Felix awoke hours later to a chorus of animal sounds that felt both familiar and foreign at the same time. The events of the proceeding night rushed back to him, but time and sleep had dulled their impact.

Alright, I can't really be sure of anything yet. I could be in some sick experiment, delusional episode, or... Isekai. Transported to a brand-new world.

He slowly stood up and looked over himself. His body was that of a teenager, perhaps fourteen and he had a healthy skin tone. He found that the coarse underwear was made of some strange fiberous material akin to hemp.

Whatever my reality is, I am somehow in a body that most of my memories don't align with.

Felix tried to isolate the memories that matched this body. After a bit of effort, he was met with mild success.

The name of this body was Poe but for some reason he or I, I am not sure which, was introducing ourselves as Felix. So maybe this memory issue isn't completely new.

"Attention all disciples." Reverberated a voice that seemed to be both right next to a person's ear and far away at the same time. "Please gather at the Medical Pavilion in a half a candles time."

That sounds like... Elder Rong! Yes, I at least remember that. Should I go to the gathering?

He looked around, finding a robe with four patterns swirling together to form a complete circle. One-part brown leaves, one-part shimmering snowflakes, one-part rain, and a one-part blazing fire. The four parts appeared as a continuous cycle of brown leaves leading to ice, ice to rain, rain to fire, and fire back to leaves.

This is an outer disciple robe of… of the Thousand Season Sect!

He quickly donned it with a complicated look on his face.

I only remember a vaguely positive impression of this Elder Rong. Those memories from stories on earth seem to imply that is rarely the case. Elders are instead often selfish and only want to appear righteous. In fact, the most important lesson that seems to always be emphasized is to hide that you have memories you shouldn't. I suppose I better play it cool until I figure out more about the situation.

After getting fully dressed, Felix peeked his head outside. He saw a few other disciples filtering out of various houses and following the path up the mountain. After a moment of hesitation, Felix stepped outside.

I better act like I belong. At this point, my best bet is to simply act like I know what I am doing.

Mentally marshaling his will, he set his face in an expression of great concern and slightly shifted his stride to seem like a person in a great hurry. A few other disciples spared him a glance but continued their way up the mountain. He followed the flow of people for a few minutes until they reached a point in the road where it transformed into steps.

What is wrong with this place,? Why is there so much distance between everything? I already feel out of breath just walking over here.

Forcefully Felix maintained an appearance of nonchalance as he started the trek up the stairs. After a few hundred he began to feel the strain but saw that all the other disciples were taking the steps with ease.

Screw these people. I am barely holding back panting, and these assholes are blasé as hell.

He crested the last few steps and spilled out onto a small plateau with the rest of the disciples. The plateau seemed to be cut into the mountain and a beautiful mosaic of tiles decorated the perfectly smooth floor. A small brick building adorned with multiple spires one its roof was set back near another flight of stairs.

This must be the Medical Pavilion. I remember coming here… for pills. Why was I coming here for drugs? Was I high? Oh god am I an addict. Is this a cult!

He filtered through his memories as he caught his breath and then looked around to see at least 400 other disciples standing in various groups. There were hushed whispers and nervous looks passed around. Something had unnerved the crowd and Felix’s sense of unease grew.

"POE" cut a voice through the air. A couple of disciples were pushed to a side as a short and heavily bearded disciple shot between them. "Poe you finally made it. Do you know what this is all about?"

Frantically he searched his memory for the kid’s name but he couldn't find it. The figure was familiar though. He decided to just gloss over the issue.

"Hey... man. I am not sure what happened. Have you heard anything?"

At the weird greeting the bearded disciple gave him a look but to barrel on. "I am not sure myself Poe. Or are you still insisting people call you Felix? Meh. Either way, all the rumors I have heard say that the sect was attacked last night. Apparently, disciples were found dead or in comatose states. Though no one seems to know what happened."

Felix felt sweat trickle down his spine. He did not want to be in an active combat area, especially when he still didn't know what was going on. "Have the elders said anything yet?"

"Not that I have heard of. Though I am sure we will get an edited version in a little bit. “The bearded disciple scanned the crowd for someone. "Even with how awesome our elders are, I am sure they will keep things under wraps."

Felix was cut off from saying anything else when the sound of a clearing throat that cut through the din of hundreds of low murmurs. He looked toward the source of the sound and saw a group of five men standing on top of the medicine building. Four of the figures registered as elders somewhere in his psyche. However, the other man was some senior he was sure he had never seen before.

Well, at least I think I have never seen that man.

Another cough swept through the crowd from the middlemost figure of the five. He stood on the tallest spike, balancing with one foot with apparent ease. After a moment, a memory of the man flashed through Felix's mind.

Ah, that’s Elder Rong.

"As I am sure many of you have heard, I am here to tell you that the sect was attacked last night," said Elder Rong in a crisp tone. A wave of hushed voices sweeps through the crowd to be cut off by another throat clearing from elder Rong. The elder stared angrily at the crowd for a moment, stroking his impressively long beard in short angry motions. After another moment he continued "We Elders believe it was the result of a hidden devil cultivator. Let it be known that this foul expert was driven out by another expert. So, the immediate danger has passed. However, it has come to our attention that a soul type based martial art was used by this infiltrator. Five inner sect disciples were found dead last night. We also have reason to believe that there are more wounded disciples whose injuries weren’t so… obvious.”

Another round of murmurs rose, though this time laced with absolute dread. Even Felix addled memory dredged up why this was so horrible. The cultivator world was full of myriad methods and techniques. While there was certainly hatred between schools of thought and methods, only the most terrible of devil cultivators would utilize methods intended to directly affect a person's soul. Even supreme experts were said to be extremely careful when messing with the soul. Not only could it offend the heavens and make tribulation events between realms more difficult, but it was one of the less predictable parts of cultivation. Only a true master of the soul could perform such arts without major personal risk.

"mmmrrrh" sounded out from Elder Rong’s throat. Felix broke out of his thoughts to see the elder furiously stroking his beard and getting red in his face at another interruption. "Well, now that I have your attention again, I wanted to inform all of you that the sect has invited an information specialist to help figure out who is injured. Has anyone else experienced headaches or other problems since last night?"

The disciples looked at one another. Felix found himself unsure of what to do. Elder Rong’s description eerily matches what happened to me. Not only did I experience head pain, but it first started last night as far as I know. This is likely connected to my memory situation. However, how can I trust my condition being known? Not only does it reveal a weakness to these other disciples, but I am not sure I can even trust these elders.

"Please come forward if you even feel a little something is off," said Elder Rong again. He nodded towards the man of unknown affiliation standing with the elders. The man was a lanky fellow with a thin face and a goatee. "Guest Elder Phallow here has been invited from our neighbor Sect, Clear Sky, to examine any disciple that has been afflicted. Their sects specialize in observation techniques utilizing spiritual sense, making him perfect for at least discovering if there is an issue. I can also personally vouch for his character."

The crowd of disciples looked at one another until one girl that seemed to only be 12 raised her hand. She looked nervous being in front of so many people but after a gesture of encouragement from Elder Rong and nod from the visiting Elder Phallow, she spoke up. "I am Outer Disciple Violet and I have been having headaches since this morning. I thought I was sick, but I forgot how rare it is for us cultivator to be sick.”

"Good, good. Then come up here," said Elder Phallow with a smile.

Disciple Violet walked toward the building and then Elder Phallow jumped down. He placed his hand on her forehead and closed his eyes. After a few moments, he patted her on the shoulder. "You seemed to have suffered a little soul strain young one. I advise you to avoid cultivating for more than an hour each day for three days. If you still feel the headache after that, come and see me. I will be staying in the building next to Elder Rong." After that, Elder Phallow jumped back up on top of the medicine Pavilion. "Now has anyone else experienced anything weird since this morning. Don't be shy."

With the example of the Elder's competence, it was like a dam broke. A surprising number of disciples walked up to the medicine building to be checked. The elder examined every one of them, usually prescribing some form of abstaining from cultivation for a short period. Only two had nothing wrong with them. Should I go up? Felix though. A soul injury is no laughing matter if my memories are right. If these types of injuries aren’t treated soon, they will likely get worse. I don’t think that the Thousand Season Sec will be able to treat them if they get too bad.

Felix ruminating was interrupted as Elder Phallow placed his hand on a female disciple that resembled a bodybuilder. The elder frowned and then let a long sigh. The disciple on the other hand clearly seemed to have a hard time following what was going on.

Stepping down from his perch atop the Pavilion, Elder Rong looked Elder Phallow in the eyes. "How bad is it?"

"Bad" Elder Phallow simply said. "You probably need to use an Ever Clear pill". Two of the other three elders on the pavilion gasped. "Even then she may not recover."

Elder Rong looked at the disciple and then sighed. "The Thousand Season Sect looks after their own. Though you will have to work off this debt disciple." The poor girl just looked at the elder in vacant confusion. She obviously couldn't follow what was going on. Elder Rong simply shook his head. He turned to an elder on still on the roof. "Elder Fern, please take her to the long-term infirmary. Contact the finance department as well, we will need to begin coordinating the treatment of all these disciples."

Felix felt deeply disturbed.

It seemed clear at this point that this is an Isekai situation or a simulation, I suppose you can almost never dismiss that possibility. If it is an Isekai situation, should I really go up there and risk revealing myself? Though I can still think, maybe my soul problems are worse than the girls. I can’t leave this issue unaddressed if my fricking soul is at stake. On the other hand, this sect also seems to actually care about its disciples. Though this is possible only a farce since according to the stories I remember from Earth. Well, I suppose I will have to run the risk. I can't really ignore something that could hurt my soul.

Steeling himself, he walked up to join the line. The bearded disciple whom Felix had figured by now was a friend gave him a look of surprise and concern. After about 5 minutes he found himself standing in front of the Elder Phallow. He stood there awkwardly for a moment there awkwardly for a few seconds.

"Now disciple. Please tell me what you felt is wrong." said the elder patiently.

"Well… This one is disciple Poe. Also known to many as Felix." Said Felix nervously. The elder raised his eyebrows at the seemingly unrelated nickname but waited for Felix to continue. "I have had a splitting headache since this morning and have been feeling nausea throughout my whole body. Also, I… I have been having trouble with my memories. I know who I am but sometimes information I know can't be recalled easily."

Elder Phallow's face drew into a deep frown. "That is most disconcerting that you have had some memory issues but don't worry."

Without another word the elder reached out and gently placed a hand on Felix's forehead. Felix felt nothing but the elder stood there in quiet concentration for a moment. Then the elder face warped into a grimace of revulsion and he spun to the side. To the horror of the crowd and the surrounding elders, the distinguished elder Phallow threw up all over the tiled floor. The other elders were slacked jawed. This was a peak Core level cultivator. Someone who had lived for over a hundred years. What could possibly have made someone with this much worldly experience throw up? The crowd’s eyes slowly slide back to the Felix who was shuffling nervously.

After taking a moment to regain his self-control, Elder Phallow shook himself. He gritted his teeth and laid his hand on Felix's forehead once again. After a moment, a look of disgust and anger flashed across the Elder's face.

Elder Rong came back down by their side and spoke, "How bad is it Elder Phallow?"

"To be honest Brother Rong, I have never seen such a large soul injury," said Phallow. "Felix shouldn't have survived what happen to him." A small gasp went through the surrounding disciples. The many looks of pity and empathy left Felix unsure of how to respond. "It looks like he experienced soul damage all over his soul. Nearly nothing was spared. Luckily, he seems to have pulled through and is even recovering at an amazing pace. Perhaps he only survived due to the damage being spread so evenly instead of concentrated at one point? Also, have you notice that his cultivation is scattered?"

Elder Rong quickly used his own spiritual sense to scan Felix. He found that Phallow was right. The current Felix was barely stronger than a mortal. Felix felt despair wash over him. No matter who he really was, he remembers enough to know being a mortal meant your agency over your own destiny was nonexistent. Only a few of the greatest thinkers had a chance of gaining some of that agency back.

"Excuse me elder but is there no hope?" asked Felix. Trying to mask his despair.

"Don't worry young one." said elder Rong. Laying a hand gentle on Felix's shoulder "We don't abandon our own."

"It is not actually that bad" interrupted elder Phallow. The elder than raised his voice to make sure the crowd heard "While you may have lost you Qi, your cultivation foundation so far seems to still be intact. Once you start cultivating again you should rapidly rise back up to your former position. In fact, this situation may be a boon as your soul may end up even stronger than before. This will make it even easier to cultivate once you regain your position." A few voices of jealousy could be heard in the crowd. "However, this is a blessing of the heavens that cannot be replicate likely. Normally a person would die from their soul dissipating after such damage." The voices died back down at hearing that horrible fate. Only a fool would be jealous of risking soul dispersal.

"Still, I want you to not cultivate for the next week or even try to manipulate Qi " Said Elder Rong. "You can stay in the guest house of my manor. The higher ambient Qi levels should passively speed the healing of your soul. Elder Phallow can also check on your recovery progress." Elder Rong then blurred and appear back up on top of the pavilion. Stroking his beard slowly and deliberately, he scanned the crowd. "This tragedy occurred because of bad fortune but also because of weakness." The elder let his gaze slowly move past the crowd so that he seemed to be staring at something in the distance. "The path of cultivation is a path of hardship and often tragedy. The pursuit of the Dao begins like a spark before it becomes a blazing fire, easily snuffed out by the wind and the rain. So, let the Sect shelters us from the endless seasons of time until we are strong. Strong enough to shelter even more sparks from the elements and we become a fire even the heavens cannot put out.” Elder Rong's gaze came down, seemingly trying to meet the eyes of every disciple at once. "For we are the Thousand Season Sect!" He yells, his right fist met his left palm in a show of respect followed by the sound of hundreds of disciples doing the same.

Then in unison, every elder and disciple there says, "and we don't abandon our own!"