I want to die.

It was certainly not the best thought Ye Tian could have. However, as the sun struck down with all its glory, who could blame Ye Tian for such thoughts. The itch in his throat along with the sand-like texture of his mouth constantly reminded Ye Tian that he was thirsty. Ye Tian slightly moved his body only to freeze and groan in pain from the reminder that his legs were broken. It took Ye Tian a great effort, but he slowly crawled his body to the side of the alleyway by using his hands to drag his body. Each inch left beads of sweat on Ye Tian's face and didn't help with the fact that he was dehydrated.

No one is coming to help me. Why did I even try in the first place?

Ye Tian's mind flashed back to the earlier events that led to his current situation.

***

In this world, cultivation was common knowledge and immortals could be seen flying over the town every once in a while. Ye Tian yearned for that feeling of carefreeness through the sky and the omnipotence it seemed to signify. However, fate wasn't kind and Ye Tian was an orphan beggar whose assets composed of maybe a few bronze coins if Ye Tian dug everything out of his clothes. Even still, Ye Tian aspired to become the thing he knew he couldn't. 

This led to Ye Tian to attempt to rob one of the richest traveling merchants Ye Tian had ever seen. Ye Tian had picked up pickpocketing skills over the years in the slums and had earned him the title of Light Feather Tian. Ye Tian had overheard of the spirit herbs by the conversation between traveling guards.

"Do you even know what we're transporting dude?" 

"Who cares! The pay is good."

"The merchant has one of those legendary spirit herbs! If we could steal one then maybe we can become immortals hehe."

"Don't even try it! One of the guards hired this time is an immortal and he could probably hear us from ten thousand miles away!"

"Yikes... there goes my opportunity."

Immortal? These guys are exaggerating! The so-called 'immortal' is probably some weak qi practitioner since these guards wouldn't be needed if the 'immortal' was so all-powerful. This is my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I need to seize my moment. Hmph, 'immortal'? Can he match me? The Light Feather Tian!?

The plan was set in stone and Ye Tian was going to strike at night. During the night when most of the guards went to bed at a nearby tavern, around four guards were left on night duty to protect the merchant's possessions. Ye Tian then waited for an opportunity. As Ye Tian observed, he noticed that the caravan put most of the possessions in the center while the four guards were positioned around the corners. It was a square with the guards' blind spots being the center of each of the sides. However, this blind spot was only if a person got close to the center as the 180-degree vision of the guards only extended if one was further from the guards.

"I'm going to take a nap," yawned one of the guards.

"You'll get us all in trouble," hissed another guard beside the yawning one.

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"Who cares, we've been out for two months and not a single person has dared to take anything!" snapped the former.

The latter hesitated and didn't say anything while the former got in a comfortable half-sitting half-lying position. In a while snores could be heard, a shadow crept past the sleeping guard through the blind spots of all the other guards. 

Hehe! The moon is only a quarter out today. It seems like the heavens are helping me! You can defend against external thieves, but you can't defend against internal corruption. All I have to do is not make noise and I should be able to search all the items for the herb.

The inside of the tavern was blanketed by pitch-black darkness with the slight glimmer of moonlight through the occasional windows of the rooms. The loud snores of the customers spending the night pervaded through this darkness. However, in the corner of the merchant's room, a silhouette could be seen cross-legged with the moonlight lightly shining on his legs. The eyes of the silhouette snapped open with a faint glimmer of whatever little light that was in the room. The faintly seen mouth in the dark slowly curved upwards to form a sneer.

"A rat."

Hmmm? Where can the herbs be? I don't know when the napping guard will wake up so I have to-

Ye Tian abruptly screamed at the cold, steel grasp around his neck. Instantly, the lights of the tavern turned on with the guards and the merchant tumbling out in their nightwear or what little armor they put on in a moment's notice. The guards on duty turned around to the center of the caravan with their torches to reveal Ye Tian and the man on him.

Crap.

"Senior Lin!" shouted one of the guards on duty.

"Nice night duty that you guys were doing," replied the man with his hands on Ye Tian's neck.

The guard didn't speak. The merchant walked out of the tavern with a crystal that shone with light.

"What's going on?" the merchant questioned.

"Your guards let a rat in," replied senior Lin.

The merchant was infuriated and turned to the guards, "Is this the quality service you guys promised me? I'm deducting your pay!" Next, the merchant looked at Ye Tian and sneered, "Nice try, rat."

As the merchant turned around to head back into the tavern, a guard hesitatingly asked, "What do we do with this kid?"

"Do I need to even say it? Incompetent 'quality guards'. Waste the kid and leave him to die by natural means. Bribing law enforcement after murdering someone is more expensive than beating a person." replied the merchant with annoyance.

The senior Lin then dropped Ye Tian and headed back into the tavern with the merchant. The guards spat on the ground in anger at a decreased paycheck before beating Ye Tian. They mostly smashed Ye Tian's legs, but they also threw a few punches to the upper torso with hesitation as they didn't want to get into more trouble by accidentally killing Ye Tian. With that, Ye Tian was thrown into an alley.

***

The merchant had at least 20 caravans of goods, yet he wasn't even willing to part with a single of his goods. 

At that thought, Ye Tian spat onto the floor, leaving behind blood and saliva. Suddenly, amidst the ruckus of the daily street affairs, a shadow was cast over Ye Tian. Ye Tian looked up to see a long-haired, rugged-face man with stubbles for a beard and mustache. The bulky and tall figure of the man in a silver armor had cast a shadow large enough to the entirety of Ye Tian's body. His rough skin and dark, orange-brown skin reflected long hours in the sun.

"Child, join me or die," echoed the man with a deep voice.

"Who are you?" Ye Tian asked weakly while coughing out blood.

"That does not matter," replied the man. "Join me and serve my master, the city lord of Ashurias, or fade away like the insignificant mortal you are."

Mortal?

"Are you an immortal?" Ye Tian asked weakly.

"Haha," the man laughed. "Child, you have much to learn."

The man paused and hesitatingly replied, "Perhaps, I am, in your definition."

"Please, take me away," Ye Tian weakly begged. His vision was waning, and he was lapsing in and out of consciousness. However, Ye Tian could see and feel that he was carried onto a cart with other children. Ye Tian's lips were pried open and sweet, cold water was let in, and the man applied lotion which felt cool on his legs and bruises on his upper body.

Hahaha!!! My time has come!

Was Ye Tian's last thought before he drifted off into unconsciousness.

There was just one thing no one knew.

Ye Tian was a transmigrator