"Was learning to read really that hard?" The long, black-haired, hazel-eyed young woman bent over her desk, doubting her teaching style as she tried to teach the snotty girl in front of her. This little brat was a very slow learner. If she hadn't been so silly and cute with her chubby cheeks, she would've bastinadoed her long ago.
"I told you, she has innate stupidity in her blood," a broken voice said from nearby. The noble boy with the scar on his face walked toward them. A clicking sound echoed around him as his staff struck the ground. His voice began to crack, a sign of puberty. He was faster than everyone else. He hadn't been ten for very long.
Upon hearing his words, Valeria pumped even more air into her already plump cheeks and tried to show her anger. Unfortunately, trying to convey her anger to a blind child with her expression only proved Mais's point.
"I'm not stupid. My father isn't stupid either. Don't call us stupid."
Mais ignored her completely. Otherwise, there was nothing he could do.
Xiao Linlin was teaching Valeria to read and write. She didn't understand why Mais wanted her to do it, but he had offered her a good amount of money. So she didn't really care.
Furthermore, he did not understand how a ten-year-old child could have so much money or how he earned it. This must be one of Mais's endless, unexplained secrets.
"Why don't you have one of the maids teach her how to read and write? You don't need to pay me so much," said Xiao Linlin.
"I want her to know how to read about cultivation and be able to clearly read and pronounce alchemical terms. Without any flaws."
Ms. Xiao looked at Mais suspiciously. Of course, she could understand what these words meant. Mais was blind. He wanted her to read to him. Probably. But couldn't his servants do the same? Was Mais afraid that the documents in his possession would be discovered by others?
If so, teaching this young girl would make perfect sense. But what could a ten-year-old hide?
She couldn't help but think Mais was a bit too paranoid.
She couldn't put herself in Mais' shoes. So, she decided not to think too much about it.
"Why are you doing this? My father's already gone. Do you have any bad thoughts?" Valeria frowned. It had only been a few days since her father left, which made Xiao Linlin sigh when she asked this question so soon. Besides, the little girl was only eight. Did she even really understand what she was talking about?
"I want to hire you as a maid. I'll pay you one silver coin a month."
"Agreed."
Valeria might have been naive about many things, but she knew the value of money. She realized that if she started working at such a young age, she could earn a lot of money. Of course, a smarter person would have initially wondered why someone would pay an eight-year-old girl so much, and would have been skeptical. But little Valeria, being both a bit stupid and quite immature, hadn't even considered that.
Mais left. He threw himself out. It was sunny today. Although the effects of the heavy rain from a few days ago still clung to the ground as mud, Mais didn't move, thinking about the mud. Although it was warm enough to wear a short-sleeved T-shirt, he wasn't sweating.
He walked outside for a while, listening to people's voices. Although Yellow City was a mining town, many families lived there. Many people wandered around laughing and joking. Fathers carried their children on their shoulders. Mothers kissed their cheeks. Loving words and giggles filled the air. It seemed like a beautiful day—except for the blind boy sitting there alone. Except for the blind boy sitting there alone.
"I don't know if I can get anything out of this except pain," he sighed. He didn't know what he needed to do to understand the Tao. After all, there was no certain way.
Amidst those smiles, with each blink, he traveled to a different memory. Most of these memories were beautiful: He remembered his brother, Lagos, his eunuch, and even his father. These were the chosen people of Tao who didn't care about his weak nurturing abilities.
He loved them.
He wished they were with him today.
Seeing them once more...
His memories flashed back to the scene in which Lagos had blinded him. It was the last thing he saw. It was also his only memory of the past.
A cold wind blew through his hair, ruffling it. Although some people around him felt cold, Mais, who was much taller than the average person, was unaffected by the wind. He raised his hand and focused on the wind's pressure on his body.
"At least the wind remembers me."
DAM! DAM! DAM!
Heavy footsteps signaled the approach of a large figure. A green-haired freak. He was so big that he looked younger than his age. He was carrying a sword on his back and sauntering toward Mais. His yellow eyes were crystal clear, and he seemed to see everything. This was just one of his many contradictions.
"Can you give me a new sword? This sword is merely an Origin weapon." Core Realm experts use Core weapons. I'm at a disadvantage."
Kasuur came to complain to him, but Mais ignored his words. He shook his head.
"Do you think obtaining a Core Realm weapon is that easy? You're only at the beginning of the Core Realm. You don't need such a weapon yet. First, master the Eternity Slash that I taught you."
Kasuur continued to whine for a while, but Mais was stubborn. He didn't understand why Kasuur was so certain that he had a core weapon. But Mais was determined not to give him one. Not yet.
'Ah, what I said at the party.'
At the party, Mais had joked that he would give Kasuur a better weapon if he reached the Origin Heart Realm. Had Kasuur really taken that seriously?
Soon, Kasuur forgot about it, too. He started talking about a beautiful, noble woman who had invited him to her house. He didn't seem to care about Mais's age or his own when he talked about her curves and ample breasts. I don't think Mais cared about what Kasuur said either.
"I think we're going to kiss. No, we're definitely going to kiss. Mais, you have to help me."
Mais rolled her eyes. He knew Kasuur could see his eyes rolling, even though he couldn't see it himself.
"How do you expect me to help you?"
"Make out with me."
At that moment, Mais raised her bo (staff) and swung it at Kasuur. With a rustle, Kasuur narrowly dodged the attack. Cold sweat poured from his forehead, though the people around him didn't realize what was happening. He had assumed Mais was stronger than him, but he hadn't expected such a swift, haphazard attack.
"I think you're dedicated to beating me."
"I hesitate!"
Mais's face paled. If Kasuur kissed him in public, it would make him look gay. That was terrifying enough, but having to kiss a pig on top of it all? He wasn't sure whether to skewer the pig in the heart of the city.
At that moment, a piece of paper emerged from Kasuur's hand. It had inscriptions, and if Mais had seen it, he would have instantly recognized it. He had a chance to guess what it was from the faint origin energy emanating from the paper, but it was too late. The paper was attached to Mais's chest.
Mais's eyelids opened. He could feel the origin energy surrounding him the moment he tried to move. Although it contained nothing of the Tao, he could tell that it had been crafted by someone well-versed in the script. This damned thing could halt even a sage briefly. Mais had no chance of escape!
"Maria told me this would work, but I was hesitant. Don't worry; it's just a few repetitions."
As Kasuur's expression cleared, Mais's began to show signs of fear. But it was too late. Kasuur pulled a rather thin bag between them and, as Mais stared in horror, he leaned in close to his lips. A few people nearby turned their heads, eager to avoid seeing this scene. This certainly didn't look like the sweet love between young children.
The most terrifying thing was the pig's tongue. He didn't even realize Mais was trying not to use it until it touched his lips.
That evening, Kasuur was taken to the city hospital with his mouth and face covered in blood. One of his arms was twisted behind his back, and he had numerous fractures.