Chapter 33: Desperation II

The mental force was a unique wonder, an intangible yet powerful phenomenon born within the human body. Unlike the physical strength of muscles or the density of bones that provided stability, mental force existed on a higher, more elusive plane. It provided tangible benefits to its user—enhanced perception, control, and even a bridge to supernatural abilities—yet it itself lacked any discernible form.

The two men, clad in outfits so out of place they might as well have been shouting their oddity, huddled close and exchanged careful whispers, not knowing that their every word slipped through the cracks of their secrecy and had already fallen into someone else's ears.

In Luo Ling’s ears, the whispers wove a story of deceit. A shady plot unfurled, each word confirming what his sharp instincts had suspected all along. Those men weren’t just bystanders to the chaos surrounding Li Kai—they were the architects. It was their handiwork, spreading the malicious rumor that Li Kai had somehow obtained a coveted cultivation technique from Luo Ling himself.

Luo Ling kept his ‘ears’ glued on them, determined not to miss any important clues they might reveal. He had already confirmed their involvement with Li Kai’s situation, but the heart of the matter—their true motives—remained a mystery.

Regrettably, their discussion came to a halt after the relay of the brief report and the small talk that followed.

Just then, a shadow loomed over Luo Ling’s table, and the mouthwatering aroma of steamed buns filled his nose.

“Ling, move your hands, would you?”

“Of course.”

Luo Ling took his hands off the table and the middle-aged man, Madam Wei’s son, tossed the dishes in his hands onto the grease-stained furniture. It seemed that after the previous patron had left, the table hadn’t been cleaned properly—left with a sticky residue of old meals and half-wiped stains.

The newly promoted martial master had already noticed the waiter’s presence when he entered his extra-sensory dome. The man had been muttering curses under his breath at the patrons—him included—and with his enhanced auditory senses, every word was sharp and clear.

He didn’t find it strange but was only surprised that waiters cursing at patrons was true even in another world. This made the corners of his lips pull into a small smile.

How nostalgic.

Luo Ling kept his ‘ears’ trained on the table where the two oddly dressed men sat, all while savoring his buns. Unfortunately, they didn’t speak again, leaving him with nothing more to go on. Before long, they finished their meal and hurriedly left the eatery, vanishing into the bustling streets.

Luo Ling eyed their retreating backs without a change in his expression. His savoring of the buns didn’t stop either.

In this brief eavesdropping, he confirmed two things; one, they had no malice towards him. They only took advantage of the rumor he had spread and added a few extra spices to make Li Kai’s life a living hell. Second, they seemed not to have any personal vendetta against Li Kai.

Luo Ling might be bad at reading through a person’s character, but the cut-throat world of Murim had made sure he could at least tell when someone was harboring a killing intent. When talking about Li Kai, these two never showed a trace of murderous intent. It’s almost as if they were only following orders.

Things were getting more and more mysterious and Luo Ling was not liking this development.

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As Luo Ling swallowed the last bite of his bun, his resolve hardened. Tonight, he would track down Li Kai and finish what he had left undone. He now had a general idea of where the man had gone, and with his familiarity with the forest, there was no chance Li Kai could hide from him for long—not when he had the help of the Inner Breath.

The reason why he didn’t kill Li Kai was due to a few considerations and reservations. When he came to attack that day, the other hunters must have known about it and were paying attention. If he had killed Li Kai then he’d have definitely attracted their ire. Even though Li Kai acted with the intent to kill, he had no choice but to spare his life because they were a group and he was alone.

If he was targeted out of revenge, Luo Ling would never know peace again. He might not even get a good night's sleep from then on. They could take turns to harass him and he, alone, had no way to resist. The odds were stacked against him.

But now, the circumstances had shifted. Li Kai had been abandoned by the hunters, stripped of the only advantage that had kept him alive last time. This was his chance.

From Luo Ling’s estimation, it wouldn’t be long before desperation drove Li Kai to lash out indiscriminately. As the one who started it, Luo Ling knew there was a chance the man would come for him, seeking revenge. Before that could happen, he’d put an end to him and eliminate this growing threat.

Luo Ling drained the last mouthfuls of soup in one smooth motion before setting the bowl down with care. His tender gaze belied the cold, sharp edge of his killing intent as they settled on nothing in particular.

-~X~-

Deep within the buffer zone between the inner section and the outer periphery of the Hundred Beast Forest, Li Kai cautiously parted the thick bush concealing the underground hollow at the base of a massive tree. His eyes scanned his immediate surroundings, wary of any threat.

Though Li Kai had managed to find a relatively safe hiding spot, it was still within the bounds of the Hundred Beast Forest’s inner section—a domain teeming with demon beasts. This was a place where even exalted immortals tread with caution. Even the weakest of the demon beasts lurking here demanded the combined effort of several immortal sect disciples to subdue them. If one of these creatures were to discover him, there would be no escape, only a brutal and grisly end.

A loud growl from his stomach shattered the silence, the sound almost mocking in the stillness of his refuge. The dizziness hit next, a disorienting wave that forced Li Kai to clutch the rough bark of the tree for support. His bony fingers grazed his hollowed abdomen, the sharp ridges of his ribs now painfully apparent beneath his thinning skin.

Sunken cheeks and gaunt features spoke volumes of his starvation, while the scruffy beard and matted, bird's-nest hair painted him as something more beast than man—a shadow of the individual he had once been.

Grabbing the rolled-up cloth beside him, which used to be his shirt not too long ago, Li Kai withdrew a dark-brown, finger-thick, root and shoved it into his mouth. His yellowed teeth, neglected and coated with the grime of days gone by, ground into the fibrous shoot with unrelenting force, as though venting his frustration on the pitiful excuse for sustenance.

As the bitter juices flowed down his throat, numbing his taste buds in the process, the faces of everyone he once called friends and brothers flashed in his head. In those images, the warm smiles he once remembered were replaced by cold smirks and greedy looks.

The veins of his hands throbbed as his grip on the shoot tightened.

In the next frame, those images faded away, and only a bone-chilling gaze remained. Li Kai’s eyes were bloodshot, and his chest rose and fell from rapid breathing.

A cold voice, deep and raspy, spoke directly into his mind.

That’s right. It’s all his fault. Your ‘brothers’ turned their backs on you because of him. He manipulated them.

Li Kai grunted, biting onto the root in his mouth harshly. He didn’t retort the voice, but deep in his heart, he agreed with it.

Perhaps it noticed the shift in his attitude, the voice continued to echo.

Kill him. Torture him. You want revenge, don’t you? He is only a child. Even if he is strong, he’s still naïve. Didn’t he let you go even after you attacked him? You can take advantage of it.

Li Kai took out another shoot from the ‘bag’ made from his rolled-up shirt and put it in his mind. His bloodshot eyes seemed unfocused as he swayed back and forth.

Revenge is within your grasp, weakling. Unseal me and I’ll give you all the power you’ll ever need. Are you willing to suffer like an abandoned dog while he enjoys the warmth of bed?

The voice carried sweet promises and Li Kai’s heart began to waver.

“With your power, can I kill that brat and all those bastards who cast me aside?”

Hehe, yes. Yes, you can. I can even make you an immortal cultivator.

“…really?”