Chapter 01 - Sudden Relocation
"Me? I'm human of course." I answered to the familiar old man in Daoist robes. The lie tastes so sweet with a bitter aftertaste. But why is it a lie though? I am a human of course. My three pairs of eyes gazed at the old man. My head tilted to the side as I noticed that he is just a bit above half my height. Is he always this short? Did something happen?
—
The feeling of something wrong wells up and jolts me awake. However, it seems like I am still dreaming. Judging by how I am now falling from the sky. The sound of the wind is loud in my ears. Looks like I become conscious when lucid dreaming again. This happens sometimes. So I went and looked around. At least the vista looks amazing. Plenty of those thin and tall mountains usually seen in Asia or something. The United States needs those things. At least in Texas. Will spice up the surroundings. Or maybe we have those? Not that I will see those either way as I rarely go out of the house. I looked down and it looks like I will be landing on one of those mountains. Pity, looks like I will be waking up soon. So I look up to the sky, the sky should be replaced by my ceiling soon.
Except it didn't. I am now floating just two feet above the ground. I am surrounded by what looks like bamboo trees. On my right is a pool, no wait, a pond. Maybe. Pools don't have those plants on the surface. Then I looked around. Finally seeing bricked steps leading to a some square space, surrounded by red fences with a roof. What are those called again? The uh- a gazebo I think. Never thought those things still exist. Then I noticed the old man walking towards me from the gazebo. He wears a long flowing chinese robe. The right side is black while the left side is white. Which looks ugly. Like the tailor decides to stitch two different clothes together.
"Aren't you going to thank me young man?" The old man asked and I finally looked at his face.
He looks like in his forties. Though some of his hair is graying with a topknot. Have a well trimmed beard and a typical look of an above average chinese. I don't like how I can recognize his face. Never ends well in lucid dreams.
"You look familiar. Do I know you?" I asks
"Oof." I am suddenly dropped to the ground
"Young men these days." The old man said with a sigh
"I'm 29." I dust myself as I stand. Not that much younger than him.
Then I catch the old man giving me the judging look
"What?"
"You're lucky this is not the other peak. Else you will be dead already."
"OH Noooo," I move my hands beside my face and exaggerate. "Anyway, this your place? Looks nice."
Gardens like these can only be owned by rich people. Feels odd looking at this many greens. Most are demolished already. Never like these kinds of places. Too many insects for my taste.
"I don't sense any qi inside you. So you're not a cultivator."
"A what now?" I catch the old man muttering to himself
"Give me your hand."
"What?" I frowned at his request. "Hell no. Hey!-"
But he pulled my arm anyway and put two fingers to check my pulse. He frowns as he looks to the side then raises his eyebrows.
"Ookay, what are you doing?" He let go of my hands
"How are you still alive?"
"Haha," I chuckled at the sudden question. "Well, sometimes I wonder about that myself."
"Follow me." He said and turns to walk
"Well, fine." Not like I have anything better to do in this dream.
I followed the old man. Dodging any stray flying insects and the like. As we got to the edge of the bamboo forest, I looked down at the winding stairs. Curving on the slopes. No hand rails on the sides, this is an osha violation. The walk down these stairs are awfully long. If this is real I would be ragged already but fortunately this is a dream. I am fit as a fiddle here. Come to think of it, I didn't know his name. Eh, whatever. Chances are I won't be remembering any of this when I wake up.
The old man leads me to a decently sized building complex. The place has a distinct look of those weird chinese architecture. A central garden and pool square, buildings that surround it. Other people in the same flowing robes. Some look hurt. So this is a hospital of some kind. I also noticed that I can see the faces of the people moving around. The unease returns. This is gonna end badly isn't it. Then we entered some kind of a hall in the main building judging from its size. I followed the old man to one of the rooms on the side. A decently sized square room with shelves covering the entire walls.
"Master, we have finished sorting the medicines." A melodious voice sounds.
I lean over to the side so I can see past the old man and I see a quite beautiful woman with long flowing hair. Similarly wearing the black and white flowing robes. I noted her appearance and stood back as normal, looking around.
"A mortal? From where?" She asks
"He fell from the sky." The old man said before moving to the shelves.
I gave her a shrug when she looked at me. Then back to looking around. The shelves have no initials, numbers, or no symbol to differentiate one from another. Man, it must be hell if one misplaces something.
"Master, but that-"
The woman's word cut short just from the glance of the old man and bowed. In the old man's finger is some kind of white orb or marble. I frowned at the thing. What's he gonna do with that? The old man left the room and I followed. The woman also came along. Both walking in front of me and I see that both have their eyebrows moving. Are-are they communicating with their eyebrows? Whatever. We then reached the backyard of the main building. The woman put a stool on the backyard's garden.
"Sit here then swallow this." The old man said and gave me the thing.
I sit down and look incredulously at the white thing.
"A marble?" I asked in confusion
"It's a pill." The old man answer after shutting his eyes to calm himself
"Oh, a drug test." He should have started with that
I swallowed the half thumb sized thing easily. Then I looked at the two. The old man waiting expectantly while the woman had a notebook in her hands, ready to write. Well, ain't this a familiar sight. Then a burning feeling starts in my bowels. Something wet trickles from my eyes. I wipe it off, expecting some tears but in my hand is a black sludge instead. The burning sensation goes hotter, followed by nausea. I tried to choke my vomit in.
"No, don't do that." The old man said
Fine then. So I vomit out black sludge at his feet. My ears are ringing and I can't even hear anything as I continue to vomit two more times. Barely managing not to fall off as I grip my knees to not fall. After vomiting I spit out whatever disgusting thing still stuck in my mouth. Almost wiping my mouth before I see that even black sludge pouring out from my skin.
"Eauegh. Is it supposed to be like this?" I dazed
Dazed, I couldn't wipe myself and I even felt something covering my eyes. Then a burst of water splashed my entire body. Cleaning myself. I continue rubbing my eyes as it still feels weird.
"It works. Hahaha." I heard the old man laugh
So this is supposed to happen? I blink a few more times. I am now seeing colors. In halos surrounding the old man and the woman. Well, this still isn't the weirdest lucid dream I ever had.
"Give me your hand."
I do without complaint this time.
"What the fuck was that?" The old man frowned at my words
"An elixir. One that can heal all ailments that me and my friend try to make." He answers regardless as he puts two fingers on my pulse again.
"And the sludge?"
"The elixir cleanses your body from all pollutants before healing your body." He continues
"What kind of life are you living?" This time, the woman who asks in both disgust and concern
Floating near her is a globe of water, in its center is a pitch black sludge from my body. From the looks of it, it is almost half the size of a person. Pollutants huh? This some vegan bullshit? Then again, I eat a lot of instant meals and heavily preserved foods since that's cheaper.
"Whatever I can get to eat." I answer her before turning to the old man who is still checking. The woman then moves the black sludge into some kind of a clay jar
"I take it that it works then?" I asked the old man, soothing green color emanating in halo surrounding his head
"Yes, but not as much as I like. It only works at those at Qi Refinement. Not even effective to those in early Foundation Establishment. But now I know that it works on mortals too." The old man explains. I don't even know half of what he said. Qi refinement foundation something something. But looks like he is working to make something like Panacea.
"So, what now?"
"Now? You will feel a bit weak. You expelled at least a third of your body weight. Then your body will slowly mend itself." He concludes and let go of my hand
"Mend itself, more like I need to remake my body."
As soon as I said that, I felt my heart suddenly beat hard once and suddenly stop. The fuck? I tried to breathe in and feel my heartbeat again. But a second heat starts from my bowel again. The old man and the woman already turn towards the building when they notice something amiss. Something warm is leaking from my eyes. I wiped it and now its blood. This certainly wasn't supposed to happen. Was it something I said?
"Give me your hand young man." The old man said and hurried to my side.
—
Luòchén (落辰) takes a deep breath. Today is a good day. A mortal with foul mouth and no manners falls from the sky. He doesn't know what to make of this, however, the elixir his late friend dreamed of making is one day closer to reality. He wondered what kind of face his friend would make knowing it works for mortals as it is one of his goals but alas that is not possible anymore. That is until he hears choking behind him. The mortal is still sitting on the stool. Wiping blood streaming from his eyes. Eyes wide and heart skipped a beat. He sensed nothing wrong before.
"Give me your hand young man." Luòchén hurries
He held the mortal's hand. But before he can check what is wrong, the mortal dissolves into a sludge of blood. Luòchén gazed at his hand, the viscous sludge of what was flesh and blood still in his hand. This never happened before. Regardless, he has failed. Luòchén took a deep breath again. Letting the red sludge fall to the ground.
"Zhāoxiá (朝霞), gather his remains. Bury him properly." He tasked his disciple and went away.
—
Below the mountain, Zhāoxiá dug a small hole in the ground with her power. Then she put the clay jar, filled with the mortal's remain and buried it there. She covered the ground and offered a short prayer before flying up the mountain again.
—
Psst. You.
Me?
Yes you. Wake up
Why?
Why you not want to wake up?
Comfy
Then silence for a while
...
…
There's better place
Really?
Follow my voice
Can't see
Doesn't matter. Up here
Then, after who knows how long and in the dark of the night. The sludge leaves its shallow grave. Following a voice without form.
This way
Over here
Keep up
Chapter 02 - Parts
The young girl ran as fast as she could. Clutching the spiritual herb in her hands that she needs to heal her younger brother. Even as it burns her hands as it is something not meant to be held with mortal hands. She doesn't remember the name of the herb, only its description from the cultivator that promises to help cure her younger brother. A five petaled red lotus, glowing hot as if it is a molten metal. The wolves howled behind her. The smell of brimstone reaches her sooner before the growls and the sound of the metallic claws on rocky grounds. The sun setting behind her, casting eerie long shadows across the forest. She yelps in fear as the shadow of the wolves chasing her comes even closer even as she runs. One, then two, then three, and four. The shadows grow even longer as if it wants to devour her sooner than the real wolves did. The girl in fear tries to look back. Only to trip on tree roots. But fortune has it that the ashen wolf bites at empty air. Almost biting the girl's head off. The girl sits up, only to see the four wolves already have her surrounded. Fire and brimstone erupting from the wolves' mouths as it barks. Holding back her tears as she grips the herb in her burnt hands, unwilling to let go.
But then a loud sound of a hoof stomps, then the earth erupts. Smashing the wolves and throwing them away before the raised earth returns to the ground. Pained whines and threatening growls and barks directed at the interloper. It stood twice the size of man, a majestic white deer, its antlers like crown, its eyes shining with golden hue, cloven hooves calmly steps, unthreatened by lesser wolves. Another stomp and the earth shook, sending the wolves back running to whence it came. The deer snorts at the departing wolves. Then it moves closer to the child. It inspects her hands and shares its Qi to heal her hands, also protecting it from the burning from the herb. The girl, still shocked and has not processed her near death experience, is surprised as the deer pushed her to stand with its head. Egging her to continue.
The girl, still in a daze, continued her run. Before suddenly stopping and turning back. Bowing in thanks at the white deer. Not only has she seen the venerable white deer, guardian of the mountain, but also a nice story for her brother when he wakes up.
—
"Hmmmm." The young cultivator in grey robe inspects the lotus in his fingers. The crescent moon, covered by clouds, is hovering past its zenith.
Spinning the fire lotus back and forth using his thumb and index finger before sighing in disappointment. The five petaled red lotus is not yet ripe, only having four petals in place of five. He is excited when the villagers explain that the boy got sick after seeing the lotus in a cold pool in a cool cave he found. But oh well, he can supplement what he needs now that he knows that a pack of ashen wolves are also present. He just needs the heart of the ashen wolf's alpha. Besides, he already obtained something else to cover his loss.
He stands up from sitting on a white fur. The corpse of the venerable white deer, still warm and bleeding. The flesh on its head burnt clean revealing the skull and a huge hole in its chest. Its heart in his hand. The heart infused with Earth Qi, even from a distant descendant of the nine colored deer should be enough to fuel his ascension to Golden Core stage. Just needs Fire and Metal Qi left out of five elements. His head leans to the side as if listening to the side.
"Brother system, I don't like venison. Pork is so much better." He speaks to himself
"Hey, it's called being careful." He justifies himself
The young man can heal the boy's illness easily but there's nothing free in this kind of world. Then there's a possibility that the cool cave the boy found has some protection from other cultivators. Fortunately it's not, so the young girl lived and he doesn't need to lie. Besides, because he sends the girl, the White Deer shows itself and now he can track the Ashen Wolves back to their pack. Truly the heavens have blessed him today.
"Yes, let the corpse rot here. Who knows, it might help someone or something." The man speaks to himself again.
Not entertaining the idea of burying the mountain guardian's corpse. Then he departs, tracking the ashen wolves. Besides, if he took more than just the heart, it will be known that he is the one that killed the mountain guardian. Not exactly a problem but killing a virtuous spirit animal is considered an evil thing and he enjoys his reputation sterling clear.
—
Here, over here
What here?
Parts
Parts?
More comfy place
Boop
The red sludge slowly but surely seeps in at the corpse of the white deer. Through the hole the cultivator made to take its heart. The deer's corpse jerks. The majestic white fur slowly turned to black. The eyes, mostly burnt now glow in an eerie purple glow. Jerking and struggling to stand as if it is a newborn.
What's this? Not comfy
Not yet
What?
See that light?
Which one?
The not deer awkwardly moves its skull head. In its eye, everything is dark but a vague outline of things near him can be seen. Then it sees the glowing thing, moving quickly across the void. Seeing the glow, the not deer felt a hunger that is both familiar and new. Without being asked by the voice, it tries to follow the glow. With slow shaky steps, charred eyes trying to make a clear grasp on the vague outline. Slowly like an infant learning to walk, the movement becomes smoother, only slowed by its attempt to make sure he is stepping correctly. Through its charred eyes, it recognizes a line in front of it, which could be uphill or downhill. It braves its first step through the line. It is downhill, but unfortunately it cannot grasp distance and so the not deer falls off a cliff.
—
Hurry up
The not deer gallops blindly following the glow that is now much farther than before. Crashing through something again but it powers through. After falling off the cliff the deer emerges unscathed, its body much sturdier than it expected. It tries to be careful for hours but the voice keep telling him to hurry up so he drops all caution and gallops blindly in a straight line following the glow.
It crashed into another thin and tall thing based on the outline it saw. More things getting caught in its antlers. It swings its head wildly to remove the nagging stuck sensation. Throwing off huge branches, torn wood, and other debris. Why is it doing this, the not deer can't exactly remember. But the voice said that there's a comfy place so it must be true. So it gallops blindly, crashing into so many thin and tall things that he can't count. Not that it remembers how to count yet. This continues on for who knows how long until it crashes into a square like thing that is very hard. Crushing through the square but not accounting the momentum, the deer stumbles, skull planted to the ground and hind legs thrown up from the sudden halt. Spinning and dropped with a loud thud. Dizzily, it tries to stand. Then it hears a loud shriek and multiple sounds.
"My lady, get behind me!"
"It's a demon!"
"Kill!"
Such is the word the not deer hears. Sounds familiar and it felt like it was supposed to know what it means. Then a hot flaring pain suddenly stabs the side of its right forelegs. The not dear screams. Scream, not a surprised snort or a bellow of pain. But a scream impossibly high pitched scream through its deer skull. It reacts the only way it knows since being a deer. Thrashing all around with its antler swinging wildly. Shouts and screams of pain filled its ear. But it's not from him so it must be doing something correctly. Then it perceives a new color in its charred eyes. Gasseus red, floating around that it recognizes where the sound of pain is coming from before the sound stops.
What's red?
Parts, not the good one
Okay
"Insolent demon! I, Huáiyuǎn will end your miserable existance today!"
The not deer located the shouting one, observing the small gaseous red floating. Then it disappears from its sight. The not deer immediately stumbles down, screaming again in pain as one of its forelegs almost cut off.
"Too shallow!" The man shouts again but he have brought the demon low
He prepares to cut down the skull clean from its body. However, the not deer thrashes away wildly and violently while screaming. The antler that has gorged most of his soldiers waving wildly that he cannot get close. The neck moved with such forces that the cracking sound of bones can be heard popping from the demon.
Go to the red one
The not deer follows the voice and it limps up before blindly jumping to the red things. Following instincts it doesn't know have, it stomped the hoof that almost cut off to the red thing and it can immediately feel the pain slowly gone. But the pain in one hoof gone is renewed with another one. This time, it is its left hind leg. The not deer thrash around again, trying to keep the painful thing away before jumping to another red thing to ease the new pain away. It moves its head, trying to keep up with the thing that hurts him but it is too fast for it to follow. The not deer registered new sensations, frustration and fear. Frustrated that it cannot follow the thing that hurt it and fear of getting hurt.
Huáiyuǎn looks in horror at the demon as it perform its blasphemous sorcery, stomping at corpse of his soldier to heal itself. He grits his teeth in frustration. One careless act has left his left arm useless, still bleeding. If this continues, the demon will win. If only he wears his armor. He looks back at his fiancee, in a safe distance away from the fight behind cover. His heart was both gladdened and filled with fear. If he didn't kill this demon here, who knows what it would do. His title as the West General of Jin felt like a mockery now, but Jin is just a small mortal kingdom.
Without much choice, he pulls out a mystic net and throws it over the demon. The net like a blanket covers its back and immediately the blanket feels impossibly heavy. Weighing and forcing it down. It gives the chance he needs, he pushes as much Qi a ninth level Qi Refining cultivator can muster into its sword and he lunges at the demon's. Then a sound of metal breaking rings. His sword breaks. The demonic deer screams again but there's little damage on the exposed neck bone. With most Qi focused on his sword, his eardrum ruptured from the sheer volume of the scream. Deaf, he throws the broken sword and pulls out his second one that he usually uses in his left hand in dual wield. If cutting its neck is impossible, then he will destroy its heart. Unfortunately, the damage in his ear made him unable to hear the ripping sound of his net.
The not deer stood tall, the sword missing its chest by a few centimeters. The not deer thrashes mightily. Skull swaying, jumping up and down, trampling, screaming.
Stop
The faint red thing turns into much purple in its vision and the voice tells it to stop but still it tramples over, venting all its frustration and fear.
STOP!
The voice sounded again. Much louder than before. The not deer looked around with its charred eyes, not hearing more sound.
Purple is good parts
Parts?
The not deer looked down, the red thing splattered everywhere. No longer gaseous like before. It wonder what the difference means.
Its turned red now
Not good?
No
Sorry
Hurry up and follow the glow. It's much farther now.
The not deer simply moves its skull head, finding the glow that is now much further and harder to be seen and gallops again.