As the man spoke, Ren Yuanhao felt a chill run down his spine!
Huang, naturally referring to Jiang Cheng, but unfortunately, Jiang Cheng wasn't present here. Instead, he was far away in Gu Yao City—that lawless, chaotic capital.
"Huang's serum? What use do you have for that stuff?"
Ren Yuanhao asked in a hushed voice, yet he felt as if the mere mention of 'Huang' would be heard by Jiang Cheng.
A prickling sensation on his back.
The Puppet Master's expression gained a touch of humanity. "You're new, so of course you wouldn't know these things. Even some of the old timers might not know the secret behind it."
He, too, sat down cross-legged like Ren Yuanhao, gazed at the flowing clouds in the sky, and seemed to be lost in a deep, distant memory.
"Kid, do you know what the most painful thing in the world is?"
"I think it's seeing a man like you, filled with killing intent, suddenly turn tender. That's the most painful thing."
Ren Yuanhao's teasing was born from seeing a similar experience, or perhaps emotion, in the man's eyes. He didn't want to be swayed by such a gaze.
The Puppet Master also chuckled, "Yes, I don't know why, but when I saw how arrogant you were, I really wanted to beat you up. But, I actually saw something akin to shared suffering in your eyes, so I suddenly felt that perhaps you'd be a good listener. But alas, if you don't help, I'll still fight tooth and nail for it. Only by reaching the S-class zone can one be qualified to obtain that thing."
"Hey, hey, hey, don't keep me in suspense, alright? What exactly is Huang's serum for?"
The Puppet Master spoke with infinite longing, "His serum can cure any disease in the world, including cancer."
Upon hearing this, Ren Yuanhao immediately understood the man's intention.
And he also understood the answer to the question he had just posed: the most painful thing in the world is—parting in death.
"Hey, hey, hey, you guy, you're not going to put on a melodrama with me, are you? This doesn't suit you at all. A man who acts tougher and more hateful than anyone else, this isn't your style."
Speaking of parting in death, Ren Yuanhao naturally thought of many faces: Cheng Li, Qiu Family Swordsman, Ouyang Rui, Snake Girl. These people flashed through his mind like slides, each face as clear as an oil painting framed on the wall yesterday, not even dusted.
Yet, he knew he would never see these people again in his life. Parting in death was far more painful than parting in life.
"I'm serious." The Puppet Master took out a very nostalgic pocket watch from his chest. As he flipped open the case, the inner side of the faded watch revealed a photograph: a mother holding two children. The one on the left bore some resemblance to him, while the one on the right was born with a sickly disposition. However, at such a young age, she had a remarkably mature, delicate, flower-like face. The white pleated dress made her appear ethereal and frail, as if she were a pure spirit untouched by the mortal world.
He pointed to the photo on the pocket watch, his expression suddenly becoming extremely gentle. His fingertips, before even touching the delicate face, were withdrawn as if his hands, laden with杀戮, were unworthy of touching the girl's face.
"She's my sister. Our home is in Gu Yao City."
"Gu Yao? That lawless area?"
Ren Yuanhao feigned shock, not wanting the other party to see his own similarly miserable face.
"That's right. When this photo was taken, my sister had already been diagnosed with early-stage cancer. The fact that she's still alive today, I know, is because she doesn't want me to live alone in this world, doesn't want to see me completely turn into a vengeful spirit, doesn't want to see me sink into killing."
Ren Yuanhao snorted coldly, "Hmph, it's a pity you still turned into the appearance she disliked the most, isn't it?"
"I had no choice. My abilities awakened very early. The first time I snatched that only warm bread and the meager money from killing, I knew it was a path of no return. I deserve to die, but my sister..."
The Puppet Master's emotions were somewhat out of control. His effort to restrain himself resembled a man standing deep in a cave on a stormy day, weeping over a female corpse.
Yes, that was Ren Yuanhao himself, the powerless him.
"Killing taught me the law of survival. Besides that, I have no other survival skills. Sometimes when I look in the mirror, I feel like the person inside is sneering. Countless nightmares plague me, waking me up startled by those I've killed. Do you know that feeling? The thing I do most every day is bathe, but no matter how much I wash, the smell of blood seems to have seeped into my soul. I am a killing machine. Only by killing can I ensure my sister's normal survival."
Ren Yuanhao suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He knew very well that if that taut string snapped, this Puppet Master would likely turn into a true puppet, capable of nothing but killing, relentless killing, killing without any bonds!
"I think I can understand your feelings. I know the pain of losing loved ones. However, I might be luckier than you. Along the way, I wasn't always alone."
Ren Yuanhao suddenly realized a problem, a problem he had never considered, and dared not even think about—what if all those who had left their mark on his life suddenly departed one by one, would his taut string also snap?
"That's why I want to get that thing. No matter the cost, I'm willing." The Puppet Master suddenly turned to look at Ren Yuanhao, "Kid, if you dare to block my path, I will not hesitate to kill you as well."
The Puppet Master's words were as natural as opening one's eyes upon waking, yet the killing intent was like a tangible coldness that pierced bone and flesh.
"But perhaps the three of us can all enter S-class and become new kings. Then, you'll still have a chance."
"No, I've heard privately that only one will be chosen this time because some 'monsters' cannot return, and their positions are still reserved for them. Therefore, this seat, I must have." The Puppet Master instantly regained his bone-deep killing intent and added, "Moreover, the Masked Man emits a very high-level of psychic energy. If I defeat him, I might rank among the Four Kings or Five Kings, making it easier to obtain Huang's serum."
As they were talking, the bell for battle rang again. The Puppet Master took a deep breath, as if to dispel all negative emotions, preparing to face the strongest existence in A-class.
"Newcomer, this thing is of no use to me. Since you're unwilling to help, I'll handle it myself."
After speaking, the Puppet Master tossed the tattered bamboo slip to Ren Yuanhao and slowly walked towards the battle arena of the third tier, like a warrior resolutely facing death.