Chapter 13: Ink Dragon in the Sky

They say the world is full of mysteries—some we chase after, desperate to uncover their secrets, and others we run from, terrified of their unknown depths. For me, mysteries were an unfortunate constant in my life ever since I ended up in this foreign land. I wasn’t chasing them, and I definitely wasn’t equipped to face them. Yet, they had a peculiar way of finding me.

What is fear but the unknown knocking on the doors of our minds? It’s not the shadow in the corner or the creak of an empty room that frightens us; it’s our own imagination filling the void. Today, the void seemed darker, and my imagination wasn’t helping.

The sun shone brightly as I walked down the village’s bustling market street. Vendors called out to customers, and the air was filled with the smell of fresh produce, sizzling skewers, and chatter. I had come to the meat vendor’s shop, a simple stall with freshly plucked chickens hanging on hooks.

As I approached, the vendor, Mr. Zhang, spotted me and waved enthusiastically.

“Master Li!” he called out, grinning.

I winced slightly at the title. Ever since Mei Yun started addressing me with such exaggerated respect, it seemed to have caught on. “Hello, Mr. Zhang,” I replied, trying to keep my tone casual. “I came to buy some chicken today.”

“Of course, of course!” he said, already reaching for a plump chicken. As he began to butcher it skillfully, I couldn’t help but notice a small group of customers gossiping nearby. They were huddled together, whispering in hushed tones, their faces a mix of fear and curiosity. Curiosity got the better of me.

“What’s going on? What were they talking about?” I asked, leaning in slightly.

Mr. Zhang glanced around and lowered his voice. “You didn’t hear? Word’s been spreading that a few villages nearby have been haunted by ghosts. People are vanishing—just disappearing into thin air.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. Ghosts? Here? I already felt out of place in this land where I couldn’t even cultivate, and now I had to deal with supernatural threats? My knees felt weak, and for a moment, it was as if the ground beneath me had disappeared. but I tried to keep my expression neutral.

Mr. Zhang must have noticed the sudden change in my expression because he chuckled nervously. “Master Li, be careful. You stay in the mountains, don’t you? Strange things happen in places like that.”

I managed a weak smile. “Thanks for the warning, Mr. Zhang. I’ll keep that in mind.”

He handed me the wrapped chicken, and I paid before leaving, still feeling the weight of his words.

As I passed by the fish vendor’s stall, a cheerful voice called out to me.

“Master Li! Wait a moment!”

I turned to see Medam Wei, the fish vendor, waving me over. She was a kind woman in her forties, always wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat that barely contained her thick, coiled hair.

“I’ve got something for you,” she said, pulling out a pot. Inside was a carp unlike any I’d ever seen. Its scales shimmered like polished gemstones, its tail long and flowing like silk, and its fins spread out like majestic wings.

“It’s beautiful,” I said, genuinely impressed. “Where did you find this?”

“This was my son’s idea,” she explained. “He bought it, saying it was special. But we don’t have the time or the place to care for it properly. I thought it might suit you better.”

I stared at the fish, unsure how to respond. “It’s… beautiful. Are you sure?”

“Of course!” she said, pushing the pot toward me. “And you can’t refuse, or I’ll be offended. Just take care of it, alright?”

“Thank you,” I said, accepting the pot carefully. “You’ll have to visit the tavern sometime. A meal on me, alright?”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

She laughed. “I’ll hold you to that, Master Li.”

Carrying the pot with the carp fish, I made my way back to the tavern.

The walk back to the tavern was quiet, though my mind was far from it. The mention of ghosts lingered like a shadow, and the carp in the pot seemed almost otherworldly in its beauty.

When I arrived, Mei Yun greeted me at the door. She was always polite—too polite, if you asked me.

“Master Li,” she said, bowing slightly. “You’re back. What is this you’ve brought?”

“Some meat for the kitchen,” I said, handing her the chicken. “And this,” I added, gesturing to the pot, “is a gift from Medam Wei. A carp , I plan to raise it in the spring pool.”

“Here take it,” I handed out the chicken meat as I entered.

She took it with her usual respect, bowing slightly. “Yes Master Li, I’ll start preparing lunch right away.”

“Wait,” I said, lowering my voice. “Be careful. There’s talk of ghosts haunting nearby villages. Keep an eye out for anything strange.”

Her eyes widened, and she nodded solemnly. “Understood.”

I sighed and stand with the clay pot with the carp fish near the spiritual spring pool in the back of the tavern. The pool, with its crystal-clear water and faint glow. It had a calming aura, and I figured the fish would thrive in its waters.

The pool was small but clear, its water shimmering faintly in the afternoon light. I released the carp into the pool, watching as it swam gracefully, its long tail trailing like a ribbon.

As I watched the fish swim gracefully in the pool, I found myself thinking about the old Chinese legend of carp turning into dragons.

“Legend has it,” I murmured to myself, “that a carp can become a dragon if it overcomes the odds.”

The thought was both comforting and unsettling. Was I like that carp, struggling to transform in a world that wasn’t my own?

I sat down at the nearby table, lost in thought. The idea of ghosts and supernatural phenomena in this foreign land made me uneasy. I had no cultivation, no means to protect myself if something truly dangerous happened. Yet, as always, I tried to maintain a calm facade for the sake of those around me.

Unconsciously, I picked up a brush and a piece of paper that were lying nearby. Writing had always been a way for me to clear my mind, to channel my thoughts into something tangible.

The brush moved almost on its own, flowing across the paper in elegant strokes. Before I realized it, I was creating a piece of calligraphy—bold, sweeping characters that seemed to pulse with life.

Unbeknownst to me, the weather outside began to shift. Clouds gathered, dark and heavy, as if the heavens themselves were watching. A faint breeze stirred, carrying with it a sense of anticipation.

Ink began to seep from the brush, not just onto the paper but into the air. It swirled and coalesced, forming a shape—a long, sinuous form that grew larger and more defined with each passing moment.

It was a dragon.

Its body was sleek and serpentine, made entirely of ink that shimmered like liquid obsidian. Its eyes glowed with an ethereal light, and it stretched wide, each feather-like detail rendered in perfect strokes. As it rose into the sky, it let out a silent roar, a sound that seemed to resonate in the very soul.

Mei Yun had been tending to the kitchen when she felt it—a sudden stillness, as if the world had paused. She stepped outside to see but she froze seeing the scene outside.

Above the mountains , the ink dragon coiled and danced, its movements both graceful and powerful. It was a sight that left her breathless.

She couldn’t move, her body paralyzed by equal parts awe and fear. The villagers, too, had noticed, their voices rising in a mix of astonishment and panic.

“It’s a dragon!” someone shouted.

“A sign from the heavens!”

“No, it’s an omen!”

But as quickly as it had appeared, the dragon began to fade. Its inky form dissolved into the sky, leaving behind a cascade of flowers that drifted gently to the ground. The air was filled with their sweet fragrance, a strange but beautiful aftermath.

“Master Li…” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“What… what is this?” but there's no response it seemed like the other person isn't present in this world .

Mei Yun’s heart was racing as she stared at the now-ordinary piece of paper on the table. To her, everything about her boss was extraordinary. The tavern, the food, the spiritual spring—she had always believed they were treasures from the heavens. And now this.

She approached cautiously, her voice trembling. “Master… what was that?”

I looked up at her, blinking in confusion. “What was what?”

“The dragon,” she said, pointing to the sky.

“Oh, that,” I said, laughing awkwardly. “I didn’t even realize I was doing it. I was just… writing.”

I handed her the paper, on which elegant calligraphy was inscribed. “Why don’t you hang this on the wall? It might add some character to the tavern.”

She nodded, though she couldn’t shake the feeling that the paper held an immense power. To her, I was no ordinary man. I was a powerful expert, perhaps even an immortal, pretending to live a mundane life.

“Of course, Boss,” she said respectfully, I could tell she wanted to ask more, but she didn’t. She simply nodded and left to carry out my request. taking the paper and placing it on the tavern wall.

As she stepped back to admire it, she thought, Even his casual writings are treasures. Just who is he?

As the evening settled in, I sat by the pool, watching the carp swim lazily. Despite the strange events of the day, I felt a sense of peace. Life in this foreign land was unpredictable, but perhaps that was what made it so fascinating.

I smiled to myself, again thinking about the legend of the dragon. Maybe, just maybe, the carp destined to transform. Then wouldn't I get a means of protection, as I am the one nurturing it, well anything is possible in this strange world .

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