Li San.
He rushed at supernatural speed to the forest. His heart pounding with fear. Please be okay. Please.
It took him a few minutes. But Yang saw Li San and three other village boys fighting off a pack of five wolves. Using their rough farm tools. Someone had a sickle.
The wolves weren't magical beasts. But they were still smart enough and agile enough to dodge the boys' clumsy attacks.
The boys had scratches and blood on their clothes. Li San's face was pale with fear but determined.
One of the larger wolves lunged. Jaws open wide. Aiming for Li San's throat.
Terror unlike anything Yang had felt since Grandpa's death flooded through him.
No!
Yang dove into action. Grabbed the wolf mid-lunge. Broke its neck with a sharp twist. The crack echoed through the forest.
He threw it against a tree with enough force to dent the bark.
He quickly killed two more wolves. His movements savage. Fueled by fear-turned-rage.
The remaining two rushed into the forest. Fleeing from the monster Yang had become.
Yang didn't give chase. He turned to Li San and the boys. His hands shaking with residual terror.
"What were you thinking?" Yang's voice came out harsh. Almost a shout.
Li San flinched.
Yang was furious at Li San. But underneath the anger was pure fear. He'd almost lost his brother. "You could have died! All of you! What possessed you to come here alone?"
The boys stared at him with wide eyes. Some looked close to tears.
Li San's face crumpled. "I wanted to be helpful like you. I wanted to prove I could hunt too. That I wasn't useless."
"Useless?" Yang's anger drained away. Replaced by aching sadness. "Li San, you're not useless. You're fourteen! You work the fields. You help your family. You don't need to prove anything!"
"But you're so strong. So capable. I wanted..." Li San's voice broke. "I wanted to be like you."
Yang pulled the boy into a rough hug. "You almost got killed. If I hadn't arrived..." He couldn't finish the sentence. His throat too tight.
"I'm sorry," Li San whispered against Yang's shoulder. "I'm so sorry."
Yang held him for a long moment. His heart still racing. Then pulled back. "How am I so strong? You keep asking. I don't know. I really don't."
It was mostly true. Yang didn't understand the beast cores. Didn't know why they'd changed him so drastically.
He told them to come back to the village. None had life-threatening injuries. So Yang made them all carry the three wolves. Refusing to help them despite their struggles.
Li San looked hurt by Yang's coldness. But Yang was too angry and scared to relent. They needed to understand the consequences. Feel the weight of their recklessness.
They worked themselves like horses while Yang walked easily beside them. His jaw clenched. Watching to make sure none collapsed.
They reached the village after the sun went down. Found the villagers in a panic. People running around calling names. Torches lit. Fear thick in the air.
As they appeared, the villagers rushed at them. Relief and concern mixing on their faces. Worried about the injuries.
Uncle Li ran faster than Yang had ever seen the older man move. His face grey with fear. "San! Li San!"
Li San dropped the wolf. "Father, I'm sorry. I..."
Uncle Li grabbed his youngest son. Held him tight. His weathered face crumpling with emotion.
One of the old women began berating Yang. Her voice shrill with fear-turned-anger. "Why did you take them? How could you be so careless with our children?"
Yang's stomach dropped. The accusation hurt worse than any physical wound.
Li San and his companions interrupted. "We snuck in! He didn't know! Yang saved us!"
But the old woman doubled down. "It's because of Yang's impression on the village boys! Filling their heads with ideas about hunting! Making them think the forest is safe!"
Yang felt sick. She was right. He'd made hunting look easy. Made the forest seem conquerable.
Uncle Li suddenly glared at the old woman. His face flushed with anger. "You were happy eating the meat these past months. If you were so against Yang hunting, why did you eat the meat? Why did you thank him every time?"
The woman's face became red. She quieted down. Shame replacing anger.
But the damage was done. Yang felt the weight of her words. The other villagers' uncertain looks.
The boys admitted they went because they were overconfident. Explained how Yang saved them. How powerful he was. How he'd killed three wolves in seconds.
Their description made Yang sound inhuman.
Suddenly, Elder Qingshan turned to Yang. His shrewd eyes assessing. "You're a martial artist."
Yang frowned. Confused. "I don't practice any martial arts. I am just good at hunting and strong."
The elder explained again. His voice patient. "The strength the boys are describing is common to martial artists. The speed at which you rushed, which Uncle Li and the second brother described, sounds like those legendary warriors."
Yang suddenly had a name for this world's power structure. But he didn't know what it meant. He admitted as much. "I'm just strong. I don't know any techniques."
He wasn't lying. The beast cores had given him strength. But no knowledge of how to use it properly.
The boys were taken to the village healer for a check up but Li San insisted on staying to hear more. His eyes bright with fascination despite his injuries.
The elder explained. "Martial artists are the strongest humans. The best of them can break boulders with their fists. Move faster than the eye can see. They're like legends walking among us."
His voice held reverence. Respect.
Yang was curious. Eager to learn more. The elder could see that hunger for knowledge.
"You won't find any information here," Elder Qingshan continued. His expression apologetic. "We're too far away from any center of power. There has never been a martial artist in this village. They're normally important heirs and heads of powerful clans. People with prestigious positions. Not isolated villagers like us."
The wistfulness in the elder's voice spoke of dreams long abandoned.
Yang was excited at this new information. His heart racing with possibilities. But he kept his face neutral. "I see. Thank you for telling me."
After that night, everything changed. Everyone in the village began to respect Yang more. But it was different now. Mixed with fear and awe.
People bowed deeper when they saw him. Moved out of his way. Stopped their easy jokes and casual touches.
Yang hated it. He wanted the warmth back. The easy camaraderie.
Li San also acted different at first. Staring at Yang like he was a stranger. Something to be studied rather than befriended.
It hurt more than Yang expected. But gradually, Li San went back to treating Yang as a friend. The boy's natural warmth overcoming his awe. Soon he was chattering at Yang again. Asking questions. Dragging him around the village.
Yang continued his hunting. Bringing meat to the villagers regularly. Trying to rebuild the easy relationships through consistent kindness.
Li San insisted Yang teach him how to become strong. His eyes bright with determination. "Please! I want to protect people too! Like you protected me!"
But Yang admitted to not knowing how. "I don't know any techniques. No training methods."
Yang had thought about giving Li San beast cores. Sharing his secret. But his inner instincts warned him against it. Strongly. An almost physical revulsion at the idea.
Something terrible would happen if he gave cores to Li San. Yang was certain.
So he didn't. Kept quiet about the cores entirely.
Li San, being trusting and good-hearted, took Yang's word for it. His face fell with disappointment. "Oh. I understand."
He went back disappointedly to tending his fields. But still smiled at Yang. Still treated him like a brother.
That unconditional acceptance made Yang's throat tight with gratitude.
Today, instead of going to hunt like usual, Yang had asked to speak to Elder Qingshan and Uncle Li together. There was something he needed to discuss. Something important that had been building in his mind for weeks.
Yang thought back to the last happy eight months as he made his way to the elder's house. Whatever came next would change things. He could feel it.
But these months had given him something precious. A home. A family. A place where he belonged. Where people cared if he lived or died. Where he was more than just a survivor.
He just hoped what he was about to ask wouldn't ruin that.
Yang's hands trembled slightly as he approached the elder's door. His chest tight with anticipation and fear.
He took a deep breath. Knocked.
It was time.