Azure mountains like slate-colored brows and willows like eyebrows—passing through layer upon layer of forest, one could already see the mountain village and the curling wisps of cooking smoke rising from within the settlement. Shen Langhun and Liu Yan had walked through the forest sea for seven or eight days. Under Yu Tuan’er’s guidance and direction, they safely emerged from the mountain forest, and Liu Yan’s injuries had healed by forty to fifty percent, no longer leaving him on the verge of death.
Stepping out of the forest sea, Shen Langhun looked up at the sky and saw it was early dawn. Though Liu Yan’s injuries had improved, his movements were still inconvenient. Shen Langhun had dragged him all the way, and by now his whole body reeked terribly, with insects from the mountains buzzing around him incessantly—a truly horrifying sight. Glancing indifferently at Liu Yan, Shen Langhun picked him up, leaped swiftly out of the woods, gently set him down at the village entrance, revealed an extremely malicious smile, and gracefully departed.
Before long, someone came driving cattle out from the village. After walking just a few steps, he cried out “Aiya!” and exclaimed, “What is this thing?” Several yellow cattle walked past Liu Yan’s side, mooing once, and plopped down quite a bit of dung beside him. Liu Yan slowly sat up from the ground. Under the morning sun, one could see his face was covered in pits and hollows, all blood scabs that hadn’t yet healed, scarlet and shocking to the eye. Yet when his pair of eyes opened, they were brilliant with light, his black pupils gleaming brightly. The cattle herder let out a terrible scream: “You… what are you? Are you… are you still alive?” Liu Yan didn’t answer, his cold gaze looking at the cattle herder. The herder stepped back several paces, carefully skirted around him, then suddenly ran back to the village, not even caring about those yellow cattle.
In a short while, a great crowd of people came surging from the village. The leader was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted with a big mouth: “So this is the mountain demon you mentioned? This mountain demon has been stealing chickens and ducks in the village, stealing women’s clothes. Today someone must have caught it and given it a beating, which is why it looks like this. Who among you has had things stolen by it?” The villagers all shouted in unison. Following their leader’s punch, seven or eight young and sturdy men gritted their teeth and surrounded Liu Yan, pummeling him with fists and kicks. For a moment, only the continuous “bang bang” sounds could be heard.
This village was poor—each year it didn’t produce much grain or food. But these past few years it had suffered continuously from thieves. Often a family’s grain stored for an entire year would disappear overnight without a trace, causing great resentment. Besides stealing grain, the thief also pilfered women’s clothing, sometimes breaking into slightly wealthier households to steal gold and silver jewelry—anything of even slight value was stolen. Several years ago at night, someone had encountered this thief face to face and saw it was a mountain demon with a strange and grotesque appearance. Since then the villagers had been filled with dread and didn’t dare openly complain about the thefts. But today the cattle herder had actually spotted this “mountain demon” at the village entrance with his own eyes—wasn’t this a rare treasure?
Under the barrage of fists and feet, Liu Yan felt his five organs boiling and his blood surging from the heavy blows. Some of his wounds split open and his broken leg was in excruciating pain. Yet he didn’t make a sound, closing his eyes to endure. Suddenly a scene flashed before his eyes…
That was from long, long ago. When he was twelve years old, in the small alleys of a city full of high-rise buildings, he first met ten-year-old Tang Lici. At that time… he was being trampled on the ground by others, with a group of seventeen or eighteen-year-old children surrounding him, beating him with fists and kicks. Because he had inexplicably stolen someone’s wallet and was discovered, receiving a severe beating. He still remembered clearly the excited and crazed expression on that small child being trampled on the ground. He hadn’t felt pain… only found it fun, very thrilling, that dying didn’t matter… Perhaps it was that kind of laughter that deeply aroused his curiosity. He rushed over to save him, ended up receiving a beating together with Tang Lici, getting spat on several times, and after that they became inseparable friends.
From birth to twenty-four years old, he had always been a bleeding heart. Even now he couldn’t understand why during those dozen-plus years he had never felt Tang Lici was evil or perverted, only curious about his excited laughter, concerned about those hollow eyes, harboring a fear that he might destroy himself—yet still able to accompany him for so many years. He had always been like a housekeeper, watching him cause trouble, cleaning up his messes, advising him to turn back, then watching him cause trouble again… a vicious cycle, until the day Tang Lici reformed. After that, he could never again fathom his thoughts. Looking at him was like looking at an exquisitely crafted, flawless counterfeit. This counterfeit’s words and actions were so outstanding, so captivating, but the absence of that ferocious and crazed smile, the absence of those mad and bizarre behaviors, didn’t mean the counterfeit… could become genuine.
That could only mean he had matured, no longer displaying that emptiness outwardly. He refused to communicate with anyone, he acted independently, already capable of doing anything he wanted to do.
No longer needing to depend on anyone.
Tang Lici… had departed from the world at that time, until the day he wanted to perish together with everyone, only then did he again feel how deep the emptiness in his heart was, how enormously it had grown. No one could possibly save him. He had been an evil child from birth. Even in this desolate era with no relatives in sight, he would still harm friends in exchange for his current radiant glory. No matter where he went, Tang Lici would forever be heaven’s favored son, forever commanding submission, forever without fault, with fame, power, influence, money, enormous halos surpassing everything… That was what he wanted, and no one could change it.
To what degree can one hate a person? Liu Yan coldly watched everyone’s fists and feet. That was to suffer the torments of hell yet feel no pain whatsoever, because all his thoughts were used for hatred—hating his past stupidity, hating Tang Lici’s cruelty, hating heaven’s ruthlessness, hating why Tang Lici’s evil deeds didn’t matter while his own killing required such punishment. Why? Because Tang Lici was more hypocritical, more cruel, more cunning, more scheming than him? He truly wanted to surpass him in these aspects, but unfortunately he was never cut out for it. What did it matter to harm thousands upon thousands of dead people, if it could cause him worry and pain…
“Hey! I’m the one who took the clothes, why are you beating him?” An aged female voice came through. The villagers suddenly stopped and stepped back several paces. Liu Yan raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking at those brown embroidered shoes. The shoes were already quite old, yet the embroidered traces were new—clearly the shoes originally had no embroidery and were embroidered later, showing their owner loved beauty. But those were Yu Tuan’er’s shoes.
The villagers saw a gray shadow dart out from the woods. When they could see clearly, before them was a wrinkled old woman wearing a purple outer robe with a brown long skirt tied at her waist. Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted, “Damn it, those are my wife’s clothes!” Immediately there was an uproar. Everyone stared at this suddenly appearing old woman, inevitably speculating whether she and the mountain demon on the ground had conspired to steal grain and clothing. Hearing her speak up for the mountain demon, the two must be accomplices!
“This person hasn’t taken anything from your village. I took three sets of clothing, and when my mother was alive, she took wild peaches and wild apricots from your village.” Yu Tuan’er stood in front of Liu Yan. “He didn’t do it. If you want to beat someone, beat me instead.” Her waist was slender, her fingers delicate and smooth, snow-white like jade. Two villagers raised their wooden clubs to strike, but looking carefully at her body, they became increasingly horrified. “You… are you human or ghost? My God! This is a headless ghost! A female ghost carrying an old person’s head! Everyone run, we’re seeing ghosts in broad daylight!” Immediately the villagers let out a shout and scattered in all directions, fleeing without a trace.
Yu Tuan’er helped Liu Yan to his feet and sighed. Liu Yan coldly asked, “What business is it of yours if I get beaten?” Yu Tuan’er said, “The person who stole things was me in the first place, so of course they were wrong to beat you. But are you really such a bad person? Why didn’t you explain when people misunderstood you?” Her tone carried some reproach. Liu Yan suddenly laughed coldly: “You only want that life-saving medicine. If I died, you’d never know what that medicine is!” He turned his head away. Though his bloodied and mangled face showed no expression, it was certainly full of disdain. Yu Tuan’er furrowed her brow: “I’ve long forgotten about any medicine! When a person’s face is ruined like this, it’s very pitiful. Moreover, you’re also disabled. Even if you really were a thief, they shouldn’t have beaten you.” Liu Yan turned back, looking at her with a strange expression: “So you’ve already ‘forgotten’? Then why are you following me? Go back to your forest.” Yu Tuan’er shook her head: “You can’t walk, and that person abandoned you without care. Sitting here alone, isn’t that very pitiful? Besides, you’re so dirty and smelly. I’ll give you a bath and take you back to the forest, okay?” The more she spoke, the happier she became. “I’ll take you back to the forest. We’ll hide where no one can see us, and it won’t matter how ugly our faces are.” Liu Yan coldly said, “I’m a great villain who has killed countless people. Aren’t you afraid?” Yu Tuan’er stared at him: “You can’t even move. If you try to do bad things, I’ll hit you.” Having said this, she reached out to pick up Liu Yan and quickly headed toward the depths of the forest. After carrying him just a few steps, Liu Yan was much taller than her and quite inconvenient to carry, so Yu Tuan’er simply lifted him up. In a few bounds, passing through layers of forest, they suddenly arrived at a pond.
This was where a spring emerged. At the pond’s depths, bubbles constantly surfaced. The pond water was crystal clear, revealing the bottom where brown stones lay, smooth and unusual. Only in places far from the spring did water plants grow. Yu Tuan’er directly lifted Liu Yan and soaked him in the water. From the shore she picked a handful of white-flowered water plants, tore apart his clothes, and began scrubbing his body. Liu Yan initially resisted but finally just grunted and closed his eyes, paying no attention. After a while, Yu Tuan’er washed away the filth and bloodstains from Liu Yan’s body, revealing snow-white and delicate skin. Her hands gradually slowed, staring blankly at Liu Yan’s smooth shoulders and back. That pale, slightly grayish skin, those flawless shoulders and back, somehow possessed a dark and melancholy beauty. Though this person was clearly before her eyes, he seemed to be sunk in an abyss, in hell… “Were you… very handsome before?” she asked in a low voice.
Liu Yan said indifferently, “No.” Yu Tuan’er’s finger traced his brow line: “Are you lying to me because I’m ugly and you’re afraid I’ll be sad?” she asked softly. “You must have been very handsome before. It’s a pity I can’t see it.” Liu Yan grabbed her hand and said coldly, “So what if I was handsome before? Are you trying to seduce me?” Yu Tuan’er’s eyes widened: “I just think you were very handsome before, and now you’ve become like this, very pit…” Just as she was about to say “very pitiful,” Liu Yan’s wrist exerted force, pulling her over. A pair of bright, piercing eyes looked straight at her: “I’m pitiful, but at least I can live a long time. But you—you’re about to die.” The light in Yu Tuan’er’s eyes immediately dimmed, and she let out a long sigh. Liu Yan released her hand and said coldly, “Go find me some clothes.” Yu Tuan’er stood still, her eyes showing considerable anger, clearly very displeased with Liu Yan’s previous remark. Liu Yan lay back in the water. Though his legs couldn’t move, he swam backward with his arms, appearing quite free and easy. After a while, Yu Tuan’er said, “You really are a great villain.” Liu Yan coldly replied, “Are you going to kill me?” But Yu Tuan’er said, “A great villain who becomes this ugly and disabled must feel very sad inside. I don’t blame you anymore. Wait here while I find you clothes.” Having said this, she smiled slightly and turned to leave. Liu Yan suddenly stood up in the water, watching this strange girl’s retreating figure. Suddenly extremely annoyed, he picked up a stone from the water and threw it toward the shore. With a splash of water, he couldn’t even reach the shore.
After a while, Liu Yan soaking in the cold water gradually felt cold. When he tried to get ashore, he was barely clothed. If he continued staying in the water, he felt increasingly cold. Just then, a figure moved among the trees. Liu Yan held his breath and sank into the water. With his current appearance, it was inconvenient to be seen, and he had no power to protect himself. After sinking into the water, he slowly moved behind a large stone, half his head surfacing to quietly watch the forest.
A middle-aged man’s head first emerged from the forest, somewhat bald on top. He had been wearing a hat, but now it was askew. He crept low through the undergrowth, quite furtively looking around. Liu Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. This place was quite far from the village—what was this man doing in such a remote place? Watching a bit longer, the man suddenly straightened up. He had a bundle on his back and was holding something in his arms. He gently placed that thing on the ground, threw the bundle aside, and began removing his clothes. Liu Yan’s brow furrowed. This man—
“Waaah—” came a cry. The “thing” the middle-aged man had placed on the ground began wailing loudly. From the voice, it was a seven or eight-year-old little girl. The middle-aged man hurriedly stripped off his clothes, his face full of lewd smiles: “Don’t cry, precious. Uncle will play with you right away…” Having said this, he pounced down. The girl cried even harder, her voice extremely shrill.
“Splash”—a sound came from the water, as if something had stirred up from within. The middle-aged man made a sound of surprise and turned around, seeing behind him the pond had formed a huge whirlpool, as if something had swum very close but suddenly sunk down. He spat and still smiled lewdly: “There are actually big fish here. After we’re done playing, uncle will catch fish with you.” The girl screamed, “I don’t want to! I want to go home! I—mmph—” From the sound, someone had covered her mouth.
“In broad daylight, under the clear sky, before doing such things, you don’t even check the environment. Doing this sort of thing in desolate mountains and wild ridges where demons and spirits roam—truly without any sense of mood.” A cold, low voice slowly said, “Of the thousands of sins in this world, the lowest and most base is your kind of person.” The middle-aged man jumped up. In the crystal-clear pond water, a mass of black hair floated scattered like chrysanthemums. Someone slowly rose from the bottom of the water. When that head emerged from the surface, revealing pits and hollows, scarlet and shocking to the eye, seeming to have no nose or mouth, the man’s soul immediately fled in terror. With a terrible scream, he naked body crashed through the undergrowth and fled. He hadn’t come quickly, but his departure was swift beyond measure.
“Mama… I want mama…” The girl on the ground continued crying, sobbing breathlessly, very pitifully. Liu Yan in the water was silent for a moment, then said coldly, “What’s there to cry about? Put your clothes on yourself and hurry home.” The girl on the ground was startled by him, clumsily put on her clothes, and lay on the ground looking at him, but didn’t leave. Liu Yan in the water looked at the girl. She was about eight or nine years old, not tall, but her face was quite delicate—she would be a beauty. After the two stared at each other for a while, he asked, “Why aren’t you leaving?” The girl asked back, “Are you a monster?” Liu Yan blinked and said indifferently, “Yes.” The girl said, “This is my first time seeing a monster. You’re different from what grandma said.” Liu Yan didn’t answer, but the girl continued on her own: “You’re even uglier than what grandma said.” Liu Yan said indifferently, “Why don’t you hurry home? If you meet that bad man again later, I won’t be able to save you.” The girl stood up, picked up a small stone from the ground, and suddenly threw it at Liu Yan. With a “pat,” the small stone hit Liu Yan right on the forehead. She scared herself, then giggled and quickly ran toward the village.
Liu Yan soaking in the water had a faint cold smile on his lips. This was the so-called common people, the so-called masses. He slowly submerged himself completely in the pond until fully underwater. Originally his whole body was cold, but now he was even colder in body and heart. This world really had nothing worth saving. To be able to harm them all to death would be a delightful pleasure. People were ignorant, heartless, selfish, base, foolish…
A hand reached into the water and suddenly pulled his dripping wet form up. Yu Tuan’er’s brow was slightly furrowed: “What are you doing?” Liu Yan’s fingertip brushed across her wrist. Though he had no inner force, it still made her wrist numb, forcing her to let go. Liu Yan lay floating on the water surface, lightly drifting an arm’s length away: “Where are the clothes?” Yu Tuan’er pointed at the bundle on the ground: “Where did these things come from?” Liu Yan paid no attention, acting as if he hadn’t heard, still asking, “Where are the clothes?” Yu Tuan’er angrily said, “Where did these things come from?” Liu Yan waved both arms, floating even farther away. Yu Tuan’er’s temper was good though. After being angry for a while, she let it go. From her bosom she took out a bundle of black fabric: “Come here, come here, your clothes.” Liu Yan pressed against a stone to prop himself up. He had expected to see a strangely shaped piece of torn cloth, but to his surprise, what Yu Tuan’er presented with both hands was a black silk cloak. Though the silk was somewhat dim, it was still neat and clean. After looking at the cloak twice, he floated over from one side of the pond. Though his legs couldn’t move, he could maneuver himself onto the grass. His dripping wet shoulders donned that cloak, and the parts not yet wet fluttered in the wind, leaving his chest exposed. Yu Tuan’er didn’t seem to find it embarrassing to look at a barely clothed man: “This is my father’s clothing.”