‘Is this what death feels like?’ I could only see the vast expanse of an endless void.

This is terribly weird. I thought the reincarnation process would be livelier as I constantly feel something shoving on my whole body.

‘Wait… I could feel?’ I tried to open my eyes, but it seemed there was something obstructing my vision as I couldn’t peer through my eyelids.

I tried to remove it, and my hand moved to push away the dirt in my eyes. The vast sky with its countless stars accompanied the moon on its nightly affair greeted me. It was similar but felt different from what I was used to.

I slowly tried to sit up, using my hands for support. I looked around and I was in a ditch that perfectly fitted my body. My lower body was full of dirt, and it was quite hard to move my legs.

“He’s… he’s… Ahhhhh!” There was a person that screamed and ran away in fear.

I don’t recognize that man. The clothes he wore were also very foreign. He was not wearing a robe or training gear. But he seemed like a mortal peasant, based on his shabby clothing.

I took a deep breath and stood at my best capability. My legs were shivering, but I was smiling. ‘How I wished for this day!’

I tried to make a step forward clumsily, and the next, and the next. Tears flowed from my eyes.

‘So this is how to walk.’ I gazed up to the sky and used my arms to reach the moon that lit brightly.

‘I’m a little bit closer now, mother.’ I joked to myself as the ever-shining moon reminded me of her.

My knees suddenly dropped, and a loud rumble came from my stomach realizing how hungry I was.

‘So... this is hunger.’ I never had this sensation before. Once a person reaches immortality, one does need to eat, but needs Qi to supplement energy.

I looked at my hands and they were skinny, just bones and skin. They trembled uncontrollably as if they were revolting at the lack of nutrition. My consciousness started to waver again as my vision started to haze.

‘Is this just a reward before my eventual death? What a cruel joke...’ My face dropped to the ground as my vision blurred, but I tried my best to keep it up.

‘At least I’ll try to hold on as much as possible.’ I tried to maintain a regular breathing pattern to calm myself and stay awake.

After what seemed like an eternity of fighting my own eyelids from closing, I could hear footsteps. I tried to look up, but my body wouldn’t listen to me.

“This is him Village Chief!” I heard the man’s voice; it was similar to the scared man earlier.

The footsteps were getting clearer as they probably were closing in on me.

I felt something roughly poking on my shoulder.

“He seems unresponsive, an undead would immediately attack even with a slight provocation.” This voice was rough, like an aged man.

The footsteps became clearer as each step they took plunged around the soft ground. They were circling around me.

I felt something that was wedged between my body and the ground, then it was used to roll me over. I could clearly see the sky again as I gasped for breath at the sudden turn.

“He is not turned yet, bring him back.” The old voice commanded. I tried to see who it was, but my head stayed still.

“But Chief!” The other man tried to argue.

“Let’s talk about this at my house.” The superior seemed to dismiss his plea.

I could feel a hand that supported my head as they pushed me to sit up. There was a man in front of me who was wearing some leather-like equipment and a matching leather helmet. He was crouching with his hands waiting at his back.

A person carried me from my armpits and placed me on the man’s back. They wrapped my arms around the man’s neck, and I felt his hands secure my legs as he stood up.

“Let’s go.” The olden voice said.

As my carrier turned and followed the group. I could see seven individuals. The man whom I saw earlier who keeps on glancing at me with fear, and the old man who seems to be the chief was wearing similar worn-out clothes as the scared man. While the other five, including the one carrying me, were armored in leather from head to toe. Three of them were armed with a shield and spear, while the other had a sword on his waist while raising a torch, leading the way.

‘These are armed guards.’ I mused as I inspected the quality of their equipment. It was very unrefined and could not even compare to the rags they used in the palace.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

They brought me out of the forest which was a good 5-minute walk. We arrived in front of a wooden gate which was manned by four guards, two on each side. There were also guards looking at the ramparts of this wooden gate.

“Is everything alright village chief?” A guard asked.

“We’ll see.” The old man was probably curious about me, as he didn’t let me die.

I was also curious about this ‘undead’ they were talking about. ‘Were they similar to the Jiangshi back home?’

The guards let the group pass easily, and it seems the old chief was the highest power in this area.

I observed the surroundings as I was carried through, and I could see wooden houses and straw houses that were meant for peasants in the mortal realm. There were no onlookers at this time as it seemed it was the middle of the night.

We stopped by a slightly larger wooden house that is likely to be the chief’s lodging; there were two women waiting that stood in front of the door.

One was an aged woman carrying a lamp. Her black hair is almost getting overrun by gray.

While the other was a young woman with brown hair, she had sharp eyes and a pointed nose. Her oval-shaped face made her look like a doll. She was wearing a white shirt and brown pants with a sword on her hip. She looks ready to fight.

“Open the door, let’s continue inside.” The old man stated as the two women did what he told them and went into the house.

The guards stood on the side of the door while I was let in with the one who was carrying me.

‘Protocol is similar.’ I thought as I wondered where the scared man went.

The inside was more spacious than it seemed. At the center was a low circular table that had cushions surrounding it.

‘This should be their meeting room.’ I surveyed the area, and there was barely anything.

They led me to a door, and inside was a room with a wooden bed, a bedside table, and a window. Only that. The old woman went and placed the lamp on the table, then dusted the bed as she put a cushion on the headspace. They slowly laid me down gently.

“Thank you.” I at least gave out proper respect for what they did to me.

The old woman just smiled and turned away.

“I’ll get water, and some food.” She told the other people in the room.

“I’ll go with you... need to check the papers as well.” The chief went away with her.

The guard was silent and immediately departed after his duty.

I was left with the woman who seemed to be glaring at me.

“Your name?” She asked me with her eyes furrowed.

“I am …” I thought about my answer, but it seems I am in a different place, so I decided to not reveal my real name.

“I am… I don’t know.” I feigned memory loss.

“WHO ARE YOU!?” She got angry as she drew her blade and pointed at my neck.

I could see the sword, it was worn and not properly maintained. It must have been used as a practice sword as the edges of the blade are dull and full of rough dents. The sword was slightly shivering as well. I glanced at her, and she was nervous. It seems she tries her best to veil her nerves with her anger. She has never killed anybody, yet.

“Tell me… who am I?” I returned the question as she might have an idea.

“CELIA!” The old man went into the room and shouted.

‘Celia, what a weird name. Completely different back home.’ I thought.

“Dad, this guy is a scavenging thief!” She was furious.

‘Me? A thief?’ I was saddened by this accusation. But maybe… it was done by the person who previously owned this body. I made a conjecture that I could have replaced the consciousness of the original person of this vessel.

“And he was beaten to death by the villagers… but for some reason, he is still alive.” The old man reasoned.

‘Me, the son of the Heavenly Venerable Emperor, beaten to death by mortal peasants?’ I was amused as I wondered how father would react if he knew this.

The young woman called Celia seemed to ignore her father as the blade was still pointed at my neck.

“Let’s check.” The old chief said as he had stacks of papers with him with another lamp.

Both were looking at a paper and then at me, this was repeated until the last page of quite a stack of papers was verified.

“Not a criminal.” The young lady retracted her blade and sheathed it as it was confirmed.

“So boy, what’s your name?” The old man finally asked me.

“I have no recollection of name, place, or anything.” I didn’t actually lie, if I was talking about the previous owner of this body.

“I see.” The old man was calm and patient. I guess experience in this place hardened the old chief.

“Move, and help him up.” The presumable wife of the chief was behind their backs by the door holding a tray containing a wooden cup and a wooden bowl.

Celia went over to the bed and slowly helped me to sit with my back against the wall.

“This is only what we can offer, eat slowly.” The old wife put the cup and bowl on the bedside table.

“Thank you.” I said. They were willing to feed a stranger, such good people.

“You’re welcome. Now eat.” She stood and faced her husband.

“Let’s go to bed, we need to be early tomorrow.” She said as she walked out of the room with the tray.

“Take care of him a bit Celia.” The chief asked his daughter as he followed his wife out of the room.

I looked at the food and it was a white lump of something. I didn’t know what this was.

I slowly reached for the wooden bowl. I couldn’t lift it, and I shifted my eyes to Celia embarrassingly.

She glared but still went to the table and took the bowl and handed it to me.

I slowly held the bowl, but as soon as she let go, it dropped. Her hand immediately reached out to it again so it wouldn’t spill its contents.

“How long were you starving?” She was irritated.

She ushered me to move a bit so she could sit on the bed. She took the bowl and spooned a half full of the white mush.

“Don’t let anybody know!” This must be her first time feeding another person.

I nodded. ‘Well, my mother usually fed me pills and such so I’m quite used to this.’ I opened my mouth and was fed.

My mouth watered as the food touched my taste buds. It has a distinct taste but lacking in some way. But at least, I could taste something now. I happily ate as she spoon-fed me some more.

“First time I saw somebody happily eat this pile of tasteless gruel.” She said spitefully.

“Gruel?” I asked, wondering if this was the name of the food.

“Yeah, a villager tends a small barley field, we get a small portion of his yield every harvest.” She explained.

“Gruel… barley...” I wondered at these foreign words... I stopped chewing suddenly.

‘Why could I understand them? What language?’ I mulled over the thought that the communication seemed too natural.

“Hey… eat.” She coldly stared at me. Then she took the water.

“Don’t tell me you even forgot the word water?” She asked annoyingly.

I quickly chewed and swallowed the food as she slowly put the cup of water near my lips to slowly drink. It was refreshing, to say the least.

I ate the food they graciously gave me, and slowly I felt quite the energy coming back. I stretched my fingers and opened and closed them. It was such a good feeling.

“Get to bed, I’ll ask you questions tomorrow.” She took the lamp and the used utensils, then left the room in the dark as she closed the door.

I was alone in the room, but I was at peace.

‘Father… Mother... I can move!’ I peered through the window as tears flowed.

I can finally enjoy life.