NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Awakening
Li's eyelids fluttered as he stirred. His body felt heavy, as though weighed down by invisible chains, and his mind was a hazy fog of scattered memories. The first thing that came to his senses was the faint, soothing scent of herbs and incense filling the room. He blinked several times, his vision clearing to reveal a modest space lite by the soft glow of lamps. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with jars, scrolls, and vials of unfamiliar substances.
A soft cough drew his attention to the figure seated nearby. He saw an elderly man, with long beard streaked with white and his expression both stern and kind, looking at him with kindly twinkling eyes.
"You're awake. Call me Elder Han' he said, his voice calm and measured. He rose from his seat, moving to Li's side with a practiced grace. "How do you feel?"
Li blinked, his lips dry as he tried to form words. "Tired… and hungry," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Elder Han chuckled lightly. "That's to be expected. Your body has endured much. Here, drink this."
He handed Li a small porcelain cup filled with a warm, fragrant liquid. Li hesitated, eyeing the elder cautiously before taking a tentative sip. The bitterness of the concoction was offset by a faint sweetness that lingered on his tongue. Almost instantly, he felt warmth spread through his limbs, easing the tension in his muscles.
'What is your name? Elder Han asked
'Li' he replied
"Good. Now Li, eat this," Elder Han said, setting a bowl of steaming porridge on a low table beside the boy.
Li's stomach growled at the sight of the food, and he eagerly took the bowl, savouring the first spoonful. The warmth of the meal spread through his body, banishing the lingering cold that seemed to have taken root in his bones.
As Li ate, Elder Han observed him silently, his expression thoughtful. Once the bowl was empty, the elder produced a small, glowing, gel like pill cradled in his palm. A sweet aromatic smell filled the room.
"This," Elder Han explained, holding it up for Li to see, "is a seven-tier healing pill. It is a rare and powerful medicine that will mend all your injuries, both internal and external."
Li's eyes widened as he stared at the pill. "Why are you giving this to me? Isn't it… valuable?"
Elder Han smiled. "Value is a matter of perspective, child. Your recovery is worth more than a pill. Moreover, the sect leader has instructed it. Now, take it."
Li hesitated for only a moment before accepting the pill. As he placed it in his mouth, it melted in his mouth and a rush of warmth spread through his body, soothing aches he hadn't realized he still felt. His breathing steadied, and he felt a strange clarity wash over him.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," he screamed as heat spread through his body.
The elder nodded, satisfied. "Good. With this, your body should regain its full strength. Rest now. Your body needs time to recover fully. We'll speak more in the morning."
Li nodded, his eyelids growing heavy. As Elder Han dimmed the lanterns and left the room, the boy sank into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, Li awoke feeling markedly stronger. The aches in his body were gone, replaced by a sense of lightness and vitality he hadn't felt before.
Elder Han entered shortly after, carrying a tray with another bowl of porridge and a cup of herbal tea. "Good morning, Li," he said, setting the tray on the table. "Eat. You'll need your strength."
Li nodded and ate gratefully, savouring the meal filled with plenty of delicious tasting meat which he ate with relish. When he finished, Elder Han sat down opposite him, his expression serious.
"Now that you've rested and regained some strength," the elder began, "it's time for serious talk. My sect disciples found you in the forest, how did you come to be in the forest?. Can you tell me what happened?"
Li's gaze dropped to his hands, which rested on the simple blanket covering him. His fingers trembled slightly as fragments of memory began to surface—images of the forest, the distant cries of beasts, and an overwhelming sense of fear.
"I… I don't remember much," he began, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "I was running. There was something—someone chasing me. I couldn't stop. I kept going until…" He faltered, his brow furrowing in concentration. "Until I couldn't anymore. Then everything went dark."
Elder Han stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Someone was chasing you, you say? Did you see their face? Or sense their intentions?"
Li shook his head. "It's all a blur. I just remember being scared. Like… like I couldn't escape, no matter how fast I ran."
The elder's gaze softened, and he placed a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder. "You're safe now. No harm will come to you while you're under this roof."
Li looked up at him, his eyes wide with a mixture of relief and confusion. "Why did you help me?"
Elder Han's lips curved into a faint smile. "Compassion, child, is one of the virtues we uphold here at the Xiang Sect. And you… well, there's something about you that is… intriguing."
Li tilted his head, his confusion deepening. "Intriguing?"
The elder straightened, his expression turning serious. "Your energy is unlike anything I've encountered before. It's faint, almost dormant, but resilient. There's a strength in you that belies your fragile appearance."
Li frowned, not entirely understanding the elder's words but sensing the weight of them nonetheless. "What does that mean?"
"It means you have potential," Elder Han said simply. "But that potential must be nurtured carefully. Tell me, Li, do you have family? A home to return to?"
At the mention of family, a pang of sorrow crossed Li's face. He hesitated before answering, his voice barely above a whisper. "No. I… I don't have anyone."
The elder's expression softened, and he nodded slowly. "Then perhaps the heavens have brought you to the right place. Rest again tonight. Tomorrow, we will begin to test the depths of your potential."
Li nodded, a spark of determination lighting in his chest. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he felt a sense of belonging, however fragile it might be.
As Elder Han rose to leave, he paused at the door, casting a final glance at the boy. "But first, would you like to stay here? Would you like to be a cultivator? Because if you do, the path ahead will be challenging, but know this: here in the Xiang Sect, you are not alone and we take care of our disciples."
Li thought about the question for some seconds. Where would he go if he did not want to stay in the sect? he asked himself. 'Yes, yes Elder, I want to stay here' he replied quietly
'Good' With those words, Elder Han departed, leaving Li alone in the quiet room. The boy sat in silence, his thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty and hope.
Little did he know, his arrival at the Xiang Sect was only the first step in a journey that would challenge everything he thought he knew about himself and the world around him.