Recesses of the Heart

2

I wasn't noticed at all during my time on the streets of Lotus Pier. I kept a low profile though. I used my money sparingly and I changed my clothes very little. As I had a bow, I just went to the woods and hunted small game. Baoshan's token was hidden in the Qiankun pouch, and I wanted to maybe hide my identity for a while. Especially if I was found. Maybe I don't have to give them my real name. So I made up one for when I was to be found.

I chose Xiao as my surname, that correlates to my martial uncle, Xiao Xingchen, and it lets me be linked to my parents and Wai Po in some way. My disguise name was Wuji. For multiple reasons. Wuxian and Wangji, it links us together. There is also the meaning. Wu means without, and Ji means limits. In Taoist cosmology, Wuji refers to a state of non-distinction prior to the differentiation into the Yin and Yang that give birth to the ten-thousand-things-- all the phenomena of the manifest world, with their various qualities and behaviors.

So my name is Xiao Wuji. Maybe Sect Leader Jiang would recognize my parents by looking at me but it's worth a shot in hiding my identity. Maybe I can make changes if no one knew who I really was. If I am the only one who remembered the past life, it would be even better as I could hide easy in plain sight.

In the morning, I went to the pier. Many boats had just docked as they had brought back exported goods in exchange for the local food and goods. I smiled upon seeing Sect Leader Jiang alive. He was making sure everyone had a nice trip during their journey and to make sure they are greeted. It was something he looked forward to doing every morning. It let him see local faces but also, occasionally new faces.

As I stood there, I heard a scream coming from the water. I looked out to see a young girl being dragged down by a water ghoul. It wasn't just any girl either, it was Jiang Yanli, my shijie. I pulled out my bow and aimed just for the ghoul that wrapped itself around her. I let go and the ghoul dropped dead and suck deep into the water. I then jumped in and swam out to her. Though I was smaller than her, I was quite strong and a good swimmer. I swam her to the docks and Sect Leader Jiang helped us out.

I was soon pushed back by a woman. I fell flat on my back. I sat up, getting ready to scold the one who shoved me and saw it was Madam Yu. She was just probably worried for her daughter that she wanted me out of her way. I sighed and stood up on my own. I didn't even bother waiting for their thanks and started to walk away.

"Hey, little boy!" Sect Leader Jiang called to me.

I turned to him and waited. He walked over to me. I bowed to him, "I apologize if I caused any inconvenience for you," I said.

"No, you didn't," he said, "in fact, you saved my daughter's life. I should be thanking you. I apologize on behalf of my wife. She was worried about her."

"It is fine," I said bluntly.

"What is your name? Who do you live under?" He asked.

"No parents, I live on the streets. My name is Xiao Wuji," I told him.

"For not having any parents you are quite good with a bow," he said, "how long have you been on your own?"

"My parents passed away two years ago," I said, "they taught me how to survive on my own if it came to it. They were rogue cultivators."

"It explains why I don't know any family by the name of Xiao," he said, "as a thank you for saving my daughter, I offer you a place in my sect. You will learn more than just archery. You will learn how to cultivate and use a sword. You will have food and a roof over your head."

"I don't want to be a burden," I said.

"You won't be," I heard a woman say behind Sect Leader Jiang, "you are offered sanctuary inside the sect. Every disciple has their duties and responsibilities. Not one person is considered an inconvenience or a burden."

Well that's different, I thought, she treats me kindly because she doesn't know who my parents are, "if you are sure, I will accept your offer," I said.

"Good, now let's get you inside and into some clean robes," Madam Yu said.

This was all so different. I knew that if she knew my real identity, she wouldn't be this nice. She took my hand and led me inside. She immediately brought me to a clean room and ordered a couple servants to run a bath and collect new Jiang disciple robes. She even demanded they be inner family robes. Was she really going to accept me into her home, her family? Maybe I can make this work.

By the time I was dressed, I was almost in tears because in my past life, it had always been a dream of mine to be accepted by Madam Yu and even wear purple robes. It may seem odd to want to wear certain clothes but when you were treated as a slave in your past life, all you could hope for was something better. I was going to make this work.

I am immortal and I can hide that fact. I can mimic the idea that I have a golden core and hide how much power I actually hold. I can hide how well I can hold a sword and fight. I will do what I can to help improve Jiang Cheng's abilities and even his behavior. He should grow up not having to compare himself to me. No matter what, he will always be below me because I am immortal. At least he can keep his dogs this time too, so he has less reasons to hate me.