The time was when Lìngxiāo was only Xiǎo Lìng.
[Flashback – Ten Years Ago]
The early morning had not too much light to even see the small chicken house outside, where chickens purred softly into the gentle cold weather.
The mountain's cold mist touched fifteen-year-old Lìngxiāo's skin like a soft, gentle embrace as he stood in front of a corpse. His gaze stayed on it for a few minutes without moving from his place. Focused. Unsure for this time's exorcism—unlike the last time he did it randomly, the time he had just discovered his hidden abilities.
"Try again, boy. I expected better than that." The man said to Lìngxiāo. His dull ruby gaze on him—almost judgmental, arms folded behind his back.
Lìngxiāo nodded shakily and focused back, his smile trembling faintly. This man—I mean..uncle..is too hopeful yet strict. I do not know if I can do it this time or not after failing in front of him just earlier.
He took a deep breath before raising the very needles he balanced into snake form today. But they trembled faintly between his fingers with hesitation.
Last time only dried-up blood poured out..from this body. Lord of Earth knows from where he..even brought it for training. It feels so sick.
When Lìngxiāo stayed still even now, the man spoke again, "Do you wish to find your origin, boy?"
Lìngxiāo's smile froze as he blinked at the man. He never thought of it—only of going back to Yún Xi, which had dimmed within these five years for no clue.
What could be my origin more than a servant's son who was driven away as a murderer?
His golden-brown eyes lost a bit of their spark into thoughtfulness and hopelessness. He thought of finding the reason for his father's death, which was seen as his own doing—something he himself never thought of doing. He strongly believed it was because of some curse he hadn't felt at that time. Even now.
But time changed. People changed. Even he himself. The history in Yún Xi never died enough to go back with this same face. An even bigger disaster had fallen upon him just for trying to enter his city again—wild pig organs thrown at him, rotten food in mockery as if welcoming him, his old house burned with no remaining proof left.
So he had decided to never go back there and live with whatever happiness he had in his hopeless life. Though he didn't understand why only his life was miserable while what was seen of him was a misunderstanding—and the real killers roamed freely there without their execution.
So he shook his head of never searching his origin but instead requested to this man who had kept him for five years—to send him back to Hàngwō if they were so sure he was..a lost talented disciple's child.
"Are you out of your mind, boy?" The man raised an eyebrow at Lìngxiāo's unheated response. He lowered himself to his size while gripping the hand firmly that held the needle. "Do you even know what that clan would do to you—especially..?"
Lìngxiāo swallowed hard as he held the man's gaze. He didn't understand why anyone would do anything to him especially while he was nothing huge. Hàngwō Clan always treasured their people with unique abilities.
They are good.
Then why not join them? Perhaps he could still even get some information about the man people suspected as his father. Maybe even a portrait to see if he had anyone with the same bone structure.
"You do not believe me? Fine. Let me show you face to face.." the man said with finality. He stood up straight and guided Lìngxiāo somewhere.
"S-shù fu! Where are we going at this morning?" Lìngxiāo tried to steady himself over the hills while the man only held his arm, raising him up over whatever big rocks came in his way.
What if he will punish me? His little chest tightened at the thought as he quickly added, "I-i apologize, shù fù! I will try better next time. Let us just go back and try again at the corpse."
"No." The man said flatly. "You would not drop this lowly thought until you see things by yourself."
The man brought him near to a separated large old wheel and blew crimson red spiritual powers over it like dust. It made the wheel glow and float.
Lìngxiāo blinked with wide eyes. "Y-you are.." His mouth silently parted as he looked at him, "you are also a cultivator! You never told me in five years!"
"Shh, Xiǎo." the man shushed him as he made Lìngxiāo stand up over the wheel with firm guidance. "Do not wake up the whole Shén village by it."
Lìngxiāo shut up immediately and stood still over the wheel, which floated slowly above the village. The smoke rolled past them as they flew higher. Lìngxiāo trembled with light coldness and fear of falling down. Everything looked so tiny from here—and also beautiful.
Lìngxiāo held the man's hand tightly with both hands. "Where are we..going..?" He asked softer than before, fearing another trouble.
"Hàngwō Clan." The man said casually, as if the clan was his second home or something.
"B-but!—we cannot enter without permission!" The poor boy tried to explain again whatever the man was thinking out of proving himself right. "Can we not just go back, Shù fu..?"
"No." The man said again. "You will just stay quiet and will not question anything. Only watch and listen to what I say."
"H-heh?—!"
He wasn't even able to answer as the wheel took a sharp turn and he felt himself almost fly away. The needle dropped down there at the valley they passed by—so deep and large. He didn't even see it falling until he looked at his hand.
Lìngxiāo blinked twice, clearing his vision while his heart silently pounded into his chest. I wonder.. why he is too focused on..not letting me go to the Hàngwō while..I am nothing related to him..
He thoughtfully looked at the man silently and said nothing. He just watched the man's straight long black hair flutter behind, dancing by the wind as they moved to their destination. The gaze had something deep and mysterious he was really far away from understanding.
When the man's eyes narrowed on Lìngxiāo, he quickly looked away, lips pressed into a thin line with the smile he had just started struggling with newly.
The man just smirked thoughtfully with a faint huff and looked forward again.