Lost State
Lost State
A young man with an unkempt appearance mumbled while his eyes were clouded with a bit of confusion before stumbling away from the forest he had been staying in for a day. And without needing to check the location where he had been, his feet began to walk towards a certain direction, seemingly knowing where the closest town is.
"Papa bug, Wakey Wakey, are you here with me right now?"
"... Purple…"
The floating purple dragon let out a sigh of relief while the disguised red bracelet on the young man's wrist happily wiggled and made a soft hissing sound before turning still after the young man responded to them.
"Waa… Goldy is happy that Papa bug is getting better."
"..."
A shameless dragon and a cry baby snake…
A hint of clarity, much clearer than before, appeared in Shao Cheng's eyes while gazing at the two creatures who had been accompanying him during most of his delicate, weak state.
"… Urgh… my head hurts…"
Shao Cheng's endurance and tolerance should have been high even if his physical body wasn't in the same state in his previous life; yet, such pain is something he couldn't fully handle.
While the usually calm and controlled state he had, based on countless experiences in two lifetimes is absent, the violent urge and unpredictable moods constantly occur. Completely unlike his usual self.
There is also a certain heaviness that seemed to be pressing him. At the same time, the way he saw the world is black and gray while there seemed to be an invincible wall blocking him from fully integrating with the entire reality.
Shao Cheng wasn't fully aware of his surroundings and what he was doing. All of it is just based on his honed instinct along with Purple guidance. Fortunately, the two of them had a special bond, particularly after the deal made with the Chang Spirit.
Thus he was more aware of the purple dragon's presence than anyone else.
"... Don't… mess… around…"
He could only give all his trust to the purple dragon he doesn't find dependable because of a certain person's great influence. However, he can't do anything about the entire situation with how they had been caught off guard.
It wasn't even part of their plan, the damage to the mind and soul was something they couldn't have predicted when they decided to deal with Huang Ya's unusualness.
Ren Yuan…
Shao Cheng couldn't help but think of the person who is able to move his heart.
It was also the only person who could let him feel such overwhelming guilt and devastating remorse.
Fated Lover? Is it really true? Then why is it that in the vision I saw, we are always on the opposite side? Killing each other or trying to pull the opponent down?
Hah! Not even once did I see the two of us having a good ending, nor did the two of us get together.
Shao Cheng's lip spread into a scathing smile with heavy gloom and depraved between his eyebrows as he continued to walk in the nearest town he could sense with utter confidence.
Despite not fully knowing where he had been traveling after leaving the Chang Capital.
Crash!
The empty wine jar in his hand was violently thrown away, harshly hitting the tree trunk and breaking into countless pieces.
Ah… is our ending… going to be the same even in this new chance?
Shao Cheng continues to stumble and sway, completely having the appearance of a drunk and decadent person, especially with the messy long hair with few leaves and a thin stick upon it. And yet, he never once fell down, his feet remaining steady on the ground despite how unsteady he looked while walking.
"... Ah… Papa bug… going to be gone again."
Shao Cheng murmurs softly, feeling irritated at the noise in his ears, although he was more focused on the familiar heaviness his state of mind is once again feeling, in which he knew that the 80% clarity he just got is going to disappear again.
He is going to return to the lost state, with only the honed instinct and the purple dragon guiding him while he wanders around in various places.
A few seconds later, Purple let out a sigh as the young man returned to his usual delicate condition. Yet, his purple eyes could see that despite finding themselves in bad circumstances, there is also a good thing about it.
Purple could see how the young man's bond toward the entire land of the Chang Empire is becoming stronger as the days pass. Even though the young man wasn't fully integrated with reality, always being in a confused state of mind, but, it was also a blessing in disguise.
It was like Shao Cheng was becoming the land itself. Without using the special eye ability, he could tell what was going on around him.
For example, even though he just woke up without fully knowing where he is. Yet, he could already tell in which direction the closest town is. Particularly the fact that he chose the shortest route with less trouble in meeting annoying people.
So with how the young man is fully integrating his bond with the Chang Empire, it wasn't surprising how it caused the heavenly purple aura around him to become purer and denser.
And Purple could instinctively tell that it was also affecting the fate and destiny meant for the next ruler of the Chang Empire.
This means, that instead of his Mama bug sitting on the throne, his Papa bug was the most ideal person between them to become the next Emperor of the Chang Empire.
Of course, it doesn't mean that his Mama bug doesn't have the fate of the Emperor anymore.
If Purple were to explain it in an easier way while using some information in the young man's memories, he believes his Mama bug is more destined to be the Male Empress instead of being the Emperor.
However, he couldn't help but show a troubled look after remembering his Papa had set a certain goal for the future ruler of the Chang Empire. Especially the troublesome stubbornness his Papa bug has.
Sigh…
"Why are the children the ones worrying about their troublesome parent's problem?"
Purple shook his head before once again laying on top of the confused young man's head. He watched the entire time how his Papa bug skillfully and stealthily steals a wine jar from the famous restaurant in the town before once again traveling to their next destination.
He couldn't help but roll his eyes at how skilled his Papa bug thief skill is, although he wasn't surprised despite the state of mind the young man is in. After all, his Papa bug isn't truly in an absolute confused state.
The young man just doesn't care about what is going on around him while moving in honed instinct and experience, with no idea of who he is. This means the young man has no clue about being 'Shao Cheng' while in a lost state of mind.
That is what it means when Purple spoke about the young man who wasn't in a clear state of mind.
While Purple, Goldy, and Shao Cheng continue their journey to heal the damage caused by the abnormal situation of the ten years old Huang Ya, a certain person in the Capital had been growing anxious about the continued absence of a report regarding the young man's situation and location.
"... Is he angry at me?"
Ren Yuan dressed in a darker shade of crimson robes instead of the usually bright and exquisite design, worriedly mumbles while gripping the only letter he received after learning about Whitey sudden decision of wandering outside the Capital once again.
Although he already made sure to once again threaten the only two people who know what occurred that night, he still couldn't help but get anxious after remembering the shocking situation he found himself in after waking up from unconsciousness.
And then, just like always whenever he remembers that day, his face couldn't help but turn into a crimson color, obviously feeling all sorts of complicated emotions, particularly one emotion he couldn't deny, which was shyness after trying to figure out what it was.
After all, not once in his life did he feel such shyness, even at a young age, his father had always told him how thick his skin was, born as a shameless person.
Damn!
Ren Yuan's peach blossom gray eyes shook, and after so many days, even he couldn't help but notice how abnormal and unusual his reactions were. And when he looked at all the empty jars around him, the amount was far more than usual; he wanted to blame the abnormal reaction to being drunk.
And yet, he couldn't just ignore how dangerous the state of his mind and emotions had been after meeting the young man. Everything seemed to be going in a different direction, even though he couldn't have a complete idea what it was about, but he felt that it needed to be put to a stop.
If it was in the state of feeling comfortable and at peace whenever he was in the young man's presence, then he could still accept it, especially after following his instinct of wanting to put his trust in the young man and gamble with him being reliable and genuine.
However, he got the premonition that one wrong move between them, and would put his life in great danger.
And yet, when he imagines completely putting his guard up or planning to end their association with each other, he feels extremely uncomfortable and unwilling to do it.
Besides, "Doesn't it look like I'm running away from my problem?"
I have never been a cowardly person.
Ren Yuan's lip press into a thin line while the image of the young man in white clothes flashes in his mind, the indifferent and cold expression that doesn't put anything in his eyes changing into a stunning small smile causing his peach blossom gray eyes to squint with unfathomable emotions behind it.
Somehow, some vague guess keeps flashing in his mind, although it swiftly disappears as fast as it appeared before a thought can truly form.
"... Well… I felt like this is going to be a tricky situation…"
Ren Yuan left out a sigh before once again reaching out for another bottle of the medicinal wine Whitey had given him, only to pause in his action for a second and wave his hands, causing a dark guard to appear before him.
And then he stood up after the dark guard disappeared after making a report, giving a longing look at the wine jar next to him before leaving the room he had been using to be left alone by his noisy friends.
"It's time to do some work."