Bai Luo Anger

"Ghee-Gee… Ahh…"

"Woo... Garr..."

As Xin Long watched the hungry dogs begging for scraps from the bone-filled plate, his focus shifted to the corpse lying on the table before him. As always, he had chopped up fresh bodies to feed the dogs, yet seeing the lifeless corpse before him now left him feeling nothing but disappointment.

The heart from the body in front of him was useless for resisting the mind-controlling drug, as it was a heart from a freshly dissected corpse. He knew that only hearts taken from living beings could counter the drug's effects. This fact was something his father had taught him.

But now, the trials had ceased, and obtaining those things had become far more difficult.

The sound echoed, and it was as though his life had become no different from that of a dead man, devoid of awareness. He could not live his entire life in such a state. Didn't he still have things to do? Right now, if the one who had given him that sound ordered him to take his own life, he would do so without question, without any awareness.

Moreover, even if he were granted permission to leave for the outside world, it wouldn't be for work. At best, he would only be allowed to follow as a mere attendant.

As Xin Long contemplated his next move, his gaze settled on the lifeless body before him. Without hesitation, he swung the butcher's cleaver and severed its left hand.

Thud.

That sound—one he had heard countless times since arriving here. He had once thought of it as a satisfying noise. But now, as it echoed in his ears, a wave of revulsion washed over him.

He tossed the severed hand into the kennel, watching as the dogs lunged at it in a frenzy. In a quiet murmur, he muttered,

"Greedy dogs… The others in the sect might be able to live their whole lives under control, feeding on scraps like you, but I can't…"

With that, he rested the cleaver against the chest of the dead body in front of him and drew it downward.

He couldn't refuse. If he hesitated, if they so much as suspected him, it would be over. To avoid suspicion, he had no choice but to eat the useless heart.

As he braced himself, the words of his father echoed in his mind—words spoken long ago.

"Doubt is a terrifying thing, my son. Once someone starts doubting you, you'll always feel the shadow of their gaze at your back. So if you ever have a job to do, do it cleanly. Never let them look at you with suspicion."

Back then, he had been too young to fully grasp the weight of those words. But now, he understood.

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he repeated his father's words under his breath. With that, he reached into the deep wound carved by his cleaver, his hand seeking out the heart of the dead body.

…

"Fuck…"

Once again, Bai Luo unconsciously clenched his teeth. The overwhelming luck that Xin Long seemed to possess, combined with his undeniable victory, made Bai Luo seethe with frustration. A mix of envy and resentment swirled together, igniting a storm of anger within him—so much so that he involuntarily ground his teeth.

Was it all just a coincidence? He couldn't say for sure. While Xin Long was undergoing his trial, Bai Luo had been kept under strict surveillance, locked away in a secured space. When he finally returned, the first thing he saw was Wei Wei. At that time, Bai Luo had been convinced that Xin Long was as good as dead—so certain that he'd even let a smile slip.

But his smirk hadn't lasted longer than the time it took to chew a single betel nut.

Xin Long had returned—carrying a corpse over his shoulder. Bai Luo had seen him emerge, victorious, his entire body smeared with blood. The unmistakable expression of a champion was written all over his face. Bai Luo could do nothing but glare at him from afar, his eyes burning with rage.

He already knew what reward the Sect leader, Murong Jing, would grant the victor. Everyone in the sect knew.

Wei Wei would undoubtedly be sent to Xin Long. And when that moment came, Bai Luo's heart would be ripped apart once again.

That thought alone was enough to make him grit his teeth in frustration. With a heavy sigh, he slumped into the chair beside him, stretching out his arms and legs as if trying to shake off the weight of his emotions.

…

The seductress, Wei Wei, stood at the doorway of the building, peering out. Her heart pounded as she watched Xin Long hack apart a corpse and toss the pieces to the dogs.

The northern wind brushed against her skin, carrying with it the quiet rustling of birds settling into their nests for the night. She could hear them. She could feel them. And with that awareness, the unease in her chest only grew stronger.

As she continued watching Xin Long, a memory surfaced—the night she had spent with him. A night she could never forget. A night filled with warmth and tenderness. The usually reserved and sharp-tongued Xin Long had spoken to her in a way she had never heard before, his words tinged with a softness that had stirred something deep within her.

That night, she had fallen for him.

Lost in thought, Wei Wei suddenly noticed the faint smile forming on her own lips. Realizing it, she blushed slightly, then smiled again—this time more consciously. Looking at Xin Long, she found herself waiting for the Sect leader's summons with an excitement she had never felt before. The seductress, Wei Wei, stood at the doorway of the building, peering out. Her heart pounded as she watched Xin Long hack apart a corpse and toss the pieces to the dogs.

End – 5