I was now Xiù, not the same person I was. No, I am different now, reborn...
I keep trying to read the book, and I only understand a few things, but with a stick in my hand, I write what I understand and don't understand on the ground, and a few seconds later, now I can somewhat read the first page of the book...
*
It is with great vexation that I find myself in a state of inebriation, partaking of the finest wine, whilst pondering how I might win the affections of the fair maiden who occupies my thoughts. She embodies all that I desire, and if only fortune would favor me in my pursuit of her!
Alas, my wretched father insists upon my cultivation, even compelling me to pen the initial steps of cultivation. The audacity of that scoundrel is beyond measure! I bide my time, awaiting the day when he shall depart this mortal coil, at which point I shall seize control of the family estate and forge my destiny.
*
Well, wow, after reading the first page, all I could say was wow because I was in a cultivation world... it means I could truly have all the power... wait, for no need to get more information from the sounds of the diary, I sound like an asshole. Great, I won't have to act nice or anything, and also the thing I truly wanted was the steps of cultivation...
I flip through the diary, barely reading anything, and, well, I find a page of text that seems different from other pages... and fast, I start to break the word translate and read...
*
The Initial Step: The Gathering of Qi
In the pursuit of mastery, one must first embark upon the noble endeavor of gathering the inner Qi. By drawing forth this vital energy, one begins to harness and regulate it within the confines of the corporeal vessel.
The Second Step: The Establishment of the Foundation
Upon the successful gathering of Qi, the practitioner must then endeavor to solidify this energy within the body. In so doing, one lays a firm foundation upon which further cultivation may be built, ensuring stability and strength in the journey ahead.
*
Huh? Nothing about martial arts? Well, at least I remember Qi... because in my last life, I read a few novels here and there, and well, this does seem kind of familiar but different. Anyway, I should start—well, not gathering Qi, no way. I don't understand any of this other than the steps written in this diary here. I am not going to start cultivating from this old diary...
I stood up and stretched my body, and I noticed how I was not too skinny, but I was not fat either. At least I seem to have some sort of family background in this world. I am not left with anything, huh? I start to wash myself in the river, and after that, walking out, I notice my face. It was nothing crazy, but I liked it, smiling like I was crazy with my hair wet...
I walk out of the river and start to trace footsteps that look like they are mine. I end up walking slowly to what seems like a village. It looks a little bigger than a village, but it still has the same old vibes. I walk to what seems like the entrance gate, and well, I did have a rock in my hand for protection. Walking to the gate, I get stopped by what looks like chain armor... I think, 'So we are in old times, huh? OR maybe this guy just has a weird habit of wearing old chain armor and standing around the entry gate-looking thing.
And the guard spoke with a hint of annoyance in his eyes. "Ugh, the great Xiù is here? I heard you got punched because you were lusting after women again, hah hah." He laughs a little looking at me, and I don't even look at him because, well, he was really doing the normal NPC-type shit right now without even looking at him. I walked inside the gate and looked at the village, which looked more like a town now that I was inside...
I walked around looking around; there were all types of old stuff everywhere, but I noticed how everyone looked at me like I was some sort of animal. Sure, there was fear in their eyes, but also annoyance... I wonder in my mind, 'What the fuck did the old xiù do to get looks like this? The women cover themselves in front of me... which is crazy because most of them are not even average by my standards. I would rather do it with the tree than put my hands on any of them. They look bad maybe because skincare and other stuff like makeup were not a thing in this world since it does seem like we live in old times.
And while walking, I pass a big ground that seems like something like a football field, and I watch as people punch the air and jump high in the air and do the most goof shit, and they scream out weird names while doing it. One guy says loudly, "Earth Dragon punch!" and then he goes on to throw fucking pebbles in the air and then jump in the air and then fall with the rocks and punch the ground... I am pretty sure he took more damage than the ground, and also I noticed how not many women were in the training grounds; most of the girls were outside the training grounds cheering for some random guys...
But something did catch my eye: one girl was in the training ground, and she was swinging a sword. It was not some goof stuff; she was just swinging, nothing else. It almost seemed scarier than that Earth Dragon Punch or whatever that girl was swinging the wooden sword fast... and then I kept walking like a normal human. I also noticed there was what seemed like a homeless guy trying to scam me...
"Young master! Xiù, you're so smart and so handsome! Please! You must come to buy what I have!" He was showing me a few rocks and a ring, and I looked at the guy, and then I, without speaking, walked into an alley where no one was around, and after the homeless guy followed me, I grabbed his hair and then jerked his head and slammed it on the wall once... BAM! One more time... BAM! And one more time just to make it 3 BANG! And then the guy falls to the ground holding his head.
And before he could scream or say anything, I spoke, "Don't let a sound out, or I will cut your tongue and eat it in front of you..." Hearing my cold words and the creepy smile I had on my face, the homeless guy just held his mouth shut and looked like he was peeing his pants... and then after looking around and making sure no one saw this, I spoke, "You will only answer what I ask to understand?" and the guy just nodded his head fast! Up and down.
"What do you know about me? Tell me everything." Hearing my question, the homeless guy had a look that looked like he had no hope!
"Uh, Master, you're very great!"