Chapter Text
He should have practiced harder, and done better when he had the time. He wouldn’t learn when could have and now when he wanted to learn there was no one to teach him. Time was fleeting, and had taken opportunities that he could never get back. Excerpt from“Faraway Wanderers, Novel 1”
“You! Where is he?” The man pointed to himself, confused. The child who spoke narrowed his eyes. “Who else? Where is he?” He barked out. The man trembled, sweat beaded his wrinkled face.
“I- I don’t know, my lord.” He said stuttering. The child was no older than 9 but with pale skin, baby fat, and big doe eyes he looked younger. The child was adorable, well cared for, and looked pampered. The man, however, didn’t think the child was cute, instead, he cowered at the sight of the child.
“Well then, someone should be punished shouldn’t they?” His voice was childish and sounded akin to a child throwing a tantrum, but his eyes held a special type of coldness. The words were taken by everyone in the villa as an order. The man’s body trembled, as the guards, approached him.
Everyone in the outer plain knew how about the guards. It was said that, after being beaten black and blue, the leader of a vicious gang swore loyalty to him, with the rest of the gang. But that wasn’t the version the man had heard. As people spread the information, even with the core of the story remaining unchanged, the truth became distorted.
The story he’d heard painted the guards as demons from hell, and the leader as the king of hell. But even with the terrible portrayal of the Amity Villa, he joined regardless. To his surprise, the ruler from hell was a child. The discovery had eased his worries.
The only way the child could lead the gang was because of a powerful backing, or strength. But he knew for sure that no matter the reason, the child was inexperienced.
His plan was simple: poison the ruler. He would join the Villa then work his way up and gain access to the leader’s bedroom, where he’d replace the incense stick with a pleasant-smelling poison. The incense stick would burn out and its ashes would be unsalvageable. But on that day, he got a bad feeling. If he’d learned anything in this business, he knew he should always trust his gut. So he’d sent another person. Unfortunately, he'd gotten caught. Luckily, the guy he’d sent, had never seen his face, and could only reveal that he had an employer.
“Please my, lord! I will find him! Please give me a chance!” He begged, dropping to the ground with a dull thud. This was all the other’s fault, if he just completed the task, he wouldn’t have been here. The man thought bitterly as he begged desperately.
The boy held up a hand and the guards stopped their advance. The man let out a breath of relief. “Thank you! Thank you! I will find him for his majesty!” He wouldn’t. He would leave this place immediately. The child smiled, got off the throne-like chair walking towards the man.
Footsteps echoed through the room. The child approached the bowing man.”Come closer.” The man hesitated for a moment as he moved closer. The child leaned forward until he was close to the man’s ears.
“Why go find him, when he is right here?” He whispered softly, and the man froze. His expression scrunching up, eyes widening comically.
The child took a step back and smiled. The man began trembling and genuine fear filled his expression. “Please! I’m sorry! Forgive me!” He started to beg, groveling on the floor. The child didn’t move his expression was unchanged.
The child walked away. The man noticing him leaving, rushed forward, in a last-ditch attempt to do something, but guards surrounded him. Their iron grip held him in place, as he trashed in place, all out sobbing.“Take him to the cliff.” The child said dismissingly, the guards bowed their heads and dragged the crying man out of the room.
There was a reason the child, had taken over the largest districts of Ghost Valley. It wasn’t because he was favored or loved. It was because he’d taken the seat of power, with brutal, cunning force. The child’s name wasn’t known, but his nickname instilled fear into the people of Ghost Valley.
His cruelty, cunningness, and raw power gave him an appropriate nickname: Hundun.
….
[Mission: Join Ghost Valley’s palace.]
How much longer before they show up? It’s been two months.
System 456:[The plot will continue but the host’s actions can change the timeline.]
So, you don’t know.
System 456:(╥_╥)
Wen Kexing: (¬_¬")
Wen Kexing sighed, turning back to his game. The game, WWH was bought using points by the system and worked well. He’d brought it a few weeks after he took after the Sliver Death pavilion. The group immediately surrendered and pledged alliance to him after he beat their boss.
He’d honestly been expecting more resistance and was ready to fight, but no one dared. He’d forgotten that in Ghost Valley, loyalties lied with the strongest and once the big boss was down, the sheep obediently flocked to him. The turn of events shocked him and he was less excited.
Of course, the occasional assassin would try their luck, but he had a System that could detect any type of poison, concoction, and presence. It was the best cheat skill, no one could ambush or poison him without the system knowing. The result of the failed assassinations was growing respect and fear.
System 456:[Host there is a presence, within 100 meters.]
Wen Kexing perked up. Finally, he could get the plot going!
Hurriedly, he got up and called in the attendants.“Is everything ready for Poor Me*? ”
The attendant nodded. Wen Kexing grinned,” Good. Let’s do it.” The attendant rushed away, without a sound.
System, pull out the body.
A dead body appeared on the bed. It was a male with a rugged face and luxurious clothing. Wen Kexing quickly changed his clothes into the blood-spattered ones the System had provided.
They were finally here. All his planning could finally be put into action.
…
The doors to the Palace swung open, and the guards marched inside. They walked straight into the throne room. Ghosts surrounded either side of the hall, nine out of the Ten Devils, were lined at the head of the room, and a few feet above them was the Chief. He sat on a red-dyed stone seat. His face was covered by shadows and his expression was unclear.
“Long live the Chief!” The ghost yelled, bowing. The Chief nodded after a second and the Ghost soldiers rose.
“Where is the Snake Skin Ghost? Didn’t I tell you to bring him?” The Chief questioned the soldiers, calmly. The soldiers looked at each other and the leader of the squad waved his hand. The soldiers parted as 4 ghosts walked through to the front. They were carrying a woven stretcher. They gently placed it on the ground and stood to the side.
The anxiety throughout the palace heightened as the Chief remained silent. The ghost soldiers shuffled but did not dare to move. Five of the Ten Devils were watching the Chief's reaction. Happy Ghost, famed for his eerie smile and insane laugh, has his palm on his mouth, concealing his laughing. His wide, wary eyes darted between the Chief and the ghost soldiers.
The Chief proceeded down the stairs, his footsteps echoing down the corridor. The ghosts were filled with both anticipation and horror. If the Chief was upset, there was no telling what would happen to them; if they were lucky, they could kill themselves before the Chief arrived.
The Chief approached the ghost soldier who had spoken. As he approached, his dark green robes rustled. The ghosts in the front row moved back. However, the man came to a halt in front of Snake Skin's dead body.
The Chief's features were now clearly evident in the light. His face was normal, but his contorted expression gave him a menacing appearance. The ghosts around him shivered at his presence. Killing intent washed through them in waves.
"Who was it that killed him?" His voice echoed throughout the room as he inquired. The ghosts shuffled to the side and parted to let someone pass. The ghost came to a halt a few steps away from the Chief, near the group's leader. He dumped a sack on the floor and walked away silently, never letting out a breath.
The sack landed with a bang on the stone floor. After a few seconds of silence, the bag ruffled and began to wiggle. The sack made a muffled sound. The Chief arched his brow. He walked over to the sack and cut it with a sword he produced out of nowhere.
The wiggling seized and tiny hands, pushed themselves out of the sack, furiously tearing the sack opening. A child's head poked its way out of the sack, panting for breath. The child's messy hair obscured the majority of their face, but their robes were stained with dried blood.
The child glanced around, at the crowd of ghosts and started to back away. The Chief stepped forward and seized the child. He lifted the child up holding it by their neck.
The child withered pitifully in his hold. It’s short legs kicked and trashed as it tried to peel off the Chief's fingers from its fragile throat. No one dared help the child. Some bowed their heads, anticipating the worst.
Then the Chief laughed. His laugh echoed through the hall, it was loud, boisterous, and menacing. “This child, ” the word was coated with disgust and sounded more like a derogatory term. “Killed Snake Skin Ghost?”
The silence was enough of a confirmation. No one dared to answer him. They bowed their heads, eyes firm on the floor. The chief shook the child who looked more disoriented from the shaking.
“This weak child killed one of my ten devils?” He snarled. The ghosts flinched but stayed in place. One of the ghost soldiers hesitated and spoke up.
“He drugged him and killed him in sleep,” the ghost said. The Chief's eyes snapped towards the person. The soldier bowed low, sweating from the Chief’s gaze. “My lord.” He finished, not looking up.
The man’s neck was snapped and he fell to the ground. No one moved. The child however froze, eyes locked onto the dead body. The Chief examined the child with a critical eye.
“You,” his rugged, scarred face split into a grin. “I know you.” he said.
The child’s eyes left the body and went back to the chief’s. His eyes were clear and unafraid. He shook his head.
The chief’s eyes filled with amusement. “Yes, you're that brat that tried to kill me.” The child’s eyes grew wide and he started to struggle more than before.
The chief laughed and held the child up by its nape like an unruly kitten. The child froze and went limp like he was pretending to be dead.
The other ghosts watched the child with unease, clearly expecting the chief to snap the kid’s neck. The chief examined the kid.
“From now on this kid is my ward.” he declared after a few seconds. There was no noise for a few minutes, the child twitched and came to life, looking at the chief if surprise.
The chief grinned at him. “Treat the kid well.” he said as he tossed the kid to a nearby attendant. The ghost caught him and held him gently but firm enoughly he couldn't escape. The ghost attendant took him away.
The chief grinned at the assembled ghosts and left. “Dismissed.” he disappeared behind the attendants. The ghosts cleared the room, dazed and confused. None of them dared to even talk. But one question lingered in their mind.
…
“What the fuck is wrong with the Chief?” Wen Kexing cursed in his mind, as he sat in a wooden tub being cleaned. The ghost attendants were quick and cleaned him with a clinical practice.
Does he have brain damage or something?
System 456: […]
Wen Kexing kept ranting in his mind. His Ward? Who wants to be his ward! I wanted to be his apprentice! Not be adopted by the psycho! How much of the plot did that psycho change!
System 456:[…]
Wen Kexing: ໒( ⇀ ‸ ↼ )७
System 456: (个_个)
Well at least the mission had changed. He’d earned 300 B points and the next plot mission was on cool down, for 16 years. Until then he had subquests to complete.
The attendants pulled him out the tub, patted him dry and dressed him. Then they put him on the luxurious bed and left.
Wen Kexing dropped onto the bed with a sigh. He rolled around, messing up his nicely done hair and clothes, as he tried to find the right position to sleep.
His mind flickered back to what the chief had said before ditching him.
“You're my ward now. I'll train you like hell and you better learn like you'll be killed any day.” he said with a cruel smile.
“I know you know all the other shit about living here kid. I can see it in your eyes.” he said smiling. He stood up and went to leave. Before he left he paused at the door.
“Oh and for your other question.” he chuckled. “You’ll know when you get older.”
Wen Kexing buried his head in his pillow. “What a crazy old man.” he mumbled as he started to fall asleep.
System 456: [Host…the chief is still outside.]
Wen Kexing rolled his eyes.
Are you sure he’s not a pervert?
System 456:[Yes. Faraway Wanderers is not that type of story.]
Then I'll be fine. He thought as he fell asleep. He dreamed of a ferocious guard dog guarding a room. It growled and bit at anyone who dared to approach.