When Guozhao Zhiqiang woke up early in the morning, the first rays of dawn painting the room in soft light, he slowly opened his eyes. He saw Deming, his back to him, meticulously combing his red hair at the small table. He walked slowly behind Deming, his movements quiet, grabbed the comb gently from Deming's hand, and began to comb Deming's hair for him, a soft, tender smile gracing his lips as he did so.
Deming, startled by the touch, asked, "Why are you smiling?"
"I have always been wondering why my First and Third Masters always smiled when they combed my Shimu and Teacher Lee's hair," Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, his voice soft, filled with a newfound understanding. "Now I know why."
"Why don't you ask them?" Deming queried, his voice a little shy.
"I already know why," Guozhao Zhiqiang said, carefully tying Deming's hair into a neat ponytail. "Would you like to go to Cloud City with me, Deming? To our home?"
Deming turned around, his eyes wide, as Guozhao Zhiqiang knelt in front of him, his posture humble. He asked sadly, a profound vulnerability in his voice, "Why are you so good to me, Zhiqiang? What do you want in return? Everyone always wants something."
Guozhao Zhiqiang hugged Deming's waist, pulling him close, resting his head against Deming's lap. "I treat you well because I like you, Deming," he murmured, his voice sincere, filled with deep affection. "What I want in return is your companionship."
Deming was puzzled, the word unfamiliar to him. "What is companionship?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
Guozhao Zhiqiang put his face on Deming's lap, looking up at him, his eyes earnest. "A person who believes in me when others doubt me. A person who will accompany me and share my hardships and happiness with me. A person who supports me when I am down. A person who will love and care for me from the bottom of his heart, just as I will for him."
Deming looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, his heart aching with the weight of such a profound request. "You want me to be that person?"
Guozhao Zhiqiang raised his head, his gaze unwavering. "Yes, Deming." He slowly got up and gently, tenderly, kissed Deming's lips, a soft, lingering touch.
Deming, his mind still reeling from the past, said coldly, pulling away, "I can't replace Hu Dingxiang." He pushed Guozhao Zhiqiang away, a sharp, physical rejection.
Guozhao Zhiqiang looked deeply into Deming's eyes, his gaze unwavering, filled with a patient understanding. "I'm glad you are not him, Deming. I fell in love with the person who spent two nights and a day with me nine years ago. I fell in love with the person I promised to take back to Cloud City with me, to give a home to." He gently lifted Deming's chin with his fingers, a soft, reassuring gesture, and smiled sadly. "Is that person Hu Dingxiang? I know why you hate me, Deming, and I understand the reason for your anger."
Deming pushed Guozhao Zhiqiang's hand away, recoiling. "Let go!" He stood up and walked frantically towards the door, his body trembling. "I'm hungry," he muttered, using it as an excuse to escape the overwhelming intimacy. He walked out of the room, leaving Zhiqiang alone.
Deming walked out of the room and immediately saw Lim Junjie, who was waiting in the corridor, staring intently at him. Lim Junjie shouted, his voice playful but tinged with a possessive edge, "Hey, Hu Dingxiang! Why are you here and not with your Sector? Are you avoiding me?"
"I'm not him!" Deming said angrily, his voice sharp with frustration, the misidentification a fresh wound.
"You look so much like him, though," Lim Junjie insisted, a teasing smirk on his face.
"I do not!" Deming retorted, his fists clenched.
Yu Lei said from behind Lim Junjie, his voice dry, "Childe Lim, I'm very curious, why do you always follow our Senior Brother around like a lost puppy?"
"None of you will understand," Lim Junjie replied, a smug expression on his face. "We have a special bond, a unique connection."
"Last I checked, our Senior Brother has special feelings for all juniors," Yu Lei countered, a playful jab, "he cares for all of us."
Lim Junjie smirked at Yu Lei. "Yu Lei, I don't fall for that. I know what I know."
Xiao Mei came from behind, her voice firm, cutting through the banter. "Stop, everyone, let's go to eat. We will leave within an hour, so hurry up!"
When the group of hunters was about to leave the inn, Guozhao Zhiqiang walked out of Yang Bao's room, his gaze immediately finding Deming. Lim Junjie's eyes lit up, then frowned in mock indignation. "Oh... you and Hu Dingxiang slept across from your room, Zhiqiang! You abandoned me all alone in your room by myself. How heartless can you be?" He then snarled at Deming, a childish accusation, "You stole my spot!"
The junior hunters looked awkwardly at each other, then giggled, finding the situation amusing.
Tam Kun whispered to Tam Liang, a conspiratorial grin on his face, "Is it a love triangle, Ah Liang?"
Tam Liang giggled quietly, covering his mouth. "Yeah, Senior Brother has two wives, fighting for his affection!"
Guozhao Zhiqiang looked coldly at his juniors, his gaze sharp, and they immediately stopped giggling, their faces straightening. He turned to Deming, his voice gentle, "You said you were hungry, Deming? Let's go eat."
Yang Bao interjected, trying to defuse the tension, "Childe Lim, we are all angry with empty stomachs, aren't we? Maybe it will be better if we are full, eh? Let's eat first."
Lim Junjie muttered under his breath, glaring at Deming, "Hu Dingxiang... I won't lose to you. He's mine."
As soon as the group arrived at the dining hall, Weici, who was already seated, waved frantically to Deming. "Brother Deming, here!" she exclaimed happily, a beacon of warmth.
Suddenly, six men and four women, dressed in black and purple robes, came in from the main entrance of the inn. Their faces grim, they went straight to Deming, their movements purposeful.
Zhou Caihong, her face pale with anger, rushed over and grabbed Deming's arm, her grip tight. But Deming, recoiling from the unexpected touch, pulled his arm away sharply and approached Weici, seeking her protection.
Yi Guozhi, his face contorted with fury, walked up to Deming, pointed an accusing finger at him, and shouted, "Hu Dingxiang! What is the meaning of this?! Why are you here?!"
Guozhao Zhiqiang, his voice cold and commanding, stepped forward. "Leave him alone, Yi Guozhi."
"Zhiqiang, don't think you have the title of black hunter, that I am afraid of you!" Yi Guozhi challenged, his voice rising, fueled by indignation. "This is a matter between the Hu family and the Zhou family, an internal affair, and you hunters have nothing to do with this, so stay away!"
Guozhao Zhiqiang said coldly, his voice a low, dangerous growl, "I won't repeat myself, Yi Guozhi."
Lim Junjie, sensing the escalating tension, immediately stood beside Guozhao Zhiqiang, his expression hardening. "My friend, you came to the wrong place, Yi Guozhi. Your two sectors are at my grandfather's residence, not here. Don't you dare talk to my Zhiqiang like that? Remember you are in Waterfall City, and you are speaking to a Guozhao Hunter!"
Yi Guozhi sneered, his mouth twisting with contempt. "Lim Junjie, you half-breed. You still have guts to show your face around, do you?"
Everyone in the hunting world knows that Young Master Yi of Golden Gate Sector, Yi Guozhi, has a notoriously dirty mouth. His sharp tongue had caused him many troubles in the past, but the most ridiculous and widely gossiped one was the incident with the Guozhao Hunters in Waterfall City many years ago, when he insulted their masters, Shimu and teacher.
Yu Lei, his eyes blazing with fury at the insult to Junjie, glared at Yi Guozhi. "Yi Guozhi, do you dare to insult Junjie, a guest of the Lim family, a friend of our Senior Brother?! If I were you, I would not offend Lim Junjie, grandson of the powerful Wolf Clan, nephew of the great General Lim Peizhi, grandson of the Waterfall City Mayor, nephew of the Guzheng Sector, and… a brother of us, the Guozhao Hunters! Insulting him is like insulting all of us, Yi Guozhi!"
Guozhao Zhiqiang cut in, his voice sharp, "Enough. We have other things to do, Yu Lei." He turned to Zhou Caihong and Yi Guozhi, his voice cold and clear. "This is Deming. Hu Dingxiang is upstairs in one of the guest rooms, recovering."
"Caihong!" Hu Dingxiang's voice suddenly boomed from the top of the stairs, his face pale but his eyes alight. He came down quickly and took Zhou Caihong's hand, pulling her close.
"Are you okay, Dingxiang?" Zhou Caihong asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Yes, fortunately, the Guozhao hunters saved us," Hu Dingxiang replied, glancing at Zhiqiang, a subtle, manipulative gratitude in his tone.
Zhou Caihong nodded at Guozhao Zhiqiang, a polite acknowledgment. "Thank you, Guozhao Hunter."
Hu Dingxiang smiled at Zhou Caihong, his eyes softening. "Have you eaten, my dear?" he asked.
"Cousin sister was worried about you, Dingxiang," Yi Guozhi said, his voice still tinged with anger but now directed at the Guozhao Hunters.
"Let's eat first," Hu Dingxiang suggested, leading Zhou Caihong towards a table, eager to escape the tension.
Suddenly, a heavy, dark chain flew straight to Deming from the crack in the main entrance door, its metallic links clanking ominously. Guozhao Zhiqiang moved with lightning speed, his body a blur, and grabbed the chain, which wrapped tightly around his right hand. He pulled the chain, stepping backward with immense force, and a man in black, his face obscured by a hood, flew into the inn, pulled by the chain, carrying more chains and shackles in his other hand.
As soon as Deming saw the chains and shackles, the symbols of his endless torment, he froze, his body rigid with terror. He felt his heart beating faster and faster, a frantic drum against his ribs, as if it was about to jump out of his chest. He was sweating profusely, his face painted in pure, unadulterated fear.
Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at the black-clothed man coldly, his eyes blazing with a dangerous fury. "Who are you?" he asked angrily, his voice a low growl.
"Hunter, don't stand in my way," the man warned, his voice raspy, filled with a sinister threat. "Unless you want to regret it, profoundly."
Guozhao Zhiqiang said bitterly, his voice raw with possessiveness, "He is mine. You must pass me if you want him. You will have to kill me first."
Lim Junjie, his previous playful demeanor gone, immediately stood beside Guozhao Zhiqiang, his face grim. "To pass him, you must pass all of us," he declared, his voice firm, a challenge in his eyes.
Yu Lei smirked, his eyes hardening. "I'd rather watch you run away from us, demon, than try fighting us. You won't win."
Deming, overwhelmed by the sight of the chains and the man, collapsed onto his knees, tears streaming down his face. "I didn't see your face! I didn't see your face!" he begged, his voice a broken whisper, repeating the old plea, the one he'd used to survive. "Please let me go! Please let me go!" He began to collapse further, sitting down like a fetus, curling into a ball, burying his head on his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. "You promised to take me away," he cried, his voice muffled. "Come and take me away. I want to follow you back, please!"
Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Deming, who had fallen to the ground, a broken, terrified mess. He hated himself, a searing, self-inflicted pain, for leaving Deming alone in the dark for nine years, for not knowing, for not saving him sooner. His body was full of a cold, righteous anger. He himself had once been a boy locked in chains. When he was alone, there was no light or hope on the other side of the tunnel, only despair. He knew exactly what it felt like, that suffocating darkness. He realized now that he was Deming's little light and hope, and this was why Deming, in his confusion and trauma, hated him so much, for being a part of the nightmare, for not being the pure savior he desperately needed.
Guozhao Zhiqiang's eyes were red, blazing with a terrible fury, and his anger boiled throughout his entire body, a raw, uncontrollable force. He roared, a guttural sound of pure rage, "Ah…!" The chain in his hand, still wrapped around his fist, began to turn molten red, pulsating with intense heat, and the fiery chain quickly moved, like a living whip, in the direction of the black-clothed man.
The man, startled by the sudden surge of power, quickly let go of the hot chain, his hand searing.
Guozhao Zhiqiang clutched the iron chain, now a weapon of pure fire, and frantically attacked the man, his movements a blur of furious blows. The man, agile, jumped from one table to another, narrowly escaping Zhiqiang's relentless assault.
Guozhao Zhiqiang, blinded by rage, aimed at the man, but every time the man escaped Guozhao Zhiqiang's blows, Zhiqiang's fiery chain destroyed a table, shattering it into splinters, causing chaos in the dining hall.
Yang Bao rushed in from behind, his face grim, and shouted, "Senior Brother, stop! You are going to hurt innocent bystanders! You're losing control!"
The man, seeing his chance, jumped back to the injured Hu Dingxiang and, with a swift, brutal move, grabbed his neck, using him as a shield.
"Stand back, hunter, or I will kill him!" the man demanded, his voice triumphant, holding Hu Dingxiang hostage.
Even though Hu Dingxiang was taken hostage, Guozhao Zhiqiang, his eyes still blazing with a singular focus, still aimed his fiery chain at the man, willing to sacrifice Hu Dingxiang to protect Deming.
Zhou Caihong, seeing the danger to her fiancé, screamed, "Are you crazy, Guozhao Zhiqiang?!" She drew out her sword and, with a desperate cry, attacked Guozhao Zhiqiang. The three disciples of Snow Sector and the disciples of Golden Gate Sector also began to attack Guozhao Zhiqiang, trying to stop his rampage.
The man, seeing the chaos he had created, dragged Hu Dingxiang towards the door, then, with a final, contemptuous shove, pushed Hu Dingxiang back into the inn, abandoning him. The man rushed into the crowded street and, with a final, chilling laugh, disappeared into the throngs of people. Zhou Caihong rushed to help the dazed Hu Dingxiang get up. Guozhao Zhiqiang, still blinded by his rage, was still attacking the disciples of Snow Sector, and the disciples of Golden Gate Sector were also badly injured, caught in his uncontrolled fury.
Yang Bao, his face etched with desperation, said, "Xiao Mei, help me calm him down! Ah Lei... Junjie, help me grab Senior Brother's hands!"
The three hurried forward, risking their own safety, to stop Guozhao Zhiqiang's rampage. Lim Junjie and Yu Lei held Guozhao Zhiqiang's right hand, struggling against his immense strength, while Yang Bao held onto Guozhao Zhiqiang's left hand. When Xiao Mei was about to insert a gold needle into Guozhao Zhiqiang's neck, a precise strike to calm him, he screamed, a raw, animalistic sound, and released a powerful surge of spiritual energy, pushing the four people away by five feet, sending them sprawling.
Guozhao Zhiqiang, his eyes still red, stared at Deming, who was still curled on the floor, and walked towards him slowly, a terrifying, single-minded focus.
Xiao Mei, seeing the imminent danger to Deming, quickly hit Guozhao Zhiqiang precisely on the neck with her palm, a powerful, calming strike, and Guozhao Zhiqiang fell heavily to the ground, unconscious.
Lim Junjie quickly stepped forward to support Guozhao Zhiqiang before he fell completely, catching him.
Yi Guozhi sneered, his face contorted with anger and triumph. "Guozhao Hunters, you have some explaining to do! This is an outrage!"
Lee Nianzu, stepping forward, his voice calm and rational, said, "You see, Childe Yi, it's not all Senior Brother's fault. The man in black, the one with the chains, is the reason why our Senior Brother is out of control. He provoked him."
Yi Guozhi said indifferently, his mind made up, "This is an unforgivable behavior, regardless of the reason. We will wait for a reply at the mayor's residence. This will not stand." He helped Hu Dingxiang get up, supporting him. "We are leaving now."
Lee Nianzu said politely, his voice unwavering, "Childe Yi, have a good day. We will deal with this." He watched the people of Snow Sector and Golden Gate Sector leave the inn quickly, their anger palpable.
Weici, who had witnessed the entire terrifying scene, held Deming tightly in her arms, trying to comfort him. "Brother Deming. It's okay now. The bad guy is gone," she whispered, her voice soothing.
Deming sobbed, his body still trembling, his voice raw with terror. "I'm afraid. I don't want to go back to the dark dungeon, Weici, please!"
Weici sadly said, her voice filled with fierce determination, "I assure you, Brother Deming, as long as I'm alive, I won't let anyone put you in that dark dungeon again. Never."
Tam Liang walked into the room, his face etched with confusion, having missed the worst of the chaos. "What's the matter? What happened here?"
Yang Bao looked at Tam Liang and Yu Lei, his voice tired but firm. "You two help Senior Brother back to his room, gently." He walked to Deming and took Deming's hand, his touch reassuring. "Brother Deming, as long as you are with us, we will not let anyone take you anywhere. You are safe."
Xiao Mei, seeing Deming's continued distress, stuck a golden needle precisely behind Deming's neck, a calming pressure point, and Deming, his body finally relaxing, passed out into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Weici looked at Xiao Mei angrily, her eyes blazing. "What did you do to him?!"
"He is stressed and irritated, Weici, his mind is overwhelmed," Xiao Mei explained calmly. "So, let him take a good rest. It's for his own good."
Tam Liang commented, shaking his head, "I haven't seen Senior Brother out of control like that, ever. It was terrifying."
Lee Nianzu said, his gaze distant, "The man in black, the one with the chains, must be the enemy of Senior Brother. He triggered something deep within him." He looked at Yang Bao. "Second Senior Brother, I'm going to the mayor's residence to explain what happened."
Xiao Mei looked at Lee Nianzu. "I will accompany you, Nianzu. My testimony will be important."
Lim Junjie, who had been supporting the unconscious Zhiqiang, stood up, his face grim. "Me too. I'll go with you. I'm a witness."
Yang Bao looked at Lee Nianzu, a faint, reassuring smile on his face. "Don't worry, Uncle Lim, the Mayor, is a fair person. He will understand."