I looked over at the small, cat-like creature. Now it lay there, unmoving.
I felt… bad. Its body was peaceful in death. Calm and quiet. But I shoved that feeling down. It had attacked me with the intent to kill. I just matched it.
As I watched, the air around its striped body shimmered faintly. A strange golden light drifted from its fur—tiny flakes of glowing dust rising like embers before slowly floating toward me. They landed on my skin, warm and featherlight, and immediately began to sink in.
I flinched, trying to brush them off, but they just kept disappearing into my skin the moment I touched them. A cold chill ran up my spine, followed by a strange calm that spread through my limbs. It felt… good. Soothing.
Once the last of the flakes had faded, a soft ding echoed in my ears, and glowing words slid across my vision.
Enemy defeated
Excess Qi consumed
Before I could process what any of that meant, a weak voice broke the silence.
"Y–Young master… th-thank you for this kindness. Are you injured?"
I sat up slowly, turning to the speaker.
His words sounded off in my ears, foreign, like something I'd never heard before but somehow I understood him perfectly. That only made this whole thing weirder.
He noticed my gaze and immediately averted his eyes.
I scanned him over. No blood, no deep wounds, but he was clutching his leg awkwardly. Sweat ran down his face and matted the dark hair pulled back behind his head. His nose was slightly too large for his face, and his strange robes were torn and dirtied.
"I'm good," I said, voice rough. The words came out in that same strange language and again, I understood them. I wasn't sure how much more of this I could write off as a last hallucination before I finally died.
I nodded at him. "What about you? You okay?"
He risked a glance upward, curiosity flashing in his eyes for just a moment before it was quickly replaced by something else.
"This lowly one is only slightly injured. No need for someone as great as you to worry," he stammered.
That way of talking was getting on my nerves. But the guy had almost been eaten, so I let it slide.
"What's your name?" I asked, standing and brushing dirt off my ruined clothes.
He blinked, then bowed his head again. "This one is called Wei Lin."
"Well, Wei Lin, where exactly am I?" I asked, scanning the forest.
He looked confused. "This is the outer edge of Yu Province, young master. Just north of Fallen Mist Town. Were you attacked while traveling from the sect?"
Sect? Province? That didn't answer anything, but I didn't want to sound like a lunatic. "Right… the sect."
His brows furrowed. "Forgive me, but… might I ask what sect young master hails from?"
I paused, the question catching me off guard. My brain scrambled for an answer, but I didn't have one. So I went with the safest response I could think of.
"I'm just a wanderer. I'm actually not from around here."
Wei Lin's expression froze, the confusion returning. "Not… from here?"
I shrugged. "Long story."
He hesitated again but didn't push it. "I see… then, perhaps… would young master consider accompanying this one back to Fallen Mist Town? It is not far, and… after your gracious assistance, it would be an honor to offer hospitality."
He spoke with such weird formality that it made my skin itch, but I wasn't about to turn down a chance at finding civilization. Or answers.
"Sure," I said. "Lead the way."
Wei Lin tried to stand and winced. I stepped forward and helped him up without a word.
We started walking through the forest together—him limping, me still trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
As we walked, I noticed Wei Lin kept glancing at me. Quick looks, eyes flicking away the moment I caught him. It went on for long enough that it started to grate on me.
Finally, I broke the silence. "What is it?"
He lowered his gaze instantly, but I didn't let it go.
"Speak. Don't feel like you can't speak your mind to me."
He hesitated, then slowly raised his head. Doubt was written all over his face. Whatever was on his mind clearly wasn't easy to say but it also wasn't my problem.
Still, after a few seconds, he seemed to come to a decision and gave a small nod to himself.
"It's just that you… you look strange."
His eyes widened immediately, and he rushed to correct himself. "Forgive me, young master! That wasn't my place—"
I let out a small laugh, raising an eyebrow. "That's what your problem was?"
He looked away, flustered. I kept going. "Like I said, I'm from somewhere else. And I'm starting to realise it's a lot farther than I thought."
I gave him a look. "Also, drop the 'young master' stuff. My name's Ethan. Ethan Ward. If you have to be formal, use that."
Another strange look crossed his face, but this one softened into a smile. A genuine one. There was a small gap between his front teeth that I tried very hard not to stare at.
"I understand," he said, bowing slightly. "Thank you, Fang Wu. I won't ask any more questions about your strange looks or your strange clothes."
I blinked. "That's the one but it's Ethan Ward. Not Fang Wu."
He laughed, a light chuckle under his breath. "Of course, of course. I don't know why you keep repeating your name."
I stopped walking and stared at him. "Ethan. It's Ethan. Not whatever you're saying."
He gave me a puzzled look, genuine confusion on his face. "Yes, that's what I'm saying…"
We just… stared at each other for a moment. I was seriously starting to wonder if he'd hit his head harder than I thought. The moment stretched on, awkward and uncomfortable.
Eventually, we both started walking again, silent except for the rustling leaves beneath our feet.
What the hell was going on?
As the sun dipped low behind the treetops, casting long shadows across the forest floor, we finally broke through the tree line. I came to a slow stop.
Spread out ahead of us was what I could only describe as a large medieval town. Stone houses with thatched straw roofs were scattered across the gentle hills, surrounded by open paddocks and narrow irrigation canals. In the distance, rows of stepped fields stretched out in tidy lines. It reminded me of pictures I'd seen of rural China. Or Bali. Not that I'd ever actually been to either.
Smoke drifted lazily from chimneys. The smell of woodfires and something earthy hung in the air. The place looked… peaceful. At odds with everything I'd just gone through.
Wei Lin stepped up beside me, following my gaze with a small, tired smile.
"That's Fallen Mist," he said. "It's not much, but we have good people and strong soil."
"Where the hell am I," I mumbled under my breath.
"It's under the protection of the Fallen Mist Sect," he continued, "They oversee most of the region and keep the worst of the bandits and beasts at bay. In return, we offer a portion of our harvest and whatever manual labor they require."
He looked at me, as if trying to gauge my reaction. I just nodded, taking it all in.
"Sect?" I asked after a moment.
Wei Lin blinked, then quickly looked away. "Ah, of course. I forget how far you've traveled."
He cleared his throat. "Sects are… powerful groups I guess. Families, schools, lineages—depends on who you ask. They're made up of cultivators. Some are small, like Fallen Mist. Others are massive, running entire provinces."
That actually answered more than I expected. I nodded again.
"So… you're not part of one?" I asked.
He gave a short laugh. "Me? No. I'm a farmer. They wouldn't look at someone like me twice."
His expression darkened and I glimpsed underlined sadness but didn't press it.
We began walking again, following a well-worn dirt path that led down toward the town. The faint glow of lanterns flickered to life as the sky darkened into a deeper blue.
"I'll take you to my home," Wei Lin offered quietly. "You saved my life. It's the least I can do."
I didn't argue. My legs were sore, my ribs still ached from the fight, and the idea of sleeping outside another night didn't sit well.
And, more than that I needed information. About this place. About cultivation. About what the hell was going on.
"Thanks," I said simply. "I appreciate it."
He glanced at me and smiled again. "Of course, Fang Wu."
I sighed.
Close enough.