2 My Family

Zhen woke up with a start, gasping for breath.

Immediately he looked around, startled but calmed down upon seeing the familiar interior of his home.

"Ugh"

His whole body felt numb, and he could not muster any strength in his limbs. He could also feel that all his progress in body forging was gone, the tribulations have baptized his body thoroughly.

Sighing, Zhen looked down at his body. He still looked every bit a scrawny eight-year-old he was, but if one looked carefully, beneath all the dirt and tattered clothes, his body was flawless and his light bronze skin almost had a shine to it.

But Zhen focused on his internal world and was presently surprised. All his meridians were now unblocked and he could faintly feel essence qi flowing within them without him even trying. He felt he could enter the first stage of foundation building without even trying.

'So this is the fabled Flawless Imperfection physique, it sure lived up to its legends.', Flawless Imperfection physique was one of the greatest alchemic physiques ever. One possessing it is unmatched when it came to qi control and affinity. It is by no means the greatest physique when it comes to competing with heaven-gifted physiques, It would not even make in the top fifty but it was the best Zhen could do in his current situation.

Moreover, why he wanted Flawless Physique was for the ability to cultivate multiple Cultivation techniques simultaneously without any backlash. For Zhen, who had all the greatest cultivation techniques at his fingertips, there is no Physique that suited him better than this.

Zhen smiled to himself, feeling pleased. Even if things went a little out of control, he was not finally ready to start cultivating.

Just then the door opened and short women with agreeing hair entered followed by a tall boy who looked very similar to Zhen. The woman seeing Zhen is awake, immediately rushed to his side.

"Oh, my Zhen, I was so scared when your brother brought your unconscious body from the forest. Clouds had suddenly covered the entire sky and lightning struck in the forest many times and when Bao brought you, I feared the worst. Oh, my baby, I was so scared. Don't shock your poor mother...", She fussed over Zhen, looking for any injuries. Zhen shied under all the attention.

"It's ok Mama, I am all right.", embarrassed, Zhen tried to reassure his mother. Even after eight years, Zhen is still not used to someone caring for him.

After his other was assured he was all right, she nodded in satisfaction, "My poor baby must be famished, I will bring hot soup for you," She left the small room, leaving behind two brothers.

Bao, Zhen's elder brother, was someone who could be said to have a very intimidating figure. Despite being barely older than sixteen, he towered over most adults and his body was packed with muscles thanks to working in fields before he could walk.

Zhen had watched once his brother tussle with beast boar, a demon beast who had started on the path of cultivation and come on top. If he was placed among all the wrestlers back on earth, he would probably beat them all without breaking a sweat.

That intimidating figure was currently glaring at Zhen, "So how are you?"

Zhen flinched at the cold tone, "Fi..ine"

Bao did not relent, again questioning in a cold tone, "What were you doing in the forest?"

"Nothing, just seeing around."

"Oh, then what were the alchemy pots I found."

'Damn, busted.'

Zhen answered, "Thos..se were just laying around."

"Hum, really?"

"Yes!", Zhen answered firmly but Bao was not buying it. He moved towards Zhen;

And engulfed him in his arms. It immediately shocked Zhen. He knew always appeared tough but was a big softie on the inside but he never expressed his emotions like this, not since...Yue.

"Damn Zhen, you know how scared I was when I saw you being struck with lightning again and again. You..you were screaming, your body was burning and I...I could not do a thing. When it stopped, you were just laying there, and I..I was afraid that worst had...", Bao stopped but Zhen understood what he wanted to say. He just hugged him back, awkwardly trying to reassure him.

'Damn, the first lightning bolt should have destroyed the array. And seeing me being struck, again and again, no doubt he is so scared.'

"We had already lost father and big sis, I don't want to lose you too.",

Zhen patted his back, trying to soothe him, "I am here, all right. Nothing happened to me, see.. " Zhen pointed at his face, "I even feel better than before."

After much reassuring and promises, his brother finally relented, reluctantly leaving him alone. Zhen smiled a pained smile. One day, he will have to leave his family behind and enter the cruel world of cultivators, but their love makes it so difficult.

Just then his mother entered along with a hot soup, a luxury for poor farmers like them. Soon, the entire family was sitting on the floor of their mud hut, A clay bowl of soup between them.

Zhen got the largest portion, even Bao, who ate most out of them, abstained to take more than the bare minimum, instead opting to save for Zhen.

Zhen was really brought to tears seeing this, as he quietly ate his share.

Perhaps, he would one day not be with them, but for every moment he has with his family, he will cherish them.