The Blind Boy

"Dark, so dark, truly dark!"

Lin Yongming's world was an endless, murky darkness. He tried to open his eyes, but it felt as if the heavens themselves were pressing down on his eyelids.

He couldn't open the eyes that were meant to witness the light.

As a baby, Lin Yongming had hoped that one day he would be able to see the light.

By the age of three, he believed that his congenital blindness would be cured once he awakened his martial soul at the age of six. He had been eagerly awaiting that day.

Lin Yongming—his name, given by his father in this life, carried the hope that he would never give up on regaining his sight.

"Look, it's the blind boy!"

"Do you think if I push him, he'll know where I pushed him?"

"Of course not, he can't see."

A group of children from the same village taunted Lin Yongming as he walked with a cane. They mocked him but never actually pushed him.

Lin Yongming had grown accustomed to such ridicule over the past six years. After all, he had been an adult in his previous life and didn't bother to argue with children.

Besides, what they said was true.

"It's almost time. In a few days, the Spirit Hall will send someone to the village."

For the past six years, Lin Yongming had pinned all his hopes on the day of his martial soul awakening.

Born blind in this life, Lin Yongming couldn't see the world around him, but from the fragments of conversations he overheard, he realized he had been reborn in the Douluo Continent.

After watching an anime episode titled Revive, My Love!, he lost interest and stopped following the series.

Little did he know that one night, while gaming, he would stay up too late and die from exhaustion.

When he regained consciousness, he was a newborn baby.

His parents, who had him late in life, were already nearing fifty. Having another child was unlikely.

Despite being born blind, Lin Yongming received all the love his parents could give.

A year ago, they had saved up enough gold spirit coins to hire a healing spirit master to treat Lin Yongming's eyes.

Unsurprisingly, it didn't work.

When they wanted to keep trying, Lin Yongming stopped them.

The village where Lin Yongming lived was called Thunderstorm Village. It was a simple, rustic place.

From his parents and the villagers' conversations, Lin Yongming had heard the name "Suotuo City" several times.

This confirmed his location on the Douluo Continent.

While the children mocked him, the adults in the village felt nothing but pity for Lin Yongming.

"Ming'er!"

"Dad, what is it?" Lin Yongming's ears perked up. Having been blind since birth, his hearing had become far more acute than that of an average person.

Hearing his father's voice, Lin Yongming turned his face toward him.

"The village chief confirmed it. In three days, a spirit master from the Spirit Hall will come to our village. Even though you're blind, the chief hopes I'll take you to awaken your martial soul. This might be the last chance to cure your blindness," Lin Chong explained.

"I'll do as you say, Dad," Lin Yongming replied with a smile.

"Ming'er, what if it doesn't work? Will you be disappointed?" Lin Chong asked worriedly.

Lin Chong was torn. He and his wife were ordinary people with no innate spirit power. The chances of their child having spirit power were slim.

Lin Chong feared that if the martial soul awakening didn't cure Lin Yongming's blindness, his son might lose all hope.

After all, he had already been disappointed several times before.

"Dad, it's okay. Even if it doesn't work, I'll be fine. I can already navigate the village paths without seeing," Lin Yongming said cheerfully, understanding his father's concerns.

"My poor Ming'er, your life is so hard. You can't see the vibrant sunlight or our faces," Lin Yongming's mother, Yinglan, hugged him tightly, her voice choked with emotion.

"Mom, I'm fine. I'm used to it," Lin Yongming replied gently, trying to comfort her.

"Gods above, please lift the punishment from Ming'er. I will bear it in his place," Yinglan whispered a prayer into Lin Yongming's ear.

"Yinglan, don't be so sentimental. Everything will be fine. Let's eat," Lin Chong said as he joined them.

After dinner, as the sun set, Lin Yongming sat on the doorstep, quietly listening to the sounds of nature.

The rustling of the wind, the flowing of the stream, the buzzing of mosquitoes and flies—Lin Yongming could sense all of it.

As he grew older, his sensitivity to these vibrations increased. He could even sense the distance of a thrown rock by the vibrations it created.

Lin Yongming didn't know why he had this ability. He assumed it was a result of being blind from birth.

All he knew was that within a meter of himself, he could detect even the slightest movement.

"Ming'er, why are you still sitting on the doorstep? It's getting dark. What a pity you can't see the beautiful sunset over the mountains," Yinglan said as she returned home, her heart aching for her son.

"Mom, you're back," Lin Yongming said, standing up with his cane.

"Ming'er, let me get you some water to wash your feet before bed."

"Mom, I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you over the years."

"Silly child, what are you talking about? You're never trouble. Don't think like that."

Lin Yongming remained silent as he followed his mother into the house.

Three days passed quickly, and Lin Chong took Lin Yongming to the center of the village, where a thousand-year-old tree stood.

The villagers called it the Thunder Tree, as it was said to attract lightning during storms, protecting the village from fire.

"Hey, why is the blind kid here?"

"Does a blind kid need to awaken a martial soul?"

As soon as they arrived near the Thunder Tree, Lin Yongming's sharp ears caught the whispers of the children nearby.

Suddenly, someone approached. The frail footsteps told Lin Yongming it was the village chief, Lei Siruo.

"How are you today, child?" the sixty-year-old chief asked kindly.

"Chief Lei, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern," Lin Yongming replied with a smile, facing the chief.

"You're such a good boy. The esteemed spirit master will be here soon. I hope this martial soul awakening brings you good fortune," Lei Siruo said, patting Lin Yongming's head.

"Mm."

As they spoke, Lin Yongming's ears caught the sound of someone approaching rapidly, as if gliding through the air. The strong vibrations told him the spirit master had arrived.

"The spirit master is here. Let's go," Lei Siruo said, leading Lin Yongming and the others toward the spirit master.

"Esteemed spirit master, we trouble you again this year," Lei Siruo said respectfully.

"Are all the children who need awakening here?" the spirit master asked in a deep, steady voice.

Lin Yongming could tell it was a middle-aged man, likely a spirit master, as his voice carried more weight than his father's.

"Yes, there are ten children in our village who are of age this year."

"Children, gather around the spirit master. Grandson, go help Ming," the chief instructed, calling the children over and specifically asking his grandson, Lei Zhengming, to assist Lin Yongming.

Lei Zhengming, a few months older than Lin Yongming, was much broader in build, likely due to being more active.

"Okay, Grandpa," Lei Zhengming said, coming over to help Lin Yongming join the group.

"Good. Since everyone is here, I'll take them inside," the spirit master said, turning to open the door to a nearby building.

Lin Yongming knew this building was used exclusively for martial soul awakenings. It was usually kept locked.

With Lei Zhengming's help, Lin Yongming stepped over the threshold and into the building. The musty smell of dust filled his nostrils.

The children who had never been inside before looked around curiously.

After walking a few dozen steps, they reached the end of the room, and Lei Zhengming helped Lin Yongming stop.

Lei Zhengming stood protectively beside Lin Yongming, ensuring no one would bother him.

"Quiet, everyone. The martial soul awakening will begin now."

"I am your guide for the martial soul awakening. I come from the Wuer Town branch of the Spirit Hall, affiliated with Suotuo City."

"Next, I will release my martial soul, the Gray Snake. Don't be nervous or scared. Just follow my instructions," the spirit master explained, preparing the children.

"So, we are near Suotuo City, and the Spirit Hall is still sending people to villages. But I wonder what era this is—could it be the decline of the Spirit Hall?" Lin Yongming thought to himself.

Having watched the Douluo anime, Lin Yongming was familiar with Suotuo City, the starting point of the Shrek Seven Devils.

"Gray Snake, manifest!"

The spirit master's body suddenly radiated a powerful energy—spirit power. Lin Yongming could feel the intense vibrations around the spirit master.

As the Gray Snake merged with the spirit master, his once gentle eyes turned cold, causing the children to stir uneasily.

Lin Yongming felt Lei Zhengming shiver beside him.

However, since Lin Yongming couldn't see the changes, he remained calm.

"I told you not to be nervous. This is my martial soul, the Gray Snake. Soon, you will have your own martial souls."

"Let's start from the left. First one, come forward," the spirit master said, beginning the awakening process.

The first child on the left was Lin Yongming.

"Ming, you're first. That's good. You can't see, so you won't be scared," Lei Zhengming said to Lin Yongming.

"Mm," Lin Yongming replied, counting his steps as he walked ten paces to stand before the spirit master.

"A blind child? Good. I'll use this opportunity to show the others how it's done," the spirit master said, deciding to demonstrate the process carefully for the other children.