The news of Rayen and the old man's death spread all around the city and the kingdom. The next morning, Lin Xiaolu was preparing breakfast for her family. The kitchen was made of stone, with a small chimney above it. While she was cooking, loud sounds came from the street outside. Suddenly, her little brother rushed in. He wore plain clothes—a light brown shirt and loose black pants.
"See, sister! Brave officers defeated the cursed one and a rogue again!" he said excitedly, holding a newspaper in his hand. The headline spoke clearly of Rayen and the old man's death.
The ladle in Lin Xiaolu's hand dropped on the ground. No… no, it shouldn't have happened… sir… Tears started forming in her eyes.
"Sister, what happened?" her brother asked, walking closer and patting her head gently.
She pulled him into a hug, crying quietly on his shoulder. Sorry… sir… only if I hadn't dragged you into my personal matter…
---
In the Elven Empire, news of the incident reached Vaelion. He clenched his fist tightly. Sir, I told you that this cursed one is… is… His eyes burned in anger.
"How did those filthy humans dare to kill sir?! I will destroy them all! I, the prince of Thaloril Kingdom, declare war on human civilization!" he shouted.
But before he could say more, his secretary rushed and covered his mouth. She was an elf with pointed ears, wearing a clean white dress lined with gold and a green ribbon tied around her waist.
"Prince, you can't say that so easily," she said calmly. "Your words carry more weight than you can imagine."
Vaelion didn't say anything more. He only gritted his teeth and looked down. They were standing in a luxurious living room with white walls and light purple corners. The furniture was expensive, with gold frames and soft cushions.
---
Days passed, then months. Rayen's regeneration ability still failed to create a body strong enough to handle the power of Dattadri that was now flowing through his veins. Every day was a living hell for him. Buried deep under the ground, yet still alive. No oxygen, no food, no water. His body ate its own organs just to survive, only to regenerate them again—and again—and again.
But over time, his regeneration finally succeeded. His body became stronger. Strong enough to carry the full potential of Dattadri's power.
---
The ground where Rayen was buried suddenly exploded upward as Ruyi Jingu Bang extended from beneath. Rayen came out of the dirt, completely naked. With his visualization, he created clothes for himself—a long black robe with dark red linings, flowing red sashes, and a high collar. His hair was wild, medium-length, and jet black.
His eyes looked lifeless, drained from the long time without water or food. Ruyi Jingu Bang shrank and returned to his hand, then disappeared. Slowly, he moved every muscle in his body, one at a time.
All that time I was buried, I could only hear one thing. Grandpa's voice, telling me—'Rayen, I know you'll survive, but I won't. So please, this is my selfish last wish: don't take revenge. Don't return to the human empire for revenge. Grow. Become the immortal cultivator, a kind and humble man who doesn't hurt people.' That voice haunted me every second. It played in my mind on a loop. I couldn't escape it.
But now... I can't hear it anymore. It's gone. Forever.
Then Rayen started walking forward, not knowing where he would end up. Each step was quiet, heavy.
Now I understand why I was named the Flower of Bad Omen. The first time old man told me my name, I wondered why he would name me something like that. But now... I understand. I really am a bad omen.
Rayen walked for about half an hour until he was finally touched by the first ray of sunlight. The light was bright, almost blinding after so long in the dark. As he continued moving through the wild forest, surrounded by towering ancient trees and dangerous beasts, none of the animals dared to come near him. They watched from a distance, silent and cautious.
After walking for more than an hour, he came across a small river. The water looked fresh and clear, and small fishes swam peacefully in it. He bent down and drank from it, gulping down mouthfuls. He hadn't tasted water in months. He kept drinking until his stomach was full.
After all these years living in the human empire, I understood one thing. The only mistake among all divine creations — that's what humans are. Born with mouths too loud and minds too blind. They build, they destroy, and they call it 'progress.' I was one of them once, but now I'm a cursed one. Now I see how rotten their core really is. The only human worth respect was Grandpa... and they killed him too. They called me the Flower of Bad Omen, but maybe… the real curse was being human all along.
Then Rayen started walking again, passing through the river. He kept walking for hours, his steps slow and tired. His stomach growled loudly, and he placed a hand over it. I need food... I'm hungry. He looked around, but none of the trees nearby had fruits. The forest was thick and old, but empty of anything edible.
Suddenly, he caught a scent—something was being cooked. The smell was faint but clear. He followed it, moving forward quickly. After a minute of walking, he saw it. A small hut stood quietly in the middle of the deep forest. The walls were painted red, and the house was built with wood and mud.
He walked toward it and knocked on the door. He tried to speak, but after months of saying nothing, his mouth couldn't form a single sound. He knocked again, harder this time, but no one came. Slowly, he pressed the door—it was open.
Rayen stepped inside. No one was there. The hut was small and quiet. A pot of food was cooking on a stone stove, the fire beneath it burning with dry wood. The smell made his stomach growl even more. The interior of the hut was also red. On the right side was an old, nearly broken bed with a thin mattress and a ripped blanket.
He then sat in front of the pot, waiting for the food to get cooked so he could eat. The smell was rich and comforting, reaching his nose even though the pot was covered with a metal plate. Suddenly, the plate on the pot started trembling slightly. Rayen calmly formed a small groove of life force with his fingers and lifted the plate off. Inside was mushroom stew—he could see chunks of meat floating too, maybe from wild rabbits.
He looked around and noticed a ladle and a bowl placed on a wooden shelf beside the stove. He picked up the ladle, dipped it into the hot stew, and filled the bowl. Just as he brought it close, ready to eat after months of starvation, a voice stopped him.
"Who are you?" a female voice asked from behind.
It was calm, pleasant to hear, but carried a coldness in tone. Rayen turned his head and saw a girl standing at the entrance. She had white hair and red eyes. Her clothes were plain and worn—an old brown tunic with a faded blue skirt, both stained with dirt. Her sleeves were rolled up, showing mud on her arms. A wooden hoe rested on her shoulder, and her hands were rough, likely from farming in the hard soil.
Rayen looked down, unable to say a word. His throat was locked, dry and strained from months of silence. He gently placed the bowl down and stood up, walking toward the door to leave. But just as he was about to pass her, the girl spoke without moving from the entrance.
"Are you foolish? How can you leave after putting food in a bowl for yourself? Go back and finish it."
Rayen didn't reply. He simply turned around and went back to the pot. The girl stepped out of the house, and after a few minutes, she returned. She was clean now—her white hair tied loosely behind her head, her face and arms washed. But by the time she entered the house again, Rayen had already finished the food and disappeared. She looked around, confused, then stepped outside again. Her eyes scanned the forest, and in the distance, she saw a small figure slowly walking away.
---
The stew was delicious. I would've definitely thanked her... if I could talk. But I can't. Somehow, I became mute. I need to learn how to speak again.
Rayen continued walking, further into the woods. But suddenly, he felt something pulling him from behind. He turned his head in surprise. The girl was standing behind him.
"How could you leave without even saying thank you?" she asked, her voice cold and sharp. "And if you're thinking of escaping somewhere, this direction leads to a cliff. Below that is another forest spreading for hundreds of kilometers."
Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed his wrist and started dragging him back. Her grip was firm, her eyes serious, and her tone left no space for argument.
Who is this girl? Why does it feel like I've seen her before? Rayen thought as he quietly followed her steps. Her back looked familiar, like a memory he couldn't fully remember. Her white hair swayed slightly as she walked ahead, pulling him along.
He stared at her for a moment longer, trying to recall. No... I don't know her. But why do I feel like I do?