Chapter 10: The Moment Of Loss

"Oh? What an amusing brat…" Qiang thought to himself as he watched the young boy before him take a battle-ready stance. The child dropped two daggers onto the ground, then held two others with a tight grip, as if his life depended on them.

"He must have taken the weapons from their corpses. How peculiar." Qiang couldn't help but find himself intrigued by the kid's determination and grit.

As a child, Qiang had been told off many times because of his menacing eyes and intimidating build. People always assumed the worst of him, and he was often blamed for violent incidents, even when he was innocent. That's why he chose the path of violence. He believed that his ominous looks and imposing demeanor were a sign that destiny had chosen this for him.

But, as he watched the child in front of him, Qiang felt a sense of unease creeping up on him. This kid was different. He could sense a darkness within him that no child should have. Even grown men shouldn't possess such a deep, swirling abyss of carnage. The kid's cold glare sent shivers down Qiang's spine, and he knew that he was facing someone who was more than just a mere child.

When the boy threw his daggers at Qiang, he easily deflected them due to their paltry weight. But, he couldn't help but notice where they were aimed. Any slower, and the daggers would have pierced his vital organs. Even if they didn't deal a fatal blow, the consequences would still be deadly. It was clear that this was no ordinary child.

Qiang weighed his options. He knew that he could eliminate the boy, but then he thought of the money. Dangerous or not, the kid would fetch a good price. He couldn't afford to let such a valuable commodity go to waste.

And with that realization, Qiang prepared to capture the boy.

"I'll immobilize him—maybe cripple him… no, that'll reduce his value." Qiang pondered his options carefully, trying to decide the best course of action. However, before he could make a move, the boy vanished from his sight. Qiang was caught off guard by the sudden disappearance, leaving him vulnerable.

In the next moment, the child reappeared beside him, his two blades flashing in the air, aimed at Qiang's lower regions. Qiang quickly evaded the attack, but the boy threw one of his daggers to gain more reach, causing it to fly directly towards Qiang's targeted location. Qiang's reflexes kicked in, and he dodged the blade with ease. But, to his surprise, the boy had already launched a second dagger, this time aimed directly at his eye!

In a split second, Qiang had to utilize a special martial art move called the "Hollow Steps Of The Mountain" to move faster than his usual speed, just barely avoiding the deadly strike. Qiang's head was ringing as he felt the pain in his legs from the sudden movements. The boy clicked his tongue in frustration, and Qiang realized that he had underestimated him.

"I was mistaken! He wasn't just aiming for my legs. He was going after my eyes too! He just made it appear as though…" Qiang couldn't believe what he was seeing. This child was not to be underestimated. He was a force to be reckoned with.

The decision to eliminate him had been made - Qiang knew he was too deadly to be kept alive. But he was also too valuable to kill. Should he cripple him instead? Yes, that seemed like the best option. Without a second thought, Qiang prepared himself to unleash his Martial Arts. Despite his weak bones, he rushed at his prey with a swift and deadly technique known as the Hollow Steps of the Mountain, reinforcing his body with the powerful Hollow First Fist of the Mountain.

The boy was no match for Qiang's speed and strength. In a flash, he realized that killing the child would be the most profitable option. After all, a crippled child was as worthless as a rag. The value of a child lay in their latent abilities, talents, and future prospects - and this boy had all three. But Qiang couldn't ignore the danger the child posed. He had to be eliminated.

With unshakable resolve, Qiang trusted his instincts and went for the kill. But just as he was about to strike the fatal blow, a loud voice erupted from the stone house. Qiang and Liu were both stunned - they had been so focused on their fight that they hadn't noticed the boy's parents standing behind the door.

"M-mom! Da--!"

The boy's words were cut short by Qiang's swift movement. In a moment of brilliance, he decided to take the parents hostage instead. With a fierce cry, he struck down the father and seized the mother by the throat. Blood spattered on the stone pavement as Qiang's crimson-coated hand firmly gripped the innocent and struggling woman.

"D-da… M-mo—!"

"Kid, if you know what's best for you, you'll stand down," Qiang snarled, a twisted smile spreading across his face. "Cooperate with me, and I'll spare her life. Refuse, and I'll snap her neck."

Liu's heart pounded in his chest. He looked from his father's lifeless body to his mother, who was struggling in Qiang's grasp. The bandit's grip on her throat was tight, cutting off her breath.

But in that moment, something sparked in Liu's mind. A plan. Qiang only needed one hostage, and Liu knew just what to do. He would offer himself up for sale as a slave, and in exchange, his mother would be spared. Qiang wouldn't be able to do anything, as long as Liu had his mother.

With a cold grin, Qiang thought to himself, "He'll break just like the rest. He has no choice."

Liu's expression shifted from shock to confusion to anger, and finally to resignation. Qiang had won.

"Fine," Liu muttered, his voice barely audible. "I'll do it."

Qiang chuckled, relishing in his victory. "Good. You'll be sold to a merchant, and you'll cooperate. Or else, your mother dies."

The words dripped with power, and Qiang felt it coursing through him. He was in control now. Liu was silent, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion.

But then, in a soft whisper, Liu uttered a word that sent chills down Qiang's spine.

"Shit."

Qiang was a martial artist, but even with his training, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong. He couldn't quite make out what Liu had said, but he knew that it was significant.

Qiang's plan was not as foolproof as he had thought. He realized this as he watched Liu's face, which was initially clouded with confusion, transform into something else entirely. Something that even Qiang couldn't quite understand.

"Bullshit! You'll kill her anyway!" Liu roared, grabbing the dagger from the floor and rushing towards Qiang in a screaming frenzy. Qiang's heart raced as he realized his mistake. "I was wrong!" he thought, "He's not like the others."

Despite Liu's maddened scream and the terror of death that emanated from his every move, Qiang was done playing games. He flung the woman in his grasp directly at Liu, causing them to collide with each other. In the chaos that ensued, Qiang made his move.

Without a second thought, he sent his hand launching in a straight line. The sound of flesh being pierced echoed through the room as Qiang's hand passed through the delicate woman's body with precise motion. He drove his hand into her until it reached the throat of the completely shocked Liu.

In that instant, Qiang had successfully killed the hostage, but he had also captured the target. A devilish grin spread across his face as he turned to Liu and said, "You're right, kid. I would have killed her anyway."

The room fell silent as Qiang's words hung in the air. Liu stared at Qiang with a mixture of horror and disbelief, and Qiang's grin only widened. He had won. He had completed his mission. And there was nothing anyone could do about it.

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