Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh!
When Xing Jinglei returned to the hotel suite, he collapsed onto the carpet, his chest heaving, gasping for breath.
"Do you know what Cannon Fist is?"
"What is Cannon Fist!"
"It's Cannon Fist!!!"
That sentence still echoed in his ears.
He couldn't forget the scene where the strong man with a blurred face unleashed a punch that blasted a massive hole in the sky, scattering the white clouds.
This was Cannon Fist!
But,
Cannon Fist wasn't just aimed at the sky, it was aimed at him too.
In that ancient training ground, under immense pressure, he unleashed his fists again and again, ceaselessly.
He also endured the Cannon Fist from the man with the blurred face.
Even though it was greatly weakened, it was like cannonballs constantly bombarding him, kicking up dust and cracking the ground.
Xing Jinglei thought he was going to die. Even a weakened Cannon Fist was something he couldn't withstand, let alone punch after punch, ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand punches.
Heaven knew how much he endured.
From initial fear, to astonishment that he was still alive, then to mechanical resistance, then to furious defiance, and finally to helpless surrender, letting his body move on its own.
A very long time passed.
Perhaps half a month, perhaps a month.
Perhaps half a year, perhaps a year.
When Xing Jinglei returned to the hotel suite, apart from still breathing, his eyes were vacant, as if he had been thoroughly ravished... or perhaps he had.
It took him a good hour or two before some life gradually returned to his eyes.
He managed to struggle to sit up and looked down at himself. He realized he was exhausted, but there was no part of his body missing. And...
Xing Jinglei clenched his fist slightly and swung it forward.
Whoosh—
A powerful gust of wind was unleashed, whistling loudly.
The Cannon Fist he had learned in the training ground seemed, as if... he could now use it!
Of course, it was nowhere near the level of that blurred-faced martial artist, but he was certain it was Cannon Fist. Perhaps, one day, he too could reach the point of scattering clouds with a punch, just like that martial artist!
Xing Jinglei's eyes began to burn with fervor.
After a long period of burning intensity, he gradually recalled the events before... Right, before entering the training ground, that mysterious voice had echoed in his mind again.
"You are the chosen one."
Had that voice followed him?
But, it seemed to have bestowed power upon him?
Although, recalling that bestowal still sent a shiver down his spine.
Xing Jinglei supported his body and shifted his posture. He felt he needed to be alone.
...
Xing Jinglei began to notice 'abnormalities' in his body three years ago.
At first, he could only vaguely sense some strange, unusual things.
But he just felt something was wrong, without seeing anything.
He thought he was having mental issues, until one time, it felt as if his breath was being choked away. He resisted desperately, and it seemed like he tore something apart.
From then on, he could vaguely see some 'unclean things'.
His entire worldview was shattered.
Xing Jinglei constantly inquired and probed, but found no one like him. Those 'unclean things', which could vaguely show a faint black outline, were actually very, very rare.
He had deliberately searched for them back then, venturing into dark places, but sometimes he wouldn't find a single one in a month.
Until, a few months ago, these things gradually began to increase.
The monsters that others avoided had an inexplicable attraction for Xing Jinglei.
He discovered that killing these 'unclean things' occasionally brought about changes within him: his strength increased, his senses became clearer.
Once, his body underwent a great transformation. After experiencing a life-or-death ordeal, he was reborn, becoming completely different.
Later, he learned that the change in his body was called Awakening.
And he embarked on the path of a hunter of the uncanny.
After awakening, Xing Jinglei's strength increased significantly. Ordinary uncanny beings couldn't withstand even one of his punches. However, Xing Jinglei didn't become arrogant; he became even more cautious.
The more he understood, the more he discovered the horrors lurking beneath reality.
His previous reckless searching was too impetuous.
His survival was purely by luck.
As a hunter of the uncanny, his motto was: you can only spend money if you're alive.
Yesterday, upon hearing that voice, Xing Jinglei didn't hesitate. He immediately abandoned his hunt and returned to the small town where he was taking a break.
He had a sleepless night, and the next day, he felt it was still unstable. As soon as dawn broke, he took transport and fled.
He was afraid of being targeted by some powerful uncanny entity.
Although, he had never encountered, nor ever heard of, an uncanny being that could speak.
"I've escaped to this Cloud Ridge Prefecture city, so I should be safe by now."
"Uncanny beings are inherently chaotic, they wouldn't bestow power upon me."
It wasn't unheard of; some cults offered power as bait, but that power was poisoned.
This time was different. A being, whose nature was unknown, bestowed upon him immense power across vast distances.
Cannon Fist!
Just two simple words, an unassuming technique, yet Xing Jinglei felt like a new world had opened up.
This was an entirely new way of circulating life energy!
What wisdom this was!
Bestowing power upon him from afar, what immense power this was!
Could a person possessing such great power covet his mere two hundred pounds of flesh?
Xing Jinglei's gaze grew hotter.
This might be his great fortune!
He wiped the spilled red wine from the floor, trying to compose his face, and put on an enthusiastic expression. Then, in his heart, he asked.
Once, twice, three times.
There was no response, just like last night, but he had made up his mind to continue asking earnestly.
What is a Torchbearer.
What does he need to do.
Are there any prices to pay.
These were questions he truly wanted to know.
Even if it was a fortunate encounter, he didn't believe in power obtained for free.
After a while,
The voice spoke again, surprisingly gentle.
"As you are doing now, hunt the uncanny."
"But with power comes responsibility. You must bear more responsibility, standing on the front lines against the darkness as a soldier of the sacred flame, planting the lamp of hope."
Xing Jinglei understood.
He had once received an offer from the Cloud Ridge Prefecture Investigation Bureau, but the special investigator who recruited him was too weak; he couldn't even withstand three of Xing Jinglei's punches.
A weakling dared to try and recruit him, ha!
Besides, the benefits from the Investigation Bureau were far inferior to him being an uncanny hunter himself. Not only could he take on missions, but he could also obtain materials from uncanny beings, accumulating considerable wealth in just a few months.
Free and wealthy.
This was the life Xing Jinglei wanted.
He wanted to be the strongest, wealthiest uncanny hunter, a free hunter!
"Yes, I will be a Torchbearer, illuminating the eternal night. Tonight, and every night thereafter!"
Xing Jinglei stood tall.
His face was burning with sincerity, so much so that he believed himself.
...
"Believe?"
"Xing Jinglei is a self-taught Awakened, an experienced uncanny hunter. It's impossible to make him completely believe and shed blood with just a few words."
"Whether he believes or not isn't that important; as long as he acts, it's enough."
"There's plenty of time. As a chosen one of destiny, he will understand one day."
"It wasn't in vain that after teaching him Cannon Fist, I continuously fed him cultivation cards."
This was the care of a sacred flame mentor for a newcomer.
You're welcome.
In the Cloud Ridge City hotel, Xing Jinglei, who had just sighed in relief, suddenly shivered again.