Shackles of Humanity

The city was still crawling with insects, and gunshots rang out everywhere. An ordinary woman would never dare to leave the hotel at a time like this. Most importantly, Luo Kai couldn’t seem to recall the woman’s specific appearance.

He had long possessed a photographic memory; anyone and anything he encountered was stored in his mind like a hard drive, not a single detail missed. Yet now, his memory of the woman was a complete blur. The only impression that remained was that she wore heavy makeup.

Luo Kai sped through the night, his speed rivaling that of a car. He didn’t know why they had abducted Lu Qing, but he was almost certain they were after him.

Moon Bay was located on the border of Changyuan County and Han State County, adjacent to the Mist Mountain Range. Its rich fishing resources and beautiful scenery had attracted many people to settle there.

As the sky began to pale, Luo Kai arrived at Moon Bay. The place was truly beautiful. Green mountains encircled a long, crescent-shaped lake with water so clear you could see to the bottom. A flock of white birds glided across its surface. The lake was veiled in the light mist of early morning, giving it a hazy, sublime beauty.

Unfortunately, Luo Kai was in no mood to appreciate the scenery. Though he knew the chances of finding Lu Qing were incredibly slim, he still searched the villages along the lakeshore one by one. He quickly completed a circuit, but there wasn’t the slightest trace of Lu Qing. He expanded his search, heading for the surrounding mountain peaks.

...

In Longyang City, Su Chengbo stood at his study window, gazing out at the pavilion on the estate grounds. Sister Su and a young woman with a ponytail were discussing something. A far cry from her former melancholy, Sister Su chattered on endlessly while the ponytailed woman listened intently, occasionally taking out a small notebook to jot things down.

Su Chengbo smiled, turned, and sat back down at his desk. A secret guard dressed in black entered, bowed, and said, "Patriarch, the Changyuan insect infestation has been quelled. It’s rumored that a blade-wielding Body Master personally killed the Insect Mother."

Su Chengbo’s expression grew serious. "Do we have a description?"

"Unclear. We only heard that he was a Body Master who appeared to be very young."

Su Chengbo frowned. ’Everyone who becomes a Body Master is exceptionally talented, but even so, it takes until one is at least forty or fifty to achieve it. After advancing to Body Master, one’s body and appearance change, even making them look much younger, but it’s impossible to look twenty years younger.’ He nodded. "Understood. You’re dismissed."

After the secret guard left, a figure flashed through Su Chengbo’s mind. He murmured, "Could Li Hong have let him go?"

A moment later, a look flickered across his face. He rose and walked to the window. Another figure had appeared in the courtyard pavilion—a tall, powerfully built man. He had a tattered jacket slung casually over his shoulders and his hair hung loose, yet he didn’t look slovenly. On the contrary, he possessed a unique, unfettered air.

As if sensing he was being watched, the large man glanced toward the window. He smiled at Su Chengbo, exchanged a few words with Sister Su, and then headed in his direction.

A coarse voice sounded directly in Su Chengbo’s ear, "Brother Su, your daughter is truly admirable. Is she studying the Nine Extremes Numerology?"

Su Chengbo’s lips barely moved as he, too, projected his voice in a focused line. "Brother Tuoba, your insight is remarkable to have seen it at a glance."

The large man strode into the study and plopped unceremoniously onto the sofa, sighing. "Sigh... If only that boy of mine had a fraction of Sister Su’s intelligence."

Su Chengbo personally poured the man a cup of tea and said with a smile, "Xiaoyong was born with Divine Power. He’s one in a hundred million. I’ve been incredibly envious for a long time."

"That rascal of mine is just strong. Hell, even I can barely match him anymore!"

The man said, clearly proud. He then downed his tea in a single gulp and fixed Su Chengbo with a piercing stare. "Brother Su, you and I grew up together, and we were students together in Shangjing. We’re childhood friends and classmates. Just have Sister Su marry into my Tuoba Family."

Su Chengbo took a sip of tea, a wry smile on his face. "I’m very fond of Xiaoyong, and he and Sister Su would be a perfect match—one of mind, one of might. But you know the rules of our Tri-Eyed Race. The husband must marry into the bride’s family..."

The large man cut him off rudely. "Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. With your status in the Tri-Eyed Race, Old Su, it’s just a matter of you saying the word."

Su Chengbo shook his head. "This is the very foundation of the Tri-Eyed Race. I cannot break that rule."

Annoyed, the large man stood up and was about to storm off, but he stopped at the door, remembering he had official business. He turned back. "Old Su, I hear you’re quite familiar with that Sha Qi Resonator named Luo Kai?"

Su Chengbo looked puzzled. "Wasn’t that young man captured by your people?"

The large man returned to his seat, his expression grave. "Li Hong is dead, and the kid has vanished. The Body Technique Association sent me to the Xingma Kingdom to get to the bottom of it."

Su Chengbo’s expression changed. The Martial Arts World was vast, yet also small, and Body Masters had their own circles. They all knew at least something about any famous practitioner. Li Hong had advanced to the rank of Body Master over a decade ago and was a powerful Light-cast Warrior. Even if he were outmatched in a fight, if he was set on escaping, almost nothing in this world could have stopped him. In a heavy voice, Su Chengbo asked, "Do we know what killed him?"

"He self-destructed, taking an Extraterrestrial Creature down with him!"

Su Chengbo was so shaken by the man’s words that the third eye between his brows snapped open, flashing with a silver light. The Extraterrestrial Creatures were simply that terrifying. They not only possessed incredibly advanced technology, but could also mimic anything. In their hands, any Dharma Gate could be utilized to its absolute extreme. Most importantly, they were a species of destruction, dedicated to annihilating all civilizations—the common enemy of all living creatures.

"When did this happen?"

"A little over a month ago. The site had extremely high levels of radiation. We suspect the Extraterrestrial Creature used a radiation-based High-Power Weapon. Li Hong and his five subordinate Great Swordsmen were all killed. Only that man named Luo Kai vanished. We found a placard at the scene that read: ’The place where Li Hong and the Extraterrestrial Creature died together.’"

Su Chengbo regained his composure. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Was the placard left by Luo Kai?"

The large man nodded. "We believe so. That’s why I’m here—to find this Sha Qi Resonator, Luo Kai. The Extraterrestrial Creatures have rarely made a move in recent years. For them to attack, knowing a Body Master who could threaten their very existence was on board the airship... We have to know the reason."

Su Chengbo understood his implication and asked, stunned, "You suspect the Extraterrestrial Creatures are connected to Luo Kai?"

"Yes. I suspect the Extraterrestrial Creatures came to rescue him."

Su Chengbo stated flatly, "Impossible. I’ve met the young man, and I have a general understanding of his background. He was a prisoner on my Nanya Island in his early years and learned some Body Techniques from a four-armed Mutant. He even saved Sister Su later on. He’s fundamentally a good person. There’s no way he could be connected to the Extraterrestrial Creatures."

The large man’s voice was heavy. "But what was he doing before he was locked up in Nanya Prison? It’s as if the man just materialized in this world, with no past at all."

Su Chengbo fell silent. After a long while, he said, "He was personally sent in by the former Prison Director of Nanya Prison. But that Prison Director is already dead, and the specific case files have all vanished."

The large man walked to the window and sighed. "It seems you know about as much as I do, Brother Su. So be it. I have to go find him now."