Shackles of Humanity

Luo Kai was overcome with self-loathing. He couldn’t bring himself to acknowledge people he used to know, nor did he dare return to his rented house. Instead, he spent his days curled up on the street, watching the bustling crowds. He even saw Erya. In the few months since he’d last seen her, the little girl had grown taller. Her once-dark skin had become much paler, and she now wore a ponytail. Looking adorable, she was blossoming into a beautiful young woman.

The burns were severe. As time went on, the black scabs gradually peeled away, revealing the raw, crimson flesh underneath. His skin tissue slowly began to regenerate. The pain was secondary; the real torment was the itching. He couldn’t scratch, and even with his formidable neural tolerance, the sensation was unbearable. All day, he could only grit his teeth and endure.

There was a distillery on the south corner of the street. Every evening, Luo Kai would sneak inside and fill his belly with cheap, blended liquor. Only by relying on the alcohol’s Anesthesia could he slightly dull his neural Perception and manage to get a little sleep. But as the alcohol quickly metabolized, the maddening itch that clawed at him from the inside out would jolt him awake again...

The injuries not only tormented his body but also drained his Spiritual Will. Looking back on his experiences in this world, it seemed that pain and suffering had always been his constant companions. Now, he was finally reaching his breaking point. An endless exhaustion settled over his body and mind.

The weather had been strange for the past few days. It was supposed to be a warm spring, but a cold wind would blow through from time to time, causing the temperature to drop sharply. As soon as the wind passed, it would become incredibly hot again. The abnormal climate took its toll first on the plants along the street, all of which looked wilted.

Luo Kai’s fragile, new skin couldn’t take it either, but he had nowhere else to go. Like the other homeless people, he scavenged some old newspapers and torn rags from the streets and alleys to build a small hovel to live in.

One day, Lu Qing walked over again. The strong stench of alcohol made her frown. After a moment’s hesitation, she took out a large-denomination bill and placed it in front of Luo Kai.

The elegant, orchid-like fragrance jolted Luo Kai from his stupor. He couldn’t help but look up at Lu Qing. She was also looking at him, a puzzled expression on her face.

Although Luo Kai had been burned beyond recognition, his eyes, as bright as any Star, had not changed. Lu Qing couldn’t help but ask, "You... Who are you?"

Luo Kai quickly shut his eyes and pretended to be a drunk, letting out a snore. The blast of boozy breath he exhaled made Lu Qing recoil several steps.

In the end, Lu Qing turned and left, her face full of doubt. But every day after that, she would come by and leave a one-hundred-Star-Dollar bill.

’This silly girl couldn’t have recognized me, could she?’ Luo Kai didn’t want anyone he knew to see him in this state. He mulled over moving. The overpass where Big Beard used to stay would be a good spot.

Just as he was preparing to leave, he saw a strange customer arrive at Lu Qing’s flower shop. It was a tall, handsome young man. What made him strange was the mark between his eyebrows. At first glance, it looked like a scar, but on closer inspection, it resembled a fissure.

By now, Luo Kai had gained some experience in reading people. He was also quite sensitive to certain stronger frequencies. You could call these frequencies a Magnetic Field. The more powerful a creature, the stronger its Magnetic Field, and thus the stronger the frequency it emitted. This young man’s Magnetic Field frequency was very strong.

The young man appeared to be alone, but upon his arrival, the surrounding streets suddenly grew quiet. A large number of fierce-looking attendants had surrounded the small flower shop from a distance, warily watching the crowd. A man in a black, short-sleeved shirt appeared right in front of Luo Kai, shot him a glance, and frowned in disgust.

The young man seemed to know Lu Qing. They were speaking softly about something, and Lu Qing’s clear laughter could be heard from time to time.

Luo Kai started to feel a little uncomfortable. He had planned to leave, but now he didn’t want to go. His blood began to race as he strained his ears to overhear their conversation.

The young man’s voice was magnetic. "Miss Lu, your perfume is very popular. From now on, you’ll receive a dividend of at least fifty thousand Star Dollars a month!"

"Really?!" Lu Qing’s surprised and delighted voice rang out.

"And that’s just the revenue from Longyang City. If we promote it further, the returns will definitely increase severalfold, even tenfold!"

But Lu Qing was hesitant. "Isn’t that too much? I only gave you a formula."

The young man laughed. "Miss Lu, you shouldn’t underestimate this formula. Knowledge is priceless. Before the Great Cataclysm, humanity lost a great many things. Any knowledge that managed to survive cannot be measured in money."

"Then thank you so much. My grandmother told me one of the ingredients in the formula is very rare and can’t be mass-produced."

"Don’t worry, Miss Lu. I’ve already found a substitute. It’s not as good as the original, but it will suffice."

The young man continued, "My little sister loves your perfume. She’d like to invite you to our home as a guest tonight, Miss Lu. I was wondering if you might have the time?"

Lu Qing hesitated. "Would I be imposing?"

"Not at all. My family is very welcoming."

"Well... I should tell my grandmother first."

"Of course. I’ll have someone pick you up shortly."

Luo Kai watched the young man’s departing back, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. The Evil Energy in his chest immediately began to churn with his emotional turmoil. His heart couldn’t help but accelerate. An unstoppable killing intent spread from his chest throughout his entire body, and a film of blood-red covered his eyes.

A snowflake landed on his head, its icy chill a stark contrast on his Zi Re skin. He was abruptly jolted from his state of Chaos. ’What’s wrong with me? Why do I get the urge to kill at the slightest provocation? Could it be... jealousy?’

As a man, he could tell at a glance that this person was interested in Lu Qing. On the surface, the man was nearly flawless—not only was he exceptionally handsome, but his family was also clearly very powerful. Even his followers were no ordinary people. For Lu Qing, he might not be a bad match. After all, a beautiful woman needs a powerful man to protect her.

He felt a pang of disappointment, but also a sense of relief. ’In my condition, it’s impossible to make someone happy. Why should I stop her from pursuing her own happiness?’ He had a faint premonition. Ever since he had resonated with the Evil Energy, he was destined to spend his life in slaughter and Destruction. He was fated to be a lone wolf, licking his wounds in the shadows.

Snowflakes began to drift down from the gloomy sky. The temperature plummeted, and the bustling crowds on the street gradually dispersed. Luo Kai curled up in his corner, staring blankly at the falling snow. The cold flakes seemed to sense the loneliness in his heart, swirling gently around him as if to comfort him.

...

Lu Qing dressed herself up beautifully and got into a small, elegant gas-powered car. In the instant she closed the door, her Yu Guang caught sight of the vagrant again. He was also looking at her. Those brilliant eyes, which felt so familiar to her, had suddenly turned deep and melancholy, filled with loneliness and desolation. Her heart fluttered, and an irrepressible feeling of pity rose within her.

’Yes, the weather is so cold. How will he get through the night?’ She couldn’t help but stop. Pushing the car door open, she ran into the flower shop, grabbed a set of bedding, and brought it to him before returning to the car.

"You’re a very kind person, Miss Lu," the driver said with a smile.

Lu Qing was in a bit of a daze. ’Is it really him?’

The snow fell heavier and heavier, blanketing Heaven and Earth in a vast expanse of white. Luo Kai stared at the bedding before him, which exuded a familiar, sweet fragrance. Suddenly, he moved. The thick layer of snow on his body shattered with a BOOM. His bones and muscles CRACKLED AND POPPED. He stomped his foot, and his body vanished from the spot.