Hearing Liu Buli's words, Lu Wuming raised his head again.
He stared blankly at Liu Buli, his eyes filled with both gratitude and confusion.
He was touched by his master's gentleness.
But he didn't understand his master's words.
He was ugly and thin, knew nothing, and couldn't even speak properly. What was there for his master to like?
He couldn't comprehend it at all.
So looking into Liu Buli's eyes, he remained silent for a long time before finally asking, "Master, what do you like about me?"
What did he like about him?
Liu Buli blinked.
He didn't want to be vague with Lu Wuming on this matter, so he seriously considered how to answer.
After a moment of thought, he found his answer. A gentle smile spread across his face, and Liu Buli said, "I like the way you strive to live. As long as you don't give up hope, I will stay by your side. I like the light in your eyes, so remember, don't let it extinguish."
Lu Wuming paused, then nodded gently.
Did his eyes have light?
Indeed, they did.
Because his eyes reflected only his master's image. As long as his master didn't leave, the light would never go out.
Besides, he wouldn't die, so of course, he could strive to live.
His master liked the way he lived, and his master liked the light in his eyes. That meant his master would always like him and would never leave his side.
Reaching this conclusion, Lu Wuming felt a little happier.
The previous hesitation and sadness had dissipated significantly. He looked into Liu Buli's eyes, feeling a bit overconfident, but for a fleeting moment, he truly felt he might be worthy of standing by his side.
Sensing his stabilized emotions, Liu Buli's smile grew even gentler. He took Lu Wuming's hand and walked outside, softly reminding him, "When we get to the Su family, don't argue with them, and don't speak. Leave it to me to handle. No matter what they do, I can manage it, understand?"
Lu Wuming nodded, but his movement halted midway.
He believed his master could resolve everything.
Yet, he didn't want his master to deal with such matters.
The blood of others was too dirty to be shed upon his master.
That was his light, his most important, most beautiful, and purest existence. How could it be defiled by the dirty lives of others?
Lu Wuming thought to himself, his free hand, not held by Liu Buli, hid behind his back, slowly transforming into sharp claws. He was like a wolf that had caught the scent of blood, waiting to pounce on its prey.
To be honest, when he first heard that Liu Buli was coming to support him, he had been looking forward to it, anticipating his master's actions, expecting him to eliminate that disciple who cursed him as a monster, just as he had dealt with that bald donkey.
But now, upon serious reflection, he found he didn't want to witness such a scene.
What were those people?
They were nothing more than dust and refuse. They weren't worthy of his master's intervention. Their lives were as cheap as his own, too insignificant to add even a sliver of weight to his master's sword.
He remembered the words Liu Buli had spoken to him in his past life.
He had said that their ghost clan were monsters, and their only value was to take lives. They were butchers and killers, lacking the capacity to be human, hence their name, 'ghosts.'
He had said they were meant to be the embodiment of malice and despair, and therefore, he didn't deserve to be in the sunlight. He should merge with the darkness, born of it, and die in it.
Lu Wuming had kept all these words in his heart.
He had once remembered them for the sake of hatred, wanting to retort and tell Liu Buli that he was wrong.
But now, looking at the man holding his hand beside him, he felt that perhaps what Liu Buli had said was all true.
He was indeed a dirty monster, born of darkness, raised in darkness.
Now, a light had come to him. The light couldn't illuminate him completely. So, all he could do was to let all darkness cease within the darkness.
He didn't want his light to dim even slightly.
With a silent resolve, Lu Wuming tightened his grip on Liu Buli's hand.
Sensing the change in his grip, Liu Buli looked down and then smiled, "Wuming, are you nervous?"
Lu Wuming remained silent.
He wasn't nervous; he was excited.
The malice and madness he had consumed in his past life were screaming from the depths of his soul. They hadn't tasted blood in too long, and they urged him to descend into madness.
Lu Wuming was very familiar with this sensation. He had experienced it in his past life.
It had happened after he had massacred the Dan Sect. The more he killed, the more agitated the malice in his soul became, like a parched throat finding a spring. They reveled in the bloodshed, bringing him a satisfaction he had never known.
Lu Wuming knew this was wrong, but he had no control over it.
The malice he had consumed for ten years was too pure, too frenzied. Even the slightest hint would send them into a frenzy, urging and pushing Lu Wuming to become the pure killing machine that Liu Buli expected.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Wuming looked up at Liu Buli beside him.
Biting his lip, he asked softly, "Master, if I want to take action, can I?"
"No," Liu Buli replied with a smile. "You are still a child. Handling matters and solving problems should be done by adults. And you haven't learned much before, so I won't demand too much from you now. But remember, humans are not beasts. When we can communicate with words, there's no need to resort to violence. Killing is not the only way to solve problems. When other methods are ineffective, you don't need to be the one to act. Master is very strong; you can rely on me. Master also dislikes seeing your hands stained with blood, understand?"
Lu Wuming bit his lip. "But... Master, I don't want to see you like that either."
Liu Buli ruffled his hair, his smile widening. "Then you can close your eyes. I'll be done quickly, and you won't be scared."
It wasn't fear.
Lu Wuming answered in his heart.
Looking at Liu Buli's smiling face and the gentleness in his eyes, the words got stuck in his throat and were ultimately left unspoken.
The sun was truly a magical existence. It could dispel darkness, and it could also drive away evil spirits.
Just like at this moment, Lu Wuming felt all the malice in his heart quiet down. The hand behind his back, which had been twitching, finally returned to normal.
Because Liu Buli said he disliked it, he could wear his human skin, hide his appearance as a ghost, and learn to behave like a human.
If that was the case...
Master would always like him, wouldn't he?