Li Hua crawled out of the bed and slowly stood up, her legs trembled beneath her, unused to supporting the weight of such a powerful soul. This body was small, weak, and untrained - a stark contrast to her previous self.
The woven reed mats crackled softly beneath her bare feet, their rough texture sending unfamiliar sensations up her spine. In her old body, such minor discomforts would have been beneath her notice, but now every detail—from the individual strands of dried grass to the earthy scent rising from the matting—felt amplified.
Slowly, Li Hua walked over to the closed door and pressed her palm against its weathered surface, feeling the rough grain of wood beneath her fingertips. The door was simple but sturdy, typical of the practical craftsmanship she'd seen in historical exhibits of rural Chinese homes.
The room around her spoke of modest rural life—sparse wooden furniture rested atop woven reed mats, while exposed wooden support beams stretched overhead beneath the thatched roof. The earthy scent of mud-brick walls mingled with the subtle fragrance of aged wood and dried reeds. To her modern sensibilities, accustomed to steel and glass high-rises, the dwelling seemed to belong to another era entirely.
Li Hua's fingers trembled as they wrapped around the door handle. Her first pull barely made the door budge. The second attempt was just as futile. On her third try, straining what little muscle this new body possessed, she finally managed to drag the door open with a loud creak that echoed through the empty home. Luckily, no one was around to witness her struggle.
"Master? Are you feeling well enough to explore?" Little Firefly spoke up.
"Yes." Li Hua responded. "Do you know anything about this new place?"
"A bit, Master. This is no longer your world. I, I didn't have the power to keep you bonded to your previous world." Little Firefly said softly as if he was anticipating his master to lash out with anger.
"Mmm, I could tell. What world is this?" Li Hua asked calmly.
Little Firefly released a heavy sigh, his tiny form dimming slightly. "This realm... it's similar to my own world," he explained. "After the explosions tore your soul from your body, I had to use nearly all my power just to keep your essence from scattering. I depleted so much of my reserved energy that this was the only place I could transport us to." His light brightened momentarily. "Though perhaps fortune favored us—this world brims with spiritual power. Its natural energies pulled us in, sparing what little strength I had left."
Little Firefly waited for his master's response, but only silence filled the air. Anxious in the stillness, he pressed on, "Master, this new vessel perfectly meets the transfer conditions: it's an empty vessel, devoid of any soul, and it's capable of housing your inner core."
Pausing in her steps, Li Hua asked, "You mean I have spiritual powers?"
"Yes, master! You do," Little Firefly responded, bobbing enthusiastically in the air.
Li Hua acknowledged this with a thoughtful nod, turning her attention to her surroundings.
The layout before her matched perfectly with historical accounts: two small sleeping chambers flanking a central gathering room.
"Little Firefly, tell me more." Li Hua said out loud.
"Yes, master. I still don't know much about this world, so I won't be able to give you specifics." Little Firefly responded.
"That's fine. Be general, I don't want to confuse the terminology in this world." Li Hua replied.
"Yes, master. Worlds that possess high concentrations of spiritual energy naturally give rise to powerful beings—both human and beast alike. These beings are born with what we call an inner core, a wellspring of power that varies in potential from person to person. Through cultivation, one can strengthen this core, expanding their capacity to harness and control spiritual energy."
Little Firefly paused, his tiny form dimming slightly as he considered how best to explain the next part. "Think of cultivators like the military ranks in your world—Lieutenants, Captains, Majors, Colonels, Generals. Each rank represents a different level of power and authority. However," he brightened, emphasizing his next point, "there's more complexity to it. Within each rank, cores are classified as low-tier, mid-tier, or high-tier. Sometimes, a high-tier cultivator can defeat even someone from a higher rank, if their opponent's core is of lesser quality."
Li Hua's brow furrowed as she processed this information, her fingers absently tracing the unfamiliar contours of her new body. The concept wasn't entirely foreign - after all, when she first bonded with Little Firefly, they had the same discussions about his world.
"And this body," she spoke softly, more to herself than too Little Firefly, "where does it stand in terms of its inner core?"
Little Firefly hesitated before continuing, "Master, I can't sense your core because your body has yet to cultivate. But it's not a problem," he added quickly, his light flickering reassuringly. "Your parents will teach you how to perceive your inner core—it's the fundamental first step every cultivator must take before beginning their journey."
"Mmm, ok." Li Hua nodded. She would need to be cautious until she fully understood her new limitations. In her previous life, knowing her capabilities had meant the difference between life and death.
"Master, you must train and cultivate well." Little Firefly said softly but firmly, his words carrying the weight of ancient wisdom.
Li Hua closed her eyes, remembering when she first started out as an assassin. She was young and weak, like her body now. To hone the skills to survive she had endured countless nights of grueling training, pushing her body past its breaking point until her hands bled and her muscles screamed in protest.
Each failure had been a lesson, each scar a reminder of what it took to rise from nothing. The memory of that raw determination stirred something within her—a familiar fire that even this weak vessel couldn't diminish. She would need that same resilience now, perhaps even more than before, as she navigated this new reality with its own rules and hierarchies.