Xia Bu's Awakening

The girl clutched the hem of her skirt, her little hands balled into fists. In a timid voice, she asked, "Can this uncle heal my leg? Can he save Grandpa, too?"

Hope flickered in her eyes, though she knew it was probably futile.

Jia Meng shook his head. His voice was filled with apology. "I'm sorry. Uncle can't bring the dead back to life."

Just then, Mei Chu, the slightly older girl, spoke in a clear, gentle voice.

"Then take me away from here, please. Without Grandpa, I don't want to stay here anymore."

Her voice brimmed with grief and fear of what might happen next.

Xia Bu listened, feeling a pang of sympathy. He asked again, "Don't you want to avenge your parents?"

The girl shook her head. Her gaze was steady and clear.

"Even if I killed the villagers, Grandpa wouldn't come back. I just want Grandpa back."

Mei Chu pulled her little sister close, speaking softly and patiently. "Grandpa taught us that killing is wrong. Good people will punish bad people in the end. Mei Chu, don't become a bad person."

Just then, the younger girl suddenly pointed at Xia Bu. "Uncle, how did you get hurt? Did the bad people kill your grandpa, too?"

Her question held both confusion and concern.

Tears welled in Xia Bu's eyes. The cool, clear water ran down his cheeks. Jia Meng had never seen Xia Bu cry before.

Yet Jia Meng sensed no sorrow in him. Instead, Xia Bu seemed more clear-headed and composed than ever.

The flowing water seemed to wash away his sweat and cleanse the gloom from his heart.

In that moment, Xia Bu found himself again. He was no longer lost in darkness.

He remembered the conviction that had once driven him to become a hero—to protect the good and fight injustice.

It was a belief he had held with unwavering determination, a voice from deep within his heart.

In that moment, he understood his path—and what he ought to do.

Originally, Xia Bu's neighbors had been a kind, loving old couple. Their smiles were like the warmth of spring sunshine, brightening the hearts of everyone who passed by.

But one night, a band of wicked men stormed into their home and shattered that peaceful life.

That night, Xia Bu had been consumed by a fierce desire to protect them.

He clenched his fists, determination shining in his eyes. In his distress, a powerful force awakened within him. It was the strength he had always possessed—the weapon with which he could protect others.

From that day on, Xia Bu set out on the path of the hero.

He wore a black suit that concealed him in the darkness, rescuing people in distress. Among them were many good people, but also those who had brought misfortune upon themselves through their own wrongdoing.

Soul Force did not distinguish between good and evil. It pursued only those who were filled with hatred and despair.

As time went by, however, Xia Bu's heart gradually became clouded by gloom.

He watched the people he had rescued. Some changed their ways and embraced life anew; others grew even more vicious, turning their hands against more innocent people.

What he saw filled Xia Bu with confusion and frustration.

He began to doubt his purpose. Was Soul Force truly meant to protect the innocent?

Was it really worth risking his life for selfish people who behaved like beasts?

These doubts weighed on his heart like a boulder, leaving him almost unable to breathe.

All he could do was tell himself numbly that heroes existed to protect the innocent—that was his mission and his fate.

But after Xia Bu finished listening to the old couple's story, his heart sank back into deep confusion.

He did not know how to face what he had witnessed, nor what choice he should make.

The truth was, he had once rescued the very people who had harmed them, including those vicious men.

The little girl's words were like a clear spring washing over his heart, allowing him to breathe again.

He realized that his former way of thinking had been too one-sided.

There were certainly many cruel people in this world, but there were also people like the little girl before him, as well as the kind old couple.

He had always chosen to become a hero in order to protect good people like them.

That was his original intention. That was his mission.

As for the people who had committed countless evil deeds, becoming Soul Force's prey was the best end they could hope for.

Xia Bu wiped the water from his face. His warm, kind smile returned.

Steadfast determination shone in his eyes once more. He had finally found his way forward.

"I understand now."

Jia Meng watched Xia Bu's transformation, feeling comforted as well.

"Humph. After all that, you've finally figured it out. But it isn't as if everyone's beyond saving."

"I used to think those hopeless people had corrupted my resolve. Now that I think about it, that was ridiculous."

Xia Bu fell silent, seemingly lost in thought.

But Jia Meng couldn't help worrying. "You've figured it out, but my own heart is still far from settled."

A thread of sadness showed in his eyes, as if he were contemplating a deeper problem.

"Are you going to do something? I won't stop you, but you should think about the consequences."

Xia Bu's voice was calm and serious. His gaze was deep, as if he could see into the very depths of a person's heart.

Jia Meng smiled faintly, a determined glint in his eyes. "That's exactly what I want to do. Giving up my life as a hero for the sake of these despicable spirits would be the greatest insult to me. I'll deal with ordinary people in a way they can understand."

With that, Jia Meng turned and walked away.

He began making his way around the village, using a simple trick to disguise himself as a god. He told the villagers about the old couple's murder and warned them that they would be punished.

The villagers had already hated the village chief's family for a long time. Now, with a god on their side, they gathered whatever weapons they could find and surged toward the chief's house.

"What are you trying to do? I'm the village chief!"

"You deserve this! It's the will of the gods!"

The villagers dragged the village chief's wife out of the house, where she had been hiding in fear.

The village chief and his wife had always been tyrants who bullied the people, and no one dared stand up to them.

Now, faced with an angry mob, they didn't even dare resist. They whimpered and begged like frightened animals.

The villagers were in no mood to listen. They hauled the couple to the village entrance, put nooses around their necks, and hanged them from an old willow tree.

The village chief and his wife finally paid for a lifetime of evil with their lives.

By coincidence, Mei Chu's technique also involved hanging people with rope. Perhaps it was fate—or perhaps it was the arrangement of some mysterious power.