C2 A New Beginning

Guided by the Black and White Impermanence, the trio made their way through the dense fog and arrived at the Bridge of Helplessness.

Dressed in black, Lady Mengpo's face was shrouded by a veil, concealing her white hair, leaving only her eyes—mysterious and sorrowful—watching over each spirit as they accepted the Tea of Forgetfulness from her hands.

Each spirit, unable to sever their ties to past memories, attempted to evade the Tea of Forgetfulness, only to have it forcibly poured down their throats by the ghostly attendants at the bridge's edge. Lady Mengpo sighed and intoned, "A bowl of the Tea of Forgetfulness, where life and death are vast unknowns, steeped in the bitterness of longing, erasing the wounds of the past."

With Lady Mengpo's words still hanging in the air, a bowl of the purple-red Tea of Forgetfulness was presented to Yuan Ge.

Without a moment's hesitation, Yuan Ge downed the tea, wiped his mouth, and with a flourish, tossed the bowl into the River of Forgetfulness. His boldness earned him looks of admiration from both Mengpo and the ghostly attendants.

Only the Black and White Impermanence muttered under their breath, questioning whether Yuan Ge would have been so willing to drink the Tea of Forgetfulness had they not promised him the memories of his previous life.

The six paths of reincarnation, a journey all must embark upon after death, where the sins of life are faced with their final reckoning.

Beyond the gates of reincarnation, the corridor radiated with a thousand rays of light, silently awaiting those about to be reborn.

Yuan Ge had no desire to linger in this spectral realm for a moment longer. Upon reaching the gateway to the human world, he strode through without a second thought. As he stepped into the passageway, the Underworld vanished behind him, leaving him surrounded by an infinite expanse of darkness.

He drifted like a solitary boat on the current, aimlessly floating through the corridor. An unprecedented weariness overcame him, morphing into a heavy drowsiness that enveloped his senses. Yuan Ge eventually succumbed to a deep sleep, his body gradually fading until it disappeared completely, like a mark being slowly erased.

In the corridor, Yuan Ge experienced a peaceful, serene dream. When he awoke, he found himself in a world transformed.

Upon entering the stone house, the Prime Minister was immediately struck by the craftsmanship. The stones, though not uniformly cut, were assembled seamlessly, creating an exceptionally sturdy structure. He had never encountered such smooth, finely textured stone before.

Inside, the furnishings were sparse, but the large wooden table at the center commanded attention. Despite the knife marks scarring its surface and the mere tendons of a beast holding the legs to the top, the table exuded a sense of enduring strength.

Neatly arranged on the table were several clay plates, each adorned with an ancient pattern. To Yuan Ge, these objects were akin to works of art.

Yuan Ge couldn't help but wonder how he had ended up here. Wasn't he supposed to be reincarnated with his memories intact?

As he sifted through his memories, Yuan Ge was astonished to find that not only were all his memories present, but there were additional ones as well. Each memory was as vivid and personal as if he had lived it himself, with no sense of unfamiliarity.

Plagued by questions, Yuan Ge rose from the bed and examined his body. To his surprise, he appeared to be a child of about ten years old. Testing his strength, he found his grip firm and his muscles visibly defined and powerful.

What Yuan Ge found most peculiar, however, were the clothes he wore: a set of beast skin garments and shoes that, though crudely fashioned from animal hide, were unexpectedly comfortable.

The conclusion was evident: he had not undergone reincarnation. Instead, he had been directly outfitted in the cycle of rebirth. His mixed memories suggested that this place was certainly not Earth.

Lost in thought over these bewildering revelations, Yuan Ge was interrupted by the entrance of a woman.

She seemed to be in her twenties, with long black hair tied back, revealing a face with large, expressive eyes and a gentle smile that radiated warmth and approachability.

Her bronze skin released a pleasant scent, the result of a plant-based liquid that served as both an insect repellent and a soothing fragrance. Her simple beast skin attire was worn with an elegance that highlighted her natural, unadorned beauty.

Jieying was Yuan Ge's older sister, the only kin he had left in this world since their parents had passed away a few years prior.

When she noticed Yuan Ge staring blankly at her, Jieying spoke with a gentle tease, "Finally awake, you lazybones? You must be starving. Come on, let's eat!"

Yuan Ge grinned and took his seat at the wooden table. Jieying reached into the beast skin bag behind her and laid out several pieces of dried meat on his plate. She then served up the steaming corn porridge, stirring it with a stone spoon, releasing the warm, inviting aroma into the air.

As she ladled porridge into Yuan Ge's bowl, Jieying mentioned, "Jietu and I will be joining the hunting team. You'll need to look after yourself while we're gone."

She set the bowl of porridge before Yuan Ge, affectionately ruffled his hair, and then turned to leave. Yuan Ge felt a wave of love from her touch, more profound than words could express.

With Jieying gone, Yuan Ge devoured his meal. The dried meat, a tribal delicacy simply cured with salt and sun-dried, was delicious and energy-packed. Being in a growth spurt, Yuan Ge's need for energy was especially high.

The corn porridge might not have been as energy-dense as the meat, but it was filling and free from any adverse effects. Yuan Ge polished off three bowls, savoring every last grain until he reluctantly set the empty bowl down. He patted his belly contentedly; the corn porridge, enhanced with herbs, was truly delightful.

He stashed the remaining dried meat into his beast skin bag, his provisions for the coming days, and stepped out of the stone house. Stretching languidly in the courtyard, Yuan Ge took in the vibrant life of his mountain-encircled tribe. In the late spring, the lush greenery brought the village to life, and the air itself seemed to pulse with vitality.

Hundreds of uniquely shaped stone houses were dotted across this tranquil stretch of land. People bustled between the houses, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they engaged in their various tasks.

Yuan Ge made his way to the edge of a vast grassy expanse. As he surveyed the area, he noted that the grassland was as large as two football fields. Despite being blanketed in snow throughout the winter, the wild grass had managed to grow knee-high.