Yang Qi stood there for a moment, his mind still entangled in the pain of the blows he had received from Yang Wei. The old beggar sitting under the tree had just asked him a simple but meaningful question: "Do you want to become stronger?" A question that, in other circumstances, might have seemed banal, but coming from the mouth of this man with the piercing gaze, it resonated with a disturbing depth.
He eyed the beggar warily. This old man seemed to come straight from another era, his clothes in tatters, his deep and old scars, and above all, this mysterious aura that surrounded him. Yang Qi, or rather John, was not fooled. In this merciless world, every word had to be weighed, and every offer often concealed a hidden intention. But the promise of strength... that temptation was hard to ignore.
— "Why would you help me?" " he asked cautiously, moving slightly closer to the old man without letting his guard down.
The beggar smiled, revealing teeth yellowed by time.
— "Why not? The world is made only of forces, of those who hold them and those who suffer them. You seem to be in the latter category. I can offer you a chance to switch to the other side."
Yang Qi narrowed his eyes. A promise like this never came without a price. He knew that. Yet, he needed to become stronger, much stronger, if he was ever to take revenge on those who had humiliated him. His body was weakened, his meridians broken, and no normal path of cultivation was available to him. Maybe, just maybe, this man could show him an alternative path.
—"And what should I give you in return?" he finally asked, a hint of hope, but also fear, in his voice.
The beggar stood up slowly, his bones creaking with the movement. He gave Yang Qi a long, enigmatic look before answering.
—"There is nothing free in this world, that's true. But for now, let's consider this an investment… a gamble, if you will. I'll give you a chance. Nothing more. The rest is up to you. If you want to know more, come find me here, under this tree, tonight."
He turned around slowly, his face almost disappearing into the shadows of the branches.
—"I'll let you decide. But don't take too long, little one. The night is often full of secrets, and those who hesitate never see the light of them."
Yang Qi stood still, staring at the spot where the beggar had disappeared into the dawning night. His thoughts swirled. Why was this old man interested in him? And what kind of power could he offer him? Yet, despite his reluctance and the thousand questions that assailed him, a decision slowly made its way into his mind. He had to at least explore this possibility, as dangerous as it was.
Resuming his journey, Yang Qi finally returned home. His miserable hut welcomed him again, with its sagging bed and cold walls. With the few coins he still had on him, he was able to buy himself some food, some almost moldy vegetables and a piece of stale bread. It wasn't much, but it was enough to calm the hunger that twisted his stomach. He ate in silence, mechanically chewing each mouthful, all the while mulling over and over the encounter with the beggar.
Who was this man? And how did he plan to give him the strength he needed to face his enemies? Every word the old man said seemed to be full of hidden meaning, but after years of surviving in this brutal world, Yang Qi knew that nothing was ever as simple as it seemed. Yet, deep inside him, a voice kept echoing: "You have nothing to lose, nothing but your current misery. Anyway, I've already died once, my life has no meaning anymore, even if it's risky I still want to take a chance. Who knows, maybe I'll have a lucky encounter."
When night fell completely, he stood up, his heart beating faster. His instincts screamed at him not to go, to stay safe. But he pushed those fears aside. He had to know. He slipped outside, careful to stay out of sight of the other clan members.
When he reached the tree, he saw the old beggar, sitting in the same position he had left earlier.
"I must say, I am surprised that you came," the old man said with a slight smile. "Few dare to answer the call of darkness."
"I have decided to see where this road leads me," Yang Qi replied calmly, trying to hide his apprehension.
"Very well. Then follow me."
Without another word, the beggar stood up and began walking. They walked in silence for hours, passing through dense forests and winding paths, moving further and further away from the city. Yang Qi, despite his fatigue, followed without question, though curiosity was eating away at him. Finally, they reached the top of a small mountain. The wind blew hard up there, sweeping Yang Qi's hair as he looked around. There was nothing but rocks and trees twisted by the wind.
"Sit there," the beggar said, pointing to a rock. "In the lotus position."
Yang Qi hesitated for a moment, but obeyed. As he sat down on the rock, he couldn't help but notice something strange in the air. A dark, oppressive energy seemed to envelop the place, as if the mountain itself was hiding an ancient and terrifying secret.
The beggar stepped up behind him, a devilish smile spreading across his face.
"You were far too naive, boy," he suddenly murmured, his voice filled with palpable malice. Before Yang Qi could react, an invisible force took hold of him. His limbs refused to move. His entire body was paralyzed.
"What the...?" Yang Qi panicked, desperately trying to regain control of his body.
"Ah, I see you realize now," the beggar sneered. "Don't be so surprised. It's thanks to a secret technique I perfected decades ago, the [Curse of the Bound Souls]. A small marvel that allows me to immobilize you... and soon, replace you."
Yang Qi felt his heart race. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to flee, to fight, but he could do nothing. He was at the mercy of this man.
"Who are you?" he managed to articulate with difficulty.
The beggar burst out laughing, a sinister laugh that echoed in the mountain.
"My name, you don't need to know it. Just know that I am someone who, like you, wants to become strong again. And your body, although weakened, is a good base for me to pick up where I left off."
Yang Qi felt an icy terror invade him.
"No… I won't let you do that…"
But the beggar only laughed harder.
"You have no choice, boy," the old beggar sneered, his gaze shining with cruel malice. "You have played with forces beyond your control. It is too late now. You are so naive… In this world, the only law that prevails is that of the strongest. »
Yang Qi's heart pounded as he felt panic wash over him. Every muscle in his body was frozen, unable to move under the influence of the beggar's secret technique. Sweat beaded on his forehead, sliding down to his eyes.
"Why do you want… why do you want my body?" he stammered, his voice trembling. "I am weak, lacking in cultivation… and my meridians are cut. How can I be of any use to you?"
The old beggar burst into dry laughter, a sound that echoed ominously through the night.
— "Ah, poor child," he said mockingly. "That's not for you to decide. Whether you're weak or broken is irrelevant. Once I take possession of your body, you'll be surprised at how much weakness can be transformed… I have the means to repair your meridians, to restore what you've lost. But that, of course, will be for me, not for you."
He leaned a little closer to Yang Qi, a malicious smile tugging at his lips.
— "You're just a tool, a temporary vessel for me to take back what fate has stolen from me. And you, my boy, didn't see it coming. But since you're offering me your body, I'm willing to appear complacent and let you learn the truth. After all, whether you know what I'm going to tell you or not won't change a thing."