Shiv awoke to the familiar chill of the High Heaven Pavilion's outer sect, his breath visible in the cold morning air. The thin blanket that covered him provided little warmth against the biting cold seeping through the cracks of his dilapidated hut. He lay there for a moment, his mind groggy with remnants of sleep, the memory of his old life fading into the background like a distant dream.
As consciousness returned, so did the realization of his situation. He was no longer in his small apartment in Lucknow, no longer the weary IT worker grinding away at an endless cycle of mundane tasks. He was in a different world entirely, one where the rules of life and death, strength and weakness, were governed by the ancient art of cultivation.
He was in Yang Kai's body, a young man regarded as one of the weakest members of the High Heaven Pavilion's outer sect. Yang Kai, a name synonymous with failure and mediocrity among the disciples, was seen as a perpetual underdog with no hope of advancing in the ruthless hierarchy of the sect.
Shiv sat up slowly, the straw mattress beneath him creaking in protest. His body felt weak, malnourished, and weary—a stark contrast to the memories of Yang Kai's martial training that now resided in his mind. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the disorientation that still clung to him like a second skin. His thoughts were a jumble, a blend of his past life's knowledge and the experiences of the young man whose body he now inhabited.
The memories were vivid. He could recall every slight, every defeat Yang Kai had suffered, every sneer from his fellow disciples who had long since written him off as a lost cause. But intertwined with those memories was the undeniable truth: Shiv knew the future. He knew the trials and tribulations that awaited him, and he knew the opportunities that would present themselves if he played his cards right.
He rose to his feet, the cold wooden floor sending a shiver up his spine. The hut was sparsely furnished, with only the barest essentials—a crude wooden table, a chair, and a small stove that had long since gone cold. A simple set of robes hung from a peg on the wall, worn and patched in several places, a testament to the hardships Yang Kai had endured.
Shiv took a deep breath, steadying himself as he adjusted to his new reality. The world outside the hut was a dangerous one, ruled by strength and power, where the weak were trampled underfoot and the strong ascended to the heavens. But he was not afraid. He had been given a second chance, a chance to live the life of adventure and excitement he had always longed for. And with the knowledge of the future at his disposal, he had the tools to rise above his current station, to carve out a destiny that would be remembered for generations to come.
But first, he had to survive.
As he dressed in the worn robes, Shiv's mind began to churn with possibilities. The High Heaven Pavilion was vast, with countless sects and factions, each vying for power and influence. Yang Kai had been nothing more than a footnote in this world, a minor character in a story filled with giants. But now, with Shiv at the helm, that would change.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. It was soft, hesitant, as if the person on the other side wasn't sure if they should disturb him. Shiv frowned, trying to recall who it might be. In the original story, Yang Kai had few friends and even fewer visitors. Whoever it was, they couldn't be here for a social call.
"Come in," he called out, his voice rough from disuse.
The door creaked open, revealing a young girl dressed in the simple garb of an outer disciple. Her eyes were downcast, and she seemed to shrink under Shiv's gaze, as if expecting some form of reprimand.
"Senior Brother Yang…" she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was sent to deliver your rations."
Shiv's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the sight before him. The girl—no, the memory surfaced—this was one of the many outer disciples assigned to menial tasks within the sect. Her name escaped him, but he remembered her as one of the few who had shown Yang Kai any kindness, however small.
"Thank you," Shiv replied, stepping forward to take the small bundle she held out to him. The rations were meager—barely enough to sustain a grown man, let alone one trying to cultivate and grow stronger. But it was more than Yang Kai had often received, especially when others decided to take what little he had out of spite.
The girl hesitated, glancing up at him briefly before lowering her gaze once more. "If you need anything else, Senior Brother, please don't hesitate to ask."
Shiv nodded, watching as she hurried out of the hut, the door closing softly behind her. He stared at the bundle in his hands, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He was no longer just Shiv Kumar; he was also Yang Kai, a man with a long road ahead of him, filled with challenges and dangers.
But Shiv was ready. He had been given a second chance, and he would not waste it. He would use his knowledge of the future to his advantage, starting with the most critical moment in Yang Kai's early life—the moment he would fuse with the mysterious black book that would change everything.
For now, though, he needed to survive in this unforgiving world. And that meant playing the part of the weakling, biding his time until the moment was right to strike.
Shiv sat down at the table, unwrapping the bundle of rations. The food was simple—some rice, a piece of stale bread, and a small portion of dried meat. He ate slowly, his mind already working through the plans he would need to set in motion. The High Heaven Pavilion was a place of opportunity, but it was also a place of danger. The strong preyed on the weak, and any sign of strength was met with swift and brutal opposition.
But Shiv had an advantage that no one else did—he knew how this story would unfold. And with that knowledge, he would ensure that his journey in this world would be nothing short of legendary.
As the first rays of dawn began to filter through the cracks in the hut, Shiv finished his meal and rose to his feet. The day ahead would be filled with challenges, but he was ready. He would not be the same Yang Kai who had been looked down upon and ridiculed. He was Shiv, a man with the power of eternal life and the knowledge of the future.
And with those tools at his disposal, he would rise to the top of the martial world, one step at a time.