Shackles of Humanity

The Xingma Kingdom had been in turmoil recently, and the power structure of Longyang City had undergone a major shift as well. With the war at the front now over, the local powers became targets for the Great Lord’s consolidation. City Lord Lang Zhennan was transferred to Jinlan Prefecture, and the reason he left so obediently was that a powerful fleet had sailed into the Nili Long River.

The new City Lord was Su Chengbo, the Prison Director from Nanya Island and a member of the Tri-Eyed Race.

...

In the North District stood a luxurious manor. People bustled in and out of its standalone villa, filling it with a lively clamor. A small cocktail party was underway, with handsome men and beautiful women in splendid attire mingling throughout. Though a biting wind raged outside, the villa was as warm as a spring day.

In a room on the villa’s second floor, a young girl sat cross-legged on a Pudan. Before her lay several colorful stones. The room was filled with all sorts of other rocks as well: brown ore, granite, basalt...

The room should have looked cluttered, but the stones were all arranged according to a specific pattern, with circles and lines intersecting to create a peculiar sense of beauty to the human eye. It was like the golden ratio; moving even a single stone would have destroyed the aesthetic.

"Miss, the Young Master requests your presence to greet the guests," an old matron said, pushing the door open and looking at the young girl with a loving gaze.

The young girl opened her eyes and sighed softly. "Is Brother hosting another party today?"

The old matron smiled warmly. "The Young Master enjoys a lively atmosphere."

"Sigh. Father just left, and Brother is already carousing night after night." The girl seemed displeased, her fine brows knitting together. A very faint slit appeared on her pale forehead, a sliver of silver light glimmering from within.

"Miss, you haven’t been out for several days. You should go for a stroll. Look, it’s snowing. It’s so beautiful outside." The old matron carefully navigated around the stones on the floor, walked to the window, and pulled back the curtains.

The girl’s gaze shifted to the window, but her expression only grew more melancholic. She murmured, "Snowing in April... The weather this year isn’t right."

Seeing that the girl had no intention of going out, the old matron left the room alone.

Downstairs in the main hall, glasses clinked as a crowd gathered around a handsome young man, showering him with compliments.

The young man put on no airs, clinking glasses with anyone who approached, playing the part of a refined gentleman. When he saw a beautiful young woman walk in, he immediately went to greet her with a delighted smile. "Miss Lu, you’re late."

The hall fell quiet, and all eyes turned to the young woman, their gazes filled with envy and jealousy.

The young woman’s face flushed red as she looked at him with a mixture of shyness and surprise. Her eyes clearly conveyed her thoughts: ’Didn’t you say your younger sister invited me? Why are there so many people?’

The young man said, his voice full of apology, "I didn’t mention it beforehand, but I truly just wanted to introduce you to some of my friends."

"Ahem... Everyone, allow me to introduce you. This is Miss Lu Qing, the inventor of the Zilan perfume."

The crowd immediately gathered around. A young man with narrow eyes smiled and said, "I never expected the creator of Zilan to be so beautiful. A fine perfume for a fair lady, indeed!"

"That’s right, Brother Su, you’ve been holding out on us! How could you have such a beautiful friend and not introduce her sooner?"

"Miss Lu, I absolutely love your perfume, but I’ve never been able to get my hands on any. Could you spare a couple of bottles for me later?"

"Yes, me too!"

It was the young man who came to Lu Qing’s rescue. "Patience, everyone. Miss Lu has already given me the formula. We expect to begin mass production in about two weeks!"

The young man then eagerly introduced the other guests to her one by one. Lu Qing was a little reserved at first, but she gradually relaxed. With a smile on her pretty face, she was elegant and captivating.

This small cocktail party had brought together the entire young elite of Longyang County. Among them were Li Ye, the Young Village Chief of Jiuyuan Farm Stronghold; Zang Guixu, nephew of Zang Haisheng from Black Stone Heavy Industry; and Yuan Hua, son of the Defense Army’s Commander...

The young man’s own status was, of course, extraordinary. This manor was the residence of the new City Lord, Su Chengbo, and the young man was his son, Su Wenlin. As the City Lord’s son and a descendant of the Tri-Eyed Race, he was beyond comparison for the people of a small commandery city like Longyang City. He was not only exceptionally learned, but also witty and humorous.

Su Wenlin raised his glass and announced loudly, "Everyone, my father and I are new to this fine city, and we look forward to your support in the future. The Tri-Eyed Race has never sought to be overlords; we have always pursued mutually beneficial cooperation. Today, I have some good news for you all. My father has already arranged for several mechanical engineers from our clan to be transferred here, along with a great deal of fuel-powered machinery. We will develop Longyang City into a shining pearl of the Southern Lordship Kingdom!"

The party instantly reached a fever pitch. Everyone was visibly excited; technology was still the dominant force in this world, capable of bringing about massive increases in productivity and, along with it, immense wealth!

Alcohol was the perfect thing to liven the atmosphere, and the easiest way to make one lose their inhibitions. Before long, a rosy flush appeared on Lu Qing’s cheeks, making her look even more radiant and captivating.

Su Wenlin’s magnetic voice sounded in her ear. "May I call you Qing’Er?"

By now, how could Lu Qing not understand Su Wenlin’s intentions? ’Almost no woman could resist pursuit from a man like him: young, handsome, refined, easygoing, powerful, and influential...’ And she was no exception. But as she glanced at the bitingly cold snowstorm outside, her mind suddenly conjured an image of a pair of deep, melancholic eyes. She imagined the wanderer, alone, facing the wind and snow of the night, and her heart felt like it was about to break.

Seeing Lu Qing’s suddenly vacant stare, Su Wenlin assumed she was about to succumb to his charms. A thrill of conquest surged within him; this move had never failed. All he needed to do was press his advantage. He blinked, forcing a glimmer of tears to his eyes, and said with profound emotion, "Qing’Er, be my girlfriend."

The party fell silent. Everyone awaited Lu Qing’s answer. Outside, the snow fell heavier and heavier, and a lone figure stood quietly within it, also waiting for the young woman’s reply.

Just as Su Wenlin was starting to grow impatient, a tear slid from the corner of Lu Qing’s eye. She placed her wine glass on a nearby tray, lifted the hem of her dress, and ran for the door without a backward glance.

Su Wenlin froze. His handsome face instantly darkened, and the wine glass in his hand was crushed to dust by some inexplicable force.

The elderly man dressed as a butler stepped forward and whispered in his ear, "Young Master, shall I have her dragged back? The insolent wench doesn’t know what’s good for her!"

Su Wenlin gave an almost imperceptible nod. When he looked up again, his expression was calm once more. He laughed self-deprecatingly. "I won’t lie, everyone. That’s the first time I’ve ever been rejected!"

The party grew lively again, but as glasses clinked, everyone’s expression was slightly unnatural, as if they were suppressing laughter. On the surface, they were all respectful toward the young man, but in their hearts, they were resentful of the new City Lord’s faction and couldn’t be happier to see the Young City Lord make a fool of himself.

Su Wenlin’s expression grew increasingly foul. He brought the party to an abrupt end and went alone to a storeroom out back, where the butler, now dressed entirely in black, was waiting.

"Well? You didn’t bring her back?"

"Young Master, the girl has an expert protecting her. The five men I sent were all killed. Each with a single, fatal blow!"

"Oh?" Su Wenlin said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "It seems there’s more to this girl than meets the eye. Have someone look into her."

"Yes, sir."

After the old butler left, the slit on Su Wenlin’s forehead widened slightly. His face contorted, and his body trembled as he struggled to force it open. For the Tri-Eyed Race, only by fully opening the third eye could one be considered a true member of the race, earning the clan’s recognition and gaining access to immense resources. If one failed to open their third eye, they would forever remain in the shadow of their parents’ protection, never able to make a name for themselves.

After a long while, his strength seemed to give out, and the slit sealed shut again. He rested for a moment, and just as he was about to try again, a crisp voice sounded from nearby. "Brother, what are you doing now?"

A beautiful young girl now stood in the storeroom, staring at him with wide, disapproving eyes.

A doting smile appeared on Su Wenlin’s face. He stepped forward and ruffled her hair. "Sister, what brings you here?"

The girl brushed his hand away, her fine brows furrowed. "What were you and Uncle Zhang doing again? Brother, before Father left, he told us to keep a low profile. There are hidden masters among the common people. It’ll be trouble if you provoke someone you can’t afford to offend."

"Alright, alright, I know," he said. "Sister, you can’t go telling Father on me. I just asked Uncle Zhang to help me gather a little information, that’s all."