The soft winds blew against the light pouring of rain where many eyes peered from dilapidated huts with an enamored expression. The many eyes belonged to faces covered in dirt and scratched rags covering their body made of animal hide. These rags seemed to be an expression of how the people lived rendered to its current state as a result of continuous use against the elements.
These people were villagers belonging to Pei Village, a village hidden in the mountains just outside the border of the local city. It was a peaceful village without much strife despite the poor conditions they lived in. This was a rarity in these trying times where many vagrants and bandits ran rampant.
In a world where the strong devour the weak, it is only natural for the weak to be culled. However, within the village there was an entity residing. A mysterious figure to outsiders but to the many villagers in Pei Village this figure like a guardian deity that was much unlike the various fiends that lived outside the safety of the village.
As the rain and winds dispersed, an old and scrawny figure could be seen sitting on a weathered rock facing the gates of the village with a serene expression on his old face.
The deep crow's eye covering the old man's face deepened the impression of a wise and old elder. Although his attire matched the villagers being that of rags, his deep obsidian eyes were filled with unbounded wisdom.
This old man was the village elder of Pei Village that resided in the village keeping the villagers inside safe from the elements outside. The villagers revered the old man, as originally most of them were refugees or escapees that stumbled across this village to seek refuge from pursuers or circumstances that prevented from living peacefully outside.
Suddenly the old man was stirred awake from his thoughts as a group of young and burly men could be seen entering the village gates from the clearing outside.
The young and burly men had joyous expressions on their dirty and vigorous faces. They exuded the vitality of youth each carrying a spear or bow made of wood and attached with minimal pieces of sharpened stone.
Some of the men carried on their backs freshly killed and dripped corpses of animals, whilst some carried beasts that resembled animals yet were tainted with a fiendish like ferocity. These men were the hunting group of the village that had just recently returned from a hunt.
One of the hunters on the smaller side with a silly face called out with a smug face to the elderly man waiting for them on the weathered rock.
"Village chief! Over here, look at our great Pei hunters. Aren't we amazing? I demand justice for my aching muscles! Don't we deserve it?"
Slap!
A young man beside him deftly gave the silly young man a slap over the head for his antics. The young man had a stern expression but had an even smaller frame than the silly young man.
Although this was the case his experience could be seen by the vast amount of callouses around his hands as well as a sharp spear on his back gleaming with a slightly black metallic tip, the difference of its superior quality to the rest of the weapons was obvious and chalked up to his skills.
His eyes were deep obsidian and seemed wise but still couldn't hide the youthful naivety and pride in his skills despite his young age. Annoyance could be seen emerge from those eyes at the silly young man but no malice could be felt. Much like an older sibling would look at their younger sibling, the stern young man softly scolded the silly young man and reported their catch to the elderly old man.
"Pei Yan! Don't be disrespectful to the village chief. Chief don't pay attention to him, although we caught a decent amount this time, it was difficult to return this time due to the rain. Some paths will be dangerous and unusable till we repair them."
The Village chief looked deeply at the stern young man with a profound sorrow upon his bearing and said "Pei Li... Everyone, you have worked hard...I'm sorry for not being of any use to you during these times. Thank you."
Astonishment filled the young faces of each of the young hunters and even the silly young man Pei Yan restrained his usual frivolous nature as they quickly bowed to the old man and they all echoed one another.
"Chief! We don't dare to accept your thanks!"
"Indeed, Yan didn't mean anything by his remarks its just his usual idiocy"
"Yes elder please, I was just joking I didn't mean anything by that it... Wait! Which one of you called me an idiot?"
"Elder, don't worry. We just stay away from Yan and maybe we won't be infected by his foolishness"
"HEY!"
Finally the stern young man stepped forth and bowed towards the elder.
"Please elder, if not for you which one of us would be able to survive in the harsh environment. We have all been taken in by you and owe our lives to you. You have taught us our skills and nursed us back to health, even taking us in when you found us."
At the mention of this, the eyes of the young men teared up despite their strong and unabated demeanor. In their young age, which one of these youngsters would have been able to survive the countless beasts roaming the outskirts of the city and even the the deep evil hidden within the hearts of their fellow humans.
The old man raised his head his deep eyes in reminiscence.
"Indeed, you youngsters were but lost lambs back then with nowhere to turn to. However, now you're all big and strong, which one of you would not be able to survive outside with your prowess."
"We wouldn't dare!"
"Yan's just an idiot!"
"HEY!"
"Alright, I'm just joking with you all, come in and send the meat for preparation."
The young men entered the village with their catch and placed the animals they caught to the side while the ferocious beasts were placed onto a stone pedestal in the middle of the village.
In that moment, many pairs of eyes emerged from the surrounding huts and figures ranging from small and dainty to old and hunched could be seen running en mass towards the group of young men.
"Brother Yan! Tell us more stories!"
"Whats the outside like?"
"Welcome back everyone"
Everyone's greetings from the village were warm and heartfelt. All the villagers knew of the dangers of the outside and the fact that the group of young men had to brave these dangers for them incurred their sincerity. Especially the elderly who knew of the severity of the situation couldn't help but gruffly express their thanks among their repressed feelings.
Dispersing the crowd, Pei Li gathered a smaller group from the hunters to butcher the meat on the stone pedestal. From the pile of corpses on the pedestal, the features of the beasts were particularly ferocious. Sharp and unnatural glints, almost metallic, reflected from their claws against the harsh sun and the menacing look in their eyes still remained in their death.
Butchering the beasts carefully the villagers separated each type first before skillfully removing layers of flesh before a small and beautiful crystal of a red and lustrous glow could be revealed. Among the beasts that were brought back, there was only one such crystal that was retrieved. A paltry amount but the look of ecstasy and joy lit the faces of all the surrounding villagers.
Pei Li surveyed the villagers around him and noticed a missing figure, two in fact.
"Everyone! Where is Shun and Hua?, it's supposed to be Shun's turn this time to undertake the ceremony."
A look of confusion and then realization following on from that appeared on the faces of the villagers. Since only a singular crystal was procured on the hunt, the opportunity to undertake the ceremony could only be given to one person in order to awaken their meridians and giving them the ability to awaken a bloodline to cultivate.
The ceremony this time was reserved for a young man named Shun but from the obvious look of confusion from Pei Li and the villagers, the young boy named Shun seemed to be absent alongside a girl called Hua.
One of the villagers had a thoughtful expression as he suddenly exclaimed "Shun? AH! He was looking for Hua at the back mountains. Don't worry Brother Li, you know how those two are they will be fine by themselves we can just eat while we wait."
An impatient look frosted Pei Li's face but he finally relented after a moment of consideration.
"Fine! Everyone eat your fill while we wait for Shun to return, we caught a lot this time so enjoy the feast."
A large cheer rang out and echoed through the village as the scene of villagers bustling quickly to cook the prepared meat.
Among the villagers, the Village Chief sudden jolted his back straightening from his hunched state and cracking with an unnatural swiftness much like a beast and a malicious look suddenly flashed upon his face while his eyes unnaturally squinted before being quickly suppressed and his state reverting back to his original state.
Pei Li sensing something turned towards the direction of the Village Chief but not discovering anything he saw noticed the Chief and respectfully nodded in which the Chief kindly responded.
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At the same time of the hunters return to the village in a lush jungle full of dense green and towering trees forming a canopy that seemed to shoulder the sky, a young boy could be seen with a small smile on his youthful face. He had delicate features and a small frame much like the rest of the villagers but his bearing was one of benevolence and would make one naturally feel kindly towards him.
As the young boy pushed through the dense vegetation, the corners of his mouth curved more as he suddenly came to a stop after approaching a towering tree vastly larger than all the others.
The tree was in a clearing of the forest and its majesty was unparalleled seemingly almost reaching the heavens above all others.
Within the tree a little girl sat within a hole in the great tree clutching her knees and sobbing with a pitiful expression. The girl had doe like eyes that shone like beautiful gemstones and her hair was long and straight despite the dirt covering it.
The young boy came before the the hole slightly coughing gruffly and leaned over into the view of the young girl with a playful smile.
"Hua'er, what are you doing here all by yourself? It's almost time for the ceremony you know?"
The young girls face lit up in joy with a hidden bashfulness as her eyes gleamed at the young boy.
"Brother Shun! I knew you would find me, you always do."
"Haha, if you knew I would find you why are you crying here huh?"
"I-I... Don't bully me Brother Shun. Sniff."
As the young girl's eyes suddenly grew tears again the young boy put away his playful smile while helplessly raising his arms in a surrendering motion.
"Alright, alright I'm sorry okay. I won't bully you anymore."
At the young boy's words the girl suddenly smiled, her tears completely gone as if they were never there and she playfully stuck her tongue out at the young boy named Shun.
"Haha, Brother Shun you always fall for that. Why don't you ever learn?"
"Darn girl, what am I supposed to do if you're crying for real? You know how dangerous it is around here", Shun angrily scolded.
The young girl softly spoke "If I ever cry for real... you'll be there to solve it for me..."
At her words, Shun sourly threw his arms down and stormed off back to the forest trail that lead back to the village. Quickly the young girl hopped after him flustered at his actions as if they didn't make any sense.
"Brother Shun! Wait for me!"
"Hmph, Pei Hua! If you want to play games, play by yourself. I'm leaving."
"Wait Brother Shun! I know my mistakes, slow down."
As Shun walked on his steps gradually slowed to match the pace of the young girl trailing behind him as all impatience melted off his face like snow in the emerging spring and his small smile returned to his face, his previous angry temperament being a facade to incur the obedience of the young girl.
The young girl naturally noticed this but still remained with a big smile on her face as she skipped around the young boy on their way back to the village.