The sun was on the verge of being swallowed by the horizon as Cie Lin wasn't sure of the way and he would have almost lost himself.
The huts, which the people here are living in, are looking much more sturdy compared to the farmer's huts. They seemed stable and unable to break with the force of a grown up mortal.
However, the color is bad. Who would ever want a brown house? I mean, isn't it clear that white is the only color truly befitting for a house or generally a place to live.
Cie Lin still wore the same robe since the entry to the Scarlet Clout World. He had worn the same robe over ten years. It no longer had the same elegance, it once showed. The blue flower patterns were long washed away from the rain, but Cie Lin still liked to imagine them still being here.
Even though the robe didn't stank, because Cie Lin knew how to clean it, he couldn't prevent it from the corroding touch of time. The most critical point was the behind part of the robe, because he spend so much time sitting.
Why aren't there cultivation techniques, which can be practiced while walking?
He strode to the village with leisurely steps. He did his best not to step on stones, because in these moments, the most important was looking like a heaven-sent fairy.
I have clearly read too many novels. Luckily, I should get some peace from them by being here. The haven't been invented yet.
He was noticed by an elderly man with apparent health issues. His entire face was covered with many scars and some of the scars had a slight yellowy undertone, which concerned Cie Lin.
The man started calling wildly and some more people appeared in Cie Lin's point of view. They looked weirdly at him. It was a stare, which was unknown to Cie Lin. Or it was too long since he had seen that kind of stare.
Then, it snapped in him as the answer almost instantly appeared in his mind.
Oh right, these people must have never seen a real cultivator. How would they suddenly react when they saw a person wearing a white robe walking up to them? Why didn't I think of that? I need to tell them I mean no bad. But how should I do that? I am stupid again.
Cie Lin felt the strong urge to hit his head with his flat hand, but suppressed it as it wasn't smart to do that in this situation.
"I mean no harm." He spoke clearly to all of them in hope that it would change their view, while maintaining his walking speed.
They must find it weird that I don't seem to be dirty even though I am walking around just like that in the woods.
"Who are you? Or better...what are you?" The voice of a middle-aged man, who stood a bit before everyone.
Maybe he is their leader or boss, Cie Lin mused. He was only around five meters away from them, when he stopped to answer the question.
"I am a Cultivator. Someone, who works with the Spirit Qi, which is everywhere life is. But if you want to insist, I am also a human."
Cie Lin formed a small smile on his lips, when saying those words. They reminded him of the first time, he got reborn into this world. He was helpless, lost in a dark forest and he was a small child. He was found by his father, and even though he wasn't his son, he took him in. Cie Lin always wanted an answer for why he did that, but he never received one. His father had always said that he will tell him later, but at some point there was no later. The later was dead.
Cie Lin suppressed his uprising emotions and returned to reality.
"What is Spirit Qi" The same man asked again. The faces of the people were already beginning to relax. Whether they thought he is a crazy person or someone who actually does this, didn't matter to him. He just wanted to gain their trust for now.
"Spirit Qi is everywhere where life is and it can be your biggest hope. Whether you want to believe me is up to you." He was just one meter away from the man and held his hand to the man, who seemed to have calmed down.
"How can that be our hope? Are you here because you want to help us?" The man countered with a stern voice, but he seemed tired. There were already some folds in his face and his eyes were trying their hardest to stay open.
On the contrary, the man saw an angel-like person walking on dirty ground without getting dirty in the slightest. The young man with the white hair, which seemed to shine in the darkness, walked without worry. He seemed detached from the world as if he was levitating above the ground. He had once heard of stories talking about gods, mystical beings and angels, but he stopped believing in these as he grew older. He saw people dying and no being came to bring them away.
This 'Cultivator' was someone if he dared to say that. The closest one to those beings. Composed, calm and appearing like someone too god-like to be true. And he started talking about 'Spirit Qi', which should be their biggest hope. He wished that could be true.
"It can heal your injuries, make you less likely to hurt yourself, make you stronger. I like to believe the possibilities with Spirt Qi are endless. However that would be something I have yet been unable to prove. I am no almighty being, but I am mighty and I am able to do things others can't."
The man couldn't exactly believe that Cie Lin told the truth and therefore decided to ask him for prove. If Cie Lin could prove himself, he would believe him every single word he'll ever say without a single doubt.
"Are you able to prove your words? Show me your might!"
Cie Lin smiled gently as a small flame appeared in his hand. It was a trick his father had shown him. It may not be a strong technique or beautifully looking, but it had that one detail, which made Cie Lin smile whenever he thinks about it.
Creating a technique isn't easy. It is incredibly difficult. That means someone must have created this technique with thought and consideration for a long time. But for what? Why would someone waste their time on a technique, which does nothing except being a small little flame? Cie Lin didn't know, but he was sure of one thing. It wasn't for nothing.
The man gasped as he saw the small flame appear in Cie Lin's hand. Every person, who was able to see the small flame, gasped in surprise too.
In the darkness the light seemed to shine even brighter, enlightening the surroundings more than one would expect from that little flame.