Life and Death

Life and Death

After I left school, it quickly began to pour. Following the mountain path, I unknowingly arrived at Luo Family Village and returned to the abandoned, dilapidated house.

Ever since I had moved into the temple, I had never returned here.

The courtyard walls had long collapsed, as had the beams. Mushrooms grew amid the rotten timber. With a crash, a crumbling wall toppled under the relentless rain.

Rain soaked my entire body as I looked at the abandoned house, overwhelmed by mixed emotions. I stood before the stone threshold, hesitated for a while, then walked in.

Following my memories, I returned to the room where I used to sleep. The entire room was completely empty.

I thought, Heavens, only today did I realize that my life has no meaning at all. Let the wind and rain grow fiercer. Blow this broken house down and bury me here.

I sat in the ruined room, letting the rain pour over me. I was so devastated that my mind went blank.

Just then, shouting sounded outside.

"That bastard went into that abandoned old house!"

I shuddered violently and realized that night had fallen. Torches lit up outside, brightening the area as the cries drew closer.

"Surround the place! Don't let him escape. That wild bastard will only bring trouble if we let him live!" Another shrill voice rang out.

My heart jolted. What were they trying to do? Capture me? Ever since I had been with Master, I had dealt with poisonous creatures year-round. I was always the one catching venomous bugs; no one had ever been able to catch me.

I picked up a handy stone and ran straight outside. "What are you trying to do?"

I swept my gaze across the crowd and saw that the leader was Luo Chui's father, Luo Benjie. Beside him stood his elder son, Luo Dayuan. The rest were Luo Benjie's uncles, cousins, and brothers—more than thirty people in all.

In all of Luo Family Village, Luo Benjie was the most overbearing. With dozens of uncles, cousins, and brothers at his command, no one could stand against his branch of the family.

More than a dozen torches lit the surroundings as bright as day.

On the stretcher at the back, Luo Chui had already awakened. Barely holding himself up, he weakly cried, "Big Brother, this wild bastard is vicious! He nearly strangled me to death!"

Luo Dayuan shouted, "Fuck your ancestors! You dared to strangle my little brother? Get on your knees!" Luo Dayuan's right eye was much larger than his left, which was why he was called Luo Dayuan. When hunting in the mountains, he always aimed with his right eye, and his blunderbuss shots were remarkably accurate.

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his blunderbuss, its black muzzle aimed directly at me.

I stared coldly at Luo Dayuan and replied, "Luo Dayuan, if you have the guts, shoot me in the head. You want me to kneel to you? You aren't worthy!"

I often stared down venomous snakes and savage beasts. Luo Dayuan thought a blunderbuss would intimidate me, but it would not be that easy. Instead, my glare made him suddenly shudder.

"This is ridiculous. I refuse to believe you're not afraid of death!" Luo Dayuan took two steps forward, bringing the blunderbuss closer.

Luo Benjie stopped the agitated Luo Dayuan. "Xiao Kunlun, you are not from Luo Family Village. Today, you went mad and injured Luo Chui. Kneel and kowtow to him three times, then leave Luo Family Village and never come back. Otherwise, don't blame us for beating you to death."

I sneered. "You're using numbers to bully the few. If you want me to kowtow to Luo Chui, then I'll have to die first."

Luo Benjie's gaze grew increasingly vicious. "Still refusing to repent! Back then, your mother returned while carrying a freak in her belly. She brought death to your grandparents and left you, this wild bastard, in Luo Family Village. We should have fed you to the dogs long ago!"

The anger that had gone out in my chest blazed to life again. I roared, "Don't you dare mention my mother!"

The stone in my hand flew straight at Luo Benjie, but Luo Dayuan reacted quickly and knocked it aside with the butt of his gun.

Just then, two ropes flew over and looped around my hands. Luo Dayuan rushed forward and slammed the butt of his blunderbuss into my abdomen.

I lost control and fell to the ground. Excruciating pain spread through my stomach, and for a full half minute, I could not speak.

Immediately afterward, two men came forward carrying steel forks and pinned down my feet.

Just like that, all four of my limbs were restrained. Mud covered my entire body, even my face.

Luo Dayuan kicked me twice more and shouted, "You lowborn bastard, let's see if you can fly into the sky now!" He turned and yelled at Luo Chui, "Little Brother, come over! I'll make him kowtow to you!"

When Luo Chui met my eyes, he shuddered in fright and shook his head. "Brother, I don't dare. I heard from the Miao people that there are poisonous bugs inside him, something like gu..."

The muscles in Luo Dayuan's face twitched. He kicked me twice more and said, "I don't believe it... What kind of gu insects could there be in this world? Don't let him scare you stupid..."

Just then, an angry roar came from nearby. "Kick him one more time, and I'll make your legs rot off!"

Following the voice, I saw Master appear at the edge of the crowd, wearing a straw rain cape and a bamboo hat.

The crowd parted to make a path, and Master strode over.

Seeing Master approach, Luo Dayuan pressed the blunderbuss directly against my forehead, his right index finger already resting on the trigger.

"Master Hei, you finally came. This Xiao Kunlun nearly strangled my youngest son to death. You have to give me justice." Luo Benjie's tone softened considerably when he saw Master.

Master ignored Luo Benjie. He walked to me and asked, "Did you kneel to them?"

Seeing Master, warmth filled my heart. I hurriedly said, "No!"

Master relaxed when he heard that. Then he looked up at Luo Dayuan and said, "If you don't want to die, move that blunderbuss away. In this world, aside from the old Gu God, no one can bear a kneel from Xiao Kunlun!"

Master looked at Luo Dayuan. The hand gripping his blunderbuss trembled slightly, while cold sweat continuously formed on his forehead.

Master raised his voice several notches. "My disciple, Hei Moxing's disciple, is mine to discipline. It is not your place to point fingers here!"

Luo Dayuan showed fear after being glared at, but if a few words scared him away, he would lose face. His facial muscles twitched as he cried, "Hei... Moxing, my family cannot be bullied for nothing! If I don't break this dog's legs today, I will never let this go!"

Master turned to glance at Luo Benjie. Luo Benjie's face was ashen. Having gathered so many people, he could not return empty-handed, so he deliberately looked away and let Luo Dayuan do as he pleased.

"Fine! One steel pellet may not kill a man, but my three venomous snakes can bite you to death in an instant!" Master's shoulders moved, and with several hissing sounds, three venomous snakes slithered out. They were blue, red, and white.

The three snakes coiled around Master's shoulders, their tongues flicking as their sharp venomous fangs showed clearly.

"Tricolored Viper!" Luo Dayuan's face went pale, cold sweat pouring from his forehead as he struggled to remain standing. The four men holding the steel forks and ropes fled in an instant.

Master looked down at me and asked, "Can you still walk?"

I nodded and gritted out, "Yes."

Many parts of my body ached faintly, but I could still move. I untied the ropes binding my hands, painfully rose to my feet, and walked several steps beside Master before stopping next to Luo Benjie.

The muscles in Luo Benjie's face twitched. "Master Hei, trees live for their bark, people live for their pride. Aren't you going to give me an explanation?"

Master said, "If your son had not provoked Kunlun, he would not be lying on that stretcher! The Gu God has seen everything you did today. He will punish you."

After saying this, Master led me out through the crowd.

We had only taken a few steps when a sharp crack rang out—the sound of a blunderbuss.

Then a wave of agony shot through my body. Looking down, I saw a blood-red flower bloom on my chest.

Blood spread across my chest. Fine sweat beaded on my forehead as I cried, "Master, it hurts. I'm going to die."

Master caught me in his arms, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Not far away, Luo Dayuan's body shook violently. The blunderbuss fell from his hand with a thud as he muttered, "What the hell is the Gu God... I'm not afraid..."

"I gave you a chance!" Master shouted through gritted teeth. He lowered his head to look at me. "I'll settle this score with you another day!"

Master carried me and raced back to the Gu God Temple. By then, the pain had drained all strength from me. Something seemed to be churning in my abdomen, while bugs gnawed at the gaps between my bones.

"It hurts, it hurts so much, Master. Bugs are biting me!" My entire body went cold as I trembled uncontrollably. "Master, I have no strength left. I want to sleep... I'm going to die... I shouldn't have caused trouble..."