Rain tumbles down from the sky, striking the tree leaves and creating rhythmic splashing sounds. Countless raindrops gather on a single leaf until its weight becomes too much to bear. The droplet falls onto a young boy face. As a few more drops land on his cheeks, his closed eyelids tremble before slowly opening.
When the boy comes to his senses, he slowly lifts his tired body and looks around in confusion because this place is completely unfamiliar to him.
"Where am I, And what is this rainy forest." When Su Lin opens his eyes, he can only see a dense forest filled with different kinds of plants and towering trees. He also notices several unfamiliar birds perched on the branches. When he looks at himself, he realizes that his entire body is covered in mud, soaked by the rain, and littered with fallen leaves. After steadying himself, Su Lin recalls everything that happens before he arrives here. He spends two days traveling inside that strange bubble before it finally brings him to this unfamiliar forest. As he places his hand on a tree to steady his body, his gaze falls upon the silver ring in his hands. Seeing this he tightly clenched his knuckles until thay turned red. For a long time, he simply stood there in the rain, staring at the rainy sky. In his mind, Uncle Hong final smile appeared before him. He wanted to cry, he wanted to scream but no tears or any word came. Only a hollow ache remained in his chest.
"Feng Yin, I will never forget this." When Su Lin thinks of the person who turns his life into this, he grits his teeth in anger. Sometimes, he is consumed by intense rage. At other times, a crushing sense of loneliness pierces his heart like a thousand sharp needles. In this conflicted state of mind, he gazes at the silver ring and slips it onto his finger before moving forward. Suddenly, a fresh wave of tears wells in his eyes. His eyes grow bloodshot, reflecting both sorrow and seething anger.
In this unknown forest, Su Lin crafts a wooden spear to servive. After two hours of struggling through the forest, he finally catches a some frog and snake. Carrying it on his back, he eventually finds a large crack between some massive rocks that serves as a temporary shelter. After resting for a while, the rain finally stops. Seeing this He goes out to gather dry firewoods, but after the heavy rainfall, he can barely find to cook the meat.
During his childhood in the caravan and later while living with Uncle Hong, he had learned enough survival skills to avoid starving in the wilderness.
Inside the rock crevice, Su Lin rubs one wooden stick against another. After countless failed attempts, he finally manages to start a fire. Afterward, he roasts the frogs and snake over the fire. When he removes the meat from the flames and takes a bite, a burst of flavor fills his mouth. It is as succulent as the finest chicken thigh, yet it carries a clean, ethereal lightness that lingers across his mouth.
After finishing his meal, Su Lin digs a hole in the ground and buries the leftover meat, bones, and remaining ashes from the fire to eliminate any trace of his presence. Once he is done, he seals the rocky crevice with branches and stones. After making a few final adjustments, he lies down in a corner of the shelter and attempts to sleep. However, the relentless rain and the occasional cries of wild beasts repeatedly wake him up throughout the night.
The following morning, Su Lin opened the entrance to his shelter and stretched his whole body. Although he had managed to sleep, fatigue was still evident on his face.
"Argh... Those beasts and this damned weather Because of those two, I can't sleep properly. If I spend many more nights like this here, I might die of hunger before I ever escape or end up in the jaws of some kind of wild beast." After gathering the remaining firewoods, Su Lin ties it to his back with a grass rope. During the night, he crafts several useful items, including the grass rope, a wooden bow, and a handful of arrows. Today, he head toward the slope direction, hoping to find a river or some kind of man made road.
By noon, with the sun hanging directly overhead, Su Lin finally arrives at the a river. However, a vast river blocks his path, its raging current surging with immense force. At a glance, Su Lin realizes that attempting to cross it could shatter his bones or, worse, sweep him to his death.
"Rushing in will only get me killed. There has to be another way to cross this damned river. Wait what was that." While pondering how to cross the river, Su Lin suddenly notices a tree trunk drifting along the surface, carried effortlessly by the raging current. His eyes light up as an idea flashes through his mind.
Then Su Lin sprints along the direction of the river's flow. After running for some distance, he spots the perfect opportunity and leaps onto the drifting tree trunk without hesitation. The moment he lands, the trunk lurches violently beneath him, and he nearly slips into the raging river. After regaining his balance, he quickly crouches down and grips the trunk as tightly as he can, refusing to let go.
A day passes.
Su Lin walks along a narrow dirt road. His clothes are torn in many places, and his body is covered with scratches from the journey. He leans on a long wooden staff, using it to keep his balance with every weary step. To find this road, Su Lin pays a heavy price. He is nearly killed by the river's violent current, barely escaping with his life. After reaching the shore, he encounters a pack of wild dogs. Hunted relentlessly, he spends the entire night running through the wilderness and hiding from them.
"That was far too dangerous. I nearly got myself killed but fortunately, I found this road. There are carriage tracks left behind. If I follow them, I might be able to find a safe place." As Su Lin walks along the road, he gradually sinks into deep thought.
"That's really strange At the time, I didn't think much about it, but now that I look back, why did Feng Yin do all of this? If I remember correctly, he mentioned something about world fluctuations. Just what are world fluctuations. And Uncle Hong I never could have imagined that he was an immortal. As for Feng Yin, he's an immortal as well—one far stronger than Uncle Hong. How can I become strong enough." While walking and thinking about his future plans, Su Lin eventually reaches a point where he can make out the blurry silhouette of a city in the distance. Seeing it, he shows no emotion, as though he already knows what awaits him.
After some time, a horse carriage approaches along the road. Seeing it, Su Lin steps into its path, raises his hand to stop it, and asks the people inside for help.
"Boy, who are you, And why are you in such a state" A muscular man steps out of the carriage, takes off his bamboo hat, and asks Su Lin about him.
"Greetings, Senior. My name is Li Bai. While my family and I were traveling, we were attacked by bandits. They killed my entire family, and I barely managed to escape. That is why I am in such a state, Senior. Could you please give me a ride to the city." When Su Lin speaks to the stranger, he does not reveal his true identity as a precaution. As he converses with the man, he recalls Uncle Hong final moments, lending authenticity to his demeanor.
"Alright, Li Bai. Come into my carriage by the way my name is Zhao Hu." Inside the carriage, Su Lin tends to his wounds with the bandages given to him by Zhao Hu. During the journey, Zhao Hu asks him many questions about himself, what happened, and where he came from. Each time, Su Lin mixes truth with lies, carefully concealing his real identity.
When they arrive at the city gate, Su Lin sees a massive and majestic gate standing before him. Above it, the words "State of Han" are engraved. Around ten soldiers stand guard at the entrance, inspecting everyone before allowing them to pass.
One of the soldiers approaches Su Lin carriage and begins speaking with Zhao Hu. After a short conversation, the soldier gives Su Lin a sympathetic look before allowing them to pass through the city gate.
"Boy, as you said, you don't have any relatives besides your family. So let me give you a piece of advice. In the State of Han, nothing comes free. Find yourself a job as soon as possible. It will be the best thing for you." After entering the city, Zhao Hu tells Su Lin how to survive and explains how the State of Han operates. Before leaving, he gives Su Lin four copper coins. After that, he leaves him alone on a street.
Seeing Zhao Hu departing figure, Su Lin recalls Feng Yin face. In that instant, the anger buried deep within him surges once again. His eyes turn bloodshot as he mutters to himself. "Yes In this world, nothing is free. Feng Yin, you have burdened me with a blood debt. Just you wait. One day, I will make you pay in full."
After that, he leaves with his lonely figure, gradually disappearing into the crowded street.