"A Light"
A word was spoken
"A dream"
"A curse"
Word that can never be spoken, only thought, ringing inside a head of a boy.
Named Nanming. Or was it his name originally?
Holding something unspoken, it forms a blur in his vision where he can only see grey upon grey of image over form and form over image. Once again, it blooms into another image and form, image and form.
The past a thousandfold refolded again another thousand, was this life his own?
?
-a
"Aaaa"
'a?'
'/?/'
'killkillkillkillkill'
Even basic words are muddled in a mind overflown with intent to kill, the urge return and whisper the wicked will.
'killkillkillkillkill'
'killkillkillkillkill'
What was the poem his mother used to recite when he was overwhelmed with this, urge to become Wrathful?
"O tiny light, flicker on. O little flame, hold the dark."
The image of his mother, it's gone now. Just the memory of her feature, where is she now? The white hair that blankets his form, the soothing voice elicits calmness within the storm.
"Do not let the shadow take me, do not let the urge awake."
Another image, now broken down. Leaving no form.
"Save me—myself, save me— I will not become Wrath."
.
.
.
It's the Dark Hours; the moon is new.
And now, the combine force of the two camps was hunting a vicious predator known as Wu Nanming.
They were briefed about his ability and frankly speaking. Gu Liang is doubting the Hunt will ever be successful. Seeing how grim Wu Chen faces are, he could understand just how fearsome Wu Nanming is.
It also shed some light on the Wu Clan situation, Gu Liang already heard murmured about how the Wu Clan heir would kill each other for a position in the throne, now, seeing it with his own eyes. He believed in a rumor he once dismissed as a mere word.
The formation is decided; Gu Liang will become the Spearhead while Wu Chen becomes the Shield.
Gu Liang stood in the middle of the night, his Aura of greenish color blankets his body as he charges his foundation technique. The Poison Body
'Huff' Gu Liang sweats pooled in his feet, the sign of how taxing it is to use this technique.
'Sometimes, I regret not awakening the Flame Wheel technique instead. But it's an inheritance technique, and I cannot learn that'
Namgoong Hien who stood beside him marveled at the Gu Liang focus maintaining his Core Inhibition at capturing the energy. A focus that can be rarely seen comes from a master let alone a 10-year-old boy.
'So, this is the infamous Poison Body, they say it provides complete immunity to all kinds of toxin, and it provides the user with the ability to concoct their own poison inside their body'
And there is probably more to this potent Foundation Technique than Gu Clan are willing to give off, even Gu Liang didn't know the full extent of the ability it gives.
Nevertheless, the potency that it gives is phenomenal. It's just that Gu Liang must completely envelopes his core in energy to make his own toxin. And it is by no means a simple task.
'Huff, huff, huff' he had to regulate his breath ever so often just to stabilize his aching abdomen. Making effort trying to focus on something else to ignore the pain.
'Thankfully, I have Wu Chen taking care of my back. Now I can focus on making poison'
.
.
.
Meanwhile, Wu Chen, accompanied by Ni Len, is leading the 2nd group ahead of Gu Liang to scout Wu Nanming, since Wu Chen is the most knowledgeable about his ability.
For this hunt, he decided to use a spear from a noble that dies by a Jiangshi yesterday since there is no sword around for him to use.
At first, Wu Chen is quite dissatisfied at the thought of using a spear, but after swinging it for a while and spinning it like a Rabbit mask Monk he used to saw during childhood.
He is still dissatisfied, why is there no sword?
But this will do. Wu Chen marches to the Hunt, beside him is Ni Len that wields a saber. Behind him is the commoner forces and one of Gu Liang camp hunters guide him towards where Wu Nanming is.
Gu Tian is behind, alongside Xiu and near Gu Liang. A compromise that is good enough for Wu Chen.
"Let us then…" Wu Chen gave the command, the hunters nod and lead the way.
During the walk, the silence is awkward and unbearable. The commoners are all wary of this figure known as Wu Chen.
Not only did he manage to make the ever so proud Ouyang Pinah retreat in embarrassment after a verbal duel, but the word going around is he had single handedly expel every single Noble from his own camp, a feat unheard-of, by them at least.
"He is so menacing" one of the commoners said, he wields a makeshift Axe.
"Hm" the other responded by nodding their head with such a force that his leather helmet slipped off.
"Do you think he can do the thing?" The other beside them chimes, not wanting to be left behind.
"What thing?" the Axe wielding commoner ask for clarification.
"You know… I heard that the Wu Clan can make their eyes goes like bright red!" The other said with such enthusiasm, that his spit flies off his mouth. And he too, made a ridiculous gesture, imitating the 'red eyes' of the Wu clan.
Such moments make one remember that they are but a mere child.
"Oh-Oh I know that!" The one with the leather helmet responded with even more excitement that his helmet fell off completely, he picked it up while continuing to speak.
"I think it called… err… Crimson Glare!" he said.
"Yeah! That's the one! I heard from a Bard the other day… that when the Wu Clan do the Thing, all the fiends immediately bow, or they have their head blown up!" The boy said.
"I wonder if Wu Chen can do tha—" his head was instantly severed.
"What?" The other can't process the death of his companion that quickly, before he too, was…
SLASH
…Decapitated in the same way.
"Who-Who are"
SLASH
Another one too, quickly killed before they can even grasp the pain of losing both friends… and self.
Immediately countless commoners huddle together, holding whatever they have in hand to fend off this mysterious killer. Ni Len, who is the first to respond, jumps in.
Saber in hand, he swings wildly at an empty air, over a fleeting form too fast for him to makes out with his own eyes.
Yet Wu Chen is strangely composed, spear in hand he holds his ground and looks ahead of the disjointed group that is his own squad. Ni Len, who noticed his indifference, immediately realized what had to be done.
"All of you! Get over here now!" He calls out to the commoners who is still swinging aimlessly at air.
Most of them immediately complies and head over to Ni Len who activates his Aura to at least draw the attention of the killer to him alone.
And it works, for a split second he sees a glinting blade, rushing over to him with such speed that it cuts the air. He could only see it coming for his body failed to react.
And yet, before it could reach him.
CLANG
Wu Chen deflects the attack with his spear, yet the force of the attack is real as Wu Chen can be seen swinging his hand from what appears to be pain from receiving the attacks.
"..huff, thank you boss" Ni Len breath the sigh of relief, seeing the image of Wu Chen form so gallant in front of him, he could finally rest for a while.
Wu Chen nodded at his remark before casually walking towards where the attack came from.
"Dear Sister, don't you think this is too much?"
He said, looking around as if searching for someone.
"Why must you stop me brother?"
A sweet voice calls back to his question, a tone so sweet one might mistake it to be a Fox calling out her trickery.
"This killing has yet to end" A form than appears out of nowhere. Black hair and golden eyes, it's Wu Yuen, the 'protective' sister who is like Nanming, is adopted by the Demon King.
Her eyes glints gold, her face streaks with blood that isn't hers as she looked at Wu Chen as if being betrayed.
'Finally decides to show up, now I can't exactly coax her to leave me now, right?'
Wu Yuen is extremely protective of her siblings, so much so that she once charges a Bear that dare threatens Wu Lizha during a Family Outing in the past. But then a question arises.
If her siblings tried to kill each other, who will she protect? Simple, for Wu Yuen, killing both is the most definite answer.
And much like Nanming, her martial prowess is insane. Wu Chen dares think that she is more skilled in Martial Combat than Nanming, with Nanming winning in his sheer power and energy.
But now, he is confident enough that he can make Yuen at least go away while being hit once or twice.
"Explain yourself brother, why would you pounce on Nanming now? Does his presence destroy all your plan?"
Wu Yuen said with an eye that is fierce and sharp, as if what Chen just did equate to a betrayal of the highest order against her.
"Do I need reason to protect my men?" Wu Chen replies, though there is no conviction in his voice. Behind Ni Len silently orders the rest of commoners and some noble who hides behind Chen to back away.
"Protect?" She scoffs, cleaning the blade with her fingers before putting into her mouth, as if refreshed she coils her body like a snake that awaits to strike.
Wu Chen knows that technique all too well, by consuming blood some Martial Artist can heal and even enhance themselves.
"You of all people decides to 'protect' someone now huh? So very thoughtful of you brother… Tell me then—" she said, with a voice so tinged with promise of violence its suffocating.
"—Is this too, just another lies and performance for you? This trial so sickeningly grotesque and you relish about how many pawns you just acquired?" she said with such conviction it's as If she already knew that this was his plan, to bid time and extend the dialogue between her
"You never change… Not once did you slip off your mask" she then lunges at Chen with a speed akin to a Hare.
Wu Chen reacts just a bit too late and the tip of the blade grazes his right shoulder. But he manages to at least dodge the full weight of the attack.
"And now this too, is just another plan and games for you!" She pounces once more, aiming for Chen's leg.
Yet Wu Chen did not flinch in the slightest and let it get hacked by Yuen's blade.
SLASH
It's almost detached completely, his right leg barely hanging on yet Chen didn't react, as if his leg, his injury is never there to begin with.
"What?" Wu Yuen is confused, to not react out of injury is one thing but to letting himself get hit is just unthinkable. She knows full well how capable of a fighter Wu Chen is.
"Hahhh that hurts really bad…" Wu Chen finally lets out a sigh of pain, but its more so a sigh of discomfort more than anything.
"Your skill never ceases to amaze me dear sister" his words, so casual, so calm and composed that its unsettling. Wu Yuen can't help but enter a stance at his casual remarks.
Sweats bedding on her skin, mixing with blood before dropping into the grass bed below as winds blow it away.
Yet Wu Chen face hardly sweats, his form barely stiffens, this is nothing for him.
"…And you mistook my intention once more" he then silently limped towards Wu Yuen, dragging his leg as it bleeds out. Leaving a trail of crimson that darkens rather than glistens.
Finally, he stopped his track, just enough that Wu Yuen can makes out his individual strands of hair, blown away by winds as it covers his face ever so slightly, creating a mask.
"I do not want to kill Nanming, frankly speaking I lack the ability to do it… Besides, I really like him" Wu Chen said with a smile, Wu Yuen knows better not to trust. Yet, just as much as Chen didn't want to fight Yuen, Yuen also didn't want to fight Chen.
Slowly she calmed her form down, pointing her blade towards the ground before standing upright once more.
"…So, we reach a conclusion?" Wu Chen asks, his leg is still bleeding through.
"…" Wu Yuen did not respond, silently she gazes back at his strangely empty eyes, so red yet black at the same time.
"Sometimes I wonder just who is the crazy one…" she said before walking away from him. Wu Chen is caught off guard; he thinks it would take much more convincing to make Yuen go away.
But hey, that's done and he wanted to push his luck more.
"Won't you assist me dear sister?"
"…No"
And his luck ended. Well, better leave it at that before she changed her mind.
"Besides, you failed to notice the countless rat that ought to get you and your allies…" Wu Yuen said, Wu Chen immediately realized his grave mistake.
In this trial, there isn't just his camp and Gu Liang camps. There are others who would rather watch one of them get destroyed.
Once again, he still has much to learn.
"I owe you one for that sister…"
"Heh, spar with me once we got back home" she said as she sprinted away, as if the battle earlier took hardly any strength from her.
'…As if I would want to spar with you' Wu Chen thought.
"Well, time to test that I suppose" Wu Chen then extend his left arms to the side, closing his eyes and focusing.
His Aura shines a dark red, more so a haze than a cloud normally seen on another Cultivator.
He clutched his jaw, tightened his muscles, everything he could do to make the Inhibition stronger. Then, with a gesture all the blood around started to clump together before rising like a morning dew.
"Hufff" he exhales once, before bringing his tightened knuckles onto his chest, immediately the countless ball of blood converges into his surroundings, evaporating before it could touch his robe and in a split second.
All his injury is completely healed…
"Cough cough, ughh fuck"
…Almost.
"It needs more fine-tuning. But 'Tarnished Gathering' of mine finally succeed" Wu Chen grimaced, he then moved his previously hacked away leg around, feeling its weight and confirming that it won't go anywhere.
He walked away from the scene, looking for where his group went to.