Augh, where am I ...
*splash* *splash*
In a pit dark place that one could barely see their hand and feet existed a spot of light that shone bright yet incredibly faint in this dark place.
Upon closer inspection, one would realized that this spot of light was actually a shiny butterfly flapping its wings relentless, moving forward.
On top of said butterfly was a tiny man in tattered clothes who just regained his consciousness. The tiny man had white hair and a nice face, he was none other than Chen Yi.
Chen Yi stood up and looked around him, hearing the sound of water and waves before muttering to himself: "River of time, is it..."
"!"
Suddenly Chen Yi felt a sharp pain in the head, like someone swung a sword at it and stabbed it with multiple daggers at the same time. The pain was so unbearable that he felt like he should be dead, but he somehow was not.
"It's, it's...!!" Suddenly his eyes opened wide as white light engulfed his vision.
When the light was gone, Chen Yi found himself in a room, standing in a corner.
He looked around and noticed that he was not alone, there are two others in the opposite direction, three, to be exact.
What he was in was a bedroom with a family of three. The bed was situated at the other end of the room next to a window. It was quite large as it looks like it could fit three people if they squeeze together.
Sitting on the bed was a man who looks to be around his late twenties, next to him was a woman who looks just as young, she's probably twenty two or twenty five years old at most. In her embrace was an infant who was sleeping soundly without a care in the world.
"He's so beautiful, my sweet baby." The woman said with a big smile on her face.
"I know, he's our son after all." The man next to her said with eyes full of adoration to both the baby and the woman.
This was a pair of husband and wife with their first child.
"I just hope he could grown up into a big tree." The wife said without looking away from the baby.
"A big tree? Shouldn't it be a big man?" The husband asked softly so to not wake up the baby as he was quite curious as well.
The wife shook her head and turned to look at her husband before saying: "A big man might be strong and successful, but I don't wish for him to be alone. I want him to be a big tree, so that he could help and shelters others in need, I wish for him to be happy with good people surrounding him."
The husband looks stunned for a moment before smiling gently and said: "Your wish is exactly like mine."
The wife chuckled, "I know, that's why I love you so much."
The husband felt like he's the luckiest man in the world as smile could not leave his face. He kissed his wife gently on the forehead before asking: "So, what should we name our child? Have you thought of anything after this one month?"
The wife in turns, smiled playfully before saying: "I have thought about it. Although I wish or our son to be surrounded by good people, I still want him to live a good life full with fortunes and glory."
The husband smile cheerfully back to his wife: "You're so greedy."
"Of course, I'm your greedy girl, hehe." The wife closed her eyes and chuckled to herself softly.
"So what name do you have for him?" The husband asked.
"I want him to fly high unlike any other, as high as the heavens. So I will name him Shen Tian Yi, what do you think?" The wife said while looking at the baby with a doting smile.
"The Will of the Heaven?" The husband was first confused then smile gently and said, "That's... A good name"
The couple then looked at each lovingly before turning to look at the baby as the husband touched his wife cheek softly, unaware of an unknown man standing in their bedroom.
"This feeling... Is it a dream realm or injected memories? It's so real I cannot tell..." Chen Yi talked to himself as he was pondering the possibilities.
Before Chen Yi could come to a conclusion, he felt the world around him spinning as he lose his balance and almost fell to the floor.
When he regained his balance and inspected his surroundings, he found that he's now in an open space before a grand hall. Before him stood a thick crowd of people talking to themselves loudly.
Oddly enough, these people seemed to not notice him just like the couple before.
The crowd itself was crescent shape, like they were watching something, but don't want to get too close. Chen Yi slowly made his way to the front row of the crowd by walking from side as he could not see what's happening from his position at the back row.
What laid in front of him were, presumably two lifeless bodies covered in white blanket from head to toes.
"What's happening? Why did the clan leader summoned all members of the clan here today?" Someone in the crowd said.
"Can't you see? It's because two people are dead." Someone chipped in and mocked.
"So what's of it? People dies all the time once in a while, there's no need to summoned all the clansmen in the clan just for one or two people." The first person who talked earlier replied.
"Could it that this is not simple accidental death, but planned murder? Has a demonic Meng cultivator sneaked into our clan?" Another person speculated with fears.
"Ahem"
Instantly after the sound of throat clearing from a person standing at the front of the big hall, the crowd turned dead silent.
That person was quite a muscular man with grey long hair that was comb back all the way and long grey beards, adorned with with wide clothes that conceal his physiques. He looked to be around his late fifties, but he's still strong and healthy. He has an air of authority around him that made people listen to what he has to say.
Behind him stood many people of different sizes and ages.
"Hm, that guy must be this clan's leader. As for those people people behind him, they are probably clan elders or something." Chen Yi analyzed in a heartbeat while looking at the crowd with apathetic eyes, wondering where this is going.
"I summoned you all here today to announced the death of two of our elders." The clan leader said.
"!"
"Huph!"
"Hiek!"
An audible gasp went round the crowd, some were scared and some were merely surprised.
"What's happening? How long has it been since our clan has lost one of its elders?"
"The latest elder to die in our clan was from years ago. Although many elders has sustained serious injuries and retired, not one elder has died in the last ten years, what is going on?"
"Could it be, assassins? Beast tide?"
"Wonder which elders were they?"
The crowd began to whisper among themselves and the sound was getting louder and louder by the seconds.
"Quiet!"
"!"
At the angry sound of the clan leader, the crowd fell into complete silent once more. After a moment of silence, the clan leader spoke once more, expressionlessly:
"Ahem, as you may know, this is the first time the clan has lost its elders in the last ten years."
After pausing for a while, he continued.
"Recently we have spotted many suspicious activities going on around of village vicinity. So I appointed two of our elders on secret missions to investigate. Just as they were about to return home and report this matter, they were ambushed on the way back and sustained serious injuries. Although me and many of our elders have rushed in as soon as we received the call for reinforcement, we didn't made it in time to save them and they died after giving me the Projecting light sounds Meng which recorded their investigation."
"The results of their investigation showed us that the Chu clan that moved into the mountain nearby hundred years ago are planning for war to expand their territory. What I'm telling you is that war is near and we should be prepared for what's coming." The clan leader said without a change in his expression.
After half a moment, the crowd broke out into discussions again, this time louder than ever.
"The Chu clan? What clan is that? I've never heard of them."
"It's that Chu clan that moved into a mountain next to ours a hundred years ago or so. I heard they were forced to moved there by an enemy or something."
"My grandfather told me that at that time they were really weak when they just moved in. That mountain next to ours has bad soil and were not suitable for crop. To add more problems, beast activities over there was also higher than ours. At that time they were humble enough to send gifts and subsidiaries to us so the previous clan leader just left them be. To think they would bite the hand that feeds them."
"Ungrateful bastards."
"But which honourable elders are those two? They gave their life for the clan, I'm sure their family will be proud of them."
"I would take their places without a second thought if I was also an elder."
Despite the loud discussion and disorder of the clansmen, the clan leader and clan elders only stood still at their places and did not say anything this time.
After quite a long while, the noise began to soften down as the crowd regained their order.
After a moment of silence, the clan leader announced once more:
"As I've said earlier, these two elders have sacrificed themselves for the clan and contributed greatly, providing us with valuable information, preventing unknown disaster and tragedies. Although they might have passed away, their spirits will be with us and watch over us together with our ancestors." The clan leader paused, then spoke again with a serious face authoritative tone.
"As per the clan rules made by our first generation ancestor stated, those who contributed to the clan shall be rewarded and those who harmed it shall be punished. For our fallen clansmen, we shall buried them in the clan's graveyard and engrave their name in the ancestral hall. Their remaining family members shall receive sixty thousand Core essence stone, two houses and four family of servants as compensation and reward for their loyalty to the clan."
Upon hearing the clan leader, the crowd broke out into an uproar.
"Did I hear it wrongly? The clan is giving them sixty thousand Core essence stones and two houses, four family servants no less!!? I wish my brother took their place..."
"Tf?"
"I misspoke, I misspoke..."
"Whoever it is, they will live a luxurious life now, lucky for them."
"I know right? Not to mention the houses and servants, just those sixty thousand Core essence stones could last a lifetime. They're f*cking loaded."
Many people in the crowd said with excitement and envy, but some kept their silence and spoke nothing.
Contrary to the crowd which were quite excited and lively, the elders on the other side, all wore dark and gloomy expression, some sad and sympathetic.
After a while, the clan leader raised his hand and two people walked forward, lifting the blankets up.
The blankets were lifted up, revealing a pair of corpse belonging to a man and a woman.
The male corpse has quite the handsome face and the female even more so. The male corpse has his left arm and his right foot missing while the female has a large hole in her belly.
The moment their faces were revealed, everybody present instantly knew who these two people are.
"Isn't that..."
"Shen Jiang and Shen Lin? How could this be..."
"They were the rising star of our generation, together they even killed an early rank four and stood their ground against peak stage rank four demonic Meng cultivator to retreat. How could they fell here?"
"That's impossible, they're the elite of our clan right there, reaching rank 3 at only 22 of age. How could the likes of Chu clan has any chance against them?"
"Looks like things are not as simple as they look..."
"Wait, if this is Shen Jiang and Shen Lin, doesn't that means..."
Before the people could put their thoughts together, the clan leader called out with a loud and deep voice, his face still as serious as ever.
"Now the person who will be receiving the compensation of sixty thousand Core essence stones, two story of bamboo houses and four family of servants. Shen Jiang and Shen Lin one and only son..." The clan leader paused briefly and close his eyes for a moment before opening them and spoke again.
"Shen Tian Yi, come out."
"!!?"
"???"
"Who tf is that??"
"..."
There are many kind of expressions of people in the crowd. Some were confused and puzzled, some felt sad and pity towards the son of the two elders, some wore expressionless face, but most felt expectant and curious as to what kind of incredible person the son of two prodigies will be.
Just then, they felt a shift in the crowd as people made way for someone. Everyone finally got a clear view of that person when he finally made his way in front of the clan leader and two corpses.
What stood in front of them was neither a teen nor a young adult, but a little kid 5 years of age. Everyone was shocked as realization drawn upon them, many people turned their head and looked away as they don't want to witness what's happening.
"What the... Isn't he just five?"
"Poor kid...
Just then, the clan leader called out.
"Shen Tian Yi, I am truly sorry for your lost. You may not understand now child, but we must keep moving forward." The clan leader closed his eyes for a long while in silence.
When the clan leader opened his eyes again, the air around him changed, and so was the looks in his eyes.
What seemed like a strong individual full of authority a while ago was now just a sad, and kind elderly neighbour as he looked at the kid.
"Be strong, child." He muttered, then turn around back to the hall as the elders made way for him.
What followed after was one of the elders bestowed upon Shen Tian Yi of his compensation and arranged for his parents' funeral for him.
"..."
Chen Yi observed the scene before him from start to finish in silence .
If there's one thing that he figured out, it would be that this Dream realm, or whatever it is, seems to depict the life of this child.
Towards Shen Tian Yi's lost and tragic life, Chen Yi didn't feel anything. These are mundane and boring things, he has seen them countless times already on his journey of life.
'Such things, I'm already used to it.' Chen Yi thought to himself.
'Father, mother...'
'?'
'Although you're not my real parents, I still tried to love you as if you were. It saddens me a lot that you guys died like this *sob*.'
'???'
Suddenly Chen Yi heard someone speak in his mind. The feeling might be strange for normal people, but Chen Yi was familiar with it, it was advanced Meng communication methods.
It felt like someone spoke directly to his ears and the sound could be felt on both side while at the same time it felt like his own thoughts, like when he thought of something or constructed a sentence. It's like when people thought to themselves "I should eat out today", but the thing was, they were not his thoughts.
'How could you guys leave me alone in this place, how would I live from now on...'
'What is...'
Then, realization struck Chen Yi, he looked around and found that the little boy kneeling in front of his parents, crying.
After sometime, the clansmen were dismissed and the crowd dissipated while the little boy picked himself up walked towards his home.
Chen Yi followed suit and found that the house has no one except the little boy and a few servants.
The boy came into the house and sat at dinner table, he did not do or say anything, just sitting still looking at the table. During this time the servants came to him but he dismissed them, other than that there are also some people that came to see how's he doing and consoled him, they were his parents' acquaintances.
What amazed Chen Yi was that this boy appeared to be stunned and shocked to outsiders. He only spoke a few words or nodded towards them to indicate that he was listening.
But on the inside, this little kid was thinking and planning ahead for the future, calculating what he has and what could be used and what could not.
'How does a kid of five years old live without their parents? This is absurd, I must do everything I can to ensure my survival and at the same time protect my parents' assets. Afterall, a robbery or "accident" is a possibility...'
'Other-worldy demon...' Chen Yi thought to himself with hatred and loathe.
After sometime it was getting late and no more people came to console the kid anymore and he was left alone.
After finishing dinner that the servants brought him, he began to think deeply once more.
The more he thinks, the more depressed he becomes as he puked at the thought of the gruesome sight of his parents.
'They said my parents died due to people from another clan, not animal or natural disasters. What kind of sick bastards...'
'...'
Eventually, Shen Tian Yi's thoughts ran wild and he began crying as he didn't seem to see a way out.
'What should I do...'
Then suddenly Chen Yi's vision started to blurred again as his surroundings spun, he found himself in a different place.
The place he's in current was a front yard of a house without grass. The floor was smooth and clean without pebbles whatsoever, just smooth dry soil surface.
Chen Yi looked around and found two children running around catching eachother around him in a circle. In front of the house sat two people, male and female. They expressions were that of joy and a bit of proudness.
The only person here that Chen Yi recognized was one of the two children, it was Shen Tian Yi, he seemed a bit older this time.
Out of the two kids playing catch and touch, Shen Tian Yi was the catching one, he was running with all he has to catch the other kid while he was out of breath.
The other kid, a girl around the same age as Shen Tian Yi was running around and nimbly avoiding him with ease. Strangely enough, even though she's running faster than Shen Tian Yi's full speed, she was still full of energy and wasn't out of breath and had to stop occasionally like Shen Tian Yi, she only has heavy breathing here and there before running off again.
While Chen Yi was observing them, he suddenly felt a sharp pain through his head for a moment. The pain disappeared as fast as it came, what remains in his head were informations about the current scenario.
Apparently, not long after Shen Tian Yi lost his parents, he also lost his grandmother, who was his last remaining relatives too.
When his parents' best friends came back from their missions and heard the news, they decided to adopt him and raised him as their own for his parents from then on.
Shortly after, the war with the Chu clan erupted. After the Shen clan has made all necessary preparations, they wiped the Chu clan from the face of the world.
It's been three years since then, Shen Tian Yi is now 8 years old.
The girl he was playing with right now was his adoptive parents' biological daughter, Shen Ai.
Her mother was Shen An, she has a quiet and kind personality, but was also strict and firm. As for her father, Shen Jin was an upright and honest man who cares for his family above all else.
Shen Ai was raised well with a nice family who provided good environment. She's also physically strong and intelligent, her bright personality was evident.
Even now as she was playing together with Shen Tian Yi, she still has a cheerful expression and laughing while running as if it was the best thing in the world.
Chen Yi observed with curious eyes, wondering what he would gain from this.
After it's getting late, the family went in for a bath and had dinner together before going to bed separately in a pairs at Shen Ai's request as it was uncomfortable for four people to sleep in one bed.
Shen An originally wanted to sleep together with her daughter but gave up at Shen Ai's relentless persistence as she knows that her daughter was really clingy with Shen Tian Yi even before he lost his parents.
In fact, it can even be traced back to when they were babies. She would be crawling around him when playing while kicking him while they were asleep when their families used to hang out.
The next day started with the family woke up and washed themselves and went for breakfast, then the parents went to work on missions while leaving their children at home with the servants.
The children played, read books, drawn pictures then ate lunch, then play again until their parents came home in the evening.
They spent time together then went for a bath before eating dinner and go to sleep.
This routine continued on for three days before a man with documents papers on hand came to tell the parents that it's the opening day of school in one week.
During the last three days, Chen Yi has been watching the children for one day, the parents for another, then used the last day to explore the area.
He found out on the third day that he couldn't leave the area of the village, he couldn't do anything to anyone either.
This left him in a slightly bored mood listening to the two adults talking. After Shen Jin finished talking with the man regarding school for his children, he took the document papers from the man, bid him farewell and headed back to the house.
Chen Yi himself was about to head in to the house too when suddenly, his world started spinning.