I am alone. All alone. Alone in the forest. The reason for that . . . it’s because I’m crippled. Born crippled and probably crippled for life. My body is completely the same as everyone else; my arms, legs, and head all the same. All that I can’t do is produce that energy (that I’ve never seen). Everyone claims that they can see or touch it, but not me. Why does this difference have to separate me from my sister? From my family? From everyone else?

When I turned 7, I left. I left THAT place, where I never had one peaceful day. Nevertheless, I should be thankful that they didn’t come chance and kill me. Traitors and them . . . are usually killed. I’m only a disgrace . . . a disgrace to my clan, my family and my parents. If wasn’t born crippled they wouldn’t have feeled so shamed whenever they talk about me. Thankfully, however, my sister was a genius. Since the age of 5, she already reached the Initial Stage. If it wasn’t for my sister, I’m pretty sure my parents would’ve beat me to death already. When I was getting beat by my parents, she would stop them and protect me.

I knew, however, that staying THERE would only stop my sister from realizing her true potential. She could reach the apex, but only if she concentrated on getting there. If I was there . . . I’m sure she would focus on protecting me. Revenge? Who wouldn’t want revenge? Is it possible? Is it possible for a crippled to kill a cultivator. If one actually believed that, they’d be the laughing stock of the town. The joke of the whole kingdom. Naturally, I’d want to repay the debt, but how is it possible? Asking my sister, only distracts her from cultivation even more. She, who could soar past the heavens. I want to them to wipe them off from the face of this world, but alas that’s just a mere dream.

I left that place—where I never had a single piece of happy memory—and secluded myself. Into a place where magical beast live. Usually people would never reside in those types of place, but thankfully I found a place. A place where I could live a life in peace. I don’t know why, but here, in this place, no monsters ever approach. Deep in the forest, I live there now. For how long? I’m not sure either. I never started counting, since there was no point. I was going to live here. Living here until my final breath came.

Everyday consisted of a similar routine: collecting water, weaving baskets, grinding stone into cups and bowls, collecting food. Oh, and cleaning the carving in the cave. When I first came, the cave already was already here. It seems like someone lived here, long before me. Whether they died here or not, I do not know. I clean the carving on the wall everyday, as thanks—for the shelter than they made that I’m using. I can’t read it—it’s probably only something people who cultivate can—but that however, does not stop me from cleaning it.

My life is not fun, nor is it boring. I’ve weaved enough baskets for a small village to use, but grinding cups . . . is taking some time. With only the dagger I obtained from a dead person before I arrived here, I keep carving cups to drink water and bowls to eat food. The dagger, surprisingly, hasn’t chipped or rusted at all. I found that interesting, but didn’t put much thought into it. Who knows how it was created? Maybe an immortal created this?

Everyday, I ponder what would’ve happened if I could cultivate. But dreaming is of no use. It doesn’t my problem, and . . . it never will. Today, I’m dreaming like usual. People would probably pity me, if they saw my dream about something that could never happen. I even pity myself. It’s possible to not be crippled anymore, that however, is not possible for me. It’s only for people who are already on the path of cultivation. That pill—which could restore all my meridians—we longed for by everyone. When was it ever my turn to obtain that pill. It could throw kingdoms into frenzy, and people would sacrifice everything that had to obtain it. Not only does it restore meridians, but it also improves it to be the best, unparalleled in this world. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to obtain one of those. Me, who has nothing. Nothing to offer for a new chance in life.

Dreaming doesn’t put meals on the plate, so I went out to pick berries. Walking along the river, with my self-weaved basket in my hand, I went to go pick river berries. As for its real name, I don’t know. All I know is that they grew in the river, near the edges. There were one of my favorites out of all the berries. The taste that could not be described by words that only belonged to the river berry. Every different type of berry in this area, has indescribable taste that I bet would have kings prostrate themselves in order to eat just a mere bite. This is probably what keeps me happy in my life that consists of me, and only me.

While picking the river berries alongside the river, I noticed rustling sounds. I immediately turned my head to see what it is. From the direction of the sound, I saw someone walking in this direction.

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Suddenly he asked, “Do you live here?”

I nodded my head, afraid of the person. No one has ever found this place during my stay here. That man, who was wearing a pure white robe, approached me. He looked at me with an intimidating pressure. Something that only a cultivator would be able to emit. I gazed at him, trying to see what he wants from me.

He continued to question me, “Have you seen any markings around here? That marking . . . was carved by my ancestor, and I am currently searching for it.”

Was it a lie, or was it the truth? I have no way of telling. The only I do know, is that he wants to see the carving on the walls. What he wants to do with it? I don’t care. Whether he wants to light an incense for his ancestor or search for hidden treasure, I can’t do anything about it. I just want him to leave, so I could continue on with my peaceful life, devoid of anyone else.

I lead him to the cave—the cave with the word carvings, and where I live. The mysterious cultivator examined the carving on the walls.

“Help me . . . help me,” a soft voice said.

Hearing the voice, I turned to look at the cultivator. He was still staring at the wall, pondering over the words carved. If it wasn’t him who could it be? I thought.

“It’s me!” the voice once again spoke.

Is it possible that the voice could read my thoughts?

“I cannot read read your thoughts, however, I will be able to perceive any thoughts thought towards me.”

Who are you and how can I help you?

“Who I am can be explained later! If you want to help me let me possess your body. I can only use my abilities when I have a true body. Hurry up and let me take over, before he figures out the true meaning on the wall!”

With his the unknown voices pestering, I pondered whether I should let him take over my body or not. I assume this “unknown voice” was probably a spirit or something, related to the carving on the wall. Well, since this man created the place where I stayed, I decided to let him take over my body.

I couldn’t tell how he took over my body, but suddenly, I had no more control over my body. Even though I had no control, I was still fully conscious of everything that was happening. The unknown voice, or should I say person now, with my body, suddenly started moving towards the cultivator. The mysterious cultivator, however, didn’t even notice my body approaching him. How weird. In a swift motion, my body stabbed at the man’s back.

Surprised and shocked , the man asked, “What are you doing?”

The person in control of my body responded, “You’re courting death!”

My body instantly pulled the dagger attached his waist and struck it through his heart. Even I was shocked, when I saw this scene. I never imagined that my body could move so fast, just like a cultivator. Suddenly, I had control over my body again. I swung the dagger, that was still in my hand, and tried to imitate what my body did at first. Of course, I didn’t move that fast, and my actions were dull.

“Young girl, those actions cannot be done by without years of training,” the unknown voice spoke once again.

How are you? Also, is it possible for me to do something like this again?

“I am immortal Hecate! Although I may be in this form, I will have to repay my debt. I can pass on my own personal cultivation technique and that skill onto you.”

Some people would be thrilled to have an immortal pass on their own personal techniques, but I was not. At this point, I only felt like Hecate was only mocking me—at my crippled body. This made me sad, but nevertheless it was probably her way of thanking me. I am thankful for this gift, but . . . I have been crippled since birth. I will have to decline your gift.

After I responded, there was a long pause until she spoke again, “Will you hear this senior ramble for a while? This carving is . . . my treasure and my tomb. Currently, I can only reside in my soul form, and can only stay in this cave. You are probably wondering why this place is like a sanctuary, where no beasts and people come. I put this barrier up so that anyone under the immortal realm cannot into this area. This barrier, however, only applies to cultivators, not mortals. Of course, the person who tried to break into my tomb was of the immortal realm. That carving, that you were not able to understand, was my last line of defense, where one would have to go though meditation in order to understand the carving. That is when I used your body to quickly seal off his movements and cultivation, and swiftly kill him before he unsealed himself. I have . . . been watching you everyday. From weaving to cooking, from eating to sleeping, and of course . . . you washing my carving everyday. Although you cleaning my carving, or you could also say grave, my grave for no apparent reason, I am still thankful. As repayment and as a show of my thanks, would you become my disciple?”

Her ramble, shocked me intensely. The cave belonged to an immortal—the apex of cultivation. The reason why people couldn’t get in, the reason why she needed to take over my body, it all shocked me. Especially the fact, that she was observing me everyday. To be the disciple of an immortal? Of course I would want to! Only, even though she knew I had a crippled cultivation, why would she ask me?

“You’re probably thinking why I asked you, even though I know you have you have a crippled physique. I am just asking, whether you are willing or not,” she said.

I kowtowed three times, then I said, “Disciple meets master!”

Right after I greeted master, the cave started shaking. The place where the carving used to be, now was an entrance to someone deeper within.

“Good! Go into my treasury,” master exclaimed.

I followed master’s instructions, and went towards an immortals treasury.