Chapter 526: The Loner
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Heavenly King. The t.i.tle itself was the synonym of power.
Why did some mentally distorted foreign Pract.i.tioners consider murdering Heavenly Kings as a top achievement? It was precisely because of the inherent difficulty.
Until today, no one had the courage to answer to any of the murder warrants for Heavenly Kings posted on the Darkness Kingdom, because there would be a price to pay if they did. Should they fail, not only would their reputation and credit suffer, they would also be labeled as losers who thought too highly of themselves.
Moreover, all Heavenly Kings stayed in China, which left the ambitious killers with practically no chances. Certainly, though, there were those waiting for their opportunity in the darkness.
The t.i.tle would also put one under the global limelight, and the word “famous” would be insufficient to describe them.
When Lu Shu heard about the offer, he was by all means surprised. Who would expect an insignificant boy, who used to get along by selling stinky tofu, to rise to the throne of a Heavenly King?!
Even so, Lu Shu chose to decline it despite the irresistible temptation. He did not want to see “Liu Xiu’s” dying for him.
s.h.i.+ Xuejin smiled calmly and said, “In this era, the chosen ones do exist. I am equally saddened by Liu Xiu’s death, but same as him, I will not think twice if my sacrifice is necessary. Of course, I will not force you. But I suggest you to consider it carefully.”
In fact, neither Nie Ting nor s.h.i.+ Xuejin had expected the trip to j.a.pan to affect and transform certain parts of Lu Shu’s perspectives, which resulted in some contradictions in his own values.
Just like during the pledge of allegiance back then, some were uncertain, and some were inspired. They were merely simple minds in their teens, sheltered from the cruelty and the true face of the outside world. They had grown up under their parents’ loving protection.
But it was a different case for Lu Shu. He had witnessed the good side, including people like Uncle Li and Li Xianyi and he had seen the bad side too, such as the coldness and the indifference of the world. Hence, he hesitated.
Lu Shu would never judge his own selfishness, as it was only a personal att.i.tude in life.
However, at this moment, his long-held beliefs were toppled by Liu Xiu’s and many others.
Now, he was even surrounded by a sense of helplessness. Liu Xiu had sacrificed his life for him, but could he return his life to Liu Xiu? He could not.
He could still repay Uncle Li and Li Xianyi’s care for Lu Xiaoyu and himself, but how could he do the same to Liu Xiu? Could avenging him by killing Takas.h.i.+ma Tairatsu be considered as reciprocation?
But the dead could not be brought back again!
To Lu Shu, being selfless was impossible, at least not for him throughout his entire life.
Yet, now, he had different views. Liu Xiu’s death resulted in an unsolvable knot in Lu Shu’s heart.
He could not return to Luo City now, because he had to attend Liu Xiu’s funeral, to bid his last farewell to the hero, his savior.
Lu Shu declined s.h.i.+ Xuejin’s kindness and walked out of the courtyard. Heavy snow fell from the sky. Pedestrians walked gingerly on the streets, cautious about the slippery floor.
A boy gently wrapped a girl in a scarf, and the latter cheerfully slid her hands into the boy’s overcoat pockets.
An elder was waiting for the bus, holding a basket of vegetables in his hands, a middle-aged man pressed a b.u.t.ton on his car key, and the headlights of a car beside the street flashed in response.
In this worldly city, a tinge of loss rose in Lu Shu’s heart, with a little helplessness.
Standing in the frozen world, Lu Shu phoned Lu Xiaoyu. The call was answered very shortly, but Lu Xiaoyu spoke angrily before Lu Shu could say anything, “Don’t talk. I am furious right now, and you can’t make me happy.”
With that, Lu Xiaoyu hung up the phone. At a loss over what to do, traces of loneliness crept into Lu Shu’s heart. It felt like something had clogged up his throat, and he was suffocating.
He did not call Lu Xiaoyu a second time. Instead, he moved forward slowly. He had no idea where to go, or what he could do.
He happened to walk past a noisy Internet cafe. People in their loneliest moments tended to be attracted to boisterous places.
Upon second thoughts, Lu Shu pushed open the door and walked in. Just when he had a good view of the rowdy scene inside, the girl at the counter yelled, “You! The one over there at the door! Close the door NOW!”
“Sure.” Lu Shu closed the door. Then, he went to register for a guest card with his ID card. “How much per hour?”
“12 yuan per hour in the hall,” the receptionist replied casually.
The billionaire Lu Shu was shocked. “What? Are you robbers?”
It only cost 2 yuan per hour in a Luo City internet cafe. In comparison, the price here was exorbitant, no matter how high the price of living in the Capital was!
The girl rolled her eyes. “So are you registering or not? If you aren’t, leave.”
Lu Shu clenched his teeth and decided. “I am!”
When he finally got a seat in the hall, he realized the internet cafe was a suitable place for him. At the very least, it was lively there, and no one would talk to him about life and dreams.
At this moment, Lu Shu received a message. Thinking that it might be Lu Xiaoyu, he quickly checked his phone, only to see it was from 10086 1 …
No sooner than he put his phone back Lu Shu had received another message. His heart twitched again in hope. But, he checked his phone and realized that it was still not Lu Xiaoyu!
Lu Shu’s heart dimmed again. It was a text from a stranger. “We should break up. No more contact onwards.”
Puzzled, Lu Shu replied to the message, “Who the h.e.l.l are you?! I don’t know you!”
The person replied, “Freak. You win!”
Lu Shu was utterly confused.
I really don’t know a d.a.m.n thing about you, bro! Are you nuts?!
Lu Shu switched on his computer, but still had no idea over what to do. Thus, he binged on a few movies.
In the past, he could never find so much time for movies. But watching too many in one go would end up boring too.
In the latter half of the night, Lu Shu saw someone return to his seat from the counter with a bowl of cup noodles. The smell of pickled Chinese cabbage was simply too tempting. Thus, Lu Shu yielded to the urge and went to buy one for himself…
He was stunned, though, by the unreasonably high price charged for cup noodles. One bowl of cup noodles with pickled Chinese cabbage actually cost him eight bucks! Screw you, you penny-pincher boss of the cafe!
As it was close to Chinese New Year, few stayed overnight in internet cafes. At this moment, a fatty patted on Lu Shu’s shoulder. “Hey, brother, wanna play a game together? We are short of one player.”