VOLUME I: Chapter Three

VOLUME I

Chapter Three

"Sit down." Wenren laid him on the bed. The pitiful thing whimpered even though he weight almost next to nothing. The man patted his head before smiling gently. "I'll bring you your dinner later. Don't run and cause trouble outside. You won't get away from Ms. Via the second time, okay? She can be very mean."

Ritian reminisced every single thing that Wenren told him on their way to his house. Apparently, Ritian, the one with the old soul, was an orphan. According to Wenren, he's a little bit 'unstable'. Talking rubbish and making random noises all the time. Maybe that's the reason why his family abandoned him.

The chief of the village, Juan, took pity on Ritian and decided to let him stay. Every month, there should be a box where everyone would give their share. It's the village's fund. The money will be spent on building fences to ward off the wild animals or buying seeds for the vegetable garden. The coins left will be kept for the traps.

The traps were set on the mountain. After three days, all of those traps will be taken cared of by Wenren. All of the animals caught will be divided for the villagers to eat.

Of course, since Ritian was spared of paying the monthly contribution, he had no share of the meat.

'Fantastic.' Ritian stared at Wenren's back. 'In this place, I'm branded stupid and useless.'

Wenren didn't find his questions weird. It was as if this is his usual self. Ritian inquired more about the place. And he wasn't disappointed.

On the prospered continent of Cabato, the statuses are divided into; the highborn with outstanding spiritual roots, the highborn or royal blood without any spiritual roots, the government, the martial heroes, some extinct alchemists, the merchants and the common people.

No wonder why Wenren was regarded higher than anyone here in the village.

Wenren was stationed on the remote place to give security and monitor the piece of land. He picked the northern mountains. That's where he met the kind people of Han village. He stayed here for a month now.

He knew some of Ritian's problems because the village women often rant about it.

Wenren knew him all along. The guy wanted to tease him when he saw him coming up after being under the water for too long. He wanted to check his state of mind. When Ritian mindlessly took the bait, Wenren was relieved.

Ritian was once caught peeping at the village chief's only son, Cheel, age 25. The guy was engaged to the eldest daughter of an old merchant. The senior who owned the store in the village. That woman, at the age of 30, was instantly furious about Ritian's harassment towards her fiancé. She ordered Ritian's head. Luckily, Wenren intervened that time. Reasoning that Cheel was not yet married to her. So it won't be counted.

Ritian questioned Wenren's rationality on that part, and even wondered if the people in this place were still sane. A head for peeping? Wenren acquiesced and told him the truth, 'I just wanted to save you. I don't have the time to think of any believable excuse.'

And because a martial hero's words were treated golden, the village chief could only console the woman's family.

Via's father was peeved with Wenren's decision of obscuring her daughter's whim. It is not unreasonable to guess that Wenren might make it to the old man's Top Ten Most Hateful Individuals. Ritian winning the first rank.

From then on, rumors started to spread like wildfire. Wenren cited some of the nefarious stories that the women of this village loves to talk about. Ritian's expression was ugly.

Because Ritian didn't have any support from anyone, the supplies coming to his place are often questioned. Ritian doesn't know how to answer that one. He himself doesn't have any memories about it. He doesn't even know if those allegations were true or not!

'Did I suddenly become a prostitute this time?' Ritian held his forehead. 'This is not cool.'

Suddenly, the idea of going home seems great.

He thought of his mother. She could be mourning for her loss. While his dad would be sad for a moment then forget about him right after. It's not a secret in their family how Ritian was regarded as a waste.

His friends were not worth mentioning too.

Ritian will miss his mom. Although at the same time, he felt relieved. He can live an out and proud life now. He doesn't have to worry of what would his parents think if they knew he loves dreaming about naked men. The shame, the feeling of being a big disappointment, he doesn't need to worry about it anymore.

He will date any man of his taste that's interested with him!

Before that, first, he needed to clean the filth of his name in this place. His future husband won't like it if Ritian has a reputation of being a retarded cum-bucket. It won't be nice in the long run. Ritian thought he's not into that hardcore stuff.

Then, he needed to figure out how to live in this village.

The house where Wenren dumped him is not in a good state. Ritian estimated that with only three heavy rains, this withered shack will drop faster than his briefs when he's excited.

Ritian wants to live an honest life. Have an honest husband and live peacefully. He doesn't have to worry about the villagers anymore because he would have a man to flaunt and protect him!

Ritian smiled. He never had an experience about living in the wild. He stayed with his grandma in the province before but it wasn't this tacky. He's a kid back then so the only problem he's been so annoyed with was eating sweet potatoes from morning  'til night. Now, he needs to provide for himself.

He doesn't even know how to build fire from scratch.

He's literally starting from zero.

Ritian stood off the wooden bed. It creaked loudly in protest. The sharp sound made him sigh. He studied the small closet near his bed and cringe when he only found three sets of clothes. All of which are robes in different shades of pastel colors.

It's unlike the normal clothes of the villagers here. Their hair might be braided and long but their clothes are simple and neat.

Recalling the white robe he lost in the lake, Ritian closed his eyes. Now he only have this three left.

'I can't get any poorer than this, right?' Ritian begrudgingly pulled a light blue robe and fit himself into it. 'Gods, this fabric is so thick.'

The hem of the robe were threadbare, displaying how often the old Ritian uses this clothes.

Fastening it tight on his waist, Ritian padded his way outside the room. The single chair in the living room didn't shock Ritian, but the bareness of the house itself startled him.

Remove Ritian in this house and it will look like an abandoned shelter.

He couldn't help but feel sorry for the original soul. He doesn't even have one normal set of clothes! Even a t-shirt would suffice but nope, the unknown family didn't bother giving him one.

The faint light coming from the single candle placed at the center of the house is the only source of clarity he could afford.

One bowl and a spoon. Ritian raised a hand and laid it on his head. How does old Ritian cook his meals?

Judging the state of his thin body, it could be that the old Ritian doesn't eat much.

The new Ritian is now in charge of everything.  He needs to fatten this body as soon as possible.

"Ritian!" A hoarse voice called behind him. 

Ritian jumped and hastily turned around. "What? Who are you?"

A young man carrying a small basket full of fruits smiled at him. He leaped off from the small window. It's a wonder how the cheap thing didn't break under the weight of the man.

The carefree air surrounding him lulled Ritian to take a step closer. The guy doesn't have an upper clothes left. The masculine grace he exuded makes Ritian's cheeks warm. 'Is he Wenren's friend? What a handsome friend!'

When the moment of appreciation passed, there came his slight suspicions of him. He didn't even hear the man approach his house. The man's entrance posed how this encounter is a secret event.

"What?" A confused look crossed the guy's face before it faded into fondness. "Stop playing that. I won't buy it anymore. Did Via gave you any trouble again today?"

Ritian eyed the man critically. His mouth cracked open when he blurted out, "Cheel?"

The man took an excited step closer to him. Ritian became a tad agitated. "Of course, it's me. Help me unload this basket. I found something in the cave. I still don't know its purpose yet but I came here to show it to you. Maybe you know this? If I can earn more, I'll give you half the money." 

Cheel rolled the fruits on the ground. Ritian gulped. After everything he'd been through, it's not unreasonable to feel hungry and tired at the same time. "Aha! Here..."

The man held a glistening stone before his eyes. It was cold and only the size of a penny. Ritian lifted a hand to feel it. Cheel's grin widened. "I think this one will make us rich, Ritian!"

Ritian nodded faintly. The stone made him feel relief and slightly calm. "Where did you get this?"

'I'll sell it to earth so people won't have to go therapy anymore.' Ritian nodded. Sure, this will make him a billionaire.

"What? It's in the hidden cave we discovered last time." Cheel laughed merrily. The glint in his eyes show he's already imagining how much they will gain for this. "There's a few boxes left in the cave. I only got these to show you. How was it? Is it rare?"

Ritian's brow formed a wave. He doesn't know what exactly this stone is. More than anything, this man made him uncomfortable with each passing second. Ritian eyed the man with a skeptical face.

The rumors surrounding him being in love with the guy before him is confirmed false. If those junk were true, then this man shouldn't be talking with him right now!

If that's the case, where did those blathering came from?

Ritian rolled his sleeves. He needed to know the truth from this man himself. "Cheel, I think we need to discuss something."

"Huh?" Cheel stood and eventually towered over him. Ritian felt his courage depleting. This guy was huge despite his young age. "There's a person coming over. Ritian, who is it?"

'It must be Wenren!' Ritian cleared his throat. 'How did he know it?' "It's Wenren. He promised me a meal."

Cheel's brow shot upwards. "Oh, you're friends with him now?" He nodded with his face grim. "I'll be back tomorrow. I'll leave you this one. Think this thoroughly. Ritian, don't betray me."

Ritian's breath caught. Before he can utter a single word of obeisance, the man leaped on the window. He even forgot bringing his fruits!

The door slowly opened. It croaked merrily under the visitor's hand. Wenren's warm smile greeted him. "If you think I didn't hear anything, you're wrong."

He's dressed in a simple shirt and a loose pants. He carried a woven basket, which emits a mouthwatering scent. His mouth opened slightly.

Ritian bent his knees and picks up the fruits. He laughed awkwardly. "Ah! You're a martial hero. I won't dare deceive you! Welcome. Ask away!"

Forget integrity! He's famished!

Wenren's eyes caught the white stone in his hands. A strange emotion flashed in his face before curiosity took over it. "Who gave you this spiritual stone?"

Wenren's hand held his wrist on a death grip. Ritian's brow twisted in protest. "It hurts! Are you crazy? Stop!"

His gaze went to the stone glinting weakly on Wenren's left hand. 'Spiritual stone?' He thought. 'So it can really make me rich?'

'Then I wouldn't worry about the mosquitoes feasting on me at night!'

Ritian's eyes twinkled. Now that he thought about it, those rumors aren't that bad anymore.