“You recognise him?”
“Mn, he’s a swindler and huckster,” Ji Chen replied, clearly disliking Uncle Hu, “but he’s well travelled and knows lots about the wilderness.”
Ji Wuming crossed his arms with a contemplative nod.
‘Someone like that would be a valuable asset to finding our way and more importantly, surviving.’
He took a second look at the now-empty gourd that Hu had thrown carelessly behind him and then at the man himself, who appeared to be unfastening another gourd from under his arm. Ji Wuming had a hunch that the gourd contained alcohol.
‘Which is problematic, but given the circumstances, I cannot fault him.’
After all, the entire town had recently been pulverised and not cleanly either. No matter where one turned their head, a grizzly reminder of what had happened would be in plain view. Ji Wuming sighed under his breath. Though he knew very little, he couldn’t help but feel that something profound had happened, but with his only evidence being the corpses around and the words ‘the sky fell’, he had little to go off of.
‘But even if I knew more, it’s not like I could do anything anyway. My immediate priority is finding food and safety.’
The drunk Uncle Hu, after unfastening another gourd, finally took notice of the two new arrivals. With an exaggerated groan, he heaved himself off of the table, almost falling forward on the way down, but ultimately managing to steady himself.
He only glanced once at Ji Chen, as if unconcerned with the boy’s survival. Instead, it was Ji Wuming who he was visibly scrutinising, in between bites of meat and gulps of wine. The person in question was internally deciding on how to converse with the seemingly unstable person before him. Ji Wuming was still socially inexperienced, but fortunately, Uncle Hu made the first move.
“You’re naked.”
Ji Wuming glanced down and then back at Uncle Hu.
“So it would seem.”
‘…’
‘I must have looked strange. Luckily, there aren’t many people nearby to witness this.’
Clearing his throat, Ji Wuming subtly shifted his hands down and to the front, blocking Uncle Hu’s concerned gaze.
“Do you happen to have any spare clothes?”
“And food!” Ji Chen helpfully chimed in.
“And that.” Wuming nodded, before internally wondering why the boy hadn’t informed him of his nakedness before.
———
The Northern Forests.
The trio had spent the past few hours clothing, gathering supplies and scavenging what they could before embarking from the village towards Cloud Connecting city. According to Uncle Hu, while the city had a higher population density and therefore would be more heavily impacted by the ‘collapse of heaven’, it was also the only major city in the region.
The rationale behind journeying there was that any refugees or survivors in the region would likely head there as well. In times of chaos, humans sought solidarity through numbers and this would be their best chance at finding a greater community to join.
Ji Wuming, wearing a mix of a fisherman’s and a hunter’s attire, slipped his hand into one of the many satchels lining the leather belt slung across his torso. He withdrew a small roasted cricket, quietly enjoying its starchy flavour. At the same time, he adjusted his wide straw hat, relieving his itching scalp.
Like the people in the area, most flora and fauna had suffered as well, with mainly smaller and more agile creatures surviving the collapse. As a result, the trio mainly survived off of more resilient plants like wood-ear mushrooms, berries, as well as small animals such as squirrels, birds and insects.
In many cases, they came across the carcasses of larger animals, however some time had passed since the collapse and they had already begun to rot. Furthermore, most of them had already been stripped clean by scavengers and insects. The one upside, however, was that insects had become easier to collect.
For Ji Wuming, who lacked memories, these meals were no problem, especially since Uncle Hu had a sachet of salt tucked away within his many pockets that was reserved for dinner time. One of the many things to look forward to each day.
Fruits and foraged flora were also tasteful - they carried natural sweetness and flavours which, for his first taste, ignited the urge to try anything he could get his hands on.
Ji Chen, the boy whom Ji Wuming had taken after, was the same as ever. Generally, he was upbeat and cheerful and if one were to meet him at present, they’d think that he was living a happy and normal childhood. It would not be apparent that everyone he’d ever known had been flattened by falling stars.
But at other times, especially during late at night, Ji Wuming could hear quiet weeping and sobbing coming from the boy’s hammock.
Due to his incomplete memories, and social awkwardness, Ji Wuming did not know how he could help the boy.
‘As Uncle Hu said, time is the most potent panacea. Perhaps once we arrive at Cloud Connecting city, we’ll be able to find professional help.’
Thinking of the man, Hu was also an interesting character. At a glance, one could immediately tell that there was a story behind his scars and damaged body. Those atrophied arms alone told a story - perhaps a criminal who had been punished with disability, or an encounter with a giant beast, or a falling building… the list went on.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Ji Chen did not know why Uncle Hu had those disfigurements either. It seemed that during his five years at the town, he had been tight-lipped about the matter. But other than that, the man displayed other oddities too. At times, he was wise and wistful, while at others he was exuberantly joyful. Sometimes, whilst sitting around the campfire, Wuming felt as if he could see a hint of insanity sitting deep within the man’s eyes.
Hu also had a strange obsession with the obsidian talisman hanging from his wrist. Oftentimes, Ji Wuming would catch sight of the man staring at the talisman with the demeanour of a madman looking at his heart’s desire.
But personality oddities aside, Hu had been the sole reason for their survival. While they were all agreed on their mutual goal of reaching Cloud Connecting city, only Hu’s true purpose went undisclosed. Ji Wuming could not tell what was going through the man’s mind, and that left a sense of danger lingering in the back of his own.
Crack!
Ji Wuming snapped out of his daze, his body tensing as he heard the sound of a twig snapping ahead. Moments later, he relaxed upon seeing Ji Chen’s dirty face.
Neither party spoke, but Ji Wuming could tell the boy wanted him to follow, so he obliged.
After a few paces through the dense foliage, they were joined by the hunched figure of Uncle Hu who held a long staff. The weapon doubled as both a walking stick as well as a bush wacker.
They stopped at the edge of the forest. From just the changes in the air, Ji Wuming could tell as much. Uncle Hu attracted his attention with a click of his tongue. Hu crossed his arms and then made the gesture for ‘detour’.
Puzzled, Ji Wuming leaned his head out of the greenery only to slip and lose his footing. His body lurched as Hu and Ji Chen made a combined effort to catch him and prevent him from falling.
His heart rate spiked and he broke out in cold sweat, taking quiet but quick, short breaths out of panic. It was only after he partially calmed himself that he realised what had happened. As he hung there, he could clearly see the reason for their detour.
‘Heavens above.’
A gigantic 100 metre wide cavity ran through the undergrowth, stretching on for as far as the eye could see in both directions. It sat between two sections of forest, with the clear sky above and a dark chasm below. On either edge of the trench were fallen trees or various sizes and lengths, leaning against one another or hanging on by just the roots. It wouldn’t be long before their anchors gave way.
As he was pulled back up, Ji Wuming expressed his gratitude with a nod. It wasn’t that he couldn’t be bothered to properly thank them, but that it was safest for verbal communication to be kept to a minimum.
The world had changed since the collapse. Both the flora and the fauna had become more dangerous than before. At least, according to Hu and Ji Chen. While Ji Wuming was able to intuitively guess whether something was ‘normal’ or not, glowing insects, luminescent plants and wolves with spinal protrusions were difficult for him to ascertain.
After all, while being stared down by a wolf at night, whether it was normal or not was not amongst his primary concerns.
Ji Wuming gestured to the pair, signalling that he had something to say.
“I spotted a large fallen tree. We can use it as a bridge to cross.”
Uncle Hu and Ji Chen shared looks, silently considering their options. Eventually the two gave nods of assent. It wasn’t that they were being overly hasty or impatient, but the simple fact of the matter was that they were short on time. Not only did danger lurk around every corner, but they were running low on provisions.
A detour in the form of going around the crevasse would take an unknown amount of precious time. Time they could not afford to lose.
Standing back up again, Ji Wuming looked down at the unstable ‘bridge’ and swallowed subconsciously.
———
Time passed and the trio advanced on their journey. According to Uncle Hu’s star readings, roughly five months had passed since the beginning and they were close to their final destination.
The day that they finally arrived, the view before them was a sight to behold. A large city with walls spanning further than the eyes could see lay in ruins, with all manner of vines and crawlers running over what had been without doubt a prosperous city.
The walls which stood at 50 metres tall by estimation had cracks and holes lining every other pace, but that they were still standing was testament to their fortitude. Crumbling pagodas and watch towers lay strewn across the battlements too. It was likely they had been hit by large flying objects.
“Thirsty…” Came a voice from over Ji Wuming’s shoulder.
Uncle Hu popped open a gourd, raising it to Ji Chen’s cracked lips and pouring the remaining contents generously into the boy’s mouth. After he had his fill, Ji Wuming repositioned the boy on his back by hopping gently.
“I don’t seem to see anyone,” Ji Wuming observed.
“They must be hiding. Those who could not would have died on the way,” Hu stated casually.
Wuming nodded in wordless agreement. Though those words sounded callous, they were true. Without further verbal communication, the pair began to make their way down the slope, towards the city. Hu was at the front, paving the way with his staff, while Ji Wuming focused on carrying the boy and staying undetected.
As they made progress by the minute, the sun fell, eventually plunging the area into a land of darkness.
Freeing one hand, Ji Wuming unsheathed the bone knife from his chest.
Travelling here had been difficult but generally safe due to good practice. From hereon out, things would only get more and more dangerous.
‘After all, not every person wants to help.’
———
Time passed again. The three had joined a society of survivors based in the remnants of Cloud Connecting city. After a few bumps in the road, they had managed to return to relatively peaceful lives amongst others like them. Years had already passed and the population of their camp had already swelled by a few thousand.
As more people came from across the region and its surroundings, so did information. They learned that the collapse, or the Apocalypse, had not just affected their region, but the entire known world.
But when misfortune beckons, great opportunity waits closely behind. Changes to the world began to be more apparent. Their camp began to properly and systematically categorise the mutations and alterations of their environment, from the hideously deformed animals to the strangely sentient plants.
While many technologies and expertises from previous civilisation were lost, newfound discoveries filled the gap and more. Resonant materials were the most remarkable, allowing individuals to wield power beyond that of mere mortals.
Cults and religions began to form. Some proclaimed the apocalypse to be a reckoning of the divine, intent on wiping out humanity for its sins. Others claimed that the survivors were blessed and that supernatural power was their reward. Revived or surviving philosophies of the past reformed their doctrines and were revitalised by the sudden influx of new believers.
For the majority, the Apocalypse had been a terrible calamity. For the special few, it signified the change in their fates.
Ji Wuming slowly opened his eyes. The horse upon which he sat whinnied quietly, to which he responded with a gentle stroke of the mane. At the same time, he drew the long miao sabre from his waist, admiring the large red ruby that sat in its hilt.
Ji Chen, no longer a boy, but a valiant long-haired youth, edged his own horse forward, stopping alongside Wuming’s own. The youth looked respectfully at his elder who had not seemed to age at all.
“Brother, we’re ready.”
Ji Wuming took a deep breath before giving a decisive nod. He raised his face plate, sealing off the final vulnerability of his heavy cavalry armour, leaving only two beady slits where his eyes were for visibility. He lifted his sabre up high, so that the riders behind him could see.
“To battle!”