The words hung in the air. The girl smiled, her eyes crinkling. She moved closer, her stool scraping the floor. Her hair fell across her face as she looked at the bread.
"Oh… that bread looks warm," she said quietly. She took a small piece. "Oops, sorry! I didn't mean to steal it, but my tummy was so loud!"
She ate slowly, enjoying each bite. She hummed a little tune, like children singing in the streets. It made the air feel warm and happy. She finished the bread, licked her fingers, and looked at Ling Tian.
"Are you okay? You look lost! Did the fog get you? Or did Master Baby take a wrong turn?"
Ling Tian's face turned red. He held his drink tightly. He tried to relax. He felt overwhelmed by the tavern's energy and chaos. He felt magic in the air, warmth from the fire, and smelled the bread and meat. It made him feel excited and worried.
The old man laughed, watching them. He flicked his hand and touched the girl's cheek. His fingers were light, and his voice was smooth.
"Easy, little carp! Sit here. Let the warmth chase away the cold!"
He took out a flute with mountain flowers. He spun it and put it to his lips, closing his eyes. Music filled the room, soft at first, then stronger. The crowd listened quietly. Some whispered to each other, trying to hear the tune. Others closed their eyes and enjoyed the music.
Then he sang, his voice rough but musical:
Time flows round, with no first or end…
Hills whisper secrets the stars will send…
Rivers twist and mountains rise…
Day meets night in endless skies…
The girl tapped her fingers to the music, her eyes shining. She sang softly with the old man:
Strings may tighten, lost paths found…
Hidden dreams beneath the ground…
Wind will wander, leaves will play…
Rivers tell stories, night and day…
Other people listened, whispering about the song. Some were confused, others smiled. A young boy asked his mother if the song would help with his chores. She laughed and ruffled his hair. Even the dog lifted its ears, as if it understood the words.
The old man smiled and finished the song:
Take your seat, little fish, don't fear…
Warmth and song are always near…
Step by step, the world will bend…
But rivers move, and journeys mend…
The tavern was quiet for a moment. Then people started talking again, laughing, and raising their drinks. The song's words stayed in the air, like a soft mist.
The girl tapped her fingers and held out her hat, smiling. "Money for the singers! We say rivers tell stories… but we change them to get more food!"
The old man chuckled and waved his hand. He took out a glowing bottle with blue, yellow, and silver colors. He held it up to the fire, and a young woman looked closer.
"Excuse me… what's that?"
"Ah, sweet friend!" He spun the bottle. "This is 'Brook-Song Gold'… made from flowers that wake up when it thunders, juice from trees that touch the sky! People bring it from roads that are like poems… One drink, and rivers show where they go!"
A seller looked confused. "What do your words mean? What do the rivers show?"
The old man's eyes shone. He held his hands out, like holding a river, and looked at Ling Tian.
"Meaning? Like catching clouds… hold too tight, and they slip away… It moves free in sun and shade… never still, never made to stop! Some roads are wide like grass; others twist like vines! Where the river turns sharp and deep… hidden things sleep."
The girl moved closer to Ling Tian and held out bread. "See? Don't look so lost… food makes things better. Try this… it's warm!"
Ling Tian took the bread. As he ate, the old man clapped his hands and smiled.
"Eat up, young heart… get strong! Warm fire chases away cold rocks! The world might bend, but rivers always know how to move… even where dark has good things to tell!"
He put the bottle away and turned to the girl, chuckling. They waved to the crowd. The tavern was warm, happy, and busy. Then the old man walked to the door, his clothes flowing. He disappeared into the foggy night.
The tavern was noisy again. Ling Tian sat still, looking around. Three men studied a map, pointing with green stones. Other people shared food and laughed. A man made a small fire jump from his hand. Two women argued with a seller about the roads. The cook carried herbs, humming a tune.
Ling Tian felt a strange energy everywhere. He shivered. This world and this magic were real. He was in the middle of it.
Then, memories flashed in his mind. Wu Lan looked pale in the hospital room. Rain hit the window. There was a green light. Yang laughed with someone, their faces blurry. He felt stone, dirt, and tasted blood. He saw classrooms, punching bags, and streets from his old life. It all happened quickly, but felt like a long time.
"Yang…" he whispered. He felt grief and longing. He didn't know if anyone heard him.
Then, the world faded away. The tavern sounds became a hum. Darkness covered him.
When Ling Tian woke up, he was in a small, cozy room. Shelves held jars of herbs. The air smelled like mint and sweetness. Sunlight lit up the room. He felt confused and his head hurt, but the herbs helped him relax.
Thump.
The door opened, and Master Baby stumbled in. He carried drinks and bread, his face red and his hair messy. "C'moooon, Liiin-Yuuuun-boy!" he shouted. "Wake up… kid! See why you're here?"
He grabbed Ling Tian's arm and pulled him out of bed. Ling Tian stumbled, but Master Baby didn't notice. Outside, the air was fresh, and the sun shone. Two horses stood waiting.
"C'MON KID… RUN!" Master Baby laughed and rode away. "Grab Blacky! We're going for a ride!"
Ling Tian didn't know what was happening, but Master Baby was excited. He got on the second horse. He kicked the horse, and they rode across the fields. The wind hit his face, and dust stung his eyes. His heart raced. His body felt strange and new. Faster… stronger… He chased Master Baby, smelling grass, dirt, and smoke.
They rode for hours, past hills and streams. As the sun set, they stopped by a river to camp. Ling Tian felt tired and confused. Memories of his old life mixed with this new world. He felt lost, but tried to ignore it.
Morning came. They packed quickly and rode on, following the river. The sun was warm, and birds sang. Master Baby chewed on a leaf and hummed. A small animal ran past them. Ling Tian laughed, feeling a little happy.
As they rode, he moved more easily. He knew what the horse would do. He moved faster and felt sharper. Master Baby's horse stumbled. Ling Tian reached out and helped the animal, his hand glowing.
They found stone walls and slept by the river.
Sunlight shone on a building. A village appeared, with smoke, children, and the smell of bread. Ling Tian felt like he was in another world.
Master Baby stopped, looking closely. Silver light shimmered. "Your qi… it's not the same," he said.
Ling Tian felt a hum. Something changed… or maybe he never knew himself. Yang leaned close. "What happened to you? You're not the same."
Ling Tian's head swirled with memories. He hadn't changed on purpose, but strange qi pulsed in him.
Yang softened. "I'm just kidding! You've been weird since we fell… must've hit your head." He patted Ling Tian's shoulder. "Go home… your family will be happy you're okay."
Yang disappeared, leaving Ling Tian alone.
Ling Tian walked into the village. Houses lined the streets. The air smelled like smoke and bread. He felt qi in every corner.
People stared at him. A girl shouted, "The Young Master is back!" Others waved. Children ran past, laughing. An old woman looked at him, sensing his qi.
A guard hurried over. "You… you're alive! Thank the stars… we added guards because someone with strong qi was nearby."
Ling Tian didn't know where he was.
The guard told him to follow. "Come… I'll take you to your family. That troublemaker fled from the Sect Alliance, but it's not safe yet…" He looked around nervously.
A hum rattled the air. The intruder's qi hit a tree, breaking a branch near some children. Lin Tian's qi straightened the branch. The children stared at him.
The guard knelt. "Last week… you couldn't feel qi like this. This power is rare…"
Ling Tian followed, looking at the streets. Vendors shouted, carts rattled, children laughed. Everything felt alive and familiar. A woman gave him herbs, and the blacksmith waved.
Inside the family home, Ling Tian stopped at a wooden dummy. He lifted his hands and threw a punch, then a kick. The movements were natural, even without qi. The guard almost laughed. "That's… not like anything I've seen…"
Then, an old man walked forward, smiling. "The young master is back… we've watched while most qi users were away."
Inside the family estate, Ling Tian was now Lin Yun. "Alright, time to play the part. Act normal, be confident, fit in. Fake it till you make it, right?" He took a deep breath, feeling the qi under his skin.
"Lin Yun," the guard said quietly, "you should train. Your strength and your movements need to match what your family expects."
The wooden dummy was in the training room. Lin Yun lifted his hands, fingers ready. Punch, kick... each strike was precise and smooth. The dummy shook from the force of his hits. His body remembered these movements. He felt strong and in control. "Not bad for someone who mostly sat at a desk."
Suddenly, a loud noise interrupted him. "Well, well, well… look who it is. Back from the dead, are we?" A boy stepped out of the shadows. It was Lin Jian, his cousin. Lin Jian was older and bigger, with a mean smile that never reached his eyes.
"Lin Yun. I almost forgot you were still around," Lin Jian sneered, cracking his knuckles. "Thought you'd be too busy coughing up blood to bother with training. Or is that broken Dantian finally healing itself through sheer pity?"
Lin Jian stepped closer, his eyes narrowed, his body radiating arrogance. "You've been gone what, a year? Pathetic. And now you think you can just waltz back in here and pretend to be a member of the Lin family? You're a disgrace." He spat on the floor near Lin Yun's feet.
"Last I checked, cripples don't exactly make for strong heirs. What are you even doing here? Trying to embarrass the family further?" Lin Jian's voice dripped with disdain. "Go back to your room and play with your herbs, Yun. Leave the real training to those of us who can actually use qi."
Lin Yun's lips curled slightly. "Okay, this guy is a major jerk. Time to adjust his attitude." He didn't say anything. Instead, he moved. He threw a quick punch and a low kick, testing how far away Lin Jian was and how fast he could move. Lin Jian attacked, swinging wildly. Lin Yun stepped to the side, grabbed Lin Jian's arm, and used a wrestling move to throw Lin Jian to the ground. "Textbook takedown. Years of watching MMA finally paying off. And he's even more of an idiot than I thought."
The room was quiet for a moment. The guards were surprised by his fighting style—boxing, karate, wrestling—all mixed together with qi. Lin Yun stood over his cousin, calm and steady. "I didn't come here to fight you. But I will defend myself if you attack me," he said softly.
Lin Jian scrambled up, face red with anger and humiliation. "You… you got lucky! I wasn't even trying!" He glared at Lin Yun, his fists clenched. "Just wait, Yun. You may have gotten one lucky shot in, but you'll never be a real qi user. You're a cripple, and that's all you'll ever be."
Lord Lin Wei, his father, came to the door. He looked worried. "Young Master… what are you doing?" He looked at his wife, unsure if he should stop them.
Lady Mei Lian laughed softly. "Lin Wei, he is our son. Let him be. Maybe he is a little rough, but he is learning." She smiled at Lin Yun and touched his arm. Her touch was warm, and Lin Yun felt peaceful.
Lin Yun watched everything... his father's worry, his mother's calm, his cousin's anger. He had to remember his role: Lin Yun, the young master.
"Father, that hurts! I am trying to train!" Lin Yun said, acting like a playful young man. He pretended to be in pain and rubbed his shoulder. "Gotta sell it. Method acting 101."
The guards tried not to laugh. His moves were strong, a mix of real-world fighting and subtle qi influence. Lin Yun saw his younger sister, Xiao, run into the room. She had a sword on her back and dirt on her clothes. Her eyes widened, then she grinned. "Brother?" She hugged him tightly. Lin Yun was stiff for a moment, then patted her back, acting normal. "Okay, personal space. Still figuring out this family thing."
Xiao laughed. "Father, are you afraid of Mother again?" she asked.
Lin Wei's face turned red. He looked down. "I… I just… don't want to make her angry…"
Lady Mei Lian shook her head, smiling. "My son, you have become strong and wise." She kissed Lin Yun on his head and cheeks.
Lin Yun understood the family—their love, their fears, their relationships. He smiled to himself, thinking that he was playing his role well.
Finally, Lin Wei stood up straight. He felt the qi coming from his son. "I never thought you would do this. Our young master, our family has waited for someone who can use qi. That is you, even if your style is strange."
On the roof, the old man watched Ling Tian. He lifted his hand and played a soft note. His voice carried on the wind:
Time goes on, with no start or end,
A boy walks paths that may bend.
He cries for those he left behind,
Family and love stay in his mind.
Ling Tian felt sad. The words reminded him of his old life... his parents, Xiao, and the love he had. Joy and sorrow mixed together.
A special power, not known yet,
Will it wake up, or will it forget?
Joy and sorrow are mixed as one,
Memories of where he's from.
The old man looked at the boy, wondering what would happen to him. He moved his fingers in the air, like drawing rivers of fate.
Rivers turn, and mountains grow,
Fate may be hidden, we don't know.
Every story must start its way,
Hope darkness won't win the day.
Lin Tian held his hands tight. "Can I really do this? Can I protect them? What am I even doing here? And how am I supposed to compete with that arrogant jerk when I can't even use qi properly?"
Step by step, the winds may call,
Will he fly high, or will he fall?
Paths open up, some good, some bad,
We hope for light, don't want him sad.
The note stayed in the air, soft and warm. The old man put his hand down, letting the last words go:
At last, the story starts to run,
Hope he finds dawn, not the setting sun.
Then, he disappeared into the fog. Ling Tian stood still, listening to the words, feeling the energy around him. Below, he thought of his family, of Xiao, of the life he had known. Tears of joy and sorrow came together, a promise that every ending was also a beginning.
He felt determined. He would learn to control his power, protect his family, and find his place in this strange new world. He would become Lin Yun, but he would always remember Ling Tian. "Okay, new life, new rules. Time to level up. Even if I have to do it with one hand tied behind my back."