Chapter 1

Chao Yee was having fun, he had just left the Mad Dog Maloney concert with 3 of his friends, it had been an after grad treat that the 4 boys had indulged in.  As they were driving down the highway the boy driving the car noticed that one of the oncoming vehicles was swerving on the road.  Thinking safety first he pulled into the left lane and proceeded down the road.  At the last possible moment, the swerving car crossed the road and hit the car with the 4 boys head on.  The results were instantaneous, all 4 boys were killed as well as the driver. 

The coroner could come up with no medical reason for the driver to cross the road.  Sadly he ruled the man's death as a suicide which unfortunately cost 4 young men their future.  He was right, the man had committed suicide, his wife had just left him for her boss and had taken his baby daughter with her.  Distraught and emotional the man made a spur of the moment decision to end it all.

With the death of the 4 boys, the cosmic laws of the universe enacted and the cycle of reincarnation began again, for three of the boys.  For Chao Yee, his spirit was somehow thrown across many realms and then mysteriously entered the body of his twin who had just died in the real of Oxia.  The boy Chao had been traveling with his Dad and uncle on their trading cart when a magic beast attacked.  The draft animal a cow had tried to turn and run but only succeeded in knocking the cart off the trail and down an embankment.

Chao had been thrown down and the cart landed on him, it was also half on a rock which initial saved Chao from being crushed but the weight of the cart still compressed his chest and he could not breathe.  His dad and uncle tried to lift the cart but did not have the strength to and soon Chao stopped struggling for breath.  At this time a couple of things happened.  First, the spirit of Chao flew into the body of the ten-year-old Chao and their minds began to merge.  Second, the guard that the caravan had hired arrived and seeing the situation walked over and grabbed with cart and with a deep breath managed to lift it upright and on to all 4 wheels.

Chao was immediately grabbed by his dad and shaken, perhaps the violent agitation of his body or the sudden completion of the merging of his two minds awoke him, whatever the cause he suddenly took in a deep breath and another all the while aware of his father holding him and crying as he  laid on the ground.

“Father it is alright, I am alright,”  Chao said with some effort as he was once again being squeezed by his dad.  “You may let go of me, I need to breathe.”  With that Chao was released and given some space.

He listened as his dad described what had happened and how he was finally rescued by the guard.  At this point, the older Chao had assimilated all the memories of the younger Chao and had all the knowledge and skills that the younger Chao had developed.  “I must thank the guard tonight when we stop,” Chao said.  Being in a caravan of traders meant that no matter what things don’t stop so soon Chao and his dad and uncle had the cart back on the trail and were continuing to travel.

Chao was sitting in the back thinking of all that had happened.  He knew that he had died and he could guess that somehow he had ended up in another reality.  Science had discussed the possibility of many realms and Chao had read a lot of Wukia novels, so while saddened at dying in his old life he felt grateful that he was still alive with his old memories.   By the time the camp was being set up, Chao had come to terms with what had happened.  Hopping out of the wagon he quickly assisted his dad in setting up the camp.  Soon the cow was hobbled with some fresh cut grass spread for her feed.  Chao then set up the sleeping mats under the cart itself and then went to the nearby river to haul water back to the cart.  He first gave water to the cow and then began to fill up the three water barrels attached to the back of the cart.  Two were empty and it took a long time to fill them.  Once that was done Chao grabbed the ax and went towards the nearby tree line.  Selecting some nearby deadfall he began to quickly cut armfuls of firewood.  After making several trips back and forth he felt he had enough firewood to last for the night with a bit left over.

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Having a bit left over was something that the younger Chao would never have done, indeed he would not have done any of the chores unless he father made him do some.  Seeing the work being done by Chao both his father and his uncle could only shake their heads and ask each other if this was really Chao.  Meanwhile seeing that his uncle was about to cook supper and remembering that his uncle was a terrible cook Chao walked over and asked, “Uncle please let me prepare the supper for tonight, I would be grateful for the opportunity to do so.” 

Seeing the shocked look on his uncles face Chao grabbed the cooking wok and the cutting board then going to the wagon he opened the food chest and pulled out several different vegetables and three spices along with a chunk of pork fat.  Quickly melting the fat into the wok Chao then sliced up the vegetables and added the spices, then returning to the wagon he cut off a small amount of smoked pork and slicing it thin he added it to the wok.  After stir frying for a couple of minutes, Chao added 1 cup of water.  He then prepared some rice and continued to stir the mixture, soon a very nice smell began to waft out of the cooking wok.

After the rice was cooked Chao dumped it all in the wok and mixed it together.  Grabbing three bowls Chao served his father and uncle and then himself.  Both his father and uncle were dumbfounded, the Chao they were familiar with was too lazy to cook and knew nothing about cooking.  Tasting the food brought even more surprising to them as it was good tasting, much better than what they could have made.  Looking at each other they both shook their heads and began to eat the delicious stirfry meal Chao had prepared. 

They could not know that Chao in his past life had spent much of his early life working in the kitchens of the restaurants his family owned.  By the time he was ten Chao could make every item on the menu and several family favorites that were not on the menu.  Once the meal was done Chao grabbed the bowls and quickly went to the river and washed them.  Them going back he grabbed some fresh water and began to make tea.  Once that was done he served tea to his father and uncle and then asked for permission to go thank the guard that had saved him.

Receiving permission Chao set out to find the Guard, slowly going from cart to cart Chao made his way to the front of the cart train.  Seeing the train master setting down with the guards Chao made his way over, then bowing before the men he addressed the guard who had saved him.

“Sir, I would like to thank you for saving my this morning, without your help I would not be here right now.  I am grateful sir and if you have something that I can do to help you please let me know.”  With that Chao bowed again and then waited a moment and then left to go back to his father's cart.  He did not hear the guard and the wagon master speak, “That boy is polite and speaks as if he has gone to school,” the wagon master stated. 

“Yes, the guard replied, yet earlier on in the trip I thought he was just another lazy brat, always getting out of work and into mischief.  Appearances can be deceiving I guess.”