The Village

Xiao's breath caught. "How do you know about those?" he whispered, his voice trembling. All the calm in his body seemed to vanish. This was not a situation he had expected at all.

Being dropped into a river was crazy enough, but now this man spoke as if he knew Xiao intimately, yet Xiao couldn't recall ever meeting him.

"Who are you?" he asked, louder than intended.

Epiphany's gaze remained neutral as he stepped closer, the lantern light casting an ethereal glow on his ancient robes. "I am the caretaker of the Wheel of Samsara, Xiao. The harbinger of fate, and death itself. I met your grandmother after she passed from your world."

Xiao's eyes widened, his heart pounding. "You... you met my grandmother? But how? Why? She's been dead for a while now." His voice grew louder, disbelief and anger mingling.

"She understood the balance of life and death. When her time came, she crossed into this realm. She knew of your potential and told you stories to prepare you for this moment."

Xiao shook his head. "This can't be real!" he shouted, desperation clear. "Why would she tell me stories about spirits and the afterlife? She never mentioned a sect or you. It doesn't make sense!"

"The stories were meant to awaken your spirit gradually, to make you curious. And it has worked, hasn't it? Here you are, drawn by the light of these lanterns."

Xiao clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "But why me? I'm just a normal kid. Why am I special? I don't want any of this!" His voice cracked with a mix of anger and fear.

"I must be dreaming, right? This is all a dream," he screamed.

"Although you may think of yourself as nothing special, your bloodline is. Your grandmother was a Musok, a shaman who could traverse the boundaries between the living and the spirit realms. She foresaw your role in maintaining the balance. Her legacy lives within you."

As Epiphany spoke, Xiao's mind drifted back to a childhood memory, vivid and clear.

———

Xiao, then a lively eight-year-old, sat in the back seat of his family's car, his small face pressed against the window as they drove up the winding mountain road. His parents, engrossed in conversation, paid little attention to the excited chatter of their son.

"Dad, how much longer until we get to Grandma's?" Xiao asked, bouncing in his seat. He fiddled with the small watch on his wrist, the one with the tiny basketballs that he loved to watch spin.

His father glanced at him through the rearview mirror, smiling. "Just a little while longer, Xiao. We're almost there."

The car turned a final bend, revealing the old ancestral house nestled among the trees. It stood tall and imposing, with its traditional wooden architecture and intricate carvings.

The house exuded an air of mystery and history, its walls holding stories of generations past. Xiao's grandmother had always preferred the serenity of the mountains over the bustling city, visiting them only occasionally.

Her presence was a rare and cherished event.

"Be careful, Xiao! Don't run inside!" his mother warned.

Ignoring the caution, Xiao pushed open the heavy wooden door and dashed inside. The familiar scent of incense and old wood filled his nostrils.

He ran through the hallways, his small feet echoing on the wooden floors, until he reached the room that always intrigued him the most: the ritual room.

The room was dimly lit by candles, their flames flickering gently. The walls were adorned with talismans and scrolls, and in the center of the room stood a towering statue of Buddha, serene and imposing.

Xiao had always felt a strange connection to this room as if the very air hummed with a power he couldn't understand.

Drawn to the statue, Xiao approached it cautiously. As he stood before it, something strange happened. The statue seemed to glow faintly, and for a brief moment, Xiao felt a warmth envelop him, a comforting presence that made him feel safe and protected.

He reached out to touch the statue, but before his fingers could make contact, the door creaked open behind him.

His grandmother entered the room, her eyes twinkling with wisdom and kindness. "Xiao, my dear, what are you doing here?" she asked gently.

Xiao turned to her, his excitement bubbling over. "Grandma, the statue... it felt warm! Did you see it?"

She smiled, kneeling to his level. "The statue holds many secrets, Xiao. It's a bridge between our world and the spirit realm. You have a special gift, my dear. One day, you'll understand."

———

The memory faded, leaving Xiao standing before Epiphany, his mind racing. He had always brushed off those childhood experiences as figments of his imagination, but now, standing here, they took on a new significance.

His grandmother might have been involved in religious rituals, but Xiao had never bothered to look too deeply into it. Could there have been something greater hidden in them? No, this man is clearly lying and trying to manipulate him.

No way, no way, no way!

"Your grandmother saw your potential, Xiao," Epiphany said, breaking the silence. "She prepared you for this journey. The stories she told you were not just tales; they were lessons. You have the strength within you to walk this path, to embrace the cycle of Samsara."

Xiao's voice wavered, caught between defiance and desperation. "What if I don't want this? What if I just want my normal life back?" He turned away, pacing in frustration.

"Xiao," Epiphany called sharply, "your reluctance is understandable. But you cannot deny what is in your blood, what you have been prepared for."

Xiao spun around, eyes blazing. "Prepared for what? To see ghosts? To talk to spirits? That's insane! I don't even believe in souls! Aren't musoks supposed to be women anyway? This is all a mistake."

Epiphany sighed. "The gift transcends gender, Xiao. And whether you believe in souls or not, they exist. These lanterns," he gestured to the softly glowing lights around them, "are used to guide the souls of the departed. Your grandmother used them, and now it's your turn."

"No," Xiao shook his head, adamant. "This isn't real. Spirits, shamans, it's all just myths. Science explains everything. There's no proof of any of this."