The imperial physician— an elderly man wearing grey robes, embedded with imperial symbols, took a seat beside him, reaching for his pulse for an examination.
"You'll not be able to cultivate for a while. Your meridians are broken and you have fallen from the Spirit Realm to the Natural Realm. You might have lost your memories due to the impact of the attack." He sighed, pulling back.
"My meridians are broken?"
Johan remained silent, absorbing the physician's words. Fallen from the Spirit Realm? Broken meridians? It was almost poetic. His soul had already shattered in one world, and now his body mirrored that in another.
Li Ping looked worried. "Will she… I mean, will the young miss be able to cultivate again?"
The physician narrowed his eyes. "Only if his heart remains steady. The soul must remain pure and true to its Dao. If he wavers, the meridians will never mend."
"He?? You don't mean..." She trailed off, hands covering her mouth in realization.
"The green devil mist has already seeped through your veins. Your meridians have to be repaired so you can expel it out. Unfortunately, I can't help you but I know someone who can." He sighed as he walked towards the window.
"The One eyed oracle. Only she can help you now." He stroked his beard calmly.
"The One eyed oracle? You mean the witch who practices demonic techniques? No! Imperial physician, this is a very bad idea."
She began pacing in panic. "She... she was exiled from our Fenglan Realm because of her demonic cultivation and now she lives on the outskirts. They say she's still taking the lives of thousands."
Her voice fell to a whisper. "No young miss, I mean young master you can't. The young master is in seclusion. He won't be able to come to your aid if trouble arises.
The imperial physician said nothing more. He teleported out of the room in a flash, leaving a map with an x mark on the table beside the bed as if asking Johan to choose his own fate.
"Demonic cultivation?" Those words echoed in Johan's mind, forcing him to clutch his hair in agony. Memories of the body he had inhabited began to flood through. His eyes widened.
Flashback begins
---
Qian Yun, a little boy who had just become a Qi cultivator, was really happy. He ran up and down happily the cottage he lived in, a quiet place where the waterfall could be heard. His father was getting ready to join his fellow scholars on an educational exchange trip.
"Papa, when will you return?" Qian Yu stopped in front of his father.
"I'll be back in a full moon. Be sure to steady hard what I taught you. Take care of your mother while I'm gone." His father smiled, ruffling his hair gently.
"Okay papa." Qian Yu smiled, hugging his father once more before pulling back.
He watched his father leave, he and his mother waving until he was out of sight.
"Mamma, I'm a Qi cultivator now. This means I can be like you and dad now." Qian Yun circled his mother in excitement.
"Well done!" She patted his hair as he leaned into her touch.
"I'm going to be a martial emperor in the future so I can manipulate divine and demonic techniques like uncle SunYu." His eyes gleamed.
But on the other hand...
"No! You will do no such thing. Sun Yu...," She sighed. "Your uncle strayed from the Tao of heaven, succumbing to his inner demons.
She crouched down to his level. "A Yun, listen to me. Demonic cultivation is against the Tao of heaven. To achieve a steady Tao, flee from it."
She cupped his cheek, fighting unshed tears. "Promise your mother you will."
"I promise." Qian Yun replied with a face full of determination.
---
Flashback ends
---
"Qian Yun, that's my name? I... have a name." Johan pondered.
"Young master, what's wrong? Should I call the imperial physician back? Li Ping panicked.
"I'm fine." He affirmed.
"Sorry young master. I deserve death." She bowed quickly. "I didn't know you were a man before.
"Li Ping, was it? Get up. Please do not mention today's events to anyone." Johan smiled.
Li Ping nodded enthusiastically as she thought about how sweet her name sounded coming from him.
"Okay young master." She stood up. "I'll be back with your medicine. Please stay in bed." She hurried out.
Interesting was the only word Johan could think of. He thought death had finally claimed him. Only for life to throw him on a different path. A second chance to fulfill his two dreams: destroy the world or destroy himself. Was he going to fulfill his dreams or create another one? Johan believed that that was the question the word Fate, he didn't believe in, was asking him.