CHAPTER 17 : HUMAN ANATOMY (2)

Four years ago, inside a steam-filled bathroom adorned with bamboo sticks and a rustic wooden bath, a naked boy stood before the mirror, his reflection staring back at him. It was Zhen.

"Nine years in this body, yet so much to learn," Zhen mused, his thoughts drifting. "Similar to my earthly form, yet subtly different."

"Anatomy will be crucial here," he continued, his voice echoing softly in the mist. "Survival hinges on understanding vital points and physiology."

"A cadaver could offer insight, but to truly comprehend, I need a living subject," he reasoned, exhaling heavily. With resolve, he submerged himself into the warm waters of the wooden tub, contemplating.

"<sigh >, There's nothing quite like a hot bath," Zhen remarked, sinking into the comforting warmth of the tub. "But how will I find willing subjects for my experiments?" he pondered, resting his head against the tub's edge. "Having both male and female subjects would provide a more comprehensive understanding."

After his bath, Zhen ascended to his room, dressed in a blue kimono-like garment. Seated by the window, he stared at the moon, seeking solace and answers amidst the tranquil night.

Suddenly, his attention shifted to the street below. "Elder Zhong, up this time," Zhen muttered, his gaze fixed on the bag in Zhong's possession, "What's with the bag", he thought curiously.

Elder Zhong trudged through the eerily quiet streets, dragging a heavy bag behind him. Zhen cautiously scanned his surroundings, ensuring no prying eyes lingered nearby. Satisfied, he slipped out the window and agilely navigated the rooftops until he reached the street below, trailing Zhong from a safe distance.

"I should keep my distance; who knows what kind of investigative abilities he possesses," Zhen mused, maintaining a cautious interval.

As they neared the village gate, Zhen concealed himself behind the main walls, eavesdropping on Zhong's exchange with one of the guards. He strained to lip-read, catching Zhong's words: "This is Fifty. Dispose of the body outside and keep your mouth shut."

"Thank you, Elder, for your generosity," the guard replied, bowing respectfully.

"Hmm, now I am taking my leave," Elder Zhong declared, prompting the guard to bow once more.

Another guard approached him, offering assistance. "Need help?"

"Yes," replied the first guard.

Curious, the second guard inquired, "Who is inside?"

"I don't know, and I don't want to know. If the elder finds out, it will be my end, and yours too. So, let's not ask such questions and just help," the first guard explained sternly, earning a nod of compliance from the other guard.

"Interesting. Looks like tonight might offer a chance for some anatomy lessons," Zhen remarked to himself, a smile crossing his face. With that thought, he retrieved his two knives and wedged them into the gaps between the bricks. Using this method, he pulled himself up and soon reached the top of the wall, where guards were stationed to monitor any potential attacks, particularly from beasts.

Zhen deftly maneuvered past the guards and scaled down the wall using the same method. "This body isn't accustomed to such strain, but I suppose I'll have to push a little harder," he thought to himself as he touched ground.

Soon, the village gate creaked open, and the two guards emerged, carrying the body. They trudged into the forest until they found a suitable spot. "This place looks good," remarked one guard. "Yeah, let's dispose of the body here and be done with it," added the other, their voices carrying in the stillness of the night.

As the guards departed, leaving the body behind, Zhen observed from a safe distance, mindful of his unawakened state.

"Fine, now let's see what I've got," Zhen muttered to himself, preparing to make his move. However, before he could take another step, a shadow pounced on the bag containing the body and vanished into the darkness.

"Damn, I need that body," Zhen grumbled, determination igniting within him as he swiftly chased after the elusive shadow.

After a brisk chase, the shadow came to a halt in front of an old, dimly lit hut nestled amidst the jungle.

"Who would live here?" Zhen mused, eyeing the decrepit structure.

In the dim light, the shadowy figure became clearer—a man adorned with scars crisscrossing his muscular frame, his skin bronzed from exposure to the elements.

"What's this guy up to?" Zhen inched closer to the hut, curiosity piqued.

The man gingerly extracted the body from the bag—a woman adorned with scars and clad in tattered garments. With careful hands, he lifted her and disappeared into the hut's interior.

Zhen, now positioned near the window, peered inside for a better view. The hut's interior revealed an oil lamp casting a feeble glow over a table, a bed, and a massive axe propped against the wall.

"Is this guy some sort of hunter?" Zhen speculated, intrigued by the scene unfolding before him.

As the man delicately laid still body on the bed, he began the meticulous task of cleaning her, his eyes welling up with tears that fell onto her still form. In the dim light, his features appeared ordinary, yet there was a sharpness to his facial expression.

"Yuna," he whispered, his voice trembling with sorrow, "It's all my fault. I am sorry."

During the tender cleaning process, Yuna's hand reached out and grasped his, her touch sending a shockwave of disbelief through him. "You... you are alive," he stammered, his voice quivering with intense emotion. He enveloped her in a tight embrace, repeating his apologies over and over.

"It's okay, how could I die without seeing you," Yuna murmured, her hands caressing his face before slipping into unconsciousness. Panic seized the man. "What should I do? I have no idea what remedies the Yodhas require."

"Huh, she is alive, amazing," Zhen thought, his mind racing with possibilities. "Even better, she's a Yodha. I can have all the information I want." A sinister smile crept across his face as he contemplated the advantages.

"I seem to understand," Zhen pondered, a plan taking shape in his mind. "I have a better idea. With this, all my problems could be solved swiftly. But if it doesn't work, that guy will surely end me."

Zhen kicked the door open, sending it crashing against the wall with a loud thud. The sudden intrusion jolted the hunter, who instinctively tightened his grip on the axe, his muscles tensed for action. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice laced with suspicion and a hint of aggression.

Standing in the doorway, Zhen held up his hands in a pacifying gesture, his expression calm despite the tension in the room. "I am here with my father. He is a Yodha, waiting for this body to pass," Zhen explained, choosing his words carefully to defuse the situation.

The hunter's brows furrowed deeper, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the newcomer. "You wicked Yodhas! I will kill you, I will kill you all!" he spat, his voice trembling with anger and fear. Yet, his body remained rooted in place, paralyzed by the overwhelming dread that Yodhas instilled in the common folk.

"I am here to help, as is my father," Zhen reassured, his tone steady and composed, despite the escalating tension.

The hunter's gaze darted between Zhen and the woman lying on the bed, tears still glistening in his eyes. His body language spoke of conflict and confusion, torn between the desire to protect and the fear of the unknown.

"See, me and my father have witnessed your unwavering love and devotion to that Yodha woman," Zhen began, his voice carrying a sincere tone. "Isn't she Elder Sister Yuna? My father took care of her, so out of pure humanity, we want to extend our help to you."

"We've heard about the tragic incident of your love story that unfolded in the capital of the village. We genuinely want to assist, especially after witnessing Elder Sister in such a condition," Zhen continued, his brows furrowing with empathy. Each word and gesture he made were laden with emotion, gradually chipping away at the hunter's initial hostility.

"My father, too, married a common woman. Haven't you heard about Xiao Bi? He's my father," Zhen revealed, his voice infused with tranquility and understanding.

At the mention of Xiao Bi's name, the hunter fell silent, the stories he heard about his love with a common woman flooding back, a tale well-known throughout the Xiao mountains.

After a moment of hesitation, the hunter finally spoke up, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "Will you really help me?"

"Yes," Zhen replied earnestly, stepping forward with hands outstretched, his eyes shimmering with tears and a warm smile illuminating his face.

"How can I trust you?" the hunter asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.

"Perfect, now it will go according to the plan," Zhen mused inwardly, his demeanor betraying no hint of his true intentions.

"Here, take these. Let her absorb these, she will automatically get better" Zhen said, stepping forward and placing a pouch containing ten spirit stones into the hunter's palm.

[ The low lives were unaware of the healing methods employed by Yodhas. Their belief was simplistic: if a Yodha possessed spirit stones, they would naturally recover from their ailments. However, the reality was far more complex. Healing required the use of a healing-type primal Orbis, knowledge that eluded the low lives entirely. Their understanding was limited to the tangible—spirit stones were the currency of health and well-being in their eyes.]

"Ten spirit stones!" The hunter's eyes widened in astonishment. For someone like him, a single spirit stone could sustain him for months.

"But... but," the hunter stammered, overwhelmed by the generosity before him. He glanced at the woman on the bed, gratitude welling up inside him. "Thank you, little brother. I'll do anything for you, whenever you need me," he declared, kneeling before Zhen.

"Wait!" Zhen interjected, his voice halting the hunter's movement.

"Why? What happened, little brother?" the hunter inquired, his concern evident in his tone.

"It's nothing, it's just that..." Zhen paused, feigning hesitation as he prepared to make his request.

The hunter's smile broadened, his features softening with genuine warmth. "Don't worry, little brother. Just name it, and I'm at your service."

Zhen hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Well, you see, it's for a school project," he explained, his tone uncertain.

"A school project?" The hunter's brow furrowed in puzzlement, his curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar term.

[Actually, the low lives do not much know how the Yodhas are trained , so Zhen just lied , creating a fake school project, using his past life memory. There is nothing like school project in actual training] 

Zhen nodded quickly, fabricating a story from his past life's memories. "Yes, it's something new they're trying out for our training. We're supposed to learn about the human body and its workings."

The hunter's expression shifted to one of understanding, though he remained uncertain. "Ah, I see. And you need my help for this project?"

Zhen nodded again, trying to appear earnest. "Yes, exactly. It's just that, it might involve a bit of... well, discomfort."

The hunter's gaze softened with empathy. "Don't worry about that, little brother. I'll do whatever I can to help you out."

"But I want you to help me now," Zhen said, his voice tinged with urgency. "But as elder sister is not in good condition... how can I."

The hunter hesitated for a moment before responding, "No problem, little brother, I will help you no matter what," he paused, his brow furrowing. "It's just that, at this moment, Yuna needs me the most and I can't just leave her behind."

Zhen's expression darkened, his tone heavy with disappointment. "Huh, okay, leave that," he said, a somber note in his voice. After a brief pause, he continued, "It's just that tomorrow is the project submission and I am... okay, let's not talk about it."

Listening to Zhen's words, the hunter pondered for a moment. "I can't just leave this. What will Yuna think if I didn't even help her benefactor? No, since the spirit stones are with her, she will heal in no time. I will have to help the little brother."

"Okay, little brother, I am ready," the hunter said, his chin raised with determination.

"What an idiot," Zhen thought inwardly, his mind calculating the hunter's response. "These kinds of people are the easiest to deal with; they think based on emotions rather than brain."

"But you'll have to endure quite a lot of pain," Zhen said, his brows furrowing in concern, his eyes wide with worry and cheeks inflated with his fingers rolling over each other he continued, "You're like a big brother to me, and I don't want to see you in pain."

The hunter chuckled warmly, ruffling Zhen's hair affectionately. With a grin, he flexed his muscles, showcasing his strength. "Don't worry, kid. I'm tougher than I look," he boasted, his voice filled with reassurance. "We'll see how it goes soon enough."

"We'll see indeed," Zhen thought to himself, a smirk playing on his lips as he maintained a calm demeanor, masking his true intentions.

"Let's go," the hunter suggested, his posture confident and relaxed.

"Huh, where to?" Zhen asked, his voice tinged with feigned confusion, his expression innocent yet calculating.

"We need to get away from here. I have another place in mind where we can work on your project. I'll leave these spirit stones here for Yuna's recovery," the hunter explained, his gestures and tone indicating sincerity and kindness.

"You really do care about elder sister," Zhen remarked, his tone and expression full of innocence and admiration.

The hunter blushed slightly, scratching his head. "By the way, where's your dad? Why didn't he come?"

"He actually left me here, he's acquainted with elder sister, so he told me to come along with her once you were done healing her," Zhen explained, his demeanor open and friendly.

"Oh, that's alright. Don't worry, little brother, I'll drop you back to the village," the hunter assured, gently picking up Zhen with one arm and carrying him out of the house.

"Will any beasts attack sister here?" Zhen inquired as they walked.

"Fret not, there are beast repellents all around, not even a mosquito will reach her," the hunter reassured.

Soon, they arrived at another hut not far from the first one. It had a similar appearance but with a table inside, ropes attached to it.

"Brother, what's up with that table?" Zhen asked, already knowing the answer.

"Oh, that. Actually, there are some beasts that don't die at the moment, even if their heads are severed. It's for them, I tie them up and wait for their time to end," the hunter explained.

"Oh, I don't feel good about the beasts," Zhen said, his expression somber.

The hunter chuckled softly and gently set Zhen down on the floor.

"Now, tell me, what to do?" the hunter asked.

"It's simple. You just need to lay down; the rest is up to me," Zhen replied.

The hunter laid on the table. "Will it be okay if I tie you? It's just..." Zhen hesitated, feigning uncertainty. [Note : this is all an act played by Zhen]

"Calm down, little brother. I'm alright. It's okay if you want to tie me up. After all, you helped me just now. How can I be so ungrateful?" the hunter said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Zhen proceeded to tie the hunter down and then retrieved his knives and two thin metal sticks with pointed ends.

"Now let's begin," Zhen said, his expression reverting to its original stoic demeanor, devoid of the emotions that had been present just moments ago.

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Mass release (SUNDAY) :

160 stones = 2 chaps

200 stones = 4 chaps

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