Tang Yuan learned something quite quickly in his new life. Rather he relearned something if he had already learned it before. That something is being a baby sucks. Like it really really sucks at least when you're aware of it. In your first life, you don't get to realize it. Because you aren't aware of being a baby at that time. The brain is not developed enough to know it.
The first problem is a rather simple one, really. It's simply being unable to move as you want. You have to sit somewhere or lie somewhere most of the day. Honestly, this young in life, forget walking, even crawling, is practically impossible. That means you can't really go anywhere you want to go on your own. You have to catch someone's attention and hope they do what you want. They never do. They just fawn over how cute you are, or something.
"The young master is so cute don't you think?" a young maid said to a slightly older one. Said the older maid holding Tang Yuan in her arms.
"Yes he is even when he is being fussy." the older maid replies to the younger. She holds Tang Yuan and rocks him back and forth.
That is another two things that make sense difficult. When you do get their attention they just assume that you want attention. Then they hold you for long periods of time until you calm down. On one hand, it is a difference from normal things. Plus what man wouldn't want to be held by pretty girls like this? The problem is that it gets old after a while. Especially when they like to poke and pinch your cheeks.
They continue to talk around me likely about cuteness, or my fussiness. This brings the third problem of still not being able to understand them. It's gotten better from birth to a degree. Now it's possible to associate certain words with actions. Partially from the maids playing with me admittedly.
Suddenly Tang Yuan scrunches his face for a bit seemingly in discomfort. That is the final problem, and absolutely the worst of them. Absolutely no control over one's own bladder. Having that problem is definitely the worst of this situation by a long shot. Simply because of how embarrassing it is to face it with the mind of an adult.
The maids begin to work on cleaning him up. He very pointedly diverts his thoughts away from the embarrassing situation. A normal baby can't even think of being embarrassed. Their thought aren't complex enough yet to understand that.
That is not the case for a reincarnated baby however. Who has the mind of an adult rather than a normal baby? Speaking of which how does this even work in real life? A baby shouldn't be developed enough to have such complex thoughts. Nor should my memories be able to be stored in this body.
Something about babies only developing the memory storage at three. I mean babies can store emotional memories or rather implicit memories. Such as their mothers' faces from strangers even at birth. As well as the memory of a few weeks in the baby's mind. Yet conscious knowledge of events needs the.. Was it the Hippocampus?
Tang Yuan seriously considered how years' worth of memories were held in his mind. Would they begin to fade or fuzz with time? Would they drain away like sand in an hourglass? These thoughts caused Tang Yuan a great deal of anxiety. How could they not consider the implications?
Most reincarnates would take the thought for granted probably. They would not even consider this possibility. Yet how could they not do so considering. Most people in his situation, as well as transmigraters and drop-ins would be wondering about cheats. Cheats are always expected by otherworlders in Tensura terms. They are the things that make people in this situation stand out. The advantage that allows them to rise to the top.
Yet this world's protagonist Tang San is a major example of an interesting case. He has many cheats even more than most protagonists. At least from non-cultivation works. Yet his greatest cheat has always been his memories in themselves. The knowledge from his past life is responsible for a vast amount of his achievements.
Without those memories, he would be in a far worse situation. His core strength comes from the techniques inherited from his past life. Those techniques allow him to best make use of hidden weapons. Knowledge of poisons allows him to hit above his weight class. Once more that knowledge of poison allowed him to acquire his second greatest cheat.
In other words, memories of a past life are an absolute cheat of their own. To potentially lose them would be a critical loss. Especially as far as he can tell he has absolutely no cheat of his own. His memories of his past life have not deteriorated at this point. These memories will be absolutely critical to his future as an otherworlder.
Sure Tang Yuan as John might not have been a super assassin from a sect. Yet John was a man from a modern era with his knowledge.
A college student focusing on engineering already with several years in college. With those years the knowledge of several inventions was in his mind. A mother who was a nurse for decades, and an elder sister doctor. Through them, John learned a good deal of knowledge of medicine. Even if a lot of it is not absolutely effective in this world. Much of it is also applicable in use for the world.
His deceased father was a police officer, and his eldest sister was a detective. Through them, he was taught the basics to defend himself. Those basics helped him stay in shape, and it became a competition between his family. This led him to pursue them to the degree of acquiring black belts. He knows how to use a knife and gun to defend himself as well.
Finally, the most critical part is meta-knowledge. He knows the plot of the story granting him future knowledge. His birth and future actions will probably throw that future on its head. Thus making said knowledge useless by the time it's needed. Even so, Tang Yuan has absolutely no need to hesitate in these matters.
The knowledge of the story gives him knowledge of the protagonist's opportunities. Those opportunities could be the difference between life and death. They could be the things to let him ascend to the top. In any fantasy world acquiring power is a critical thing to do. You can try to live a peaceful life, but you also need to acquire strength.
In fantasy worlds the rule is always that might makes right. Strength is justice is not totally an inaccurate saying. In fact, strength is what gives justice the power to work. Justice without strength is like a toothless lion. It can talk big, but won't be able to do anything.
Thus to act one needs strength. To live a good life one needs strength. At least to ensure a good life strength is paramount. Other wise one day disaster might come knocking. In this world of fantasy, their dangers are greater and simply more than on Earth. Yet one can also acquire personal power different from money or influence. You can become stronger to survive disasters and threats.
As John he had experienced the weight of weakness and helplessness. When he was young his father was shot while performing his duties. He felt helpless then, and for years whenever he thought of it. His family not only felt a heart-terrifying grief, but also suffered from financial issues. These issues caused his mother to have to work much harder.
It fractured his family for years far from completely, but certainly to a great extent. He and his siblings had to deal with their grief. His eldest sister tried to act as a second mom to help others through their grief. His elder sister began to act out in rebellious ways. His mother through herself into her work both to hide her grief and to provide for the family.
Now he is experiencing another period of helplessness. Never again he silently promises to himself on the bed. He will work forward to bring himself to a point of strength. That he will never have to experience the feeling again.
His thoughts having reached a vow to himself begin to feel the drain. It's difficult for his body to remain awake for long periods of time. So Long Yuan yawns and snuggles up on the bed. He feels his eyes grow heavy as he falls asleep on the bed.
It is several months after Tang Yuan's solemn vow to himself. He has managed to become able to crawl, and with some skill now. This grants him greater mobility, but not too much of a difference. The maids are watching him such that if they feel he is wandering off they pick him up. Then they return him to a set area where they can watch. He knows it's so he won't get into trouble or hurt himself.
Still, there are some major differences now from months ago. His hands are able to grab things with more force now. His parents and minders both noticed this fact. So he actually has toys now to play with.
A little wooden blacksmith hammer to play with. A very subtle toy to be sure Dad, Tang Yuan thinks with no small amount of amusement. He remembers it well his father gave him the hammer only recently. When he grabbed it and started to playfully swing it around. His father started laughing with a look of pride on his face. His mother standing behind his father congratulated him. Then rolled her eyes when he turned away.
They seemed like a normal husband and wife comedic routine. I really couldn't help laughing quite a bit at that show. Even if it was an unintentional showing of comedy it was still funny.
It also brought my mind to the Soul Land anime show rather than the novels. There were several comedic events and acts in that series that occurred. Now theirs regret from not having read Soul Land 1. There are often differences between an anime and a novel. It's difficult to say what those differences will be. I know what I need to know however, and that's what's important.
Currently, Tang Yuan is playing with his toy hammer. Though it also serves as a form of training for himself. Even if by chance he doesn't have the Clear Sky Hammer it won't be useless. It can be used for blacksmithing which is highly useful in a fantasy world.
So he swings it around to try and get a feel for using it. He knows that building muscle at this time is a pipe dream. Yet he can try to learn some technique. It's not as if he is mainly trying to keep himself busy or anything. Okay, that is totally what he is doing at least partially. At worst, he can claim to really be interested in hammers later. Then he can learn blacksmithing later on with it as a reason.
Blacksmithing even in this era is useful. It led to the creation of the top-level hidden weapons. Those weapons could kill any number of foes Tang San faced. In the next Era, it could be used to create soul tools with the right knowledge. In the next era, blacksmithing was even more sought after. The advancements in the field were revolutionary from one era to another.
So Tang Yuan had every intention of taking advantage of his engineering college learning. So he swung his hammer like a toy showing interest in it. Plus it helps alleviate the boredom he feels. In that way he was happy to have the hammer, and even more so when he came up with the blacksmithing plan.
The door to the room opened up as his mother entered the room. Tang Nuan quickly comes over to him picking him up in her arms. She takes him over to a chair as she sits in it. A tired sigh leaves her mouth. It sounds like today was a tiring day for her.
He still can't understand the language people are speaking around him. He really regrets not learning Chinese in his past life. The language barrier is seemingly his first major hurdle. Though even if he did know Chinese it's difficult to say if it's the same language.
His mother talks to him or rather talks at him. He can't really understand her words, and she knows that. Though not for the reason she thinks. Yet he can pick up on her expressions to a degree. He has also picked up the meaning of certain words.
It helps that his mother reads him stories at night with a book. While he doesn't yet understand the language he is getting better. He can now recognise a few dozen words that are constantly being used. Including his own name among them knowing it now as Tang Yuan. Not really a bad name per se though the fact that it was a form of Chinese currency. Yeah, it's strange to think of it in those terms.
His mother is not here to read stories just yet. There is still some time before bedtime tonight. Though she might put him down for a nap afterwards. She quickly unfastens her dress and brings him to her breast. It is time for milk it seems now.
As he begins to feed himself through sucking his mind wanders as it is supposed to do. It surprised him at first that she would do it herself. He had always heard that in old times babies were fed by a hired woman. The nobility and monarchy saw it as beneath them to do so. So they would always hire women who were producing milk themselves.
He concluded that his mother is quite motherly. He still believes that to be the case, but there is another reason. That is the cultivation level of the woman who is providing the milk. There is a great richness to the breast milk from the mother. This richness and the nourishment that comes from it are likely a result of soul power.
It makes sense to me in a way. Cultivation improves the body bit by bit as the user rises in levels. That includes it seems a mother's ability to provide for the child. Thus the baby will have far more nutrition from someone with soul power than not. Perhaps this impacts the innate soul power of the individual in question?
After a few minutes, Tang Yuan had had his fill of milk. Then his mother holds him and pats his back softly. He quickly burps to his slight silent embarrassment. Though not too much as he has gotten used to such events.
Then his father enters the room as his gaze falls upon Tang Nuan and him. Tang Chen smiles at the sight of them. His mother sits up in the chair and moves over to the small bed. She places him in the crib for now. He still has his toy hammer to play with.
Tang Nuan then leans over the crib watching him toy with the hammer. Tang Chen walks over wrapping an arm around her waist hugging her. She lets herself be drawn close to him. While a portion of their attention is on him the rest is undoubtedly on each other. They both slink off to their room leaving him under the watch of the maids.
He can't help, but roll his eyes at the two of them. This is only one of many other times that they have skulked back to their rooms. Each time with what he can only call bedroom eyes. It was especially often after the first few weeks of his birth.
They secluded themselves for a portion of time in their quarters. At least they aren't like that couple from that anime he watched. That baby's reincarnation had to watch/hear his parents doing the deed. He got them back by crying and making noise.
At least I don't have deal with that trouble. Whenever they go to have private time no sounds slip out. Tang Yuan isn't sure if they use soul power to erect a barrier, or if it's the room. Yet no sound can pass from their room to this one.
His parents are certainly smarter than those two anime parents. Here I hope I follow suit and don't fall into the common tropes associated with characters.
Thus Tang Yuan quits hammering with his toy Hammer. He puts it down and leans back in the bed as if he is going to sleep. He has been doing this for a while. Ever since he remembered this technique from his past life. Hoping to make use of it to hold onto his memories.
The technique originates from fiction, but has also been shown to be effective in real life. Sherlock Holmes's memory palace technique hoping that it will be effective. He visualizes his old room as rather large all things considered.
Focusing mostly on his bookshelves. He ties different books to exaggerated pictures. That way they become easier to remember and find. He does his best to fill the shelves with useful information in his mind. He also envisions several pictures on the walls to help keep the most critical moments.
He continues to try and reinforce his mental palace each day. Hoping that by doing so it will keep the memories within. He makes it so that the lights of the room are shining. He had heard that the concept of light in the mind equates to spiritual power. At least he read it in some impressive fanfiction and actual mythology.
After finishing doing it for today he really feels drowsy. Doing this requires a lot of focus each time. This causes him to feel exhausted every time he finishes doing it. Like thinking too hard almost every day. Yet it has helped him to keep his memories clear. With that though he lets his drowsiness take him away. He falls asleep for real this time rather than pretending to do so.
The period is six months later as Tang Yuan reaches the end of his first year. The day of his first birthday Tang Yuan was a big celebration to be sure. The vast majority of the clan was in attendance for the event. There was a celebration in the air for the event.
It is only natural that there should be a celebration for such an event. Tang Chen was once the clan head of the Clear Sky Clan the strongest one in known history. He is the man who brought the clan to the prominence it now enjoys. Then he stepped away from the position of clan head. He rose to become the Grand Elder of the clan and passed the clan head position to his son Tang Zhang.
Thinking of that Tang Yuan turns his head slightly. He gazes at Tang Zhang who is his big brother. The man bears many similar features to his children from the anime. Especially in regards to Tang Xiao.
He is a muscled man even more so than their father. His muscles bulge with strength though they are far from obscenely. He lacks the compact mountainous feel of Tang Chen. His facial hair is prominent on his face and is extremely well-kept. Honestly, if Tang Yuan wanted facial hair it would be like that.
Speaking of his two big nephews they are also here. Both Tang Xiao and Tang Hao are here together standing beside their father. Tang Hao is already in his early twenties and Tang Xiao his early thirties. At least that's what he has managed to determine from seeing them.
He has seen them many times before, and even been held by them before. There have been times when he was present when they were having a spar.
This certainly helps him to grasp the timeline of events. Tang Hao becomes a titled Douluo only after Tang San's birth. He reaches it when he is forty-four years old. Meaning there should be at least twenty to thirty years before Tang San's birth. It is that time that the Clear Sky Clan will suffer a blow.
So he has until that time to change the direction of things. Either that or get strong enough to alter the outcome. Both are far from impossible to try to achieve though also incredibly difficult. Cultivation is always a slow method for becoming stronger. However, Tang Yuan has several advantages over normal cultivators.
Tang Yuan returns to the present events paying attention to what is around him. He is currently sitting on his father's lap as the center of attention from the people around him. His father is in conversation with Uncle Daoliu and Grandpa Crocodile.
They are in deep conversation about something. They aren't arguing, but they are in a heated debate. Tang Yuan can understand much more than he could before. Yet that is not enough to understand an entirely new language. He thinks that their conversation has something to do with him. Something about his martial soul, training, and his cultivation. It's mainly his father and grandpa doing the talking.
His best guess is that it has to do with his martial soul. Perhaps they are discussing what happens if his martial soul is not the Clear Sky Hammer. Rather it might be the Golden Crocodile martial soul. In Soul Land it is also entirely please possible for mutations to happen. Who knows it might become a stronger version of either, or weaker.
It's impossible to say until the day of awakening. It's possible he reckons he might not be able to cultivate at all. It's highly unlikely that it will be the case, but you can't be sure until that day. Anything may happen on the day of awakening.
The martial soul might suffer a bad mutation. That would see its power decreased or even regressed. Even a positive mutation might not be a good thing even if it is the absolute best one possible. Positive mutations consume innate soul power to work.
In other words, even if the martial soul undergoes a positive mutation. It will be at the cost of potentially reducing the training speed. It could cause massive problems during the events of cultivation in unpredictable ways.
There are ways to counter those problems of course. Yet they aren't easy to either obtain, or use normally.
His thoughts moving within about a minute Tang Yuan returns to the present. He does not show much attention to the surroundings. As still only a one-year-old he can get away with it easily enough. Even in this world of fantasy no one really tries to get someone as old as him to pay attention.
It looks like his father and grandpa are still talking. He only zoned out for a few minutes there of course. Well, they are both stubborn people he has been able to discover. At least they are stubborn with certain things.
His mother appears from wherever she had gone. He was not able to keep track of her mingling at the party before. She was probably walking around making sure things were good. He has seen her to be a bit of a worrywart as the saying goes.
She checks in on him a lot every day. While he couldn't understand much of her words over the year. He can just tell that she is the worrying sort in certain matters. Mainly things involving himself of course making sure he is comfortable for example.
She says something to both of them. This causes them both to have a contemplative look on their faces. Then they look at him with that same look. He can't help but tilt his head at them. No doubt with his own questioning look on his face. Then they smile and nod to themselves.
He has the feeling that she just put everything on him. They will probably try to convince me of one or the other. This might end up causing several problems for me. Well, that's the future me's problem to deal with, he thinks to himself.
Saying that to himself he just continues to sit on his father's lap. Looking cute and toddlerish he thinks to himself. While trying to spot other people he knows from the series. He actually spots a handful of people.
The main people here are Clear Sky Clan members. He spots a few of the future elders around the youngest of them being the seventh. Yet that seventh elder already seems to be in his fifties. The oldest the second elder seems not to be too different from how he is in the anime.
There isn't really anyone else here to be seen. At least anyone from the anime version of Soul Land. Most of the Clear Sky members weren't recognizable except for the elders. There aren't really other members of Spirit Hall here except for uncle and grandpa.
Tang Yuan continues to look out at the party as it rages. He looks forward to the rest of the night, to coming years. He reminds himself of what he seeks to go far in this world. To reach the top of the world as far as he can go.