Shackles of Humanity

When Luo Kai returned to Granny Hua’s small courtyard that evening, the rich aroma of meat assailed his nostrils, stirring his appetite. He unconsciously found himself drawn to the kitchen, where Lu Qing stood in an apron, pan-frying steak.

The slender, graceful figure before him stirred something deep within Luo Kai, dredging up a memory from the bottom of his heart—a memory of his wife from his past life. For some reason, all his other memories from that life were crystal clear; he could even vaguely recall the moment of his own birth. Yet, he could never remember his wife’s face.

The harder he tried to recall, the more her face eluded him, as if obscured by layer upon layer of Mist. It was a guilt and longing so sharp it felt like a knife twisting in his heart. He began to tremble violently as his qi and blood ran wild, and the Evil Energy in his chest surged in turmoil. The memory grew clearer, yet he was still just short of grasping it; her features remained a blur.

Time may erode all things, but some memories are etched into the very depths of the soul—a contest between human free will and the Cosmic Rules. It might have taken an eternity, or perhaps just an instant, but he finally pierced through the Mist and saw her pretty face clearly!

”Oh, you’re back,” Lu Qing said, not noticing anything unusual about him. ”The steak is almost ready. It’s hot in here, so go wait outside.”

Luo Kai stared at her blankly as his thoughts gradually calmed. He suddenly stepped forward, wrapped his arm around her waist, and buried his face in her fragrant hair, murmuring, ”Thank you.”

Lu Qing went completely stiff. She could feel that the man behind her was once again filled with an air of melancholy and sorrow. ’He must have quite a backstory,’ she thought, a wave of tenderness washing over her. She only snapped out of it when the smell of burning steak filled the air. Blushing furiously, she struggled in his arms. ”Wh-what are you doing?”

Luo Kai released her and casually grabbed a large piece of steak from a plate. He stuffed it into his mouth, unfazed by the heat, and mumbled through his chewing, ”Thanks for the steak. It’s delicious!”

Lu Qing chided, ”You haven’t even washed your hands! You’re a grown man; don’t you know anything about hygiene? Go wash up. You can eat after you’ve washed your hands!”

Luo Kai had a monstrous appetite. Lu Qing couldn’t pan-fry the steaks fast enough to keep up with his eating. In the end, she had no choice but to steam a large pot of rice, and only then could they finally sit down to eat together.

Exasperated, Lu Qing began to nag, ”You eat so much! Who could possibly afford to feed you? All you do is laze around all day. Why don’t you get a real job?”

Luo Kai gave her a cheeky grin. ”You can support me. You can be the breadwinner, and I’ll be the homemaker. You may not know this, but I’m an amazing cook. I guarantee I’ll feed you until you’re fair and plump!”

”You... you’re so shameless!” Furious, Lu Qing gave his side a hard pinch.

Granny Hua watched them from the side, a wide smile on her face. She knew in her heart that Luo Kai had now truly accepted the task she had entrusted to him.

Such pleasant moments are always shattered by something discordant. A shrill horn blared from outside. Luo Kai’s expression flickered as he set down his bowl and chopsticks.

A young man pushed open the unlatched courtyard gate. His expression changed the instant he saw Luo Kai. ”What are you doing here?” he spat, his voice laced with hatred.

Luo Kai retorted, ”And why shouldn’t I be here?”

Lu Qing first shot Luo Kai a smug glance. The meaning was obvious: ’This girl has plenty of suitors.’ Women can be petty, and she still remembered his earlier rejection. She then stood up and said, ”Young Master Su, what brings you here? Did you need me for something?”

The young man was none other than Su Wenlin. He took a deep breath and said, ”Miss Lu, my family is hosting a party tonight. It’s specially arranged to welcome our guests from the Sea Race, and I was hoping you would attend.”

He then turned respectfully to Granny Hua. ”Hello, Granny. My name is Su Wenlin. Your perfumes are very popular. I was wondering if you would be willing to join us at the party as well.”

Granny Hua gazed at him with her clouded eyes and shook her head. ”This old woman’s eyes are too dim for such things. I’ll pass.”

”What do the Sea Race look like?” Lu Qing asked curiously.

Su Wenlin’s amiable smile returned. ”Why don’t you come see for yourself, Miss Lu?”

Lu Qing glanced hesitantly at Luo Kai. To be honest, she really wanted to go. Beautiful women always enjoy being the center of attention at such gatherings, like the moon surrounded by stars.

Most men possess a degree of machismo, and Luo Kai was no exception. However, his mindset was different now. He wouldn’t interfere in another person’s life, understanding that everyone has their own philosophy. It was just like in romantic relationships where both partners try to steer the other toward what they believe is ’better,’ thinking it’s for their own good. In reality, this violates a person’s free will and is the primary source of conflict in life.

Luo Kai smiled. ”If you want to go, then go.”

Lu Qing’s eyes curved into joyous crescents, but she turned to Su Wenlin and said, ”Young Master Su, I don’t think I’ll go. We’re just ordinary friends; there’s no need for you to come all this way in person. If you need anything, just have someone send a message.”

Su Wenlin’s expression instantly turned frigid. Lu Qing’s meaning was unmistakable—a clear rejection. She hadn’t just turned down the party; she had turned him down. For the first time in his life, he had suffered a complete and utter defeat. He’d lost in a fight, his innate talent was no match, and now, he’d even lost the girl! The jealousy in his heart nearly shattered his reason. Forcibly suppressing his boiling killing intent, he turned and stormed away.

...

Granny Hua sighed. ”That man is going to be a huge problem. Ai, I’m afraid this old woman’s peaceful days are numbered.”

Luo Kai frowned, remaining silent. He knew full well what a problem this was. But a man couldn’t just act recklessly. Besides, his rival had a powerful family and an influential father. If Luo Kai killed him over something as petty as romantic jealousy, he would likely have to spend the rest of his life as a fugitive.

Lu Qing, still not grasping the severity of the situation, looked surprised. ”Granny, how is he a problem? Young Master Su seems pretty easygoing. He’s also very skilled in governance; during the recent disaster, he was the one who arranged for the refugees to be settled. Even though he and Luo Kai had a conflict, he didn’t use his status to bully him. I don’t think there will be any trouble.”

Luo Kai, ever broad-minded and not wanting Lu Qing to worry, smiled. ”That’s right, there won’t be any trouble. And even if there is, it’s nothing we can’t handle.”

...

Inside the car, Su Wenlin seethed. The surging killing intent made him unbearably agitated, his eyes turning bloodshot. The fissure on his forehead seemed to pulse faintly. He suddenly spoke to the old butler at the wheel. ”Uncle Zhang, how is the investigation going on those individuals Father had you look into?”

”Young Master, we haven’t been able to find out much about that Big Beard Body Master. It seems he has always been a vagrant in Longyang City and has never revealed his specific level of Cultivation. As for the other odd fellow, we learned from some other vagrants that his name is Luo Kai. He shares the same name as the fourth disciple of Vice Principal Liu Hou from Pan Shi Sports School, and it’s very likely he’s the same person. In addition...”

The old butler could tell something was off about the young master’s mood today, and he hesitated.

”In addition to what?” Su Wenlin pressed.

The old butler continued, ”This Luo Kai also saved your granduncle’s daughter some time ago. And after that, he saved the Young Miss. In a manner of speaking, our family owes him a great debt of gratitude.”

Su Wenlin sneered, ”Heh. Quite the hero, isn’t he? Specializing in rescuing women. Has he ever bothered to save a man?”

”Young Master, this man has been in Longyang City for less than a year, so he definitely wasn’t trained by Liu Hou. What’s more, he disappeared for several months at one point. His background is a complete mystery.”

Su Wenlin nodded and fell silent. After a long pause, just as they were approaching his family’s estate, he asked, ”Uncle Zhang, can you get in touch with the Hunter Guild’s dark net?”

The old butler sounded puzzled. ”Young Master, we have our own men. If you need something done, you can just give the order. Why involve the Hunter Guild?”

”I want someone killed, and Father cannot know about it. Uncle Zhang, you find a way to contact them. Price is no object, but I need a true expert.”

The old butler nodded. ”Understood. However, for a job like this, we must first prepare a complete dossier on the target. A Bounty Hunter will only take the contract after we post the reward amount.”

Su Wenlin’s voice was ice-cold. ”The target is Luo Kai. I don’t care how much it costs—I want him dead. Uncle Zhang, arrange it privately as soon as possible. And make absolutely sure my father and my little sister never find out.”

The old butler hesitated for a moment before nodding.