——————————————

How long ago was it?

How many years had passed from when I first realized I wasn’t the same as other normal humans?

At the start, it was just a coincidence. I can’t remember why my friends suddenly started discussing this topic.

“Speaking of girls, what sort do you like?”

The friend who spoke, what he looked like, I can’t even remember anymore.

“No expectations man, as long as she’s got a big rack and a big butt, hahaha.” I don’t know who answered like that either.

“If it’s me, I’m not fussy about looks. As long as she’s kind and hardworking and also willing to look after my parents, that’s enough.”

Someone elbowed the person who just spoke. “Dude, we’re not asking you to find a wife. We’re talking about something else.”

“That’s right! Do you like big tits, or do you like the shy virginal type?”

I don’t know when, but suddenly someone called my name.

“Oi, Wang Zhong, why aren’t you talking?” Someone put their hand on my shoulder. “What about you?”

“W-what?”

This sort of answer wasn’t because I hadn’t been listening closely, it’s just that I knew in my heart that if I didn’t add something to the conversation, my only connection to this ‘normal’ world would break. That was the thing that I didn’t want to happen the most at the time.

“Girls, man. Girls.” A distant friend who I don’t remember the face of said loudly. He slung his arm around me like a good buddy. “What sort of girl do you like?”

“About that..” I said uncomfortably, “Young girls I guess.”

My answer was very honest, but I don’t know why it caused a round of raucous laughter.

“Too good! Wang Zhong apparently likes young girls!”

“How young?”

“About.. six or seven I guess.”

Another round of whistling and laughter sounded.

“What the hell!”

“But young girls are very cute. Wang Zhong’s taste is quite hardcore.”

I didn’t really understand what they were laughing about, but since they were laughing, it meant that they found it amusing right? Thinking about it that way, I also joined them in their laughter.

“They are very cute,” I added with a smile, just to keep them amused. “So delicate, so small. I really want to cut them open to see what they look like inside.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, the laughter that had filled the air suddenly stopped. There was only the sound of my silly laugh left, sounding both strange and lonely.

“What did you just say?” Someone asked me with a strange expression.

I still didn’t feel as if there was anything wrong, still laughing as I continued my thoughts. “I really want to rape them. Just thinking about those small, soft bodies gets me excited.”

The people surrounding me were watching me as though they were watching a wild animal. I felt slightly alarmed, not understanding why they would suddenly become like this.

“Am I not right though? Don’t you think about it as well?”

I panicked, raising my voice. I could not understand the look in their eyes at all. The topic was started by them and even just before, their expressions were vulgar, and words, casual. Why were they suddenly acting like they were wary and afraid?

“Oi, Wang Zhong. “ Someone spoke up, “Don’t joke about things like that. Rape and murder are both against the law.”

“I’m not joking,” I said seriously. “It’ll be fine as long as you don’t get caught, right? Simple.”

Afterward, those so-called friends of mine all wore disgusted and fearful expressions as they left me behind.

“You’re such a freak!”

“That’s just terrifying!”

I didn’t understand why they all ran away.

Isn’t this your desire too? Isn’t this what you truly meant buried underneath those vulgar words of yours?

I didn’t understand. Deep inside, they obviously had the same desires as me, but why were they acting like mongrels, fleeing with their tails between their legs?

After that, I slowly came to realize that human beings existed in a constant state of denial. They lied to themselves, they lied to other people. Even if they were really happy, they had to pretend to be the opposite. Even if they had the desire to destroy another person, they would still wear a warm, welcoming mask.

I.. am not the same as them. When I get hungry, I will definitely take what I want and eat it.

Little girls are the most beautiful. When those sweet and innocent eyes look at me, they seem to be the purest thing in the world.

“Uncle, why are you sitting here? Are you lost?”

So that was it. I understood now. For such a beautiful angel to come to my aid, it was so that I could destroy her with my own hands —

In that shadowy alley, I violated that small, soft body, time and time again. Those tears and screams mixed with blood excited every single one of my senses. The meat was me and I was the meat. At that point, I knew with clarity that I was no longer human.

I was no longer the same as those hypocritical humans who lied with their words and their appearances. I was desire given form. I was.. a demon.

——————————————————————

The moment the light from the torch shone upon the man’s face, my entire body froze, unable to move.

How was this possible.. Wasn’t this Xiaoying’s stepfather? Where was the ghost? Where was the demonic spirit that we were looking for?

Or, was the man in front of us, the real evil spirit?

But, before I could react, in reality, I had run out of time. After being discovered, Wang started roaring like a wild beast, charging straight towards me.

The distance between us was too close, I knew in my heart that it was impossible for me to avoid this attack. With his face contorted into a snarl, Wang raised the bloody dagger in his hand.

Because of how close he was, I could clearly see the look in the man’s eyes. No, it wasn’t anger, nor was it panic. What showed in his eyes was pure, unadulterated killing intent. No reason, no expression, just a simple need to exterminate the living target in front of him.

Am I going to die?

“Watch out!”

A split second before the dagger swung down, a shadow flew past and stood in front of me. A sharp blade piercing human flesh was a startling sound that I heard clearly. When I opened my eyes, the person standing in front of me was no other than Wen Jiubo.

Wen Jiubo with his hand raised had taken the powerful hit straight on. In the moonlight, I could see that both his hand and chest was covered in fresh blood. The red of the blood and the black of his outfit seemingly blended together in the night, casting an eerie spell.

“Wen Jiubo!” I couldn’t help myself from yelling out.

“I already told you not to barge right in like that,” Wen Jiubo’s face drew into a grimace briefly due to the pain but quickly smoothed out again along with his breathing. He pushed back with enough power to force Wang to stumble back a couple of steps, the weapon still clutched in his hands.

“Hurry, run!” Wen Jiubo turned to yell loudly at me.

However, my legs chose this time to buckle weakly, ignoring my commands. I wasn’t able to even take a step, let alone run.

“Hurry up!” Wen Jiubo yelled.