Chapter 1708 – Better off Dead
“Giddy up! Giddy up! Move, big horse!”
“You’ve ridden enough; now it’s my turn…”
“What’s with this crazy guy? If you don’t go, you won’t get any food! Hurry up and crawl!”
As they got closer, even Wei Ci and a few ordinary folks could hear the commotion coming from the dilapidated temple, where several children seemed to be squabbling over something.
The livestream chat felt as if a storm was brewing, the comments dwindling to just a few dribbling by occasionally.
Jiang Pengji whispered, “Let’s go.”
Lü Zheng sensed something, and his once lighthearted steps suddenly felt heavy, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face.
Approaching the ruined temple, they could peek through the crumbling walls to see what was happening inside, and Jiang Pengji’s expression darkened significantly.
Of all of them, only Wei Ci remained calm.
Because in a different time at the same location, he had seen the completely unhinged Hua Yuan.
When he found Hua Yuan in his past life, the poor guy had lost all sanity.
Nearby village kids would torment him, treating him like a beast to ride for fun, making noise when they were happy and throwing stones when they weren’t, playing pretend “heroes vanquishing monsters.” These kids played the “heroes,” while Hua Yuan was the “monster” they mercilessly beat.
These kids had a natural malice; when feeling “mischievous,” they’d collect their own pee and poop into broken pottery bowls, laughing as they tricked Hua Yuan into drinking and eating it. Stinky eggs, dead rats, roaches, stones, even dog and pig dung were all props for their mischief. Hua Yuan could only chuckle stupidly when subjected to their torment, emitting pitiful whines like a helpless cub when bullied, struggling meaninglessly. Even with his grudge against Hua Yuan, Wei Ci couldn’t help but feel soft-hearted witnessing that scene.
He once stirred the winds and clouds, but now he found himself in such a dire situation.
Losing his mind wasn’t his intention, and all those atrocious acts went against his own heart, living like a puppet manipulated by others, without any control over himself.
What must the real Hua Yuan have felt waking up to see such a disgraceful self?
Wei Ci had once softened up, trying to take care of Hua Yuan, only to receive word the next day that he had died at the graves of his deceased parents.
Perhaps death was the true liberation.
Never would he have thought that a similar scene would play out before his eyes a second time.
“What are you all doing?”
Jiang Pengji strode into the dilapidated temple, startling the five children of varying ages. Seeing several well-dressed nobles outside, they could easily tell they were no ordinary people, especially the one at the front who seemed frightfully imposing, screaming in panic and trying to escape. One chubby little kid rode on a scruffy beggar; his short legs were slow, and when he tried to dismount, he fell over in fright.
Most folks wouldn’t fuss over a few kids.
But Jiang Pengji wasn’t most folks. The kids who tried to escape were caught by her followers, and that chubby kid collided right into her grip. She lifted him by the collar with one hand. Children are incredibly sensitive; they could feel Jiang Pengji’s imposing aura all too well. That was why she liked kids, yet they rarely returned her fondness. This chubby kid reacted quite authentically, initially unaware of his predicament but quickly bursting into tears, his snotty little nose dripping down into his mouth.
Lü Zheng’s eyelids twitched, worried that Jiang Pengji might accidentally crush one of these kids in her grip.
The other kids were seized too, one little boy even bare-bottomed.
Given his earlier actions, he had just peed on the beggar in the temple.
Jiang Pengji did like kids, but this kind of wickedness was just too much for her.
“Give each of them a good thrashing, teach them a lesson. If their parents can’t raise them properly, don’t blame others for stepping in!”
Her followers complied, though they were careful, ensuring the kids only cried loudly without suffering any real injury.
Their ruckus attracted the attention of nearby villagers, who approached with hoes in hand, trying to convince Jiang Pengji to let the kids go.
But upon seeing their clothes and the weapons at their waists, those villagers cowered.
Jiang Pengji didn’t harm the villagers; she just asked them to take the children back and supervise them properly.
“If these little brats were a bit older… Hmph!”
Jiang Pengji huffed quietly, her voice low but carrying the weight of menace.
Hua Yuan felt as if he were trapped in a long and terrifying nightmare, the scenes all jumbled, visible yet beyond his control; he couldn’t wake up. It wasn’t until a chilling presence approached that the cold sensation jolted him awake.
His muddled mind snapped to clarity.
For a brief moment, Hua Yuan looked dazed, but soon his expression turned to an odd mix of tears and an inability to cry.
“Hua Yuan?”
A strange female voice reached his ears, and he looked up, his expression lost in confusion.
This person…
“Lord Lan Ting?”
Even though he had only met her once years ago, Jiang Pengji was an unforgettable woman, hard to forget after a single glance.
Even after all these years, he could recognize her identity at once.
Behind Jiang Pengji, Lü Zheng wore an incredulous expression, obviously not expecting that this ragged, filthy beggar was Hua Yuan. It seemed the man had injured his right foot, the ankle’s wound soaked in muddy water, rotting away…
Jiang Pengji said, “Hmm.”
Hua Yuan appeared somewhat uncomfortable, then forced a bitter smile, “It’s a shame Lord Lan Ting had to see me in such an unflattering state.”
Jiang Pengji asked, “Have you regained your senses?”
Hua Yuan sighed, “The madness won’t end until death. For now, I have a moment of clarity; perhaps soon I’ll descend into madness again.”
He seemed unfazed by his own plight.
His murky eyes regained some clarity, revealing a hint of resignation and a trace of his former charm.
“You know why I’m here?”
Hua Yuan replied calmly, “I can guess a bit… but I still have some regrets in my heart, hoping for Lord Lan Ting to lend a hand.”
His wish wasn’t unreasonable; he just wanted to wash up by the stream, put on a clean outfit, and pay respects at his parents’ graves.
Jiang Pengji ordered her followers to hand him an extra set of clothes.
After cleaning himself up, Hua Yuan lost his previous scruffy appearance but looked over a decade older, his hair almost entirely gray.
Lü Zheng whispered to Wei Ci, “Seeing him like this, the speech I’d prepared… I can’t utter a single word.”
He might despise Hua Yuan, yet he had to admit, Hua Yuan was indeed a significant figure.
Not long ago, he could stir up the affairs of the world, but now…
Wei Ci asked, “Soft-hearted now?”
Lü Zheng said, “What’s there to fuss about with a madman? It’s all too tiring to think about.”
“You might be soft-hearted, but he’s determined to die.”
Lü Zheng froze at those words.
“Yeah… to live like this is torture; he’s better off dead. Hua Yuan is a proud man—how could he endure being reduced to this?” Lü Zheng noticed that after Hua Yuan regained clarity, his hands trembled, betraying far more anxiety than appeared on the surface.
