In the narrow, dim room, a single beam of light pierced through a bright tile on the ceiling, illuminating countless specks of dust that floated in the air and shining down on the boy’s messy hair.

The boy lowered his head, his hands bound to the chair behind him. A trickle of blood ran down his forehead and cheeks, dripping onto his fair knees.

With a creak, the door opened, and the circulation of air stirred the dust on the floor.

A middle-aged man, appearing to be in his forties or fifties, walked in, grunting as he carried a bucket of well water that he had just drawn. Even in summer, the water was icy cold.

The man approached the boy, took out a lighter, and lit a cigarette. After taking a deep puff, he suddenly poured the cold water over the boy’s head.

Tadashi was startled by the sudden coldness and felt more awake now.

The middle-aged man who stood before him was none other than Old Wang, whom Luna had met once.

At that moment, Old Wang’s eyes were bloodshot. He had stubbles all over his chin, and deep wrinkles on his face that made him appear much older than when Luna had seen him.

In fact, he looked like he had suddenly aged ten years.

Old Wang crouched down, scrutinizing Tadashi’s bewildered expression, and exhaled a puff of smoke toward him.

The unpleasant and pungent smoke caused Tadashi to cough violently.

“Boy, are you aware of your current situation?”

“Who… art thou?”

“You can call me Old Wang, but my name isn’t important. What matters now is you.”

“Where… are We?”

The dizziness from the blow to his head still lingered, leaving Tadashi confused. He subconsciously tried to touch the back of his head where it throbbed with pain.

“Huh?”

He couldn’t move… his hands…

Tadashi struggled harder.

Not only were his hands restrained, but his entire body was bound too, rendering him completely immobile.

“This is… kidnapping…”

Tadashi finally regained his senses and looked at the unfamiliar face in both confusion and terror.

“Why… kidnap Us? We are just…”

“A beggar, right?”

Old Wang spat the cigarette butt onto the ground before crushing it with the sole of his foot. “Honestly, I don’t want to kidnap a beggar either. It disgusts me so bad that I can’t even eat.”

“We… are not beggar… We’ve never begged anyone!” Tadashi protested angrily.

“Haha! You say you’re not a beggar?”

Old Wang widened his eyes, leaning in close to Tadashi and inspecting him from head to toe.

“You’re wearing rags. Do you even have a single coin on your right now? I won’t make it difficult for you; just show me all your money…”

Tadashi bit his lip and stammered, “W-We… We don’t have any right now, but We—”

“Haha! No money? You have no money? If you don’t have money, then you’re a beggar! Ha! I have no money either, so I’m also a damn beggar… but…”

The vein on Old Wang’s forehead bulged, and without any warning, he punched Tadashi in the abdomen.

“But I don’t want to be a beggar!” he finished his sentence.

“Ugh…!” Tadashi’s eyes bulged as his body arched like a boiled prawn. Saliva dribbled uncontrollably from the corners of his mouth, and he involuntarily emitted a groan.

“So…”

Old Wang half-kneeled in front of Tadashi again, gently lifting his chin and carefully combing through his messy hair. He spoke softly, like an old friend.

“I’ll ask you just one question, okay? As long as you answer it, I’ll let you go. We’ll be friends and put this behind us. Maybe I’ll even be kind enough to reward you in the future, so you won’t have to be a little beggar anymore. You can go to school, study like other teenagers, and spend your youth on the track fields.”

“What… question…?”

“Good boy…”

Old Wang smiled, looking directly into Tadashi’s eyes as he continued asking, “Where is that woman?”

“…Which… woman?”

“Heh, which woman do you think it is?”

Old Wang shook his head as if he had just heard the most ridiculous question. “In your humble life as a beggar, do you get to meet many women?”

“We… No… ugh!” Tadashi cried out again.

Old Wang had punched Tadashi in the abdomen again as he said angrily, “Speak faster! And stop speaking in that strange way. Are you an ancient person who just jumped out of a grave?”

“W-… We…” Tadashi tried to speak, but the excruciating pain made it impossible for him to form a coherent sentence.

Old Wang stepped back, found a chair, and sat down across from the boy, waiting leisurely for Tadashi to complete his sentence.

After a few minutes, Tadashi’s breathing gradually stabilized.

Old Wang leaned forward again and asked, “I’ll repeat the question: Where is that woman? If you answer, I’ll consider you my half-brother. If you don’t, I’ll grant your wish and send you to reunite with those ancient souls underground.”

“We… We don’t know… We… really don’t know…” Tadashi repeated.

Old Wang laughed angrily.

“You think I won’t kill you? Think again, little beggar. If it were someone else, I might hesitate, but you… Ha! To be honest, what’s the big deal if I kill you? Do you really think anyone in this world cares about you? You’re just a scum worse than the bottom of society. Will anyone notice you’re missing and call the cops? Bah! Let me tell you this: even if you die, your bones will be picked clean by wild dogs, and no one will remember there was a worthless wretch like you in the world.”

Tadashi coughed up two mouthfuls of bloody phlegm. With great effort, he lifted his head and tried to crack open his eyes to look at Old Wang.

“We’ll… say it again… We are… not beggar. We are… Aristides… Castro… lord of the vast empire… keeper… of the…dark… and…”

“F**k that s**t!”

Furious, Old Wang leaped up from his chair, raised his foot, and kicked Tadashi hard, knocking him to the ground again.

He then straddled Tadashi’s body, raining his fists down onto his head, face, and frail body.

“F**k whatever lord of the Empire…”

“F**k that Aristi… something…”

“F**k that keeper of the dark…”

“Damn little psychopath!”

Fortunately, Old Wang’s age limited his stamina. He gradually grew exhausted and leaned against the bench for support.

“How dare you even f*****g speak like someone with an Eighth Grade Syndrome. You must have had enough of living,” he spat at Tadashi once more.

Tadashi had lost his ability to respond, frothing at his bloody and deformed mouth like a crab.

“Tsk, did I kick him too hard? Oh well, I’ll give you another chance to reflect on yourself. I won’t be so kind next time.”

With that, Old Wang walked out of the room and slammed the door shut.

The room fell back into silence.

The sun shone on Tadashi’s face, bruised and stained with blood.

He moved his swollen lips, murmuring in a voice no one could hear.

“We… are not beggar…”

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