NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24: Undercurrents: Each To Their Own Devices.
Chapter 24
Undercurrents: Each To Their Own Devices.
Yan Clan Residence~
Lavish Palace Secret Grounds~
Soul Stealers were a rare branch of cultivators and could easily be identified by their striking features. They were born with the abominable power of feeding on others' souls. The more powerful the soul, the faster they grew stronger. They were also ideal candidates to become Soul Alchemists—the rarest of the seven alchemical branches—thus, they were destined to be lofty figures wherever they appeared.
Most Soul Stealers were tied to powers far beyond Yan Zhen's comprehension, powers that could flatten Yin-Yang City ten times over with ease, easier than breathing.
"I'm Kuang Luosheng, and I have an interesting offer for you," the Soul Stealer slowly said before suddenly flashing behind Yan Zhen.
"I promise it won't disappoint," he continued, bringing his lips closer to Yan Zhen's ear, whispering eerily.
---
"Ahhh…"
A blood-chilling wail echoed from outside the secret chamber and didn't cease for a long while.
---
Yan Zhen lay unconscious on the floor, drenched in sweat as an unknown murky yellow liquid seeped from his seven orifices. His eyes were wide open but the faint breath escaping his lips confirmed he was still amongst the living.
Seeing this ghastly sight, Yan Youmei panicked. Cold sweat dripped down her back, and an ominous premonition began to take hold. Before she could fully regain her senses, Kuang Luosheng flashed behind her as well.
"Your turn…" he said with a devilish grin.
---
Yan Zhen's vision slowly regained focus, only for him to witness a horrifying scene. Yan Youmei's soul was escaping her body, as was Old Granny Yan Rouxi's. Both souls were at the center of a gloomy vortex swirling around them. Slowly, Yan Youmei's and Old Granny Yan Rouxi's souls swapped places and settled into their new vessels. With this, the vortex dissipated.
Kuang Luosheng suddenly spat out dark greenish blood and became impossibly paler than before— at this point even a plain white paper could bost of a better complexion than him. Despite the nauseating sight of the greenish blood dripping from his lips, a wicked smile was still plastered across his face.
"You… What did you do to me?" Yan Youmei stammered, staring at her new appearance in disbelief. She had somehow ended up in Old Granny Yan Rouxi's body.
"Can't you tell, or are you just playing dumb? From now on, I am Yan Youmei. And you? You'll soon become a corpse," Old Granny Yan Rouxi sneered viciously.
"Mother! How could you be so callous as to do this to your own daughter?" Yan Youmei screamed.
"Simple. I didn't want to die yet, and the heavens provided me with a way out," Old Granny Yan Rouxi burst into a cold laughter, admiring her newfound youthful body.
"Furthermore, it's amusing to hear you speak of callousness. A case of the pot calling the kettle black, isn't it? You end lives as if chopping vegetables. Consider this your karma." she continued.
Yan Zhen, feigning unconsciousness, shivered at this chilling sight. But there was still more to come.
Old Granny Yan Rouxi turned to face Kuang Luosheng.
"Her soul is all yours, as promised."
Kuang Luosheng wasted no time as he grabbed the aged body, lifting it till it was mere inches from his face, his suddenly burned with a cyan flame akin to phantom lights as he began feeding on Yan Youmei's soul. Her already frail body shriveled like a potato left out in the sun.
"You rotten bastard, Kuang Luosheng! Lower than dogs and beasts! How could you do this to me after everything I've done for you? I… I even gave you my body, you damned bas—!" Yan Youmei roared, veins popping out, though too weak to pry herself free.
"That's why I spared your body," Kuang Luosheng whispered into her ear, glancing momentarily at her real body while continuing to feast on her soul savagely.
With a final shrill cry, she dropped dead. A puff of breath escaped her dried, parted lips as her body hit the ground, now mummified.
Kuang Luosheng's visage turned rosy and flushed, as if drunk. He smacked his lips, savoring the taste of her soul.
Yan Zhen's heart raced, nearly escaping his chest. He had just learned the true extent of his grandmother's vicious nature. Tears welled up, but he dared not cry lest he blow his cover and end up in a whole world of trouble of his own making.
"Yes, my aunt wasn't a good person, I know," Yan Zhen thought, "but she didn't deserve an end like that." Just moments ago, they had been in the lavish palace teasing one another, unaware of the grim fate awaiting her, orchestrated by her very own mother.
It was a truly tragic scene.
Unbeknownst to him, Kuang Luosheng shot him a secret glance, a half-smile curling on his face as he turned away.
---
A while later, Yan Zhen and Old Granny Yan Rouxi were no longer in the secret chamber.
Kuang Luosheng sat in a wooden chair, lost in deep thought. Suddenly, an inky shadow manifested before him. Its features were indiscernible, akin to a humanoid blob of ink, save for its burning green eyes, which glowed like large nether lamps.
"What exactly are you up to? I know you aren't working for the old hag's promised benefits," the shadow said in a grating voice.
"Wait a bit longer—you won't be disappointed. Something interesting will happen today," Kuang Luosheng replied casually.
"That interesting event will be the highlight of it all. The Yan Clan is nothing but a pathetic backwater wasteland. Naturally, they can't offer me anything truly remarkable. Just wait and see how I devour their souls when I get what I came here for. It'll be a feast for you as well."
"Don't get too cocky—it never ends well. Furthermore, that old hag doesn't seem as simple as she appears. She even sacrificed her own daughter to achieve her selfish goals. The world doesn't lack fiends, after all," the shadow remarked.
"Whatever she's planning is useless before absolute power. How could she possibly resist?" Kuang Luosheng chuckled dryly.
The inky shadow gave a low hum of disapproval. "That young man was awake throughout the entire process but was wise enough to stay silent," it remarked suddenly.
"How could I not have noticed?" Kuang Luosheng replied with a faint sneer. "He's nothing but a petty ant—a pawn at best. His talent is decent, but unfortunately for him, he was born in this backwater place. Still, he's the seed of destruction I've planted in the old hag's plans." Kuang Luosheng replied smugly.
"As expected, you were the one who awakened his consciousness. Lucky for you, he didn't disappoint. I admire his mental resilience," the inky shadow said before vanishing as abruptly as it had appeared, leaving Kuang Luosheng in deep thought.
---
Meanwhile, in a lavishly decorated room, Yan Zhen finally decided to "wake up" after gathering his mental fortitude. A soft groan escaped his lips as he tried to sit up.
"You're awake. How do you feel?" a familiar voice rang out from a dark corner of the room.
As the figure stepped into the light, Yan Zhen recognized his aunt—or rather, his grandmother in his aunt's body.
Feigning confusion, Yan Zhen asked, "What happened? Where's Grandma? And what did that strange man do to me?"
Yan Youmei's eyes turned misty as she launched into an act. "Mother is no more!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with feigned grief.
Yan Zhen followed her script, acting shocked and disoriented. "What? What are you saying? How is that even possible?"
Yan Youmei threw herself into his arms, her sobs echoing through the room. "She gave up her life for you!"
"What?!" Yan Zhen was genuinely stunned by her audacity. His expression, a mix of acting and real disbelief, was perfect.
Through her crocodile tears, Yan Youmei continued her fabricated tale. "Kuang Luosheng owed our clan a great debt, so Mother begged him to save you in return for the debt. Your soul has always been fragile, and she couldn't bear to see you suffer anymore. She asked him to repair your soul, and he agreed… but the price was her life. He used her soul to mend your soul core."
Yan Zhen's eyes widened as he silently re-examined his soul. To his surprise, it had been healed, and the fragility that had hindered his breakthrough was gone. However, he knew one thing for certain: however it had happened, had nothing to do with the lies his grandmother was spinning.
Still, he controlled his emotions, ensuring his disbelief wouldn't betray him.
Yan Youmei, believing she had succeeded in fooling him, tightened her embrace, her sobs intensifying. Yet, even as she cried, a wicked grin tugged at the corners of her lips.
"I'll leave you to rest for now," she said, pulling away slightly. "You mustn't waste Mother's sacrifice. You must fulfill her dying wish and trample the Yin-Yang Dynasty when you're powerful enough."
She held him close one last time, wiping away a stray tear from his face, before taking her leave.
Yan Zhen remained silent until he was sure she was gone. Then, a vengeful glint flashed in his eyes.
"So, you all think I'm a pawn in your twisted game? Fine. Watch me burn the entire chessboard to ashes. In this world of deceit, where it's every man for himself, It's each to their own devices."
Far away, Kuang Luosheng was still seated in the wooden chair, gazing at empty space. A smirk played on his lips as he muttered to himself, "The stage is set. Now, let's see how the pieces move. Lights! Camera! Action!" Kuang Luosheng turned to face the current readers, winking mischievously.