When Grey did finally stand up, he had a wry smile on his face. His seemingly bad fortune had actually brought forth good tidings in the form of a treasure.
His wounds, both the ones he got from the villagers and the crystal shard, were all healed. He was now a cultivator at that. Something he didn't even think was possible and here he was.
His wry smile turned into a weird chuckle, then full on mad laughter. If only this had happened a long time ago. His parents, his friends... But now he was all alone and the village he once called his home had now turned their backs to him. Abandoning him.
The royal official did not just know his life had been spared. The contents of the cup he was supposed to be given contained a poison that would have eaten him from the inside out.
Even if he was a cultivator, if it was not discovered in time he woulf still die. His life had been saved when Grey accidentally slipped.
When he stopped laughing, he began to ponder about his next move. Although he was now a cultivator, with his stage and lack of experience. He could hardly do anything so the idea of hunting beasts for money was out.
He couldn't go back to the village for any more work and he doubted the nearby villages would accept him. Word would have already spread and he wouldn't even be able to get accomodation if he had money.
'Let me first fill my belly. I've not eaten anything since yesterday now and i can't think on an empty stomach.'
There happened to be some wild fruits growing in the forest. But they lacked spirituality which was okay for Grey anyways. He just wanted to fill his stomach and be able to eat straight.
After eating several apples and berries, his hunger subsided and now he could think straight.
He saw down under the shade of a big tree with his back to its trunk. At this point, his only hope was to go to a academy where he may be accepted. The only downside was his age and stage. At sixteen, he was only in the second stage while others his age were at the fifth or sixth stage.
Probably seventh.
"Well that thought is for another time. Lets just find our way first amd we'll cross that bridge when he get there." He said to himself and began his journey east, where most of the big academies were located.
***
After three hours, Greg stopped to rest by the side of a tree. The sun was starting to set. He ate his last apple with calmness in his eyes.
"Hey, do you want to come over. It's late and you shouldn't be out here at night." He heard a woman call out to him and he looked behind him to see a small house some distance away. She was waving her hands towards, beckoning him to come.
When he came closer, she went to meet him. He saw it was an middleaged woman with a few locks of grey hair. She had an oval face that was barely scarred by wrinkles. You could just say she was a very pretty woman, even at her age. "Well you can't stay outside by this time of the night. Those beasts could come out and i wouldn't want anything happening to such a young man.
Where are you parents? Did they let you come out by this time?"
She didn't let Grey answer though and just pulled him towards the cozy little cottage. Grey had a soft smile on his face. "But i didn't see a cottage here when i passed, instead i saw a worn out looking shed" Grey said but she did not stop walking and pulling him in her arms.
"Well maybe you just weren't looking properly. Don't worry, you can leave by morning." The middleaged woman said in a soft inviting voice.
There was a small frown on Grey's face when he heard those words, but soon his expression turned to normal.
By the time they went into the cottage, the sun had already set. He saw a middleaged man waiting for them inside and he could only guess that was her husband.
"Is this the boy you said walking towards the forest this late at night?" He asked. He looked like a rather friendly fellow and someone who wouldn't want to bring you harm.
"Yes dear, this is him." She said to her husband. Then to him. "Are you hungry dear? Would you like to eat some fruits?" She asked when he was seated.
Grey gave a small nod and he was soon served fruits. When he took a bite, he found that they still had some of their spirituality. He looked at them in shock. Normally fruits that kept their spirituality held a very good price in the market yet this family that did not seem rich was serving him.
Seeing his gaze, the middleaged woman smiled. "We own a small farm where we plant some spirit apples and other fruits. We make out living from there." She explained and the middleaged man showed affirmation by nodding.
Now that he thought about it, the middleaged man gave him a feeling he was a farmer but now that she had just said they were farming, it all seemed to make sense.
The middleaged lady and her husband were pretty friendly and Grey talked with them for a couple of hours before everyone went to sleep.
'Am still having this unsettling feeling that something isn't right.' Grey said inwardly as he let his thoughts wander.
Its not that he was wasn't grateful to the old couple but he too suspicious. Added with the unsettling feeling in his gut, he felt something wasn't quite right with this family.
He was still in thoughts if he was overthinking things when his eyebrow suddenly twitched violently.
Grey was alert. Whenever his eyebrow twitched a couple of times, it meant he should be careful. When it twitched thrice it meant he should run. But it twitched countless times.
Grey's expression suddenly turned cold and he stood up immediately, wanting to leave. But when he was almost at the door, he suddenly saw the middleaged lady standing by the side.
"Where do you think you are going my dear?" She said with a soft expression but her voice spoke otherwise.
It sounded cold amd cackling. It was strangely loud at the same time with an eerie vibe to it.
A frown appeared on Grey's face. "I want to leave. Am not staying anymore"
"Oh, so you want to leave after eating so much of our spirit fruits." It was the middleaged man that spoke this time. It voice booming from all directions is the house.
The frown on Grey's face darkened even more. The house was dark after all. He had no way of seeing where the man was. He was even having trouble discerning the shape of the woman.
"I want to leave now." Grey said again. His expression had changed now and he was now exuding a cold air around him. His face was icy cold.
"Try and see if you can." The middleaged woman said but this time the voice did not sound cold or wicked. Instead it sound young and evil. It had a clear disdain hidden within.
There was a heavy tension in the air. Grey heard the sounds of multiple footsteps behind him. "I see." Grey muttered.
His body tensed up and a faint green aura suddenly came out from his body. The aura was bright like fire and illuminated the immediate surrondings. And from what he could see, the middleaged lady had turned into a spirit. Her eyes were hollow and what were in them was darkness and a evil glint.
She had weird evil smile on her face that gave Grey chills. "So you are a spirit." He said in an indifferent voice, not wanting to show fear despite the fact he was really afraid.
The spirit frowned when she heard him say that. For him not to be afraid meant he was confident of something. But she knew he was just in the second stage of qi condensation. What harm could he possibly bring to them.
them.