Chapter 3: Blood of the Emperor, Ling Feng's Legacy!
After some time had passed, Ling Kun slowly regained consciousness. The strong, metallic scent of blood made him unconsciously furrow his brow.
Corpses littered the ground and blood formed rivers!
The entire house of the Su family had almost become a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
Ling Kun's eyelids twitched uncontrollably as he hastily rose from the ground with his hands trembling. "Eye of the Emperor! Dear heavens! Has his Eye of the Emperor finally opened?"
Ling Kun hurriedly rushed into the Su family residence. Even the pouring rain couldn't wash away the thick scent of blood.
Seated atop a mound of corpses, Ling Feng's gaze was vacant as he mechanically repeated, "Kill... kill... kill..."
"Feng'er!" Ling Kun, tears streaming down his face, rushed towards Ling Feng. "My child, the evildoers are gone, all of them! Please, no more killing! Don't kill anymore!"
"Grandpa..." Ling Feng's gaze cleared slightly, and the vertical pupil on his forehead finally closed.
"Grandpa! You're alive!"
Struggling, Ling Feng lifted his right hand and extracted the golden needles from the top of his head. A profound sense of weakness swept over him.
He was unable to muster any strength.
When the vertical pupil opened, Ling Feng appeared to possess inexhaustible strength. However, this power was acquired by burning through his vitality through the use of the golden needles.
Should he continue to keep the vertical pupil open, his life force would rapidly drain, leading to his demise.
"Oh, my child, my poor child!" Ling Kun wailed, tears streaming down his face. "It's all grandpa's fault. If grandpa hadn't chased after wealth, you wouldn't have crossed paths with the Lord and his daughter, and the Eye of the Emperor wouldn't have opened. It's all my fault, all my fault!"
"Grandpa, you're alive, I’m… I’m very glad…" Ling Feng, who was already too weak to open his eyes, saw darkness enveloping him before he finally lost consciousness.
"Let me carry you! I'll get you out of here!"
Gritting his teeth, Ling Kun helped Ling Feng up from the pile of corpses. He then picked up an inconspicuous medicine box and laboriously made his way out of Kaiyang City.
With each step, he left behind a footprint stained with blood.
Perhaps the thunder was simply too loud, but on that bloody night, not a single soul heard the slightest sound.
The following day, as passersby walked past the Lord's Mansion, they were horrified to discover that everyone in the mansion—over a hundred individuals—had suffered unexplainable deaths.
Each corpse bore marks of claws resembling wild animal attacks, making it impossible to attribute this with human actions.
Thus, rumors of the Lord's Mansion being annihilated by unknown demonic beasts spread, prompting the entire Kaiyang City to be on high alert. Measures were implemented to prevent the terrifying 'beasts' from entering Kaiyang City again.
…
After some time had passed, Ling Feng finally opened his eyes. Every muscle in his body felt stretched to its limit.
Pain!
Unbearable pain!
"Feng'er, are you awake?" Ling Feng heard his grandpa's gentle voice. His eyes scanned the surroundings, finally fixing on Ling Kun.
I can see! My vision is back!
"How are you feeling, Feng'er?" Ling Kun approached with a bowl of porridge, his tone warm. "You've been unconscious for half a month. Come, have some porridge first."
Ling Feng gave a slight nod, still feeling a bit scared as he recalled that bloody night.
Was that creature, consumed by nothing but a thirst for bloodshed, truly a part of me?
“Grandpa…”
Taking a sip of porridge, Ling Feng fixed his gaze on Ling Kun. In a deep voice, he asked, "Grandpa, are you hiding something from me? I recall you mentioning the Eye of the Emperor. What exactly is it?"
"I thought I could keep this secret forever." Ling Kun clenched his fist, tears welling up in his eyes. "I thought that your Eye of the Emperor would never open."
"Grandpa, what are you saying? Please, tell me everything! I need to know!" Ling Feng demanded emotionally.
Anyone, upon realizing they could transform into such a monstrous being, would undoubtedly experience inner turmoil and find it difficult to remain calm.
"Maybe it's the will of the heavens," Ling Kun sighed heavily. "Once your Eye of the Emperor has opened for the first time, it will happen again and again. Not telling you would be harming you instead."
Ling Feng fixed his gaze on his grandpa, quietly listening.
"I'm not your grandpa! In reality, I'm just an old servant who stood by your grandpa's side." Ling Kun took a deep breath and then said slowly, "Feng'er, when you were born, your parents had to leave you for certain reasons, so they had no choice but to leave you in your grandpa’s care.
"But your grandpa, unfortunately, passed away due to a severe illness when you were just one year old. Following his passing, he entrusted you to my care.
Before your grandpa passed away, he informed me about a special bloodline in your body known as the Blood of the Emperor. When stimulated and pierced with a golden needle, it activates the Eye of the Emperor, which inturn unleashes uncontrollable aggression!"
"The Blood of the Emperor? The Eye of the Emperor?"
Countless thoughts flashed through Ling Feng's mind, vaguely sensing that his parents' departure and his grandfather's death might be related to this Blood of the Emperor.
"What is the Blood of the Emperor?" Ling Feng asked, his voice trailing off.
"Your grandfather only told me that you are the child of the Heavenly Dao."
Ling Kun paused, then continued slowly, “I was instructed that if you eventually unlock the Eye of the Emperor, I should reveal the secret of your origin. The secret is kept hidden within the two volumes of The Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion."
"Two volumes of The Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion?" Ling Feng was momentarily surprised. "Is there really a second volume of The Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in this world?"
"Yes," Ling Kun nodded. "Your grandfather mentioned leaving that medical book with the Yan family in the Eastern Capital. However, after his passing, our Ling family faced a decline. We were left with no choice but to travel and practice medicine wherever we could. As for the Yan family, they've long since turned their backs on us and wouldn't acknowledge what happened back then."
"The Yan family in the Eastern Capital?" Ling Feng suddenly remembered that when he was still young, Ling Kun had once taken him to the Eastern Capital. After a rushed trip, Ling Kun returned, battered and cursing, as if he were venting frustration at someone from the Yan family.
"Feng'er, now that you have unlocked the Eye of the Emperor, the only path left is to embark on the journey of martial arts. After you become a formidable warrior, perhaps then there will be a chance for you to unravel the complete story of your origin."
"Embark on the path of martial arts?"
Ling Feng took a deep breath while reflecting on the years of wandering alongside his grandfather. He had never practiced martial arts, nor had his grandfather ever encouraged him to delve into that path.
Perhaps Grandpa was afraid that my Eye of the Emperor would open.
Practitioners who challenge fate by reaching towards the heavens often encounter mortal danger, which would increase the likelihood of the Eye of the Emperor opening naturally.
"Yes. Opening the Eye of the Emperor will quickly deplete your life force. Only by cultivating into a powerful martial artist can you avoid an early demise caused by unlocking the Eye of the Emperor!"
"I understand, Grandpa."
Gritting his teeth, Ling Feng was determined not only to survive but also to retrieve the second volume of The Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, which concealed the mystery of his origin, from the Yan family in the Eastern Capital!
Ling Kun sighed in relief and spoke slowly, "Your grandfather was once hailed as a medical saint, considered the foremost healer in the world. Countless martial practitioners sought his treatment. I believe there should be a sect willing to take you in!"
"Perhaps," Ling Feng ground his teeth. It was only after the incident with Su Lin and her father that he discovered how shockingly ugly human nature could be.
Without identity or social standing, how many people would bother to cherish old connections with you? [1]
With that being said, I must never easily trust others, especially women!
1. referring to betrayal by Su Lin ☜
Boundless Sword Steps's ThoughtsTranslator: daydream
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