Bleeding heart. 

If Xiao Jiu was truly a child, he would have killed the little pig. Painful and brutal, quick though, because he would lack the patience to take his time and ensure the bastard suffered.

The punishment would be childish; motivated only by the want to return the pain he was feeling.

But Xiao Jiu wasn't a child.

That broken innocence had long transformed into a wicked rage that he took care to keep on a leash, pushing it down over and over, so it wouldn't take over his mind and sent him to the path of destruction.

He was an adult and he dealt with more care when revenge was the subject.

"If it weren't for you, my life would be different." Xiao Jiu explains, enjoying the sound of bones snapping and choked screams. "I wouldn't be the way I am if I had run away with Er-ge. So, really, this is just karma just catching up. You're done bad deeds, so you'll face bad things."

The pig's fingers are all twisted and wrong.

It would be a miracle if he was able to use his hands again. A miracle, Xiao Jiu, is sure will never come. Not to someone like him, who cries and begs for mercy, eyes full of tears and nothing but already broken pride behind them.

"Death would be a mercy to someone like you," Xiao Jiu's fist slams against the pig's face, pushing him to the ground. "Unfortunately for you, I'm not known for my merciful nature."

He intends for the pig to enjoy his time under the hands of a noble family. Ensuring he looks normal, maybe even healthier than he is, will guarantee that fun times continue to happen until the master that buys him tires of having a useless mouth to feed.

"Isn't it great, Qi-ge? You'll live such an interesting life until the moment you die! Isn't that what children usually want? Not a good life. Not even an easy one. You all dream with the sky without thinking of what will happen when you fall."

Luck is on his side, there are many rusty nails in the room. The perfect tool for what he's about to do.

"Let's make that wish a reality, mm?"

Terrified eyes glance at him, the pig trembles like a leaf, and his heart is beating so fast against his ribs that Xiao Jiu could feel it clearly as he presses down between the pig's shoulders.

"Don't move, you'll only make it worse for yourself." Xiao Jiu warns with a small giggle. For some reason it reminds him of a rabbit; fragile and small. Undeserving of his attention but still quite fun to play with. "You don't want that, right? Stay still, pig. Or I will take my time with the carving."

A living and breathing talisman.

Blood and resentment making sure the glamour sticks for the rest of his life. It would drive his future masters insane to see him as healthy and strong as on the first day no matter how much they punished him.

His calligraphy sucks, though.

His Shizun taught him to write but never bothered to correct his lines and by the time Xiao Jiu was on his own, making his writing legible to others was at the bottom of his priorities. Thus, his writing looks like chicken scrabble.

It's almost painful for him to see.

Xiao Jiu vows to take the opportunity to better himself in this second life as he admires the angry lines; one day the world will admire his calligraphy and everyone will fight to get their hands on his work.

"There. That should be enough." Xiao Jiu pats the pig's head condescendingly, "Remember that if you say a word of this to anyone, I will come back and this will be nothing to what I will do to you."

The pig nodded, looking like he was about to faint.

"Good. Have a nice night of rest, Qi-ge." Xiao Jiu dispels the silent spell and walks towards the door, a jump on his steps. "You're gonna need it~"

[Revenge quest completed.]

[Would my beautiful Xiao Jiu like to accept the reward? The system encourages him to do it! It's something that will make Xiao Jiu even happier, we guarantee it! (●o'∪`o)ノ―♪`*]

This time, Xiao Jiu observes the text with more curiosity than annoyance at the persistent spirit.

"What kind of reward would that be?"

[The best kind, of course! ＼(★^∀^★)／ An answer to what my precious Xiao Jiu wants to know but has never thought to ask, even to himself.]

Xiao Jiu stops in the middle of the hallway, taken aback. That's—That's not what he was expecting. At all. He frowns a second later as he tries to think about what question would that be.

Unfortunately, the spirit had hit him where it hurt.

Xiao Jiu was a curious soul, always wanting to know more, to learn and study, to take that knowledge and make it his own. Power was, after all, knowledge over yourself and your enemies.

He shook his head, trying to clear it.

This reeked of a trap.

[Why is Xiao Jiu so mean? ಥ╭╮ಥ This system would never!]

"Right." Xiao Jiu said flatly. "As if I could fully trust a spirit."

[But the system helped. (╥_╥)]

"I don't care." Xiao Jiu huffed, returning to the shed the old farts had locked him in and moving to the small, dirty mattress. "Be glad I won't be exorcising you today and leave me alone. I wish to sleep and your entire existence is getting in the way of that."

[But this is important! How will Xiao Jiu find his soulmates if he doesn't listen— (◎_◎;) Good night, precious Xiao Jiu! The System will make sure you have only good dreams tonight.]

"Soulmates?" Xiao Jiu repeats, eyes as big as oranges. "A-As in plural?"

[...]

"Answer me, spirit." Xiao Jiu demands, dark eyes narrowed on the now flickering light coming from the screen.

He can *smell* the fear oozing from the being attached to him and as a hound with a trail, he's not going to let go until he has what he wants. Not when his head feels light and his chest is infected with the disease called *hope*.

[The system implores Xiao Jiu to forget what he just heard.]

"Not. A. Chance." Xiao Jiu hisses, fury boiling inside his stomach. "You will answer me right now."

He leaves the *or else* unsaid but he's one-hundred percent the spirit hears it as clear as a clarity bell.

[The protocols are clear: Only if Xiao Jiu accepts the reward the system will be able to answer. ]

At his core, Xiao Jiu is a love-sick fool. It's no wonder the way his soulmate(s) have always weighed more than his own safety.

One deep breath and the decision is made. He forces his body to relax and prepares himself to fight a possession, resentment dancing at his feet as his shadow grows; hungry and deadly.

"I accept this reward."

[Preparing download.]

[Download complete.]

[Congratulations on completing your first Quest! The system grants you the reward «Truths of a bleeding heart.» Which will allow you to identify your (5) soulmates without having to wait for Fate to intervene.]

[If you would like to see the list, please press {5} If you wish to see an explanation about the nature of your bonds, please press {soulmates} and if you wish to see how your fateful encounters will be, please press {Fate}]

Xiao Jiu cannot do anything but stare; his jaw is on the floor and he's suddenly feeling weak, needing to bring his head between his knees so he can stop the spinning of the world to a halt.

"That's not possible." Xiao Jiu holds onto denial like a drowning man. "I've only met Ye Beiyuan… how can I possibly have more soulmates? You must be lying. There's no way I can have more than one soulmate. I'm not special enough for something like that to happen to me."

[Xiao Jiu actively ran away from Fate.]

"Stop." Xiao Jiu begs, tears falling freely down his cheeks. "Please, don't do this."

The spirit shows it has the same amount of mercy as Xiao Jiu does as it continues without a second of hesitance, reading the words in a pitying voice when Xiao Jiu refuses to raise his head and look at the text on his own accord.

[How could you meet them when Fate had designed Ye Beiyuan to be the sun you all orbited to and chasing him away meant cutting down the frail threads that tied all of you together?]

Xiao Jiu had already been aware of this painful truth, he just refused to acknowledge it.

He had made the correct assumption the moment the number (5) appeared in front of his eyes; had made the maths and come to the horrible realization that the war had consumed all of them, that the one that marked the shattering of the born was not Ye Beiyuan but an unknown soulmate he had failed to protect.

Five soulmates the Gods had given him and five soulmates had left this world while he was prancing across the world without a care.

A sob wreaked out his lips, shaking his entire body.

'Heavens, please, forgive me…' Xiao Jiu had never been a devoted person, now he had no option but to believe in the mercy of the Heavens. 'I didn't know. I— I will accept your gift. I will put to good use this generous gift you've made to me. I will protect them this time. I swear.'