Chapter Three: Ashura

Early the next morning.

Knock, knock, knock!

Xiao Zizai, who had spent the entire night deliberating and finally reached a decision, knocked on the door of the neighboring room, only to discover that the tenant had already checked out.

Left with no other choice, he took out the business card and followed the address provided, eventually arriving at Tianmu Mountain in the Lin'an District, venturing deep into the forest.

In a secluded valley, he found a wooden cabin. Hanging at the entrance was a sign bearing the character for "Medicine," with an inscription alongside it: "A physician’s heart is benevolent; humanity, virtue, and morality."

"This must be the place..."

Xiao Zizai took a deep breath, adjusted his glasses, composed his thoughts, and pushed the door open.

Creak—

"You’ve arrived."

"Faster than I expected."

As soon as he entered, Xia Ye’s voice rang out. Xia Ye was sitting in a rattan chair, holding a mortar and pestle, grinding rhythmically.

"Sit. Have you had breakfast? I have freshly fried dough sticks and warm soy milk. Care for a bite?"

"No, thank you."

Xiao Zizai shook his head and began to survey the cabin.

It was small but well-equipped, featuring a two-bedroom, one-living-room layout: a bedroom, a treatment room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The living room was dominated by a large medicine cabinet against the wall, with a counter in front of it and a sofa and table nearby. The air was heavy with the fragrance of herbs.

"How do you intend to treat me?"

Withdrawing his gaze, Xiao Zizai asked directly. This was his primary concern.

"Hmm..."

Xia Ye paused his work and looked up at him. "Before I answer that, I want to ask you one thing..."

"Are you truly prepared to leave behind the life of an ordinary person and embrace your true self?"

"..."

"Before coming here, I ended my relationship, resigned from my job, left all my savings to her, and canceled my phone number and all social media accounts. So... I suppose I am."

Xiao Zizai was silent for two seconds before answering.

"Ha, quite thorough. I admire that," Xia Ye said with a smile. "Since you are prepared, sit down. First, listen to a story. Once you hear it, you will understand."

***

Once Xiao Zizai was seated, Xia Ye began his tale:

"In Buddhist mythology, there exists a race that dwells in one of the Six Realms. They are born of slaughter, constantly warring against heaven and earth."

"They are neither god nor demon. They walk the earth without fear of fate, spending their days in vicious battles against the gods, fighting without end."

"They despise the weak and honor only strength. Battle makes them grow; slaughter makes them strong. From birth, they are bathed in blood, and those who reach adulthood are capable of slaying gods and buddhas."

"They are destined calamities and natural-born warriors, yet they reside within the realm of the good and serve as the protectors of the eight legions of Buddhism. They are called..."

"Asura!"

Before Xia Ye could finish, Xiao Zizai spoke first. As a former Buddhist disciple who had trained under Master Jie Kong for many years, he was naturally familiar with the term.

At the same time, he seemed to grasp the implication. His eyes locked onto Xia Ye’s, narrowing. "Are you trying to enlighten me, hinting at the path I should walk?"

A wave of disappointment washed over him.

However...

"Not just that..." Xia Ye shook his head, then smiled. "I can help you become an Asura!"

" ?!"

As the words landed, Xiao Zizai’s pupils dilated. He looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"It’s simple. I have an elixir here. Consuming it will allow you to maintain your sanity even when your eyes turn red. It will reshape your very essence, turning you into an Asura and allowing you to embark on the path of slaughter that truly belongs to you!"

Xia Ye smiled slightly and tapped his finger into the mortar. The medicinal powder condensed instantly, forming a single pill.

"This is the Asura Pill. Once ingested, your body will undergo a massive transformation in a very short time. It will allow you to condense malevolence into your body, grow stronger through bloodshed, and become more powerful with every battle. When you channel your Qi, you will even be able to manifest extra arms and gain monstrous strength."

"Of course, this is only the initial phase, and it is the limit of what your current body can withstand. To achieve a truly legendary Asura form, one must take it slow."

"..."

Having heard Xia Ye’s description and looking at the blood-red pill in his palm, Xiao Zizai squinted, his eyes filled with hesitation.

He had inquired before coming here and knew that Xia Ye was indeed a divine physician with miraculous skills, but the idea that a single pill could completely remake a person... he still found it hard to believe.

"Alright, I know you can’t believe it this quickly. That’s normal. Regardless, the treatment plan is set, the prescription is written, and you have the pill. Take your time to consider it."

Xia Ye waved his hand.

"How about this? Go into the back room and think it over. I have another patient coming soon, and their condition is private. It wouldn't be convenient for you to stay here."

With that, he stood up, led Xiao Zizai into the back bedroom, and added with a smile, "Don't rush. Take your time."

He closed the door.

Clang!

"..."

***

In that instant, the surroundings fell silent. The room had clearly been soundproofed, allowing Xiao Zizai’s mind to settle.

"Heh..."

A moment later, Xiao Zizai let out a self-deprecating laugh. He suddenly felt that all of this was absurd. Because of a few words from this guy, he had abandoned everything?

He sat down.

He looked at the pill in his hand and fell into silence, recalling what Xia Ye had said. Though he felt a spark of anticipation, he also feared that it might all be a lie.

Should he eat it or not?

Was it real or fake?

He could not judge, and he became conflicted.

This was Xiao Zizai. Having lived in contradiction from childhood, he had developed a hesitant nature. On the surface, he appeared calm, but inside, there were often turbulent waves. Without someone or something to push him or make the decision for him, he found it difficult to choose.

And Xia Ye, naturally, was well aware of this.

About half an hour later.

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

The door to the room was suddenly struck. The sound was heavy; whoever was knocking was using considerable force.

Startled by the noise, Xiao Zizai, still deep in thought, narrowed his eyes. Realizing something was wrong, he stood up instantly and began to circulate his Qi.

The door wasn't locked. If it were Xia Ye outside, he would have knocked lightly or simply opened the door; there would be no such force.

Since the room had no windows, he couldn't see what was happening outside. He carefully moved toward the door, gathering his internal Qi in his palms.

The next moment...

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

The knocking started again. He grabbed the door handle and yanked it open. A gust of wind rushed in, followed by a massive palm strike!

Bang!

Caught off guard, Xiao Zizai met the blow with his own palm. His eyes widened in shock—the opponent’s Qi felt like solid steel; his own "Great Compassionate Hand" hadn't been able to break through it at all!

As he looked into the living room, his pupils constricted in horror. More than a dozen figures stood there, each radiating murderous intent with twisted, savage expressions...

And on the floor, surrounded by the group, Xia Ye lay in a pool of blood, his chest and abdomen sunken—he was already dead!