The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, Lin Rui was roused by a gentle knock on his courtyard gate.
"Young Master Rui, it is time for the morning meal," Zhutao's voice drifted through the door, cautious and soft.
Lin Rui rubbed his still groggy head and pushed himself up.
Though the last of the Spirit Corroding Powder had been purged, the body's long-term neglect had left it incredibly weak. The slightest exertion brought on a wave of fatigue. Only his mind, a gift from his past life, was exceptionally strong. He took a deep breath of the cool morning air, his gaze steady.
In this damn place, if I want to survive, to uncover the truth behind the original's murder and why that so-called father of his, Lin Yuntian, disappeared, I can't do a single thing without strength.
The fragment of the Azurewood Heart Chant was, for now, his only hope.
The breakfast Zhutao brought was light but palatable: a few delicate meat buns, some small side dishes, and a bowl of hot rice porridge.
After finishing his meal and sending Zhutao away, Lin Rui solemnly retrieved the yellowed beast-hide scroll from within his robes, along with the few pages of notes from Lin Yuntian tucked inside it.
The script on the scroll was ancient, even blurred and illegible in places.
He studied it carefully, using the sparse annotations from his father's notes to piece things together.
Gradually, a vague outline of the Azurewood Heart Chant began to form. The cultivation method seemed to be a messy amalgamation.
It contained techniques for guiding spiritual energy to temper the body and condense a so-called "Dan Fire," but it also documented bizarre breathing postures and even included diagrams of fist and foot techniques reminiscent of his past life's combat arts, labeled with names like "Azurevine Bind" and "Inch-Force Strike."
The more he read, the deeper his brow furrowed. This thing was a world away from the mainstream cultivation methods he'd heard about from other Lin family disciples. Conventional methods all emphasized the flow through meridians and the strength of one's Qi sense.
But the Azurewood Heart Chant began with the principle of "unifying heart and mind, using intent to guide energy, and connecting with the vitality of all living wood."
Lin Rui's fingertips tapped gently on the table.
"It doesn't rely on innate aptitude?" he mused.
If that were true, then no matter how poor the original Lin Rui's aptitude was, it made no sense that he could practice this for years without even reaching the first threshold of "Mystic Art Enlightenment." Unless... the "unifying heart and mind, using intent to guide energy" part required an exceptionally high level of mental strength.
The body he now inhabited contained a modern soul, through and through. When it came to mental fortitude and focus, he was confident he could rival anyone.
"It's a long shot, but I have to try."
Lin Rui sat cross-legged on his bed, took a deep breath, and forced all distracting thoughts from his mind. He began to attempt the "Meditation on Wood" described in the scroll, imagining himself as an ancient tree rooted deep in the earth, its branches full and lush, absorbing the vitality of the sun, the rain, and the world itself.
Time trickled by.
One hour, then two...
Sweat soaked his robes, and the veins on his temples bulged slightly. The original's frail body could barely withstand such prolonged, intense concentration. Just as he was on the verge of giving up, his mind drifted, and in that haze, an incredibly faint wisp of cool energy, almost imperceptible, seeped into his awareness from the void.
The energy carried the light fragrance of grass and wood. It was weak, but it was real.
The vitality of living plants! A jolt went through Lin Rui. He suppressed a rising wave of excitement and carefully guided the faint wisp, attempting to circulate it through his body as the method described. It was a clumsy and difficult process, but the energy was there.
A long while later, he slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long, turbid breath. His body felt dead tired, but an indescribable euphoria made his eyes shine with a startling brilliance.
Forgetting his exhaustion, he opened the scroll again, finding the training exercises that accompanied the breathing techniques.
They were less like combat moves and more like a set of strange calisthenics, combining stretching and power exertion. He gritted his teeth against the soreness in his body and mimicked the movements one by one, trying to integrate the "vegetal vitality" he had worked so hard to sense, to solidify his hard-won progress. This was the first time since arriving in this world that he had truly touched a power of his own, even if it was just a tiny spark.
By the time he was done, the sun was nearing its zenith.
Lin Rui collapsed on his bed, drenched in sweat, his chest heaving. After circulating through his body once, the wisp of "vegetal vitality" dissipated without a trace, as if it had never been there. In his subsequent attempts, he failed to summon it again.
He wiped the sweat from his face, but there was no sign of dejection in his eyes.
"Tsk. Trying to figure this out in a vacuum is getting me nowhere."
That first success had already proven that the Azurewood Heart Chant was viable. The problem now was how to reliably draw in the energy and how to strengthen it.
"Looks like I have to make a trip to the market," he decided.
The Zhuyun Town marketplace, being the core trading district of the old Qingluo Prefecture capital, was a chaotic mix of all walks of life. It was the perfect place to learn more about cultivation or perhaps acquire some basic herbs to aid his training. It was, in any case, better than fumbling around in the dark by himself.
Lin Rui straightened himself up, changed into a clean set of coarse linen clothes, and pushed open his door.
Outside the courtyard, two powerfully built family servants stood at attention. They bowed immediately upon seeing him.
"Young Master Rui."
Lin Rui didn't say much and walked directly toward the Lin family's main gate. Having someone with him was better than running into trouble alone. Besides, he wasn't planning on doing anything illicit.
After passing through several courtyards and stepping out of the great, vermilion-lacquered gates of the Lin compound, the clamor of the city rushed in to meet him.
The wide bluestone streets were smooth and even, flanked by a forest of shops with wine banners fluttering in the wind. Pedestrians in all manner of dress bustled back and forth. There were cultivators with sword boxes on their backs and cold expressions, street vendors with carrying poles shouting their wares, and gaggles of young children laughing and chasing each other, holding colorful sugar paintings or strangely shaped bamboo pinwheels.
A vendor selling "Spirit-Qi Candy Haws" saw Lin Rui's plain clothes, but then noticed the two imposing guards behind him. His eyes flickered, but in the end, he didn't dare approach to hawk his goods.
Lin Rui took it all in with great interest. The vibrant, lively atmosphere felt strangely familiar, as if he were back wandering the streets of Los Angeles. Except here, the shop signs read "Spirit Xuan Artifact House" and "Thousand Craft Immortal Pavilion," and the air was filled with the scent of medicinal herbs and the faint fluctuation of spiritual energy, not car exhaust and coffee.
As he was lost in observation, a small figure stumbled and bumped into his arm with a cry of "Oof!"
Lin Rui instinctively steadied the person. Looking down, he saw a boy of about fifteen or sixteen, clutching a grease-paper parcel. The collision had knocked it open, sending a variety of pastries and snacks scattering across the ground with a clatter. The boy had a round face and big eyes, which were now glaring at him, full of anguish for his fallen treats.
"Hey, don't you watch where you're going—" the boy began to complain, but then he got a clear look at Lin Rui's face. His eyes went even wider. "Huh?"
"Lin Rui?!" the boy exclaimed, forgetting all about his snacks on the ground. He scurried closer, looking Lin Rui up and down as if he were some priceless treasure. "It really is you! The Lin Rui from the Ancestral Hall... the one with the ancestral manifestation!"
Lin Rui raised an eyebrow. The kid knew him? He searched the original's memories but drew a blank; he had no impression of this round-faced boy.
"You know me?"
"Of course I know you!" The boy puffed out his chest, nearly poking Lin Rui's clothes with a greasy finger. "My name's Lin Baobao, I'm from a branch family! I saw you once from a distance, during the Ancestor Worship Ceremony last year. But back then you were... well, anyway, you definitely don't remember me." Lin Baobao scratched his head and grinned, revealing two small canine teeth. "But what happened in the Ancestral Hall yesterday? The whole Lin family is talking about it! You're so awesome, Lin Rui!"
Hearing the boy's instant familiarity, an idea sparked in Lin Rui's mind.
"The matter in the Ancestral Hall... the whole family knows?"
"You bet!" Lin Baobao's chin shot up as if he shared in the glory. "Not just the family! I'm telling you, today all of Zhuyun Town is talking about you! From the tea shop selling Cloud-Mist Spirit Sprouts on East Street, to the Wang family's blacksmith forge on West Street, even the fortune-tellers by the Azure Creek River! Even those stuck-up disciples from the Wang family are secretly gossiping about it!"
Great, a tall tree catches the wind. Then again, Lin Rui mused, a tall tree also has more eyes on it. Those lurking in the shadows wanting to make a move would have to think twice. In that sense, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
This Lin Baobao, loud and seemingly without a shred of cunning, could be a useful window into this world.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Lin Rui's lips, but his tone was laced with a post-illness weakness and a perfectly calibrated hint of confusion.
"I'm ashamed to say, after my long illness, many things have become a blur. I was just thinking of heading to the market today, to buy some nourishing herbs to help my recovery. And... I also wanted to offer a stick of incense at the temple for my father, to pray for his well-being."
"The market?" Lin Baobao's eyes lit up at the word. "I know the Azure Creek Market like the back of my hand! What herbs are you looking for? I know which Hundred Herbs Hall has the freshest stock, and which Thousand Crafts Pavilion has the craftiest shop mistress! As for offering incense, the Fusheng Temple on East Street has the most worshippers! The Daoist masters there are amazing at interpreting fortunes!"
Lin Rui went along with the suggestion.
"Then let's go to the Fusheng Temple first."
The two of them walked, one behind the other, through several bustling alleys until the slightly weathered gates of the Fusheng Temple appeared before them.
Unlike the imposing grandeur of a cultivator clan like the Lin family, the Fusheng Temple felt much more down-to-earth.
The courtyard walls were made of stacked bluestone. Two ancient, gnarled pine trees of indeterminate age stood before the gate, their branches forming a dense canopy. The temple doors were wide open, with streams of people coming and going, shoulder to shoulder. The air was thick with the smoke of incense. There were wealthy gentlemen in fine clothes, common peddlers, and even a few young people dressed in the same Lin family disciple outfits as Lin Rui.
Lin Baobao stood on his tiptoes to peer inside, his round face alight with excitement.
"Whoa, it's so crowded today! Must be some kind of festival."
The inside of the temple was even more clamorous, the air so thick with smoke it made one's eyes water.
In the center of the main hall stood a tall statue. It wasn't made of gold or jade, but carved from a single, massive piece of dark, heavy wood. Its face was ancient and simple, its brow conveying both compassion and authority. Before the statue, a long altar was laden with offerings, and the incense burner was crowded with incense sticks of all sizes, their flames flickering as blue-green smoke curled upwards.
Lin Baobao tugged on Lin Rui's sleeve and whispered, "See that? That's the founding ancestor of our Zhuyun Town, Master Azurecreek! Legend says he was just a wandering cultivator, but he single-handedly carved out this town on the edge of the monster-infested Qingluo Mountains. Later, his merit was fulfilled, and he ascended to the heavens in a flash of light!"
He looked up at the statue, his eyes full of yearning, before his face fell again. "Too bad that's all ancient history," he mumbled. "I heard that ever since the 'Great Cataclysm,' the Spirit Web has been unstable and the path to ascension was severed. For the last several hundred years, not a single cultivator in the entire Tanxiao Realm has managed to ascend. Sigh!"
Lin Rui grew thoughtful. So, ascension is a thing in this world. But it looks like the road is closed.
They each bought a bundle of incense from a small stall nearby. Lin Rui carefully watched Lin Baobao's movements.
He saw Baobao light the incense from the main burner, then walk before the statue. Holding the incense with both hands above his head, he bowed three times. Unlike the bowing and kowtowing Lin Rui was used to from his past life, the "bow" here involved a specific hand seal. The middle finger and thumb of each hand were touching, with the other three fingers held straight up. As he bowed, the hand seals trembled slightly, and he muttered what seemed to be a quiet prayer.
Lin Rui copied him, lighting his own incense and mimicking the hand gesture as he bowed three times to the statue of Master Azurecreek. He didn't ask for anything, merely repeating a silent thought in his mind: Keep that conveniently inherited father of mine, Lin Yuntian, safe and bring him home, and help me find the bastard who killed the original owner of this body.
After offering the incense, Lin Baobao pulled Lin Rui toward a side hall.
"There are Daoist masters over there who can read fortunes, and they sell protective talismans! You want to go check it out, Lin Rui?"
Just as Lin Rui was about to answer, Baobao let out a soft "Huh?" and stopped, craning his neck to look at a corner of the hall. Against the wall stood a row of tall bookshelves, filled with yellowed scrolls and thread-bound volumes. A slender young man in a black robe stood with his back to them, on his tiptoes, carefully searching through a row of scrolls.
"Xu Yu!" Baobao suddenly called out.
The young man turned at the sound, revealing a handsome, scholarly face. He looked slightly dazed from being interrupted.
"Baobao? What are you doing here?" Xu Yu asked, a flash of surprise in his eyes that quickly settled back into his usual calm.
"I'm here with... with my friend to offer some incense!" Baobao scampered over and clapped Xu Yu enthusiastically on the shoulder. "What about you? Scrounging for more priceless secret manuals?"
Xu Yu pointed at the bookshelf.
"I heard a few days ago that the temple acquired a batch of ancient fragments regarding the 'Ancestral Soul Ritual.' I wanted to see if there were any clues. Unfortunately, most of it is just incomplete folk tales. Nothing of much use."
Baobao immediately made introductions. "Lin Rui, this is Xu Yu! He was my classmate in the Lin family school! He's a total brainiac, we all call him the 'Know-It-All'! He's super interested in all this weird, ancient stuff!"
He then turned to Xu Yu. "Xu Yu, this is Lin Rui! The one I told you about, from the Ancestral Hall... ahem, you know the one!"
Seeing this, Lin Rui cupped his hands in a polite gesture.
"Brother Xu, a pleasure."
Xu Yu's calm eyes suddenly lit up. He strode over to Lin Rui and circled him, studying him carefully, his gaze filled with the pure curiosity one holds for an unknown phenomenon.
"Brother Lin, I've heard much about you. I was privy to some news of the events in the Ancestral Hall yesterday. According to the Collection of Strange Tales, 'Those who channel spirits are often drawn by blood ties, or by a great, unresolved grievance, borrowing the vessel of a descendant to manifest their will.' The Miscellaneous Studies of Qingluo Prefecture also mentions, 'In ancient times, there were sages whose souls did not perish, and who, sensing the sincerity of a descendant, would manifest in the world to bless their progeny.' I wonder, which of these phenomena more closely resembles what you experienced?"
His tone was even, but his eyes burned into Lin Rui, as if searching for some kind of runic mark on his face.
Lin Rui felt his skin crawl under the intense scrutiny.
This kid was even harder to deal with than Baobao, coming at him with academic citations and weighty theories. He forced an awkward smile, unsure how to respond.
"Ahem, Brother Lin is blessed by fortune and protected by his ancestors. It's a good thing, a good thing."
Seeing Lin Rui's predicament, Baobao quickly jumped in to smooth things over. He threw an arm around Xu Yu's shoulder and pulled him aside.
"Hey, Xu Yu, stop scaring him! He's just recovered from a long illness, he can't remember a lot of things. Besides, how could we possibly understand something like an ancestral manifestation?"
Only then did Xu Yu realize his own lack of tact. A faint blush rose on his cheeks, and he stepped back, offering Lin Rui a cupped-fist bow.
"Forgive my forwardness, Brother Lin. Please don't take offense. It is just... such phenomena are rarely recorded, even in the classic texts. I got carried away."
Lin Rui waved it off, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
"It's nothing, it's nothing. I'm impressed by your vast knowledge, Brother Xu."
"By the way," Xu Yu said, looking at Baobao, "are you two finished offering incense? Where are you headed next?"
Baobao immediately perked up.
"I was just about to take Lin Rui to the Hundred Herbs Hall! His constitution is weak, you know, so we'll see if they have any suitable medicinal herbs. And, hehe, they just got a new shipment of 'Dew-Congealing Fruits.' I have to go snag a few!"
"The Hundred Herbs Hall?" Xu Yu's interest was piqued as well. "Perfect. I was just studying the Commentary on the Hundred Herbs Classic and had a few questions for Shopkeeper Wang about the preparation of herbs with 'Azurewood Qi.' If you don't mind, may I accompany you?"
And so, the three of them—Lin Rui, Lin Baobao, and Xu Yu—arrived at the bustling Azure Creek Market. The streets were lined with stalls of every kind, and the air was thick with the shouts of vendors.
Lin Baobao was like a sparrow freed from its cage, flitting about excitedly. One moment he was pointing out a new jade carving at the "Jade Gathering Pavilion," the next he was dragging Lin Rui to look at a wind-up mechanical puppy at another stall, chattering nonstop.
"Look, Lin Rui! That's the sign for the Drunken Immortal Tavern! Their Green Plum Wine is to die for! But it's crazy expensive!"
"And over there, the Ice Spirit Artifact Pavilion! That's Wang family territory. The artifacts inside are gorgeous, but you can't afford them. Still fun to look, though!"
Xu Yu walked quietly beside them, occasionally nodding or adding a line or two from a classic text related to some oddity Baobao mentioned.
Before long, they reached a relatively quiet corner where a rich, medicinal aroma filled the air. They had arrived at the Hundred Herbs Hall.
Inside, the kindly-looking Shopkeeper Wang was sitting behind the counter, clicking away at an abacus. He looked up as they entered, his gaze sweeping over the three of them before landing on Lin Rui with a slightly inquisitive smile.
"Lin Baobao, Xu Yu, what brings you here today? And you've brought a friend. Looking to buy something?"
Baobao stepped forward and bowed.
"Shopkeeper Wang, sorry to disturb you. This is my friend, Lin Rui. He's just recovered from a long illness and is looking for some herbs to nourish his body and warm his dantian."
Shopkeeper Wang set down his abacus and stood up, gesturing to the rows of medicine cabinets behind him.
"Oh? For nourishment and recovery, you say. We have plenty of that. Aged 'Yellow Essence Fungus,' 'Red Sun Ginseng' for nourishing Qi and blood, and 'Nine-Jointed Jade Bamboo' for strengthening one's foundation. All top-quality spirit herbs. It's just... the price isn't exactly cheap."
Lin Rui followed his gesture. The herbs were indeed impressive, faintly glowing with spiritual light, but the price tags next to them were just as eye-popping, costing dozens or even hundreds of spirit stones. It made his eyes twitch. The handful of spirit stones he currently had was all he'd managed to scrape together from the pitiful monthly allowance the Lin family provided, saved over several months. It didn't amount to more than fifty low-grade spirit stones.
Lin Rui gave an embarrassed smile.
"Shopkeeper, those spirit herbs are certainly wonderful, but I... am a bit short on funds. I was wondering if you had any mundane-grade herbs that are milder and more affordable?"
Shopkeeper Wang studied Lin Rui for a moment, his gaze lingering on the coarse linen clothes and pale complexion. A knowing smile touched his lips. He walked to a cabinet and pulled open a few drawers.
"I see. No need to be concerned, young man. On the path of cultivation, one must act within one's means. There are plenty of good things among the mundane herbs as well. Look, this 'Green Coin Willow Leaf' clears the mind and is slightly beneficial. This 'Poria Block' strengthens the spleen and calms the spirit; its nature is gentle. Add a few slivers of 'Licorice Root' to harmonize the properties. While these are all low-grade, their medicinal properties are pure. Taken over a long period, they will certainly help nourish the body."
Lin Rui felt a bit more at ease. He glanced at the prices, which were indeed much more reasonable. After a moment of thought, he selected a few herbs. The total came to just over twenty low-grade spirit stones, wiping out most of his savings.
As Shopkeeper Wang efficiently wrapped the herbs, he suddenly spoke up.
"Young friend Lin, have you by any chance registered with the Celestial Law Division?"
Lin Rui was taken aback. He shook his head.
"I have not. My... my cultivation is shallow. I haven't even successfully guided Qi into my body yet."
The original kid never even reached the first threshold, he thought. How could he possibly be qualified to register for anything?
Shopkeeper Wang's eyes flickered at the answer, but his smile remained warm.
"I see. However, friend, although your complexion is weak, I can see a strong spirit in your eyes. If you do embark on the path of cultivation in the future, you might consider registering. For one, having an official cultivator status makes it more convenient to move about. And for another..." He paused, lowering his voice. "My Hundred Herbs Hall often has commission requests for gathering specific herbs or preparing medicines, all of which are posted through the Celestial Law Division. If you were a registered cultivator and ever found yourself short on funds, you could take on some work here to earn spirit stones or trade for herbs. It would be a great benefit to your cultivation."
Lin Baobao's eyes lit up. He nudged Lin Rui hard with his elbow.
"Yeah, yeah! Lin Rui, you should go register! Then we can team up for missions! I know there are lots of bounties posted by wandering cultivators in the market, some of them are really fun!"
Lin Rui secretly considered it. He's right. If I can actually cultivate, getting registered and taking on some jobs for extra cash is much better than suffocating in the Lin family. I'll have to look into it.
While he was mulling this over, Xu Yu and Shopkeeper Wang had already launched into a fervent discussion about the Commentary on the Hundred Herbs Classic.
Baobao, bored, tugged at Lin Rui's sleeve, whispering about the taste of the Dew-Congealing Fruits, then craned his neck to look at the strange and rare herbs behind the counter, muttering to himself. Lin Rui listened quietly to Xu Yu and the shopkeeper's conversation, occasionally interjecting with a question, and managed to learn quite a bit about the world's basic pharmacology.
After some time, Xu Yu reluctantly ended his discussion. The three of them thanked the shopkeeper and left the Hundred Herbs Hall.
The sky was growing dark, and the crowds in the market had begun to thin.
Lin Baobao patted his round belly, a look of pure satisfaction on his face.
"What a day! And those Dew-Congealing Fruits really live up to their name!"
"Shopkeeper Wang's understanding of pharmacology is truly profound," Xu Yu remarked with admiration.
Lin Rui nodded. Beside him, Baobao and Xu Yu continued to chat about the Spirit Web and registering as cultivators.
When they reached a fork in the road, Xu Yu stopped and bowed to them.
"It is getting late, so I will take my leave here. Thank you both for today. We shall meet again."
Baobao waved. "See you, Xu Yu!"
"Take care, Brother Xu," Lin Rui said.
After parting with Xu Yu, Lin Rui and Lin Baobao continued toward the Lin compound.
The last rays of the setting sun stretched their shadows long behind them.
Suddenly, Lin Rui stopped in his tracks, his gaze involuntarily drawn to a familiar yet foreign figure up ahead.
It was a young man dressed in a moon-white robe. His posture was ramrod straight, his face handsome, and even from a distance, one could feel the air of refined nobility that had been carefully cultivated around him.
Wang Ruohan!
The name exploded in Lin Rui's mind like a clap of thunder. In an instant, memories of his past life flooded back. The rainy night in Los Angeles, the cold muzzle of a gun, Wang Ruohan's face with its treacherous smile, and his final words: "Rui, don't blame me. Blame yourself for knowing too much."
Son of a bitch. Wang Ruohan! What the hell is he doing here? Lin Rui cursed viciously in his mind.
Then, another set of memories—belonging to the original Lin Rui—surfaced.
Wang Ruohan of the Zhuyun Town Wang family. The only son of the current Wang family Patriarch, a true prodigy.
They had once been childhood sweethearts, practically inseparable, and their families had even arranged their marriage when they were young.
Unfortunately, after the original Lin Rui was exposed as a "trash" cultivator, their relationship took a nosedive. Wang Ruohan's attitude shifted from initial warmth and patience to distant coldness, even a barely concealed contempt. After the original's father, Lin Yuntian, disappeared, the Wang family had broken off the engagement without a moment's hesitation. The original Lin Rui's memories held no fondness for this Wang Ruohan either, only a sense of loss, humiliation, and a faint, lingering resentment.
Lin Rui's lips twisted into a sneer.
What a joke, he thought.
How is it that I switch worlds, and this "Wang Ruohan" is still playing the role of a scumbag?
He's certainly got the part down. One murders you for money, the other ditches you for being poor.
They really are cut from the same scumbag cloth.