Upon breaching the high skyline of dark green trees, I began to see smoke rising into the air a fair distance away. At first, I wasn’t all to bother about this. During certain times of the month, rich people from the nearby towns would send their runts over to partake in becoming a man ceremony.

Allowing them to hunt fierce beasts in the outer layer of the beast’s lands as a form of training. It is common to see large clouds of white smoke tainting the bright blue sky. However, it was uncommon to see black smoke.

There were only a few things that could necessarily burn and produce black fingers that jutted into the heavens. Houses being one of them.

If more..

More fingers uncurl, rising into the sky like a bat signal.

I paused in my step, turning around to camp at the forest edge.

I had plenty of meat and for someone to set fire to a village that was so near the beast's lands, it was clear. They were doing this either in the form of anger or bandits who lost too many members while trying to subdue the villagers.

Either way, with my father there. There should have been not a single sign of dark smoke. I was a peak Core formation expert and I still could not beat that man in a fight. How could body tempering and early stage core formation stand a chance. Not to mention any late core formation leader?

It is obvious to me that this is a premeditated event and someone purposely wiping out this village. From my point now, it would take me less than two days to arrive. I’ll wait two days and head out on the third day. Which would take me a week in total to get back. Enough time for any watchers to realize survivors were dead and nobody was coming back to cause them trouble.

Before dusk of the fifth day, I arrived at the husk of my former home. Bodies lied in the street leading to one particular building. The one that I was born in, the one I lived in, the one that all my stuff was in. The bodies didn’t show signs of decay but all the wounds were from a sword.

You could see fine slashes on their joints or single point the width of two fingers in their throat. Or an arrow in their eyes, it was clean concise killing. Something his father often told him to do against weaker prey.

Heeding the advice of the old man, I began searching the bodies. Picking out a purse with silver and a few gold rounds, a large satchel that had spirit stones, pills, and books bound by leather and twine.

After collecting it all together, I realized I amassed a small fortune.

Sadly, the closer I got to my home, the more I felt this undeniable tug on my heartstrings. It was like someone was playing a melody and my heart was their instrument.

In the front yard of my house laid the most concentrated bodies, with deeper and more saturated wounds. On the front steps, laid the body of my father. His clothes ruined beyond recognition. His face was almost unrecognizable.

Maybe if it wasn’t for the familiar ring on his finger and the feather earring in his ear, I might not even have placed him as my father.

I crotch down before him and lift his sword, which was dented and knick beyond belief. The tip was missing and the body looked as if it would return to its mother's embrace.

I sigh, closing my eyes and offering a prayer to the underworld.

Gently moving his body, I walked into the husk of my former home. After searching around, I found the body of my mother and sister. A burnt husk but it was cleared after more thorough searches that they died to slashing of the throat.

Closing my eyes yet again, I released a few tears for them. Rising up to walk outside to the backyard where I dug hole.

I cut down trees, created coffins, and placed their bodies inside.

I went out and found three good size stone boulders. I carried them back, shaped them with fire, and left them as a memory of my parents who provided me warmth. My sister who provided me with love and protection. Laughter and childish hatred.

After I finished my mourning ceremony, three days later. I began searching the village carefully.

Most people who come to an outer boundary like this had a past that they didn’t want others to know about. So I half-expected someone to be hiding in the basement or something.

And I am half-right, there is a tunnel under the Village chief’s house. It led to an underground cavern that had a decent stock of food and leather. Lying on bed were two young siblings.

Yan Chan and Chen Ping, both older than me but naiver than me. Or more could say that I grew up upon regaining my memories. They didn’t have such an advantage.

However, upon seeing me they came waddling over with tear stain faces and expression of hope.

Yan Chan was just a Ninth stage Body tempering kid. His sister was even worse off. To the villagers, they were hailed as Prince and Princess. To my parents, they were kids that were overly spoiled.

So I bear that in mind when they begin questioning me.

“Is anybody still alive up there?” “What about my mother? Is she still alive?” “What took you guys so long to come and find us?” “ Did we get reinforcements from the nearby town?”

And so on..

They didn’t stop until their voice became hoarse and near tears were streaming down their cheeks. Chen Ping even went so far as to grab my sleeve and shirt while her brother tried to grab my collar.

Instead of answering their questions or staying to be shaken by them. I turned around and left them. Leaving them to ponder whether or not their parents were alive. To be honest, I didn’t like the duo all that much.

I barely made it far when I picked up their heated conversation and footsteps. I made it up to the ground level and sighed as the clouds were darkened. I would have to stay another night in the village. I might as well go light incense for my parents and cook the leftover meat.

By the time I had settled down, cooking in the now cleared front yard while staring at the beautiful multi colored night sky. The duo stumbled over with a wagon and a horse. No idea, where they got it from but from the jingle of some of the chest.

I could guess what was inside them. I am only half curious where they managed to scourge up so much wealth and then horses as well.

I checked thoroughly. I know I did.

“We are going to town. Are you coming?” Yan Chan demanded more than asked.

His sister looked cleaner than when I found her but I could see she was on the verge of breaking down.

Though, I would not be going anywhere with these dumbasses. I had even bet that Yan Chan would end up dead and his possession the belongings of some other group. More than that, Chen Ping would end up as someone playtoy.

If this was earth, you could bet that some gang would have already marked them the moment they left the confines of the village with such a load. It’s like someone having a fat wallet and bringing it out full of cash in the grocery store instead of picking out a specific amount and going in with a specific list.

Only two people show off they were loaded, imbeciles and rich folks with security guards.

“You can go on.” I dismiss them with a single look, stabbing a chunk of meat off the skillet.

Yan Chan looked as if he wanted to say something else but could tell I disdain him. His pride wouldn’t allow him to brag and they were obviously scared to stay in the village any longer.

They moved on with haste. The creak and groaning of the wagon spoke of its age and.. It was none of my business. I best let them do what they please.