The Child Abandoned by Heaven?

He could clearly hear the sound of blood rushing through Tang San's body. When he focused, he even seemed to see the great artery throbbing at Tang San's neck. The flowing sound and the rhythm of each beat were so beautiful.

Tang San watched Jiang Chen's eyes suddenly change and felt the hair on his whole body stand on end. A chill shot from his tailbone straight to the crown of his head, making his scalp instantly prickle.

"Jiang Chen, I have to go back and make breakfast. I'll be off." Before he had even finished speaking, Tang San had already darted more than ten meters away. Carrying the big fish, he fled back to Holy Soul Village in the blink of an eye.

"Damn it, why am I craving that again?" Jiang Chen muttered. He wiped away the glistening drool that had escaped the corner of his mouth and hurriedly circulated his cultivation technique, suppressing the desire in his heart.

If Tang San's father found out, he'd probably flatten Jiang Chen with one swing of his hammer.

Chapter 2: The Child Abandoned by Heaven?

Back home, Jiang Chen put one fish away, then carried the other toward the house of Old Jack, the village chief.

As it happened, Old Jack was still his savior. Back then, Jiang Chen had lived with him, too. But once Jiang Chen turned three and began cultivating that evil technique, everyone in the village started treating him like a plague god.

Even Old Jack couldn't stand him. Every few days, he would come down with a serious illness. Eventually, Old Jack could take it no longer, so he gave Jiang Chen the most remote courtyard in the village and let him live there alone.

Jiang Chen knew the harm he had brought upon the villagers, so he didn't resent them for shunning him.

After he had made progress in his cultivation and his abilities had greatly increased, he learned to hunt. He had once caught quite a few animals and given them to the villagers, but they had all been mercilessly rejected.

The villagers feared him to an unimaginable degree. They not only dared not approach Jiang Chen, but wouldn't even accept the game he brought them, afraid they would invite misfortune by taking it.

The only ones who weren't so afraid of him were Old Jack and Tang San's family.

Whenever Jiang Chen caught wild game, he would bring some to Old Jack. Old Jack was greatly heartened by Jiang Chen's thoughtfulness.

Along the way, everyone Jiang Chen encountered avoided him in terror. Whether they were women heading out to wash clothes, men shouldering farm tools on their way to work, or children who had just gotten up and gathered to play, they all scurried away, afraid they might catch some ill omen.

"He's nothing but a menace, a jinx!" the women whispered among themselves.

Some children even picked up stones and threw them at him from a distance, but how could they possibly hit Jiang Chen?

Jiang Chen suddenly turned around and pretended to lunge. The children shrieked in fright and scattered like startled birds and beasts.

"Heh, with that little bit of courage, you think you can pick a fight with me?" Jiang Chen shook his head with a smile. Scaring these ignorant little brats now and then was a bit of fun.

Old Jack's house stood near the center of the village. Before long, Jiang Chen had arrived.

By then, the morning sun had risen. Old Jack knew how to enjoy himself; he had already carried a bamboo recliner into the courtyard and was leaning back in it, basking in the sun.

"Grandpa Jack!" Jiang Chen called from far away.

At the sound of Jiang Chen's voice, Old Jack's whole body trembled almost imperceptibly. Then he sprang up and dashed to the courtyard gate, swiftly locking it. The whole series of movements flowed together, nothing like something a man in his sixties could manage.

Once the gate was shut, he backed away a few steps and finally let out a long breath of relief.

Jiang Chen was already used to this. He wasn't angry; he walked quickly over and stopped outside the courtyard gate.

"Grandpa Jack, I brought you some fish."

"Mm, Xiao Chen really is a good boy. Just hang the fish on the gate. I'll bring it inside myself in a little while." Old Jack stood five meters from the gate, not daring to come any closer.

Jiang Chen deftly hung the fish on the doorknob. As he looked at the large courtyard where he had once lived for three years, a trace of nostalgia entered his eyes.

Old Jack had taken him in when he was still a swaddled infant, wailing for milk, and raised him for three years.