Chapter 2: Ceremony

The two children walked through the clearing of the grand tree, its figure fading into the background as they entered the forest once again.

Shun still conversing with Pei Hua, tread through with damp leaves stuck to the soles of his feet. The dampness of the trees gave off a pungent stench. The light winds rustling the slightly moist leaves from the previous rain scattered along the path, carrying with them a particular fragrance. 

Glancing beyond the dense fortress of trees, Shun's eyes narrowed with a sharp glint and a tinge of caution. That fragrance the wind carried was one which would make the stomach churn.

Shun shifted his body indicating to Pei Hua of his concerns and intention to circle around the path. However by then it was too late, by the time Pei Hua had realized she had gone too far.

Although she was quick on her feet and attempted to scramble back towards Shun, the ground beneath her feet gave way and she fell forward into a coverage of brambles. 

Lifting herself up and separating from the brambles she regained her footing. Pei Hua wearily surveyed the area allowing her to get a view of her surroundings.

CRUNCH

Suddenly as she stepped forward, an eerie snapping sound came from beneath her feet. Turning her eyes downwards, beneath her was a mound of charred objects mixed with various shapes.

Coming to a sudden thought, Pei Hua swiftly pulled her head to a side and wretched. 

The mound of charred objects she was stepping in, were in fact a collection of skeletal remains. The fact that they were blackened seemingly scorched by flames suggested malicious intent with them being left here but one couldn't be so sure.

Gathering her emotions she called out to Shun to help her inspect the scene.

Shun's eyes widened with disbelief as he scanned the remains of the skeletons. Although deeply damaged, he could recognize what was left of the animal hide clothes that used to cover the bodies of the skeletons. 

He came to the conclusion that these remains were of villagers of Pei Village. However he couldn't be sure of what was the cause; whether they had been attacked by a powerful beast or targeted by other humans that came across them.

Glancing at the frail body of Pei Hua, Shun was reminded of the harsh reality that they lived in and how their fate was not their own but that of whatever would kill them one day within these forests. At that thought he steeled his resolve and confided in Pei Hua while pulling her quickly with him towards the village.

"Pei Hua... This decision is not one I made recklessly. After deliberating my thoughts I want you to take the ceremony instead of me."

Pei Hua's face was shocked with a mixture of confusion and anger within her eyes. 

"Shun! You know how important the ceremony is for ones strength! How am I supposed to live with myself knowing I took that opportunity from you when this is one that you earned with your own strength."

At Pei Hua's words Shun only smiled while inwardly sighing in relief at Pei Hua's righteous character. 

She's grown, he thought.

"Hua'er, know that this is the best for us. Believe me when I say I can take care of myself. It is you who I worry about. You taking this ceremony will ease my worries and maybe we could even hunt together when you get strong enough. However, I expect you'll be the one protecting me at that point though."

Pei Hua's welled with tears as she considered Shun's words. 

It was a hard decision to stomach especially when it was so abrupt. However, what Pei Shun had said made sense to her and she understood his feelings for her.

His worries were not unfounded as he was much more capable physically than her as he was going to be trained to join the hunting team soon after his ceremony was supposed to take place. 

Although she would be taking the opportunity from him, he wouldn't be able to complete the ceremony if it did not have his full focus and constant worries of Pei Hua's well being.

After a moments consideration Pei Hua's lowered head nodded slightly in reluctant acceptance. Pei Shun sighed in relief allowing his pent up emotions to vent. His face was tinted with a glimmering joy as he strode forth with Pei Hua in hand. 

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A few hours later just as the sun was about to set two small figures could be seen entering hand in hand, the clearing to the main gates of Pei Village. Many tall men under the shadow of the darkening sky rushed towards them in unconcealed worry and slight frustration. 

A stern faced Pei Yan emerged from the group with annoyance in his eyes as he chastised the two unlike his usual demeanor. This alone represented how important the ceremony was for a warrior of Pei Village. 

"Pei Shun! Pei Hua! Where have you been! By gods Shun, you all of all people should be more responsible and you Hua, stop causing trouble for the villagers. Do you two not take the ceremony seriously at all?"

Quick witted, Pei Shun came up with an excuse, "My apologies Brother Yan, we were caught up in the forest coming across a tragic scene and were trapped for a while."

Nudged by Pei Shun subtly, Pei Hua took the hint and quickly followed on from Pei Shun's statement, "Indeed Brother Yan. Please don't be angry, we just barely escaped. It was difficult for Brother Shun to get us out of there."

Pei Yan's eyes widened in concern and the villagers around them also expressed their shock through unabated gasps."

"Quick, tell us what happened."

"W-w-well"

Pei Hua's naive and innocent character let her down as she stuttered and broke the chain of lies. 

"You!"

Feeling tricked Pei Yan's face flashed red in anger at the two youths before him knowing they weren't telling him the whole truth.

In this situation Pei Shun calmly responded, "These are no lies Brother Yan, we stumbled across a mound of skeletal remains on our way back through the forest."

Pei Yan scoffed, "Of course there would be such things, these forests are dangerous after all. Travelling merchants and vagrants are bound to be targeted by the vicious beasts roaming around so it isn't strange that there would be skeleton remains around the area."

Pei Shun shook his head despondently, "Brother Yan... They are not just any fallen but those of Pei Village. I and Hua'er have clearly seen the type of beast skin clothes they wear and they match the method that we of Pei Village use to make them as well as belonging to local beasts that we hunt near the vicinity of our village. Do you still not believe us?"

Pei Yan sighed in defeat, "Fine. Fine. I will believe you for now but this matter will have to wait for another time as it could be for any reason that those skeletons lay there. The most important thing at the moment is the ceremony for you to become a cultivator Shun."

"We should proceed quickly as to not disturb the elder too much", Pei Li chimed in.

At their remarks Pei Shun was silent and grit his teeth whilst steeling his resolve to advocate his thoughts. 

"Everyone! I have made a decision regarding my ceremony and wish for you all to accept it. I want Pei Hua to take it instead of me. She has a good physical endowment as well and I would feel more at ease with her taking it instead."

Loud gasps could be heard from the surrounding villagers as Pei Li and Pei Yan's faces visibly distorted into ugly expressions. 

"How could this be?", the discussions and volume of the villagers increased at the thought of someone actually willing to pass on their ceremony as an opportunity to someone else.

It should be known that to survive in this world it was important for one to become stronger and it was through this supposed ceremony where the meridians would be awakened and one would be able to cultivate spiritual energy by bypassing their restrictions as humans and taking on the endowment of beasts.

By using the inner core of a beast, which was a culmination of their life force, in addition to a part of the original body, would allow one to cultivate the secrets within their body and gather spiritual energy. 

However, this was a difficult feat as for normal humans even killing a beast with an inner core was an arduous experience one could not do without comparable strength themselves. Therefore, for one to pass on this god sent opportunity was just as improbable.

Emerging through the crowd of villagers the Village Chief came into view, "Are you sure about this Pei Shun? This opportunity is rare and does not come by frequently. It is only because of your martial talent that you were given the opportunity to take on the ceremony. Even warriors in the hunting group have not been given this opportunity. For you to pass it onto Pei Hua. Although her talent is still one of the greatest of the younger generation in Pei Village it cannot be compared to yours. You know how important this is for your future."

The Village Chief deeply stared into Pei Shun's eyes not revealing his inner thoughts but verbally conveying his concerns. 

Pei Shun thought in his mind while considering the probability if he would get this opportunity again. It was a necessary procedure for one in Pei Village to have the qualifications to leave the village and exit the forest. By taking the ceremony a villager would be able to explore the outside world, which one would naturally be curious about since they have all stayed in the village and within the forest their whole lives.

However, as the face of Pei Hua came into mind all those unnecessary thoughts dispersed. Although he was young, Pei Shun knew how important ones personal strength was to be able to survive and a nagging feeling at the back of his mind kept pounding where the image of the skeletal remains of the supposed Pei Villagers lay dormant but unrestrained. He wanted to make sure that Pei Hua had the strength to protect herself even if he wasn't around.

"Chief! I am certain that I Pei Shun will not regret my decision. Please proceed with Hua'er."

The Village Chief sighed and looked at Pei Hua strangely whilst the surrounding Villagers burned her with their envious glares. Such precedent had not existed before in Pei Village as one would always try to undertake the ceremony for themselves. Although the notion seemed chivalrous, who would purposefully be weak in a world where the weak would be devoured. 

"Very well. Everyone prepare and Pei Hua stand upon the altar", the Village Chief guided everyone to place different parts of the beast, separated by its organs, limbs and bones around the altar at the center of the village. The villagers crowded around the ceremony site whilst Pei Hua stood at the center excitedly with the inner core in hand pressing it against the middle of her stomach where ones dantian, which was the core of a human cultivators life force and where one would gather spiritual energy.

The Village Chief placed his hands gently on her back and slowly his aura increased significantly as a suffocating pressure seemed to be emitted by him. The sense of pressure turned tangible as thin waves could be seen circulating around the Chief and Pei Hua. These waves were spiritual energy which would allow a human to cultivate and grow stronger.

As the ceremony was a rare occurrence, the eyes of the villagers grew wide in shock as they witnessed this magical scene. It was one which Pei Shun had only heard of in the legends told within the village. This was because of all the villagers only the Village Chief had the magical ability to cultivate but he was old and was not as active, so not many had seen his prowess. 

In that moment when the pressure was at its peak, the energy flowed inwardly like a whirlpool towards Pei Hua.

And then that's when it happened.