— Your element is a bit strange, boy.

  — Excuse me..?

  — It's blood. — Noah revealed with a sigh — And I’ll have to create another technique for that. The books I got are finished, so go fetch one so I can write.

  Xiao Yun left soon after they arrived at the cabin. Still uncertain about what he had heard and what it implied. He hoped not, but feared it might limit the techniques he could eventually learn. If it only affected his ease at learning other techniques, he had nothing to say.

  Hearing the creak of the door, He Rui looked back — Come here. — she said, smiling as she called Xiao Ying, who slipped through the crack.

  — What did you think of that book you just read? — Noah asked, sitting one step below where He Rui was — Did you understand anything?

  — Yes, Miss Guang Ai helped me with the words I didn’t know, so it was much easier.

  — Well... If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’ll help as much as I can. — getting up, he went inside the cabin — Tell Xiao Yun to wait here when he comes back.

  — Alright... Thank you.

  After the door closed, He Rui allowed herself to fall back, lying on the porch, and picked up the puppy — Miss...Ting said you’re a very strong beast, but you must still need to eat, right? Or don’t you feel hungry, like me right now? The feeling is really strange…, like everything else.

  Hugging it, she turned over. Closing her eyes, she calmed down. The two were peaceful now and that was very good, there was no conflict of emotions in her chest.

  — We’ll get used to it together, okay? — she murmured, stroking the soft fur.

  The wind circled the silent cabin during the wait. He Rui remained lying down and Noah sat in front of the bed, waiting for any reaction from Ting. Nothing happened. Fingers or hair, nothing moved. The two stood up when they noticed an approach and heard sounds. Xiao Yun had returned, but he wasn’t alone.

  He Rui went around the porch and watched the direction the sound of small wheels spinning was coming from. Further ahead, the boy walked slowly, pushing a wheelchair down the winding road. Leaving Xiao Ying on the ground, He Rui went to help him. She picked up the girl, allowing Xiao Yun to lift the chair for easier transport.

  After putting Yang Se back in the chair, he straightened up. His eyes looked away when they met Noah's, who was watching from the door.

  — Sorry about this. She didn’t want to let me come, so... Can I come back later?

  Noah looked to the girl being received by He Rui affectionately and with laughter — Did you bring the book? — he turned and headed to the other side of the cabin.

  — Y-Yes. — Xiao Yun asked Yang Se to wait and quickly followed him.

  Sitting on the steps, Noah waited for the blank book Xiao Yun came to give him. The boy stood, watching him take out the brush and ink from the spatial pouch and, with strange ease, start to write the chant in question.

  He swallowed hard, looking at Noah and then back at the page — Are you sure this is a technique...? — he let slip, then closed his mouth a bit more firmly.

  — How did you think I wrote the others? Did you think I spent days pondering some concept and all their complexity? In the end, everyone will have their own interpretation of the technique, so why would I bother with that? — Noah put a finishing dot before handing it over — See if you can understand. And sit somewhere to test it.

  The boy nodded, then looked at the page — But... why "Demon God"?

  — "Blood Demon God," well, I think it fits. After all, using blood like that isn’t usually seen as a good thing, right?

  — I see.., I guess you’re right.

  Xiao Yun walked over to a tree and sat below it. He crossed his legs. Before settling in, he read the chant one last time.

  Setting the book aside, he sighed. His eyes closed.

  — I am the current.

  The flow.

  And the connection.

  Holding onto life

  And dictating where it goes.

  Binding families for generations until they meet their ruin.

  For I am the beginning.

  The middle.

  And the end.

  Drowning the world in crimson and,

  If I stop flowing,

  I cast it straight into the domain of chaos.

  Without pain or discomfort, as with other techniques, Xiao Yun felt something inside him vibrate. His blood sped up its circulation. It warmed up. And seemed to long for something that wasn’t there.

  He opened his eyes, ending his meditation. His breath exhaled a faint iron scent that dissipated upon contact with the air.

  Picking up the book, he stood — I think it worked-! — Xiao Yun froze. Staring at the creature lying in Yang Se’s lap, his heart leapt. Through trembling, his voice failed him.

  — It’s okay, boy. — Noah assured him, bringing him back to his senses — Look again, she won’t harm her.

  Holding his breath, he blinked. He looked again, analyzing the situation. The monstrous being seemed to enjoy the affection it was receiving. Was it enjoying it? Was it not a threat? Then what was that chill up his spine? Xiao Yun loosened his clenched fists, allowing the book to uncrumple a little. Even if what he feared was true, he felt there was nothing he could do.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  — What did you feel? Did anything feel different when you used this technique?

  Swallowing hard, he tried to focus — I felt like something was missing. — but his eyes kept drifting to the beast — I’m not sure what it is, but I can’t say if it'd be an issue with the technique itself... or maybe something missing in me.

  — Something missing..? — Noah mused for a moment. As if he decided something, he got up — Wait-

  — I’m going out for a bit, okay? — He Rui said, interrupting him.

  Turning to her, Noah asked — Did something happen?

  — No, nothing serious. Yang Se is a bit hungry, so I’ll get her something.

  — Hungry? Didn’t you say she already ate earlier? — Xiao Yun stared at the curled-up girl. He clenched his fists — Why... wait a moment, I’ll go get something.

  — Hey, boy, it’s just a bit of food, not the end of the world. — ingredients jumped out from Noah’s belt pouch and gathered on the porch. Glancing at the stove, the firewood moved inside and before long, orange flames began to burn. When they did, the crackling filled the air — Make something with this. I’ll be right back.

  Noah left, heading beyond the walls, and the three craned their heads, trying to watch him go.

  Losing control of her jaw, Yang Se was left open-mouthed.

  He Rui only realized she should be doing something other than just watching when she heard the girl's stomach growl. She turned to the now-curled girl and smiled — Let’s eat everything before he comes back, what do you think? Do you think you can help me with this?

  She nodded.

  Xiao Yun averted his eyes. He loosened his fists when called, and stopping from biting down, went to help lift Yang Se onto the porch.

  After swallowing, the girl murmured — Sorry, Yun’er... I'm fine, I-

  Putting more food in her mouth, Xiao Yun interrupted her — It’s okay, I’m not mad... — he said, though he couldn’t quite look her directly in the eyes — Just don’t do that again, okay?

  Yang Se nodded her head.

  — Is it good, Yang Se? — He Rui asked.

  — Yes, thank you, auntie.

  —...Then eat as much as you want.

  The chopsticks spun inside the bowl as Xiao Yun held back his words. His eyes drifted toward the door and then back. Halting his movements, he finally spoke — Can I ask something?

  — Huh? Sure.

  He looked at the door — That girl, is she alright?

  He Rui arched her eyebrows. However, following his gaze, she thought she understood what he meant — Are you talking about Ting?

  Despite his anxiety, he ended up nodding.

  — Yes... She’s just meditating a bit.

  — I see-

  A crash echoed a short distance away, making them both stand immediately.

  Xiao Yun stretched an arm, placing it in front of Yang Se. While He Rui couldn’t do much besides tremble.

  On the ground, Xiao Ying remained lying motionless.

  — Boy, come over here.

  They sighed in relief when they saw it was just Noah.

  After asking He Rui to watch his sister, Xiao Yun ran toward the source of the voice and crash. His body was goosebumps all over, as he kept hearing a heavy breathing that could never be human. The farther he went, the louder it got. It multiplied. More than one beast was waiting.

  Silently, he climbed into the trees. He needed to make sure there was nothing wrong, so he watched with extreme caution. However, that reddish, shiny wall stretched ahead seemed to have looked at him?

  — What are you doing? — lifting his head, Noah watched him from the ground — I said come here.

  His body fumbled, losing balance. Xiao Yun nearly fell, but managed to hold on. Letting himself drop, he landed on his feet. He shivered as something stiffened his limbs. His steps stayed alert. Each breath belonged to a monstrous being surrounding him. Creatures that, with a single blow or bite, could kill him. A scrape of their fangs and he would wish he were dead. The beasts piled together, from spiders to wolves. There was even a dreadful being whose reddish body reflected the sun like a glassy sand mirror.

  — What are these things..? — he asked, then jumped away upon feeling one of the breaths behind him.

  — A little test. — turning to a spot on the ground, Noah clenched his fist. The earth gathered into a mound and rose — You said something was missing, I want to see if it’s this.

  — This...? — the boy glimpsed at the pile of bodies, then reeled back. Chills came over him — Beasts?

  With the hole ready, Noah lifted the creatures upside down and approached them with a small knife in hand. He slit their throats and, for the long-bodied beast, plunged the knife through the serrated mouth. Unlike the other beasts, its grunts echoed, though weak and restrained.

  Xiao Yun looked away, but Noah did not seem to care. He shook his hand, removing the splattered blood.

  When the blood stopped spilling, Noah threw the bodies aside and lifted the next ones. In front of the giant spiders, he hesitated. He was about to cut them, but reconsidered. He turned to Xiao Yun — Do you know if their blood is poisonous?

  Examining the twitching body, Xiao Yun shivered at the sight of the glowing fangs, from which greenish goo was about to drip.

  — Probably...? — he said.

  — Probably? Was that an answer or a question?

  — I don’t know. I’ve never seen these things before.

  Noah looked at the creatures, observed the poison on their fangs, and sighed. He wouldn’t take the risk, so he put them aside. It would be terrible if, when she woke, Ting got the news that, by accident, he had killed Xiao Yun.

  — Alright, I think that’ll be enough. — he threw the knife at the spiders, piercing them in turn — Go ahead, get in there.

  — Excuse me...? — Xiao Yun stepped back, staring at the pool of blood, its surface even bubbling.

  — Logically speaking, people with a nature toward fire use herbs and things with a strong yang attribute to strengthen themselves. Those with air as their attribute look for places or herbs with that rare energy. The same applies to other natures, so I believe you get it.

  — Well, yes, but...This is...

  Turning away, Noah began to leave. He was a bit curious. However, not enough to insist or try to convince him otherwise.

  — If you don’t want to, you can leave and we’ll stop here. You can try to find the answer yourself later. — he said.

  Xiao Yun looked at the boiling blood. He clenched his fists tightly — Wait..! — he thought he yelled but didn’t use as much force as planned — I’ll try it.

  — Are you sure? I don’t want it to seem like I’m forcing you.

  — No, I...need to... — he approached slowly as he loosened his clothes — I’ll do it, so if I take too long, can you guys take care of my sister?

  Noah looked away — I think He Rui won’t mind spending some time with her.

  Smiling, Xiao Yun took the first step.

  So that means you wouldn’t...

  His fingers touched the thick liquid, and warmed up. His legs were engulfed as if being sucked in. When he crouched, something stirred inside. With crossed legs, his closed eyes were reached. Covered from his hair down, everything was enveloped. The veil rose to the chant echoing in his mind. Nothing was missing now. He was complete. Gradually, satiated.

  For a while, Noah watched. However, nothing happened.

  He turned away with a sigh — Looks like this will really take a while.