Chapter Thirteen: A Child

I forgot how bloody it was to specifically dissect an animal. I've been eating fish for the past couple of weeks as sustenance because I felt guilty eating the cuter animals…

Thankfully, fishes are not as cute. So goodbye horned fish or whatever your name was! Your species was absolutely delicious and made me change my mind on the idea that fish was bad!

Though… the memories of the rabbit and that deer still haunt me a bit. The innocent eyes… Ah. 

It's honestly a bit disturbing seeing how gruesome the corpse was, I should have probably left it a lot cleaner…

…

As Yanqing tried to dissect and butcher the two demonic beasts he saw the eye of the first grade demonic beast roll by…

His stomach churned as he felt like he should've just brought the entire corpse regardless of whether or not it was worth bringing it…

Why isn't the storage bag bigger? Why didn't you buy a bigger storage bag, light-skinned man!

Wait, now that I think about it, if that guy was hunting to get enough spirit stones for the foundational establishment pill, why did he buy a treasure instead? 

If he was broke, how did he get enough for a treasure? Where were his other storage bags if he did kill other cultivators?

Aaah, questions for later damnit!

If I want to get enough spirit stones to buy more stones– I mean buy a foundational establishment pill I need to butcher these two… 

I could also try to use the demon cores as substitutes, but that would take dozens if not hundreds of tries. Even Han Li tried for dozens of times over until he even gained a remote chance of alchemy. He was extremely talented in alchemy too! 

Maybe I should… hunt instead. 

[Aurora] was also starting to get annoying! Even with its sharp edges it refuses to cut through the damn fur and leather. Whenever I mentioned cutting it or asking it for help it would simply start to inch away from me!

Though, what do demonic beasts taste like? Are they poisonous or? On the subject of food, could there be a cow demonic beast? Could there be a demonic sugarcane plant? Could I make milk tea? 

Questions for later… I still need to butcher this. 

…

"aaAH! Why is blood spewing out? I froze it already! WHY ARE YOU BLEEDING?" Yanqing spoke as he backed away from the fountain that erupted from the beast's body. Fear was obvious in his eyes.

[Aurora] felt like it was a clown show, even though it didn't actually know how a clown would act. It felt like the very definition of it, though it was quite entertaining for it to watch. 

"[Aurora]! Please help!" Yanqing spoke with some tears in his eyes, which amused [Aurora] even more. "I'm a genius in the sword, not butchering!"

When [Aurora] tilted the sharp edge like a human tilting its head, as if to ask "If you're a genius in the sword then why don't you know how to butcher? Isn't that part of using a sword efficiently?" Yanqing's face slowly started to turn red with embarrassment due to the fact that it was conveyed through their mental connection.

"Interests would only affect the speed of my sword!" He spoke with utmost vigor, while [Aurora] would probably die of laughter if it could speak. 

It's hard to imagine that a person as young as Yanqing, even if he was a Xianzhou Native, could kill dozens of enemies on the battlefield for the honor of Loufu, but cannot do simpler tasks.

It's often easy to forget that Yanqing is still a child, and barely of age for short-lived species. 

Even now, although his age is unknown due to an unforeseen circumstance, it would be easy to estimate his current age to be around 15-17. Though this may be wrong as Xianzhou natives often age weirdly. 

From Yanqing's earliest memories, he already followed the general around each day. Learning the skill of swordsmanship in order to be by the general's side. 

Day in and day out he has been training and developing his skills. For most it would take a long time to develop these skills, but due to his enormous talent he was able to master things that would've taken a hundred years for others in a few years. 

Yet this talent also brought along problems to Yanqing. What Yanqing needs right now is not more strength, but the ability and experience of curbing that strength— something that can only manifest by the passage of time.

One he would have much of, but not with those he wished to spend the time with.

…

The stars shined above me as I finally dissected the last part of the beasts. The tendons, the muscles, the bones, teeth, and demon core were finally separated from one another. Though now I have a trauma… Blood fountains…

After a few days of hard work, practice, and running away I feel like I achieved something I couldn't have on Loufu…

It's weird to say this but it feels more comforting. I felt more free. 

I layed on my back while I watched the stars glitter in the sky, as if to say "Hello Traveler, you may now rest!" The big dipper and other constellations hung in the sky which could be seen from any location. I only saw this scene when I was off-world with the general in the battle against those abominations… but it's still beautiful as ever.

[Aurora] flew by my side, sustained by the natural energy of Heaven and Earth, occasionally poking me to tell that a creature had appeared near me. Sometimes it was a bear with giant claws, other times it was a cute rabbit that attempted to bite my head off when I tried to pick it up… and some other animals. 

I got saved by [Aurora] during that rabbit incident… We don't talk about that incident anymore. 

Tomorrow's the day that I set off to see more of this land, and more of this world. Only by gaining strength can I eventually return. For the highest of cultivators, reverting time is the same as flicking a finger, and when I reach that state– I can return home…

It's exhausting to think about all this. I've almost forgotten the fact that I need to get a sheath for [Aurora]. I'm honestly surprised that they didn't know they needed one, though I suppose I'd be a surprise gift. I'll be sure to pick the best of the best for them!

What would it be though, maybe a lion design? Oh oh I know it should be a design with an ice phoenix! Wait no, a dragon shape would also be quite cool… So many choices and I haven't even started to think about the material of the sheath either. Should I make it with my Six-Phased Ice? Or should it be some kind of material in this world as a souvenir for when I leave?

Aaaah. So many choices! 

…

In the deepest and most hidden parts of his mind, Yanqing truly smiled for the second time in this world. Unhindered by the effects of elation or remembrance, he continues to create his own path. 

Everyone takes different paths, including the Criminal and former Sword Champion of Loufu, Jingliu, the General of Xianzhou Luofu ship, and Yanqing himself. Each one of them began on the same path, but all separated at one point. 

A new [Path] could be opened to him if he were to journey down this path. One unique to himself, but not one he would regret. 

Everyone has their own paths, so why be afraid to stop?