The night fell quietly, the moonlight like silver, filling the entire forest. Lian Shi continued his journey, his body and mind exhausted, but he did not stop. With every battle against monsters, with every absorption of new abilities, although his strength grew slightly, his solitude and regret deepened. His heart felt shackled, unable to find any escape.
Walking through the silent forest, Lian Shi's thoughts drifted back to the distant past. The destruction of the village, the loss of his loved ones, and his uncle's final words. Each time he recalled them, his heart churned. Guilt and anger surged within him like a tidal wave. Whenever he tried to calm himself, those old wounds would tear him apart, as if he had never truly recovered from the fall of the village.
He had completely lost himself, forgetting his original goal. Revenge and power—these things had come to consume his soul. And in this endless journey, Lian Shi began to feel that he had transformed into a cold-blooded monster. The abilities he absorbed grew stronger, but his inner emptiness only became more unbearable.
"What am I doing?" Lian Shi whispered to himself, his eyes hollow, as if searching for an answer that didn't exist.
His mood grew darker, and he began to question whether he could ever regain that original purity. He missed the warmth of the village, his uncle's teachings, and the version of himself who once smiled in the sunlight. But all of that seemed like a distant fantasy.
At that moment, a faint sound of footsteps reached his ears. Lian Shi snapped out of his thoughts, alertly staring ahead. A figure slowly appeared in the moonlight—a man dressed in tattered hunting attire, his eyes filled with unwavering resilience.
The man stopped, seemingly sensing Lian Shi's presence. He nodded slightly, then slowly spoke, "What are you doing here?"
Lian Shi remained silent, watching the man intently. The anger and pain still surged within him, but he no longer wished to speak to anyone, no longer wished to connect with anyone. To him, this world held no warmth anymore.
"If you won't speak, I won't force you." The man, seeing Lian Shi's response, didn't insist. He turned and continued walking.
Lian Shi stood still, watching the man's figure disappear into the darkness. Waves of emotion stirred in his heart. There was something about the man—something familiar in his resilience and unyielding spirit—that reminded him of himself. Perhaps this man had endured similar pain and confusion, but he had chosen to face it, not run away.
"Maybe I'm not the only one who's lost," Lian Shi murmured softly, a strange feeling stirring in his chest.
Unknowingly, he began to follow the man. Though he had no intention of speaking with him, he felt a strange pull drawing him out of his solitude. Gradually, their footsteps drew closer, and Lian Shi noticed the man was no longer hurrying, but seemed to be waiting for something.
Eventually, Lian Shi decided to approach and walk alongside him.
"What's your name?" Lian Shi's voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time.
The man stopped, turned to look at Lian Shi, his eyes gleaming with a sharp, evaluating light, and then slowly spoke. "My name is He Chuan, and you?"
Lian Shi didn't respond right away. A familiar name echoed in his mind—his uncle. He instinctively thought of the man who had cared for him, who had given everything for him. But that thought was quickly suppressed. His uncle's image was still the deepest pain in his heart.
"Lian Shi," he said softly, his tone neutral but full of silence.
He Chuan seemed to notice the change in Lian Shi's demeanor. A flicker of sympathy crossed his eyes, but he said nothing more. He just continued walking ahead, and Lian Shi silently followed. The emptiness and regret in his heart still lingered, following him like shadows.
They walked together beneath the moonlight, the surrounding darkness seeming to consume everything. Lian Shi felt himself being pulled toward an unknown abyss, while the figure of He Chuan appeared to be a faint light in the midst of that darkness.