Chapter 257 – Darkness (VIII)

Chapter 257

Darkness (VIII)

Long Tao shot through the shadows, passing by the unsuspecting dozens as though he were a ghost. Paying them no mind, he focused on the distant flicker of energy, one that was desperately trying to remain as hidden as possible but was also the only one tickling his senses.

Everyone else here were merely children, none of whom were older than thirty per his estimates; that signature, however, seemed old. Not strong, no, but simply… old.

He weaved between the trees, making practically no sound, though as soon as he got within two hundred feet of the source, he felt it move–and move away from him.

Oh?

He exclaimed inwardly with a bit of surprise, as he didn’t expect to find somebody capable of seeing through him in this backwater, but alas–given the size of the world, there were bound to be a few anomalies here and there.

Long Tao sped up, tripling his pace, and crossing the distance between the two within just a few breaths; he’d already donned his fox mask as he came out from the membrane of shadows, appearing in front of the retreating figure, who came to a screeching halt.

Like the others, he’d donned the hood and the cloak, all his features hidden. They were still ordinary clothes with no enchantments, however, which did little to hide him from Long Tao’s eyes.

Underneath the caked-on layers of white powder resided an aged, weathered face, wrinkles folding like canyons. The eyes were yellowed out around their edges, and the lips were thin and pruning.

This was a man living with the last breath, reflected in the fact that his cultivation was extremely unstable–dancing between peak of Spirit Manifestation and Demigodhood, all in the span of the few breaths.

They stood still and silent, staring at each other for a few moments, before the man broke it.

“You’re the vermin who caused us trouble in that village,” he said.

“One and only,” Long Tao said, smiling faintly. “I’m here yet again, causing trouble. So, old little shit, why are you running away? Are you that desperate to live out what few years of your life you’ve got left that you’re willing to abandon all those kids?”

“Humph. They knew well enough our cause–“

“–right. I’ve noticed,” Long Tao said. “The kids die, while rotting old bones like you… somehow don’t. Funny, really, how it often works out that way.”

“You’ve got a rather loose tongue for a child that is about to die.”

“Die?” Long Tao tilted his head and cracked a laugh. “No, that’s the funny thing. I’m sorry to say, but I’m fairly confident that even if there were a hundred of you, all of you would still end up licking the soles of my boots.”

“He he, what a little cutie,” the man cackled rather strangely. “Do you think you are invincible just because you survived the assault of some children? I wanted to avoid fighting, but… heh, perhaps dying earlier might be alright if I get to drag you down and do the entire world a massive favor.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Before you do,” Long Tao said. “Care to explain what you are doing here? You want Life Qi, and you want a lot of it, but there’s no way the brilliant minds of your leaders haven’t figured out that they won’t get any here.”

“You not only know nothing, you know less than that. Besides, what worth is knowing? You are a pathetic worm bound for an early grave–simply die knowing you served a greater cause!”

“Cute.”