Wu Fheng

In the wide expanse of a forest, large amount of trees clustered with each other. The trees were like any other but the part worthy of attention were their black barks, seemingly a testament for the curse given by the devil. Although the sunny sun was happily smiling, the forest remained dark and its caliginous atmosphere would deny any attempt of entry for the weak-willed cowards.

However, from within it gradually appeared an eight-year old fearless child, with face adorned by a simple white mask that had two narrow eyes and no mouth. People had no idea what beneath his mask whether or not he had heaven-defying face that could topple the kingdom of heavens.

Despite his low age, his young body was tempered through blood and sweat, as if bathed in the sacred golden flames, to attain the most perfect physique which could astound anyone. Everyone conjured a thought that if his body was baptized by time, his body alone would suck dry any women from drooling over him and become the unprecedented model for men. His body had already achieved the apex of beauty, much more about his face. As such, their wandering speculation about the elegance of his face was further strengthened.

However, one thing they were aware of was his abnormal strength as he nonchalantly sauntered towards the Yulin town entrance, dragging along two carcasses each about two times or more larger than his diminutive size: a tiger and a deer.

At the entrance, the guards looked towards him in astonishment, spewing out hushed whispers in a tone filled with disbelief.

"Is he only an eight year old kid? I can barely able to believe that he could hunt a deer. If I didn't see this spectacle in own very eyes, I would immediately refuse the notion of him killing a tiger!"

"You're right my love. To appear cheerful from the traumitizing event of being attacked by a large beast, I guess he killed the tiger as easily as snapping a twig."

"That was not it all. I hate to say it, but I think with a mere thought he annihilated the tiger. Look, he was too bold to play with his sword while dragging the two carcasses. I can already hear his humming from this distance and it kinda irritates me."

The bold kid was none other than Wu Fheng, the son of the infamous Food Sneaking Thief, Wu Xin.

As Wu Fheng approached the entrance, he firstly greeted the guards. He stopped playing his sword and sheathed it. "Hello Pa Fuhua, hello Lau Gen and..."

Wu Fheng showed a wierd expression as he glanced at the last two guards. His words could not come out whenever he saw both of them as he could imagine them cuddling in the night. The two were guys and both were officially married. At that part, he neither knew who was recognized as the husband nor the wife.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Pao. I wish you two to be happy eternally until you part." He smiled kindly before he flashed his eyes to everyone in a beat, loudly shouting, "Good morning everyone!"

"Oh, good morning." The guards were forced to unwillingly reply in regards to his exciting mood in the early morning, except for the couple who were quite pleased by Wu Fheng's words.

"Good morning Wu Fheng." Both had their smiles wide and warm but as they slowly digested Wu Fheng's words, something popped up in their thought, 'What do he mean eternally until part? Does he indicate that after we somehow part, he was done wishing us happy?'

Before they could ask him, Wu Fheng had now stepped upon the street paved with marble. Many establishments stood in all directions and lined in a grand fashion. As he walked, the treatment from the town folks towards him were vastly different from the friendly guards.

"Mom, why was he carrying a sword inside the town? And what were the two things he dragged along?"

"Pshhh, don't talk about him. You will be tainted by bad luck in doing so."

The people had derision all over their faces, merely glancing at him momentarily before taking it away swiftly. They avoided his path and made a turn around him. Instantly, this situation always made Wu Fheng exuberant as every time this happened, he needed not to pave way for someone else and just went beeline towards his destination.

People were naturally astounded by two carcasses that Wu Fheng dragged over, however, the extremely bad reputation he had dramatically soured their shocked feelings. They immediately took their eyes away from him.

As he arrived in a black building, he heard loud clangs when hammers smashed something metallic. This was a large blacksmith with a length of five story high, entrancing him everytime he came here. He truly desired not to be a blacksmith but request for a custom-made weapon for a sword. He peered over his shoulder towards his sword sheathed in a brown scabbard. The sword blade was already slightly broken and was destined to be destroyed sooner or later in his hands. He ardently desired to possess a better one, heavy and sharp.

He previously found the sword within the ruins of his past home, an archaic sword perhaps used by his father during his prime. Fidgeting it for a while, before he knew it, he became addicted to wielding sword and couldn't sleep without it. He would be wrapped up in extreme discomfort if he was walking on a street without a sword strapped behind him.

This was his first sword which he and his father deeply cherished. He was deeply attached to it, however, it was bound to be broken. If he could get a chance to trade it for a better one, he would be willing. After all, as long he had a sword, his day was complete.

After he finished his sight-seeing, he moved towards a wooden structure just beside the blacksmith building. This shop was exclusive in buying beast parts, and in turn, either processing the parts to become welcoming goods or sell it to others' business at a higher price.

A bald brown man with a deep black mustache greeted him in wide smiles, "Is this mask-kiddo? So early in the morning just like usual. Put your deer, boars, rabbits and we're done."

"Uncle Guiren, its different this time. You better buy yourself some magical eye lens so you can clearly see what I bring with. There's a deer here but the important thing was the carcass of a large siberian tiger." Wu Fheng as he spoke, lifted the tiger's dead body and effortly put it unto the table. The slam produced a loud sound that garnered everyone's attention. But seeing he was the infamous son of Wu Xin, they immediately looked away in contempt.

However, that didn't affect Uncle Sen Guiren' dumbfounded state after witnessing a tiger placed on the table of his small shop. This was the first time someone brought a tiger, and most importantly, it was the young kid infront of him whom had defeated it. He couldn't help but rapidly exclaim, "Did you kill this creature? How did you do it? And how did you escape unscathed?"

After speaking his last question, he felt ashamed. 'What a dumb question. It was naturally the work of healing potions.' With a next question in tow, he wanted to know how many potions did Wu Fheng use. The large amount would sure costed him a lot. However, before he could speak, Wu Fheng's answer made his mind reel in shock.

"That tiger was weak. In fact, it's not even a battle as I played with it for a while. Ultimately, I became tired and pierced its head with my sword." Wu Fheng replied and looked strangely at Sen Guiren who had a change of expression. He didn't mind it and changed the topic in a serious tone.

"How much can I earn with this?" The next thing he was adamant to acquire other than the beloved sword was money. But the truth was, he never seek to care for materialistic things. He only needed to extinguish the fiscal burdens of his mother.

"Okay let's see. The deer's antlers had become famous lately. The aristocrats seeked for the horns but their requests for hunters to fulfill the job were never heeded. I think you know that common people would cower from the forest, although it is quite normal aside from being a bit dark. Whereas the adventurers and the magicians disdained doing such work."

Sen Guiren paused and smiled, watching Wu Fheng enraptured by his words. He intentionally paused and intended to lead him by his nose. After giving him a nice catch of a clue that the deer's price may likely rise, his mission to make his imagination go wild was easily fulfilled. The feeling of actually doing it kept him extremely satisfied and wished for prolonging it more.

"The deer's horns had become a trend nowadays and after acquiring one would fill the aristocrats' heart full of envy. As a result, their lust for getting one had fueled the price of it to skyrocket. So instead of the usual 12 silvers, your prize for the deer amounted to 17 silvers and 70 bronzes." After putting the bomb words at the end, he was expecting Wu Fheng to jump in surprise. He laid his eyes on him, staring for slight movements. And as expected...

"Damn it uncle. You're the best!" Wu Fheng jumped crazily as if winning a gigantic lotto. As a result, his mask was on the verge of falling off. Realizing the sensation of its string dropping down on his neck, he hastily stopped it and restored its rightful place on his face. Luckily, he managed to hide his appearance or else, he may likely be the reason for his uncle's downfall. He spat out a breath of relief.

"Hey kid, just remove your mask for your uncle to see. Its not either something explosive or catastrophic, why bother to hide it as if the world was going to end if you just let others peek a little." Sen Guiren stared at him with weird sensation.

"No, no, don't bother to look at it. Its not something like that... Anyway, what amount would I gain from the tiger?" Wu Fheng's hidden eyes suddenly shone brilliant. If the deer was priced that high, what about the tiger?

Looking at Wu Fheng adamantly refusing to show his appearance, it only intrigued Sen Guiren more. Afterwards, hearing him wanted to seek the price about the tiger, he came back to his business mode, serious and passionate. He tackled the topic of the tiger in a more deeply profound bearing.

"As I said earlier, the aristocrats were in great need to make their houses ornate with the proof of their ardent search of the deer's antlers. This tiger would surely complement with the deer, the deer's head at their wall while the tiger skin at their floor. Very likely, once they found out I had a tiger's carcass for sale, they would go crazy over it. Hence, I'll pay you a full amount of 32 silvers. In total, the prize you will gain 49 and 70 bronzes." Sen Guiren laughed in a joyful mood.

Jin City's money protocol held at 100 bronzes to 1 silver, and 100 silvers to 1 gold. To gain nearly half a gold in a single transaction, Wu Fheng gasped in astonishment as his heart frantically pumped in great excitement.

"Thank you uncle, thank you, thank you" To repeatedly say "thank you" three times showed how grateful Wu Fheng was.

. . . . .

In a curved road, Wu Fheng was buoyantly walking towards the tent houses, with a pouch strapped around his waist. In his vision, at this particular "Gray Street", brown and black tents lined on the area, covering a small portion. This location was where the prostitutes would do their jobs of alluring customers. In exchange of their seductive bodies, the customers would pay them money.

And this was where Wu Fheng's mother stayed at.

At this moment, Wu Fheng halted as he looked in surprise, at a carriage outside her mother's tent. Two armored guards, a servant and a driver, surrounded the carriage. Sensing Wu Fheng stroding towards them, the guards stared at him, pointing their spears at him as they barred the tent.

"Get out kid, this area is not the playground. If you want to play, play somewhere. Scram!" One guard blared out.

Any kid would be immediately terrified upon pointed by a weapon in such a close distance. However, Wu Fheng was not any particular kid. He maintained his cheerfulness as his expression was still nonchalant.

"You must be misunderstanding something. Shia Daiyu, the woman who currently served your esteemed master in this tent, was my mother. I'm his adopted son, Wu Fheng. Pleased to meet you, my guests." Wu Fheng smiled cordially. He had long mastered the art of pleasing someone higher their status.

As he was a commoner, he must extricate himself from the troubles of offending someone he couldn't. The stratification of social circles at this "Jin city", was strictly implemented. Slaves were common and if one didn't want to be punished to become one, one must thicken their face and lower their pride.

Hearing Wu Fheng's reply, the guards removed their spears at his face. Their eyes continued to look at him fiercely, as their waists were ramrod straight.

"You must be Wu Xin's son. Despite your father's reputation, I heard a great rumor about you and exactly, your fearlessness was quite to behold. As respect for that, stay beside and await for Baron Tsang Zhihuan to leave." The guard coldly said.

In compared to the people, the guards and other combatants adhered more in respecting strong and brave persons. The servant and the driver were also benevolent as likely they had also been influenced by encountering countless powerful personages.

Wu Fheng nodded as he waited beside the tent, making no suspicious movements which may enrage the guards.

Suddenly...

The ground began to slowly shake and then intensified to a harsh degree. Every one's expression immediately changed, for this was the sign of the impending war: the war between humans and demons.

Any pair of eyes looked at the silhouette of a 'thousand meter' tall wall at their south. This wall was the humanity's blockade to ensure their survival from the countless hordes of demons that attacked this empire, at a random date for every year.

As expected, countless flashes of light illuminated from above the wall. These were the distinguished magi's magics, sending those dots of lights towards the outside land.

At this sudden moment, a terrifying explosion resounded out, quaking the structures in a point of beginning to collapse. The skies were scorched in red light, and a black dot streaked into the skies, rapidly enlarged towards the town.