In that moment, he felt as if time had stopped. Everything around him seemed hazy, except for the scene of his mother and sister on the ground, their blood covering the soil. That was the moment that broke him… and made him what he would later become.
Everything was collapsing around him; the village, his family, his future. He wondered to himself: How could a world like this be so cruel? Why couldn't I do anything? Why am I the only one still alive?
When the mercenary raised his sword to end his life, time froze in his eyes.
Then, unexpectedly, he felt something inexplicable. It was a massive aura, heavier than anything he had felt before, sweeping through the place. The sword that was about to take his life stopped suddenly, as if existence itself had intervened.
"Who dares to pollute the lands of the sect?"
The words were not just sound; they shook the place like thunder and carried with them overwhelming authority.
From the depths of the shadows, an old man emerged as if he were part of the darkness itself, moving with a calm stride that bore an undeniable weight. His simple gray robes were almost mocking, yet they did not hide the terrifying aura emanating from him, like a silent mountain threatening to fall on anyone who dared to challenge it. Even the air around him seemed to tremble under the pressure of his presence, and the grass beneath his feet bent in submission.
Liang Chong, who had stepped out from the heart of the shadows with a serene gait, did not look directly at the mercenary. His piercing eyes were fixed on Zhou Yuan, as if the child were the only thing that mattered amidst the blood and destruction. For a moment, the old man's features tightened, as if he sensed something strange.
Then, in a barely audible voice, he whispered to himself:
"Hmm… strange. Is this...?" But he quickly suppressed his thoughts and shifted his gaze away, as if what he felt did not belong to this time or place.
Xiao Rang, clutching his flaming sword, felt his body tremble against his will. "Honorable… Liang Chong?" he muttered in a hushed voice, as if merely uttering the name weighed heavy on him.
The old man did not respond. He merely raised his eyes slowly towards him. His gaze was sharp, as if two swords pierced the darkness, carrying a heavy silence that was enough to freeze the blood in their veins. He had heard this name before, as one of the greatest honored ones of the White Mist Sect, and his mind screamed with conflicting warnings. The elder had warned them of the power of this sect, but he had never told them they might face Liang Chong himself. Why? Did the elder know and say nothing? Or was this merely a larger scheme beyond their comprehension?
"Didn't your sender tell you that playing in our lands has consequences?" Liang Chong asked calmly, but his tone was as sharp as a sword.
The mercenaries began to retreat unsteadily, exchanging glances with one another. They were a group of warriors who had spent their lives killing and plundering, yet they had never faced an aura this powerful, an aura that made even standing still seem like a challenge.
Xiao Rang, realizing that if he retreated now, he would find no place to escape to, gripped his flaming sword tightly and said with a hesitant voice: "We… we were only following orders. If you want someone to blame, don't look at us!"
Liang Chong smiled, but it was a cold smile like frost. "Orders?" He repeated the word slowly. "What kind of orders make you kill innocents and stain the sect's land with blood?"
Xiao Rang did not respond. Instead, he raised his hand and pointed to one of his followers. "Attack him all at once!"It was a desperate attempt to break the psychological pressure exerted by Liang Chong, but the outcome was predictable.
As soon as one of the disfigured mercenaries charged at Liang Chong, the latter waved his hand as if swatting away an annoying fly. Suddenly, a wave of spiritual energy erupted like a small whirlwind, sending the man flying through the air before he crashed into a tree, dead on the spot.
"You know who I am, don't you?" said Liang Chong, looking at Xiao Rang, who had frozen in place. "If you think I'll let you leave alive after you have desecrated the sect's land, you are more foolish than I expected."
Xiao Rang, realizing that escape was no longer an option, took a step back and pulled a small black pill from his pocket. His eyes filled with confusion and fear, but behind them lay a desperate determination.
"If I have to die here, I won't die alone!" he shouted in a hoarse voice before swallowing the black pill.
Once he swallowed the black pill, dark energy erupted from his body. His skin turned as black as coal, and his bulging veins looked like snakes crawling beneath him. His bones cracked with a terrifying sound, and dark spikes protruded from his back. With every movement, he seemed to transform into a hellish monster.
The ground beneath his feet shattered, releasing toxic vapors as if it rejected his presence. His glowing red eyes were pits of flame, erasing any trace of humanity that once existed.
Liang Chong, who was observing the changes calmly, narrowed his eyes slightly. "Demonic technique…" he muttered quietly, and his expression turned more serious.
The mercenaries standing behind their leader took additional steps back, their expressions filled with fear. They knew what the black pill meant… and that its use was always the last resort.
"Our leader… has become a monster…" one of them whispered.
Xiao Rang exploded with dark energy like a hellish whirlwind. The ground shattered beneath him, and black spikes erupted from the soil as if defending him. His glowing red eyes were like flaming pits, devoid of any humanity.
"I will kill you!" he screamed, launching himself like an arrow towards Liang Chong, his massive sword leaving a trail of sparks and toxic energy in its wake.
Still, Liang Chong remained standing firm, not moving. The moment the sword approached his head, he simply raised a finger. Just a simple gesture, but it was enough.
"You seek your own death!"
Suddenly, a golden aura erupted from his body, like a small sun exploding in the middle of the night. The pressure of the aura halted the leader in his tracks, his feet sinking into the ground under an irresistible force.
With a terrifying silence, Liang Chong waved his hand. Out of nowhere, a flying sword appeared, pure white as snow, radiating sacred light as if it were created specifically to combat the darkness.
The sword shot forth at a speed beyond what the eye could catch. It pierced through Xiao Rang's body like a sacred arrow piercing the heart of a devil. Xiao Rang screamed, his voice hollow and filled with despair, as his body began to deteriorate, his limbs turning to ash before completely vanishing.
After the battle ended, Liang Chong returned to his serene state. He turned to look at the remaining mercenaries, who had fallen to their knees without resistance, before he waved his hand. A wave of energy sent them into an eternal sleep without pain.
When it was all over, a heavy silence descended upon the village once more, but it was not a comforting silence. It was the silence of death. The air was saturated with the smell of ash and blood, and the land that once was green meadows was now soaked in darkness.
Zhou Yuan stood motionless, his body trembling all over. His eyes, which once held childlike curiosity, now mirrored a harsh reality. He could not comprehend everything that had occurred. His mother, his father, his sister… all gone.
His eyes slowly moved, scanning the scene before him. The bodies of the mercenaries lay scattered like fallen autumn leaves, yet even this did not bring him any sense of comfort. The leader, who moments ago had been nothing more than a dark memory, was now ash dissipating with the wind.
Everything felt unreal, as if it were part of a nightmare from which he would never awaken.
How did all this happen?
It was a question that repeated in his mind endlessly.
Why didn't I do anything? Why was I powerless?
He shut his eyes tightly as pain tore through his soul. The pain was not just physical; it felt more like something gnawing inside him, reminding him that he was weak… useless.
If I were strong… he thought to himself. If I were strong, this wouldn't have happened.
The honored Liang Chong stood before Zhou Yuan, who was sitting on the ground, his small face smeared with blood, and his blue eyes shining with a mix of confusion, fear, and anger. He looked at the man who had come too late to save what remained of his life.
Liang Chong knelt beside him, his cold eyes scrutinizing the face of the child who seemed to carry a burden greater than his age.
"This village was under the protection of the sect. And that is what makes what happened here dangerous. What transpired is not merely a random massacre, but a bold step against the sect's influence."
Zhou Yuan did not respond, but he listened. The words entered his mind, yet they did not ease the pain he felt.
"I will take you with me to the sect," Liang Chong said coldly. There was no emotion in his voice, only clear resolve.
"I will ensure your immediate entry. You won't undergo any tests like the others. But that does not mean you will be safe."
Zhou Yuan slowly raised his eyes, his voice weak yet steadfast: "Why? Why take me?"
Liang Chong answered without hesitation: "Because you are now homeless, and without a future here. And because I bear part of the responsibility for this devastation. But don't misunderstand. I don't guarantee protection for you. The sect is not a safe haven. It is a place where everything is tested: your strength, your will, your intelligence. If you are weak, you will not survive."
.
"The sect is not a quiet village like Spring Flower," Liang Chong said with a warning tone.".
"It is a place where competition never stops. Even those you are deemed your allies might be your greatest enemies. Resources are scarce, and everyone seeks to rise, even if that means bringing others down."
Liang Chong gestured towards the horizon, as if pointing to something distant and invisible.
"You only have one chance. A chance to become strong enough to decide your fate for yourself. But in the sect, I won't be there to help you. I do not nurture the weak."
He paused for a moment, then continued: "You will need a will that cannot be broken. The sect will try to break you, will try to crush you at every turn. The first failure may mean your end, for the world out there shows no mercy to the weak."
Zhou Yuan's reaction to Liang Chong's words was like lightning striking his mind. He slowly lifted his head, his blue eyes gleaming with something new. It was not just a challenge or childish anger, but a deep question, carrying within it sharp intelligence.
"Why do you say I may not survive? Is it a warning… or do you know something about me that I don't yet?
Liang Chong's features froze for a moment, the aura of power surrounding him dimming slightly, as if he hadn't anticipated this question from a small child who had just lost his family and village. But he quickly concealed his surprise, and a mysterious expression crossed his face.
"An interesting question," the elder said, his voice not losing its firmness, but now his tone was more cautious. "It could be both. A warning… and something I know."
Zhou Yuan did not stop there. He stared directly into the honored one's eyes, adding in a low tone but filled with certainty: "But if it was just a warning, you wouldn't bother taking a child like me to the sect. If you saw me as just another weakling, you wouldn't waste your time. You didn't come here to save the villagers, did you?"
This time, Liang Chong could not hide his astonishment. His eyebrows raised slightly, and a faint smile, free of sarcasm, appeared on his lips. It was as if he was seeing something new and unexpected.
"You… are really interesting, little one," he said slowly. Then he continued, observing the boy's reactions: "You are correct, I was not here to save the village. But I did not come to take you specifically… at first."
"At first?" Zhou Yuan repeated, his eyes narrowing as he pondered the hidden meaning behind the words. "So you decided to take me after you saw what happened here. Is that because you saw me as the only survivor? Or is there another reason?"
Liang Chong nodded slowly, impressed by the child's analysis. "There are always reasons, my young friend. Some reasons are clear, like you being the sole survivor. But others… require time for you to discover for yourself."
Zhou Yuan showed no relief at this vague answer. Instead, he pressed on: "So, what did you see in me? Don't tell me it's pity. You don't seem like the type to care about weak children."
Liang Chong laughed, a light laugh but genuine this time, filling his eyes with a spark of admiration. "True. Pity is not in my nature. But you are not entirely weak, Zhou Yuan. What I saw in you is a seed. A small seed, but it carries great potential. With the right nurturing… it can grow into something… interesting."
Zhou Yuan remained silent for a moment, contemplating what the honored one had said. Then he raised his head once more and asked, this time in a calmer but bolder tone: "So, am I still someone you see as potentially not surviving? Or are you betting that I will surprise you?"
Once again, Liang Chong was taken aback by the boy's sharp intelligence. He frowned slightly but quickly regained his composure. "You are skilled at getting to the heart of things, and that is useful… but also dangerous. The answer? That depends on you, little one. I am not betting on anything. I am merely offering you a path. What you do with that path is entirely up to you."
Zhou Yuan did not respond immediately. Instead, he looked towards the horizon, as if searching for an answer for himself. After a moment, he turned to Liang Chong, his eyes carrying a mixture of sharpness and determination.
"Then, I will accept the path you offer me. But you said I would discover the reasons for myself, right? I will. I'll discover them all… and I will not disappoint you."
"My expectations?" Liang Chong repeated with a mysterious smile. "Don't concern yourself with my expectations. Focus on one thing: the world shows no mercy. You are now at a crossroads. The path you choose is filled with pain and sacrifice. But if you are as I believe…"
He paused for a moment, as if testing the impact of his words, then continued in a stern voice: "Then you will prove that your intelligence and will are just the beginning."
Liang Chong extended his hand towards Zhou Yuan. "Come. Bid farewell to this place. You will not see it again."
But Zhou Yuan did not take the hand immediately. He stood still, studying the elder's face, before asking one last question: "If the world shows no mercy to the weak… what about those who hide their power? Are they crushed too, or do they wait for the right moment to reveal themselves?"
Liang Chong's eyebrows rose once again, and another smile crept onto his face, but this time it was tinged with something like respect. "We shall see, little one… we shall see."
As he walked behind the honored one, Zhou Yuan felt his feet trembling. Could a child like him survive in such a world? But he had no other choice. Fear resided within him, yet he began to realize that this very fear might be what would drive him towards strength.
Meanwhile, as Zhou Yuan departed the village with the honored Liang Chong, the sect was in a state of chaos. The elders gathered in the Great Hall, whispering about the scattered reports that had come in regarding the attack.
"How could a small and insignificant group of mercenaries infiltrate our lands? This shows an unacceptable weakness!" one elder exclaimed angrily.
While the others argued, Wu Xin sat silently, observing them with half-closed eyes. His gaze resembled that of a hunter waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. He smiled softly, but his smile carried shadows of satisfaction, as if he were the only one seeing the whole picture.
When they fell silent, he said in a gentle voice yet filled with authority: "Perhaps what happened here was a test… or perhaps an invitation. Do not be hasty in judgment. Sometimes, what seems obvious may be a deception."
But behind his words, his eyes held a glimmer of satisfaction, as if he knew more than he let on.
Somewhere far from the village, a man wearing a heavy black cloak observed the moon's reflection on the surface of a still lake. He pulled a small orb from his pocket, half transparent and the other half dark as a starless night.
"The first phase is complete," he said calmly. "As for the rest… it will come soon."
He held the orb carefully and whispered mysterious words, and as he released his incantation, the spiritual circle beneath him began to glow with a purple light that emanated twisting lines like snakes. His murmurs were reminiscent of an ancient tongue, unintelligible yet laden with horrifying energy. Suddenly, a pale face appeared on the surface of the transparent orb, a twisted visage that seemed to gaze at everything from the depths of hell. "Master, everything is going according to plan," the man whispered, as his voice echoed and melted into the darkness.
He did not wait long. His figure gradually faded into the darkness, while the spiritual circle beneath him glowed in a deep purple hue.
When he disappeared completely, the spiritual circle continued to shimmer for seconds before exploding with a thread of purple energy that slithered like snakes through the earth, leaving charred marks in its wake.