Chapter 1:Beneath the crimson Sun

The sun beat down on the streets of Yiling, casting long, cruel shadows that offered little respite. A wisp of a boy, no older than six, darted through the crowds, his clothes ragged and stained with dirt. This was Wei Ying, though he barely remembered that name, a ghost child haunting the edges of society.

His days were a relentless cycle of hunger and fear. He scavenged for scraps in the market, dodging the kicks of vendors and the glares of passersby. Sleep was a luxury, found in alleyways or beneath overturned carts, where the cold seeped into his bones despite the summer heat.

"Just one more day," he would whisper to himself, his voice hoarse from disuse. "Just one more."

Wei Ying had long forgotten his parents, their faces blurred by time and hardship. He clung only to the instinct to survive, a sharp cunning that belied his age. He learned to read the faces of people, discerning who might offer a morsel of food and who would sooner chase him away.

One day, he stumbled upon a group of older children huddled around a discarded bun. His stomach gnawed with emptiness, and he dared to approach, his eyes pleading. But they were merciless, shoving him to the ground and snatching the bun away.

"Worthless," one spat, kicking dirt into his face. "Go back to where you belong."

Wei Ying’s heart twisted with pain, but he swallowed his tears. He had learned that tears were a weakness, a beacon for predators. He would not give them the satisfactory .

His mouth watered, but he knew better than to beg.

Instead, he waited, his eyes narrowed, assessing the situation. The children were distracted.

With the swiftness of a shadow, Wei Ying darted forward, snatching the bun . Before they could react, he was off, weaving through the crowded streets, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Thief!" the children shouted, their cries echoing in the narrow alleyways. "Stop him!"

Wei Ying didn't dare look back. He knew they were faster and stronger than him, but he had one advantage: he knew the streets better. He ducked into a narrow alleyway, his body pressed against the cold brick wall.

He could hear the children’s footsteps pounding behind him, growing closer with each passing second. He scanned the alley desperately, searching for a place to hide.

Finally, he spotted a pile of discarded crates near the back of a building. Without hesitation, he scrambled behind them, his breath held tight in his chest.

The children ran past the alleyway, their voices fading into the distance. Wei Ying waited for what felt like an eternity, his muscles tense, his senses on high alert.

When he was sure they were gone, he slowly emerged from his hiding place, his eyes scanning the alleyway one last time.

He clutched the bun tightly in his hand, his fingers trembling with relief. He knew he had done wrong, but he couldn't bring himself to feel guilty. He was hungry, desperate, and he had done what he needed to survive.

He found a secluded corner and devoured the bun in a matter of seconds, savoring every last crumb. It was the best thing he had ever tasted.

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