《A life of excitement》


 Prologue

    Prologue


    - Now then, is anyone still breathing? (Rey)


    The sound of blood dripping off the walls is the only answer I get.


    -Pft, pathetic little worms. Thought you could kill me? With only 200 of you? (Rey)


    I throw the corpse in my hand towards the nearby pile and take a look around.


    The warehouse''s walls were dyed red and puddles of blood were staining the concrete floor.


    Ever since I became head of the clan I had to get used to scenes like these. The elite of the elite, the strongest martial artist on Earth, Scorpion Rey at 322 years old I still have idiots pointing either their fist, gun or blade at me. Fools.


    The Sorpion clan are just as worthless. When I was a simple elder about 160 years ago, power struggles and politics were my main concern, but nowˇ­ I don''t even know what I''m fighting for.


    I have power, nobody dares question my leadership. I have wealth, there''s nothing I can''t buy on this planet. I have the strongest martial arts, with enough Qi in my meridians to rival an ocean. Yet, I still feel emptyˇ­Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    I don''t know when it began, but a sense of boredom and despair began to crawl up my mind. I don''t have anything left to conquer. I have nothing left to obtain. I have no opponent to improve my skills. There''s nothing for me hereˇ­


    I crawled to the top. However the top is just as boring as being underneath the soil.


    I guess it''s about time I wrap my life up. I have to wait at least another hundred years before I die of natural death and I don''t intend to torture myself until then.


    I leave the warehouse and jump on the roof. I can cover 30 meters with one jump easily.


    The docks were quiet and the moon was shining brightly over the sea. I considered it, and the best way for me to die would be by fracturing my core, releasing all the Qi at once. Basically I will explode. Quick and easy. I don''t want those brats from the clan to use my Qi infused organs to prolong their miserable lives so I''ll make sure nothing is left. Even better, I''ll do this over the sea. Even if they would come after my remains, the fish would have eaten everything by then.


    I channel some Qi into my legs and jump as high as I can.


    Landing on the water I began running. Even after that battle, my Qi supply is enough to get me far away from the shore. I began sprinting. With 200 or so km/h I should be far enough by sunrise.


    Ah, here we go, this should be a good enough spot. I take a look around, but the only thing I see is water. Watching the sun rise I feel the irony of ending my life while looking at the symbol of a new beginning. Never though that I would have such a poetic death.


    After remembering the few scenes of joy from my life, I began spinning the Qi in my core in multiple directions, creating tens of small vortexes. The chaotic flow strains my core''s shell and it begins to crack. A few seconds later the shell exploded and the Qi violently rushed out.


    The last thing I remember is my wish for a more exciting life.

 Chapter 1

    -Oooi, are you ok young master? No answerˇ­ tsk, why do I have to take care of this trash...(Voice)


    What''s happening? Didn''t I just explode a moment ago? And who does that obnoxious voice belong to? I feel weak, and cold. Feeling my body, I''m surprised to find it almost dead. That''s strange...I can''t feel my Qi.


    -Oi, are you gonna lay on the floor all day? Get up!(Voice)


    Ugh, I felt a sharp pain in my sides. That bastard kicked me. I''m gonna stuff that leg in your mouth before you have time to scream.


    -Oiii ( Voice)


    He kicked me again? Just what the hell is going on? Why can''t I move? Why can''t I understand what that voice is saying?


    I try remembering how I got myself into this situation and a wave of memories come rushing like a flood accompanied by intense pain.


    A few moments pass and I began having a general idea of the situation.


    -Well, you still seem to be alive young master. How about I escort you to your quarters? (Samson)


    Another kick connects to my side and I feel Samson picking me up by the collar and dragging me across the floor.


    It''s better if I pretend to be passed out for the moment. From what Samson said he should be taking me to my room. If I''m not wrong, it''s in an isolated part of the mansion. I should begin stabilizing my mind there.


    After a few minutes of getting dragged around like a sack I finally hear Samson''s voice again.


    -We have arrived at you quarters Young Master. If you require anything else, please don''t call for me. (Samson)


    I hear the door opening and I''m thrown inside like a thrash bag. Hitting the floor sends a shock through my body and I''m taken out of my contemplation.


    A click is heard, and Samson''s steps echo in the distance. For a few seconds I don''t move in case someone else is in here, but it doesn''t seem so.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Opening my eyes I''m met with a rough looking shed. Looking around, there are some rusty gardening tools leaning in a corner, a few boxes stacked on top of each other on the left wall and some rags, that are probably my bed, near the right wall together with a bucket of water. No windows and just a solid wooden door. A dim light penetrates through the cracks in the roof.


    Those bastardsˇ­


    I get off the floor while ignoring the pain and wobble towards the bucket. My face is reflected in the water. It looks worse than I thought. Pale skin, together with a black eye would make me look hilariously like a panda, but my crimson eyes and long silver hair take more to some kind of albino rabbit. The face is above average, too bad about the dirt and dried blood on it.


    Standing up I examined the rest of my new frail body. Skinny and ghostly would best describe it. No muscle or fat on it, just bruises and scars.


    My big brother and his goons really did a number on meˇ­


    Now then, time to stabilize my mind. Walking over to the rags, I sit down and began contemplating.


    I am Scorpion Rey, age 322, Grandmaster martial artist and head of the Scorpion clan. After ending my torture of an existence, I somehow ended up in someone else''s body.


    His name was Sid Nightflame. Age 12. Second son of the Nighflame Count and a pariah.


    This is no longer Earth, but a different world. It''s doesn''t have a name, people simply refer to it as the World. Magic is present here and technology wise it''s around the middle ages of Europe. Swords and Fireballs, just like in those games I played when I got bored of the clan''s meetings.


    The Nightflame family were Count ranked nobles in the Veridian Kingdom, Duke and Royalty ranks being the ones above. With a military origin, the Nightflames rose to power through battle and slaughter. It''s territory was in the north of the Kingdom where conflicts with the Snow Barbarians were common.


    Sid Nightflame was born with a weak constitution and the inability to influence mana. As such he could neither be a warrior nor a mage, just a common person found everywhere. Normally that would not have been a serious problem since he was only the second son and could not inherit the family name. With a bit of education he could easily become a government official.


    Unfortunately his mother was a concubine, so not many resources would be invested in him, but it was still tolerable. His life took a turn for the worse one night when he was 9 years old. His mother was caught sleeping together with another noble. After a huge scandal, his father was ready to divorce and sell her into slavery. However, before he could do that, she ran way to the Ja Kingom, to the east, leaving her son here. Even worse, she took with her a couple of invaluable storage rings filled with the Nightflames money and top secret documents related to the territory.


    The Ja Kingdom who we are currently at war with for more than 10 years, took advantage of those documents and immediately sent agents to exploit our weaknesses. The result? Countless people dead, tons of stolen propriety and a devastated infrastructure. Worse of all, the head of the Nighflame family, his father, was also assassinated.


    Now his uncle and his brother''s mother are the ones keeping everything together until his 16 year old brother, Marcus, comes of age in 2 years.


    The resentment of his family and servants who lost their loved ones during the raid was directed at him since he was ˇ°the spawn of the devil witchˇ±. His father was dead, his mother a traitor and everyone hated him for something he had nothing to do with.


    The hate and resentment quickly transformed to violence and insults. At the time this began he was almost 10 years old. Now, after 2 years of torture, Sid Nightflame died after Samson, the head butler, tripped him and he hit his head on a table''s edge.


    I somehow took over his tattered body and his identity.


    -You had it rough kid. I hope you find peace in death. (Rey)


    I prayed for the kid''s soul, that''s all I could do for the moment. I had a bit of respect for him for not taking his own life until now...

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    - *Sigh* (Rey)


    Now then, it''s time to think of a way to better my situation, a few goals should be set first.


    I have no hope of making peace with the Nightflames so my plan should be focused on getting away from here. Unfortunately my body is as fragile as tinfoil. I can''t be independent just yet. If had 1/10 the Qi from my past life I wouldn''t have to worry about survival...Wait, does this world have any Qi that I could cultivate? From the kid''s memory there isn''t even a concept of Qi, but that could mean nobody even bothered to discover it.


    Having no aptitude with mana, it would be a waste of time to go down that path so martial arts are my only option. I though about a warrior path, but apparently I need something called Battle Aura to fully function as one. Unfortunately that''s a dead end too. This kid had zero talent in both Mana and Aura. When he tested he''s aptitude, the crystal showed 3 and 2 for Mana and Aura. Considering the fact that any random farmer would have at least 10 in both of themˇ­


    -Please let there be Qi. ( Rey)


    If there is truly no Qi in this world I''m gonna have a bit of a headache.


    Moving to the centre of the room I sit cross legged and straighten my spine. Qi is the basic form of life and energy. It flows through everything and makes everything. I hope this place is the same.


    Breathing slowly in and out, my senses began withdrawing. Everything is silent.Right about now I should fell the-


    -HOLY S**T !! (Rey)


    There''s so much of it!! There''s so much bloody Qi in the atmosphere. I think it''s at least 1000 times denser than Earth''s. I''m getting dizzy from the ridiculous amount of it.


    Ok, ok calm down Rey, calm down. So what if there''s more Qi than air? If I can''t use it properly it still means nothing.


    I close my eyes again and check this body''s internal condition. Ha ha, lucky me. The meridians are in perfect shape and the core is normal as well. I can cultivate! This world just became a lot more fun to be in. Ha ha, I can''t wait.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Now, time to chose and appropriate technique for my core''s nature. A human core shell is composed of all the elements, but some are more dense than others so a nature is formed for that person. In my past life my shell was made mostly from the wood and earth element, so I cultivated techniques based on those two.


    Good thing I have the entire library of the Scorpion clan memorised otherwise I would have no technique to cultivate for my new core.


    Let''s see now, what kind of elements dominate my new shell...


    Ah, two elements, one is earth, that I am very familiar with and the other is..oh...OHH!!


    The havens have truly given me an amazing opportunity! The second element is ridiculously rare and it''s the not one of the basic 5. It shines a bright golden and gives off an oppressing feeling. Majesty! The Emperor element. If I can cultivate this, I will reach heights my past self could only dream about. Unfortunately I can''t count only on it to keep me alive, so I would have to train in both Earth and Majesty.


    First I have to begin gathering Qi and strengthen the body. It will be a while until I reach the Grandmaster Realm from my previous life. The levels were: Martial Body, Flow Stage, Sea Formation, Infusing Realm, Master Realm and Grandmaster Realm.


    As my excitement died down I began searching through my memory for the manual I need. First I need a Qi gathering manual, then I''ll focus on an elemental manual. One would use the Qi in combination with an elemental technique to achieve the desired effect.


    Ah here we go, the Heavenly Sparrow Qi Manual and the Mountain Might Elemental Manual.


    The first will let me absorb Qi in a general way while improving my reflexes and reaction speed. The second is an Earth Qi manual that makes use of the heavy earth to improve strength and toughness. These will be perfect for establishing my foundation.


    I run my mind over the Heavenly Sparrow Manual and begin absorbing the Qi from my surroundings as shown by it. The thick Qi bursts through my meridians and rushes to my core where it''s refined and dispersed through the body since my core isn''t solid enough yet to hold Qi. The muscle tighten and the bones begin to vibrate. The first stage, Martial Body, is comprised of 9 sub-stages where one cleans the body of impurities and improves it to the limit.


    A few minutes pass and I''ve reached the first stage of Martial Body. Due to my experience and the abundant Qi I made a week of progress in a few minutes. If I had this speed of cultivating on Earth I would have been called a monster, well.. I still was, but that is not the point.


    A black substance leaves my skin and stains my clothes and hair. I look even more like a beggar now than I did before. But I don''t stop and continue cultivating.


    After half and hour I reached the second stage, with more impurities rushing out of my skin.


    After an hour passes I reach the third stage. Two hours later the forth stage. By now I am completely covered in the black substance and absolutely reek. A small puddle has formed underneath me.


    The smell and discomfort don''t bother me. I''m too excited to remember my condition. A fourth stage Martial Body in a few hours. I can only laugh at this ridiculous situation.


    Too bad I have to stop for a few days. The Qi has to settle in the body otherwise I would simply explode, and I don''t feel like doing that again.


    I remember my body and observe myself. I''m covered in black mud from head to toe. I can''t see a patch of skin and my nose has lost it ability to feel anything.


    - Well, I think I''ll wash up and get something to eat for now.( Rey)


    If I remember correctly this shed is near a small lake behind the mansion. I''ll wash there and than see what I can do about food.