章 5: Daily life - 2

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Author Note: This chapter is especially for the reader Kami12, whose review has encouraged me to write today. Thank you for your support!

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MC (POV)

I leaned back against the rough bark of an old tree, cradling the smooth stone in my hand. The forest around me hummed with life, the soft rustling of leaves mingling with the distant chirping of birds. But my mind was elsewhere, caught in the web of thoughts spinning around the bandit incident.

"Heh," I muttered under my breath. "I don't want William to face any problems with the local government over the bandit slaughter, but... who can predict the future?"

My thoughts drifted like the clouds above. The idea of intervening in events had always made me uneasy. The butterfly effect, as they called it, was a terrifying concept. One small action could ripple across time, changing everything. And in this world, where danger lurked around every corner, I had to be careful—very careful.

"I should start planning my future," I mused, my gaze turning distant. "I can't afford to be lazy, thinking I can be stronger later. Time is money, and every moment wasted is a step closer to danger."

A slow sigh escaped my lips. I longed for a leisurely life, one without the constant worry of money, food, or the threats of this world. But I knew better. This was the Marvel Universe, after all, where even the slightest misstep could lead to catastrophe. I shivered at the thought.

"But," I reminded myself, "not intervening when something wrong is happening right in front of me isn't healthy either." The memory of those bandits flashed in my mind, and I clenched my fist. "Sometimes, trouble finds you, and when it does, you have to face it."

I shook my head, trying to dispel the unease gnawing at my heart. "First, I thought of the bandit incidents in novels, and later, it happened. This isn't just a coincidence... could it be because of my black tongue?"

Author Note: In ancient days, there was a superstition that the words of a person with black marks on their tongue would come true.

"But I must be careful," I continued, a slight smirk playing on my lips. "Helping without expecting something in return is dharma, but it's also a way to avoid future troubles. And I definitely don't want a hero saving the Cinderella plot. That kind of drama is too much for me."

My thoughts drifted to the tales of ancient women—beautiful, silent, and utterly terrifying. The last thing I wanted was to get entangled in a love triangle. "I've seen enough period dramas to know better," I chuckled softly to myself. "I should avoid these situations altogether."

As I thought, I began to list my own personal rules:

Rules of Infinity:

- Rule 1: Never engage in a friendly conversation with any woman who is both beautiful and silent.

- Rule 2: Avoid the hero saving the princess plot at all costs.

- Rule 3: Don't show my face or smile at a woman. The rude man is always the popular character in dramas, but I still don't understand why.

- Rule 4: Avoid women from higher social classes. I don't need any problems with high society.

- Rule 5: Don't speak to beautiful women—they always have a group of sons of officials following them like fanboys.

- Rule 6: Never try the childhood sweetheart trope. Falling in love will be postponed until after the age of 20.

- Rule 7: Never help directly; these women have a strange instinct and will always find their savior.

- Rule 8: Never reveal any secrets to a woman or a girl—they're like ancient radios. In my previous life, I never understood how my mother knew all the gossip in our community.

- Rule 9: Marry a woman from a simple family, like a scholar's, because I am a vampire. Less exposure of my identity to the outside society.

- Rule 10: Never pursue a beautiful woman. Beauty comes with trouble. (Newton's third law: Every action has its opposite reaction).

I chuckled, feeling a bit ridiculous. "Oh, sht, am I becoming an idiot or something? If I follow all these rules, I'll die single in this life too." I sighed deeply, the weight of my own thoughts pressing down on me.

"Anyway, some of these rules might be good for the heart and mind. Love comes with its own troubles. Love has no difference," I murmured, quoting an unknown author. "Heh! I must be losing my mind. I'm starting to think like a man who's been heartbroken."

But at least those men had an opportunity...

"Being single is definitely hard for a man," I mused, remembering past experiences. "While your best friend is having a breakup with his fourth girlfriend, you're the one who has to support him during his sorrow and drinking. Unforgettable moments of life."

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Author Note: Sorry for all this, but the slice of life for a baby is unknown to me as a grown man.

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As the afternoon sun began to dip below the horizon, I realized it was already time for lunch.

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NEXT DAY (Local Official Office) near the Bandit Incident

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Sheng Xiao (POV) - Subordinate of the Official of Peach Town

Today started with trouble. Someone found thirty decapitated bodies on the official road, each with bite marks. The air around the scene was thick with the stench of blood and death. As I knelt beside one of the bodies, I tried to suppress the rising bile in my throat. These were the bodies of bandits, no doubt, but the brutality of the attack was unlike anything I'd ever seen.

"We can't ignore this," I muttered to my superior, glancing around nervously. "Bandits or not, this is a massacre. We'll have to investigate."

My superior, Wu Ran, looked pale. He had only been in office for two days, and already he was being thrust into a nightmare. "Sht, my luck," he whispered under his breath.

When the news arrived that more bandit villages had been hit in a nearby town, I saw a flicker of relief in his eyes. "Good," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "The responsibility of the investigation will be transferred to the capital."

But I could sense the underlying fear. Wu Ran was from a normal scholar family, with no connections to higher officials. The pressure on him would be immense. And there were rumors—whispers of high-ranking officials with ties to the bandits. The thought made my stomach churn.

"Let's hope we can manage this without bringing more trouble upon ourselves," I murmured.

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William (POV)

The night had been a blur of blood and shadows. I had slaughtered the entire bandit village, leaving no one alive to seek revenge. I did it for Young Master Victor. I had to protect him from any future annoyance. The things I secured from the bandits would be useful for us, but the real victory was the silence that followed.

As I held Victor, his small hands grasping at my cloak, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. My young master was safe, and that was all that mattered.

"Sht," I muttered under my breath, wiping the blood from my lips. "These puny humans dared to stand against me, a purebred vampire."

But in my focus on the task, I failed to notice the changes in Victor's eyes—the deep red glow that flickered in the shadows, or the way his presence seemed to command the very darkness around him. And I certainly didn't see the red-eyed shadows that emerged after we left the place of slaughter.

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MC (POV)

I smiled contentedly as William fed me peaches. The sweet, juicy fruit was a welcome change from the blood I was used to. But as I ate, my mind drifted back to the bandits. Their shadows now served me, loyal soldiers bound to my will. I could feel their presence, lurking in the darkness, waiting for my command.

"My army," I whispered to myself, feeling a thrill of excitement. "It's growing."

The shadows around me were more than just tools—they were a part of me, a manifestation of my power. With each new shadow I summoned, I could feel myself growing stronger. One day, I would have an army of trillions, and I would be the strongest in the darkness of this world.

But for now, I was content to bide my time. There was no need to rush. The world was vast, and I had plenty of time to plan my future.

"Burp," I let out a satisfied sigh. "The food today brought by William is good. I think peach is so good after a meal."

And with that, I allowed myself to drift into a peaceful sleep, the shadows of my new army standing guard in the night.

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Author Note: MC will spend and grow to adulthood near this town in a village—the name of the village will be revealed in the next chapter. I'm so bad at naming. Hehe. See you later.

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