Felix awoke hours later to a chorus of animal sounds that felt both familiar and foreign. 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 the coarse underwear made of some strange fibrous 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 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 this memory issue isn't completely new.
"Attention all disciples," reverberated a voice that seemed both right next to a person's ear and far away. "Please gather at the Medical Pavilion in half a candle's time."
That sounds like... Elder Rong! Yes, I at least remember that. Should I go to the gathering?
He looked around and found a robe with four patterns swirling together to form a complete circle. One-part brown leaves, one-part shimmering snowflakes, one-part rain, and one-part blazing fire. They formed a continuous cycle; brown leaves led 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 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 imply that is rarely the case. Elders are instead often selfish and only want to appear righteous. In fact, hiding that you have memories you shouldn't are those stories' main parable. I better play it cool until I figure out more about the situation.
Fully dressed, Felix peeked his head outside. He saw a few other disciples filtering out of various houses to follow 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 pretend I know what I am doing.
Face set in an expression of great concern, he shifted his stride to that of 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 but paused when the road transformed into steps. He spared a look back the way he came and then back up the pathway.
The mountain was massive. His house, where he had cowered the night before, was on the lower, gentler sloped region. Yet much of the mountain's height was still ahead of him.
What is wrong with this place? Why is there so much distance between everything? I already feel out of breath just walking over here.
Felix maintained an appearance of nonchalance as he started the trek up the stairs. After a few hundred he felt the strain but the other disciples took the steps with ease.
Screw these people. I am barely holding back panting, yet 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. Beautiful, tiled mosaics decorated the area's perfectly smooth floor. A small brick building adorned with multiple spires on its roof nestled at the far end of the clearing. Behind the building was a sheer cliff with the next part of the path cut into it.
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. They were still a mess and some contradictory.
No, that is the earth's memories talking. Pills are an important part of cultivation for... something.
A night of passion and fleeing through the woods flashed in his mind. They huddled in an alcove until they were sure the pursuit had stopped. Then they stuffed the pill into their mouth and their veins were on fire as power pulsed in their body.
The memory cut off.
Ow. Okay, fuel of some kind. Oh, I should have referenced the cultivation stories I read on Earth. Yeah, power source makes sense.
He 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. Two disciples were pushed to a side as a short, 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.
"Hey... man. I am not sure what happened. Have you heard anything?"
At the weird greeting, the bearded disciple gave him a look but barreled on. "I am not sure myself Poe. Or are you still insisting people call you Felix? Peh! Either way, all the rumors I have heard say that the sect was attacked last night. I've heard 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 incredible our elders are, I am sure they will keep things under wraps."
The sound of a clearing throat cut through Felix's next words and the surrounding 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 swept through the crowd to be cut off by another throat clearing from Elder Rong. The elder glared 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 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.”
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Another round of murmurs rose, though this time laced with absolute dread. Even Felix's 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 blinked back to focus to find the elder red faced as he stroked his beard even faster. "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 sect specializes 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 who 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 a 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 cultivators 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 a 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. The elder examined every one of them and usually prescribed they abstain from cultivation. 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 Sect will be able to treat them if they get too bad.
Felix's ruminating was interrupted as Elder Phallow placed his hand on a female disciple who resembled a bodybuilder. The elder frowned and then let a long sigh. The girl 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. You probably need to use an Ever Clear pill," said Elder Phallow. 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 still on the roof. "Elder Feng, 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 seems clear at this point that I'm in 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, that 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 care about its disciples. Though this is possibly 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 few seconds.
"Now disciple. Please tell me what you felt was 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 have made someone with this much worldly experience throw up? The crowd’s eyes slowly slid back to 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 happened 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 noticed 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 gently on Felix's shoulder "We don't abandon our own."
"It is not actually that bad" interrupted Elder Phallow and then raised his voice for the corwd. 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 likely cannot be replicated. 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 not to cultivate for the next week or even attempt 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 appeared 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 weakness. Our 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 shelter us from the endless seasons of time until we are strong. Strong enough to shelter even more sparks from the elements, till 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!"
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 joined in.
"And we don't abandon our own!"