VOLUME IChapter OneRitian didn't really know what is it like after being announced dead. He recalls being dragged around by a car that weights ten times than his body but when the moment of truth came and everything finally blackened out, the stairways to heaven and the hole to hell didn't make its appearance to play good cop and bad cop on him.Ritian was so ready to complain why he had to be dead at the age of twenty five. Luckily, he was brought back to life. Sort of.He never had a chance know what does the angels and saints look like up in heaven. Who's more handsome or who's more buff. He'd really wanted to take a peek. He never got the opportunity to do so. Nevertheless, he was given a second chance in life. He would never trade that for anything.On one calm, late afternoon in the quiet lake wedged beside the northern mountains of Cabato, Ritian found himself drowning. His awkward squawk of distress broke t
VOLUME IChapter TwoAfter thirty minutes spent in walking aimlessly on the wide meadow, Ritian was thoroughly convinced that this is not the city. He thought the guy played a prank on him when they entered a seemingly endless labyrinth of trees. He observed the silent man while he trod along the track. The man kept his silence amidst his storm of questions. It took a long moment before Ritian was able to rest assured.A series of thatched houses came to Ritian's sight later on. His shoulders slumped in disappointment. The cold wind blowing past his crotch sent a nasty tingle in his spine. He's still wearing his thin piece of underwear. And it's not comfortable.Throwing a confused expression on Wenren, he fixed the carpet on himself. The guy told him that it is a cape worn by heroes. Ritian refused to believe him just to spite the man. Instead of being offended, the guy looked at him as if wondering what classifica
VOLUME IChapter Three"Sit down." Wenren laid him on the bed. The pitiful thing whimpered even though he weight almost next to nothing. The man patted his head before smiling gently. "I'll bring you your dinner later. Don't run and cause trouble outside. You won't get away from Ms. Via the second time, okay? She can be very mean."Ritian reminisced every single thing that Wenren told him on their way to his house. Apparently, Ritian, the one with the old soul, was an orphan. According to Wenren, he's a little bit 'unstable'. Talking rubbish and making random noises all the time. Maybe that's the reason why his family abandoned him.The chief of the village, Juan, took pity on Ritian and decided to let him stay. Every month, there should be a box where everyone would give their share. It's the village's fund. The money will be spent on building fences to ward off the wild animals or buying seeds for the vegetable garden.
VOLUME IChapter FourRitian discovered that he had the innate potential to hate every animals who walks with two legs. There are only two types of these animals that is very accessible for the village people. It's chicken and ducks.Chickens doesn't come in pairs. Oftentimes they like to travel alone the dirt patches and strive to find a worm or two. Ducks were also the same.Unity seldom comes for these little fiends. It is when a person walks in, carrying containers full of their food.It was late in the morning when Ritian found out what the 'old' him likes to do during the daytime. By the blessed day that the Lord decided to gift him; he spent it not to do work on the paddy fields or hunt a meat to stuff his belly later but to capture the vigilant animals under his nose and forcefully feed them.He couldn't even comprehend why does he need to play with these unsuspecting animals. He should be helpin
VOLUME IChapter FiveHe can't believe that Wenren would lie to him in a serious matter such as planting rice. The man didn't tell him it was a hard labor and an arduous job to do. Ritian's high spirit crumbled like tower of cards on a flick of a finger. Just a quarter of an hour of walking on the knee-depth mud, his sense of shame rose to a hundred percent.The villagers were all waiting for him to fall because of the slick. Ritian didn't disappoint and managed to fall five times before mastering the art of walking down the silent grains.Wenren was focused on carrying water jugs for the old men to drink. He didn't mind the heat of the sun and even smiled on everyone. Showing how carefree he was.Although Ritian was a whole different matter compared to Wenren, he tried his best to overcome the snark forcing its way out of his throat. He repeated the 'Be Good, Be Friendly, Be at Peace' mantra on his head until he can't del
VOLUME IChapter Six Ritian's body had adapted to the intensive walks around the Han village. Wenren's perseverance in teaching him the basics to the most difficult task of life in the mountains inspired him to do better. In just a week, he managed to cook rice perfectly. Unlike the bread and wheat he was accustomed with, Ritian has to know the techniques in cooking rice and crop. He can't believe the exorbitant amount that a single loaf of bread can cost in here. Wenren explained that the prices of each item varries on some places. On the Central Planes, the situation was reversed and most poor family had to eat is stale bread because the rice can cost triple than how much the Han village sell it to its people. Han village sometimes export rice to other places if the harvest was too much. Ritian roughly understands this logic. The Han village doesn't make bread, so the price would be higher. Only Mr. Felino, the only
VOLUME IChapter SevenWenren's fishing spree was stopped because of an emergency meeting in the village. He managed to catch several small fishes. All of which Ritian personally picked from the net one by one. No one helped him. That suits his greedy stomach. Chief Juan was followed by Old Felino when they strolled in to inform the men. Ritian had a feeling that it's going to be bad. Wenren didn't mind him though. Ritian knew why. He was never optimistic since he came here.The entire village never gave him something to be happy about.It's a shame he didn't see how Wenren set the small net. Sari was a little kid who doesn't care about what to say. He managed to know the latest issue of the community. He had a feeling that the meeting was about moving the wedding date earlier than the one they've set.Ms. Via was getting anxious everyday about Cheel. The man's cold treatment messed with the woman's confidence. Via sincerely felt
Chapter Eight Ritian didn't have any other choice but to steam the fish. He borrowed Wenren's pot and started to boil a few cups of water. He laid the fishes on top with a bamboo strainer and waited. Ritian didn't know why he felt guilty on this more than he felt squeamish after giving away two of Wenren's hard-earned dinner. The thought of making Wenren eat these bland dish makes him squirm in restlessness. 'They don't have salt in here,' Ritian mused, 'I'm not going to live a long life here because there's no available spices within reach.' A knock awoken Ritian's senses. He gathered the hem of his robe and went to the door. The meeting lasted for a great while so Ritian hadn't seen Wenren for the whole afternoon. He had never felt lost like the way he were earlier. He was flabbergasted. Wenren became an integral part of his rural life adventures. A few hours without him scares Ritian a little like a chick without its mother. The knock resounded. Ritian pulled the latch of his d
Ritian woke up early and prepared breakfast for the three of them. Katya remained asleep on his shoulder as he navigated around the kitchen.Evo walked out of the house then washing his face on a tub they had arranged to save up water from the rain. He returned after a while with coconut milk in his hand.Ritian suddenly had an idea in his mind and mashed the sweet potatoes from last night. He brought the coconut milk into a boil before gently putting the sweet potatoes inside the pot.He mixed it 'til it combined perfectly. He waited for the mixture to become a little sticky before serving it like porridge to the two teens.Ritian ate a bowl for himself then set aside another portion in his journey to the commercial street later.With a handmade basket in his hand, he left the house before Gino and Evo.The basket he had had nothing but fabrics inside. Katya knew the direction to the commercial market with her attempt to fish before.After two and a half hour, he reached the place.S
Ritian walked the small village with a little hesitation. Katya asked for a day to hide and hunt her own food because Evo and Gino's house had no spare food to feed a cat. With no way of calling his cat back, he could only walk aimlessly for an hour, quietly observing the people around.The town's aquatic resources aren't close to their home. In fact, people who wanted to fish had to go in the commercial street because their trading center are situated near the docks for easy access and fresh goods.Their primary source of food is planting corn. Corn can be a substitute to rice and is less expensive. Although the texture and the size of each grains doesn't look the same, the corn is just as filling.The corn milling factories produces two. The corn grains which they eat for every meal and corn flour. With the latter has difficulties exporting it to towns because of the pests eating away the flour on the way with the long journey.Their village is indeed close to the commercial street
The chicken was not that a lot. But with Evo's expert ways, the dish is enough to last them for two meals.They went home with grimy faces, scratched skin and a basket full of sweet potatoes, wild vegetables and herbs that can cure colds and low fever then a handful of chili.Evo minced the chicken along with its bone into tiny, unrecognisable pieces. When he was done, he went to the house next door and asked for a little bit of their banana stalk.Ritian watched as Evo specifically chose the soft and whitest part of the stalk, peeling it clean and nice then mincing it the same with the chicken.When he was done, he ordered Ritian to open an old coconut. Ritian tried to hack the compact thing with their rusty machete. Evo frowned like he was facing a math problem ‘Ritian-olus’. He didn't ask why Ritian is useless but the contempt in his eyes doesn't really need a verbal explanation.The process was an arduous job. Ritian knew that cooking in modern times was made easier with the ready
Ritian woke up earlier than both of the youth in the house. He slapped his arms and legs, mildly annoyed with the mosquitoes hanging around him to provide company at four in the morning. If this was the modern age, he would have complained at how early was he cooking breakfast but since it's the ancient time, he woke up early to cook another batch of white porridge.He cooked the rice until it could be swallowed easily. The smooth texture contains just the right amount of salt. This should enlighten Gino on how much to put in next time.At five in the morning, Evo padded in the kitchen, mumbling a soft greeting towards him before cleaning his face in the sink. "You usually wake up this early?"'No. I can't sleep last night.' Maybe it was because of the new surrounding but Ritian find it difficult to get a wink of sleep. 'This is fine. It's good to practice myself into waking up early anyway.'"Let's go to the mountain after breakfast. The school starts at nine. Gino will be there to e
Ritian helped himself to two bowls of white porridge. The food tastes salty and bleak but he didn't complain as he swallowed without a hint of stopping. Gino watched him from the side while Evo had a revering expression on his face as he glance at him for a few times."Did you like it? How does it taste? Very good?" Gino wave the large spoon in front of the fire. His soaked forehead glistening. "You seem to love it. Should I add more?"Ritian wipe his mouth with his sleeves. He smacked his lips together, lamenting internally at how salty did it taste like. "You're... exceptionally talented in cooking.""You mean he cook like he's making salted fish." Evo smiled faintly. "Don't gloss it over. He needs to take harsh words to learn."Gino's grin faltered. His face closed off and Ritian saw the flash of hurt in his eyes. "Oh... I was just asking."He chuckled. "Don't listen to Evo. What does he know about cooking? It's not like he had tasted the dishes sold at a restaurant. He's no judge.
The world has people who protects the world from harm and call themselves Martial Heroes. A person who practice this path is called, a martial artist.And then came people who dedicate themselves to eradicating evil spirits and lead it to reincarnate— ghost cultivators. A ghost cultivator, like the martial heroes, wanted to reach the highest peak of their practices. Which is the divine level. They get enlightened and reach the phase of immortality. Never to perish with unceasing amount of strength.Martial artists use their own body to absorb power, trained themselves and then fight. Ghost cultivators relies on meditation, practicing writing talismans, and then fight.Not everyone can try and begin to train like the two mentioned above. One must have the initial assessment passed and tested to check if their foundation is good enough.Almost everybody go home empty-handed and disappointed. Only a small number of people have the chance to get into the initiate training.After the train
Ritian didn't reach that far when he started to freak out. Katya can talk to him in telepathy, and for the second time he's been branded as a murderer. The world won't just quit making fun of him."I should've... brought all my clothes and my things." He stepped on a hole causing him to flail for a moment and fell face planted on the ground. "Damn. Hurts.""I'm sorry." On the crook of his shoulders, the cat hang on for dear life. She didn't even flinch when they crashed. "If I can cultivate again, I will have enough power to help you."Ritian sat and decided to sleep for the day. His head aches on the back. He was too tired to move. Ritian didn't even eat anything this time, the dryness of his throat felt like sandpaper."It will take a lot of time. Would you like me to guard you while you sleep?" Katya's fur was now in an unrecognizable state. The snow-white fluffy creature had turn into a dirty rag. "We've been running for a long time. I think that guy led them on a different direct
Ritian woke up amidst choking and violently shaking. He tried to stand but a paw stopped him from moving. It was one little cat's foot, but the strength almost made him hold his head. "Where am I now?"“You're now safe.” A little girl's voice informed him, “A hundred meters from us are a group of old people intending to capture you.”Ritian gasped. He felt like his problems didn't lessen as the days go by. "What did I do now?""They accuse you of killing Cheel. His body was found clasping a ripped fabric from your inner robe." Wenren emerged from behind. His hand reached for his shoulder but Ritian avoided his touch. "Are you okay now?""Now I know that I will get in trouble once again? I'm delighted. Totally unfazed. Definitely fine. Just peachy." Ritian attempted to stand but his knees trembled. "God, where's the kid who spoke? How come she's here?"The cat waved its tail threateningly. "I am that 'kid.' Sorry for my body's age. I have cultivated for thousands of years, but I slept
Ritian closed his eyes firmly. He can feel the air sweep his hair as Wenren sped up. Ritian can't see anything but the endless black. 'That vessel. Where is it?'How come he can't hear anything?"Wen, where's that Vessel?" He didn't move even a centimeter, afraid of surprising Wenren that could lead to their fall. He looked like a stiff puppet between Wenren's arms. 'Like a dead weight.'A sigh went past his ears. The breathless voice said, "Here, Ritian."He opened his mouth in shock. "Wen... I hear him talk to me just now. He..."Wenren tightened his grip on his waist. Although blindfolded, his other senses was magnified. Ritian can percept that the guy slowed down a beat. "Don't mind it.""Do you wish to know me more, Ritian?" The vessel's voice sometimes belongs to a man, then a woman. It became distracting how the sentence started with a male voice then ends up with the sultry tone of a teasing lady. "I know you so well. I can understand you, since you, yourself don't come from t