Lian Yu's Rebirth and the Clan's Pain
Lian Yu (MC) gazed at his hands. They were frail, thin, and lifeless, marked only by a few old scars on his palms – not from strenuous labor, but typical signs of an ordinary life. These hands were nothing compared to the billions of years of cultivation and cosmic power that resided within his soul. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. A cosmic power, capable of moving constellations, lay within him, but this weak, emaciated body was not trained to withstand it. It was like a crude pot that could shatter with even a single drop of that power.
"Lian Yu's body... is too weak," he thought to himself, his inner voice echoing in an ancient cavern. "His muscles are loose, bones fragile, and blood circulation incredibly slow. Everything is at a nascent stage. If I were to use even a fraction of my true soul's power, this body would instantly explode, like a clay pot breaking under immense pressure."
He looked around. Ruins. Just ruins. All that remained of the once glorious 'Blade Clan' was a pile of stones, a realm of ash and rubble. Broken walls, once adorned with the clan's insignia, now stood as burnt skeletal remains. Scorched wooden beams sadly pointed towards the sky, and an eerie silence enveloped everything, broken only by the faint weeping of an old man and the pitter-patter of raindrops.
Lian Yu sharpened his senses. Someone was approaching. Their footsteps were heavy, accompanied by a faint groan with each step. Clearly, the person was in pain. Lian Yu, without a sound, silently hid behind a broken wall, his movements as quiet and precise as a hunter's.
An old man, his back bent with age and weariness, his body covered in fresh, still-oozing wounds, stumbled into view. His clothes were torn, and his face was a mixture of dust and tears. He was the clan's oldest servant, named Xiao Li. He saw Lian Yu's lifeless body, still lying where he had been struck down, and hot tears streamed from his eyes.
"My master... my young prince...\! I couldn't save you\!" Xiao Li's voice was filled with sorrow and regret, each word escaping like a bitter sigh. He knelt beside Lian Yu's body, taking his hands in his trembling ones, unable to believe that Lian Yu was still alive. A faint flicker of disbelief and hope still lingered in his eyes.
Lian Yu, who was now 'Lian Yu,' looked at the old Xiao Li. Within his soul, he found Lian Yu's past memories surfacing – Xiao Li's loyalty, his affection, and how he loved this young Lian Yu like his own son.
Lian Yu slowly clutched the broken sword in his hand, his fingers tightening on the cold metal. His eyes were on the old man, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He was thinking of the man with the Golden Aura and the treacherous gods who had betrayed him, casting him down from the pinnacle of limitless power.
But he knew it wasn't time for revenge yet. This was a long journey, and he needed to strengthen his roots once more.
"This body is my new foundation. From here, I must start anew. Slowly unveil my true power... as this body grows stronger. I must transform this body into a vessel that can contain my infinite power," he thought, his inner voice resolute.
The old man was still weeping, his tears wetting the earth. Lian Yu took a deep breath and stepped out, breaking the quiet, cinematic moment.
"What happened, Uncle?" Lian Yu's voice was calm, devoid of emotion, yet possessing an eerie stability that a 15-year-old boy shouldn't have.
The old man rubbed his eyes upon seeing Lian Yu alive, as if he couldn't believe his own eyes. He rubbed his eyes again with trembling fingers, as if waking from a terrible dream. "Mast... Master\! You... you're alive? How... how is this possible?" His voice was a mixture of disbelief and frightened joy.
Lian Yu nodded. "Yes. I am here."
Tears streamed from the old man's eyes, but this time they were tears of joy, a wave of relief washing over his face. "This... this is a miracle\! The Lord hasn't abandoned us\! I thought... I thought it was all over\!" He fell at Lian Yu's feet, weeping with joy, his loyalty and emotions evident.
Lian Yu did not console him, but spoke directly.
"Tell me everything. How did all this happen? Who attacked our clan? Tell me in detail, Xiao Li. Don't leave out any information." His voice held a strange, commanding authority that didn't match a 15-year-old boy, but old Xiao Li saw a glimpse of his former master in it.
The old man stifled his sobs and, with tearful eyes, recounted, his voice still trembling but firming: "We... we were attacked by the 'Shadow Clan,' Master. They came suddenly in the dead of night, hidden in the darkness. They wanted our clan's ancient techniques... the secret knowledge of our Blade Arts. They deceitfully killed our general... your father. They violated a treaty, Master\! It was a deception... a terrible deception\!" Xiao Li's face was filled with anger and sorrow.
Lian Yu clenched his fist. His fingers tightened so much that his nails dug into his palm, but he felt no pain. The Shadow Clan... This name had now become the symbol of the first goal in his new life.
Lian Yu looked at the old man with his cold, steady gaze, his eyes holding a glimmer that hinted at eons of knowledge and boundless power. "No one will cry anymore, Xiao Li. The Blade Clan is not finished. I am back. And as long as I am here, no one will touch our clan."
The old man, who saw a strange glimmer and authority in Lian Yu's eyes, silently nodded. There was no longer fear in his eyes, but a new hope and determination. He didn't know that the boy he considered his master was now not just his master, but an immortal soul.