Shackles of Humanity

Yao Guangfa expertly led Luo Kai to the eastern end of the village. There, a small restaurant in a courtyard-style building catered specifically to Medicine Gatherers. The conditions were spartan, with flies and mosquitoes swarming the air.

It was dinnertime, and the area under the courtyard’s canopy was packed with people. Every one of them carried firearms and blades, their fierce demeanors marking them as adventurers preparing to enter the mountains.

A dark-skinned, middle-aged man came forward to greet them. "Brother Yao, you’re here! Please, come in."

Yao Guangfa beamed. "Old Li, whip up a few of your best dishes. Oh, and make some flatbreads. We’re heading into the mountains tomorrow."

"Right away!" The middle-aged man nodded eagerly and shouted toward the kitchen, "Honey, bring out the Tiger Bone Wine I’ve been steeping!"

Yao Guangfa was a medicinal herb broker under a merchant group, so anyone who gathered herbs in the mountains year-round had to deal with men like him. The motley crowd under the canopy all stood to greet him.

Luo Kai stood at the entrance to the courtyard, his nostrils flaring. He caught the lingering scent of Granny Hua. ’It seems Su Wenlin didn’t lie to us,’ he thought. ’Granny Hua really was here.’ In a low voice, he said, "Qing’Er, Granny was here."

Lu Qing’s weary expression instantly brightened. "Really?"

"Yes. I can smell her. The scent is very faint. She must have left a few days ago."

Lu Qing stared at him in amazement. Now in better spirits, she teased, "Are you a puppy or something? How can you possibly smell that?"

Feigning annoyance, Luo Kai gave her cheek a gentle pinch. "You’re the puppy!"

"Mr. Luo, I just asked the owner," Yao Guangfa said with a sigh as he returned. "He said he hasn’t seen any old woman. Perhaps she didn’t come here after all."

Luo Kai smiled. "No, Granny was here. She’s a master of disguise, so you probably just didn’t recognize her."

"Oh, well that’s good. Mr. Luo, we’ve arranged a guest room for you. You and Miss Lu can go rest inside. The food will be ready shortly."

Though the restaurant’s hygiene was terrible, the food was delicious. It was all fresh, tender wild game. Luo Kai also tasted the Tiger Bone Wine the innkeeper had brought over. Its potent flavor suited his palate perfectly. Moreover, it contained a sliver of Evil Energy; drinking this wine regularly would significantly bolster one’s courage and physique.

Another group entered the small courtyard. Unlike the motley assortment of common adventurers, these newcomers were all dressed in black. They carried standard-issue firearms, their waist-slung sabers glinted coldly, and their movements were perfectly synchronized.

Their leader was a gaunt, middle-aged man. His icy gaze swept across the courtyard before he walked to the edge of the canopy, placing a Gold Coin on a table. "Make some room."

The patrons under the canopy exchanged glances and quickly got to their feet. It was best not to provoke such an organized group.

Luo Kai watched the black-clad men through the window, a cold light flashing in his eyes as a powerful killing intent surged within him. ’They’re the Black-clothed Guard from Jiuyuan Farm Stronghold.’ He had never forgotten the destruction of the Small Fishing Village, but right now, he felt lost.

Lately, he had been constantly pondering why he resonated with Evil Energy. The idea of some Innate destiny as a Celestial Killer Star was too vague and ethereal. The Acquired reasons had to be the key. If a person was fundamentally good-hearted, they would naturally have no connection with the Evil Energy that represented death and resentment.

His conscious memory began in the Death Row Prison on Nanya Island. Nearly two years of incarceration had darkened his heart. The peaceful life in the Small Fishing Village might have gradually dispelled that gloom, but the village’s destruction cemented the darkness into an addiction. Ever since, though his conscious mind fought against it, a deep part of him yearned for slaughter and Destruction. This was likely the true reason he resonated with Evil Energy.

"Can killing truly stop killing?" Luo Kai suddenly murmured. He had no answer himself and was hoping for someone else’s perspective.

Lu Qing started, then chided him, "What on earth goes through that head of yours all day? Just eat."

Luo Kai took a deep breath, his thoughts gradually settling. ’Even if I really did kill everyone from Jiuyuan Farm Stronghold, it wouldn’t change what happened to the Small Fishing Village. Killing doesn’t stop killing; it’s merely an act of correction.’

The guest room consisted of an inner and outer chamber. Unsettled about leaving Lu Qing alone, Luo Kai slept on the floor in the outer room that night. Listening to the rhythm of her soft breathing, he gradually drifted off to sleep.

「The next morning.」 Early on, Yao Guangfa found a hunter to guide them. He was an old hunter in his sixties or seventies named Old Cai, who was intimately familiar with the mountain range and highly experienced. After packing some food and water, the group set off for the foot of the mountains, surrounded by other Medicine Gatherers on the same path.

Once inside the mountain, the crowd began to disperse. Luo Kai tried his best to track scents along the way, but unfortunately, the forest was a cacophony of smells. Scent was also a crucial tool for animals to mark territory, and they would quickly obscure any other strong odors.

Old Cai looked ancient, but his physical condition was excellent. He led the way, a long-barreled hunting rifle in hand, chattering nonstop about the various dangers to watch out for in the forest.

"You’re looking for someone, right? Aye, if you get lost in these woods, you’re not likely to be found. A lot of folks have gone missing in here these past few years—if not a thousand, then at least eight hundred. And the animals... they ain’t been right."

Luo Kai’s expression shifted. "What’s not right about them?"

"Well, for one, large animals are showing up around the village more and more. In years past, those big fellas would stay deep in the woods. And critters like rabbits and deer... you see fewer and fewer of ’em."

The Mist Mountain Range was a subtropical forest. A thick layer of humus covered the ground, which was riddled with muddy pits. Overgrown weeds and thorns made the trek arduous. Before long, the others were panting with exertion, but Luo Kai seemed completely unaffected. He drew the Severing Blade from his back and took the lead from Old Cai, clearing a path.

Trying to find someone in this vast forest was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Luo Kai’s sense of smell was useless here. He could only ask, "Sir, how many paths are there into the mountains?"

Old Cai shook his head. "Paths? There are no paths in the forest. Any clearing will be overgrown by plants in less than a day."

"Ooh, an Emperor’s Blood Grass!" Lu Qing exclaimed in delight, plucking a pale red plant from a decaying tree trunk.

"What’s that for?" Luo Kai asked, glancing back in confusion.

Lu Qing explained, "This is incredibly valuable! Granny said it can nourish one’s vitality. Taking regular medicinal baths with Emperor’s Blood Grass can strengthen the body. A single stalk can sell for over a thousand Star Dollars."

Yao Guangfa smiled. "What good fortune, Miss Lu!"

As they continued, the surrounding weeds and shrubs grew waist-high. A rustling sound echoed from the dense canopy overhead, and a startled Lu Qing edged closer to Luo Kai.

"It’s just some monkeys. Don’t be afraid," Luo Kai said softly. He glanced around. ’Searching aimlessly like this is pointless,’ he thought. "Would it be better if we split up?" he suggested.

Not only did Old Cai shake his head, but Yao Guangfa also waved his hands frantically. "Absolutely not! The number one rule in the forest is never to go off alone."

"Oh. Never mind, then."

After walking for a while longer, they came upon a large, flat boulder. Old Cai beckoned for everyone to take a rest.

They hadn’t been resting long when a group appeared from behind them—the same well-equipped, black-clad men. It was the Black-clothed Guard. Their leader glanced at the resting party, his eyes flashing with a keen light as they swept over Lu Qing. He offered a small, smiling nod, as if to signal he meant no harm, before leading his men deeper into the forest.