Chapter 2: The Village of Wonders


    Li Jian followed Mei into the village, with confusion. People waved at him, some even bowed. “What is this cringy trope, man?” he thought, unsure why everyone treated him like a hero. In his past life, he was just a student, not some famous alchemist!


    Mei led him to a small gathering area where villagers had set up colorful stalls. The air was filled with the sound of laughter and the smell of delicious food. His stomach growled. “I hope they have dumplings,” he thought, suddenly hungry.


    “Come, let me show you around!” Mei said, pulling him toward a stall that displayed jars filled with strange, glowing potions. “These are for healing. I helped make them!” She looked proud.


    “Wow,” he said, trying to sound impressed. “You must be skilled.” But in his mind, he wondered, “How is she so confident? I just woke up in a new body!”


    Next, they approached a blacksmith who was hammering glowing metal. The man looked up and smiled. “Ah, Li Jian! You’ve returned! We missed you!”


    “Missed me?” he muttered to himself. “I just got here!” But instead of speaking out loud, he smiled weakly and waved.


    “Your skills in alchemy will help us create stronger weapons!” the blacksmith said, excitement in his voice.


    Li Jian’s head spun. “Wait, skills? I haven’t done anything yet! What if I mess up?” He felt a wave of pressure. What if he couldn’t live up to the expectations?


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Mei noticed his hesitation. “Don’t worry! You learn fast. Everyone believes in you because of your past achievements!”


    “Past achievements?” he thought, baffled. “What did this Li Jian do? Did he battle monsters or invent a legendary potion?”


    As they continued to explore, they reached a small training ground where young warriors practiced their moves. One of them approached, a tall girl with a fierce look. “Want to spar, Li Jian?” she asked.


    “Spar? and why''s she soo tall?” he thought, feeling nervous. “I’m not a fighter!” But he nodded anyway. No backing down now.


    The girl smirked. “Let’s see if you can keep up!” She lunged forward, and Li Jian barely dodged her blow. “Okay, time to act!” he thought, trying to remember any martial arts moves he might have seen in acts.


    To his surprise, he managed to block her next strike. “What is happening?” he wondered, feeling a strange sense of strength. It was as if the memories of Li Jian were bubbling up inside him, guiding his actions.


    After a few rounds, they both stepped back, panting. The girl laughed. “You’re better than I expected! Maybe you really are an alchemist-warrior!” (the checker - like the maso-zombie healer from The Great Cleric?)


    “This is crazy,” he thought, rubbing the back of his neck. “First, I’m some big deal in alchemy, and now I’m supposed to be a warrior too? This is one cringy story!”


    As he regained his breath, Mei clapped her hands. “See? You are strong! Everyone will loves you”


    Li Jian laughed nervously. “Yeah, but what if I start to mess things up? What if I can’t meet their expectations?”


    “Then let them help you!” Mei smiled. “In this village, we share everything. We’re a family.”


    Maybe this could be a new adventure, filled with learning . If he embraced this new life, perhaps he could truly become the alchemist he had always dreamed of being.


    As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the village, Li Jian felt a strange sense “Maybe this isn’t so bad,” he thought, grinning at Mei. “Let’s see what tomorrow brings.”