Li Qiang the Waste

"He is going to ask you to go back to the Capital."

Li Qiang did not even flinch when he heard Duo Lin's voice behind him. Sometimes, the man would appear and disappear out of nowhere, and to be honest, he was getting used to it. He continued to stare out of his window. His eyes were melancholic, but it did not lessen the fierceness hidden beneath his brown orbs.

"Why would you dare kill the daughter of a minister? Have you lost your mind?" Dou Lin asked.

"Are you afraid that more people would come and kill me?" Li Qiang said. "If the one leading you will show himself, then I can tell him how to handle the upcoming attacks."

"You- You are doing this to make us reveal our leader?"

"Perhaps." he shrugged. "Perhaps not. Who knows? Rumor has it that the Duke of the Border Town Aizuk has gone crazy." He titled his head towards the shadow guard who was standing stiffly a few feet away from him. "The townsmen already heard that I killed my second wife… now… rumors that I have gone crazy after that accident has been going around town. Isn't it nice to have people fear you?"

"Why would you want them to fear you?"

"They have been laughing at me for quite some time now. It's that boring? A new emotion would be… refreshing. Isn't it?"

Silence followed as the guard did not answer Li Qiang's question. Shifting his gaze back at his window, Li Qiang narrowed his eyes. It had been two days since he killed that woman and he was expecting to receive a summon from the King of Yu in another two days. After this, he would have the excuse to come back to the capital.

Li Qiang had been confined in the Border Town in the west of Yu.

Everyone around him, including his butler, used to tell him how lucky he was that the king did not kill him after he was crowned. Instead, he transferred him to the border town so he could manage it by himself.

Everyone said the king was benevolent. He was kind to his only living relative that could easily threaten his throne. However, Li Qiang knew this was not the case.

Hi brother, King Zenu was the cruelest person that he knew. Or at least that was the previous Li Qiang knew. His brother was ten years older than him and he had bullied him while growing up. He was unreasonable and manipulative, and the only reason why Li Qiang survived was that he was naturally dumb and simple-minded.

His brother did not see him as a threat. So he spared him and made it look like he was benevolent. However, after days of deliberation, Li Qiang realized that the only person who could try to kill him in secret was his brother.

"Are you affiliated with any elements?" Li Qiang asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Why do you ask?"

"I want you to teach me." Li Qiang blurted, surprising the shadow guard.

"You are indeed insane." Duo Lin murmured. "You have already passed the age of learning. They trained every one of us to use the elements on our teens."

"I want to learn." Li Qiang looked at him.

"Did you hear me? I said —" Seeing Li Qiang's face, Duo Lin shifted his gaze away. "I heard that the king's brother does not have any affinities to the elements. He cannot use his brother's fire element, nor his mother's water." For short, he was a waste.

"I cannot." Li Qiang said, shifting his gaze towards the fireplace near his bed. It flickered as if it was aware that Li Qiang had been watching it. He walked away from the windows and approached the fireplace. "I do not have an affinity to any of the four elements." His brother and father were both fire elemental users. While his mother can use the water element.

"Then?" Duo Lin asked, following him. "People said that you are a waste and we both know that is true."

"It is harsh for you to say that in front of me."

Duo Lin scoffed. "I only speak the truth."

"Then teach me."

"No."

Li Qiang pursed his lips. He was indeed a waste in this world. He had no affinity for magic. The Magic that is considered normal in this world. This fact made the previous Li Qiang so insecure that he buried himself with alcohol and women, trying to forget the fact that he is useless.

'Well… that was the reason that he survived,' Li Qiang thought inwardly. If Li Qiang could use magic, his brother would surely kill him while he was still in his teens.

"I cannot use any of those four elements," he said, his voice low. In this world, magic can only be manifested in weapons. A fire wielder would easily choose a sword that they can use as a medium for their ability. In fights, they can add fire to their swords, burning their enemies with each strike.

Meanwhile, an air wielder often uses arrows and daggers. Something that they can easily throw and use the power of air to make their weapons faster, more dangerous.

"Then… it is useless for you to try to learn. Do not disappoint yourself." Duo Lin's direct words interrupted his thoughts. It immediately made Li Qiang smile. Since when was the last time that someone had been this honest to him?

"You are an Earth wielder?" Li Qiang asked, ignoring the man's previous comments.

Duo Lin pursed his lips and stayed silent.

"Did you expect to fool me with your daggers?" Li Qiang chuckled. People with an affinity to the Earth have a strong defense. They often use a shield to manifest their ability, turning their shields into indestructible rocks.

"You are not as dumb as everyone thinks."

"I am not dumb, period." Li Qiang said. He was a genius! On earth, no one would dare call him dumb. "Since you will not teach me magic, then accompany me tomorrow. I want to visit the town."

"You mean the brothel in the next town?"

Li Qiang's lips lifted into a smile. "You could say that." A dark gleam flashed in his eyes. "You could say that." He said for the second time. His voice was sinister as his eyes slowly… turned scarlet.