《The Tiger Lily Mistaken for a Weed》


 Chapter 1, The Weed Grows: Prologue

    A radiance illuminates it''s darkened world, as a figure in white appears. It is a humanoid-like figure, wearing a white sash, like the Romans used to wear, a toga. Behind his back are two pairs of Diamond like wings, two on each side, glittering brilliantly.


    "Ah, soul 2,678, why are you here? This abyss of space shouldn''t exist. It''s been five years since your host body was born, yet you, the soul, have been missing all this time. To find out you''ve been stuck in this abyss of space that leads to the Milky Way area of the Absylon universe. Come, come, we must have you to your body right away, as was promised."


    It just stared at him. It''s not like it can move or anything. It''s just a ball of incorporeal spirit after all. The angelic figure slowly grabs the air, causing an invisible chain of the balls'' spirit energy to attach to his hand, as it was led away from the space it was in. After a long time of flying, the angel-creature brought it to a huge world, that was colored with greens, blues, and yellows. There were even some parts of fiery red and icy white.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Your stop is here, prepared to be transferred. Oh, right, in this universe, there is a multitude of forces called the ways of power, or as inhabitants of this universe simply call it, the ways. They encompass many different fields of power and abilities, some weak, some strong. Some for fighting, some for creating, and some for other areas in general. You are to be transferred into the soulless body of the five-year-old boy named Fei Mei. In this world, they put their surnames in front of their given names. I wish you luck." It just listened to his words, before its'' sight went dim once more.

 Part 1: Grandmother, why am I in your hut?

    His world exploded into color, as his face was hit with a bucket of cold water, startling him into motion. "Eh? Little Mei, you''ve awoken? Good, good. Your grandfather will be happy to hear this." A wizened old woman''s voice said in front of him.


    He adjusted his eyes to the low light of the hut he was apparently in, before looking at the source of the voice. It was an old woman with silver hair, and a kindly face with ice blue. She was wearing a fur cloak made of some unrecognizable animal to Mei, colored a hot red and cool blue. On top of her head was an odd brass-colored metal-like object, going around her head in a circle, before going up her head in one line in the middle. Two stones of red and blue were embedded into the object, right at her forehead.


    Mei just stared at her for a moment, before the history of the life the old Fei Mei came to me. Everything from birth to the now. He blinked, scratching his head "Ah, Grandmother Neol, why am I in your hut? I don''t remember a reason why." Mei asked, tilting his head. He truly had no idea why he was here.


    She clucked her tongue, her facial features twisting up. "Those boys of the Clan Leader Attacked you while you were asleep in the woods while you were hunting, and had knocked you into a comatose state for two days. They were lucky that it didn''t kill you, and that I came around looking for you since you said you''d be home, otherwise you would''ve died to a Dire Wolf since your cultivation level is almost nil since the Leader decided that you would have to wait until you were five and some months old to start learning, since you were born to that outsider who disappeared, your father. Luckily, you''ll hopefully be allowed to learn, since you have finally come of age."This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    He nodded, listening to her, before marking the trio of idiot brothers as targets he would attempt to kill one day. Xiu Ming, Xiu Ling, and Xiu Jing. His own cousins attempted to kill him even after all the bullying they''ve done to him. They''ve gone too far.


    It was then that the front of the hut was rolled up, and a straight-backed old man with silver hair and eyes burning with fire. "Little Mei, it''s good you are awake. Your cultivation future is being chosen now, and if you weren''t there, you wouldn''t have another chance to get it. Little sister Neol, let us go and bring Mei with us. It is time."


    Neol nodded, smiling happily. "Oh, Nijack, you still call me little sister like when I was but a young woman before I was married to you." He smiled at how happy Grandmother seemed, before nodding. "Of course. Grandfather, while we''re heading there, can you tell me more about how my cultivation method will be chosen?"


    Nijack nodded, scratching his chin. "Of course, of course. You would want to know that. While we''re walking towards the clan center, I will tell you how it usually goes." Nijack scratched his head, looking at the 5 year old boy, long called the ''Soulless Weed" by people intending to make fun of how weak and emotionless he was. My word. My grandson suddenly is showing emotions. Did that fall and bout of unconsciousness knock his emotions back in order? That would be a dream come true.

 Part 2: Enter the Clan Leader

    Nijack scratched his chin, before shrugging, patting Fei Meis back. "Alright then, Little Mei. The process is usually carried out by the elders of the clan. They choose a technique either based on a person, their heritage, or they just choose a random technique from their stockpile. The choice for such a thing as the last type can be influenced by the leader himself. I fear that you just might get something that would be on the bottom tier of techniques if hat type is chosen, unless the leader feels differently about you than his children do."


    Mei nodded, before tilting his head. "So, Grandfather, what was yours and Grandmothers cultivation techniques?" The old man laughed at his question. "Oh, Mei, Me, myself, I have a technique that allows me to get stronger the more ''Pure Essence of Night'' I absorb. Little Sister Neol has the technique that allows her to control water as easily as if it were her own arm. However, she only just mastered the technique not long ago, so she''s still getting used to it."


    It was at this time where a loud, boastful voice cut through the air as they reached the gates of the Village Square. "Ah, brother Xiu Nijack and sister Su-Shang Neol. How wonderful to see you all here! And you even brought over your grandson! Wonderful!"If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Nijack smiled awkwardly at a tall, burly man garbed in dark red clothing, with a black bandanna wrapped around his forehead, a long sword at his side. "Ah, cousin Xiu Molark. Me and my wife are happy to know that you think of us as brother and sister, but we both know that because of the clans ruling, we can''t be considered family, as I''m just a member of the branch family."


    Molark smiled, showing his teeth. "Yes, that might be true, but to me, you are family, since you used to be my retainer before the incident." What he said seemed to cause Nijack''s eye to twitch a little. "Ah, yes true," Nijack replied. "Can you do us the honor of bringing us to the selecting ground?"


    The Bandanna clad Molark shrugged, before nodding. "Of Course." Before he turned on his heel without another word, heading to the Selecting Ground with Nijack, Neol, and Mei in tow. Molark frowned internally, thinking to himself Damn. My grandchildren didn''t even manage to kill the weak brat of that bastard of a man who stole the heart of little Zhifu? Damnable fools. All I can hope for is that he gets a low tier technique. For now, though, I''ll play the role of the nice Grand-Uncle leader for Mei. Soon enough, I''ll find a way to kill him or banish him without breaking the Soul Pact...

 Part 3: A Little White Lie

    The Selecting ground is a clearing, devoid of grass in the middle, with wood that gave a shine off. A statue was in the middle, and it held the image of a wizened Woods God, a long white beard, pointed white eyebrows, a bald head like a monk, and caring green eyes, lovingly looking at a Robin held in its left hand. This was the protector God of the Village, Narzaak.


    In front of the statue was an altar, with children in front of it, ranging from 3 months of age, to 2 years of age. However, there was an oddity. A five-year-old sitting with them. It was a boy wearing a green and red motif tunic, wearing dark brown leather pants, and soft fur shoes. His hair was long, a light brown-blonde, and tied up like a ponytail. His blue green eyes shifted from side to side, waiting.


    Not too long afterwards, the Clan Leader came walking out, smiling happily. His voice boomed out "Hello, members of the Xiu Clan, the Xiu clan Branch family, and the Villagers of our fine Village Normanstrod. It is, once again, the time for the Cultivation ceremony, where our young ones shall receive a Cultivation Technique. "taking a short breath, he continued, "Another piece of good news is that Xiu Mei has finally reached age five and is eligible for the ceremony. He has been unable to receive one because his Dantian, or his Qi Sea, as some of you know it, seemed to have been slightly damaged so we wanted it to be healthy."This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    He nodded, waiting as the villagers and clansmen nodded in agreement. "Aright, Let''s get this over with!" He said, smiling widely and laughing. "Koi Xiang, come forward." As he said this, a girl of two years stood up, slowly walking towards Clan Leader Molark. "Little Xiang here had her Dantian partially hurt, which is why its taken so long for her. She is receiving the technique Lion Grabs the Sun. It is her heritage technique that allows her to slowly make Dantian fire, and form them into whips, and control their temperature at will, without having to worry about her body overheating, as she will gain an immunity to fire while making the Dantian fire. Once the course of that technique is completed, she can receive the follow up technique, Lion Cools the Sun, which allows her to use a Dantian ice version of Lion Grabs the Sun. Once that is complete, she may begin mixing and experimenting on her own. "


    As this was said, Mei looked at the girl. She was a red headed child with freckles on her face, small, angular brown eyes, wearing a small light blue Smock-frock, with dark black leather boots. She wasn''t extraordinary, but her family is the only ones in the village with red hair. After she received a jade gem and put her Qi into it to learn the technique, she sat back down, and the rest began.

 Part 4:Learning the Ropes

    Not too long after: ".... Xiu Mang has received the clan''s technique Mark of the heart." The leader said, and as usual, never saying what his clan''s technique did. Then came Xiu Mei, the last one. Molark looked at the list after crossing off the second to last child''s name, before looking to Xiu Mei. "Xiu Mei, as your Dantian is still under watch, we have decided that we will put you on a low tier support technique, Poison Strand. You can make yourself immune to poisons of the caliber to which you train it to, and once you become resistant to a level of the poison, you will be able to bring out your Dantian poison in a strand like liquid silk or tiny drops. Strand at full completion, drops at beginner proficiency."


    Mei held his tongue at receiving the apparently low rank Support Cultivation Technique. He walked up and took the jade crystal from the Molarks'' hand "Leader.... How do I use my Qi to extract the information?" Mei said, bluntly. Molark blinked for a second, before laughing. "Oh right, we forbid you from practicing techniques, so you didn''t injure your Dantian. So what you need to do is focus on your body, have your mind follow your meridians, and they will lead you to the Dantian, from which you can take a strand of power and bring it out of yourself into the jade crystal, and then recall it, and you will have learnt it." Mei nodded, focusing, a minute later, sweat beaded on his forehead as an odd purple orange colored strand of light entered the Memory Jade, the true name for Jade Crystals.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Mei was instantly awash with information regarding the technique. He noticed something odd though. "Leader, it says to train in this, I need poisons." Molark nodded. "Yes, indeed. So the council has agreed to give you enough poisons to get you to the adept stage of Dantian Poison creation, where you''ll be able to make Poisons ranging from weak poison to mild poison yourself." He said, handing Mei a pack. "Here are the poisons. Be very careful as you aren''t used to handling poisons yet. They have been labeled by their strength."


    Molark nodded as Mei went back to sit down. "With that, our ceremony is complete! We now have a new batch of children who have just learned their new Cultivation techniques. For now, they shall be focusing to achieve the goal line of their techniques, as well as hunting and foraging for the village, just as those before them. Of course, they''ll start hunting and foraging only when they''re physically able to. Alright, that''s it for this ceremony! See you al next time!"

 Part 5: What the future Held

    5 years afterwards, Mei has gained the ability to make adept grade poison in his Dantian and has been able to coalesce the droplets of poison he makes and can barely make something akin to a stream. Wondering if it would help, he asks his grandmother to show him how she is able to control water. Koi Xiang usually accompanies Mei as he hunts now, still amazed at how his archery was so good, which even surprised Mei before he thought of how even a soulless body can know that you need to be able to do something good so that way you won''t be called a wastrel. She likes to show off her progress with her Fire whips, trying to elicit a ''good job'' or ''wow'' from Mei. She claims to go with him because she can "Protect him in case something happens with his Dantian."


    10 years later, at the age of 15, Mei has almost full control over his mastery of his poison stream, able to have a poison veil around him as normally as if it was a part of his body, thanks to his grandmothers help. Mei and Xiang go almost every together, on purpose or not, that they''ve been described around the village as ''unaware lovebirds'' or ''a bird in love with a clueless bird'' or even saying that Mei has a Big brother Instinct he doesn''t know about. The main branch family members are still bullying him. He has also been made a servant to Young Master Xiu Mang, every two days, as part of the branch family.


    13 years later, Fei Mei is now a strong-armed man who has passed the villages Adult Ceremony with flying colors. He has even taken to teaching the 13-year-old Young Master Xiu Mang about how to hunt with a bow, and generally tries to be like a big brother for him, since he was always disregarded by his elder brothers, the Xiu triplets who almost caused Meis death.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    An odd female whip user came to town from the outside world, with a weird whip made of rope that she explained would be tied to each other to make a big loop, a formation she called a ''Lasso''. She also had odd boots with leather frills on it she called "Cowgirl boots" a slim fitting black leather set of pants, a wide brimmed hat, and a cow fur vest with a checkered shirt underneath. She said that her ''class'', whatever that means, is called "Cowgirl" and sometimes she hunts fugitives for bounties. She and Xiang talked for a while.


    Her name was Carlene Dresmere, and she told us that unlike us, who put their surnames before their given names when introducing themselves, where she comes from, it''s the other way around. Us kids and young adults were amazed by this. She started talking about something called magic, before the adults laughed and said that they''d hate to keep her if she''s chasing a fugitive.


    She nodded and left, however she had taken a liking to Xiang, and gave her a copy of her clothes that fit exactly to Xiangs'' proportions. Carlene said it was the effect of something called Reference. That was the last we saw, as we watched her hurdle off on her horse. Xiang took to wearing it a lot, managing to color it to her wants somehow. Everything was fun and normal. Until a tragedy struck, and Death came to collect the toll of a soul.

 Part 6: It felt as Though Death Himself Stole My Lifes Breath.

    Three months after meeting Carlene, Disaster struck, and Death stole away Xia Mangs'' soul. The village was in grievance. Young master Mang was an important part of the village, as he liked helping the people of the village along with his butler, Xiu Mei. However, no one was prepared for what the death team learned of Young Master Mangs death.


    They learned that he had been poisoned with a strong poison, and enough of it, to kill him. The weapon of death? A teacup full of sweet tasting poison. Not enough to kill a man, but enough to kill a 13-year-old, if he drank the whole thing under the pretense of it being exotic tea. The biggest problem was that Xiu Mei was his only wait staff this day, according to records. The poison itself was quite like the poison Xiu Mei could make.


    The Village was up in arms about this and demanded that either Meis head should roll or that he should be banished from the village. The rest of the villagers were in shock, unbelieving that little Mei could have possibly killed his Young Master that he treated just like a little brother, and tried to show him right from wrong.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    However, these voices of protest came to late. The village decided to be lenient and not chop off his head because of how shocked he looked. He was instead banished from the village for 13 years and 7 months, the age of the deceased young master. He was thusly tossed out of the vicinity of the village, left to wander the woods alone, as Koi Xiang had to be physically pried off the in shock Xiu Mei.


    Molark said only a few words that hit Mei and stung, and that also confirmed a suspicion of his. He stated "I should''ve known that the son of that bastard Fei Sharn who dared to conceive a child with my little Niece Zhifu, that would end up killing her at birth, would kill yet another member of my family. Begone. You are not welcome here." He said, before turning his horse around, and trotting off and away. While Mei sat there, stunned yet more, before taking a deep, shaky sigh. "Fine... If you want to disown me like that, I shall do it too.... I will hereby be known as Fei Mei, just as the angelic being called me."


    This is the start of Fei Meis'' adventure that would take him across the world, and to a place he never would''ve thought he belonged. He is, The Tiger Lilly Mistaken for a Weed