The wolf chased him all the way into the cave. Liu Bei, running in fear, accidentally stumbled upon a strange place deep inside the cave. As he tried to venture further in, he suddenly felt an overwhelming aura of killing intent, sending shivers down his spine.
"Hah... hah..." he panted, gasping for air.
"Why does it feel more terrifying the deeper I go?" Liu Bei muttered, his voice trembling.
"Hah... hah, damn it! How long is this wolf going to chase me?" he exclaimed in panic.
Suddenly, the wolf attacked. Liu Bei tried to dodge, but his foot caught on a rock, causing him to fall. The wolf bit his arm viciously.
"Argh! Damn wolf! Hiakk!" Liu Bei screamed, striking the wolf with all his might. Finally, the wolf fled, leaving Liu Bei wounded. Struggling, he sat down on a rock to tend to his injury.
After his wound had somewhat healed, Liu Bei decided to leave the cave. But just then, the wolf returned, this time with its pack. Panicking, Liu Bei ran deeper into the cave. The further he went, the more uneasy he felt. A mysterious and terrifying aura grew stronger. As he ventured further, he suddenly spotted a figure in the darkness.
The person had long white hair that cascaded down to the ground. In their hand, they held a mysterious long box, its contents unknown. With no other options, Liu Bei decided to ask for help.
"Hah... hah, damn wolves!" Liu Bei gasped, still catching his breath.
"Huh? Is there someone here?" he murmured in surprise.
"Sir, please help me! I beg you!" Liu Bei pleaded with a desperate expression.
When the person opened their eyes, an intense aura of killing intent suddenly spread throughout the cave. The wolves chasing Liu Bei immediately scattered in fear, disappearing into the darkness. Liu Bei, witnessing this, felt his heart race. The person stood up slowly and approached him. Liu Bei, panicking, tried to run, but the person seemed to close the distance with just a single step.
Terrified, Liu Bei begged:
"Si-sir, please don't kill me! I'm sorry if I disturbed you!" he stammered, his voice shaking.
The person merely smiled faintly and spoke in a cold tone,
"I won't kill you, as long as you answer my question."
"O-okay, sir. I'll answer your question," Liu Bei replied, trembling.
"My question is simple," the person said. "Are you a child blessed by the heavens?"
Liu Bei thought hard.
"What do I do? If I answer wrong, I'll surely die. But if I try to run, he'll chase me and kill me," he thought, torn between confusion and panic.
Finally, cautiously, Liu Bei answered,
"I... I am not a child blessed by the heavens."
The person simply smiled faintly, saying nothing more. They then returned to their spot and sat down calmly.
Liu Bei was puzzled. "Why did he ask me that?" he wondered. As he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered the legend of the Demon Emperor, a legendary figure who dared to defy the messengers of heaven. He tried to recall the descriptions of the Demon Emperor from the stories he had heard. Long white hair, a terrifying aura of killing intent, and a mysterious box they always carried. Everything matched the person he had just encountered.
"Could he really be the Demon Emperor who disappeared 400 years ago?" Liu Bei thought, a mix of fear and curiosity rising within him.
"But how is that possible? He's supposed to have vanished long ago. Or... could the legends actually be true?"
With a mix of fear and curiosity, Liu Bei decided to leave the cave immediately. But before he left, he stole one last glance at the mysterious figure. The person remained seated calmly, as if undisturbed by Liu Bei's presence.
"Whoever he is, I need to be careful. This cave is no safe place," Liu Bei thought as he hurried out, leaving the mystery unsolved.
Liu Bei left, and when he arrived at his home, he was shocked to see the condition of his village in complete disarray. Houses were burnt to ashes, the streets were filled with debris, and an eerie silence enveloped the village. He immediately searched for his parents but could not find them anywhere.
He then asked one of the villagers he encountered,
"Uncle, what happened to the village? Why is it in such chaos? Where is everyone?" Liu Bei asked, his voice trembling.
The old man replied, shaking,
"Ah, y-you're Liu Bei, right?"
"Yes, uncle. Why do you look so frightened?" Liu Bei asked, growing more confused.
The old man answered, holding back his tears,
"O-our village was attacked by bandits, my boy. They came suddenly, killing anyone who resisted. Almost everyone was killed... I barely survived myself," the old man said, his face pale and his eyes glistening with tears.
"What?!! What about my parents? Were they killed too?!" Liu Bei shouted, his heart pounding.
The old man slowly nodded, tears falling.
"I'm sorry, my boy... I saw them... they didn't make it..."
Hearing this, Liu Bei felt as if the world had crumbled around him. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees, his sobs breaking the silence of the ruined village.
"Hahahah, is this what they call fate? Is this the retribution for everything I've done?" Liu Bei said in frustration, his fists clenched tightly.
As he wallowed in despair, the image of someone suddenly appeared in his mind. A person he had once known, someone with great power and influence.
"Yes, yes, that person! He can definitely help me. I must go to him now. I can't just sit here! I want to avenge this, even if it costs me my life!" Liu Bei declared with determination, his eyes burning with resolve.
He rose from the ground, wiped his tears, and gazed toward the road leading out of the village. His heart was filled with anger and sorrow, but also a blazing determination.
"Those bandits will pay for this. I swear, I will restore the honor of this village and my parents!"
With firm steps, Liu Bei began to walk, leaving the ruined village behind, heading toward the place where he could find that person.
"Will he help me? Who cares? I have to try. This is the only path left for me," Liu Bei muttered to himself, his resolve growing stronger with each step.
He continued walking, leaving behind the village that had become a bitter memory, heading toward an uncertain future. But one thing was certain: his thirst for vengeance would fuel him to change his destiny.