41 _ Blood and Death.

"Your friends are very loyal I must say. Even after hours of ruthless beatings, your friend still refuse to say a word ... Except pour out curses."

Lucian pulled on his chains as he stood up to face Zhuo Fan who approached him with a smug look on his face. Waves of anger and revulsion shot through him as he continuously hated this man , wishing to tear him limb from limb.

"And concerning the girl or rather fox demon , I am sure you heard enough from my chambers.! Zhuo Fan spoke to his prisoner, mockery clear in his voice. "She even called out your name once."

"You Bastard..." Lucian cursed in a low tone. "I will kill you...make you suffer for what you have done to her. What you have done to both of them!"

The Bandit King struck him in his abdomen and Lucian crumpled from the blow. "Do not ever dare to threaten me, You mongrel." He stopped low and held up his head and whispered. "I can still remember her sweet cries as I tore into her pure essence. And until you tell who you are , I shall continue to plunder her treasures , until her cold body lies limp beneath my hands."

"Kaya..." Lucian muttered hoarsely. She was a Fox Demon, a thing of evil , she had hidden that from him. But how would an evil creature posses a heart of gold?! He would take a thousand lashings if it would have saved her from this this cruel fate.

"Lucian , help me...Please".

Her screams still resounded in his ears , still haunting him.

Every sob and gasp.

"I am so sorry." He said in a cracked voice as he held back his emotions. Zhuo Fan was satisfied as this man that vested himself in his pride was broken and trodden upon. Taking a fistful of his hair , The Bandit King raised Lucian's head and repeated his question.

"Who are you Lucian?"

Although Lucian had been defeated , he would not appear weak. Li Huang had taught him that much. He got on his knees and stared his nemesis straight in the eyes as a feeling of noble dignity surged through him , coursing in his veins. His heart was pounding in his chest , but he kept his bearing and royal gait.

"My name is Lu Cyran Huang , Son and Heir to the Divine Emperor of The Kanerria Dynasty , Li Huang and his Empress Aurora Dao Huang. The Imperial Soldiers are now after me and not long soon will they find you and you shall hang for your crimes."

"Oh so you are Lu Huang? The rebel son that ran away from his Father as well as Kingdom on the day before his coronation" Zhuo Fan reacted as if it was not any news to him. "I ran into those Imperial Soldiers some time earlier and killed them. Would you believe that I actually thought that they came for me ?! Thinking that they had found me and were here to take me back to the capital to be hanged. But little did I know they were after you."

He looked down condescendingly at Lucian. "A prince of your status , down here slumming it with us commoners. Craving excitement? Got tired of the finery and Palace life?"

"Someone like you would never understand."

"Maybe not." Zhuo Fan replied scoffingly. "All I am concerned with is how much you are worth. But do not worry, once Li Huang pays the ransom you will be free to go back to your Palace." He began moving away from Lucian, his hands folded behind his back.

"What will become of my friends?"

Zhuo Fan smirked evily. "Nothing to concern yourself with. If I were you Lu Huang, I would be more concerned about myself and lasting the night." His laughter rang out and echoed through the halls as Lucian collapsed. If Li Huang got a hold of him , it would all be over. All of it for nought. His dear mother's death , the sacrifices they have made and people left behind , what they have gone through.

Purpose. That was Lucian's last thought before his eyelids began getting heaving , his body ready for death. He brought his bloodied hands up to view as he went through his past memories and thought...

What was his purpose?

A flood of memories enveloped him as he was swept away with memories upon memories, delving deeper into his past.

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Dual figures sat on the highest point of the Sempiternal Limbinus Precipice , an aged man and another handsome man with divine features. The old man emitted an archaic aura that caused the surrounding space to become calm and peaceful as the young man sat beside him having the strangest feeling if this to be a reoccurence.

"My good friend? What are you doing here? " The old man queried , his gaze filled with interest as he looked at the young man who was surrounded by an aura of nobility.

"Who are you?! Where am I?" Lucian asked looking around him at his peculiar new surroundings. "Am I deceased?"

"It seems that you do not remember me , although you have unlocked your power but not to the fullest extent ..."The old man grinned , the ancient energy surrounding him had disappeared. "You are not dead young man. You are in, a place between life and death. A sanctuary of lost souls. Now what is your name?"

"My name is Lu Huang." Lucian responded, wondering why he had not said Lucian instead.

"Then Lu Huang...what are you doing in this place? Have you completed your purpose?"

"Purpose." Lucian muttered to himself. "I have no purpose. Living a meaningless existence and letting everyone around me down is not my purpose nor what I want it to be? So what is my purpose?!" He shouted and his voice echoed through the hills and valleys.

The old man lifted his brows in surprise and his gaze flickered with emotion at the sight of the young man. Despite the vague explanations , he instantly understood what he was trying to communicate. "You know Lu Huang... You have asked me this very same question before."

"When?"

"Well it was a different you back then." The old man answered. "I told you that Life was an endless cycle of blood, death and rebirth . One can not be truly reborn again except in blood and the only way to life is death."

"I apologise but I do not understand." Lucian confessed.

"The young. Always so impatient ." The old man sighed and placed his forefinger and his middle finger against Lucian's forehead as he instructed him on what to do. "You have lived your present but now I shall show you your true past. Finally you alone will decide your future." Close your eyes and focus on the light.For you to see the past , you must become one with the all seeing Ocular Watcher, the immortal who sees the past, present and future. Focus Lu Huang and see beyond the veil..."

Before Lucian could ask the old man anymore questions , a bright white light suddenly engulfed that world , blinding him and taking away his Vision.

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