I stood staring out over a valley of barren dirt where nothing grew but rocks and boulders. Behind me, a wagon with a few bags and two people sat waiting for me. I wondered again how things could end up this way. Well, let me tell you how things started.

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I was an outer disciple of one of the top three clans in our province. But that is not saying much as there are only five major clans in our backwater province on the edge of the smallest empire, upon the smaller continent of this vast world.

Anyway, back on track. I am not from this world; I come from a very different place, perhaps many places but enough about that, my previous life is long gone for me, and there is no way back.

I woke in a strange body. Everything hurt. I stared up into a canopy of yellow and red leaves. I thought to myself at that moment, 'damn those friggen doctors pumped me full of drugs again even after I asked them to stop.' A moment later, my view of the trees above was blocked by a strangely familiar face. Odd, I don't think I ever hung out with weirdos that like to dress in ancient Asian garb but whatever.

The young woman narrowed her eyes at me before turning to shout at someone else in an alien language that I nonetheless understood. "The idiot still lives he may be suffering from a concussion. He looks at me as if he doesn't recognize me. Well, that better be the case for his sake." She turned back to me, and I could finally make out her features as my vision seemed to still. Her face could only be described as plain with an upturned nose and a scowl to match. Like you would expect from some old-time noble from way back.

Another voice, this time a more mature sounding male, I attempted to turn my head to see him, but my vision began to swim once again. So instead, I closed my eyes and listened. "You should be more considerate towards our junior martial brother. If he hadn't reacted so quickly, you would have taken that arrow without any defenses in place. This one not only took the attack meant for you but in doing so could not dodge the secondary strike meant to take out the weakest of our group."

As the two voices began to argue about who saved who, I began sifting through the fading memories of who this young man once was. A small boy who lived in the furthest courtyard of the outer sect. He was shy and meek always avoided fights except when the bullies who deemed him too weak and perfect for punching practice cornered him. These beatings he bore without complaint, even bowed to them afterward if he could still walk. Thanking them for their pointers.

His only joy was taking care of the various herb gardens around his small courtyard. He would also take walks in the woods around the sect, talking to numerous plants and trees, singing with birds, and playing with the woodlands animals. But, unfortunately, this young man has no place in a sect. The clans and sects only aim to reach the heavens while crushing their competition beneath their sandals. Unless he could make it to the top fifty of the inner sect disciples and choose a mentor, however, that isn't likely anymore.

Focusing inwards, I located the pool of mist that made up my dantian. I quickly scanned information on where my power lies in the grand scheme of this world and almost cringed. I am barely on the verge of breaking through to the third stage of Lianqi, the first phase of this long road called cultivation. Right now, I'm on the path of forging energy or building up the amount of qi my body can contain. Apparently, instead of backbreaking work in a gym like my old world, you build up your strength with drugs and meditation in this world. A bunch of hippies must have invented this method.

Focusing again on my dantian, I began the exercise taught by this boy's grandfather. I circulated the energy through my meridians and let it disperse throughout my body. After permeating my entire body, I let out a breath before sending a tendril into the earth beneath my body. The boy's Grandfather always said the land gives us everything. So why shouldn't we do the same in return? It's not like it costs us anything to give back. So that's what I did. I let all the qi this boy had built up over the years and gave it back to the world. As soon as the last wisp left my body, I felt something in me connect to the land, and everything felt right. The ground sent a stream of green energy that felt like spring. It enveloped my dantian before spreading outward, healing all the aches upon this body.

As my qi penetrated deep into the ground, the smell of blood in the clearing began to dissipate, leaving an earthy aroma that reminded me of summers on my Grandfather's farm back in Ohio. I should have visited more often after growing up. The sounds from the rest of our group went quiet as they watched new buds blossom on the trampled flowers and grass shoots rise from the patches of torn earth.

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As I slowly got to my feet, memories of all the formalities required to survive in this world flowed into my mind, and a wisp of consciousness brushed my own like the young man was trying to give me a final farewell. So I thought to the fading wisp. Alright, my young friend, I will do the best I can now off you get. It is time for your next adventure. I hope that one goes a bit better for ya.

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The young woman watched in stunned silence as the clearing bloomed before her eyes in a wave out from the young man who pushed her aside as a rival sect had begun their ambush. She nor any of her fellow inner disciples even noticed their presence. If not for this boy's quick reflexes, she may have fallen alongside their enemies—just another of the many casualties in the power struggle between the great clans.

If not for the timely yell from his lips, many of her clansmen would have died as well. She looked again at the young man who only joined their expedition by chance when her fellow disciple, who usually takes care of any spirit plants, fell ill. He had pointed them to this unassuming outer disciple who lived in the furthest courtyard and with no accolades to his name. Well, not entirely true, she had learned while searching for the boy about his job as the outer sect punching bag.

This only made her look down on him further during the trip. She had ignored his presence except to order him to do all the menial tasks. He did them all with no complaints. He never argued, nor had she heard any curses spoken under his breath. She had even looked on with amusement as her fellow inner disciples harassed and tormented him throughout the long trek. He never got angry once he would clasp fist to palm and bow to them all while thanking them for their pointers, then he would excuse himself to meditate on their teachings.

That's precisely what he did. As far as anyone could tell, the boy would find a patch of grass and meditate until it was time to clean up their camp. Another odd detail she had subconsciously noticed but ignored as unimportant was that the grass always seemed lusher wherever this boy meditated. Likewise, any tree he leaned against was more vibrant in its colors.

The young man had gotten to his feet while she watched him. He seems different his eyes are so clear and still like a calm lake on a summer day. Were they always like this? I can't remember. All I can recall is his meek, shy attitude how he always kept his head down. Was he always so tall, or is this only the first time he has stood straight before me? Oh, he met my eyes for the first time. I could dive into those depths and never find a return. I could feel my face heat from his brief gaze as he took in the entire clearing. Strangely, I see none of the lust or infatuation that all men have when they look upon me. I know I am no beauty, but strength has its own beauty none of the disciples have ever looked at me so cooly.

A tug on my sleeve brought me from my wandering thoughts. I looked down to find my junior martial sister and best friend had also been affected by this strange phenomenon. Her face was flushed, and she could not take her eyes from the young man. I could faintly hear her breathing had sped up and felt her heartbeat rapidly through the fingers clutching my sleeve. Then I focused on myself, finding that I too am affected to the same extent. This is unacceptable for a Senior; I must get myself back in control.

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I looked around the clearing noting a few bodies in bright red robes and two in the green robes of our sect. I noted all those still standing, I worried slightly at the redness in a few cheeks, but I suppose it is expected as they fought a hard battle. Only a couple paid me any heed, and only the first I saw bothered to look me in the eye, if only for a moment. I turned back to this one and saluted while giving a slight bow. "Forgive me Senior martial sister for any offense I have put upon you by touching your body. I will accept any punishment you believe essential for this offense."

I kept my eyes down, as is my place as the lowest in the group awaiting her judgment. It came quicker than expected, and my insides turned cold at her callousness. "For this insult, I demand your left arm in compensation as well as any pills upon your person." There was an intake of breath as most in the clearing had not expected such punishment for the crime. However, one man did laugh in such a cruel way that most took a step back.

I held out my left arm in surrender. "If that is your wish senior martial sister this lowly one will accept this punishment." Behind me, I heard rushing feet and the drawing of steel, then the thump of my arm falling to the ground as blood sprayed out in an arc that splashed upon the surprised girl and her young friend. Then the same person tore my belt from my waist, throwing it toward the still stunned girl. He then sheathed his weapon and, laughing, walked back to his original position watching the scene in revelry.

I felt a tendril of warmth rise from the earth beneath me. It flowed upward till it surrounded the stump of my shoulder all that remains of my arm. The bleeding slowed, and I could feel flesh knitting together. Finally, I stood to my full height and looked directly into the girl's watery eyes. "I have payed the price you have asked of me." I looked around impassively at all my martial brothers and sisters. Most avoided my gaze, but the one who acted to remove me from my left arm only laughed all the harder, his cronies surrounding him joining in the mirth.

To no one, in particular, I spoke again. "There is no place on the ladder to the heavens for a cripple I shall take my leave of this race and instead look to the earth for my future." I turned and bowed to my former family and, without looking back, walked from their sight, removing the sect robe with its symbol of the shattering sky, letting it fall to the ground. I heard rising murmurs and one sniffle as I left them.