I was born strong. My first memory was of blood. I had been abandoned in the wilderness as an infant, and despite not having learned to walk yet I had grabbed the head of a serpent wanting to have me as it's meal and ripped it clean off. My memory of that time was spotty at best, but I have no memory of a mother or father taking care of me in that time, just mindless violence. Eventually when I was 4 years old I was unofficially crowned as the ruler of that jungle I lived in, as all the animals feared me and the few people I encountered fled in terror of my bloodlust. It was around that time some people in fancy clothing appeared and despite not having learned to speak I could comprehend what they said. They wanted to take me to my parents, I refused and tried to kill them, but they shrugged my attacks off as if it was nothing and knocked me out. The strong do what they want while the weak suffer what they must, that is the law of the world. It was the first time I had ever experienced being weak.
"UGH… *Vomit*… *cough**cough**cough*"
I jolted awake and began to violently cough up water. I found myself in a mostly empty cave with nothing but a blanket covering up my completely naked body. I was confused and disoriented, not knowing where I was, or where my clothes were for that matter.
"Good, your awake. Now get the hell out."
Suddenly a monotone voice came from behind me. I turned to see a young woman with silver hair, deep blue eyes and a featureless white, porcelain mask with various markings, wearing a cheap looking hanfu robe. She was sitting at a desk, while writing on a parchment with a feather and ink.
"Uh… fair maiden might I enquire as to where we are and where my clothing has disappeared to." I said as I stood up covering my privates.
I didn't know who this woman was, but if she touched me in my sleep, she is dead. I'm sick and tired of the women back home trying to cop a feel. There were even some who tried to claim I was the father of their child on our first encounter. It would be problematic if this woman suddenly showed up one day claiming the same. Especially, since I would have no way of knowing whether or not it is the truth.
"We are in the 'Woodoll' Forest. Your clothes are drying outside. Also, here." She said as she handed me the parchment she just finished writing on. I was half expecting it to be some sort of marriage contract when I read it, but instead…
"What is this?"
"Instructions for how to treat any remaining symptoms."
The parchment listed a number of instructions and medicinal recipes as well as how to apply them. I stared at the lady as I was wondering what she was going on about as I finally remembered what had happened. Quickly, I began to meditate to assess the damage to my core. Fortunately, my cultivation core, the heart of a cultivator, was just damaged and not completely broken. Still, I can't use any martial techniques without risking it breaking.
"Wow, so that's how cultivation works."
"HOLY SHI-!?… ahem, fair maiden if you could be so kind as to keep a respectable distance since I'm still indecent."
In the few seconds I had closed my eyes, she had closed the distance between us and squatted down, putting her masked face inches from my own, all without making a sound. My senses might be dulled, but I should still have been able to sense her approach even with my eyes closed.
"Whatever, now would you leave already, before you attract more pests." She said as she stood up and walked back to her desk and started to fiddle with some strange contraption.
"Pests? What do you mean?" I asked, but she just pointed towards the cave exit.
Wanting to leave anyway I took a step outside using the blanket to cover up my privates. Outside There was a pile of dead magical beasts. Magical beasts are attracted to elemental energy, as it can help them grow stronger. The qi which cultivators use is mostly made of such energies, so an injured cultivator leaking qi everywhere because of a damaged core would attract such creatures like it's nobody's business.
Hanging off a tree with nothing but a rock to pin them in place, was a tattered pair of pants fluttering in the wind. Putting on the pants I started looking for the rest of my clothes, but…
"There is nothing!" I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find anything to cover up my feet or torso. Just then the woman came out of the cave holding a bindle over her shoulder.
"Miss, may I ask where my remaining attire has gone." I asked. Hoping I hadn't charmed her to the point she felt the need to steal my clothing for whatever reason. Just thinking about what that servant girl did to my clothes back then sends shivers down my spine.
"Probably in the river somewhere. Now bye." She said and started wandering off like a vagabond.
"Hey, wait a minute! Where are you going?" I said as I followed after her.
"None of your business."