A New World (2)
The memories of the path back to the city were not super clear. It took Jiu Yin several hours to find something that triggered a memory.
The lonely dirt road allowed him to make his way back. Through the woods until he saw the city walls emerge into view. They were not immense, but tall enough to where it would stop most beasts and unwanted people. Though he was still dyed in blood he figured the guards wouldn't stop him.
“Halt” two guards barked. “Identify yourself.”
“Jiu Yin of the Yin family.” He said calmly.
The two guards looked puzzled. It was no secret that the Yin family male heir was a useless cripple. Yet it looked like he had come out ahead in a battle. “I assume you had a fortuitous encounter?” The large of the two guards asked.
“Indeed! I am trying to go back to the family compound if you don't mind!”
Waving him in the guards quickly let the matter go and Jiu walked towards the main compound of his Yin family. The Yin family were vassals to the much larger Lu clan.
As he moved in his new memories told him exactly where to find his mother and sister. Apparently long ago his father had died and no one had known exactly what happened besides he had gone to scout ancient ruins.
Entering the small home he saw his sister look up from what looked like comforting their mother.
“Jiu!” She and his mother shouted, launching themselves towards him and hitting his head. “Where have you been? What happened to you? You look…different.”
The questions flooded as she eyed his new changes to his outward appearance. “I happened upon a fortuitous encounter and unlocked my bloodline.”
His mother, known as Jiu Ping, couldn't help but gasp. “You can cultivate?”
“Yes mother! I am now able to cultivate!”
For a long moment the small room fell quiet. Jiu Ping stared at him, her hand pressed over her mouth. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. Jiu Lan stood frozen beside her, small hands clutching the edge of the table as if she might fall over from the weight of the words.
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“Truly?” Jiu Ping finally whispered. She stepped forward and touched his face with trembling fingers. “After so many years of nothing. After all the disappointment. The ancestors have answered our prayers.”
Cassian felt that strange pull in his chest again. The echo of the boy’s emotions lingered there, quiet but persistent. This woman had endured years of scorn for her son’s lack of talent. She had watched him suffer in silence. He would not dismiss that pain.
As the moment settled, he made a quiet decision within his mind. The old identity of Cassian Vilemoon would remain buried deep. From this point forward, he would think of himself as Jiu Yin of the Yin family. It was cleaner that way. It would keep his thoughts aligned with this new life and help him move through the world without slipping. The Sanguinari soul now wore the name Jiu Yin.
“I cannot explain everything yet,” he said carefully. “The change happened in the woods. It was unexpected. For now, it is enough that I have a path forward.”
Jiu Lan finally moved. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, pressing her face into his blood-stained clothes. “Brother. I was so scared. I thought you might not come back. You look different now. Stronger.”
He placed a hand on her head in a gentle gesture. The motion felt unfamiliar, yet he did not pull away from it. “I am here. That is what matters.”
Jiu Ping wiped her eyes with her sleeve and tried to compose herself. “You must be exhausted. There is dried blood everywhere. I will heat water for you to wash. Lan’er, bring your brother clean robes from the chest. We will speak more after you have rested.”
Jiu Yin nodded. He allowed them to fuss over him for a short while longer. Their concern was genuine, and he found himself honoring it. When the water was ready, he retreated to the small back room that served as his sleeping quarters.
The space was modest. A hard wooden bed, a low table, and a single window covered with thin paper. The scent of old wood and dried herbs filled the air. He closed the door behind him, removed the soiled robes, and washed the blood from his skin. The water turned dark in the basin. As he cleaned himself, he studied his reflection in a small, cracked mirror.
The changes were clear even in the dim light. His skin had taken on a smooth, pale tone. His jaw was sharper. His ears held a subtle point at the tips. He ran his tongue across his teeth and felt the familiar length of his canines. These features marked him as Sanguinari, even in this new world. He would need to be cautious about how much he revealed.
Once dressed in simple, clean robes, he sat down on the edge of the bed. The exhaustion in his new body was real. The fight with the wolf and the journey back had pushed this fourteen-year-old frame to its limits. Yet his mind remained sharp.
He closed his eyes and turned his thoughts inward. The demonic beast’s blood still pulsed faintly within him, a wild source of energy waiting to be properly refined. He could not risk cultivating openly yet. The scattered memories suggested that bloodline awakenings were rare and often viewed with suspicion if they appeared too suddenly or too strangely. He would keep the true nature of his power hidden for now.
His plans began to take shape.
First, he would rest tonight and allow this body to recover fully. Tomorrow he would observe the Yin family more closely. He needed to understand their exact standing within the Lu clan, who held real influence here, and what pressures they faced.
Second, he would find safe opportunities to grow stronger. Night hunts beyond the city walls seemed the most practical route. More demonic beasts would provide the blood essence he required without drawing attention.
Third, he would gather information. The boy’s memories were fragmented, but they contained pieces about cultivation realms, clan hierarchies, and the greater world beyond Snow Wind City. He would study quietly and build a clear picture before acting.
Jiu Yin opened his eyes. The room had grown darker as evening approached. Through the paper window, the sky showed hints of deep purple. His vision shifted slightly, the shadows becoming clearer. A faint violet glow touched the edges of his sight.
This body was weak, but it held great potential. The talentless outcast was gone. In his place sat a patient predator who now carried the name Jiu Yin.
He lay down on the hard bed and allowed his muscles to relax. For tonight, rest came first. The real work would begin with the morning light.