A New World (3)
Morning light filtered weakly through the thin paper window, carrying a faint warmth that made Jiu Yin’s skin prickle with discomfort. He lay still for several moments, listening to the distant sounds of the compound waking up. Birds called from the trees beyond the walls. Somewhere nearby, a servant swept the courtyard with slow, steady strokes.
His body felt different. The deep exhaustion from yesterday had faded into a manageable ache. Strength lingered in his limbs, subtle but real. The blood of the demonic wolf had continued its work through the night, fortifying muscle and bone in ways this world’s standard cultivation likely could not match.
Jiu Yin sat up slowly. He was Jiu Yin now, in name and in thought. The ancient soul of Cassian Vilemoon remained, but it would serve this identity. It was the cleaner path.
He dressed in the simple robes his mother had provided and stepped into the main room. The scent of warm rice porridge and steamed buns greeted him. Jiu Ping moved between the small stove and the table with quiet efficiency. Jiu Lan sat at the table, swinging her legs as she waited.
“Brother, you are awake,” Jiu Lan said brightly. Her eyes widened as she looked at him. “You really do look different in the daylight. Like one of the nobles from the stories.”
Jiu Ping turned quickly, wiping her hands on her apron. Relief and lingering worry mixed in her expression. “Come eat, Yin’er. You need your strength after everything that happened.”
As Jiu Yin took his seat, another figure entered the room carrying a tray of pickled vegetables. She was a young woman in her early twenties, dressed in plain servant robes. Her movements were graceful and practiced. This was Qiu Yu, the loyal maid who had served his mother for many years. From the boy’s memories, Jiu Yin knew she had stayed with the family even during their hardest times, refusing offers from better-positioned branches of the Yin family.
“Good morning, Young Master Yin,” Qiu Yu said softly, setting the tray down. Her eyes flickered with quiet surprise as she took in his changed appearance, but she said nothing more. She gave a small, respectful bow and moved to assist Jiu Ping.
Jiu Yin nodded in return. He could sense her genuine loyalty. In a world where power dictated loyalty, her continued service spoke volumes.
The meal was simple and quiet. Porridge, steamed buns, and a few pickled vegetables. It was humble fare, but it carried the warmth of home. As they ate, Jiu Yin observed his family. Jiu Ping kept glancing at him, her expression a mixture of hope and caution. Jiu Lan chattered between bites, asking innocent questions about whether he could lift heavy objects now or run faster than before.
After the meal, Jiu Ping sent Jiu Lan and Qiu Yu to help with small chores. Once they were alone, she sat across from him, her hands folded tightly in her lap.
“Yin’er,” she began, her voice low. “I am truly grateful for this miracle. But you must be careful. Our position in the Yin family has never been strong. Since your father disappeared during that ruin expedition years ago, we have been treated as something of an outcast branch. Not cruelly, but we receive fewer resources. Fewer opportunities.”
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Jiu Yin listened carefully, absorbing every word. The scattered memories of the boy confirmed her words. The Yin family was a minor vassal house under the much larger Lu clan. Within their own family, branches with stronger bloodlines or more talented juniors received better treatment. His father’s unexplained absence had cast a long shadow, and his own previous lack of talent had only deepened their isolation.
“I understand, Mother,” he replied calmly. “From what I remember, this world is brutal and unforgiving. Only power truly matters. I cannot blame the others for their caution. But that will change.”
Jiu Ping’s eyes softened. “Just promise me you will not take unnecessary risks. We have managed this long. Now that you have a path, we can endure a little longer.”
Jiu Yin gave a small nod. He would honor that promise as much as he could. Protecting them was now part of him.
After breakfast, he stepped out into the small family compound. It was modest compared to what he imagined the main Yin family estate must be like. A few connected courtyards, several simple buildings with tiled roofs, and a garden that showed signs of careful but limited maintenance. Servants moved about their duties, and a few distant relatives offered polite but distant greetings when they saw him. Some eyes lingered on his changed appearance, but no one approached.
He walked slowly, letting the boy’s memories fill in the gaps. The family was not actively mistreated. There were no open insults or deliberate sabotage. It was simply indifference, the natural consequence of having no promising juniors and a missing patriarch. In this world, that was enough to relegate them to the edges.
Jiu Yin found a quiet, shaded corner of the courtyard where the morning sun did not reach directly. He sat down on a stone bench and closed his eyes. The discomfort from the light eased immediately. Turning his attention inward, he began to carefully refine the lingering blood essence from the demonic wolf.
It was not like the grand cultivation methods described in the boy’s memories. No surging rivers of Qi or glowing meridians. Instead, a cool, shadowy current moved through his blood vessels. The wild energy from the beast’s blood slowly integrated with his own Sanguinari nature. His muscles felt a little denser. His bones a fraction stronger. It was modest progress, but it felt natural and efficient.
He would need more. A single beast was only the beginning. Night hunts beyond the city walls would be necessary soon. For now, he would continue observing and planning.
As the afternoon light began to shift, Jiu Lan found him in the shaded corner. She carried a small cup of tea, carefully balanced in both hands.
“Brother,” she said, offering it to him. “Qiu Yu made this for you. She said it is good for recovery.”
Jiu Yin accepted the cup. The warmth seeped through the ceramic, but it did not bother him as much as direct sunlight. “Thank you, Lan’er. And thank Qiu Yu for me.”
Jiu Lan sat beside him for a moment, swinging her legs again. “I am happy you are different now. But even if you weren’t, I would still be glad you came home.”
Her simple words stirred that quiet echo in his chest once more. Jiu Yin placed a hand gently on her shoulder. The predator within him had inherited debts, and he would see them honored.
As evening approached, Jiu Yin looked out toward the distant city walls and the woods beyond. The Lu clan’s monthly inspection was only a few days away. He would use the remaining time to prepare. Information, strength, and caution would be his foundation.
Jiu Yin felt the faint stirrings of a long-term plan taking shape. As he pondered his next move.