The air inside the cabin was thick with the smell of bitter medical herbs. It seemed those herbs He Renxiao packed came in handy, very early in their travels too. Outside, the Pinefrost Villiage was settling into night. There was no parade or any kind of unrest to begin with. Just quiet, comforting calm, as the group had expected when they arrived late at night back to their cabins.
Mo Shuyi laid on his cot, a few of He Renxiao's blankets covering him, breathing uneasily. As mentioned before.. He Renxiao has pride in his many pillows and blankets.. sparing a few for his sick Shixiong was no biggie.
He Renxiao sat on a stool near Mo Shuyi's bed, his gaze fixed on the others unequally pale face. Guilt and unease gnawed at the small males belly like a vicious animal.
In their first life and the beginning of this one, Mo Shuyi had always been to one to take care of He Renxiao, not the other way around.. Now, seeing Mo Shuyi reduced to this tremoring, lost, and cold to the touch Shixiong of his.. He Renxiao couldn't help but feel bad for being so mean to him earlier.. His own hands, calloused from sword practice but far smaller than they had once been, trembled slightly as he adjusted the cool cloth on Mo Shuyi's brow.
He Renxiao couldn't help but feel horrible.. And Mo Shuyi kept insisting he was okay, but they knew he wasn't.. Lan Qiang refused to let him do anything too physically restraining, even forced him to ride a horse with He Renxiao after proving he wasn't in the stable mindset to ride his own.
A shadow fell across the floor, catching He Renxiao's attention and causing him to look up and stop moping like a sad dog. It was Lan Qiang, in fresh new robes, just as beautiful as the last.
"Move out the way, little beast." Lan Qiang said, the nickname spoken with a strange, melodic softness that felt more like a threat than an endearment.
He Renxiao stood quickly, bowing his head. He watched quietly as Lan Qiang took Mo Shuyi's wrist. The Shizun's fingers were long and pale, pressing against the pulse point with clinical precision. For a moment, Lan Qiang's brows knit together—a flicker of genuine concern, or perhaps just irritation at a tool being broken.
"His meridians are chaotic and wrong," Lan Qiang murmured, more to himself than to Renxiao.
Lan Qiang then turned to He Renxiao, and without warning, his hand shot out, seizing He Renxiao's wrist in a tight hold.
He Renxiao flinched, his chest tightening and heart thumping against his ribs, and then he went quiet, feeling the sense of Lan Qiang's spiritual energy entering his veins. He Renxiao was confused about this sudden violent, though overall caring, behavior. He more so didn't understand why it occurred.. He hadn't been the one injured, it was Mo Shuyi..
Lan Qiang's eyes snapped up, flashing with a sudden, fierce light—the "mean and cruel" personality beginning to bleed through. He tightened his grip until He Renxiao's bones creaked.
"And you," Lan Qiang hissed, his voice dropping an octave. "Your foundations are in shambles. Your energy is surging like a wounded animal, Li Meiling. Did you think you could hide such disarray from me? It reads like a book with half the pages torn out."
"Shizun, I—" He Renxiao started, but Lan Qiang cut him off with a sharp flick of his wrist, releasing him.
"Silence. I checked Shuyi because I feared for his life, but it seems you are just as likely to implode." The Shizun's face shifted again, settling into a mask of cold, authoritative command. "You are useless to me in this state. To the village, to your brother, and certainly to your Shixiong. Tomorrow morning, you will head into the ancient forest. Three days of meditation and intensive training. Do not return until that core of yours stops screaming."
He Renxiao bowed low, hiding the turmoil in his eyes. "Yes, Shizun."
---------------------------------
He Renxiao quietly traveled into the deep vast of the dense forest that surrounded the Pinefrost Villiage, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. The towering trees spread endlessly in either way, shrouding the area in peace and quiet like the surge of the river's tide, ripples grasping at the surface's edge to beg once more for freedom beyond its confines.
He Renxiao wasn't quite sure himself what came over Lan Qiang. It was almost like he feared he was wasting time.. missing something. like the fear of loosing something. But why did he acted that way towards him, when Mo Shuyi was obviously in worse shape? He Renxiao didn't get it..
In his past life, He Renxiao had prided himself heavily on having a sharp nose, a keen mind, and exceptional hands-on cultivation skills. He had once been an excellent general, among the strongest of all cultivators—second only to Mo Shuyi, who had always remained one step ahead in power.
He Renxiao had managed to reach the ninth level of Mahayana, while Mo Shuyi had gone far past any advancement that He Renxiao could have known, though he was sure that he wasn't that far behind then, for he still managed to kill him in return for the loss of his own life.
Now, reborn with his memories intact, He Renxiao assessed his current cultivation in his daotian. At this point in time, he couldn't have much more than Foundation Establishment—maybe, and that was a generous maybe considering how unstable his energy remained, Core Formation. His body felt unfamiliar, weaker than the powerful vessel he once commanded. Which was understandable, since he had been a lot more powerful before.
The thing was, He Renxiao's energy was surging and very unstable. Without Shizun's check, he wouldn't have been able to quantify the damage himself, but he knew it wasn't exactly a bad thing—just that it read "unclear" to anyone looking in.
He remembered well that after the age of fourteen, his cultivation had experienced a massive influx, and he had advanced in his levels quickly. He wasn't certain of his current age, though it felt like crucial information that seemed just out of his reach.
He set his lantern down on a nearby rock near the river and slid his sword out of his sleeve, the motion fluid, like butter. He then began diligently performing the sword formation techniques of the Azure Cloud Sect. His body was still slightly weak, but it was getting better with each practice session.
He knew full well that such intensive training probably had two different outcomes for him. One, it could be beneficial and help him regain the strength he lost, since it had taken a lot out of him to be reborn with his memories intact. Or two, he could overwork his body and cause qi deprivation or worse. He didn't think he was at the point where his core would shatter, but it was better to be cautious.
He Renxiao sighed and turned his mind to concentrate on the movements, his sword cutting through the air with practiced precision. The familiar forms brought comfort—some things, at least, remained unchanged across lifetimes.
As he moved through the thirty-sixth stance of the Azure Cloud Sword Art, a faint rustling sound from the underbrush to his left caught his attention. He halted mid-movement, sword held in a perfect defensive position as his senses sharpened.
He Renxiao straightened up, looking in the direction he heard the noise. "Who goes there?" He demanded, his voice ringing out throughout the clearing, carrying heavy authority. One that would have been overshadowed by Li Yuan, but was just enough in the current moment. "Show yourself!"
The rustling grew louder, and a moment later, a young man about his age stumbled from between the trees. He had delicate features, dark eyes that darted nervously around the clearing, and wore the outer robes of the neighboring Jade Valley Sect.
"I—I apologize for disturbing your practice," the youth said, bowing hastily. "This lowly one was merely gathering herbs and became... distracted."
He Renxiao's eyes narrowed, sensing something off with this male. something about this person felt off. wrong. A certain energy signature that seemed beyond this realm, and something He Renxiao just couldn't pin point.
"Are you a demon?"
"W-what?!" The boy exclaimed, eyes wide. "What makes you say that?! N-No! I-I'm just a demonic cultivator!" he waved his hands, frightened of that puppy shidi's temper..
"And your not from around here.. from the Jade Valley sect.. " He Renxiao murmured, contemplating what his purpose would be, so far from his sect, and following He Renxiao none the less.
The youthful male's eyes widened slightly before he could compose himself properly, gulping as he stared at the short but imposing male in front of him. "Uhm.. I am Lin Zhao, of the Jade Valley sect.. Uhm.. And you're... Renxiao? Of the Azure Cloud sect? I-I know of your mission.."
He Renxiao's grip tightened impossibly harder on his sword until his knuckles turned white from the strain. "It's Li Meiling to you." He growled impaciently. "How do you know who I am?" His eyes narrowed into slits.
The question was valid; while he was a core disciple, not many people knew him by face. They knew his half-brother Li Yuan, or they didn't even know the Sect Leader had two sons.
The boy, Lin Zhao, seemed to shrink back. [Target identified: He Renxiao. Status: Reborn. Warning: Highly aggressive. Character type: The Unpredictable Puppy Shidi,] a tiny, metallic voice chirped in Lin Zhao's mind, though to He Renxiao, it was just a faint, buzzing static.
"You are aware you are still speaking out loud, right? Do NOT call this one a 'Puppy Shidi'! Just who do you think you are!" He Renxiao barked. He moved with surprising agility, the tip of his sword instantly at Lin Zhao's throat.
"W-Wait! Wait! Senior Li! I'm exactly like you! W-Well, I mean, not exactly like you, but you get my point!" Lin Zhao explained frantically, waving his hands once more.. He Renxiao was as frightening as a feral stray dog!.. The book never described him this way! just hot tempered!.. "Honest! I'm from a... a modern world!"
He Renxiao paused, his sword tip still hovering inches from the boy's jugular. He fixed his gaze on the male, raising an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. A modern world? What did that even mean? He's from some kind of future? "Go on?"
"I've been transmigrated here," the boy explained with a gulp, his voice dripping with fear. "I have this... this 'System' in my head--it's like a floating box that follows me around. It's like a guide from my world, something like a calculated intelligence or a digital library. It told me who you were! But uhm..." Lin Zhao tilted his head, listening to a voice Renxiao couldn't hear. "The system just informed me... it says your case is a 'Rebirth' rather than a 'Transmigration.' It says you're an 'Anomaly' in its data."
He Renxiao let this sink in. A "modern world"? A "System"? Did this world have no end to the strange suffering it inflicted? "Modern world... is that why you're dressed like a disciple who's just put his robes on for the first time and smell like a commoner who's never seen a day of hardship?" He Renxiao muttered, though the word 'digital' meant nothing to him.
"And how did you know about my mission? That's classified sect information." He Renxiao questioned, suspicion still lingering.
"My system gave me a 'quest'—it's like a command from a higher power," Lin Zhao admitted warily. "I was sent here to collect medical herbs, but I got a notification to 'connect' to your energy signature. I didn't mean to spy! I just... I know things. Like, I know about hygiene, and... and 'germ theory.' I know your Shixiong's fever needs more than just spiritual energy; he needs 'hydration' and 'electrolytes'!"
He Renxiao stared at him, bewildered by the gibberish. "Do you even know what any of those are?!" However, a memory suddenly flickered in his mind—not of a system, but of the future. He realized with a jolt of dark amusement exactly who this boy was destined to become.
Lin Zhao was the future right-hand protector of Xuan Bojun, the notorious Mahayana-level demonic cultivator. In the past life, Lin Zhao had been stuck to the demon's side like glue, a pathetic sycophant until the man eventually killed him to rule alone.
He Renxiao couldn't help but laugh, lowering his sword. The irony was too rich. "You... you were transmigrated as Xuan Bo's future right-hand man? The man who eventually discards his followers like used tea leaves?"
He Renxiao giggled, the sound light and mocking, like a group of gossiping Qi Foundation disciples. "How tragic! You have all this 'modern knowledge' and a 'system' to guide you, yet you've landed yourself in the service of a madman. Tell me, does your 'system' also tell you when you're going to be executed?"
Lin Zhao turned pale. "It... it hasn't mentioned that part yet. Wait, how do you know about Xuan Bojun? He hasn't even ascended to the leadership yet!"
He Renxiao merely wiped a stray tear of laughter from his eye. "Let's just say, I don't need a voice in my head to see a disaster waiting to happen. Also.. I was reborn? I apparently know everything you do.."
Lin Zhao stared at He Renxiao, his lower lip trembling. To him, the "Puppy Shidi" of the original story was supposed to be a talented but ultimately doomed secondary character, a stepping stone for the protagonist's growth. But this—the sharp, chilling laughter, the way the boy's eyes seemed to hold the weight of a thousand battles—wasn't in the script.
[Warning: Target 'He Renxiao' is exhibiting behavior consistent with a Regressor,] the metallic voice of the System buzzed in Lin Zhao's mind. [His psychological stability is low. Suggest immediate retreat or 'Gift-giving' to build Favorability. Check inventory for: 'Novice Healing Salve' or 'Modern-Style Peppermint.']
"W-What are you laughing at?" Lin Zhao stammered, his hands still raised in a placating gesture. "I'm serious! I was a... a data analyst! I worked in an office with air conditioning! I don't belong in a sect where people fly on swords and try to kill each other over spirit stones!"
He Renxiao stopped laughing, though a cruel smirk remained. "Data analyst? Air conditioning? You speak in riddles, little protector. Your 'System' seems to have filled your head with cotton and nonsense."
He Renxiao's internal thoughts were far darker. He felt a twisted sense of pity. In his past life, he had fought for every scrap of power, bleeding for every breakthrough. To think that some 'higher power' could just drop a soul into a body and give it a 'guide' felt like an insult to the path of cultivation. Yet, if this boy knew about the mission in Pinefrost Village, he was a variable. And Renxiao hated variables.
"Tell me," He Renxiao said, stepping closer until the heat of his unstable Qi made Lin Zhao wince. "If you know the future, what does your 'System' say about Pinefrost? About the demonic sect we are here to stop?"
Lin Zhao gulped, his eyes darting to a floating blue screen that only he could see. "It... it says the 'Demonic Corruption' is actually a biological... uh, like a virus. It says the wells in the village are being poisoned with 'pathogens' that mimic spiritual rot. Maybe if we just... if we just filter the water with charcoal and sand, we could stop the spread before it reaches the 'Critical Mass' event."
He Renxiao's brow furrowed. He understood "poisoning the wells"—that was a classic demonic tactic—but the rest was gibberish. Still, the boy's mention of charcoal made some sense. "You claim a simple rock and burnt wood can stop a demonic curse?"
"It's not a curse! It's science!" Lin Zhao cried out, then immediately clapped his hands over his mouth as He Renxiao's eyes flared.
He Renxiao let out a huff of irritation. "Enough. I have no time for 'science' or your invisible ghosts. I have three days to fix my meridians before Shizun decides to 'remedy' them with his own hands."
The thought of Lan Qiang made He Renxiao's stomach turn. His Shizun was a enigma. One day he was the benevolent teacher who had plucked him from the streets; the next, he was the monster who would break a disciple's ribs for a missed sword-stroke. He Renxiao knew that the 'three-day meditation' wasn't just a gift—it was a test. If he returned to the cabin still 'broken,' Lan Qiang might just decide to discard him.
"You," He Renxiao pointed his sword at Lin Zhao's chest. "Go back to your herbs. If I see you near Pinefrost, or if you speak a word of our 'shared' secrets to Xuan Bojun, I will ensure your 'System' has no body left to inhabit. Do you understand?"
Lin Zhao nodded so hard his hair came loose from its ribbon. "Yes! Absolutely! Loud and clear! I'm just an NPC! You're the... well, you're something! Good luck with the 'cultivation grind'!"
With a final, terrified yelp, the Jade Valley disciple scrambled into the brush, disappearing as quickly as he had arrived.
He Renxiao watched him go, his heart finally slowing. The silence of the forest returned, but it was no longer peaceful. It was expectant. He looked down at his hands. They were small, smooth, and lacked the scars of his previous life.
I will not be a 'Puppy Shidi,' he thought fiercely. I will not be a stepping stone for Mo Shuyi or a plaything for Lan Qiang.
He sat down on a flat stone by the river, crossing his legs in the lotus position. He ignored the dampness of the moss and the biting chill of the evening air. He closed his eyes and turned his consciousness inward, diving into the turbulent sea of his daotian.
The energy there was like a nest of vipers—coiling, striking, and refusing to settle. It was the "rebirth" energy, a residual force from the laws of time and space that had dragged his soul back. He began the grueling process of "taming" it, using the Azure Cloud Sect's inner heart method.
Every breath felt like swallowing glass. Every circulation of Qi felt like a hot iron being dragged through his veins. But Renxiao didn't flinch. He had felt the coldness of death; this pain was a reminder that he was alive.
Hours passed. The moon climbed high, reflecting in the river like a silver coin. Renxiao's skin began to glow with a faint, pulsing blue light.
Mo Shuyi is back at the cabin, dreaming of the past, Renxiao mused, a flicker of softness momentarily breaking his concentration. Is he dreaming of the day we first met? Or the day I killed him?
The thought caused a spike in his Qi, and he coughed, a thin trail of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away with his sleeve, his eyes snapping open.
He couldn't afford sentimentality. Not now.
He stood up, his bones popping. His meridians were still a mess, but the "vipers" had stopped biting. He drew his sword again, the steel singing in the moonlight.
"One more time," he whispered to the trees. "From the first stance."
As he moved, his mind drifted back to the cabin. He pictured Lan Qiang sitting by the fire, perhaps reading a scroll or watching Mo Shuyi sleep. He wondered which "Shizun" was awake right now. The one who loved them? Or the one who was waiting for them to fail?
In the distance, an owl hooted, and for a moment, He Renxiao felt as though the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting to see if this "Anomaly" would truly change the fate of the world, or if he was just another ripple in the tide, begging for a freedom that would never come.