Shackles of Humanity

Luo Kai’s killing of the Insect Mother could be described as happening in a flash. Though it seemed to drag on, it was over in just a few minutes. The patrolling fighter jets only saw one of their own rush forward, followed by a series of crackling explosions. Then, the Insect Mother, wreathed in black flames, plummeted from the sky. Now, they were all circling over, dropping phosphorus flares to get a better look.

Luo Kai’s clothes were stretched to tatters. Unwilling to let the pilots overhead see his naked form, he dodged to one side, draped Yan Fei’s jacket over himself, and found his Severing Blade and the small metal sphere. He began to walk slowly toward Changyuan City. The final slash had not only drained all the Power from his body but had also completely exhausted his Spiritual Power. His head was now groggy, and all he wanted was a good night’s sleep.

Yan Fei naturally followed close behind, his face filled with adoration as he gazed at the figure walking ahead. The giant Luo Kai had transformed into at the end was like a War God descended!

As he walked, Luo Kai rubbed the small metal sphere in his hand. ’This little sphere played an indispensable role in successfully killing the Insect Mother. It can change into any shape I can imagine, even down to a fine thread, and it’s indestructible. It truly is a first-rate support item. A pity there’s so little of it. If I had just a bit more, I could turn it into a set of clothes. Then I wouldn’t end up naked after every intense battle.’

In such high-intensity battles, clothes of ordinary material couldn’t withstand the force of the air currents. Even if he hadn’t transformed into a giant, his clothes would have been ripped to shreds by the violent gales and dispersing power.

Along the way, he silently lowered his heart rate. As his cellular activity decreased, his Power began to recover, slowly but steadily.

They weren’t walking fast. About ten minutes later, they encountered the armored unit that had been pursuing the Insect Mother. Luo Kai took a few steps back and said to Yan Fei, "Go get me a set of clothes."

Yan Fei nodded eagerly and ran over to negotiate. Soon, he was driving back in a light off-road vehicle, waving gleefully at Luo Kai. "Brother Luo, I got us a vehicle! Let’s drive back. The clothes are in the back seat."

Luo Kai hopped into the vehicle. He changed into a green military uniform and glanced at the epaulets—two thin bars and a small star. The uniform’s original owner was a Major.

Halfway there, they ran into Mushan again. When he heard that Luo Kai had killed the Insect Mother, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, Luo Xiaoyou. I will immediately put you in for a commendation when I get back."

He then added with a smile, "That Insect Mother was most likely a mature-stage Fierce Beast, which means you’ve met the conditions for ennoblement. Luo Xiaoyou, from this day forward, you are a nobleman!"

Luo Kai had an indifferent personality; fame and fortune were like dirt to him. He shook his head. "There’s no need. Just pretend you never saw me, and don’t mention me to anyone."

Mushan was taken aback. ’I thought he was willing to deal with the Insect Mother to gain merit, which would force the Body Technique Association to be more cautious around him. It seems I’ve underestimated this young man’s character.’ He sighed, "Luo Xiaoyou is a true hero!"

The words gave Luo Kai goosebumps. He waved his hand dismissively. "Enough. I’m going back."

Mushan shamelessly squeezed into the car, told Yan Fei to drive, and then asked cautiously, "Luo Xiaoyou, if I may ask, what are your plans for the future?"

Luo Kai closed his eyes and mused for a moment before saying softly, "I’ll probably find a place to live a quiet life."

Mushan understood Luo Kai’s meaning. He patted his chest and guaranteed, "So you’ll still be staying in the Xingma Kingdom, Luo Xiaoyou. Don’t you worry. As long as I’m in Xingma, I’ll make sure no one disturbs you."

Most of Changyuan City had been reduced to ruins. Of course, some buildings remained intact, and the hotel Luo Kai was staying at was one of them.

The off-road vehicle stopped at the hotel entrance. Luo Kai hopped out lightly. He had only taken a few steps when his expression suddenly changed, and he dashed toward his room at top speed.

Mushan and Yan Fei didn’t know what had happened. Stunned, they exchanged a glance and followed. Both were extremely fast, reaching the second floor in an instant. The door to the room was wide open. They saw Luo Kai standing inside, his face ashen. The room was empty; the young woman who had been with him was gone.

"Brother Luo, what happened?" Yan Fei asked, confused.

With a grim expression, Luo Kai slowly closed his eyes. The entire floor was enveloped by his Spiritual Power, but he couldn’t detect Lu Qing’s presence.

A dark premonition rose in his heart. ’If Lu Qing were going to leave, she would never do so without telling me.’

He paced the room anxiously. There were no signs of a struggle. The two packets of Snake Skin Herbs she treasured were still there, as was the Military Dagger he had left for her. ’Whoever took Lu Qing is no ordinary person.’

"Don’t worry, Luo Xiaoyou. With my Military Punishment Department on the case, we will definitely help you find your friend." Mushan understood what had happened. After speaking, he gestured for Yan Fei to follow, and they departed in a hurry.

Luo Kai stood frozen in the room for a moment. He twitched his nose, following the faint fragrance Lu Qing had left behind all the way to the street outside the hotel. Here, the scent vanished. He took a deep breath, suppressing his rapidly accelerating heartbeat and trying to calm his thoughts. ’If Lu Qing was really abducted, who could have done it? Could it be Su Wenlin?’

Killing intent boiled within him. Sensing his rage, the Evil Energy in his chest began to spin furiously.

After a long while, he gradually calmed down. He turned and went back into the hotel, scanning floor by floor with his Perception. ’If someone really did abduct Lu Qing, it was most likely someone staying in this hotel—and possibly one of the people who hid in the basement during the insect disaster.’

As he reached a certain door, his expression shifted. He knocked. A young man with glasses opened the door. It was Geng Daqiang. Upon seeing him, he immediately said, "Brother Luo, you’re here! Please, come in."

Luo Kai followed him into the room. President Zhang was there as well. He hurriedly sat up and said, "Mr. Luo, hello."

Luo Kai glanced around. He remembered there being a heavily made-up woman with Geng Daqiang. Now, she was gone. He asked, "Daqiang, where’s the woman who was with you?"

"Oh, you mean Zhang Fei? She’s a local. She just left a little while ago."

Luo Kai’s expression grew serious. He pressed, "When did she leave? Where does she live?"

Geng Daqiang scratched his head. Although he didn’t know why Luo Kai was asking these questions, he still answered honestly, "She left about two hours ago. I think she said her home is in Moon Bay, which is pretty far from here. She said she had a relative living in the city she was in a hurry to find, so she left."

"Moon Bay," Luo Kai muttered. The name sounded familiar. The Medicine Gatherer, Yao Guangfa, had mentioned it before when he went to Mist Mountain.

"Yes, I hear it’s a very beautiful place."

"How do you know her? What’s her relationship with you two?"

"She’s a contributor to our newspaper. She often writes about strange and unusual events, and her work is very popular. President Zhang and I came to Changyuan County this time to discuss publishing matters with her, but we ran into the insect disaster as soon as we met up."

Luo Kai nodded, pushed the door open, and left. He returned to his room, grabbed a map, and rushed out into the night.