2 Reincarnation

Disciples of the Yang Sect marched their way through the Haiki Region to seize Han Min. Though, almost a hundred warriors weren't informed of the irony; that the young man was already waiting for them to arrive.

Don in an ornate exquisite attire, various swords were held atop their golden armor, a lavish and striking carriage tied to the horses, that easily piques the attention of all the people strolling on the streets. Some villagers attempted to sneak a peek at the expensive wagon despite it being completely covered and concealed.

"The Yang Clan, are out for a siege hunt again." One of the people watching spoke quietly, while the disciples marched formally in front of them.

"Right, aren't they tired of chasing the rat that was nowhere to be found even if they tried a hundred times?" The ladies close to them chuckled, earning a grin from the old man who spoke.

"A rat, you say? It's a wild lion hibernating! I heard that the Demon King only wanted revenge for his beloved relatives that Yang Sect eliminated." The person beside him elbowed him and nodded, unconsciously caressing his beard.

"That Demon King and wild lion you were talking about were Han Min, right?"

"No other than the powerful warrior of the Han Clan, Han Min. Still couldn't believe he blackened to a Demon for ten years... I always believed Han Min was their successor, spreading the Han Clan's marvelous accomplishment around the world and their only son could have ended up as the Heavenly Emperor. We all know that he possesses the power alone to elevate their Clan to the top of the number one sects in the cultivation world, however, seeing his ending was truly disappointing and lamentable." One of the townspeople stated, emitting a short gasp from the surrounding people.

Seeing the people lamenting the scourge of all the two realms, he scoffed and butted in;

"It's his choice, after all, he chose to cultivate the wrong path and bear the consequences. He deserved to be captured and punished above all he has done to every clan, along with his hometown." The other party hummed in agreement with the old man, but the teenager beside them suddenly spoke in a focused manner. Not looking at anyone but the land they were standing on.

"Not necessarily punish him. At the very least, he only wanted to seek vengeance, and find his childhood relative. Also haven't you heard the Han Clan was eliminated first by the Heavenly Emperor?" The teenager uttered and caught the attention of the ladies and the others, then they couldn't take their eyes off him.

"That was not sensible of a reason to kill hundreds of skilled cultivators. What? Are you saying that Yang Shen's father annihilated them? For what reason? I only know of a plausible and convincing reason, Han Clan had done malicious deeds that caused havoc in the mortal realm!"

"You can't say it like a matter of fact, you didn't even explain what have they done exactly, yet you mindlessly call it off as 'malicious'. Tell us, how is it malicious?"

"Excuse me, may I interfere? You both have a point, but can you please tell me what exactly happened to this Han Family and his searching for a family?"

The crowd unexpectedly fell silent, wandering eyes scanning one another, waiting for a response. Yet for a while, no one replied to that question.

However, the teenager heaved a deep sigh and opened his mouth.

"What a great tragedy for a long time ago."

~~~

(past events will now appear in italian font. To avoid confusion)

Ten years earlier...

"So Eun-ah."

Her shaking fingers that were holding the little child's hand intensified with sweat, and passed through his small frame. He looked up at her worryingly and a lot more confused.

At the deepest recesses of his mind, he thought of it as a new image for his eyes to see. Originally it was a new discovery for a child, but his mother is shaking in fear, and he didn't know what to feel at that moment, feeling like it was all nonsense.

People around them who looked in the same condition as his mother and he, stared in pity. And he don't know why some kids were loudly crying.

Are they crying because the armored man called his name? Is this a recitation like the one they were doing in teaching?

But... they didn't give texts to read, how is he supposed to answer their questions? Is he supposed to come to the front?

So Eun almost stepped his foot to walk but then his Mother kneeled in front of him, and put her hands between his cheeks. Then, So Eun was dumbfounded to see that her mother is crying.

"Listen to me, So Eun! For the very last moment do not think about that boy ever again and pay attention to me!" The streaks of tears had already stained her cheeks, and she doesn't seem like she was upset; she is angry with her own child.

So Eun felt it amiss and took the initiative to wipe her tears, but she slapped his hand away, only for it to sting so bad. He held the left hand that had been slapped to caress it. Wondering what did he do wrong.

Why is Mother angry with me?

"I will count using my hand from 1 to 3, so please focus on my left hand. When I shout to 3, you will use your ability to vanish okay? I don't care whatever place you'll end up, anywhere but here. Remember what I told you? Think about someplace you want to go, if you think of that certain image, do it alright? The next time you wake up do not look for me, I will not be there by your side anymore. Just... these 3 seconds look at Mother for once, okay?" She sobbed weakly.

While So Eun blanks out. Mommy is hurting but why do I feel nothing?

He nodded and held her hand tight. As tight as before. Deciding to ease her pain because So Eun senses, that she's been going through too much.

"Mother, Father said if you cried he will never make it out of there, so please don't. I will focus on your left hand only. I promise you that." As So Eun was saying that, he raised his left palm to show her that he promised.

But his mother doesn't seem to mind his promise, because she cried a little too loud and proceeded to hug her child.

At the bottom of his heart, So Eun felt a dread, like a dead leaf finally falling after hanging on for so long, like a dead leaf saying farewell.

Why is Mother bidding him goodbye when Father has been taken away by an armored man? Aren't they supposed to save him first?

"Be strong and live freely, if the world doesn't want you to live... Then.." She whispered, and then he knew the word why he became numb.

The hug seems to last an eternity but then So Eun hear a sound of a clock, and it began to start counting in his head.

Tik tok. Tik tok. Tik tok.

Seems like everyone that's standing there, their lifetime limit started to count and there isn't much time left.

The mysterious clock ticked so fast that once he blinked, his Mother is being taken away, calling his name, So Eun only focused on her hand, it reached up to 3 then he heard her shout the number.

The next time he blinked, darkness is the only thing consuming his small body.

~~~

"The bells are moving. It must be a Deity!"

"From the Heavens! Give us the magnificent and pure guardian!"

"It's been a long time since a Deity descended from Tipolo Palace. Let's go take a look!"

The earth-shattering entrance of a Deity being sent down from above awakened the whole land. People gathered quickly at the Tipolo Palace, where the Deity will descend. Then a blinding light that could blackout everybody's vision appeared along with the cacophonies of voices and bells.

The strike of clouds points at the center of the threshold and landed, a spiritual aura filled the Palace, and it revealed a glowing Divine being. Cloud husk filled the whole place to the point that the people couldn't see it.

"A Goddess, please give us a Goddess." One of the men uttered, expecting a stunning goddess to arrive.

Long after the cloud fog disappeared, they got a chance to glimpse the Deity's face, and almost everyone near the threshold gasped in shock.

"Is that a Deity? Unbelievable. He's prettier than most of the ladies in town." One villager said in astonishment, while the lady beside him widened her eyes and nodded at him.

"I'm a man but this Deity's face..."

"Pure Guardian! What is your name? My brother wants to take your hand in marriage." A little girl said from the crowd followed by shouts from the other people. A voice mostly came from the youths who were watching the arrival too.

"Me too!"

"I willingly volunteer to take your hand in marriage, Pure Guardian!" Then, it's a mixed noise of voices from men and women.

So Eun barely heard the bawl of the people. His consciousness slowly came back from the dizziness and the nostalgic memory he had dreamed of.

He opened his eyes and saw the people quite a few meters from him, their mouths were moving, but they were all mute in his senses. Then having a sudden strike of pain through his head, he caressed it softly with his hand.

He closed his eyes for a second, as the yells are much more unbearable to hear now. His nonchalant face contrasts with the confused state of his eyes, staring at the people in front of him. Wearing a plain white robe with gold trim at the hem of its sleeves. And adorned a hairdress trinket for Deities such as he.

He doesn't know what's going on, why the people wanted to... take his hand in marriage? He just got here.

"Welcome, Pure Deity." A lovely woman with golden robes approached him. Looking at her figure and tone of voice, she must be one of the attendants of the Deities. So Eun turned to look at her and bowed the same way the woman did.

"Pardon me for the people around, Pure Deity. I too, have never seen such a mesmerizing beauty of a man like you before, so I can't blame them."

"Oh, I... Uh.." So Eun stuttered while contemplating how on earth he would respond to that. 

"I would like to respectfully introduce myself, I am Iris. Lady Royale of the Deities and came from His Majesty to welcome you. I am here to serve and guide you about your goal in this life." Iris bowed once again, and displayed her most pleasing but perfunctory smile.

"Thank you. I am So Eun, descended here to protect and save the people and obey my commitments as a Deity." Then he repeated the action of bowing back to the Lady Royale.

"A new Deity has been sent to us after a decade from Tipolo Palace. May I ask what is your main goal of finally going down to the world?" Iris raised her hand, and the Tipolo Palace guards proceeded to push the golden gates to shut out the people from outside.

Every ten years in the mortal realm, an estimated two-hundred and forty Palaces had been constructed in different regions around the world. When a Deity plummeted, it usually resulted in an earthquake near the town where the Palaces are and where they have been descended upon. As to what is the meaning of descending upon a certain region, some say that it was something to do with their past lives that are connected with their task in the human realm. Well, that is reasonable.

After a long while, So Eun abruptly stopped contemplating and finally noticed the ache in his heart since he opened his eyes.

Ten years of slumber was ten years of being dead and emotionless. So the ache in his heart was most part very striking and apparent. 

"I just came and I'm new to this, but I had a person in mind."

"I assume that you haven't met them yet?"

"I specifically don't know what their name is, or what they look like." So Eun emitted a deep sigh, the glow in his face fading a little.

"You met them in your previous life, Purest Deity."

So Eun looked at her, surprised at what she just said.

"You came down here like all the previous Deity, perhaps your soul wanted you to reconcile with him again. That is your mission that needs to be completed as a Deity." Iris uttered as if she is one of the omnipresent Gods among the Heavens. He had a moment to suspect, and nevertheless, let it go.

So Eun then thought about it deeply for a while, and calmly felt what is deep inside his heart, that his soul wanted to commit.

"I need to come back to where I left before. I feel like something is in me that was supposed to be there, but it's ripped out for me not to remember it. Pleased to meet you, Iris. I will then attend the ceremony on His Majesty."

Wide-eyed So Eun bowed once again, and then left without a single word spoken to the woman.