Volume 1 Volume 7 Chapter 21

Volume 7 Chapter 21: I Shall Become a Demon (Part 2)

Xu Qingfan never thought that a mortal’s gaze could be so sharp and intense. He also never imagined that a pair of eyes could contain such deep hatred within the soul.

"Island Master, do you know? The scene of my parents’ death appears in my dreams every night. From more than three years ago until now, I’ve seen the same scene one thousand two hundred forty-three times! One thousand two hundred forty-three times! Every time I see those images in my dreams, the terror and hatred do not fade with time, but instead grow hotter. I know the reason I keep dreaming about this is that my parents died with their eyes open; they want me to help them take revenge…"

Wang Li looked at Xu Qingfan and spoke slowly, word by word;

Then, Wang Li’s eyes suddenly turned red. He didn’t cry when he lost his right arm and left leg in the midst of countless piranhas, but at that moment, he finally showed the weakness deep within him.

Not wanting Xu Qingfan to see him cry, Wang Li quickly turned his head away to wipe his tears, but then he suddenly realized his right hand was gone, so he used his left hand instead. After a long time, he turned back and whispered to Xu Qingfan, "In this situation, how can I let go of my hatred…? They are my parents…"

Then, it seemed like Wang Li finally opened up his long-closed heart and began to tell Xu Qingfan how his parents raised him with great care and how good they were to him, teaching him to hunt…

As he spoke, perhaps due to exhaustion, Wang Li fell asleep again.

In his dream, Wang Li’s face sometimes looked sad, sometimes in pain, and sometimes filled with hatred, as if he was dreaming of that same scene he had dreamed of for the past three or four years.

This poor and sad child has probably not had a good night’s sleep in the past three or four years.

Xu Qingfan listened silently and watched Wang Li fall asleep. After a long time, he suddenly sighed quietly.

Even when Wang Li showed weakness, he seemed so angry and gloomy, but Xu Qingfan could no longer feel any dislike towards him.

This Wang Li is, at his core, just a pitiful person.

Xu Qingfan had also experienced the pain of losing his home and watching his parents die. Perhaps because of his character, although he felt hurt and sad for a while, his hatred was not nearly as strong as Wang Li’s, which had taken control of his entire life.

Those who are hated must have something to be pitied for, and those who are pitied must have something to be hated for. This is a complicated cycle. In the end, character decides fate, and Wang Li is too extreme.

※※※※

"In this world, there truly is no hatred without reason."

Another faint sigh came from outside Xu Qingfan’s room.

"Come in."

Xu Qingfan seemed to have known someone was outside for a long time, and spoke lightly.

In a flash, a slightly plump figure appeared in Xu Qingfan’s room, it was Bai Qingfu, who had just recently reached the Golden Core Stage.

Bai Qingfu glanced at Xu Qingfan, then at Wang Li, suddenly smiled faintly, and asked, "Have you softened your heart?"

Xu Qingfan shook his head and said, "No, after everything that has happened, my heart has grown cold. I can’t be as easily swayed as I was in the past. I’m thinking about something else."

"Are you talking about recreating the monsters?"

For the past three years, while Xu Qingfan was using that eyeball-like sphere to recreate monsters, he had often asked Bai Qingfu for help. So, Bai Qingfu was well aware of the various conditions for recreating monsters and the need for a host.

Xu Qingfan nodded and asked, "What do you think?"

Bai Qingfu smiled slightly and said, "He wants the power to take revenge, and that eyeball can give him that power. You want to recreate the monsters; he can turn into a monster. It’s a mutually beneficial situation. To me, he is the perfect host for that eyeball: cold-hearted, strong-willed, and willing to make sacrifices. Plus, we overlooked one thing: since monsters are formed from twisted and mutated resentment, the new host of that eyeball must also have matching resentment to drive it. And Wang Li has all of that."

Xu Qingfan was silent.

Seeing Xu Qingfan quiet, Bai Qingfu asked, "What’s wrong?"

Xu Qingfan sighed and said, "I know everything you said. Wang Li might be a bit extreme, but in the end, he is just a poor person. Is it too cruel for us to use him this way? You must understand, at the moment he turns into a monster, he will be rejected by the world. It means we will be sacrificed for him and even have to destroy him ourselves… Sometimes, planning the ending too early is not a good thing."

Bai Qingfu smiled and said, "You really are soft-hearted."

Xu Qingfan fell silent again and then shook his head, saying, "I’m just worried that in this situation, once Wang Li becomes a monster, he might lose control. With his personality, after being rejected by the world, no one knows what he will do. Besides, this kid, although extreme, is not stupid; he will definitely notice that we are using him… But I need a monster that listens."

Bai Qingfu said, "There are many ways to control him. It can be through threats, temptations, seals, poison, or by negotiating or finding his weakness… We have the gem and Wang Li in our hands; can’t we come up with a plan?"

Xu Qingfan glanced at Bai Qingfu and replied calmly, "In this world, there is no perfect solution. Thirty-three years ago, the Righteous Alliance destroyed the ‘Ming’ organization but found they could not force the Shura Clan members to come out. Later, when they did come up with a plan, they forced out the Shura Clan members but also released the more terrifying ‘Spirit Eater.’ In the end, because of the ‘Spirit Eater,’ they not only had to let the Shura Clan members go but also lost control of Zhang Xusheng… Many plans that seemed effective at the time turned out to create more troublesome problems instead of solving anything."

Bai Qingfu asked, "So what do you want to do?"

"The methods you mentioned must be used, just in case," Xu Qingfan said. "But before that, I need to have an honest talk with this boy."

※※※※

When Wang Li woke up from the nightmare again, Bai Qingfu had already left, but Xu Qingfan was still by his side.

"Can’t you really let go of your hatred?"

Xu Qingfan asked.

"No."

Wang Li paused at Xu Qingfan’s question, but then firmly said, with great determination.

"Would you sacrifice everything for this?"

Xu Qingfan asked again.

"Yes," Wang Li replied firmly, then added after a moment, "When my parents were killed, everything was already destroyed for me. What else is there to let go of?"

"Even if you are rejected by the world because of this, will you inevitably disappear from the earth after seeking revenge?"

"Yes!" From Xu Qingfan’s continuous questions, Wang Li seemed to have thought of something. His eyes gradually brightened as he asked, "Island Master, will you take me as your disciple? I knew you were amazing and could help me cultivate immortality."

"I cannot; you have no talent for cultivation," Xu Qingfan replied firmly.

Upon hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, Wang Li’s body shook, and his gaze quickly darkened.

"However…" Xu Qingfan changed his tone and continued, "Although I will not take you as a disciple, I can give you a power that everyone will fear… But if you gain this power, you will be rejected by the world, lose everything, and be destined for destruction, for after you gain this power, you will no longer be human but a monster."

"If I become a monster, will I have the ability to take revenge?"

"Yes."

"Island Master, please give me this power."

Wang Li knelt before Xu Qingfan and bowed his head.