Chapter five.

What he needed now was to find the tome and maybe vanish from this place. He felt sticky all over after lying on the bed for days without a bath. To be honest, he was the type to enjoy a long soak in the bath, washing away any remnants of the day. At least twice a day. He never joked about soaking himself in water.

Finally, he got out of the bed, making careful steps towards the door. He halted when he found himself in front of a mirror. Turning to face it, he gasped. This body was in the worst condition. His sunken eyes and piercing cheekbones made him look like a dying person, with most of his hair already fallen out.

He stood there for a few moments, taking it all in. From his face to his body covered by clothes, he pushed his sleeves back to check his hands, feeling more like bones and a few skin patches than flesh. He actually looked more like a skeleton than a living being. How was he going to get back in shape?

He couldn't walk around looking like the undead. Even with the tome, people wouldn't take him seriously. Determined to get the tome and work on this body, he put his sleeves back in place and sighed.

Turning around, he walked barefooted towards the door. Reaching it, he slowly opened it and peered through a small gap to see if anyone was around. Seeing no one, he nodded his head, opened it fully, and stepped into the hallway.

He asked himself where he might find the tome. After contemplating whether to go left or right, he finally settled on the right. Slowly walking forward, he saw doors every few steps in the empty hallway.

After a few more steps, he reached a staircase leading both upstairs and downstairs, giving him another decision to make. After another moment of contemplation, he settled on going downstairs.

Taking the stairs downstairs, Chen Wei was met with a spacious decorated living room. The room was filled with antique wooden furniture, intricately carved and polished to a high sheen. Ornate lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, amber glow over the room. Beautiful silk tapestries adorned the walls.

His eyes scanned the room quickly, noting the careful placement of the furniture and the subtle elegance of the decor. It was a stark contrast to the cold, oppressive atmosphere he felt within the house. He moved stealthily across the living room, his footsteps silent on the polished wooden floor.

As he approached, he noticed an open door leading to the kitchen. From his vantage point, he could see the woman bustling about, her back turned to him. She seemed preoccupied, giving him a brief window of opportunity. The kitchen was just as traditionally styled as the living room, with clay pots and wooden utensils neatly arranged on the counters. The scent of herbs and spices hung in the air, blending with the faint aroma of simmering soup.

Chen Wei's heart pounded in his chest as he scanned the room for the tome. His eyes fell on a table near the kitchen entrance, and there it was – the tome, sitting on a table close to the woman as she prepared a meal. The dark energy emanating from it seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm his racing mind. He needed a plan. If he simply walked in and took the book, she would surely notice and stop him. He had to be cautious, clever. As he considered his options, he could feel the tome calling out to him, its dark energy beckoning him closer.

He crept closer to the kitchen door, peeking inside to get a better view. The woman was stirring a pot on the stove, humming softly to herself. She seemed completely absorbed in her task. Chen Wei edged closer, his eyes never leaving the tome.

Just as he was about to make his move, the woman turned around, her eyes locking onto his. Shock flashed across her face, quickly replaced by a sneer. "Are you healed already?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Chen Wei's mind raced. He had to think quickly. "If you try to stop me, I'll tell everyone what you've been doing. You'll pay dearly," he bluffed, hoping to buy himself some time.

Her eyes narrowed, hesitating. Sensing her uncertainty, Chen Wei seized the opportunity. He darted forward, his hand reaching out to grab the tome. The dark energy surged through him as he touched it, filling him with a sense of power and urgency.

"What is that book about?" she demanded, stepping closer.

Chen Wei didn't answer. Instead, he clutched the tome tightly to his chest, feeling its power resonate within him. The woman took a step back, realizing he was no longer the weak boy she tormented.

"This isn't over," she hissed, backing away. "You think you can hide from me? From Zhao Hao?"

Her mention of Zhao Hao ignited a spark of fury within Chen Wei. Zhao Hao had been the one to betray him in his previous life, and he would not let that same name he hated the most take over Chen Wei's life as well. He would protect this boy's body and soul, and in doing so, regain his own power.

Chen Wei watched her leave, his grip on the tome firm. He knew this was just the beginning. With the tome, he had a chance to reclaim his power and control his destiny. The road ahead was uncertain and fraught with danger, but he was determined to survive as a villain to the end.

He opened the tome, the pages filled with strange, unreadable symbols. He felt a surge of energy course through him, the dark magic seeping into his veins. The voices quieted, replaced by a deep, resonant hum that seemed to echo within his very soul.

He understood now – the tome was more than a book. It was a vessel of power, a conduit for dark magic. He had been chosen, not by chance, but by destiny. The spirit within the tome had given him another chance, a chance to reclaim his strength and exact his revenge.

Frustration surged through him as he realized he couldn't decipher the words. He knew the tome held immense power, but without understanding it, he was no better off than before. Clutching the book tightly, he made his way back to his room, determination burning in his eyes.

Once inside, he set the tome down on the table and began scouring his surroundings for anything that might help him decode the mysterious language. His eyes darted around the room, searching for clues, books, or scrolls that could provide the answers he desperately needed.

The symbols remained a tantalizing mystery, but Chen Wei refused to give up. He was resolute in his quest to unlock the tome's secrets. The power it contained was his key to reclaiming his strength and fulfilling his vow for revenge. The journey would be long and arduous, but he was prepared to face any challenge that lay ahead.