A New World (5)
The following evening, a deep and insistent hunger stirred within Jiu Yin’s core. The blood essence from the dire wolf had finally begun to deplete, leaving behind a hollow ache that gnawed at his thoughts. He could feel the first dangerous flickers of blood madness creeping at the edges of his mind. The last thing he needed was to lose control and hunt his own family out of raw instinct.
He slipped out of the family compound as twilight deepened into night. Moving through the outer districts, he made his way back toward the Whispering Woods. Snow Wind City was a standard small-tier cultivation city in this kingdom, yet its scale still astonished him. At least a million souls called this place home. It was vastly larger than any city he had known in his previous life. Sprawling stone walls enclosed countless districts, bustling markets, towering clan estates, and tightly packed residential quarters. Even at this hour, the streets thrummed with life: merchants closing stalls, cultivators rushing between training halls, and ordinary citizens lighting lanterns outside their homes. The sheer density of people and the constant flow of Qi in the air created a vibrant but oppressive atmosphere.
The Sanguinari hunger was never something his kind could truly overcome. In his old world, it had driven them to conquer and rule. Here, Qi seemed to serve as the equivalent of mana. It provided strength, longevity, and power. His immediate goal was clear: he needed to establish a reliable way to source it regularly without drawing unwanted attention.
As he walked, memories from his previous life surfaced. The Sanguinari had once controlled significant territories, feared and respected. The real question now was whether he should remain hidden in this new world or eventually reveal his true nature. This host body’s memories offered frustratingly little insight. The boy had been remarkably ignorant of the wider world beyond his own family’s small troubles.
Jiu Yin sighed to himself as he entered the forest and took a seat on a nearby fallen tree. The dense canopy provided welcome shade, warding off the worst of the sun’s lingering detrimental effects, though he could still feel faint traces of its energy sapping at his vitality.
*Snap.*
A loud crack echoed through the thick woods. Heavy footsteps thundered closer.
A massive Dire Bear demonic beast burst from the trees, barreling straight toward him with murderous intent. Its coarse black fur was matted with dirt and dried blood. A thick, musky stench preceded it. Saliva dripped from long yellow fangs as it roared, the sound shaking leaves from the branches above.
Jiu Yin’s heightened senses took over. He sprang from the log just as the bear’s massive paw smashed into it, sending sharp splinters flying in every direction. He landed lightly and immediately channeled Qi through his body. His muscles strengthened as he delivered a sharp punch to the beast’s ribs while rolling aside to avoid being pinned.
The host body was still frail despite his inherited Sanguinari advantages. A single ray of sunlight that pierced through a gap in the canopy struck his shoulder and sapped a noticeable amount of his strength. He grimaced and pressed the attack anyway. Pouring all his power into another strike, he felt several ribs snap like thick branches. The bear roared in fury and wheeled around to swipe at him again.
This time the bear was faster than he anticipated. Its massive paw caught him across the chest with a glancing but powerful blow. The impact sent him flying backward. He crashed into a tree trunk, the air driven from his lungs. Pain flared across his ribs. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. For a moment the world spun.
Jiu Yin pushed himself up, breathing heavily. This kind of drawn-out fight was not how a Sanguinari usually operated. In his previous life he would have ended this quickly with blood magic and overwhelming speed. Here, his old magic was still elusive. He had to rely on raw physical strength and the limited Qi he could channel in this body. The sun continued to weaken him in bursts whenever its rays found him through the canopy.
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The bear charged again. Jiu Yin dodged, rolled, and countered with heavy punches. Each strike landed with increasing force, but the beast was incredibly durable. It absorbed blow after blow, its thick hide and powerful muscles absorbing much of the damage. Another ray of sunlight struck him, draining his strength further. His movements grew slightly slower. He was forced to endure, chipping away at the beast over time rather than ending it quickly.
He dodged another swipe and drove both palms into the bear’s sternum with everything he had. Bones shattered with a sickening crunch. Sharp fragments pierced its heart. The Dire Bear staggered, roared one final time, and toppled heavily to the ground. Its breathing became shallow and labored as its life force slowly ebbed away.
Jiu Yin dropped to his knees beside the dying beast, chest heaving. Without ceremony, he sank his elongated canines into the thick neck and drank deeply. Hot, potent blood flowed into his mouth. The essence flooded his body, healing the cracked ribs and bruises almost instantly. Strength surged through him once more. The hollow hunger receded, replaced by a rush of power.
He wiped the blood from his mouth and sat back against a tree. *This is not how I fought in my previous life,* he thought. *I relied on blood magic and overwhelming speed. Here, my old abilities are still out of reach. I must adapt. Qi is the key, but I am only beginning to understand how it works in this world.*
The boy’s memories told him that the hide and teeth of a Dire Bear were valuable commodities. All demonic beasts possessed a core that could be traded with cultivators, though the exact purpose was unclear to someone of the boy’s previous weak constitution. Even the Yin family was not particularly powerful compared to other clans in the city.
Using his claws, Jiu Yin carved up the hide and salvaged the best teeth and the beast’s core. The blood essence swirled warmly inside what he assumed was this world’s equivalent of a mana core. He could already tell his body would continue transforming. He would become far less skin and bones and noticeably more muscular once this essence was fully absorbed. He estimated two or three days before the hunger would return.
By the time he finished, the sun had begun its slow descent. He made his way back toward the massive walled city. Passing through the bustling main gate, he turned left according to the boy’s fragmented memories. A small marketplace lay nearby where he could trade his spoils for enough coin to cover the family’s tithe to the main branch.
The market was lively even in the fading light. Lanterns cast warm glows over stalls. The air was thick with the smells of street food, spices, sweat, and beast materials. As he approached a stall displaying various hides and bones, the merchant’s eyes widened.
“What do we have here?” the man exclaimed. “A Dire Bear? The coat is in great condition! Are you selling it all?”
Jiu Yin smiled and unloaded the heavy bear skin from his shoulders, setting down a small sack of sharp teeth as well. “I managed to find one already perished in the woods and harvested what I could. How much will you pay for everything?”
The merchant carefully inspected the materials. “For the teeth, ten copper. For the hide… it is in decent condition, though the skinning is a bit rough. Twenty-five silver.”
Jiu Yin’s memories suggested this was slightly below market rate, but he did not argue. It was still more than enough to pay the tithe. He accepted the offer, received the coins into his small pouch, gave the merchant a small bow, and left the stall.
As he wound his way back through the paved streets, the evening crowd began to thin. Lantern light flickered across stone buildings and tiled roofs. The city’s immense scale still impressed him. A million souls living in one place felt almost overwhelming compared to the cities of his previous life. Yet amid the ordinary noise of the streets, something felt off. A prickling awareness grew at the back of his neck. He continued walking naturally, but his senses sharpened.
He was being followed.
The footsteps were amateurish, too heavy and too close, with no real attempt at stealth. Still, he let the tension build as he turned down several streets, confirming the tail. A cold, calculating smile formed on his lips. This was the perfect opportunity.
*Amateurs,* he thought. *A good test. And excellent practice for when smarter opponents eventually come.*
He deliberately turned down a narrow path he knew from the boy’s memories led to a dead end. His hand flexed slightly at his side as he prepared for what was to come.