The faint glow at the end of the path grew brighter as Lin Che ran, guiding him through the tangled undergrowth of the Blackstone Grove. The birthmark on his wrist pulsed in time with the light, warm and steady—like a compass pointing him toward something important. His earlier fear of the Zhao family's men faded, replaced by a mix of curiosity and caution; whatever waited ahead, it was tied to the star marrow, and that meant answers—even if they came with danger.
As he rounded a cluster of black stone pillars, the source of the glow finally came into view: a half-buried ruin, overgrown with vines and moss, its stone walls carved with the same archaic patterns he'd seen in the ancient book. At the center of the ruin, a stone altar stood tall, its surface inlaid with a silver pattern that matched his birthmark exactly. The glow emanated from the altar, soft and ethereal, casting silver light over the surrounding stones.
Lin Che approached slowly, his boots crunching on fallen leaves. He reached out to touch the altar—its surface was cold, but as his fingertips brushed the silver pattern, the birthmark on his wrist flared to life. A surge of warm energy rushed through his body, and the altar's glow intensified, illuminating the carvings on the ruin walls.
To his shock, the carvings began to move.
They weren't just static images—they were like a silent mural, telling a story. He saw figures in ancient robes (the same as the herbalist in his past-life memory) tending to glowing plants, their wrists marked with star-shaped birthmarks. Then the scene shifted: a dark mist sweeping across a valley, turning the plants black and withering the soil. The robed figures fought back, channeling silver energy from their birthmarks to push back the mist—but it wasn't enough. One figure, whose face was hidden by a hood, placed a crystal bottle on the altar, pouring a blue liquid over the silver pattern. The mist retreated, but the figure collapsed, their body fading into light.
The carvings stilled, and the altar's glow dimmed. Lin Che stood frozen, his heart racing—he'd just seen a fragment of the star marrow's history. The dark mist was the same as the one in his memory, and the robed figures… were they his past lives? The one who collapsed—was that the herbalist, sacrificing himself to seal the mist?
"Who are you?"
A soft voice echoed through the ruin, making Lin Che jump. He spun around, hand resting on the hilt of a small dagger Su Qing had given him (she'd said it was for self-defense). But there was no one there—only the wind rustling through the vines.
"Show yourself," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
The voice spoke again, gentle and ancient, as if it had been waiting for centuries: "I am the guardian of this ruin… a fragment of the one who once tended these grounds. You carry the star marrow—you are the next in the line."
Lin Che looked around, but still saw no one. "Where are you? What do you mean, 'the next in the line'?"
"I am in the altar," the voice said. "Bound to the star marrow's energy, waiting for someone who can awaken the truth. The line… is the cycle of reincarnation. You are not the first to carry the star marrow. Each time the dark mist returns, a new bearer is born—to learn, to grow, and to stop it. But none have succeeded… yet."
Lin Che's mind raced. "The dark mist—you mean the Star Marrow Shadow? The ancient book mentioned it."
"Yes," the guardian replied. "It is a corruption of the star marrow's energy, born from a failed experiment of the Old Ones (the alien civilization). It feeds on souls, growing stronger with each era. The herbalist, your first past life, sealed it once—but only temporarily. It has returned, and this time, it is hungrier."
Lin Che thought of the Zhao family. "The Zhao family—they're looking for the star marrow. Do they work for the Shadow?"
"Not yet," the guardian said. "They crave power, plain and simple. But the Shadow will sense the star marrow in you, and it will use them—use anyone—to get to you. You must be careful."
The altar's glow flickered, and the guardian's voice weakened. "I don't have much time. The altar's energy is fading. Before I go, I must give you this."
A small crystal vial materialized on the altar, filled with the same blue liquid Lin Che had seen in the carvings. "It is 'Star Dew,' made from the essence of the first spirit plants. It will strengthen your connection to the star marrow, letting you control the spirit plants more easily. It will also help you unlock more past-life memories—you'll need them. The Shadow is not the only danger. The Old Ones' experiments left other scars… and they are waking up."
Lin Che picked up the vial. It was cold in his hand, the blue liquid shimmering like starlight. "How do I use it?"
"Drink it when you are ready," the guardian said. "But be warned—unlocking memories is painful. It will feel like living a lifetime in an instant. And once you start, you can't stop. The cycle will push you forward, whether you're ready or not."
The altar's glow dimmed to a faint flicker, and the guardian's voice grew faint. "Go now. The Zhao family's men are close—they followed your energy trail. The Star Dew will hide you, but only for a while. Remember: the star marrow is not just a power… it is a responsibility. Protect it, and protect those you care about. The next era waits for you."
The voice fell silent, and the altar's glow vanished completely. The ruin was plunged into darkness, save for the faint moonlight filtering through the trees.
Lin Che slipped the vial into his pocket, gripping it tightly. The guardian's words echoed in his head—responsibility, danger, the next era. He didn't feel ready, but he had no choice. The cycle had already begun, and the star marrow in his wrist was proof of that.
Just as he turned to leave, he heard the sound of boots on stone—loud, deliberate, and getting closer. The Zhao family's men had found him.
He ducked behind a stone pillar, heart pounding. He couldn't fight them—not yet. But he had the Star Dew. The guardian had said it would hide him. He pulled the vial from his pocket, unscrewed the cap, and drank the blue liquid in one gulp.
It tasted like cold starlight, spreading through his body in an instant. The birthmark on his wrist glowed faintly, and a thin silver veil seemed to wrap around him—he could still see the ruin, but he felt… invisible.
The Zhao family's men burst into the ruin, their torches casting orange light over the stones. "Where is he?" one shouted, swinging his torch around. "I saw his energy trail lead here!"
They searched the ruin, their boots stepping inches from where Lin Che hid, but they didn't see him. After a few minutes of fruitless searching, the leader cursed. "He must have run. Spread out—find him! The master wants him alive, but if he resists… kill him."
The men left, their voices fading into the grove. Lin Che waited until he could no longer hear them, then stepped out from behind the pillar. The silver veil faded, but the birthmark still pulsed warmly. The Star Dew had worked—but it was only a temporary fix.
He looked back at the altar, then at the vial in his hand (now empty). The guardian had given him a tool, but the real work had just begin. He needed to unlock more past-life memories, master the star marrow's power, and stop the Shadow—before it was too late.
With one last glance at the ruin, Lin Che turned and walked deeper into the Blackstone Grove. The moon was high now, and the birthmark on his wrist glowed softly, guiding him toward the next chapter of his journey. He didn't know what waited ahead, but he knew this: he was no longer the "good-for-nothing" apprentice from Rusty Iron Workshop. He was Lin Che, bearer of the star marrow—and his fight to save the eras had just started.