The four were cloaked but among the five, only one seemed familiar; a muscular man with two big burly arms, each tattooed with a cross. However, on further observation, all the four behind the hooded kid had tattoos on both their arms.

The cloaked man pulled his hood back, exposing the distinct scar across his right eye. “Tianyi, we’ve met before.”

“Helto...”

“Yes. Our leader has decided to appoint you as the leader of our…”

Before Helto could finish, a cloaked person stood forward in front of the hooded kid and pulled the hood back.

From my viewpoint, all I could see of the person was the long silk-like ponytail hair.

“What..what! A girl?” I was surprised.

“How can this weak guy be our leader? Why can’t Leader remain our leader? If not, why can’t Helto be our leader? Why that guy?” She glared at me as she spoke, with her tiny finger pointed at me. She continued, “He’s so weak! Leader didn’t even use half his strength but look at him, he got a cut on his forehead! If it were me against him, I could probably even…” A candy was suddenly flicked into her mouth and she suddenly stopped protesting. Instead, her focused was entirely on the candy.

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“Ehem. As I was saying, our leader has decided to have you join us as the leader of the bandits. We insist that you join us.”

“As the leader? How could I? Just like what she said, I’m weak! I could neither block all the attacks from your leader nor return an attack! How could I be fit to lead?” I exclaimed. However, none were having their eyes on me except the girl. With her innocent gaze directed at me, she continued sucking the candy in her mouth…

“Woah! Cute…” My mind raced as I observe her petite body and her glossy lips.

Shaking my head vigorously to wipe her image off my mind, my sight moved to Helto, who was looking at his leader as if waiting for his leader to take action...

……

“I’ve got a more important task at hand, so I’ll take my leave now.” Shaking off the awkward atmosphere, I sped off in the direction of home.

In the days that I and my sister spent in the basement beneath our house, several growls could be heard from across the wooden partition, as if a corner of the basement was alive. Though weak, a merciless aura could be felt....

What could that be? Why would there be something like that under our house? No... more importantly, what’s with all those red crosses marked outside each houses? It was as if the Louxtin army were trying to find something… but what were they trying to find?  

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“Leader, shouldn’t we give chase? Didn’t you say you’d like him join the ranks of us?”

But before Helto could give chase, the hooded kid immediately stopped him.

“He’ll be back, better than before.” Though nobody could see the grin on his face, the tone of his voice sounded pleased. And with a snap of his fingers, the group dispersed.

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The trees beside the path were clustered and dense where not even the moonlight can penetrate. Within, a figure followed closely behind its target. It is a shadow; his shadow.

Upon reaching the the ruined village, Tianyi headed to his house and entered the basement.

With that, the figure vanished.