Cultivation has changed, the qi of the entire existence did as well, and from Wang Ling could tell, he's now a cripple.

He was just about to enter a deep state of meditation when the dilapidated siding door opened to his right. Wang Ling turned his attention to it and saw a boy not even at the age of twelve carrying a basket filled with mountain vegetables.

"Brother! You are awake!" Leo threw the basket aside and ran to his brother's side he opened his arms wide.

Wang Ling sighed.

Leo hugged Wang Ling and the next moment, Wang Ling's vision turned upside down as Leo pinned him down with a knife held against his neck, "Tell me! Who are you!?"

Leo, Lucius' younger brother blood escaped from the cut, he had created on Wang Ling's neck.

"How clever and brave of you to do this… but, not brave enough it seems."

Leo's hand was trembling, he was still afraid of hurting Lucius' body, but he wanted answers. He wanted Wang Ling to speak what the hell is happening!

"Shut up! I'll do it! I really will do it!"

Wang Ling saw Leo's eyes burning with rage, it was similar to his in the first life. However, the difference was that Leo's rage was much more subdued and was shrouded with doubt and confusion.

His situation, and reaction to all this however was rather understandable, Wang Ling had taken over the body of Leo's brother and he had announced it earlier as to not make Leo cling to any more false hopes.

"First, you do not use a knife in that manner, else it will only put you in danger." Wang Ling suddenly moved, his hands grabbed Leo's wrist twisted it a little, and had him let go of the weapon.

The knife fell and Wang Ling caught it with his other hand before breaking free of Leo's grasps. Leo wished to make another move until the wooden floor in front of him got carved out.

"That is enough, Leo, I know you are in pain after what happened to your Clan and brother, but we won't be having any peaceful conversation if you use this little tool. Don't push yourself, boy, you're too soft to even try killing someone."

"You don't know anything about me!"

"Stop shouting, Leo, I have inherited your brother's memories and I know what kind of kid you are. I know that you are kind and caring, soft and unwilling to even take up the art of fighting in fear of hurting others… you didn't bind me and even nursed me to health despite my proclamation the last time we met… do not let anger cloud your sight of who you are —"

A line separated him from Wang Ling yet he felt closer to this boy before him than he should. This body had lost his family, and was left to live without any reason to go on for Wang Ling had already slain the target of his revenge.

Leo, the boy whose family perished in front of him stood before Wang Ling trying to keep a strong front, he wished to speak with the one possessing the body of his brother with the expectation of regaining his brother, yet the only thing he got was a clarification.

When Wang Ling saw his eyes calm down, his words began to flow out.

"Your brother… died trying to protect you. He could have lived if he let the storm pass and waited for the Overhaul Phoenix Rebirth Technique. However, he wanted to save you, the last of kin and then, as I travel across the cosmos searching for a host to house my soul, I heard his plea and bonded with his body in exchange for your protection and getting his revenge."

"His soul can it—"

"I'm sorry but he had already entered the Wheel of Reincarnation, he can longer return to this vessel. The proof you needed for who I am lies in the performance I showed you when I slaughtered your enemies last night. I carry with me the Quintessence of the Sword, and your brother mastered the art of the fist, our path cannot be any different."

Listening to Wang Ling's words, there was nothing that Leo could point out and with this, tears fell from the boy.

When the doubt and confusion clouding his mind left him, the boy finally met with the hard truth that his entire family had left him leaving him alone in this world.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! Why? Brother!? Why did you leave me too???"

The hope of not being alone disappeared, and his heart broke into millions of pieces. Emotions welled up as he fell to his knees whiles he wiped the tears away.

His body was not in pain, but his body burned because of myriads of emotions. He did not know what to do, he grew restless and, in the end, he resorted to punching the ground until his fist bled.

"Leo! Stop it!" Wang Ling caught Leo's hands and stopped his outburst.

Leo looked at him, his eyes already without hope, asking him, begging him for one thing, "If I stop… will you bring him back??? Will you return my brother? Will I get him back?"

Wang Ling stayed silent and at that moment, the only thing he thought of doing was pulling the boy into his arms.

"Just cry it out, boy." He stated with a soft tone.

Being alive was something to be thankful for, yet the truth was that being left in this world with no one was also painful to endure. Leo was but a young boy, his future still unascertained yet he was already thrown into such a predicament.

His tears did not stop his cries turned to wails and, in the end, he bawled as a child would.

The one before him maybe his brother's body, yet the one within it was someone he did not even know. Leo… was now alone.

Wang Ling had been in his shoes before, the despair it brought to the young and immature heart of Leo would be nothing short of devastating, and in some unnamed mountain, the sound of a boy's cries could be heard.