{Ugh... Where am I...?}
"Koichi-nii!" a sharp-eyed girl with short black hair which reaches her shoulders who's wearing a pink- and white-colored uniform shouted while running towards me. I noticed that I was standing outside in the cold rainy night. It is quite foggy, and all I can see are the street lights and the house right next to me.
"...Fu-Fumiko? W-what are you doing here? You're still alive!?" I replied, looking very confused and sad.
{...How? I thought I was already...? Ugh...! Why is my body so sluggish and painful!? And my memory's all fuzzy... Already what...?}
A strange and painful static electricity shocked my head.
{Ouch! That hurts! Why can't I seem to remember... something very important to me?}
Soon after, Aiko lifted her left arm and punched me in the head.
"This stupid brother of mine... Do I seem dead to you? Of course, I'm alive. Why'd you kill me off in your mind? Do you hate me?" my sister asked, looking annoyed.
"O-of course not! You are my lovely sister after all. You know how much I love you!" I exclaimed, smiling all happily.
"Hmph! Siscon..." she turned back, blushing red. "Anyway, don't forget! It's your time to buy the ingredients. I'll prepare the cooking tools. The money is on the shoe rack by the door. Hurry up so we can eat dinner already."
"Fine, I'll be right back then. Let me just take that towel and the money, then I'll be on my way." I heaved a sigh as I got the towel that Fumiko was holding, and the money on the shoe rack.
"Yes, yes. Take it. Off you go, Koichi-nii. Just check your phone for the things you need to buy." she replied as she walked to the door of the house, closing the door.
I ran to the closest grocery store with an umbrella on hand, and bought the ingredients listed on my phone as I tried collecting my thoughts.
{...I'm starting to remember things now. I am an assassin. My sister and I are living in this house which was passed down to us after losing our parents to an accident. I had to pay for our expenses, which was why I worked as an assassin. But why does this scene feel so familiar and nostalgic, but also painful? What is this feeling? Why do I feel anxious? Why is my heart beating so fast?}
As I started questioning things while I was done grocery shopping, a television store I passed by caught my attention. It was showing the news.
"News Headline! A family of four died due to murder! CCTV cameras have caught sight of 2 suspicious men, raping and killing a 10-year old child before killing her. The police have been investigating the motive for each murder cases, and are currently on hunt for those 2 individuals. Please be very careful, and avoid leaving your house doors unlocked. Please report to the nearest station for any-"
{Another murder case, huh? Scums like these should be the target of my clients, not those weak people who can only flaunt their money. Wait... I'm the same, though... Only for a nobler cause, or so I hope.}
Another painful static electricity shocked my head.
{Ouch! I'm starting to... remem- ...No! Fumiko!}
"Fumiko!" I dropped the grocery bag I was holding and immediately dashed towards my house.
{I... I remember now! Fuck! Why did I have to remember it now!? Please, self! Make it in time!}
I ran as fast as I could. I finally reached the gate of my house, only to find it open. I looked at the front door, only to see it open as well, letting out black smoke. My chest tightened. Flashes of memories started filling up my mind.
N-no... It can't be...! This... this is when she...!
I immediately ran towards my house, checked the kitchen where my sister was supposed to be. What I saw was what I was trying to forget all this time. What scene greeted me was...
My sister's body was on the table, her eyes were void of life and her face was filled with bruises. Blood was continuously flowing down the table, coming from a small cut on her neck and knife wound on her stomach. Her clothes were all teared up, and a combination of red and white liquid flows out of her crotch. The windows were all shattered, and fragments of the plates that we use were scattered on the floor, drenched in blood, water and dirt.
A faint voice was then heard. "...K-koichii-nii... why...?"
{Those words... cut through me very deeply. Why...what?}
After hearing those words of my sister, I rushed towards her body. I checked for any signs of life, but that was apparently her last breath. No more breathing, no more movement – just pure silence.
{It's all my fault... I couldn't even protect my only family.}
...Ridiculous. The story of a young assassin who did everything to earn money to provide for his sister's education and their personal needs – who lost everything in the end.
{Utterly ridiculous... I had all this power... All this money... I made sure to handle everything myself so no one can betray me and my sister. But, just from a tiny mistake, my whole existence for living – I lost it... I lost her.}
After mulling for quite some time, my consciousness suddenly came back, my senses full of pain, especially in the chest area. I opened my eyes, tried catching my breath, coughing out blood.
"Any last words, old man?" a long-haired man in his 40's who's wearing a purple robe said as he nudged the blade that was pierced through my stomach. "We'll relay it to your stepdaughter once we find her. And don't worry... After having our way with her, she will be seeing you soon. Hehehe... Don't blame us, blame yourself for being too trusting and weak!"
{...So that was all an illusion. That explains why some parts of the story wasn't right.}
"...K-kuh...! Lu Xiaowen! You dare bite the hand of the one that fed you...!? I took care of you, and I even changed your surname to Lu!"
"Hahaha! I have been waiting for this moment! Even when under my illusion spell, I know full well that you can still protect your body. When else can I do something like this? You focusing on your breakthrough while facing the divine lightning tribulation was the perfect opportunity for us fulfill what we want!" he said, while laughing off hysterically.
"W-we...?" I asked, while gasping for breath.
"Yes, we! Did you think that everyone is satisfied with you as the emperor? One of your heavenly pillars who oversee the immortal realm colluded with me! Because of your high sense of justice, we never get enough pills and artifacts that would help us break through the barriers in our cultivation! We had to abide by your stupidly strict rules for centuries, while you get to ascend to the highest stage. And even now, we still haven't reached the higher levels due to your excessive spending of our resources on all those weak practitioners and disciples of yours. You and your forces were getting quite dangerous, so we had to resort to usurping the throne! And guess what? Even those so-called friends of yours helped me! Wahahaha! The patriarch of both the Nine Poison Enthrallment Sect and the Divine Sword Sect were also part of the plan, you know?" Lu Xiaowen said as he snapped his fingers. 3 elders and multiple practitioners appeared out of nowhere.
"Qin Donghai of the Divine Sword Sect... Tan Meng of the Nine Poison Enthrallment Sect, and one of my heavenly pillar... Wu Shihong...! You people dare betray me...!?"
"Blame your weakness, old man! Even after a thousand years, you still fell for the simplest technique ever...? Hah! What a stupid emperor you are. Looks like your senses have dulled, huh? But you're quite intuitive, I'll give you that. Giving your most beloved disciples a secret mission right before your breakthrough in order to protect them... You really made it harder for us to kill them, huh?" Xiaowen said as he stepped back from me. "Alright, then. Let's stop wasting time. Everyone, kill Lu Jiahao now!"
"...N-not on my watch...!" I said as I screamed and let all the Qi in my body out of me, aggregating it once it reached outside, detonating it. The patriarchs all stepped back while Elder Xiaowen was blown away.
"I-impossible! How could you break free from our entrapment and array...!?" Qin Donghai said.
"How could he exert that much force even when poisoned by me!?" Tan Meng exclaimed.
"I told you he wasn't showing his full power yet! Why did you have to act so fast!?" Wu Shihong shouted at the two.
{They're distracted...! Use my divine sense! Now!}
I dashed away as fast and far as I could. Using my divine sense, I transmitted a message to all my supporters "All of you! Beware of the Divine Sword Sect, the Nine Poison Enthrallment Sect, and Lu Xiaowen and Wu Shihong of my Supreme Sect! I order you to get into hiding and work together to defend against them! Do not engage on them recklessly!" After that, I directed a private message to my daughter. "And you, Lu Mingxia! In my absence, you are to represent our Supreme Sect..."
"...! Hey! He's escaping! You useless...!" Lu Xiaowen irritatingly said. He then ran towards the direction I ran to. The three followed soon after.
While I was desperately running away, I found the cave where I trained at when I first got transported to this world.
{Let's hide here first...}
I hid in the depths of the cave and made a small array who's main function is to protect me completely from any attacks 10 times while hiding my presence, with a secret function. All that in exchange for 90& of my Qi. While catching my breath and tending to my wounds, I received a transmission.
"Pa- Master! Are you all right!? You worried me. I thought something happened to you because you weren't answering my transmissions..."
"Haha... Actually, I do not have much time left..." I said as I coughed up blood.
"Papa...! No!"
"Hey, don't cry. Your master's already knocking on heaven's door. It is but a part of life, Lu Mingxia. But, look at yourself. You're going to be the next sect leader. How can you get a man suitable for you when you're like that?" I said as I imagined the figure of my daughter - a fairy-like woman with a long but silky hair wearing a vibrant red robe, crying like a baby. "It seems like I'll have some qualms about the future of the sect..."
"Even at a time like this, you can still joke around like that without worries..." Lu Mingxia replied.
"Hahaha! Of course. Who do you think I am? I am Lu Jiahao, the only person who has reached the pinnacle of Martial Immortal God, and is also the clan leader of the Supreme Lu Sect that reigns over this world. Also, I'm the emperor here. I will not let anything, even death, bring me down. I mean, I have lived over a thousand years already. I have basically experienced everything that I could." I said while pumping out my chest. "However..."
"...however?" she asked while tilting her head.
"I adopted you 200 years ago. I have thought you everything that you need to know. You surprised me so much with all the achievements you got from leading the sect. Over these past years, you have done so much for the sect. But never once did you return back with a son-in-law..." I sighed as I said those words. I placed my hand on her shoulder "I was hoping that I won't have any regrets leaving this world. But apparently, I won't even be able to meet my son-in-law in this life, nor my grandson... Even though you're so beautiful and strong, not even one man was able to melt this ice-cold heart of yours... Was it my fault? Did I raise you wrong? Are you too much of a tomboy?" I continued to say things without a care in the world.
"Papa, you jerk!"
"Ouch...! Why'd you have to shout at a dying man...? And I thought I was tough enough. Damn, you really do take after me. You've really grown a lot since then." I said as I was rubbing my mind and ears.
"It seems I was worried for nothing! Hmph!" she said irritatingly.
"Wait, Xiao Lu! Listen to me."
I grabbed a scroll within the space of my Storage Ring, dug a hole on the ground deep enough to make it look conspicuous.
"Do you remember the place where I trained at before? The one where I took you when I told you that I came from another world? After this, I want you to message all the disciples and announce to them the content of the letter I placed here. Oh, and take this as well."
I took the Storage Ring off my finger, putting it in the same hole where I placed the scroll.
"I do not need this storage ring anymore. Most of the treasures I have gathered in my life are now yours. Sadly I can't give you all of them. I do not have much Qi left to open my divine sea..."
"...You can't hide for long, old man!" a voice was heard.
{Shit...! They're near. I have to say it now...}
"My daughter, use these wisely and lead the Lu Sect to an even greater tomorrow. I hope you won't let me down."
"Yes, Master! I will not let your efforts be wasted. I shall do my best in achieving the best for the sect!" Moments after, I heard a thud sound from the transmission and faint sounds of crying.
"Good. Now I will finally be able to rest in peace. Oh yeah, before I go... Lu Mingxia."
"...Yes, Master...?" she replied, holding back her obvious feelings of sadness and pain.
"I have never regretted anything after taking you in as my daughter. There had never been a dull day with you around, and it actually made me feel younger again. Even if I haven't been praising you much vocally... I assure you that you are the best daughter one could ever hope for. My biggest regret now will probably be leaving you. But I know that even without me, you will continue to achieve great things in life. Do you still remember our family mantra?"
While saying my truest feelings to my daughter, 4 shadows started getting bigger, implying that there are 4 individuals who are nearing towards me.
"*hic* *sob* ...The true way of the cultivator is to never give up, even in the face of turmoil. Justice will always prevail, especially so with the help of friendship and truth." she replied while crying.
"That's the spirit! If only I could give you a hug right now.. Anyway, this is it for me. Lu Mingxia. Always remember that I love you, my daughter. I will be watching over you whenever and wherever you are... and if possible, I will be back."
After my statement, 4 figures appeared in front of me. I hurriedly closed the connection of my divine sense with Lu Mingxia.
"Well, well... Is this your last struggle, old man? Seems like you've been transmitting messages here and there. No matter, it will just make this hide and seek much more fun for us... Hahahahaha!" Lu Xiaowen said as he laughed hysterically yet again.
{I have little to no energy left. I guess this is really the ned.. And this is probably the first time I have ever felt this feeling of death. I never thought that dying like this would hurt more emotionally than physically...}
"...hahaha... How stupid." I said while waving my head.
"...?" the 4 men were confused by my statement and actions.
"I am taking you down... with me!" I shouted as I released the last bit of my Qi to activate the secret function of the array.
The array emitted multiple rays of light, engulfing the whole area with yellow light which is slowly becoming redder and redder.
"Shit...! That's the move he used to kill the strongest demon beast that not even we can compete against!" Wu Shihong said as he prepared to escape the cave.
"Don't worry, I have an artifact here and 4 life-saving talismans! Each of you, take one now!" Qin Donghai said.
Soon after, the small array exploded, destroying the whole cave, and melting the area outside of the cave. Slowly but surely, the voices of the 4 men and the pain I felt from my body being hit with the array's devastating force gradually faded away, leaving nothing but an area full of fire and molten rocks. And that was all I could remember.
{And with that, I finally passed away, huh? I feel bad for leaving my daughter like that, but I know she can carry the responsibilities of being the sect leader. This just means they really do hate me, huh? Both WuQia and Earth. Fucking unbelievable...} I pondered to myself.
Moments after, I started moving but to no avail. All I could do was think... Nothing more. All alone in this void, full of nothing but darkness.
{Still, I haven't made much progress on how I can return back to my world during my time in WuXia, much less go back to the time before my sister's death. Is this really how it will all end? What about my revenge...? Will I never get my justice?} My thoughts were then filled with the memories of my past two lives – in Earth and WuQia.
As time passed, the darkness that was perceived by my senses started becoming overpowered by a ray of light. A warm and soothing light filled the whole surroundings.
{Is this the afterworld? Am I going to stay here forever now? It seems like a nice place to be in.}
As soon as I imagined the possibilities of my afterlife life, I suddenly heard a voice.
"Welcome to Yggdrasil, Mr. Lu. Or, should I call you Mr Koichi? You are currently undergoing the process of Selection. Please answer all questions as truthful as possible."
{...! That's my name back when I was in Japan! How did they know? Wait, Yggdrasil? Isn't that a place where most boss-type entities reside? Is this heaven? And what is this process of Selection? *takes a deep breath* Phew, let's calm down. I should probably just do what is asked of me.}
"First question..."
After a series of multiple questions (I believe it was 25), the person that spoke to me stopped asking questions and started speaking once again.
"All answers have been recorded. No combat specialty AND weakness found. No racial discrimination found. Calculating results... Your class is now designated as Factotum – the Jack of All Trades, Master of None. Your race is now designated as a mixture of all races. Congratulations!"
{What...? Class? Factotum? Race? Am I in the process of being reincarnated again...? And what do you mean by a mixture of all races!?}
"You shall now be transported to the Great World of Eternia. You have no specific mission to complete; however, it is highly recommended for you to acquire the ancient heirlooms of the 6 Legendary Heroes, specifically the Earrings of the Legendary Sage. By getting that, you might get the solution to the problems you have been researching on for quite some time. Also, aside from you getting to keep your memories, you will also receive an assistant in your daily travels through STATUS. That is all that you need to know for now. Just say 'Status' in order to access numerous features in your daily adventures. The rest is up to you. Good luck!"
WAIT A MINUTE! AT LEAST ANSWER MY QUESTIONS, PLEASE! You can't just do this to me again!
"Do not worry, young one. The highest God here in Yggdrasil has witnessed your pain and suffering, and also your achievements and effort in proclaiming justice on all things, which resulted to her exhausting all of her powers just to bring your soul here to Eternia. All answers will come to you in this world. Make the best out of this life, return back to WuQia and clear out all your past regrets, then go back to your world and serve justice to all those that dared betray you. That is all. We will meet again. Farewell..."
A flash of light suddenly appeared, blinding my eyesight. Then, a sudden rush of electricity went through my body and I started feeling nausea as my senses started going haywire.
"...Uh oh... Your Holiness! There's something missing on the magic formula of the magic circle you made! I think-"
{...Fuck my life.}
After feeling bad about myself due to the misfortune that I have experienced before, and the implication that something bad will happen to me again in this new life of mine, the scenery that I perceived before has completely disappeared thus, becoming dark again.
As soon as I started feeling better, a ray of light slowly shined upon my face.
{If what that guy said was true, then I can finally take my revenge...! After all these years of hardship, I finally have a goal to look forward to... Just you wait Fumiko., Lu Mingxia... I WILL BE BACK!}
As I opened my eyes, what greeted my face was the loving and caring smile of a beautiful and young woman with silver hair, offering me her voluptuous breast with a pinkish nipple.
"There there, my sweet little boy... Drink up and grow to become like your father, Julius." she whispered as she snuggled my body.
My mouth unconsciously drank this woman's milk. After getting full, she made me burp and moments after, she hummed me to sleep. Even with my utmost best in trying to resist the urge to sleep in order to assess the situation properly, I still fell asleep. The last thing I remembered was seeing a woman who looked a bit lonely, looking outside the window of the room, muttering the word "Alfred..."