The cold wind whipped through the streets, sending shivers down my spine as I clutched my coat tighter around me. It was times like these that I wished I had stayed in bed.
But no, I had to get to work. I was already running late and if I didn't show up, I'd lose my job.
I quickened my pace, my breath forming clouds of steam in the air. Just a little further and I'd be there.
I turned the corner and collided with a solid mass, stumbling backwards and landing hard on my rear.
"Ow, what the hell man?" I shouted, rubbing my aching backside.
The man looked down at me, a mixture of confusion and amusement on his face. "You should watch where you're going," he said, offering me a hand.
I grudgingly accepted, letting him pull me to my feet. "Yeah, well maybe you should get out of the damn way," I shot back, more out of embarrassment than anger.
The man just chuckled and patted me on the back. "Don't worry about it, kid. Just be more careful next time."
I nodded, still feeling a bit dazed, and the man walked off. Shaking my head, I continued on my way to work, trying to push the incident to the back of my mind.
But as I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The world around me seemed to shift and blur, and a strange pressure built up in my head.
I stopped in my tracks, clutching my head as the pressure became almost unbearable.
And then, everything went black.
When I came to, I was lying on a soft bed in a room I didn't recognize. My head was throbbing and my mouth felt dry as cotton.
I tried to sit up, but a hand pressed down on my chest, forcing me back down.
"Easy there, kid. You're not ready to get up yet," a voice said.
I squinted up at the speaker, trying to make out their face through the fog of pain and confusion.
"Where am I?" I asked, my voice hoarse.
"You're in the infirmary of the sect," the voice replied.
"Sect? What are you talking about?"
The hand lifted off my chest and the figure leaned back, giving me a better view of them. It was a man, middle-aged with a kind face and a gentle smile. He wore the robes of a cultivator, with the symbol of a mountain emblazoned on the chest.
"You don't remember, do you?" he asked, his smile fading a bit. "You stumbled into the sect grounds in a daze and collapsed. We brought you here and treated your injuries."
I shook my head, trying to piece together what he was saying. "I don't understand. What's a sect? And what do you mean by 'cultivator'?"
The man's expression became serious. "It seems you've suffered from some sort of memory loss. I'm Elder Chen, and I'm a cultivator of the Divine Cloud Sect. We cultivate spiritual energy and seek enlightenment in the ways of the Dao."
I stared at him blankly, still not understanding.
Elder Chen sighed and stood up. "I'll have someone bring you some food and water. Perhaps that will help jog your memory. In the meantime, I'll send for the sect's memory restoration expert. They should be able to help you regain your memories."
He left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Cultivation, Dao, sect. It all sounded like gibberish to me.
I tried to remember anything about my past, but it was like a blank slate. The only thing that seemed familiar was the city I had been walking through before everything went black.
But even that was hazy and indistinct.
I was lost in thought when the door opened and a young woman entered, carrying a tray of food. She set it down on the bedside table and smiled at me.
"Elder Chen said you needed to eat. My name is Lan, and I'm a member of the sect. Do you have a name?"
I hesitated, trying to think. A name. I should have a name, right? But try as I might, I couldn't come up with one.
"I'm...I don't know," I said, feeling defeated.
Lan's smile faded a bit, but she still looked sympathetic. "It's okay, don't worry about it. We'll help you figure everything out. Here, eat something. It'll make you feel better."
I nodded and reached for the tray, my stomach grumbling at the sight of the steaming bowl of soup and plate of rice.
As I ate, Lan sat with me, chatting about the sect and trying to jog my memory. But no matter what she said, nothing seemed to click.
Eventually, she left to attend to her duties, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more.
I was starting to lose hope when the door opened and an old man with a long beard entered, followed by Elder Chen.
"This is the sect's memory restoration expert, Elder Wu," Elder Chen introduced. "He'll see if he can help restore your memories."
Elder Wu nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed, placing a hand on my forehead.
I felt a strange sensation, like a current flowing through my body. And then, memories started flooding back.
But as I remembered my past, a sense of dread washed over me.
I was no ordinary person. I was a cultivator, one who had reached the pinnacle of power in my previous life. But with that power came a lust for more, and I became corrupted by it.
I had used my abilities to bully and manipulate those weaker than me, stopping at nothing to achieve my goals. And in the end, it had all been for nothing. My greed and ambition had been my downfall, and I had died alone and unfulfilled.
And now, I had been reincarnated into this world, given a second chance at life. But with my memories restored, I knew that the darkness that had consumed me in my past life was still present within me.
The system, a powerful tool that I had obtained in my previous life, was calling to me, urging me to embrace my true nature and give in to my corrupt desires.
I knew that if I gave in, I would become the evil person I had once been. But the temptation was strong, and I wasn't sure how long I could resist.
Elder Wu seemed to sense the turmoil within me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "It's alright, my child. You are not bound by your past. You have the power to choose who you want to be in this life. The path of cultivation is a difficult one, but it is also a path of self-improvement and redemption. If you are willing, we can guide you on that path and help
you become a better person."
I looked into Elder Wu's kind eyes and made my decision. I couldn't let my past self control me any longer. I would embrace this second chance at life and strive to become a better person.
"I'll do it," I said, determination filling me. "I'll cultivate and become a better person."
Elder Wu nodded, a small smile on his lips. "I knew you had it in you. Now, let's get started on your training. It won't be easy, but I have faith in you."
And so, my journey as a cultivator began. It was a difficult path, filled with trials and setbacks. But with the guidance of the elders and my own determination, I was able to overcome them and grow stronger.
As I cultivated, I learned to control my desires and temper my ambition. I made friends and found a sense of purpose.
I still struggled with the darkness within me at times, but I knew that as long as I stayed true to my goals and kept working towards self-improvement, I could overcome it.
I had been given a second chance at life, and I was determined to make the most of it.