Xaidon slowly walked towards the young man's lifeless body, the cold floor beneath his feet a familiar sensation. The reason he had waited so long was because he didn't know if this man used Qi, and that would have been disastrous if he had attacked and killed the old man first. It turned out this boy was just a normal, disgusting human being. He didn't waste any more time and grabbed the man's clothes, surprised to find that they fit reasonably well despite his own malnourished state. The feeling of wearing something for the first time in a long time was nice and refreshing; the fabric felt coarse against his skin, but it was a welcome change from the nothingness he had endured.
He checked the man's pockets and clothes, only to find that he had nothing of value on him. "Useless." Xaidon hissed, his voice barely audible. He looked towards the table, his gaze lingering on the various instruments before focusing on a knife. He picked it up, feeling its weight and balance in his hand, and left the cell.
His cell was located at the very end of a long, dimly lit pathway. There were no guards in sight, and the silence was oppressive. He slowly walked down the corridor, his footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls, until he finally reached the end. A door now blocked his way, and he could hear muffled noises coming from the other side. Placing his ear against the door, he detected the sound of someone standing behind it, their movements cautious.
Without hesitation, Xaidon knocked on the door with calculated force and hid to the side, his heart pounding in anticipation. A moment later, the door creaked open, and a man clad in light brown armor and with a sword at his side stepped through. The guard, confused and disoriented, walked further into the corridor, his eyes scanning the area. Before he could look to his side, Xaidon struck, the knife piercing his left eye with deadly precision, killing him instantly. The guard's body slumped to the ground, a lifeless heap.
Xaidon immediately searched the guard's body, his hands moving swiftly as he rummaged through the man's belongings. He found a dagger, two pieces of biscuits, and two gold coins, which he seized with a mixture of excitement and desperation. He devoured the biscuits quickly, the dry crumbs scratching his parched throat, and took the dagger and sword, feeling a sense of relief at having some decent weapons.
As he stepped through the door, his eyes landed on a jar of water on a nearby table. His thirst getting the better of him, he grabbed the jar and drank its contents in one swift motion, the cool liquid soothing his dry mouth and throat. Feeling slightly refreshed, he walked towards the steps, his footsteps light on the stone floor.
He climbed the stairs slowly, his senses on high alert, making sure not to make any noise that might alert anyone to his presence. As he reached the next door, he paused, took a deep breath, and slowly turned the handle, pushing the door open with caution.
As the door creaked open, Xaidon found himself in a long hallway, with paths stretching out to his left and right. Without hesitation, he made a gamble and turned to his left, quickening his pace as he moved down the corridor. He didn't know the guards' patrol routes or when the guard he had killed would be expected to check in, and he needed to move fast.
As he walked, he approached another giant door, and his stomach turned. The smell and aura emanating from behind the door told him everything he needed to know – this was where the rest of the cells were. Slowly, he pushed the door open, and his eyes scanned the area. On either side of the door stood two guards, their faces expressionless.
Without hesitation, Xaidon walked towards the guard on the left and swiftly pulled out his dagger, stabbing him in the neck with deadly precision. The guard's eyes widened in shock as he slumped to the ground. The other guard, alerted by the sudden movement, became vigilant and was about to shout for backup. Xaidon sprinted towards him, covering the distance in seconds, and stabbed him in the eye, ending his life abruptly.
Xaidon had realized that all of these men were ordinary humans, incapable of using Qi. But after his rigorous training and with the needle no longer inhibiting him, he felt a surge of power and determination. As he searched the men, he found a flask of water and kept it for himself, the cool liquid a welcome respite from his parched throat.
Then, he drew his sword and walked towards the first cell to his right, his footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. The cells were placed on opposite sides of the walls, facing each other in a stark, unforgiving layout. The first cell was empty, but Xaidon could tell that it had been used recently, the air thick with the stench of suffering.
As he continued to check the cells, he noticed that they were all empty, the silence oppressive and haunting. Suddenly, a scream pierced the air, followed by a loud, maniacal laughter. "Yes! Yes! That's what I want!" The voice was twisted and cruel, and Xaidon's instincts propelled him towards the sound.
He hurried down the corridor, his sword at the ready, and saw a man holding a rod with the top half heated to a glowing red. On the ground lay a boy with brown hair and fair skin, his body trembling with fear. The man laughed as he pulled the rod down again, ready to strike the boy. But before the rod could make contact, Xaidon struck, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision.
The man's spine snapped, and he was sent flying across the room, crashing into the wall with a sickening thud. Xaidon made eye contact with the boy, and raised his sword, but instead of striking him, he used it to cut the boy's chains, freeing him from his bonds. The boy closed his eyes, expecting pain, but instead felt a wave of relief wash over him as his chains fell to the ground.
Xaidon turned and went to check the remaining cells and there he saw a middle-aged man naked and on top of a young girl around the age of fifteen. The girl's eyes looked lifeless. She had given up on life and didn't fight back. The man kept enjoying himself when a sword went through his neck killing him on the spot. Xaidon looked at the girl before cutting her chains as well. He moved out and continued then he heard a man shout at the last end. He rushed there and inside the cell, another naked man was holding his left eye and looking towards a girl with long silver hair and pale smooth skin. Blood was dripping from her fingernails.
"You crazy bitch!" The man shouted. "Just wait, I will call the rest of the guys and we all will have our fun. We will see how you like that."
He couldn't laugh, as the man's head had been severed from his body, and Xaidon's sword still lingered in the air, the metallic smell of blood hanging heavy. Xaidon gazed coldly at the lifeless corpse and then at the girl, who immediately assumed a defensive stance, her eyes wary of this stranger who had just killed the man tormenting her.
However, instead of attacking her, Xaidon cut her chains, the sound of metal clanging to the ground a sweet liberation. He glanced at her once more before leaving the cell, leaving her to decide whether to stay or leave, her fate now in her own hands.
As he exited the cell area, he sprinted towards the other side, his footsteps pounding the stone floor, arriving at a long pathway lined with doors that presumably led to the guards' quarters. Xaidon walked quietly, trying not to make any noise, his senses on high alert, but his pace halted abruptly as he fixed his gaze on one particular door. The smell emanating from it was unmistakable - the pungent scent of the old man's liquor, an odor that brought back memories and sparked a mix of emotions.
Xaidon's expression darkened instantly, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the door. He turned back and located another door, which he forced open with a bit of strength, the creaking of the old wood echoing through the hallway. Inside, he found a room filled with large quantities of alcohol barrels, the air thick with the smell of fermented spirits and the promise of intoxication. The barrels seemed to stretch on forever, a treasure trove of liquor that spoke to the excesses of their captors.
As Xaidon harnessed his Qi, he effortlessly lifted the barrels, spreading the alcohol on the doors of each cell with a calculated precision. With a dark smile, he conjured a flame, igniting each door in succession. The screams of shock and terror that followed only fueled his determination. When he reached the old man's room, he burst in, finding the elderly figure either asleep or lifeless – it didn't matter. "Enjoy, you sicko," Xaidon spat, tossing the flame onto the bed before slamming the door shut.
With the fire spreading rapidly, Xaidon sprinted towards the main gate, his heart pounding with anticipation. As he flung open the door, the bright moonlight enveloped him, illuminating the secret cave's exit. He blinked, taking in the surroundings – a dense forest stretched out before him. Without hesitation, he dashed towards the location his guest had revealed to him.