"Tell me more." Zhu seemed very curious about the child's circumstances.

"My name is Huai Geng. When I was very young, about thirteen years ago, a few outsiders came to the village to search for my father. They had learned of the mysterious beast that lived around the village, and they threatened to kill everyone in the village if he didn't lead them to the beast. They were very strong, and my father was no match for them. He had no choice but to follow suit."

"Thirteen years ago?!" Zhu shouted. "How old are you?"

"I'm seventeen."

"You're seventeen?" Zhu looked him up and down. Seventeen, truly? He hardly looked anything more than a child. Perhaps his life in the village was hard, and...