Qi World!

Gloomy, dark clouds filled the sky as rumbling thunder could be heard occasionally from time to time.

Surrounded by mountains and hills, a nameless village lay quietly there.

Near the outskirts of the village, inside a shed, a child around the age of 8 was sitting on a chair.

He was dangling his feet from time to time while observing the vast, ominous sky.

His gaze was vacant, inexpressive and lifeless.

If one was attentive, he could see a tinge of despair, longing and other complex emotions inside these deep, abyss-like eyes.

"Sigh, how did it come to this?" - After god knows how long, the child sighed emotionally and exited the shed.

"Well, for now I should head back home."

This is Ximen Wei, a former Chinese scholar from Earth, due to some inexplicable events, he reincarnated, or more likely, teleported? Into a strange world where gaining superhuman strength is possible.

Reincarnation or transmigration happens when someone dies, however, Ximen Wei does not recall himself dying in Earth, well, either way, he transmigrated into a poor village.

His parents, Qin Liqiu and Ximen Fei, are hard working farmers who work diligently in order to make enough money so they c an scrape by the day.

Knock knock.

After arriving in front your typical wooden house, Ximen Wei knocked twice before a woman around her thirties, wearing peasant clothings with sewed patches, opened the door.

"Little Wei, you're late."

"Sorry mom, I had to wait for the storm to pass."

After removing his wooden shoes, Ximen Wei turned around and asked with an expectant gaze.

"Mom, did you borrow the book I told you about from Uncle Fang?"

"Ah yes, it's in your room."

"Okay thanks!"

Uncle Fang is a retired adventurer who experienced the wonders of this world.

During his youthful days, he travelled around the continent and had contact with the people who wield superhuman and supernatural strength.

He usually chills around the village's center and narrates his countless tales and stories to children.

As a result, Ximen Wei developed a keen interest towards the mysterious power that grants humans supernatural strength, so he's been going around burrowing books relating to this stuff.

According to his knowledge so far, these super humans possess immense physical prowess and are able to control fire, lightning, water, etc… are called Qi Experts!

They are just like magicians, they control nature's elements to some extent and possess an unimaginably strong physique.

And according to Uncle Fang, the mysterious power that grants them strength is called Qi!

…

A rusty door opened as it made creaking noises and a 8-9 years old boy entered.

The room was small, around 6x6 meters square.

Cold wind was leaking from a crack in the ceiling, giving whoever entered the room a chilling feeling.

The room had no decorations whatsoever, no chair, no table, not even a bed, except for a blanket that's laying on the ground.

Seeing this, a helpless smile surfaced on Ximen Wei's face.

This kind of lifestyle was hard for him to adapt, after all, he came from Modern Earth where he slept on a comfortable bed with heat and lighting.

'How nice it would be if I can return home?'

On top of the blanket, there lays a thick black book with striking red letters as the title that read: "World Encyclopedia"

This is the book he burrowed from Uncle Fang, it provides an elementary introduction to the world's geography, modern powerhouses and various animal species.

After lighting up the candle, Ximen Wei sat atop the blanket and looked at the ceiling.

'Qi huh? If I become one of the so-called "Qi Experts", will I be able to return home?' - Ximen Wei thought as a peculiar light flashed across his eyes.

'I have to… that is my only way… I have family and friends waiting for me… She is waiting for me..'

When he thought of his home, Earth, Ximen Wei's eyes reddened as he shed tears for a bit.

'Sigh, I always get emotional when I think of home.'

'This loneliness, I can't curb it.. Despite my birth "parents" showering me with love and affection, I feel nothing...'

'I'm spacing out again, if I want to get out of this hell hole, I have to focus and work hard..'

After opening the book and reading through few pages, Ximen Wei got a general idea about what kind of world this is.

This world is immensely huge, there are five continents, each one is twice as big as the Eurasian continent.

The one Ximen Wei lives in is called Divine Star Continent, a fertile land with countless resources and possesses vast number of human settlements.

There was one thing that surprised Ximen Wei about this world.

In Earth, humans reign supreme, they are at the top of the food chain and dominate all other species, however, in this world, humans are just one of the many intelligent races who live here.

There exists Elves, Goblins, Dragonmen, Orcs and all sorts of different races that only exist in fantasy and novels, each one of them possesses their respective empires and land.

Such a magical world made Ximen Wei flabbergasted, making him think this is all a dream.

Unfortunately, the 8 years he lived in here told him of the harsh reality.

However, it is undeniable that this world is a huge opportunity for humans to surpass their limits and attain supernatural powers beyond imagination, and precisely because of that, Ximen Wei strives for these powers so he can return home.

'But… I am a poor village boy, how am I supposed to learn "Qi" that only the noble and the privileged can learn?'

'Even Uncle Fang, a former adventurer who spent nearly 30 years travelling, did not even have a chance to stumble upon a method to learn "Qi".'

'Well, this can't do, since this village can't meet my needs, I will have to leave! Next year, a caravan will come and sell goods to this village, I just have to figure out some way to sneak in.'

'This is a big gamble tho, if I get caught inside the caravan, my life will possibly be in danger, and even if I make it into some city, there is no guarantee that I will find a way to learn "Qi".. but it's my only choice if I want to return home, I have no other way for now..'

In the dimly lit room, Ximen Wei's eyes flashed a bright light as he started planning for the future.

Next morning.

The gloomy clouds from yesterday disappeared, allowing the sun to shine brightly amidst the clear azure sky.

As if celebrating the great weather, the birds were chirping happily and the roosters were crowing loudly.

Villagers could be seen cultivating the land diligently, hoeing the soil with great energy.

Ximen Wei walked out of his house and headed for the farm with the intent to do his duty and help his parents out with the farm.

'What a troublesome thing to do…'

After he arrived at his destination, he saw a short man wearing dirty peasant clothings and a straw hat. This is Ximen Fei, Ximen Wei's birth father.

"Morning Little Wei, start plucking the scallions from over there, mommy will join you in a bit."

"Okay dad." - Replied Ximen Wei.

'Pffft, well, the good thing is, I only have to keep up with this shit for a ye-'

Rumble rumble.

The ground shook violently as horse footsteps interrupted Ximen Wei's thoughts.

"What's that?" - Frowned Ximen Fei.

"Hmm, maybe patrols?"

"Looks like people are heading towards the village's center."

"Let's go and have a look.."

An ominous, uneasy feeling rose in Ximen Wei's heart, and over time, the feeling grew more prominent bit by bit.

'Patrols usually come in pairs, judging from the sound of the horse's footsteps, there is definitely more than 50 horses, is it an army squadron passing by?'

'If so, why are they heading this way? The fort is to the west, passing by the village to head there will take more time...'

Almost all the village's residents are gathered around the village's center, upon arriving, Ximen Wei noticed the worried expressions on their faces, especially the old village head, sweat could be seen trickling down his old, wrinkled face.

The uneasy feeling intensified even more in his heart, giving rise to a bad premonition.

'This may be my gut feelings but I feel like something bad is going to happen..'

Ximen Fei walked up the old village head and exchanged couple words with him before returning with a grim face.

"Honey, what is it?" - Asked Qin Liqiu.

"Apparently Western Wen's troops are heading towards this direction.. They are slowly encircling us..."

"Western Wen? Isn't that the neighbouring empire next to us? What are they doing trespassing borders? Do they wanna start a war or something?"

Western Wen and the Su Dynasty are two powerhouses sharing borders, and Ximen Wei's village happens to be extremely close to the border.

As they were coveting each other's territories, conflict between them was inevitable.

If a war were to break out, Ximen Wei's village will be the first place to face the upcoming calamity.

"Dear, take little Wei and hide in the closet, when the time comes, make a run for it."

"Honey…"

Eventually, over 50 armored soldiers wielding spears and swords surrounded the village.

Each one of them carries a suffocating aura filled with bloodlust and killing intent.

Rumble rumble.

A troop made of warhorses and elite soldiers entered the village, leading them a tall, muscular man wearing black knight armor and helmet.

The leader got off his horse, studied his surroundings for a bit then focused his gaze on the crowd that is gathered around the village center.

An old man with white hair and a crooked back, walked out from the crowd and approached the leader respectfully, after bowing down, he said with a quivering voice:

"Humble lord, I wonder wha-"

Before the old man even finished his words, the troops leader unsheathed his sword, pointed it towards the sky, and commanded with a horse voice:

"Leave the women and children behind, kill everyone else!"

Once the old man heard this, his heart sank and cold sweat slid down his face, but he maintained his calm and clapped his hands:

"Humble lord, please show merc-"

Plop!

Blood spurted as the head of the old man rolled down the ground.

Seeing what happened to their village head, the crowd panicked as they fumbled and dispersed in all directions, seemingly trying to escape with their families and closed ones.

Unfortunately, the village was encircled from all directions, no one can get in or get out.

Shortly after, a slaughter has ensued.

The soldiers hunted the villagers like dogs, they plunged their spears into their chests and hacked their heads with their swords.

Blood, brain matter, hair, feces and all sorts of disgusting, foul liquids splattered all around the village.

Bodies littered the ground as painful groans and screams could be heard constantly, children's cries and women's wailing gave rise to a depressing atmosphere in the village.

Some soldiers took liberty with the young girls and women as they vented their fury and desires.

Inside Ximen Fei's house.

Ximen Wei and his birth mother, Qin Liqiu, are hiding inside the closet.

Qin Liqiu was shivering from head to toe, she embraced Ximen Wei tightly and dared not speak a word, hoping the troops won't find search the house and find her, while Ximen Wei was in a daze.

His eyes lost all their colors.

He knows better than anyone else what would happen to him if he got caught, worst case scenario he turns into a toy for the nobles to torture and experiment on, after all, such a thing was not unheard of in Earth's Medieval Ages, let alone in this primitive world.

The painful screams and cries outside made everything seem like a dream for Ximen Wei.

He wanted to believe this was a dream, he wanted to wake up from this nightmare and find himself in his home, with his family… with his friends… and with her…

Bam!

The door was slammed open as two soldiers entered the house.

Within' couple seconds, everything inside was turned upside down and eventually they arrived in front of the closet.

Hearing their footsteps get closer, the faint glimmer of hope in Qin Liqiu's eyes disappeared while Ximen Wei maintained his dazed state.

Creaaaaak.

"Hoho, look what we found here.."

"AHHHH!! LET OFF!!" - When the soldiers reached to her, Qin Liqiu resisted bitterly but unfortunately, her attempt was futile as she was rendered unconscious with a hard smack.

One of the two soldiers looked at Qin Liqiu with a perverted gaze, he licked his lips as he chuckled:

"Hehe, looks like the search was fruitful, she looks pretty cute."

"Sigh, at least don't get her pregnant like what happened last time at Boshe Village."

"Don't worry Old Fang, I will definitely- sniff, she smells good! If you want, I will lend you her after I'm done with her."

"You really haven't changed… Well, what do we do with this kid?"

"Throw him with the rest!"

...

Couple minutes has passed and everything has come to an end.

The village was in ruins.

A foul odour suffocated the surroundings, as hoards of mosquitoes buzzed around the corpses of the dead adults and elders.

Women and children has been chained and tossed to a horse carriage, ready to get sold as slaves in the black market.

The troops leader mounted his warhorse as his gaze swept around the village.

"Plunder the food warehouse then burn everything down!"