across the dimly lit alleyway, originating from a wrinkled old man seated on the floor, his legs crossed in a lotus stance.
Purple silk-like hair cascaded down his slender figure, adding a lively hue to his tattered white robes.
His violet eyes, sharp as an arrow's tip, gazed intently ahead. Fixed in the direction of two beings: one a raggedly dressed boy with oddly white hair, the other draped in a night black robe with an ominous aura emanating from him.
"The older I get, the more I come to appreciate life... For others, it seems the opposite holds true." The atmosphere tensed as the words left his lips.
The bowstring tightened—His eyes narrowed.
Meanwhile, Tears streaming down his face, the white-haired young boy smirked as he stared at his work of art.
The solution of blood, vomit, and tears trailed down his predator's cheeks, painting it a murky brown. A foul odor permeated the air, giving off the sweet nectar of decay.
Silence reigned.
The black-robed figure remained still before a faint smile emerged on his face, and he wiped the substance onto his fingers.
The mixture dripped down, and slowly but surely, the figure brought his hand towards his mouth.
A wild idea ran through Huise's mind, and the smile vanished from his face.
'What's he doing?' He questioned, soon receiving his answer.
As if the mixture were a heavenly dew, the figure sucked aggressively, twirling his tongue around his fingers and savoring every drop.
"Ahh... Delicious," he expressed, his face flushed a bright red, and a faint steam seemed to rise from his figure.
Gazing down at his prey, "You belong in my collection," he remarked, then struck the back of the young boy's head, knocking him out instantly.
With a burst of Qi that caused a loud boom to spread across the town, he soared into the air.
Not long later, they reached a tower, tall with an ominous feel, bearing down on the surrounding structures.
Inside, the figure chuckled slightly as he admired his "tools"—a wide array of different metal instruments, each stained a faint crimson; some even had fresh blood dripping from them.
His dark eyes roamed the table, finally fixating on a knife that sparkled with a mesmerizing metallic sheen. Its edges were honed to a razor's precision, and intricate inscriptions adorned its blade.
The blade reflected his perverted gaze and anticipating smile as he approached the chained-up young boy. "We're going to have so much fun," the hooded villain said softly, drawing the blade closer and closer to Huise's dreaming face.
Just as the tip of the knife was about to meet the pale skin, the hand holding it suddenly halted. "Tsch." Clicking his tongue, a deep frown marked the figure's face.
No longer flushed and excited, his expression resembled someone who had spent time preparing a meal only to have it stolen just as they were about to dig in.
His face contorted, with veins bulging out. "It's rude to stare.. have you no manners?" he inquired, seemingly conversing with air as inside the tower was no one, apart from him and his prey.
Hundreds of meters away, "Don't mind this old man, continue," a tired old voice resounded out. The words came from an elderly man, his purple hair swaying slightly as they left his mouth.
He too seemed to be conversing with air.
The two air conversators remained silent for a moment.
Then, followed by a gust of wind, the black-robed figure appeared above the old man, crossing the thousand-meter distance in but an instant.
He gazed at the raggedly dressed elder with a peeved expression before smiling faintly. "I'm not interested in geezers, so I will let you off," he uttered with disdain, then threw the knife at the elder, who caught it in a gentle manner, like grasping a falling leaf.
The beast in human skin sneered, "End your life with that."
In response, a passionate and soothing smile that accentuated his wrinkles emerged on the old man's face. "This old man will remember your kindness," he said warmly, stuffing the knife beneath his robes.
The sky plunged into darkness.
It was as though celestial curtains had been drawn closed, melding clusters of black clouds over the two figures and veiling the moonlight.
No words escaped his lips. The sinister smile and almost palpable killing intent seeping from the human beast's body said enough.
Vivid images of wrinkled limbs being torn apart flashed through his mind, and a cruel smirk played on his lips as he raised his hand—or tried to.
He ordered it, but his body gave no response. 'What!?' he thought, stunned. That moment, he felt a sudden change within him.
It was a slight alteration, but one that brought fear. His heart pounded in his chest as sweat dropped from his face.
Gazing around with thoughts running through his mind, he tried to figure out just what was happening but couldn't.
Soon he noticed wisps of black Qi flowing out of his orifices, slightly different from the Qi he was familiar with.
"For your kindness, I won't let you suffer." Still seated with a joyful smile on his face, the old man sighed lightly.
The words reverberated through the villain's ears like a bell.
Fear turned to dread.
The hooded villain shivered involuntarily.
A sensation that he couldn't describe washed over him. He was losing something... What that was, he couldn't figure out.
Even so, with each passing moment, he became more certain of his current predicament.
He was losing his soul.
As the wips of black Qi leaking from his body intensified, his life flashed before his eyes.
Memories of past events—sad ones, good ones, ones that brought tears to his eyes, others that raised a cruel smile—right now, he experienced an array of emotions.
However, regret loomed above all other emotions.
He yearned for the chance to unleash his grievances, to roar defiantly at the old man, perhaps negotiate a deal, or even plead for mercy—oh, how he longed for those missed opportunities.
Yet, He remained silent—not that he didn't want to speak but just that he was unable to do so.
He had been placed in the position of the spectator, watching... waiting for his impending doom.
And so he waited, as that was all he could do—no, allowed to do.
No physical pain—not even the faintest scratch—afflicted him.
His body simply remained suspended in the air.
Seconds turned to minutes, and minutes turned to hours.
He waited.
Soon the dark clouds parted ways, revealing an azure sky with golden-orange hues enveloping the entire town.
The chirps of birds accompanied the sun's return, casting a warm glow upon life, while the solemn thud of a collapsing corpse marked its departure.
Unseen by anyone but the old man, a spinning majestic cube hovered above the black-robed, lifeless body. Its revolutions slowed with time, fading out of existence.
**[ A/N : If you're a bit confused with the last part, read Chapter "Purple" of the prologue, thanks for reading. ]**