Dazzling sun rays pierced through the window as it shone on a pale face and after what seemed like a while, it's eyes fluttered and opened taking in the the vicinity not understanding where it was.
"Where am I?!" a small voice said as it's owner tried to stand up, naturally the person was Vin who had apparently been rescued or so it seemed.
He tried standing only to feel a racking pain pervading his entire body "Ow Ow ouch" He shouted in agony "Oh, you're awake, that was quick, I'd estimated you would be be out for a few more days" came a husky old voice from outside the room.
Actually, it would be better to call it a cottage, he thought as he looked around, the cottage was thatched at the ceiling. And then wall was patched in various places, it looked like it would crumble any moment with the way the wall were cracked.
There wasn't much in the room aside from a bed, a chain, an old table, and a few living amenities.
From outside he could hear a faint whooshing sound like someone was blowing on something apparently the old man was blowing on fire preparing something.
"Just lay down there for a minute, little fella, I'll be done soon" came the husky old voice again.
Vin just laid down as he was instructed, that was the only thing he could do at that moment, his mind was still fuzzy from the pain he felt a moment ago.
After a while the rickety old door was pushed open and and old man walked in carrying a little bowl mucky liquid.
"Hey kid, you sure as hell are quite lucky you know that, if I hadn't found you, you'd definitely be Bones by now. By the way, what were you doing as dark wind forest?! " the old man rapidly fired away like he could never stop talking.
But due to his words Vin's mind clicked, and he memories came rushing to him, he remembered everything until he had blacked out, 'That's right, the dark wind forest, that tree was most probably the legendary Phoenix, to think I'd have that encounter' he thought to himself as he raised his head to stare at the old face looking intently at him.
He deliberated whether to tell the only man or not, after all he did save him, he at least owed him that much.
"Well before that, drink this, it would help with the pain and healing" the old man said as he pushed the bowl towards Vin.
Vin stared at the bowl with furrowed brows, truthfully he didn't know if he Swallow its contents, that was because the mucky liquid didn't look pleasing to the eye, he felt like he might throw-up just looking at it.
"You can rest assured kid, it doesn't taste as bad as it look" the old man encouraged with an amiable smile. Vin decided to trust the old man and drank the medicine as the man had proclaimed, not in the slightest noticing the glint that flashed through his eyes.
A decision he soon came to regret, as the medicine passed through his throat he felt like he had swallowed poison because of how bitter and spicy it tasted.
But after a few seconds, the medicine started doing it's work, the pain indeed reduced but that didn't stop the murderous glare he fired at the old man, he had lied about the taste and it definitely didn't feel good.
"Oho, now calm down there kid, it worked, didn't it?!" the old man smiled sheepishly, he didn't look like he felt any remorse. "You shouldn't stare your benefactor like that now, should you?!" he added matter-of-factly.
"Hmph. Tch" Vin scoffed at his antics. "Alright kid, tell me your story" the old man said as his sat down on the only chair in the room.
After taking a few more seconds to recollect himself, Vin told his story, how he loved the last ten years of his life, how he ended up in the dark wind forest and even what happened in it, he told everything but surprisingly the old man just sat there and quietly listened, not interrupting in the slightest, like he was listening to a fascinating story and not some life and death struggle.
After speaking for a while, Vin stopped and took a deep breath "And that's all that happened before I blacked out, you should know the rest" he concluded with a sigh.
"Hmm, so that's why I found you almost dead at the edge of the forest, I'm guessing the Phoenix sent you out itself, but it isn't wrong though. The essence in your body is set to erupt I'm five years at most." the old man stated "But the troubling part is that it would feed on your essence blood to sustain yourself which means you have to replenish yourself regularly"
"It seems I might die before then" Vin said weakly, he knew his chances of survival were near nil.
"Well since you don't have anywhere to go, why don't you stay with the old man. My name is Bai linxian, but you can call me old Bai. Everyone does" he added a laugh at the last sentence.
"Well.. Um old Bai, where are we exactly" Vin asked curiously "Oh that, forgive my manners, we're on the Flaming sun sect" Old Bai stated
"Oh okay" Vin replied, he didn't realize where he truly was until he has stayed a few months in the sect. For some reason everyone treated old Bai with some respect despite being only a sweeper in the sect.
Vin stayed with old Bai in his little thatched cottage while occasionally helping him out with the sweeping. Their relationship grew closer overtime, till he started even regarding old Bai as a close relative akin to a grandpa.
And like that, things flowed smoothly without any hiccups for two years until one fateful, Vin woke up to the absence of the usual humming he had grown accustomed to for the last two years.
He was surprised and rushed out, but was met with even more silence, only the wind hummed it own tune. "Old Bai, old Bai" he called put, but recently no answer, he panicked and started shooting hysterically "Old Bai, grampa Bai" but was met with even more silence.
Her searched frantically everywhere around the cottage but couldn't find anyone. So he rushed back into the cottage and that's when he saw the little note on the table.
He recognized the handwriting and since he was the only one here, he read it out "Hey kid, sorry but not saying anything but I got called to something important, I'll be back so wait for me" and wait he did, for months I waited.
Until a year had passed, as that's when he realized the sad truth, old Bai was never coming back. And he was alone.. Again.
When those outer sect deciples found out old Bai was missing, life became hell for him for the next three years till now. He was only at the third stage of the body refining realm but even that was obtained through old Bai's help.
Sighing, he looked down at his hand and stared, aside from the thatched cottage the only other important thing old Bai left him was the rusty old red ring on his finger.
His body looked malnourished because he barely ate enough to sustain himself from the the harsh fire essence in his body.
'It's about time, isn't it?' he thought. "Vin" the soft voice of a girl called him out of his thoughts, he turned around and was met with the beautiful smile of the young lady before him. Her name was Suzanne Reina.
She had been bringing lunch at this hour for him everyday for the last two months or so. He had idea why she suddenly took a liken to him but he had grown to somewhat trust her a little.
"Suzy, how are you" he replied with a smile "Oh I'm good, I brought your favorite" she said as she put down her basket, in it one could see sandwiches and fruits. They moved to their favorite spot under the large tree in the courtyard.
After eating and having small talks, "Can you come out of the sect with me for a moment" Suzanne stated suddenly. "Huh, why? Is something wrong?!" Vin frowned, he barely left the sect In the last 3 years and each time he did, he was reminded of the hardships of the past.
"I need to pick up some herbs, it's for a mission I took a while ago, I_ I didn't want to go alone" she replied softly.
In the Flaming sun sect, taking missions was lively hood, it was mandatory for outer court deciples to take at least one mission every month. The missions ranged from the simple one like picking herbs to the more difficult demonic beast slaying.
At the end of the mission, one would gain sect points which was used to purchase various resources in the sect. And the more difficult the mission the greater the points earned.
Even the sweeping task Vin was doing was a mission on its own, and although he was not exactly an official member of the Flaming sun sect, he was still able to get 10 sect points every month due to his connection to old Bai and this was barely enough to feed for the month.
"Where exactly do you wish to go?! " Vin asked calmly this time, "The overhanging edge cliff" Suzanne replied, "Overhanging edge cliff, isn't that where the fire blood ginseng grows" Vin asked in surprise.
It couldn't be helped, the fire blood ginseng was special type of plant that grew only when a large amount of blood comes in contact with concentrated fire essence and the overhanging edge cliff was the perfect place for it after all a large amount of beasts died there every year.
"Okay fine, I'll go with you, let me clean up first " he sighed and stood, heading to the cottage freshen up, although he was scared he still owed Suzanne for her care in past months.
After a while he came out and said "let's go"
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