Years after the unrecorded decades...
A handsome young man arrived in the imperial city of the ADVEA Empire clutching a parasol on his right hand.
His appearance was not surprising for the rain poured heavily and the citizens were also bringing their umbrella with them.
'This is the place?' he mentally thought while staring at the big puddle of water rain on the ground.
Based on his clothing, anyone could tell that he was a tourist. But no one really paid much attention to him.
The young man carefully opened a small bag attached to his waist and took a tiny piece of paper out of it. His movement was too slow despite the droplets of water threatening to drench the object.
As he looked at the paper, there were almost fading signs of directions written on it.
The ink was so badly damaged that the man needed to flip the paper numerous times just so he could comprehend what was written on it.
A roar of thunder followed by the flash of lightning made him glanced above the sky. He stared at the hazy clouds for a while before he examined the paper again.
"Le Lang Manor," he mumbled and placed the paper in his small bag. As he looked up, his eyes were searching everywhere, looking for the name out of the rows of establishments on the sidewalk.
He could see inns and restaurants scattered all over the street, except for the name of the manor.
"Hmmn, where is the location of this Le Lang Manor?" he momentarily threw a question in the air after few minutes of searching, yet found nothing. He could no longer decipher the signs on the paper but he was certain that it was within the place where he made a full stop.
A young girl overheard his words of confusion and tugged the hem of his shirt. "Big brother, Le Lang manor is on that alleyway. It's a hunted place."
Yu Zhe followed the direction but saw only a garbage bin ahead of it. "Thank you, little girl," he offered a pleasant smile to the girl before moving his feet towards the place.
The area was muddy and there was a narrow path hidden by the garbage bin. It was as if the bin was purposely placed there to conceal and blocked the path.
A small piece of cloth was also hung on the bin with a message, "Do not enter."
Yu Zhe scratched his head and hesitated for a while.
"What kind of place have I bought? Ahhh, I was scammed!" Yu Zhe lamented as his face turned sour. The narrow path was enough for him to realized that he was tricked to buy a trash place!
On the last kingdom that he dwelled in, he was able to attend an auction and bid a large sum amount of money just to get the manor. The in-charge of the auction had described the place as perfect heaven with solitary ambiance. Hence, he became interested.
Yu Zhe was a lone wanderer that practiced medicine. He had traveled to different cities and empires to gain more wisdom. When he heard about the joyous environment of the ADVEA Empire, he quickly decided to see it for himself.
"Young man, do not enter in that narrow path, there is a haunted manor at the end of that place." An uncle took his time to stop and gave him a piece of sincere advice.
"T-this... is it the Le Lang Manor?" Yu Zhe couldn't help but ask even though it was already clear to him that it was the place that he was looking.
"Yes, it is! And don't mention that name. It is a bad omen and would bring you a curse," the uncle whispered with a tone of fear in his voice.
Yu Zhe sighed in sorrow and thought, 'I paid a hefty amount of money only to get a cursed manor!'
Seeing his downcast expression, the uncle suddenly had a realization.
"Y-you! Could it be that you have brought the cursed manor?"
"Uncle, you have guessed it right! I am now the new owner of this haunted place," Yu Zhe lamented his situation.
The uncle gave him a worried look, "T-then, you must go and ask the city priest to exorcist the ghost in that place! Do not go there alone! It is very dangerous!"
'Haunted or cursed? What is it exactly?' Yu Zhe wanted to ask further but the uncle already turned around and hurriedly walked away.
He slumped his shoulder in defeat as he watched the retreating figure of the uncle until it was lost in his sight.
Just as he was about to enter the narrow path, he noticed three men beating a youngster on the other side of the road.
Yu Zhe tried to ignore what he witnessed, but his conscience started to urge him to do something: Help the youngster!
"Well, it is still fortunate that I can bring a companion to check this manor," Yu Zhe spoke.
The three men saw him watching them but with Yu Zhe's physique, they were not bothered. The man might be tall but his figure is like a stick!
Yu Zhe also did not interfere. He just stood right beside the garbage bin and waited for the three men to finish their beatings.
Minutes passed by and the sound of the youngster was completely succumbed by the rainfall. Although the three men still continued to kick his body on the ground, he was no longer responding.
Yu Zhe could tell that the boy may have lost his consciousness already.
"Weirdo!" one of three men shouted at him before they left the place.
The place was too foreign for him so he didn't know the identity of anyone there. All he could tell was that those men were wearing a similar type of clothing that resembled a uniform of an army or a guard.
Finally, Yu Zhe moved his feet and went towards the beaten youngster. He looked at his face for a while as if trying to establish the current age of the boy. Then, he placed his finger on the wrist of the boy and checked the youngster's condition.
"Ahh, it's just a few minor bruises," Yu Zhe gave his unsolicited diagnosis. Then, he carried the youngster on his shoulder and brought him to the narrow path.