Shackles of Humanity

Luo Kai was fast asleep, snoring away in an abandoned overpass culvert. As the numb, itchy sensation in his body gradually faded, he could finally get some proper rest. For him, sleep and food were the best medicine. Even in his slumber, the tissues of his skin’s surface layer were constantly splitting and regenerating. It probably wouldn’t be long before a new layer of skin grew back.

Just as he was drifting in a drowsy haze, a booming voice like a broken gong jolted him awake. "Niu Dan, hurry up! Dammit, you’re even slower than me!"

It was Big Beard’s voice. Luo Kai poked his head out of the culvert and saw Big Beard leading four or five other vagrants toward him.

"Huh? Someone’s here. Get ready for a fight, boys."

Big Beard saw him too, but since Luo Kai was completely wrapped in rags, he didn’t recognize him at all. He shouted boisterously, "This is my turf! Get the hell out, and fast!"

Luo Kai pulled the black cloth from his face and cracked a smile. "Big Beard, it’s me."

"Holy shit!"

"A ghost!"

Startled by his terrifying face, Big Beard and his gang of vagrants took to their heels and ran, not daring to look back.

Luo Kai sighed and went back into the culvert to continue sleeping.

A little while later, a cautious voice called from outside, "Xiaokai, is that you?"

"It’s me!" Luo Kai sat up and replied.

Big Beard’s big, filthy face poked in. "Xiaokai, how did you end up looking like this?!" he exclaimed.

The other vagrants also peeked in timidly. Big Beard crawled inside and stared for a long time at Luo Kai’s crimson face, where new threads of flesh were just beginning to form. He clicked his tongue and said, "Xiaokai, don’t tell me you’re the legendary Celestial Killer Star. Damn, you look even worse than last time!"

Though the words were spoken casually, they struck a chord with the listener. Luo Kai’s heart suddenly pounded wildly as a strong premonition rose within him. He couldn’t help but murmur, "’Celestial Killer Star.’"

Big Beard squeezed in next to him, his expression unusually grave. "The Celestial Killer Star is a ferocious and cruel Destiny Chart. Those born under it have a ’hard’ fate, so they are destined to be lonely, without support, and constantly wandering. People with this Destiny Chart usually bear the Seven Great Curses: dooming their family, harming their masters, bringing ruin to their friends, leaving them without descendants, destroying their possessions, ruining their endeavors, and a life without love!"

As Big Beard recounted the curses one by one, Luo Kai couldn’t help but reflect on his experiences over the past two years. His body trembled slightly, and the Evil Energy circulating in his chest surged violently.

As his exploration of the mysterious Spiritual World deepened, he had developed a miraculous Ability akin to Mind Sensing. For instance, he would get warnings of impending danger or could immediately sense if someone nearby harbored hostility toward him. And now, he had another feeling: ’I might really be the Celestial Killer Star Big Beard is talking about!’

After he finished speaking, Big Beard gave him a long, deep look, sighed softly, and turned to leave.

It wasn’t until afternoon that Luo Kai emerged from his state of Chaos. The turbulent energy in his body had calmed, and his thoughts gradually settled.

From outside came Big Beard’s carefree shout, "Xiaokai, come on! I’m taking you out for a drink!"

Luo Kai took a deep breath, burying his worries deep in his heart. He walked out of the culvert and forced a smile. "Where are we going?"

"Hehe, somewhere good. I guarantee you can drink your fill."

Big Beard led him into Longyang City. They took all sorts of twists and turns, sticking to the narrow alleys. The surroundings gradually opened up, and they surprisingly found themselves in the North District. In the past, vagrants like them would never have been able to enter the North District in broad daylight. But now, with the great disaster, many refugees had flooded the area, allowing them to slip in unnoticed.

They eventually arrived at the back gate of a large manor, where a crowd of refugees was already waiting, all craning their necks and staring at the gate in anticipation.

Luo Kai recognized the manor and frowned. "Big Beard, I remember you still had a fair bit of money. Wouldn’t it be better to just find a tavern?"

Big Beard was sticking his red, boozy nose in the air, sniffing hard. Hearing the question, he said, "The village got flooded, so I gave all my money to the old village chief. Besides, the wine in restaurants can’t compare to this place. Xiaokai, you don’t know, but they have banquets here every day, with endless fine wine!"

A young servant in a short robe walked out of the manor. He first chatted with the guards for a moment, stuffing something into their pockets, then waved at Big Beard.

Big Beard’s face lit up with excitement. "It worked!" he said, pulling Luo Kai along as they swaggered into the manor. The guards didn’t stop them.

The young servant came forward and said in a low voice, "Uncle Huzi, just stay in the back kitchen for a bit. Whatever you do, don’t go out front."

"Da Wei, good lad! I didn’t dote on you for nothing!" Big Beard patted his shoulder.

Only then did Luo Kai realize the young servant looked familiar, as if he was one of the vagrants who used to follow Big Beard.

The young servant smiled shyly. "I wouldn’t be where I am today without Uncle Huzi. Besides, the young miss gave special permission for you to come in."

Luo Kai didn’t understand. How could someone like Big Beard know such a rich young lady?

Big Beard saw his confusion and chuckled. "Actually, this is all thanks to you. Remember that pretty girl you saved at the Nili Long River? She’s a big deal—the new City Lord’s youngest daughter! Xiaokai, we’ve struck it rich!"

It suddenly dawned on Luo Kai. Big Beard was the type of person who believed you’d be a fool not to take an advantage when you see one. He was definitely going to cash in on the fact that Luo Kai had saved someone. He just hadn’t expected that young girl to be one of the Three-eyed Clan People as well.

The three of them entered the manor’s back kitchen, which was bustling with frantic activity. All sorts of meats and wines, some of which he had never seen before, covered the counters. Luo Kai couldn’t help but think of the tattered refugees outside. ’It truly is a world where wine and meat rot behind the doors of the rich, while the poor freeze to death on the streets.’

Big Beard was a frequent freeloader here and knew the cooks well. He greeted them one by one before leading Luo Kai to a small room in the adjacent storehouse. "Xiaokai, you wait here."