Rain fell heavily on the scorched earth. The scent of blood still lingered, mixing with the wet soil and the silence of corpses. In the middle of it all stood Ye Wu, body half-broken, his long white hair soaked and clinging to his skin.
He was surrounded.
The remnants of sects he had once dismantled with manipulation, lies, and brutal precision now stood as one, united only by hatred. Their eyes burned with vengeance. He had played them like pawns for years—until his web of control finally snapped.
"Ye Wu… this is the end," said a man cloaked in blue lightning. "Your schemes end here."
Ye Wu laughed, dry and cracked. "My schemes? No… this world simply couldn't keep up."
His legs gave out, knees hitting the mud. The once-cold glint in his eyes flickered as pain and exhaustion crept in.
And then… it came.
A flash—memories, painful and raw, rushed into him.
Years Ago – Early Life
Ye Wu's life hadn't begun in power. It started in filth.
He was a failed child of a remote village, weak and talentless. His Gu worms died one after another—mismanaged, mishandled. He remembered watching helplessly as his first Gu, a simple flame worm, withered in his palm from neglect. His clan mocked him. They called him cursed. He believed them.
Desperation turned to darkness. He stole. He lied. He betrayed a childhood friend for a single survival-type Gu. He watched her scream as beast worms devoured her, and he turned away without flinching.
From then on, Ye Wu learned the truth of this world: emotion was a weakness, and manipulation was a craft.
Over time, he honed that craft until no one saw the real him—only the face he chose to show. With each betrayal, he rose. With each lie, he solidified power.
But power built on unstable stones would eventually collapse.
Back to the Present
As he bled out in the mud, his mind echoed with one last thought:
"If only I had more time…"
A strange warmth stirred in his chest. The Crimson Lotus, his unique Gu worm—born from his own madness and emotional control—shuddered violently. A blinding crimson light bloomed inside his mind.
And then…
Darkness.
Ye Wu awoke to the cries of gulls and the smell of the sea. His body was small again. Fragile. His hands were those of a child.
He sat up slowly on the damp sand, confusion in his eyes. "Where…?"
But something was different. Unlike before, he wasn't lost. He could feel it deep inside—the Crimson Lotus Gu had followed him. Buried in his mind, silent and alive.
The world had shifted.
And so had he.
No fate. No prophecy. No name
written in stars.
Only Ye Wu… and the bloom of blood and silence.
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Note from the Author
English is not my first language, and I'm still learning. This fanfic is something I'm writing just for fun and personal satisfaction. I appreciate your understanding and patience with any mistakes along the way!