Page 6: Past

The group returned to the city and went straight to the old district. They just came back from hunting a cloud rat and a huge one to boot. Excitement is etched on the young one's faces for they came back with good results. It is not every day that they can earn 2 shards and have a hearty meal side by side. Ah Mu sprinted towards their abode and immediately started a fire. Ling Tian being the most experienced cleaned the animal.

Long Bai sat on one of their chairs. While looking around, Little Yue sat opposite to him sending stares and smiles. Long Bai can't help but ask a question to this little child's actions.

"Your name is Yue, right? Is there something on my face?"

"Huh?" Yue caught off guard responded with a polite gesture.

"Little Yue is curious which family were you from? Was there a Long family in this City?"

Just before Bai could respond, Ling Tian joined the table. His expression was also plastered with curiosity.

"Little Yue, we should introduce ourselves before asking such a question. Let's introduce one by one. Ling Tian patted her in the head while Little Yue gave off an apologetic look.

Ling Tian began introducing the group while waiting for the food. Ling Tian was originally a part of one of the big families in this city full of merchants. His story started when his family was prosperous. His father was the fourth brother in the family. Having no prospect of being the head of the family, he decided to proceed in business. He married a family of a merchant in the city. Because Ling Tian's mother was not a cultivator, many were against their marriage, however, in the end, it was allowed by the family head.

It was when Ling Tian was six years old that misfortune befalls in the family. Ling Tian's father was sent on a mission but did return on the specified date. A few weeks later, Ling Tian's mom started to get ill.

It was not long before both of his parents were gone. Some said that his father was killed by a beast, some say that a cultivator did. As for his mother, the Ling family's healer declared that she died of chronic disease but Ling Tian knew that it wasn't the real cause. Instead, he believes that they poisoned her mother slowly. Since the fall of the two seniors, their business went to chaos. Greed and unreasonable management caused their market to fall into the ground. Being an opportunity for the other families, Ling's family was oppressed and had no chance to retaliate. Financially speaking, they have even fallen worse than their previous status and thus only able to support their main family line. To this day, relatives of the Ling main family have fled the city and some have nowhere to go but to be left alone just like Ling Tian. Meeting Ah Mu and Yue happened after such incidence and decided to stay together.

Ah Mu and Yue on the other hand were peasants from the start. They both first met each other in a temple but then was left to stray the streets after their place has become desolate. The place has no longer able to maintain itself as few and few people come to visit until it became a rundown place. All that's left are walls good for shielding one's self from the wind and a select area to roof one's head from the rain. However enticing it may be for a homeless, a sane man would not endanger itself from the threats of beasts roaming freely around the area. Unlike in the slums, there are still some capable ones who can drive these beasts. Wild creatures that have formed their essence crystals and cores are more intelligent than their original self. In a way, it can be described as gaining sentience.

"How about brother Bai? We've been around this place for a while but this is the first time we saw you."

"Big brother Bai, are you perhaps not from this place?" Yue's eyes sparkled with the idea that Bai came from another place. It was always been Yue's interest to hear interesting and new stories. For the past months, it was Ling Tian's job to tell her stories he read from books and from what he heard.

Long Bai stared back for a second then immediately interrupted the flow of the conversation.

"Wait for a second, how old do you think I am? I'm still turning six and that would be 5 months from now. How old are you lot?" Bai replied with a sorry face as if he just confessed from a crime.

Ah Mu who was constantly vigilant in his chore instantaneously lost his focus and almost dropped the grilled meat. The two on the other hand can't stop their eye from widening.

"No way! You look older than this little Yue whose seven years old? Brother Ling Tian, I'm an older sister now. Hmhm!

Yue stood proud puffing her big sister vibe. Ling Tian who's lost on how to react on the situation just gave off a laugh.

"I'm surprised you're just at that age. Even the way you speak does not reflect your age at all. You must have experienced a lot. By the way, little Yue is seven years old while Ah Mu and I are 9. I'm just older for a month."

Bai returned a smile. Since there are no mirrors around, he can only deduce from their reactions how appalling his looks must be. He was just thinking that this might be the effect of absorbing the essence shard. Since it was able to temper his body, slight changes have occurred.

Ah Mu, who just finished making the food, came and initiated eating. Everyone took their portion and sat facing each other. There was no table to dine at but eating together made the place warm. Just then, did Bai continued his own story.

Long Bai introduced himself and narrated his past according to the original owner's memory. Being friendly as he may be, he never did disclose about his special case.