The Art of Chaotic Divinity-Chapter 1111: The Strange Youth

Deep within the endless mountains of Nanjiang, at the border where humans and demons met, countless small villages dotted the land.

Far removed from the world of martial cultivators, the villagers lived quietly, farming their fields and weaving cloth.

The men hunted when they could, and whenever one returned with a beast, the whole village had enough to eat for several days!

One day, into this secluded village, stumbled a wounded youth. He looked no more than fourteen or fifteen, yet his cold, piercing eyes made even the strongest men uneasy. His garments were soaked in blood, and by the time he reached the village he was already close to collapse.

He spoke to no one. He only sat like a statue beneath the great tree at the village entrance. A day passed, then another, and still he remained silent.

The elders quickly realized this was no ordinary boy. Since he gave no sign of wanting to speak, they decided not to provoke him.

Perhaps, once his wounds mended, he would leave on his own.

After some time, one of the village girls, coaxed forward by her playmates, summoned her courage and approached him.

The boy's pale face was unlike the sun-darkened children of the village. A faint chill seemed to linger around him. The girl, Xiaohui, found it strange.

"Hey, what happened to you? You're covered in blood. My father is the village physician. Do you need help?"

The youth gave her a cold glance and turned away.

She was only seven or eight years old!

"Hey, I'm talking to you!"

Xiaohui puffed out her cheeks, clearly annoyed, but her eyes showed pity. She whispered, "Are you mute? That's so sad."

The boy's eyes blazed with sudden fury. The ruthless glare he cast on her was enough to make her stumble backward and fall to the ground.

What a bunch of boring nobodies!

He sneered inwardly. He had been injured while seeking treasure within a secret realm and had chosen this village only to recuperate.

He was no saint, but neither had he sunk so low as to kill at random. These villagers were not even cultivators. They were beneath notice, unworthy of his blade.

"You really are a strange one!"

Xiaohui scrambled away. When she looked over her shoulder, her playmates had already fled. She dared not stay alone, and so she too ran off, unwilling to face the strange boy again.

"Lowly people!"

The youth snorted. He might no longer be that legendary genius of the empire, but he still held onto his pride.

His defeat in Nanjiang, at that man's hands, was the greatest humiliation of his life. He swore he would one day seize even greater fortune and grind that man beneath his heel!

Where he had fallen, he would rise again!

Half an hour later, Xiaohui appeared once more before him. She clasped her hands behind her back and gave a shy smile.

"Hey, my name is Xiaohui. What's your name?"

The youth froze, then frowned. Does this little brat really think I'd bother answering her?

How ridiculous!

"Heehee, I bet you're too hungry to talk."

She pulled several flatbreads from her pocket and held them out. "You haven't eaten in days. You must be starving. I can't sleep at night if I miss even one meal!"

The boy's eyelid twitched. Fool. How dare she think I am equal to these peasants?

"And look, I even brought this!"

She proudly produced a small jar of chili paste. "Dip the bread in this. It tastes much better!"

"Hmph. As if I would ever eat—"

But the moment she opened the lid, a rich aroma filled the air. His stomach betrayed him with a loud growl.

He was a cultivator. His body no longer required ordinary food. Yet what was this aroma?

He swallowed hard, face stiff with embarrassment.

"Heehee, I knew you were hungry!"

Her eyes lit up as she tore off a piece of bread, dipped it in the paste, and offered it to him. "Try it. You'll see it's delicious!"

"Hmph!"

He sneered inwardly. Nothing from common folk could compare to the delicacies he had eaten as a young master!

Even so, he reached out, snatched the bread, and shoved it into his mouth.

In moments, the bread and the entire jar of chili paste were gone, devoured as if by a starving beast.

"Wow, you eat so much!"

Xiaohui's mouth watered as she watched. That had been her entire ration for the day.

Her own stomach rumbled, but she pressed a hand to it and forced a smile. "I'm fine. You eat!"

The boy stared at her for a long moment, then tossed her a few crystal coins before turning away.

"Hey! You're such a strange person. You ate my food and didn't even say thank you!"

Xiaohui pouted. But when she noticed the glittering coins, she quickly scooped them up.

These would be her spoils of war!

"Big! Strange! Person!"

She stomped off, then stopped to shout at his back. "I'll come see you again tomorrow!"

"Annoying!"

The youth leaned against the tree. His wounds were nearly healed. Tomorrow he would kill that demon king!

...

The next morning, Xiaohui skipped to the village entrance with more bread and chili paste. Yet beneath the tree there was only a dark stain of blood. The strange youth was gone.

"Xiaohui, that weirdo who bullied you is gone!"

A boy her age circled the tree with a grin. "Look, I even found a pile of those shiny stones!" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Tears welled in Xiaohui's eyes. "Hmph. He left without saying goodbye. Did he ever think of me as a friend?"

"Huh? Xiaohui, why are you crying?" the boy asked, tilting his head. "That strange person bullied you. Shouldn't you be glad he's gone?"

"Hmph!" Xiaohui glared at him, snatched the crystal coins from his hand, and snapped, "Those are mine!"

She turned and ran home in a huff.

The boy scratched his head and muttered, "Xiaohui's a weirdo too. I guess only strange people can understand each other!"