Chapter IV

"My head!" complained Jean-Luc as he woke up. His body ached all over, and he felt like he had been hit by a train. To make sure everything was alright, he began to pat his body in search of any possible injuries. Suddenly, he jumped, remembering what had put him in this state. Panicked, he stood up abruptly, his hands trembling, his eyes wide and alert, searching for that damned tree. The view before him was of a fairly pretty and verdant clearing. The trees were well proportioned, the wind radiant, and the cries of small animals and insects buzzed abundantly. It was far from the sinister scenery of the Silent Giant.

However, he didn't care. His first instinct was to run away as fast as he could.

"Stop acting like an idiot and calm down," Jean-Luc suddenly heard.

The voice that had addressed him was deep, powerful, and full of authority.

However, the memories of those teeth, that rough tongue, swallowing him while giggling with joy, were still too fresh in his mind for him to obey any order.

Using his limited technical knowledge, he assumed a combat position.

The person in front of him didn't seem at all impressed. Before he could move a muscle, the guy was beside him, a hand on his shoulder. The pressure this stranger exerted was simply staggering. He had difficulty breathing, and remaining conscious was a miracle. It was like reliving the experience with the tree, except he felt insignificant rather than being a defenseless prey.

"Calm down. You're still conscious because I want you to be. Understood?" repeated the stranger calmly.

"Alright," replied Jean-Luc, his voice slightly trembling. At this point, playing brave seemed pointless.

"Good," replied Han. "I'll be direct. Who are you? What are you doing here? Be clear, concise, and truthful."

Swallowing the lump in his throat and under the weighty gaze of the illustrious stranger, Jean-Luc began to speak, taking care not to offend the man, who seemed to have a bad temper.

"My name is Jean... Chen Wei. I'm 20 years old, originally from the village of Spring Hill in the Golden Hill province. Until recently, I was a servant, specifically a kitchen boy, in the Immutable Heavens sect. But I was expelled for my lack of talent. An elder kindly gave me a small sum to face life. But I was robbed by two sect disciples who beat me, dragged me, and threw me off a cliff overlooking the Silent Giant. I tried to survive there, but it didn't go well," said Jean-Luc in one breath, while watching his interlocutor's reaction. He still struggled to refer to himself as Wei.

"How long were you in that sect?" asked Han.

"Four years," replied Wei.

"I see. A useless vagrant from a useless sect. No wonder you're in this situation," said Han, the sarcasm evident in his voice.

At this gratuitous insult, Jean-Luc wanted to protest, but he held back, although it didn't stop him from sending Han a dirty look, which didn't go unnoticed by the latter.

"Look at me however you want. You don't deserve my anger. If you weren't a useless vagrant, you could have detected a pathetic cursed fig tree at first glance," said Han.

"I've come across several; only the last one seemed conscious and demonic," replied Wei, confused.

"Wrong. You only encountered one. You were caught in its illusions for almost four days."

"What?" asked Wei, stunned.

"What did you do when you woke up after your fall from the cliff?" asked Han.

"I took some time to collect myself. Then, as I was hungry, I went hunting. When I was gathering dead branches for my fire, I took some from the base of the fig tree. The next day, I woke up there, with no memory of going there," he replied. As he spoke, his mind made the connection, and horror was written on his face.

"I see you understand. The mere fact that you touched the tree allowed it to penetrate your body by spreading its evil qi. Dictating your actions, then deluding you," explained Han.

"May I ask why it took so long to kill me?" asked Wei.

"Simple. That tree feeds on strong and negative emotions. During those days, it must have played in your mind to maximize your despair," said Han.

"In short, it was cooking your mind until it considered it to its taste. It's like simmering meat to bring out all the flavors," suddenly intervened Ang, holding dead game in his hands.

"Thank you for the analogy," replied Han.

The way they seemed to mock him, despite being his saviors, prevented Jean-Luc from adding another word. This world was completely insane; the memories of his predecessor in this body didn't change his convictions.

"Since we saved you, I suppose preparing this game for us wouldn't bother you," asked Han.

"Not at all, I have some experience in this area," said Wei. "However, do you have any spices on you?"

"Ang, go fetch some aromatic herbs from the woods. And you, Wei, will have to explain to me by what miracle you managed to enter a sect, no matter how mediocre," said Han.

"Right away, Elder Brother," said Ang.

"You seem to have a grudge against my former sect. May I know why?" asked Wei cautiously.

"A grudge? Don't be presumptuous. I just loathe those petty sects. They scam poor fools like you just for money. Their techniques are weak, their determination nonexistent, not to mention their sense of honor. They are the symbol of a laissez-faire attitude that has lasted too long," declared Han, frowning.

"Moreover," he added as seriously as possible, "if you were still part of their sect, I would have killed you without hesitation. Consider yourself lucky that I want to help you. Accumulating qi is within the reach of many mortals, using it is another matter. What you can't do. In short, I consider you a mere mortal."

"This servant will not forget this honor," Wei bowed, reluctantly.

"Tsss," Han scoffed, smoothing his clothes and walking away with his hands behind his back.

As the man walked away, Wei wondered (yeah, he had to start considering himself as such), what the hell was this guy's problem. The guy had saved him from certain death, only to insult him gratuitously and constantly threaten him with death. Moreover, he hadn't even bothered to introduce himself, as if Wei was unworthy of knowing his name.

Thieving and murderous bastards, a weird rabbit with a disgusting taste, a damned cursed tree, and finally two arrogant and insulting strangers. He was already fed up with this world. Since he didn't plan on committing suicide, the best solution remained finding a place far from all this fantastic madness and trying to live there peacefully.

While he was lost in his thoughts, Ang dropped the two dead animals, some herbs, and a small knife in front of him. The herbs were not unfamiliar to Wei; his predecessor was used to seeing the sect's cooks use them. However, they were not the wild varieties.

"You should manage with this, right? The wood is already piled and lit, there's a stream less than a hundred meters away. So, you should be able to prepare this quickly," Ang warned.

Nodding in acceptance, Wei took the two carcasses and other items to cook the two animals.

In the clearing, Wei rolled up his sleeves, ready to cook the game the other man had captured. First, he used the small knife to skin them. With precise movements, he sliced through the skin and removed the feathers, revealing the tender flesh beneath. He carefully separated the wings and legs, setting aside the unusable parts. He doubted the two men liked offal.

Next, Wei headed to the nearby stream. He immersed the birds in the cool, running water, gently scrubbing to remove the last feathers and traces of blood. The icy water effectively cleaned the meat, leaving the birds ready for cooking. Once satisfied with the cleanliness, he returned to the campsite, ready to start cooking.

The wood fire crackled joyfully, casting dancing shadows on the surrounding trees. Wei had gathered the aromatic herbs the cultivator had found while exploring the forest. The scent of "silver mists" evoked thyme but with a surprising lemony note. The leaves of "pine winds" resembled rosemary but were sweeter, almost sugary. Finally, the berries of "mountain dew" offered a tangy taste, similar to wild garlic but with a hint of exotic spices.

He massaged the birds with these herbs, rubbing each leaf and berry onto the tender flesh. The aromas mingled and intensified under his fingers. Wei used branches to suspend the birds over the fire, allowing the heat and smoke to slowly envelop them.

The crackling of the fire and the intoxicating scent of roasting meat filled the air. The skin of the birds began to brown, becoming crispy while the flesh remained tender. Wei turned the birds regularly, ensuring that each side received even heat. The fragrance of "silver mists," "pine winds," and "mountain dew" created an olfactory symphony that made his mouth water.

When the birds were finally cooked, Wei carefully removed them from the fire. He cut off a piece of meat, and the flesh came away easily. The first bite was an explosion of flavors: the juicy tenderness of the meat, the crispiness of the skin, and the unique bouquet of wild herbs created a fluttering sensation in his stomach, reminding him of everything he had lost and left behind.

"The smell is simply extraordinary," Ang exclaimed as he grabbed a juicy piece.

"I must admit, you have a certain talent for cooking. With few ingredients and common meat, you've managed to make a tasty dish," admitted Han, examining the meat before taking a bite.

"Thank you for your encouragement," Wei said as he savored his portion.

"So many memories in a single bite," he thought, feeling as if he had been dead longer than he had realized.

Wei kept his thoughts to himself, observing the two men with wary eyes. He understood that his survival hinged on staying in their good graces, at least for now.

The two men ate in silence, seemingly satisfied with Wei's culinary skills. The atmosphere was tense but manageable, a truce forged over shared food.

Once the meal was finished, Han stood up, brushing off his clothes with an air of authority. "We'll camp here for the night," he declared. "Wei, you take the first watch. Ang, you'll relieve him at midnight."

Wei nodded, suppressing a sigh of exhaustion. He wasn't in a position to argue or refuse. He watched as the two men settled down to rest, their bodies relaxing as sleep took over. He was left alone with his thoughts, the night stretching out before him.

The forest around him was alive with nocturnal sounds. Insects chirped, leaves rustled, and distant animal calls echoed through the trees. Wei stayed alert, his senses heightened by the unfamiliar environment. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, not with the dangers lurking in this strange world.

As the hours passed, Wei's mind wandered back to his previous life. The comfort of his small village, the laughter of his friends, the warmth of his family. It all seemed like a distant dream now, a world that was out of his reach. He wondered if he would ever find a place where he could belong in this new, perilous reality.

Midnight approached, and Wei felt a tap on his shoulder. Ang stood over him, looking surprisingly refreshed. "Your turn to rest," Ang said, his tone neutral.

Wei nodded and moved to a spot near the dying embers of the fire. He lay down, exhaustion washing over him. Despite the hard ground and the chill in the air, sleep claimed him almost instantly.

The next morning, Wei awoke to the sound of birds chirping and the smell of fresh morning dew. He stretched, his body aching from the previous day's events and the uncomfortable night. Han and Ang were already up, preparing for the day's journey.

"Get up, Wei. We need to move," Han ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

Wei rose quickly, gathering his meager belongings. As he fell into step behind the two men, he couldn't help but wonder what the future held. His past was a closed chapter, and the present was fraught with uncertainty. All he could do was keep moving forward, one step at a time, hoping that somewhere along the way, he would find a new purpose, a new place to call home.

The forest slowly thinned as they walked, giving way to rolling hills and a distant horizon. Wei felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, in this vast and unpredictable world, there was a chance for redemption, for a new beginning.

And so, with a mixture of trepidation and determination, Wei followed Han and Ang, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.