The next morning, Hao Kai woke up and faced the same patched up roof. He sighed deeply and rolled out of bed. So this was real.
He sat down on the edge of the bed for a while then stood up with a shrug. Wasn't it just starting from scratch? He had a lot of experience with that. He wasn't one to wallow in self pity. What's done is done. Now, he would start over in this new world.
He looked around the house that reeked of poverty and then checked his empty pockets. One thing at a time.
He went outside and looked around squinting slightly as the bright morning sun washed over him. The chill in the air carried the faint scent of damp earth and wood smoke.
A thin mist still clung to the ground, curling lazily around the broken fence posts and uneven cobblestone path that led away from the tiny house.
The house itself sat at the far edge of what could barely be called a village. The walls were made of rough, weather-worn planks, patched in several places. The roof sagged slightly, and the thin chimney coughed out weak, pale smoke.
From where he stood, Hao Kai could see a scattering of other small houses nearby, all built in the same makeshift style. Children ran barefoot through the dirt paths, their laughter carrying through the morning.
A few villagers, mostly women and older men, were already hard at work hauling buckets of water from the communal well, chopping firewood, or tending to meager vegetable gardens.
In the distance, rolling hills stretched toward a forest that loomed dark and dense under the morning light. Beyond the forest, on a ridge barely visible through the mist, Hao Kai spotted a towering stone wall glinting faintly under the sun. A castle, or perhaps a fortress.
"Leon, you're up early."
Hao Kai turned and saw an elderly man slowly making his way down the path, balancing a basket of freshly cut herbs. His gray beard was scraggly, and his clothes were just as worn as everyone else's, but his back was straight.
"Morning" Hao Kai replied cautiously, still adjusting to his new identity.
The man stopped in front of him, peering with sharp eyes. "Don't push yourself, boy. Your fever only broke last night. Lyra nearly wore herself out tending to you."
Hao Kai nodded vaguely, hiding the flicker of guilt in his chest. "I'll be fine."
The man grunted, apparently satisfied, and moved along.
As Hao Kai watched him leave, his eyes were drawn to the far side of the village. A small group of young men and women were training near a barren field, their bodies glowing faintly with a soft, bluish light. With each swing of their wooden practice swords, ripples of energy distorted the air around them.
Mana.
Hao Kai felt his jaw tighten. In this world, power came from cultivation, and the body he now occupied had none.
A group of children dashed past him, chasing a scrawny dog. One of them paused mid-run and looked back at him with open pity before scampering off.
So, Leon Veylan was the village weakling.
Hao Kai exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. The faint wind carried the distant clang of metal, the smell of smoke, and the whispers of a world brimming with danger and opportunity.
He clenched his fists.
If this world was built on mana, then he would find a way to rise even without it.
The door of the house next door creaked open and Hao came face to face with a scrawny middle aged man who retreated with shock after meeting his gaze then laughed dryly.
"Leon, you're awake! How are you doing now?"
Hao Kai narrowed his eyes slightly then smiled
"Why don't you come see for yourself?"
Perceptible annoyance flashed in the man's eyes.
"Ahh I'm just trying to know how you're doing now, there's no reason to be snarky towards me. After all, who knows if you'll accidentally fall into the river again"
Hao Kai's smile widened and he mentally screamed bingo. From what he observed, of Leon was maliciously pushed into the river, with his sisters character she wouldn't publicize it to let everyone know he had enmity with someone and the old man's greeting just confirmed it.
That man didn't mention anything about him falling into the river but only asked about his fever. Which means, this man here was either the culprit or the perpetrator behind the act and he would put his money on this man being the perpetrator.
"Did my sister tell you that?"
The man scoffed
"That girl is so tight mounted what makes you think she would tell anyone anything?"
Hao Kai pressed on gently.
"Then how did you know?"
The man turned pale then stuttered before finally huffing out a laugh.
"Don't be asking things you shouldn't ask about."
Before Hao Kai could respond, he turned around and slammed the door shut. Hao Kai shrugged but didn't pursue it because he could tell this man was only used to do the dirty work and wasn't the main culprit.
He didn't mind living in this new world, but before that, he would find out who was responsible for the original person's death. Although Hao Kai felt disdain for his soft personality, he was using that person's body so this was the leat he could do.
Hao Kai turned back toward the village, his expression calm but his mind thinking fast. Whoever orchestrated Leon's "accident" clearly thought they'd erased a nuisance. Unfortunately for them, Leon was gone and in his place was Hao Kai.
A faint voice called his name, pulling him from his thoughts. Lyra, Leon's sister, waved from across the path, her pale face framed by loose strands of hair.
"Breakfast" she said softly.
Hao Kai gave her a small smile, hiding the storm behind his eyes.
"Coming."
She looked at him curiously
"What were you talking about with Mr. Humphrey?"
Hao Kai shrugged
"He was just asking about my health."
Lyra nodded in understanding and they both disappeared into the house.