Lost had slept in a restless dream where he relived of the past events in this big house where he saw the closed face of his mother and the incessant bullying of his stepbrother. He was exhausted and took a long time to wake up. His head was in the clouds completely oblivious to the red gaze on him. He had kept the letter in his inventory in memory of his friendship with Yoon Taiyang. Having such a sincere friend in this short time allowed him to believe in loyalty. This was something he had given up because of the many betrayals he had suffered.
He got up and put on his robe over his white tunic and white pants. His hairstyle was impeccable since he had slept with his head on his knees. He served the milk to the baby carrying it in his arms. Strangely, the little one was calm and obedient as if he had understood that Lost needed peace. A maid had put down the meal when he was sleeping because a bowl of rice and meatball was resting on a wooden tray. He hadn't heard anything which disturbed him a bit. He must have slept soundly despite this feeling of not having slept at all. He took the chopsticks from the bowl and began his meal with a tight throat. He then settled back on the bed, his legs crossed and closed his eyes. He meditated for a moment and found that his spiritual energy was more dense than before. He checked his status and discovered with fascination that he had risen to level 10. He didn't want to dwell on it for the moment and took the relic in his hands. He removed the fabric and discovered, with curiosity and a touch of excitement, the object that everyone in this world wanted. It was a little hourglass hanging from a silver chain. The grains of sand had already landed down and a faint golden light was emerging from it like gold dust. He remained captivated for a moment in front of it before turning his gaze to the small round paper. He took it and unpacked it. There was a rainbow-colored pill there. It was pretty and Lost knew just by looking at it that it was valuable and that this was the gift Taiyang had prepared for him.
" Sysy can you tell me the name of that pill?"
Sysy analyzed the gift and discovered with shock and joy the chance given to Lost.
"It is a Qi concentrate pill. Lost quickly! Take it now before anyone finds it !"
Sysy's eager voice startled Lost, who in turn hastened to swallow the pill. At first, he felt nothing then an intense heat spread throughout his body. Lost returned to a meditation position and tried to assimilate the Qi's concentration that assaulted him. Thanks to his activated absorption' s skill, the job was easier and he succeeded after a while and felt his body change slowly. His bones became more solid and his muscles tightened in a homogeneous way. He couldn't see himself but his features had become more delicate and softer making him even more beautiful and fragile at the same time.
" You have entered the semi peak of immortality. Your spiritual energy has reached a level high enough to unlock the skills of double swords martial art and the skill of the four elements. Your map of the world has grown. You also unlocked the invisibility skill, but it can only be used once per day. The other cultivators will not be able to locate you within 20 miles radius. Congratulations Partner! "
The system had got the pleasure of seeing Lost's face lighting up at this announcement. The purple eyes looked like those of a child unwrapping his Christmas presents. It was so cute that Sysy felt proud to be the one who bonded with him.
Lost could now use the elements of earth and fire and a multitude of attack and defense drawn themselves in his mind. After using the blade of the wind the last time, he had imagined all kinds of things he could create. He just had to find a place where he could cultivate without anyone noticing his strength. He wanted to be discreet so that no one would try to use him against his will. This world was cruel where the law of the strongest reigned. Lost wanted to leave this village as soon as possible but first he had to do the ritual he had missed the day before. He suspected that Elder Shu must have understood his absence because of the trip they had just undergone after the attack on the sect.
The babbling of the baby got him out of his thoughts and his desire to leave the village. He looked at and smiled at him before hugging him and walking together to Ziha's room. He knocked on her door and waited for it to be opened. There was no response and it worried the young man a bit before remembering that Ziha was safe in this village.
" - Young master, Elder Shu sends me to fetch you for the ritual. It was decided that the sooner would be better. "
The servant named Xiang had just appeared silently behind him making him jump. He waved for Lost to follow him and they headed to the Main Residence Hall where Ziha and the rest were waiting for them. Elder smiled at him with patience and understanding. He had seen the young man's tired face when he arrived the day before and had decided to do the ritual in the morning even if at sunset the strength of the seal was much stronger. He had asked Kun Guangxian to prepare the ritual because he was a former Monk of the Mount of Pilgrims, one of the greatest shrines in this world. The seal technique they used for the village came from there. Of course it was forbidden to share it with outsiders. Monk Kun was the only one in KongDe who practiced it and he had not taught it to anyone. He respectfully greeted Lost and pulled a parchment out of his sleeve. He mumbled a incomprehensible song to all present and waved his right hand up and down. The air grew heavier and more mystical. Ziha took Hong Xue with her and nodded at Lost. He did the same and came forward in front of the monk. All the village chiefs stood in a circle around the young man. The monk closed his eyes and sang louder. The pressure of the air made Lost tremble and found himself on his knees without knowing how. Monk Kun put his free hand on his forehead and infused his spiritual energy into the mind of Purple eyes. Lost felt this energy rush down to his heart and form a thread that connected to his meridian. A searing pain attacked him and he collapsed to the ground. He tensed up every time the pain hit, however, the more time passed, the more his Absorption skill destroyed the seal. The energy of the monk mingled with his meridians and ended up being one with his dantian. The others thought the ritual was going to end safely without suspecting for a second that it had just made Lost stronger.
"- You are now one of us. Now that you have your seal, you are allowed to leave or walk in the village whenever you want while respecting the privacy of your neighbors. If you follow the rules everything will be fine."
Elder Shu finished his tirade while patting Lost on the shoulder happy to have a new inhabitant. There was a lack of youth in this village and a little change wouldn't hurt everyone. Lost was touched by his words. He knew Elder Shu appreciated having some fresh blood again but Lost had plenty of time to think about his future plans and already had in mind what to do.
" - Thank you Elder for your generous welcome.
- Your new home is near the house of old Kana. This lady never leaves her house but I assure you that she will be there in case of need for the little Master. Xiang'er will take you there."
Lost and Ziha thanked Elder Shu gratefully and they followed the servant who looked less harshly at them than when they arrived. The fact of having done the ritual had surely reassured him of their presence. When they reached their new home, he left them there without a word and without looking back. Ziha shrugged her shoulders to show him that this treatment does not affect her more than that and entered this house to discover the place of their new life. Hong Xue was silent as usual completely indifferent to his surroundings.
Then, Lost entered in turn discovering the main room of the house. The sun infiltrated through the windows letting appear in its rays of light the dust flying in the air. The curtains had been ragged for decades and Lost saw a rat sneaking up behind the wet pieces of wood that were to be used in the cooking fire. Spider webs filled the corners of the ceilings and on some old furniture that no longer looked like anything. The small kitchen had been neglected. He did not prefer to delve into the damage. His head was starting to spin dangerously. Lost hated dirt and preferred a healthy environment. He had, moreover, the phobia of spiders since childhood. He should "thank" his stepbrother for that. Teayong often amused himself by hiding spiders in his sheets or throwing them at him. It had become a nightmare for Lost, who before that, loved to watch them. He wanted to look at the second room of the house hidden by a long old curtain but Ziha stopped him sharply giving him a look that said it all. This bedroom had to be more catastrophic than the main one.
Lost resigned himself to the rest of the events. This would have to be cleaned up before dark and it wasn't going to be easy as a pie. Ziha used a cloth handkerchief she had in her pocket and cleaned a corner of the table to put Hong Xue down to get to work. Of course the handkerchief had already lost its beautiful white to make way for a dirty black. They grimaced together in disgust at this.
- I'll ask Elder Kana if she knows where to find water. A cloth would never be enough to clean it all up. Can you start cleaning up the dirt?
Ziha's motivated voice motivated him in turn and he nodded. He rolled up his long sleeves and began to take the old furniture out of the house.
Ziha knocked on Kana's door and waited a long time. There was total silence before the door burst open and an old lady with tired gray eyes stood before her. She wore an old brown tunic damaged by time and her old white hair was combed into a bun. Her back was slightly curved, probably worn out by life.
" - Nice to meet you, I am Ziha. I just moved to the village
The old Kana acted as if she did not see her and slammed the door in her face. Ziha was speechless for a moment before knocking on the door again.
- I am not here.
Kana's broken and exhausted voice stopped Ziha's hand as she was about to strike again.
- Can you at least tell me where to find water?
- Are the young people of today all that stupid? I'm sure the well in your backyard wasn't flashy enough for you ?"
The irony in the voice was so clear that Ziha refrained from tearing down that damn door and telling her her way of thinking.
"AHHHHH !!!!"
Lost's piercing scream caught her attention and instantly forgot the harpy's insults. Ziha hastened to rescue Lost. A whole scenario was taking shape in her mind. Strangers had successfully infiltrated the village without someone knowing it or it was that the young man was injured by something in the house. But when she found out Lost with his bottom on the ground as white as a sheet and his gaze fixed on a black spot that seemed harmless, Ziha couldn't help her laughter from escaping.
"- Shimei !! Bring her out !!! Please get it out of here .... Oh my god! There is also one there!"
Lost, who was panicking from the spiders, was anchored in his phobia and couldn't move. Ziha took a long time to calm down before she took it upon herself and got rid of any spiders she could find. Lost regained color over time, looking at Ziha with gratitude and admiration.
The young man got up realizing his overreaction and tried to hide his shame as best he could but even if he tried to hide, the flush that had taken place on his cheeks fully revealed his embarrassment. Ziha refrained from biting his cheeks because he was so adorable.
"- A cry for so little! you are far too delicate for a young man. To prevent an old lady from resting for so little is a shame."
Lost looked at the entrance where old Kana stood. As soon as their eyes met, an electric current passed through their bodies. Kana widened her eyes, shocked to feel the sensation. The last time this had happened, she had accepted her first disciple. When the spiritual energy of one alchemist meets that of another alchemist, they resounded and stroked like friends shaking hands. The old woman no longer expected to meet one of theirs, especially not in this lost village. Lost had stood up in the meantime, keeping his eyes on her. He had finally met the person who would teach him what he needed to know about his alchemy's skill. Lost had the idea of giving her custody of Hong Xue before coming to the village but by dint of rubbing shoulders with Ziha and the promise they had made to each other, he had decided to trust the young woman. He wanted to leave in a year at the latest. He will therefore have time to see how Ziha will raise the child. He also thought of returning from time to time to take a look at the evolution of the little one. The main reason he would stay another year was to learn all he could under Kana's tutelage.
"- You! My boy ! What is your name ?"
Ziha was completely taken aback by the gentleness of the harpy. A minute earlier she was insulting them and the next minute she was as gentle as a lamb. This old harpy must have been moody. At least that was what Ziha thought.
Lost knew what Kana had been through before she became like this. She was a great known alchemist who had traveled the world and discovered rare spiritual herbs. Ill-intention-ed people spent their time chasing her for her recipes and her talent. Kana disciples had often turned their backs on her and betrayed her in order to obtain her knowledge. Unfortunately for them, Kana kept all her secrets in memory without writing them down on paper. It seems that she too has a photographic memory. Kana had managed to get out but not her children. She had a son and a daughter who during one of her trips were poisoned by an individual. This man, desiring an Elixir Pill, had used the antidote to access the recipe. The only problem he had not taken into account was the fragility of the children. Unlike their mother, who was of almost inhuman constitution, they both inherited the fragile and sick body of their late father. A drop of this poison was enough to make them incurable. By the time Kana arrived near them that they had already succumbed to the poison. The individual was furious at having failed his plan and gave the lifeless bodies of the child to the beasts of the forest. What Kana had been able to keep from them was only the horrific image of their destroyed bodies. She had gone completely mad and had searched day and day for the murderer. Revenge had blinded her, leaving behind innocent victims in her path. She only came to her senses after several years when she met Yoon Taiyang.