Sonny walks deep into the woods, where he is forced to carry a basket of fresh herbs so the disciples can eat them to strengthen themselves.
Sonny learned to ignore the harsh words from people around him, being an orphan child. A child with no abilities. No family. Peasant. And all sorts of names that used to strike his heart with pain and agony.
Sonny stomped through the forest with his sore feet and his achy feet, but he was used to it; everywhere in his body hurt. If he didn't feel pain, he wouldn't notice.
He knelt on the ground, the bracelet on his wrist jingling like a soft warning in the darkness.
He would do everything his master commands, no matter how insane it is, or he would be punished. He dug deep into the soil and grabbed the nourishing seed famous in the cultivation world.
The seed that allows you to grow and heal your body from any injuries and attacks. And when he wipes his forehead, dirt leaves a trace.
A ruffling sound echoes through the forest before he can hear cruel laughter entering his ears, "Peasant! We come looking for you!"
Sonny's stoic eyes dimmed with lifelessness, and a heavy look appeared on his face that shouldn't be on a youth.
Sonny looked in the direction that was calling with voices, and he looked around the trees to help him hide himself, or he'll be in a world of torment.
Sonny crawled to his knees and hid under the trees that had a long tunnel that led to somewhere—a large blue lake that spread from one forest to another end.
Sonny gasped in surprise, his lifeless eyes blinked with curiosity.
Sonny gathered himself to his feet and felt relieved to know he escaped the pursuit behind him, who had tried to bully him before. Sonny walked further into the forest, deeply entranced by the beauty of nature.
Sonny shook his head and realized he needed to get out of here or his master would punish him for being late. His heart pounds in fear, and his feet speed up, nearly running.
He had forgotten about the basket deep in the forests
Sonny stopped running.
He ran in the other direction, and he looked both ways with cautious eyes, praying he wouldn't be caught.
Or he would be in a world of pain.
Then his eyes lifted to a large basket lying in the field of grass surrounded by trees and flowers.
A childlike smile appeared on his face when he found it and ran to grab it in his hands like he had found his missing friend, then a sharp pain flashed through his back.
He was thrown across the field, and his back fell to the ground, and the robe was torn away like fingers tearing it away.
Sonny lifted his head and saw the other boy who walked to him with a fierce smile and cruel eyes. "Oh, Sonny. I've been looking for you and you've been here all this time!"
Sonny remained silent. His silence was his only strength and the only thing he had left.
He glared sharply at the boy, whose name was Xie Rui. The same boy who knocked his soup over his clothes when he was eight years old.
Sonny got up to his feet and watched carefully as Xie Rui walked closer with confidence, but he wasn't alone. "Sonny, my friend. Why do you look wary? I'm here to accompany you. Aren't we friends?"
Sonny felt surrounded by a group of vultures that like to prey on younger people. His father's words flash in his mind when he was a young boy—never show weakness before your enemies.
But how can he defeat him when he's weak and useless?
Sonny touches his red bracelet on his hand, and an intense urge swirls through him to take it off and defend himself after all these years.
Xie Rui glanced at him with contempt in his gaze, "What's that? A apathetic bracelet."
The group of youths surrounding Xie Rui laughed loudly, and their voices nearly sent Sonny over the edge.
Until a sharp scream made Sonny flinch.
Sonny watched with astonished eyes as one of the youth's hands was sliced off when a long, gleaming blade sliced through his hand.
Blood fell to the ground.
Screams…
Cries…
Shouts…
Sonny felt his heart race with dread, and he looked in all the directions from where the blade came from, but he didn't see any figure. He clenched his hand.
Then a soothing, deep voice spoke in Sonny's head, "Don't reveal yourself or you'll be hunted down like an animal for the rest of your life."
Sonny's heart pounds. "W…Who are you?"
The youths stared at Sonny like a monster, and all of them ran away like scattered cowards, not looking back, while Sonny stood still.
His eyes were observing the forest.
Then a man dressed in a long black robe from head to toe. He wore a half mask on his left side, and his long black hair cascaded down his shoulders like a waterfall.
Sonny felt gripped by fear and awe; the man's aura was sharp and intimidating, even more so than the elders at the righteous sect.
Sonny had an urge to flee, but deep inside, he knew it was useless.
He made sure his face was filled with respect. He doesn't want to offend this man who saved his life, nor one who can kill him with plain ease.
"Thank you."
The man with the half-side face stared intensely at Sonny and faintly nodded, his long cloak over his head. "No need."
Sonny listened to the man speak in a plain tone, "I can sense your high demonic cultivation is about to break. Why are you hiding in the righteous sect where you don't belong?"
Sonny bowed his head. He knew he didn't belong, but where does he belong?
He couldn't answer the question, "I don't have a home, nor do I belong anywhere."
The man stared at the youth. "Do you want to come with me? But I can't guarantee your safety, for I am a dangerous man."
Sonny can sense that he was telling the truth. Some part of him wants to leave all this behind. However, a man with silver hair gleaming in the moonlight made him hesitant.
The man with the half-mask tilted his head. "I can sense your hesitation, so I won't bring you with me, for I require two things. Loyalty and determination."
Sonny lifted his head, his eyes flashing with a faint red light. "Can you teach me to fight?"