Shang: Straighten your back!
Shang taps his wooden stick on the back of a boy who is seems to be around the age of ten.
Boy: That’s too hard!
The boy complains.
Shang: Well if you want to learn my skills, you have to master the horse-riding stance first.
Boy: Is this horse-riding stance necessary?
The boy says as he feels the pain from his legs.
Shang: Well, you will find out after you are done with this stance. I have already warned you that the training will be tough, so quit complaining.
When Shang first arrived into this unknown world, he found himself on top of a hill where it is surrounded by forests
While Shang was searching for clues about the world, he saved a medieval lumberjack from being killed from a black bear that is larger than normal bears which Shang had seen.
The lumberjack gave his thanks and invited Shang to live in his wooden cabin.
In the wooden cabin, there were two people who were close to the lumberjack. They were his wife and son.
His wife would look after the house and his son while he goes out to collect wood so that he can exchange them for food from nearby village.
Hearing of Shang’s feat of defeating a giant bear with a palm strike, the boy requests Shang to teach him how to fight.
Shang would not mind teaching the boy a bit of martial arts but only if his parents agreed.
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The parents were unable to make a decision as the giant bear which Shang brought back along with him is enough to feed the family for a month from selling its meat and fur. They would not dare to ask for more favors from Shang.
The boy begged and cried until Shang gave in and told his parents he will teach him for free in exchange for temporary shelter.
The boy jumped when his parents agreed and a small meal is prepared to end the night.
While sitting and watching the boy trying his best to endure the pain, Shang thinks to himself.
Shang’s thoughts: Which universe is this place?
Shang’s thoughts: Dark Souls? Impossible. I remember seeing several skeletons of medieval soldiers and abandoned western equipment in the forest. The people in Dark Souls are mostly undead.
Shang’s thoughts: Witcher? Could be possible. I remember fighting a bear as a boss fight.
Shang’s thoughts: Dragon Age? Another possibility. It wasn’t that hard to fight a bear when I got Non-playable characters (NPC) to tank the damage for me.
Shang’s thoughts: Lord of the Rings? I did not kill a skin-changer, did I ? It did not change back to human form after I killed it, so it’s not one of them.
Shang’s thoughts: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim? The clothing of Cala and his family does not look Nordic to me.
Shang’s thoughts: Could it be another universe I had never played a game about it?
As he worries, a female voice in her early thirties calls out to him.
Female: Shang, how’s my son faring?
Shang looks back and see a woman in green, carrying a basket.
Shang: Oh, Flos, your son is doing fine.
Flos: But he looks like he’s in pain. Is he okay?
Flos looks at her son with concern.
Shang: Pain endurance is also part of the training. If Ale cannot endure such simple pain, I don’t think he can learn my skills.
Flos: I see.
Shang: Time’s up. Ale, you can rest now.
Ale releases his stance upon hearing Shang’s words and falls flat on his back.
Ale: Finally…
Flos rushes over to see Ale, hoping he is alright.
Leaving the exhausted child to the concerned parent, Shang ponders as he looks up at the sky.
Shang’s thoughts: It’s almost noon. Where’s Cala?