A young man is sitting on a stone besides two fresh mounds below a tall tree on top of a hill. Gentle breeze would occasionally cause a few dried leaves to fall, but the crestfallen young man remained motionless.

The young man is Kle In who has buried Aunt Mabna'y and her daughter last night.

He meandered the forest after killing and looted his unknown enemies by relying on the five sets of meridians incorporated in his body via beast cores. He wanted to back to San Ruk and surrender the bodies of the mother and daughter pair to their families but he does not know the way back nor does he have a method of transportation.

Yesterday before he crossed a certain mountain, he felt ripples of a beast as strong as the Horned Flame Lion that almost devoured him. When he found the source of the aura, it turned out to be a formation inscribed on a boulder. He ignored it and continued his journey, however he started to encounter a few weak magical beasts.

It dawned to him that he has not encountered any dangerous beasts before traversing the mountain where the Formation was located. Using Qi Projection, he created stilts and went back. After a few minutes he found another similar Formation at least a kilometer away from the original one. He guessed that this Formation was probably set up like a fence to fend off magical beasts from entering a nearby town. Having no direction, he decided to follow the trails of these formations to its terminus, but before that, he wanted to give the mother and daughter pair a simple burial.

Kle In placed the wild flowers he found nearby and placed it on their graves. He wished to go back to apologize and make up with their families, but he is anxious his presence will implicate them. He recalled their final words one more time. Having capitulated to death yet they still wished for his escape during their final moments. Kle In was an atheist, but as a living proof of reincarnation, he prayed that they may live in peace and comfort in their next lives. He kneeled and thanked them one more time.

The sun has just risen up and he started to take off. Bitterness and regret filled his heart. He can only move forward hoping that tomorrow would bring him meaning and contentment.

Days and nights passed and Kle In estimated that it has been eighty five days since he buried the mother and daughter pair. After reaching the end of the fence on the sixth day, he threw a coin to determine his next destination and after three months of walking aimlessly, he finally reached a road. He waited an hour and a few locals did pass by but due to language barrier, Kle In could only follow the same road on foot.

One late afternoon, a caravan gained distance to a young man dressed in a farmer's clothes. The dirt on his skin and clothes looked like he has not taken a bath for a significant amount of time that he looked like a beggar. Like many who have modes of transportation who passed by him, he should have had been ignored as an insignificant person but the experienced leader of the caravan noticed that it was a young man with a cultivation of Late Qi Condensation.

As one of the leaders of a nameless mercenary, many of their members are random itinerant cultivators and only a handful has decent strength. Even his current team, only he is Foundation Establishment and three who are in their thirties are Late Qi Condensation and the rest are either Early or Mid Condensation. Seeing the beggar is still young and has already reached such stage, there might be a chance to recruit him even if the chance is slim.

"A young man like you should be accompanied by a beautiful woman. There is river nearby on the next turn and you may join our camp if you like."

Kle In was ecstatic someone approached him using Elven dialect. He immediately agreed and followed the kind person riding a horse. After a few minutes, they stopped and began camping.

"Come with me. No matter how tiring and distasteful travelling is, you should at least maintain a level of cleanliness."

Kle In just realized how messy and dirty he was. A month ago after healing his primary meridians, only bones were left from the Flamed Horned Lion so he had to hunt the same four legged magical beast. There is still that bloodstain from when he crushed the head of leopard-like beast. When they reached the riverbed, the leader threw him soap as they stood beside a man-made pool.

"Make haste or you will be bathing with the crowd."

Night was about to come as it was getting darker. Kle In saw the leader started taking off his garments so he did the same, however as soon as he removed and dropped his upper garment on the ground, he felt a killing intent suddenly coming from this supposedly amicable leader.

"And here I thought I met genius I could recruit. Seeing your symptoms are still on its infancy, I will let you live if you cripple cultivation."

Kle In was surprised by the sudden turn of events. What could possible trigger this stranger to immediately turn hostile. He did not want to make enemies so he decided to leave. Just as he was about to pick up his shirt, he noticed a dark spot covering the area below his nipples extending above his navel. It looks like it has been turned into the skin similar to the Flame Horned Lion.