Chapter Five: Amputation
Fang Yu stared intently at the statue before him, a peculiar sensation surging within his heart. It seemed to be more than a mere sculpture; it exuded an indescribable sense of reality.
Filled with curiosity and uncertainty, Fang Yu cautiously stepped closer to the statue.
Just as he reached out to touch it, a sudden, overwhelming wave of foul energy burst forth from the statue, suffocating and unstoppable.
This vile aura surged like a roaring flood, instantly engulfing Fang Yu. His eyes widened in terror as he hastily retreated several steps.
At that moment, Fang Yu noticed an old man sitting cross-legged on the ground. The man’s hands were clasped before his chest, and with each breath he took, a faint energy slowly emanated from him.
Fang Yu couldn’t help but marvel—who was this mysterious elder?
The old man opened his eyes, his gaze piercing as he fixed it upon Fang Yu. In a deep voice, he warned, "Do not disturb this statue! It is constructed from countless human bones, infused with the rage of many souls.
Although these resentments are currently sealed within this abandoned temple, any carelessness could break the bounds and allow the malevolent energy to invade one’s body. Once ensnared by this hatred, one risks losing all cultivated energy, and at worst, becoming cruel and savage in nature."
Fang Yu’s heart jolted with fear upon hearing this, deeply regretting his earlier recklessness.
He looked gratefully at the old man and humbly inquired, “Thank you for your guidance, elder. May I ask—is there any way to dispel the hatred sealed within this statue?”
The old man shook his head slightly and sighed, “To eradicate such profound malice is no simple matter. Only by discovering the proper method can this curse be broken…”
Snapping back to himself, Fang Yu asked, “Thank you, elder. But who are you? And how did you come to be in such a place?”
The old man chuckled softly, “My identity matters little. What matters more is why you come to such a place—I haven’t seen a living person here in a long time.”
Fang Yu, filled with urgency, asked, “Elder, might we stay here for the night? The hour is late, and it would be unwise to continue traveling now.”
Upon hearing this, the old man laughed heartily, “Of course. It’s been so long since I had company.” With that, he slowly descended from the upper ledge...
---
Suddenly, he spotted a young boy lying at the corner.
The old man frowned and asked in puzzlement, “What happened to this boy? Is he dead?”
Fang Yu quickly shook his head and explained, “No, no. We have been relentlessly pursued by sword-wielding elders from the Righteous Sect, fleeing for our lives. As for the current state of the Cloud Realm, we know nothing.”
Hearing this, the old man responded with indignation, “I despise those so-called righteous sects most of all. To pursue power, they resort to all manner of despicable means. ‘Righteous’ or not is merely their own self-serving definition!”
“Let me help him…”
“All right!” Fang Yu swiftly helped the boy to sit up and folded his hands on his knees.
At that moment, the old man clasped his hands and began to twirl them. A faint, dim light soon appeared, penetrating the boy’s body. The boy was soon enveloped in a dense, dark aura, with currents of energy swirling around him.
After some time, the boy shivered slightly and awakened, suddenly coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Fang Yu, overjoyed, shouted, “Yufan! Yufan!”
Yufan looked around in confusion, then asked Fang Yu, “Senior sister, where are we? Why does it feel so desolate and cold here?”
Fang Yu hurried to comfort him, “Rest for now. I’ll explain everything to you soon...”
Suddenly, Fang Yu’s anger ignited like wildfire. His eyes blazed with fury and hatred as he shouted, “I will have my revenge! This blood feud—no matter if it costs me my life—I will never let it rest!”
The old man quickly intervened, “Young man, calm yourself. Don’t get so worked up.
You don’t want to pass out from anger. I sensed your pulse with my divine awareness just now—it’s abnormal. Although you have reached the mid-level of the White Qi stage, your current strength cannot suppress this irregular energy within you. So even if you seek revenge, it will be in vain, and you may not even keep your own life safe!”
The boy’s face slowly drained of color. His eyes, vacant and lifeless, stared ahead blankly, his expression numb and dull, shadowed by profound despair...
The old man’s tone grew serious, “You’d better lie down for now. Your internal energy is still unsettled.”
---
His voice was low and steady.
At that moment, it felt as if a sharp blade had pierced his heart; the pain was deeper than ever before, as if the very air around him simmered with raging hatred that made his heart tremble again and again.
The boy was no longer the same as before—he had matured overnight.
That deep night, he lay on the ground, his gaze hollow as he stared up at the broken temple roof, overwhelmed by helplessness. At that moment, everything around him turned into endless darkness.
His heart felt crushed by merciless hands, squeezed so tightly that he could barely breathe.
After a brief pause, his body suddenly shuddered uncontrollably.
His eyes reddened, tears welled up and trembled on the edge of falling. Finally, unable to bear the pain and sorrow any longer, he covered his face with his hands and cried out bitterly. His sobs were like a broken string on a lute—mournful and desolate—stirring deep emotion in anyone who heard.
The senior sister gazed quietly at her junior brother, her eyes revealing an indescribable emotion.
Her eyes grew moist, tears streaming uncontrollably down her pale cheeks like glistening pearls sliding down.
Those tears fell endlessly, dropping on the ground with a clear, crisp sound.
Each drop carried the weight of her profound sorrow and grief, moving all who witnessed it.
Startled by her sudden tears, the junior brother looked at her anxiously, trying to find the cause and comfort her. But faced with her silent weeping, a wave of helplessness washed over him.