Shackles of Humanity

The floodwaters of the Nili Long River had receded, and the disaster victims were returning to rebuild their homes.

Nature always maintains its balance. While the floodwaters had submerged vast stretches of farmland, they also left the soil more fertile. Furthermore, the tenacity of life in this era was incredible; as the waters retreated, the fields were surprisingly green, with many crops still alive.

Luo Kai spent three days recuperating by the river. The Tiger Soul Divine Pill Big Beard had given him was astonishingly effective. It not only restored his physical vitality but also replenished a good deal of his depleted Spiritual Power. His new skin was abnormally pale, like someone with a skin condition, but his appearance had returned to normal. At last, he no longer had to hide himself away.

Old Huang had mingled in human society since it was young and loved being around people. No matter how Luo Kai tried to shoo it away, it refused to leave. Having no other choice, Luo Kai let it stay by the Nili Long River. The date for the martial arts tournament was drawing near, and he needed to find Liu Hou. But first, he had to make a trip back to Lobster Lane.

...

The weather grew hotter and hotter. Just days ago, the land had been ravaged by snow and ice, but now it was a sweltering summer. The temperature outside was a full forty degrees Celsius. Luo Kai wasn’t afraid of the cold, but he disliked the heat. He changed out of his tattered rags and into a short-sleeved shirt and shorts before walking into Longyang City.

Lu Qing was busy in her little flower shop on the street corner. After a moment’s hesitation, Luo Kai slowly walked inside.

When Lu Qing saw him, she was stunned and instinctively took a step back, flustered. Then, she heaved a sigh of relief, all her previous worries vanishing in an instant. ’His eyes are still so beautiful,’ she thought. They were the same eyes that shone like stars, but now they held a hint of world-weariness, making him seem even more masculine.

Luo Kai found himself staring, a bit dazed as well. Lu Qing was wearing an embroidered dress today, revealing slender calves and fair skin. Her figure was graceful. ’Beautiful sights always lift the spirits.’

Neither of them knew what to say, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Lu Qing’s heart pounded in her chest, and her face grew hot. She found herself staring at Luo Kai, completely captivated. ’How can his eyes be so beautiful?’ The swirling stars within his pupils seemed to pull her very soul into their vortex. A strange feeling welled up inside her, and she suddenly understood what she had been so worried about all this time. Before a gaze like that, anyone would fall.

Luo Kai saw her dazed expression, noticed her racing heart and flushed skin, and felt a little confused. He waved a hand in front of her face. "Hey, silly girl, what’s wrong?"

Lu Qing snapped out of it and quickly looked away. Touching her burning cheeks, she lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes. ’I never used to believe in love,’ she thought. ’I always saw it as some special byproduct of the human need to procreate. But this feeling right now... this racing heart, this sense that my body and soul are about to be swept away... what else could it be but love?’

After a long moment, she asked in a voice barely above a whisper, "Are... are your injuries any better?"

"Much better. Thanks."

"Thank me for what?" Lu Qing asked, puzzled.

Luo Kai seemed to have regained his old confidence and said casually, "For giving me money every day, of course."

Lu Qing looked up and glared at him, annoyed. "So that vagrant really was you! You jerk! If you needed help, why didn’t you just say so? Why did you have to pretend to be some scary vagrant?"

Luo Kai grinned. "I really am a vagrant. I wasn’t pretending."

"You beat up the City Lord’s son! Someone as capable as you could get anything they want. Stop playing the helpless victim!"

"That Su Wenlin is not a good person. You... you should be careful around him." Luo Kai finally stated the purpose of his visit.

Lu Qing’s eyebrows shot up. "In your eyes, am I just some naive little girl?" she snapped.

Luo Kai spread his hands. He didn’t say anything, but his meaning was clear: ’Well, aren’t you?’

"Hmph! You jerk! You show up just to make me angry! Get out!" Lu Qing’s face was flushed with anger as she stepped forward and tried to shove him out of the shop.

"Hey! It’s been a while, can’t we even chat for a bit?" Of course, Lu Qing didn’t have the strength to move Luo Kai, but he was afraid of hurting her if he resisted, so he allowed her to push him outside.

"Fine, I’ll be on my way then."

"Wait! My grandmother wants to see you!" Lu Qing closed the shop door, then grabbed him and started walking toward her house.

Luo Kai hesitated. "Uh... I still have things to do, so I’d better not go to your house." But while his words said no, his body was more than willing, letting Lu Qing pull him toward the small, flower-scented courtyard.

On the way, Lu Qing’s earlier feistiness vanished, replaced by a dreamy absentmindedness. She kept stealing glances at Luo Kai, and the affection in her beautiful eyes was so obvious that even a block of wood could have felt it.

Luo Kai was no block of wood, of course, but he was genuinely puzzled. ’It’s been a while... why has this silly girl suddenly become so lovestruck?’

In truth, he didn’t realize it was the power of his Spirit. Pain and suffering are life’s greatest trials, but they are also the only path to the growth of one’s Spiritual Power. His recent experiences had changed him profoundly. His every word, every action, even a single thought could now influence his surroundings. For example, even if he never bathed again, not a speck of dust or grime would cling to him. If he didn’t want to be bitten by mosquitoes, none could come near.

He could even influence the senses and consciousness of others. He already had a favorable impression of Lu Qing and naturally hoped she felt the same way about him. Unconsciously, his Spiritual Will was influencing her mind and body. And since her memory of him was already so strong, she was particularly susceptible to this influence.

Granny Hua’s small courtyard was still filled with all sorts of flowers and trees. The Zilan plant was still in full bloom. Sensing Luo Kai’s arrival, the flower immediately turned toward him, and its overwhelming fragrance enveloped him.

Granny Hua stood at the door, her face a web of deep-set wrinkles. She did not look pleased.

Luo Kai said, a little sheepishly, "Granny Hua, I’ve come to see you."

"Hmph! And what did you promise me? You faithless brat!"

"Uh... Granny, these things can’t be rushed. Besides, shouldn’t we ask your granddaughter for her opinion?"

Blushing furiously, Lu Qing didn’t say a word in protest. Instead, she hastily scurried into an inner room.

Granny Hua stared at him intently. "The Zilan doesn’t have much time. Neither do I. Have you noticed the changes in the weather?"

Luo Kai’s expression changed. The weather recently had been incredibly strange—first a blizzard, then followed immediately by extreme heat. Such a drastic climatic shift had to be an omen.

"Granny, are you saying... another climate cataclysm is coming?"

Granny Hua looked up at the sky and shook her head. "I don’t know. No one can predict the weather anymore, because it no longer follows the laws of nature."

Luo Kai’s mind raced. He asked in horror, "You mean the climate cataclysms are man-made? Or caused by Fierce Beasts?"

"You’ve learned quite a bit lately, young man. That’s right. Just as a butterfly flapping its wings can cause a hurricane on the other side of the world, certain powerful beings who deeply understand the laws of nature can trigger a climate cataclysm that sweeps the globe!"

Luo Kai asked, confused, "But what’s their motive? A climate cataclysm wouldn’t just affect humans. All living creatures would suffer."

Granny Hua sighed. "To those powerful beings, billions of living creatures are no more than ants. All we can do is try to survive it. Enough of that. Young man, you’re carrying a heavy amount of Evil Qi. Be careful it doesn’t cloud your mind."

Luo Kai looked down at himself. ’I can’t feel any Evil Qi,’ he thought. ’And the Evil Energy in my chest has thinned out a lot since that last fight. Its effect on my emotions is much weaker now.’

"Qing’er told me everything about you. Come inside. I’ll take a look at your injuries."

Luo Kai hesitated for a moment before following Granny Hua inside, feeling a little apprehensive. She began to examine him, her brow furrowing deeper and deeper. "You brat, what in the world have you been up to? How did you get so grievously injured!"

Luo Kai said quickly, "Granny Hua, I’m fine. See? I’m perfectly alright. I still have things to do, so how about we talk about this next time?"

Granny Hua said coldly, "Hmph. If it weren’t for Qing’er, I wouldn’t bother with you. You may look fine on the outside, but you’re dangerously weak on the inside. This is the result of severely overdrawing your Life Force. You’ll stay here for now. I’m going to prepare a medicated bath for you."