The verdant mountains stretched like painted eyebrows, and through the dense forest, a mountain village came into view, along with the curling smoke rising from its chimneys. Shen Langhun and Liu Yan had trekked through the vast woods for seven or eight days. Guided by Yu Tuan'er, they emerged unscathed, and Liu Yan's injuries had healed by half, no longer leaving him on the brink of death.
Stepping out of the forest, Shen Langhun glanced at the sky, where the first light of dawn was breaking. Though Liu Yan's condition had improved, he was still unable to move freely. Shen Langhun had dragged him along the way, leaving him covered in filth, swarmed by forest insects, a sight both pitiful and horrifying. With a cold glance at Liu Yan, Shen Langhun hoisted him up and swiftly carried him out of the woods, gently depositing him at the village entrance before flashing a sinister smile and vanishing.
Not long after, a villager emerged, driving cattle. After a few steps, he suddenly exclaimed, "What in the world is this?" Several yellow oxen passed by Liu Yan, mooing and promptly defecating beside him. Slowly, Liu Yan sat up. In the morning light, his face was a grotesque patchwork of scabs, still unhealed and glaringly crimson. Yet when he opened his eyes, they gleamed with vitality, his dark pupils shining brilliantly. The cattle driver shrieked, "You—what are you? Are... are you alive?" Liu Yan remained silent, his icy gaze fixed on the man, who staggered back, cautiously skirting around him before suddenly bolting back to the village, abandoning the oxen.
Moments later, a large crowd surged from the village, led by a broad-shouldered, big-mouthed man. "So this is the mountain demon you mentioned? The one that's been stealing chickens, ducks, and women's clothes? Must've been caught and beaten into this state today. Who here has been robbed by it?" The villagers roared in agreement. With a signal from their leader, seven or eight burly young men surrounded Liu Yan, kicking and punching him relentlessly, the thuds of their blows echoing incessantly.
The village was impoverished, its annual harvest meager, yet for years it had suffered from a thief who would vanish an entire family's yearly grain reserves overnight, leaving them in despair. Beyond stealing crops, the thief also took women's clothing and, on occasion, raided wealthier homes for jewelry—anything of value. Years ago, someone had glimpsed the thief in the night: a grotesque-faced mountain demon. Since then, the villagers had lived in dread, too afraid to openly complain about the thefts. Now, the cattle driver had spotted this "mountain demon" at the village entrance—what a rare opportunity!
Under the barrage of blows, Liu Yan felt his organs churn, blood surging as his wounds reopened and his broken leg screamed in agony. He endured in silence, eyes shut, until suddenly, a scene flashed before his eyes...That was a long, long time ago. When he was twelve, in the narrow alleys of a city filled with towering buildings, he first met ten-year-old Tang Lici. At that time... he was being stomped on the ground, surrounded by a group of seventeen- or eighteen-year-olds who were kicking and punching him. Because he had stolen someone's wallet for no reason, he was caught and beaten mercilessly. To this day, he still remembers clearly the excited and frenzied expression on the child being trampled underfoot. He didn’t feel pain... only that it was fun, thrilling, and even death wouldn’t matter... Perhaps it was that laughter that deeply piqued his curiosity. He rushed over to save him, only to end up beaten alongside Tang Lici, spat on a few times. After that, they became inseparable friends.
From birth until the age of twenty-four, he had always been a hopeless do-gooder. Even now, he couldn’t understand why, for over a decade, he had never once thought Tang Lici was sinister or eccentric. He was only curious about that excited laughter, troubled by those hollow eyes, and held onto a fear that Tang Lici would destroy himself—yet he still stayed by his side for so many years. He had always been like a caretaker, watching him act recklessly, cleaning up his messes, urging him to turn back, only to see him act out again... A vicious cycle, until the day Tang Lici reformed. After that, he could no longer fathom his thoughts. Looking at him was like staring at an exquisitely crafted, flawless counterfeit—one whose words and actions were so outstanding, so mesmerizing, but the absence of a savage, frenzied smile or bizarre behavior didn’t mean the counterfeit... could ever become the real thing.
It only meant he had matured, no longer displaying that hollowness outwardly. He refused to communicate with anyone, walked his own path, and could now do whatever he wanted.
He no longer needed to rely on anyone.
Tang Lici... had left the world behind at that point. It wasn’t until the day he decided to take everyone down with him that he once again felt just how deep and vast the hollowness in his heart had grown. No one could save him. He had been an evil child from the moment he was born. Even in this desolate era where he had no one left, he would still sacrifice friends to maintain the dazzling brilliance he now wore like a second skin. No matter where he went, Tang Lici would always be heaven’s favored son—forever awe-inspiring, forever flawless. Fame, power, influence, money, an aura that eclipsed all else... that was what he wanted, and nothing could change it.
How far could hatred go? Liu Yan watched coldly as fists and kicks rained down on him. It was like enduring the tortures of hell, yet he felt no pain at all, because every shred of his mind was consumed by hatred—hatred for his own past foolishness, hatred for Tang Lici’s cruelty, hatred for the cruelty of fate, hatred for why Tang Lici’s sins went unpunished while his own murders warranted such suffering? Why? Because Tang Lici was more hypocritical, more ruthless, more cunning, more scheming than him? He truly wished he could surpass him in these aspects, but alas, he simply wasn’t cut out for it. What did it matter if he killed thousands? If only it could make Tang Lici suffer..."Hey! I was the one who took the clothes, why are you beating him?" came a hoarse elderly woman's voice. The villagers suddenly stopped and stepped back a few paces. Liu Yan wiped the blood from his lips with his hand and looked at the pair of brown embroidered shoes before him. The shoes were very old, but the embroidery looked fresh—clearly added later, showing their owner's love for beauty. But those were Yu Tuan'er's shoes.
The villagers saw a gray shadow dart out from the woods. When they got a clear look, they found themselves facing a wrinkled old woman wearing a purple outer robe and a long brown skirt tied at the waist. Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, "Damn it, that's my wife's clothes!" Instantly, an uproar broke out. Everyone stared at this sudden appearance of an old woman, speculating whether she and the mountain demon on the ground had conspired to steal the grain and clothes. Hearing her speak up for the demon, they must be in cahoots!
"This man didn't take anything from your village. I took three sets of clothes, and when my mother was alive, she took wild peaches and apricots from your village," Yu Tuan'er said, shielding Liu Yan. "He didn't do it. If you want to hit someone, hit me." Her waist was slender, her fingers delicate and smooth, white as jade. Two villagers had raised their wooden sticks to strike, but upon taking a closer look at her, the more they stared, the more horrified they became. "You... what are you, human or ghost? Oh my god!" One of them threw down his stick. "It's the Headless Ghost! The female ghost carrying an old woman's head! Run, everyone! We're seeing ghosts in broad daylight!" With a collective scream, the villagers scattered in all directions, vanishing without a trace.Yu Tuan'er helped Liu Yan up and sighed. Liu Yan asked coldly, "What does it matter to you if I get beaten?" Yu Tuan'er replied, "I was the one who stole in the first place, so of course they were wrong to hit you. But are you really such a bad person? Why didn’t you explain when they misunderstood you?" Her tone carried a hint of reproach. Liu Yan suddenly let out a cold laugh. "You just want that life-saving medicine, don’t you? If I die, you’ll never know what it is!" He turned his head away, his face too battered to discern any expression, but his disdain was unmistakable. Yu Tuan'er frowned. "I’d long forgotten about that medicine! It’s pitiful for someone’s face to be ruined like this, and you’re already disabled. Even if you were a thief, they shouldn’t have beaten you." Liu Yan turned back, giving her a strange look. "So you’ve ‘forgotten’ already? Then why are you following me? Go back to your woods." Yu Tuan'er shook her head. "You can’t walk, and that person abandoned you. Isn’t it pitiful to sit here alone? Besides, you’re so dirty and smelly—let me give you a bath and take you back to the woods, okay?" She grew more cheerful as she spoke. "I’ll take you back to the woods, and we’ll hide where no one can see us. Then it won’t matter how ugly your face is." Liu Yan said coldly, "I’m a terrible person who’s killed countless people. Aren’t you afraid?" Yu Tuan'er gazed at him. "You can’t move anyway. If you try anything bad, I’ll hit you." With that, she lifted Liu Yan and dashed deep into the woods. After a few steps, she found it awkward to carry him—he was much taller than her—so she simply scooped him up in her arms. In a few leaps, they passed through layers of trees and arrived at a pond.
This was a spring-fed pond, its depths bubbling with rising air. The water was so clear the bottom was visible, covered in smooth brown stones, with only sparse waterweed growing away from the spring’s source. Without hesitation, Yu Tuan'er dipped Liu Yan into the water, plucked a handful of white-flowered waterweed from the bank, tore his clothes, and began scrubbing him. Liu Yan initially resisted but eventually let out a grunt and closed his eyes, ignoring her. After a while, Yu Tuan'er had washed away the grime and blood, revealing his fair, delicate skin. Her hands slowed as she stared blankly at Liu Yan’s smooth shoulders and back—his pale, slightly ashen skin, flawless yet carrying an inexplicable air of gloom and melancholy. Though he was right before her, he seemed to dwell in some abyss, some hell... "Were you... very good-looking before?" she asked softly.Liu Yan said indifferently, "No." Yu Tuan'er's fingers traced his brow line. "Are you lying because I'm ugly and you're afraid of hurting my feelings?" she asked softly. "You must have been very handsome before. It's a pity I can't see it." Liu Yan abruptly grabbed her hand and said coldly, "I was good-looking before. What about it? Trying to seduce me?" Yu Tuan'er widened her eyes. "I just thought you used to be handsome, and now that you've become like this, it's very..." She was about to say "very pitiful" again when Liu Yan tightened his grip and pulled her closer, his bright eyes staring straight at her. "I'm pitiful? At least I can live for a long time, while you—you're about to die." The light in Yu Tuan'er's eyes dimmed instantly as she let out a long sigh. Liu Yan flung her hand away and said icily, "Go find me some clothes." Yu Tuan'er stood still, her eyes flashing with anger, clearly displeased with Liu Yan's earlier remark. Liu Yan lay back in the water; though his legs were immobile, he pushed himself backward with a sweep of his arm, appearing quite at ease. After a while, Yu Tuan'er said, "You're truly a wicked man." Liu Yan replied coldly, "Are you going to kill me?" But Yu Tuan'er said, "A wicked man who's become so ugly and crippled must be very sad inside. I won't blame you. Wait here, I'll go find you clothes." With a faint smile, she turned and left. Liu Yan suddenly rose from the water, watching the strange girl's retreating figure, a surge of intense irritation welling up inside him. He picked up a stone from the water and hurled it toward the shore, but it fell short with a splash, unable to reach the bank.
After some time, Liu Yan, still soaking in the cold water, began to feel the chill. He wanted to get out, but without proper clothing, he had no choice but to stay submerged, growing colder by the minute. Just then, a figure moved among the trees. Liu Yan held his breath and sank deeper into the water, unwilling to be seen in his current state and lacking the strength to defend himself. Submerged, he slowly swam behind a large rock, letting only half his head peek above the surface as he quietly observed the woods.
A middle-aged man's head emerged from the trees first, his balding crown slightly visible beneath a crooked hat. He crouched low as he moved through the undergrowth, sneaking around suspiciously. Liu Yan narrowed his eyes. This place was quite far from the village—what was this man doing in such a remote spot? After watching for a moment, the man suddenly straightened up, revealing a bundle on his back and something cradled in his arms. He gently placed the object on the ground, tossed the bundle aside, and began undressing. Liu Yan frowned. What was this man—?
"Waaah—" The "object" the middle-aged man had set down burst into loud cries—the unmistakable wail of a young girl, no older than seven or eight. The man hastily stripped, a lecherous grin spreading across his face. "Don't cry, sweetheart. Uncle will play with you soon..." he said, lunging forward. The girl's screams grew even more piercing and desperate.
A loud splash echoed as something surged from the water. The man paused, turning around to see a massive whirlpool forming in the pond behind him, as though something had swum close before suddenly diving back down. He spat in annoyance but continued his lecherous advance.He laughed, "There are actually big fish here. After we're done playing, uncle will catch some with you." The girl screamed, "I don't want to! I want to go home! I—mmph—" From the sound, someone had covered her mouth.
"In broad daylight, under the clear heavens, to commit such acts without even checking your surroundings—doing this in desolate mountains where ghosts roam freely—how utterly devoid of romance." A cold, low voice spoke slowly. "Of all the sins in this world, the lowest and most despicable is your kind." The middle-aged man jumped to his feet. In the crystal-clear pond, a mass of black hair floated like chrysanthemum petals as someone slowly rose from the depths. When the head broke the surface, it revealed a pockmarked, scarlet face so horrifying it seemed to lack nose or mouth. The man's soul nearly left his body. With a shriek, he fled naked through the bushes—not having arrived quickly, but departing with remarkable speed.
"Mommy... I want mommy..." The girl on the ground continued crying, her sobs choked and pitiful. Liu Yan in the water remained silent for a moment before saying coldly, "What's there to cry about? Put your clothes on and go home." Startled by him, the girl scrambled into her clothes but remained kneeling on the ground, staring at him without leaving. Liu Yan observed her from the water—she looked about eight or nine years old, petite but with delicate features that promised future beauty. After a mutual staring contest, he asked, "Why aren't you leaving?" To which the girl countered, "Are you a monster?" Liu Yan blinked and answered indifferently, "Yes." The girl said, "This is my first time seeing a monster. You're different from how grandma described." When Liu Yan didn't respond, she added, "You're uglier than she said." Liu Yan replied flatly, "Aren't you going home? If that bad man comes back, even I can't save you." The girl stood up, picked up a small stone from the ground, and suddenly threw it at Liu Yan. With a smack, it struck his forehead. Startled by her own action, she then giggled and ran quickly toward the village.
Liu Yan remained submerged, a faint sneer playing on his lips. So this was what they called humanity, what they called mortal life. He slowly sank deeper into the pond until completely submerged. His body had been cold before—now his heart grew colder still. This world held nothing worth saving. To bring ruin upon every last one of them would be the only truly satisfying pleasure. Humans were ignorant, heartless, selfish, vile, foolish...A hand reached into the water and suddenly lifted him out, dripping wet. Yu Tuan'er frowned slightly, "What are you doing?" Liu Yan's fingertips brushed lightly over her wrist. Though he used no Internal Force, it still made her wrist go numb, forcing her to let go. Liu Yan lay floating on the water's surface, drifting effortlessly a short distance away. "Where are my clothes?" Yu Tuan'er pointed at a bundle on the ground, "Where did all this come from?" Liu Yan ignored her, acting as if he hadn't heard, and repeated, "Where are my clothes?" Yu Tuan'er snapped, "Where did these things come from?" Liu Yan waved his arms, drifting even farther away. But Yu Tuan'er had a good temper—after fuming for a moment, she let it go. She pulled out a bundle of black fabric from her robe. "Come here, come here. Your clothes." Liu Yan pressed his hands against a rock to push himself up. He had expected to see some strange, tattered cloth, but instead, Yu Tuan'er presented him with a black silk cloak. Though the silk had dulled with age, it was still neat and intact. After glancing at the cloak for a moment, he drifted back from the pond's edge. Though his legs were useless, he managed to shift himself onto the grass. The cloak draped over his wet shoulders, the dry parts fluttering in the wind, leaving his chest exposed. Yu Tuan'er didn't seem to find it awkward to look at a half-naked man. "This was my father's cloak."
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