The days of exile began, merciless like a demon's grip. Hu Yulun, like a lone wolf abandoned by the world, completely lost and disoriented, wandered aimlessly across the vast, seemingly endless Eria Continent.
He lived a miserable existence, living off the land and fearing for his life each day. During the day, he endured the scorching sun hanging high in the sky, a heat that was almost suffocating. He moved forward step by painstaking step. The burning sunlight felt like fiery swords, relentlessly searing his skin, causing it to quickly redden and burn as if it might ignite. Sweat poured out like a torrential waterfall, instantly soaking his clothes. He gasped for breath, his lips cracked, but he dared not slacken, even though his feet felt as heavy as lead, almost impossible to lift.
Nightfall arrived, and he could only huddle like a wounded beast in a cold, damp cave that reeked of decay, or in a dark, ominous forest filled with unknown dangers. In the cave, he frowned, his eyes filled with fear and caution. The damp air made it difficult to breathe. Occasionally, unknown small animals would suddenly dart past, making subtle rustling sounds that were amplified in the silence, tightening his already taut nerves.
In the forest, whenever the howling wind of the night swept through like a vengeful ghost, causing the branches to shake violently and rustle, the sound felt like nature's mournful requiem to him. He hugged his shivering body, his teeth chattering incessantly.
His clothes were already tattered beyond recognition. His originally exquisite and dazzling boots were now riddled with gaping holes. His hair was as messy as weeds, dirty and hanging on his shoulders. His face was covered in a thick layer of dust, and the deep weariness seemed etched into his very bones.
However, even so, the hatred in his heart burned like an eternal flame. The anger grew stronger and stronger. "Those despicable Conspirators, I will make them pay in blood!" He often vowed in his heart, his eyes blazing, his fists clenched. The questions in his mind were like a thick fog, always lingering, never dissipating. "Who is manipulating all of this? I must find out the truth!" That unwavering belief was like a never-extinguishing lamp, supporting him as he continued to stumble forward on this incredibly difficult path of exile.
In this long, seemingly endless, and cursed journey of exile, Hu Yulun was like being in a bottomless abyss of suffering, enduring countless tortures and setbacks.
Sometimes, as he was dragging his weary body forward, he would unexpectedly encounter weather so foul it was terrifying. The wind roared like a berserk beast, its claws reaching out to the sky. The downpour was like the collapse of a heavenly river, and countless raindrops fell like dense arrows, furiously slamming into the earth. The wind and rain intertwined, creating a chaotic world that was despairing and suffocating, leaving him as insignificant as an ant, with nowhere to hide.
He could only desperately cling to a large tree swaying precariously in the raging wind, his body trembling violently with fear. The muscles in his face were contorted, etched with pain and helplessness, as he muttered to himself, "This damn weather, is it going to swallow me whole?" The wind and rain mercilessly lashed at him, instantly shredding his clothes and leaving his skin red and swollen.
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At times, he would be cautiously traversing a desolate path when a chilling growl would suddenly pierce the air. Lifting his head abruptly, he'd see a ferocious beast baring its fangs, which gleamed with icy coldness, its eyes filled with a cruel killing intent. Hu Yulun's heart would race, and fear would course through him like electricity. But he'd quickly steel himself, his gaze hardening with determination.
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He would grip the pitifully simple weapon in his hand tightly, the veins on his arm bulging. Gritting his teeth, he'd declare, "Come on, beast! It's either you or me today!" Then, he'd fight the deadly threat with everything he had, each swing of his weapon using all his strength, each dodge teetering on the edge of life and death, all for a sliver of hope. Every battle was thrilling, and a single misstep could mean becoming a meal for the beast.
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However, these relentless, seemingly endless difficulties didn't break him. Instead, they were like heavy hammers, forged and tempered a thousand times, relentlessly hammering and honing his will, making it as hard as steel, unbreakable. They were also like carefully crafted lessons, full of trials, improving his skills, making them more and more proficient and skillful.
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As time flowed by like a gentle stream, Hu Yulun gradually adapted to this arduous life, a life unimaginable and unbearable to most. He learned how to find food and water, relying on his astonishingly sharp intuition and meticulous observation. His focused gaze seemed to penetrate every secret of the earth, never missing the slightest clue.
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He learned how to use readily available materials to build simple shelters that could block the wind and rain, his hands skillfully manipulating branches and thatch with nimble and precise movements. He also learned how to calmly and coolly deal with all kinds of sudden, unpredictable dangers, always having a plan in mind, never flinching in the face of crisis.
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His previously thin and frail body became stronger, his muscles firm as iron, each one sculpted with lines of power. His spirit also became more resilient, like a diamond tempered in a raging fire, brilliant and strong.
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And in this long and arduous process, he never stopped thinking for a moment. He would often sit alone in a corner so quiet it was unsettling, his gaze deep and distant, as if he could pierce through the barriers of time and space.
He constantly reflected on his past, the glories and mistakes of his life replaying in his mind like a movie. Sometimes he shook his head in regret, other times he smiled slightly in contentment. He also looked forward to the unknown future, his heart filled with complex emotions of both confusion and determination. He murmured to himself, "The road ahead is long, and I must keep going, to find my own light."
Finally, after enduring a seemingly endless period of wandering, Hu Yulun's weary feet, covered in blisters and scars, stumbled into a place completely unfamiliar to him.
The scenery here was like a dreamlike painting, with green mountains and clear water complementing each other, and a profusion of flowers dotting the landscape. The peaceful and harmonious atmosphere was like a light, soft veil, gently enveloping the entire world, as if it were a secluded paradise, isolated from the world.
Here, he encountered a group of kind-hearted people. Their smiles were as warm and radiant as the spring sunshine, and their eyes were filled with sincerity and friendliness. When they saw the haggard Hu Yulun, they all gathered around him.
"Child, you must have suffered a lot!" a kind old man said with concern, gently patting his shoulder.
"Come, have some water first, and then you can tell us slowly," a gentle woman offered, handing him a bowl of clear water.
They unreservedly offered him all the help they could and unwavering support. Those warm hands, those words of concern, allowed Hu Yulun's heart, which had long been occupied by coldness and despair, to feel a warmth it hadn't felt in a long time, like parched earth welcoming the rain.
Tears glistened in Hu Yulun's eyes, and his voice trembled with excitement. His lips quivered as he repeatedly said, "Thank you, thank you…" His inner gratitude was like a torrential river, flowing endlessly.
At the same time, he deeply realized that even in this endless predicament, the world still held many beautiful things worth pursuing wholeheartedly.
So, he slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, as if to draw all this beauty deep into his lungs. Then, he opened his eyes, his gaze becoming firm and resolute, and made an important decision: to let go of the heavy hatred of the past, a burden as heavy as shackles, and re-examine his own life, a life full of twists and turns.
He began to eagerly learn new knowledge and skills. Every morning, accompanied by the first ray of sunlight, he couldn't wait to pick up his books, read them with full concentration, and occasionally record something in his notebook. Every night, he buried himself in his studies under the weak candlelight, his brows sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed, as if engaged in a deep conversation with the wisdom within the books.
He hoped to find his own true path through his own efforts, the path that led to light and hope.
In the days to come, Hu Yulun would steadfastly continue to explore this unknown world, to pursue the long-awaited peace and liberation within his heart.
No matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay in wait ahead, no matter how many storms awaited him in the future, he would forge ahead without hesitation.
He looked resolute, clenched his fists, and silently shouted in his heart: "Because I know that only through unremitting effort and tenacious struggle can I realize my seemingly unattainable, yet incredibly brilliant dream. I can definitely do it!"
In this long, lonely, and desolate process of exile filled with despair, Hu Yulun often heard snippets of information about the Mysterious Organization at some unexpected moment while he was exhausted from traveling. These vague and intermittent rumors were like whispers in the wind, elusive and difficult to grasp. Sometimes they clearly reached his ears, and other times they vanished instantly into the vast wind, making them difficult to catch.
He immediately perked up his ears, his eyes filled with tension and concentration, fully focused on catching every word, fearing he would miss any key information. He sometimes frowned, sometimes narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to piece together a rough outline from those fragmented and unclear pieces of information. The more he heard, the tighter his brow furrowed, and the more alert he became, as if piling up bricks, growing heavier and heavier.
This Mysterious Organization was like a phantom lurking in the endless darkness, in the bottomless abyss, silently infiltrating the seemingly solemn and magnificent, but actually treacherous, courts of various kingdoms.
Their existence was like an absurd and unbelievable legend, making people shake their heads and smile when they heard it. Yet, it was real enough that one could not ignore even the slightest clue, unable to ignore the ever-present threat that made one's spine tingle.
Their members were like shadows hidden in the night, their identities shrouded in layers of thick mist, their actions so mysterious that it was difficult to comprehend, even with all one's efforts.
No one knew where they came from, whether from a distant, unimaginable land, or from the deep mountains and forests hidden in the high mountains and rugged terrain. Nor could anyone guess what their purpose was, whether it was for supreme power, or for mountains of wealth, or for a more terrifying, more profound, and hair-raising conspiracy.
Hu Yulun often sat alone on a cold stone in the dead of night, his hands clasped around his knees, his gaze deep and worried. He repeatedly pondered these matters in his heart, his anxiety weighing him down like a heavy cloud: "What secrets does this Mysterious Organization hide? No, I must find a way to figure it out, even if the road ahead is dangerous, I will never back down!"
However, as time slowly passed, Hu Yulun gradually realized through constant exploration and observation that this Mysterious Organization seemed to possess an unimaginable and chillingly vast influence.
They were like cunning foxes, employing intricate, dazzling, and vicious methods. These methods were like an invisible yet airtight, omnipresent network, silently and effectively manipulating the already complex political situation.
They were like the most insidious and cunning puppet masters hidden in the shadows, skillfully manipulating and sowing discord between various kingdoms. Their malicious words, like venom, seeped into the gaps between countries, maliciously provoking one bloody, cruel, and inhumane war after another.
And this war, which was deliberately instigated and carefully planned by them, grew larger and larger like an out-of-control snowball, the scope spreading like a raging plague.
Hu Yulun stood on high ground, watching the war-torn, smoke-filled land below, his brows tightly knitted into a "川" shape, his eyes burning with furious flames, his teeth clenching with a "grinding" sound.
"These demons, I absolutely cannot stand idly by and let them continue to do evil!" He roared angrily in his heart, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
He deeply realized that if he could not quickly expose the ugly face of this Mysterious Organization and reveal their plots to the world, the entire Eria Continent would inevitably be plunged into endless war, without peace, and the people would live in dire straits.
So, he looked at them with a piercing gaze, resolute and firm, clenching his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from excessive force, and silently vowed: "Even if the road ahead is a sea of fire, a bottomless abyss, I, Hu Yulun, will never retreat, I will go forward without hesitation."
After saying this, he took a deep breath, turned around resolutely, and, with steady steps, embarked on the difficult journey of seeking the truth, a journey filled with the unknown and many dangers.
In that era of stormy weather and unrest, an earth-shattering, heart-wrenching conspiracy was unfolding like a silently spreading, deadly plague, secretly and unrestrainedly in an unknown, dark corner.
A mysterious, enigmatic organization, like an invisible hand filled with evil magic, insidiously and cunningly manipulated the turbulent situation of the entire continent from behind the scenes, silently but powerfully.
They first spread vicious rumors in the seemingly magnificent, but actually treacherous, court of a certain kingdom like ghosts. Those rumors were like deadly poison, spreading rapidly throughout the court at an alarming speed.
"Your Majesty, you cannot trust those ministers!" "Your Lordship, the king is going to be against you!" Their words were like the hiss of a venomous snake, insidious and malicious.
This quickly caused the fragile trust between the monarch and the ministers to collapse instantly, the seeds of suspicion growing wildly like weeds, causing the internal affairs of this country to quickly fall into a chaotic and desperate quagmire.
Then, they extended their evil claws to another kingdom, unscrupulously inciting dissatisfaction among the people. They were eloquent and exaggerated, magnifying a small conflict infinitely, creating a chaotic and terrible situation.
And when the flames of war finally erupted mercilessly, and the entire continent was shrouded in blood and smoke, this Mysterious Organization was like a group of greedy vultures, laughing wantonly in the ruins of war, reaping the rewards, making a fortune from the war.
They controlled the supply of materials, wantonly raising prices, making the people miserable. "This amount of food, this price, take it or leave it!" Their arrogant faces were sickening.
They also profited from the inhumane sale of weapons, causing the flames of war to burn even more fiercely, thereby obtaining a large amount of ill-gotten gains.
However, all of this, which was unforgivable, was only the tip of the iceberg of their vast and evil plan. What was even more horrifying and chilling was that they seemed to have an even larger, more terrifying, earth-shattering conspiracy.
Hu Yulun, during countless sleepless nights filled with tossing and turning, would furrow his brow and clench his fists as a powerful premonition, like a raging storm, surged within him.
"Father, was your death truly just an accident? Was it really Father's fault for failing the nation? No, it can't be that simple! There's definitely a hidden secret here." He muttered to himself, his brow furrowed deeper. The more he thought about it, the more he felt his Father's death might be inextricably linked to the Mysterious Organization, as if caught in a vast net, unable to escape.
This thought was like a tenacious seed, taking root deep within him, quickly sprouting and growing into a towering tree that supported his momentous decision.
Therefore, with a gaze like a blazing torch and his teeth clenched, Hu Yulun resolutely decided to embark on the arduous and unknown Path of Exile, to pursue the answers hidden in the depths of darkness.
"I must expose the ugly face of this Mysterious Organization and find out their hidden motives. I will spare no cost!" He vowed silently, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.
Along the way, he faced countless unimaginable hardships. There were the ravages of wind and rain; he trudged forward through the downpour, soaked to the bone but never stopping. There were the relentless pursuers and attackers; he dodged and weaved, fighting with all his might. There was the torment of hunger and cold; he gritted his teeth and endured in silence.
But his eyes never showed a hint of retreat; he never abandoned the belief in his heart.
Because he knew deep down that if he didn't do this, he would forever be kept in the dark, forever unable to know the cruel truth, and forever unable to avenge his Father.
Hu Yulun trudged along the Path of Exile, his steps heavy as he passed through a Small Village that seemed to have been cruelly abandoned by the world. The scene before him was like a desolate painting, laid bare for all to see.
The houses in the village were mostly dilapidated, crumbling thatched huts. Hu Yulun went forward and gently touched the walls, the rough texture causing him to furrow his brow. The mottled marks on the walls were like deep wrinkles carved by the relentless knife of time, whispering tales of endless hardship and suffering. The thatched roofs trembled in the wind, threatening to collapse at any moment, as if they would be swept away by the gale and vanish into the vast expanse.
The narrow, winding roads of the village were like a long scar etched with suffering. Hu Yulun walked carefully, the potholes underfoot making him unsteady. The uneven ground, with its large and small depressions, resembled a series of desperate mouths, silently crying out, witnessing the painful struggles of countless people through difficult times.
At the entrance to the village was an ancient well that once nourished the entire community. Now, Hu Yulun approached the well and peered inside. The water had become murky and foul-smelling. He covered his mouth and nose, stepping back. The surrounding land was cracked like a broken heart, the fissures crisscrossing like unhealing wounds, silently displaying the long drought and extreme water shortage.
Hu Yulun gazed upon all this, his brows furrowed, his face grim, his heart filled with heaviness and sorrow.
"How much more beauty will this war destroy?" he murmured, his eyes filled with helplessness towards the world and a yearning for peace.
Hu Yulun inadvertently noticed an Old Man sitting alone and desolate at the entrance of the village. His cloudy eyes revealed an endless fatigue and the vicissitudes of life that seemed to swallow a person whole, as if he had experienced countless storms capable of destroying everything.
The Old Man's face was crisscrossed with deep wrinkles like abysses, the ravines carved by the cruel knife of time and suffering, leaving indelible marks. His clothes were tattered, with patches everywhere, layer upon layer. His body was as frail as a withered branch, as if a strong gust of wind could easily knock him to the ground.
Hu Yulun's eyes were as resolute as brilliant stars, and he strode forward without hesitation. His back was straight, like a proud pine tree standing on a cliff's edge. He was focused and sincere, his face filled with respect for the Old Man. He bowed slightly, his attitude respectful and humble, and said softly, "Old Man, may I speak with you?" He then began a conversation with the weathered Old Man.
The Old Man's face was etched with the harsh strokes of time, each deep wrinkle seemingly screaming tales of endless hardship. His wrinkled face wore a heavy, suffocating expression as he slowly opened his cracked, dry lips. In a voice that was raspy, low, and rumbling like thunder, he said, "Child, this ghostly and terrifying Mysterious Organization has been secretly active on this vast, boundless Continent for quite a long time."
Their influence was intricate and interwoven, like an invisible but ubiquitous net, silently enveloping many regions. Behind the turmoil and conflicts of many kingdoms, their shadowy manipulation was faintly present. The shadow was like thick ink, permeating every corner, difficult to detect yet impossible to escape.
The Old Man squinted his eyes, which were so cloudy that it was difficult to see clearly, and his gaze became distant and profound, as if he had instantly fallen into a distant memory that was difficult to reach. After a long moment, he continued, "Child, I'll tell you. I once witnessed, in an unremarkable moment, some mysterious strangers who came and went without a trace. During the suffocating period before the outbreak of war, these people frequently entered and exited the court. They walked stiffly and hastily, their eyes darting and filled with vigilance, and their every move exuded a chilling mystery. Moreover, it was clear from their expressions and actions that they seemed to have an unknown secret connection with some high-ranking dignitaries in the court. The dignitaries' gazes towards them held a hidden understanding and implication, as if they were engaging in an unspeakable conspiracy."
Hu Yulun listened intently, his eyes unblinking, even his breathing becoming cautious. Every word of the Old Man was like a heavy hammer, pounding forcefully on his heart. Each sentence was like a deafening thunderclap, stirring up a thousand surging waves in his heart. His fists clenched involuntarily, his knuckles turning pale from the force, and he thought to himself, "I must uncover this dark truth, even if it means facing a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, even if it means sacrificing my life, I will never retreat!"
After listening to the Old Man's narration, Hu Yulun's eyes widened instantly, and his gaze became even more firm, like a torch burning with a raging fire, bright and hot, as if it could completely burn away the endless darkness before him.
He clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling slightly, his chest heaving violently, and he became even more determined in his long-held belief. That belief was like a foundation buried deep underground, unyielding even after weathering the erosion of countless years. It was even more solid and unshakable at this moment.
He gritted his teeth, the veins on his forehead bulging, and secretly vowed, "No matter how painful and heartbreaking the price I must pay in the future, no matter how terrifying and difficult the challenges that await me, even if I have to walk alone through a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, even if I have to make an enemy of the entire dark world, I must expose the ugly face of this Mysterious Organization. This is not only to avenge my Father who was brutally persecuted and died with a grievance, but also to restore the peace and tranquility of this Continent, which has been through so much and is riddled with holes. To ensure that the people living on this land will no longer suffer the endless pain caused by war, no longer be displaced and alone, no longer live in fear and despair every day and night. I, Hu Yulun, will do what I say, even if I am shattered to pieces and my soul is scattered!"
At this moment, his face was filled with resolve, as if he was prepared to face any challenge.