Lightning

Ten Years Ago,

"Feng'er! Careful! It's raining outside! You'll catch a cold!"

A beautiful woman, clad in a plain green dress stood at the edge of the doorway as she looked past the house.

In front of her, a small boy ran through the rain, dancing as the drops hit the ground.

He was already thoroughly drenched as he looked up.

Even as a boy, he was sensible enough not to go anywhere near the river that was bordering his play space.

He looked up at the sky, which shimmered with the rain that hailed down, and the hazy white light that shone through the clouds.

"Rumble!"

The sky growled with hunger as the beautiful woman finally came out of the shelter of her house, toward a young Li Feng.

"That's it. You should know when it's time to quit!" she said as she ran toward Li Feng.

Looking at his mother, Li Feng smiled as he turned tail and ran the other way.

Streaks of lightning danced around the clouds, turning the whole sky into a beautiful canvas.

The young boy could not outrun his mother anymore as he fell down on the ground in submission.

"I told you to come back the moment this turns into a thunderstorm. Now, let's go back inside." She shook her head and said.

"Fine, mother." Li Feng grumbled as he got up and stepped toward the beautiful woman.

But as he did, his foot slipped forward in the slippery grass and he stumbled forwards.

"No!" The woman shrieked as she witnessed in horror her young boy falling back to the river that they had unknowingly reached.

"Rumble!"

Li Feng heard the sound. But he saw the flash seconds earlier. As did his mother, who shrieked for that very reason.

It didn't pain at all.

The moment the lightning struck his eye, it felt like just another fly had stung him.

It was the crash into the raging river behind that hurt him more than anything else.

Everything around him was just a blurry mess. He couldn't understand anything, and the world just blacked out.

At least, half of it did. His left eye couldn't see anything. He knew it.

And then, the second half also turned black.

....

A day later, Li Feng opened his eyes. He was greeted with the familiar sight of his own room.

As he tilted his head, he could see his mother, seated right next to him, leaning against the wall.

Li Feng could make out the dried tears and the furrowed brows on her face. She was worried. Very worried.

And beyond his mother, he could see that his father was standing outside the room, talking to someone?

Who was he talking to? Why was his father so happy as opposed to his mother?

He was thanking someone?

"Looks like the young man is awake." An elderly voice came from near Li Feng's father.

Li Feng's father, and an old man with white hair and a beard walked into the room.

Li Feng looked at the new entry with curiosity. Who was this man?

"In my years of experience, I have never seen a mortal struck by lightning and survive. And even those who have were usually covered in burn scars." The old man slowly said.

Li Feng's mother also stirred from her slumber and glanced up at the voice that woke her.

"Master!" She got up and greeted the old man, cupping her hands.

But her eyes couldn't help but veer to the side, as she saw her young boy with eyes open.

"Feng'er!" She cried out as she leapt on the young Li Feng.

"I was so worried. That's it. You are not allowed to play outside in the rain ever again. What would I do if I lost you?" She sobbed as she clutched Li Feng tight.

"Do not fret, young lady. Your son is stronger than most. He seems to have a natural constitution much better than others, to be able to withstand a lightning strike." The old man said.

"It is a pity, none of my tests seem to learn anything. But regardless, to be able to survive such an ordeal is a testament to the luck that you possess, little one." The old man said.

"I can only say that this luck will help you in the future. So why not give you a chance?" He chuckled as he took out a solid bronze token.

There were seven sword like inscriptions on the token, carved in with elegance.

"When you grow older, if you ever think that you want to enter the world of cultivators, then come to our place once. We can use someone like you. If you run into any trouble, show the token." The old man said.

"This gift is too much, elder! You saved our young boy. We must be the ones to pay you back for this!" Li Feng's father bent down and said.

"I didn't save the young boy. He survived the lightning all on his own. All I did was help him escape a raging current." The old man shook his head.

"But to give him this token might be too much. Both of you should keep this safe, and maybe you can give him this chance later in his life." The old man turned and gave the token to Li Feng's parents.

"Now then, I spent enough time here. I need to get going. I hope that I will see you once more in the future, young man." The old man smiled at Li Feng.

This whole while, Li Feng looked at the discussion cluelessly. Why was this grandpa talking in these riddles?

And he could barely remember what happened the day before. He remembered the white flash. And he fell into the river? That was the last thing that he could remember.

"Alright then. Good luck, young boy." The old man turned around, and when Li Feng blinked, the old man was gone.

"Who was that man, mother?" Li Feng turned to his mother.

"The person who saved your life." His mother said with a bittersweet smile on her face.

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