Chapter 2: The Statue of the Eight Rings

At dawn, Xue Sha would rise with the first light that crept through the window, tinting the room with golden and purple hues. The fresh morning air brought with it the song of birds and the whisper of leaves, a gentle concert marking the start of a new day. Sliding out of bed with the grace of someone who has repeated the same ritual for years, he would return the sheets to their place, leaving the bed impeccable, a reflection of the discipline that marked his life.

He crossed the room and opened the door, his light steps descending the stairs, resonating in the silence of the early morning. 'Six years in this world and today is the crucial day to awaken my martial spirit,' he thought, 'I hope to have some innate soul power.'

The absence of the village chief filled the room with a peculiar calm. The table presented him with a prepared breakfast and a letter that read: 'Xiao Xue, here is your breakfast. I have gone to notify the others that today they come from the Soul Palace for the martial spirit awakening.'

After reading, he headed to the bathroom. The bathtub welcomed him, and as the warm water caressed his skin, he thought about the luck he had had in being found by the old man. 'If it weren't for him, I'd be heating water and bathing with a bucket,' he reflected with gratitude.

He dried his hair with a towel, rubbing gently so as not to damage the strands. Then, with the toothbrush in hand, he dedicated himself to oral hygiene, rinsing several times and spitting the water meticulously. He placed the toothbrush back in its place and dried his mouth with a towel that rested next to him, then carefully put it back in its spot.

In front of the mirror, he took the comb and began to untangle his hair. He encountered knots that resisted and pulled, causing small pangs of pain, a sensation that reminded him that, despite everything, there were mundane details that kept his life anchored to reality. Once his hair was free of tangles, he let the loose strands fall and put the comb back in its place.

With his hair still damp and the robe wrapping him, he left the bathroom and went up the stairs, each step bringing him closer to the moment that could change his destiny forever.

Entering his room, Xue Sha left behind the freshness of dawn and the serenity of the morning bath. With a practical gesture, he shed the robe and passed it over his body, drying the last drops of water that beaded his skin. Once dry, he headed towards the wardrobe, his hands gliding over the polished wood until finding the latches that kept it closed.

With a soft click, the wardrobe opened revealing a selection of clothes that evoked the elegance and sobriety of Chinese culture. His fingers selected a black outfit, fabrics that combined functionality with traditional aesthetics. He dressed in a set that consisted of a changshan, a long and fitted tunic, complemented with loose pants that allowed a wide range of movement. The fabric, soft to the touch but durable, was adorned with subtle embroidery that captured the light with every movement.

Once dressed, he took the robe and left the room, his steps resonating firmly as he went down the stairs and re-entered the bathroom. He placed the robe in its usual place, a hook next to the door, and left, carefully closing it behind him.

He approached the table where breakfast awaited him, a modest but nutritious start to a day that promised to be momentous. He took a seat, allowing himself a few moments of calm to savor the food that would provide him with the energy needed to face the challenges that awaited him.

Just as Xue Sha finished his breakfast, the door burst open and the village chief appeared on the threshold. His eyes landed on Xue Sha and, with a mix of surprise and reprimand, he exclaimed: "But where are you going with those clothes, that's for when you get married!"

Xue Sha, surprised by the sudden entrance and the chief's words, choked on the last bite. Coughing slightly, he quickly reached for the glass of water and drank eagerly, feeling the liquid soothe his throat. With a sigh of relief, he looked at the village chief and replied with a twisted smile: "Old man, this is the most formal clothing I have. If you want, I'll go in pajamas. Besides, it's just clothes that I'm going to wear for 3 or 4 hours at most. And old man, think about it, I'm now 6 years old. When I get married, let's say at 18 years old, it will be fine if these clothes serve to cover one arm!"

The village chief, unable to suppress a smile at Xue Sha's logic, nodded his head and said: "While I was calling the children, those from the Soul Hall have arrived. I told them to wait in the Spiritual Awakening Hall."

Xue Sha nodded and, without wasting a second, began to eat quickly what was left on his plate. With each bite, his determination grew, knowing that the moment he had been waiting for was about to arrive. After finishing his breakfast and drinking the rest of the water, he stood up from the table and looked at the village chief with eyes bright with excitement.

"Let's go, I'm ready," said Xue Sha, his voice firm and full of expectation.

Both left the house, closing the door behind them. The sun, now high in the sky, bathed the village in its light, and the path to the Spiritual Awakening Hall unfolded before Xue Sha, a path that would take the first step towards his destiny.

However, before he could take a step towards the Spiritual Awakening Hall, the village chief stopped him with a hand on his shoulder and said, "Not that way, let's first go to the statue; that's where the other children are waiting for us."

Together, they walked towards the imposing statue in the center of the village. The stone figure of a man about 50 years old, with his hands behind his back, one hand grasping the wrist of the other, looked towards where the sun set. At his feet, eight rings adorned the base: two yellow, two purple, and four black.

About 30 children were gathered around the statue, murmuring with anticipation. Seeing the arrival of the village chief and Xue Sha, all faces turned towards them. The chief indicated to Xue Sha to join the children, and he complied, approaching a group of five or six who greeted him with a respectful "chief" as he approached.

As the village chief took his place in front of the statue, one of the children asked Xue Sha, "Chief, what do you think he will tell us?"

Xue Sha, with a flash of humor in his eyes, replied sarcastically, "We are in front of a statue, I suppose he is going to talk about how pigs reproduce." The child, confused but then smiling sheepishly, scratched the back of his head.

The village chief coughed to get everyone's attention and everyone fell silent. "I don't know if you know who the statue is," he began, "for those who don't know, he is a contra that came out of our village. He was born almost 100 years ago. At 6 years old, at the awakening, he had innate soul power of level 7. He became a contra at 50 years old; this is his statue from that time. The eight rings represent the normal configuration of a soul master: two yellow, two purple, and four black. But unfortunately, after that he has not been seen again. Our village is named Ba Hun Zhuang, which means Village of the Eight Souls, in his honor."

The children listened in amazement, some with eyes shining with admiration, others with the firm determination to follow in the Contra's footsteps.