Beneath the shadows of mount ziyun where Jade green pines clawed at the heavens and the rivers below sang songs older than the kingdoms , a single drop of sweat fell on the sacred Earth . It struck the ground with a sound that should have been silent but echoed like a thunderclap .
Drawing a deep breath , Lin xiao's chest rose and fell rhythmically grounding him in the moment. With a faint ripple bof energy , his spirit detached from his physical form . He felt the familiar tug of the spirit realm like being pulled underwater yet remaining weightless .
When he reopened his mind's eye ,he was already there . The air here shimmered with a faint glow that illuminated the hauntingly weird silence , the spirit realm was divided into eight categories, each one a tier of existence for wandering souls and this one was the weakest level typically teeming with fragmented spirits too broken to ascend but too restless to fade .
Lin xiao landed softly amidst a cluster of ancient trees and began walking while his eyes were fixed on the mesmerizing sky above the celestial expanse that was so enthrolling that he barely noticed where his feet landed ,suddenly .he stumbled,his boot striking something soft that made his heart skip a beat .
Beneath him lay a woman â no ,a spiritâ unlike any he had encountered before . This could be a trap . Souls in the spirit realm were known to disguise themselves as beauties luring fools to their room once they earned control of a person's mental force , they could make them obey their every command .
His pulse quickened as he knelt besides her . Is this wisdom or folly? He reached out ,his fingertips brushing against her skin , it was soft â softer than he had expected as if untouched by time . Just as his fingertips made contact , her eyes snapped open revealing gorgeous blue eyes that resembled the stars in the spirit realm
Before Lin xiao could react ,her hand shot up , gripping his waist with shocking strength. He gasped and tried to pull back but her hold was unrelenting.
She pulled him closer and Lin xiao braced himself for the worst ,any second now , he expected her form to twist into a monstrous devil . Her beautiful face splitting open to reveal fangs, claws or something far worse but she didn't transform . Instead , a radiant smile spread across her face, like sunlight breaking through a storm .
" My dear husband , you are .... You are back to me ",she said softly .
Lin xiao stopped struggling his body tense as her words sank in ." Husband ,which husband?"
She tightened her grip ." What is wrong ?",she asked,her voice breaking as if she were on the verge of tears." Do you want to leave me again? Am I so ugly that you can't bear to look at me."
Lin xiao's breath hitched . The despair in her tone was undeniable but so was the danger." I don't know who you are crazy woman " . Lin xiao gritted his teeth ." And I am not your husband ."
Her smile faltered . For a moment, her grip loosened just enough for him to break free.
With a swift motion , he drew his blade , the glow of his spiritual weapon lighting up the space between them casting long shadows across her delicate frame but she didn't flinch at the sight of the weapon not did she rise to attack . Instead ,she stayed kneeling ,her hands trembling as they reached out towards him .
Do you really don't remember me , my love .
Lin xiao clenched his jaw , forcing himself to stand firm despite the strange tugging sensation deep in his chest . " I don't know what kind of trick you are playing but I won't fall for it ."
She looked up at him with eyes filled with an almost unbearable sorrow . " I waited for so long . I searched the endless realms for you , and now you have come back to me , but .... You don't remember me ."
Before Lin xiao could say another word,she stood up and slowly began walking towards him . Lin xiao hesitated,he was horned to fight spirits not sympathize with them but this one was something else entirely .
Lin xiao didn't even realize how she was already an inch away from him but for some reason ,he didn't have the courage to slay her beautiful body . She raised her hand and touched his cheek and within a second she was kissing him with pure hunger .
Lin xiao's spirit body snapped back to his physical form ,and he flinched instantly . Letting out a shaky sigh,his chest heaved , rising and falling as though he had just fought a fierce battle . The experience had been overwhelming â encountering a spirit like that . Even now , he could hardly believe it . That spirit had stolen his first kiss. His first kiss! And with a drunk , wandering spirit ,of all things .
Shaking his head ,he pushed the thought aside and stood up . The old man was still nearby, gazing over the vast expanse of The Great Imperial Beast Forest . Lin xiao. Didn't even know the name of this old geezer . They had met long ago during his first venture into the imperial beast forest and over time , the man became his master . So Lin xiao called him what he could." Master "
" You actually managed to last more than five minutes in the spirit realm " . The old man remarked ." It seems you deserve to be called the dragon's baby ."
It is all thanks to you .
Lin xiao bowed slightly in respect ,and the old man chuckled .
" Hmm , I suppose it is time for me to take my leave .
The old man's body slowly began dissipating , his form scattering into leaves that swirled away on a gust of wind . The sudden movement tugged at the white cloth tied around Lin xiao's eyes ,and it fluttered to the ground . By the time he picked it up ,the old man was already gone .
He picked up the white cloth and tied it back around his eyes . Since birth ,the only time he opened his eyes was when he was three years old .and then he discovered that light burnt his eyes . Some people even though that his mother had produced a blind boy but his ability to walk without knocking something over stunned the entire world .
He let out another sigh, the weight of his promotion to Yuan Huang level sinking in . He owed it all to that old man, mysterious and ghost like as he was .
Below the cliff lay Odin town bustling with over 20,000 people and countless businesses . Lin jumped from the Cliff's edge and landed gracefully on a smaller ledge overlooking a narrow river . Across the water,a small house stood with a fenced yard and within the house ,there was a mid aged woman who could be seen through the huge kitchen window .
Mom ! Didn't I tell you that I can do that .
The woman let out a chuckle ." Stop trying to be the boy who likes doing dishes ."
" Did the old man leave ?", Lin Feng asked, her hands busy drying a wooden bowl . Her voice was soft, yet the weight of exhaustion was unmistakable . " You should invite him for dinner someday .'
Lin xiao chuckled, leaning against the door frame . " That old geezer ,he left as usual . And don't worry about him , I am sure he owns an entire market ."
Lin Feng sighed , shaking her head with a faint smile ." Still , it wouldn't hurt to ask . You never know what someone needs . Come on , recently you have grown thin that even a gust of wind can blow you away ."
Lin xiao followed her to the small table, but as he ate,his focus shifted. He could hear her labored breathing,each exhale sounding heavier than the last . Acting as both father and mother , she had sacrificed so much to ensure their survival . His heart clenched at the thought ,she worked herself to the Bone and he couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt .
" Some how was your day . I hope the old man didn't stress you out too much ", Lin Feng asked .
Lin xiao let out a chuckle