Cold.
A strange sensation of cold envelops my body as I look at the frozen world outside the window.
"Damn that hypocritical bastard."
Anger.
I feel an overwhelming anger burning in my chest.
Anger that the bastard who called himself my master killed me without hesitation.
And an even greater anger at dying helplessly, without the ability to do anything, without even the ability to take revenge.
"This doesn't matter anyway. That life has already ended. Now I have to think about how to survive in this life."
Recalling the scene at the end of my previous cycle, I feel as if a bucket of cold water has been poured over my body, extinguishing the burning anger in my chest.
"I can't stay here."
Four months from now, Song Jin will attack the Sunset Sect and kill everyone in it.
"Originally, I planned to train to become stronger so that I might survive the catastrophe somehow, but now it seems that was nothing more than empty hope."
Remembering how the previous cycle ended, I sigh tiredly as I sink into the wooden chair, ignoring the old woman knocking at the door downstairs.
"It seems I have no choice but to flee the island before Song Jin appears."
I feel mixed emotions about this decision.
Excitement at leaving this small island and exploring the vast world, and at the same time fear of the unknown and a desire to remain in a familiar place.
"Hmmm, the bigger problem is that I don't possess a cultivation method. In fact, I don't even know how to enter the Qi Gathering stage."
Yes, although it is obvious from the name that I need to gather qi and store it in the dantian, I don't know how to store it properly. No matter how much qi I gather, it leaks away after a few minutes and disappears.
"Originally, I was supposed to obtain the Sunset Sect's cultivation method from the Sect Leader upon returning from that ridiculous trip."
However, that didn't happen.
While thinking of a way to solve this problem, I feel the density of spiritual energy in the air increase greatly, and my body tries to absorb it instinctively.
I let out a faint smile as I prevent my body from absorbing the spiritual energy.
"Sorry, but I won't join the sect of hypocrites in this cycle."
After waiting a bit to make sure Yi Guang has moved away from the village, I stand and head toward the village harbor.
"The sooner I leave, the better."
As I rummage around the house that is supposedly my home, searching for anything useful, I realize a simple truth.
Even if I flee, everyone living on this island will still meet a horrific end at Song Jin's hands, including Li Chen and Yi Guang.
The memory of Li Chen and Yi Guang, who were crucified with the lower halves of their bodies torn apart, sends a chill down my spine.
"Even though it's frustrating, it's not like I can do anything. I can't even save myself, so if I want to save them, I have no choice but to flee this cursed island and become a powerful cultivator."
Armed with this reasoning, and ignoring any contradictions within it, I grab a leather bag containing some copper and silver coins and leave the house, heading toward the harbor with a relieved heart.
---
Because of the snowfall, the village roads are covered in a thick layer of snow, making walking extremely difficult and causing most of the villagers to prefer staying inside their homes.
"It's truly amazing that I haven't gotten sick yet."
Perhaps it has something to do with spiritual energy?
Lost in foolish and meaningless thoughts, I arrive at the village harbor—or what could be called a harbor.
It is nothing more than a beach with a small place for docking boats, or more precisely, fishing boats.
Although there is no fool stupid enough to go fishing in this weather, the villagers have learned over several generations to store enough food so that they don't have to fish during the winter.
Enduring the biting cold, I head toward a small hut in the corner of the beach.
"Uncle Yu, are you here?"
I gently knock on the wooden door while calling out to one of the villagers I became acquainted with during my various trips around the island with Li Chen in cycle zero.
"What damned bastard dares to disturb this old man's sleep!"
The hut's door opens, and a hunched old man comes out, wearing a thick robe made of animal hides.
"Oh, it's Salem."
Upon seeing me, the annoyance fades from the old man's face, though it doesn't disappear entirely.
"I'm glad to see you in good health, Uncle Yu, and sorry for disturbing you, but I needed to ask you about something."
I give the old fisherman an awkward smile as I begin telling him about my desire to leave the island.
"Hmmm, you want to leave as soon as possible? Can't you delay it until the end of winter, when sailing is smoother?"
I think for a moment, but my answer does not change.
"As I said, I'd prefer to leave as soon as possible."
Simply put, I can't bear to remain on the same island while somewhere there exists a mad cultivator with a horde of zombies.
Just thinking about it makes me want to swim away from the island.
The old man Yu seems lost in thought for a moment because of my answer.
"Alright, it seems there's no other choice. I'll see if I can persuade one of the fishermen to take you on his boat to Whale Head Island, and from there you can board a ship to the mainland or wherever you want to go."
As he says this, the old fisherman strokes his beard with a sly smile.
"But of course, this won't be free."
And thus, I obtained a way to leave this cursed island.