The Perfect Path To Insanity

The tall figure stepped fully into the moonlight.

Lu Yuan stood broad-shouldered, long black coat buttoned high at the throat, silver trim glinting along the cuffs. His dark unwavering eyes fixed on Fei Ming.

Looking at him, Fei Ming could see a little resemblance. He had the same sharp jaw and high cheekbones as Lu Tian’s, but much colder, the mouth set in a flat line. This man’s eyes were black instead of honey-brown like Lu Tian.

"Not a word?"

Three metal cards shot forward from the orbit around him. Edges caught the light as they flew straight at Fei Ming’s chest.

Fei Ming ducked. The cards hissed past his ears and buried itself into the wall behind him.

Bam!

Five more followed in a tighter arc.

Twisting his wrist, the Sword of Justice extended into a long polearm blade in his grip. He swept the shaft upward, blocking the cards as the metal clanged together.

He gritted his teeth and moved backward to create a bit of space. ’He’s stronger. How long can I keep up?’

Sparks flew and the fifth card brushed the polearm’s edge and sliced a shallow line across his left forearm.

Wincing, Fei Ming’s boots slid back half a step on the grit. Blood welled along the cut and dripped to the ground. Almost instantly, his wound healed and closed back up.

Lu Yuan cocked his head to the left. His expression void of light.

Fei Ming’s chest rose and fell faster. The power gap pressed against his skin like heavy air. He could not win this fight standing. Not yet.

He bent and set Justice on the ground.

"Hide," he ordered.

Justice’s ears flattened. His tail bushed out. Pressing low to the dirt, his eyes wide on Lu Yuan, the larger scary man. "N-no.—"

"Hide,"he said again, firmer this time

Justice hesitated for three seconds. His gaze flickering back and forth, eyes stinging. Then he turned and darted into the shadow of the nearest building.

Lu Yuan tilted his head the other way.

"Hmm. You own a cat?" His voice rolled out deep. "What other surprises?"

Taking one slow step forward, he added. "But at last. I finally found the kid Father hid from us." Gaze lowering on the kid. "Sheng Fei Ming, are you not? The disgraceful bastard who bit the hands that fed him? Killed my father who wasted half my resources on you?"

Clicking his tongue against his teeth in annoyance, Fei Ming snapped his wrist forward.

Ten duplicate blades detached from the hovering sphere and whirled toward Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan lifted his right hand. The orbiting cards shot into a vertical wave in front of him. The blades struck the cards one after another.

Clang!

Lu Yuan lowered his hand. The cards dissolved back into orbit.

"Fall," he commanded.

As if his vision and will was turned off, an intense pressure fell on him.

Energy drained from Fei Ming’s limbs in a sudden rush. His knees buckled, hitting the ground hard as his palms slapped the ground.

Arms trembling, he tried to push up. But all his muscles failed him and he came crashing down. "Ah," he groaned.

If only he were stronger.

Lu Yuan stepped closer. Drawing a thin steel blade from inside his coat. The point pressed between Fei Ming’s shoulder blades.

"Such a shame. I thought a man who took down my army would at least have the strength to fight."

He plunged the blade in and stabbed him.

Fei Ming’s breath punched out. Pain burned white-hot through his back. The blood soaked the fabric around the wound in seconds.

Removing the metal steel, he stabbed Fateless’ shoulder. "Hear my sovereign rule," Lu Yuan said. "Henceforth, your powers are useless."

Fei Ming bit down on his lower lip until copper flooded his mouth. Trying to rise again, a wave of pressure slammed down on his spine, again forcing his chest to the dirt. Arms shaking under the weight, his heart tightened. ’I can’t move. This is pathetic. Think. Think. Think.’

He tried suppressing the tears stinging his eyes and steading his breath. ’... Solves nothing. Don’t panic. Think. You can’t die from this wound. So think.’

As he tried to lift his head just enough, Lu Yuan stood over him, looking down. The dark eyes held nothing but disgust at him.

Fei Ming’s fingers curled into fists. He wanted to tear those eyes out. The seething rage boiled even more. He wanted to ask why.

When Lu Tian told him this older cousin of his never cared if his father was murdered or not... Why was he still after him?

But was there ever a reason for this? Humans were always cruel without reasons.

Lu Yuan looked at Fateless bloodied eyes. A smile tugged his lips. "Oh," he muttered.

"Your eyes... you want a reason, don’t you?" he paused, now staring at the pool of blood.

"I spent thousands of coins recruiting soldiers after you. And yet your passionate cousin dropped every charge. Without my orders." He twisted the blade deeper. "Why would I let my prize walk away?"

The steel grated against bone. "Your death brings benefits."

Fei Ming’s vision blurred at the edges. Weak. He was weak. Even after exchanging bits of his humanity for power, he was still weak.

It reminded him. No matter what he has done, the Forces hated him for no reason. Since the beginning, he had always been at a loss.

Even victory left a bitter taste in him.

Loss.

What does loss taste like?

Panic clawed up his throat. Resentment burned hotter. ’I won’t die.’

Forcing his right hand forward across the dirt, one finger stretched. ’I will never die.’ It brushed the toe of Lu Yuan’s boot.

Looking at the small desperate attempt for survival, Lu Yuan laughed at him.

"Pathetic."

Until...

[Ding!]

A blue rectangle flickered into view above Fei Ming’s head.

[A harmful substance has infiltrated your system!]

Lu Yuan stopped. Looking at his system screen once again, he was confused. "Harmful substance?" he muttered. "What’s this?"

Fei Ming clenched his jaw. He had emptied the last bottle of the [Cause] onto his palm earlier—when Lu Yuan first stepped close.

The liquid had transferred in that single touch.

Grey veins crawled up Lu Yuan’s neck and spread across his face in thin, branching lines. His eyes widened a fraction, jerking away from Fei Ming.

The pressure lifted and Fei Ming wrenched himself free.

The blade slid out of his back with a wet scrape. Blood poured down his spine. He snatched the fallen Sword of Justice from the ground and swung it in a tight arc toward Lu Yuan’s ribs.

Lu Yuan snarled. His remaining cards shot forward in a dense storm.

Fei Ming twisted sideways. Three cards sliced across his shoulder. Two more cut into his thigh.

He knew... he could not dodge them all. He had already received more damage to his body. All he could do was hope the little Immortality he had would save him.

Still attempting to fight back...

A small scream ripped from the shadows.

"No!"

Justice launched from the corner. The cat leaped straight into the path of the remaining cards.

STAB!

The steel sliced through his fur. Justice hit the ground hard. Body curled tight, blood spread dark under him.

Fei Ming froze for half a second, now looking at Justice’s wounded form. Eyes wide, he shouted, "Foolish cat! I told you to hide!"