White Devil

With the dusk receding like the calm waves, dawn rolled up the blanket of the night with one thread at a time. It was a beautiful, slow sunrise. With the eastern horizon at his back, Yang Lin's vivid shadow laid motionless over his mother's grave. However, his absent mind was attentive to the fox in the peculiar space he was yet to realize its purpose.

It was a silent exchange of glances.

A conceited immortal, or was it?

And,

A confused young man.

"So-called 'Immortal, huh?" Yang Lin broke the silence, his gaze emotionless, unwavering, void of anticipations or expectations.

"What makes you an immortal? Do you never die, for example? Can you bring back the dead to life, for instance?" Not beating around the bush, Yang Lin asked. Not begging, nor was he hopeless, he was just inquiring.

"..." The fox was silent for a brief moment before it said.

"An immortal is one to live unrestricted by the Laws of Mortals. Life and Death are nothing but two of these laws, what's so difficult about giving life to the dead?" The fox replied, to which Yang Lin silently nodded before turning his back.

"Don't you want to know how you could achieve that, mortal?" The fox asked as if a frown graced its face. Following that, Yang Lin stopped in his tracks, briefly glanced back at the fox or rather into its azure eyes.

He didn't know if the fox expected a temptation-driven reaction or was inherently stupid, anyone could piece the information together. Cultivation, strength, laws, and immortality. If he needed an extensive elaboration after so many hints, Yang Lin might as well give up exploring the world as of right now.

He didn't say much, but the fox understood the subtle meaning behind Yang Lin's gaze. Nevertheless, it somehow bothered him. Thus, it dismissed Yang Lin decisively before the latter could utter any disrespect, not like he was going to.

…

In reality, Yang Lin stood between his mother's grave and their abandoned poor excuse of a house. Ugly and shabby as it is, this wooden hut carried a heavyweight in the young man's heart, and so he buried his mother there, it was home.

After a moment of silence, Yang Lin let out a subtle sigh, the gentle light in his eyes soon consumed by indifference, all signs of sympathy dissolved as he turned his tracks towards the village.

Today, they will all meet their death by his hands. They better accompany his mother and ask for her forgiveness, this was his decree; their redemption.

At the entrance to the village stood two figures. An enchanting woman, her face veiled, but her body caused one's imagination to run wild. By her side stood her daughter, a complicated feeling occupying her eyes.

"Do you still like him, Xuan'er?" The woman asked, she and her daughter observed as the young man they watched grow, approached calmly with a smile.

He looked so innocent, only that his blood-stained stature ruined the notion. The closer he got, the heavier Xuan'er felt. He did save her life and her mother, just as promised. However, he was determined to slaughter the young and old alike, was this really justice?

"You have no business here." Said the Madam. Surprisingly, Yang Lin stopped a couple of paces away, tilting his head with a faint smile.

"Pardon?" He asked, struggling to maintain his killing intent and anger subdued. Facing this white devil, the Madam wasn't scared in the least. If anything, she felt pity, it was obvious in her beautiful eyes as she said.

"The village is now but an abandoned site. I urged everyone to evacuate at midnight while you were tending to Lady Yang." The Madam said, fully aware she was gambling with her life.

"Oh… Is that so…" muttered Yang Lin. Then, he chuckled lightly, his chuckle quickly growing into a fit of loud laughter.

"Hahaha! Wonderful!" He laughed, praised, and turned around from the village as he did so. Since they've fled, he wouldn't bother searching for them.

Of course, he would never dare hurt Xuan'er and her mother, they were like family to him. The Madam heaved a sigh, though her heart was in turmoil. By her side, Xuan'er looked at the fading back with a pair of reddened eyes, she wanted to yell her love, but she was well aware that her feelings didn't develop to such an extent yet, she can't accept him fully for who he is.

"I like you!" She shouted at the top of her lungs, her crisp voice reaching Yang Lin.

Just like last night, he kept walking, ignoring her. However, there was a warm smile on his lips. He purposely revealed his intentions to the Madam, he knew she would make the right choice. Now, his destination was clear, the Orphanage.

"I'm coming for you," he spoke softly, gazing across the horizon. "Though I have a feeling you have long left, and I hate this feeling…"