Chapter Text
The soft chitter of birds registered around him as he gradually gained consciousness. He inhaled slowly, breathing in the scent of vegetation and dewy grass. A lazy smile stretched his lips as he burrowed further into the blankets he had laid on the grass and on himself to create the perfect cocoon to sleep in.
When he felt a movement against his side, it was only the crisp scent of charged qi from the array he had put up for protection from elements and danger that allowed him to stay relaxed. He blinked his eyes open, the world a blur of colors before his sight adjusted to his surroundings. A glance showed him a small white rabbit snuggled into his blankets at his side as it nibbled on fresh grass.
Gently, so as to not startle it, he moved his other arm to pet it. A grin of his usual exuberance threatened to break across his face as his gaze softened toward the small animal. The rabbit, while spooked at first, then relaxed into the touch, its nose nudging his hand as it did so. Musing at its familiarity with humans, he curled his body around it, warm sunshine gently shining on his face. The shadow of the tree he had camped under had receded close to its roots, so he estimates it is sometime around midday.
Once he felt fully awake, he got up, successfully startling away the little rabbit. He smiled contentedly, gazing into the darkened bush that the rabbit disappeared into. Peaceful mornings are hard to come by after all, when his shidi takes it upon himself to wake him early every day. He stretched and packed, already missing the peace that night hunts provide ( Oh, the irony! ) but he was also excited to be back at home again.
Once done he made his way to Yiling, where he could buy some food before beginning the final leg of the journey to Lotus Pier. He chewed on a soaked willow branch as he pondered over the nighthunt. While he will have to write a report after he reaches the sect, the nighthunt had been fairly simple so he considered it might not take long. He suppresses a smile as he considers various ways to embellish his story to impress his shidi-shimei .
By the time he could see the borders of the Burial Mounds, the sun had reached its zenith, shining hot overhead. The path he was on was adjacent to it for a short distance before one could reach Yiling. As he pondered what he should buy at Yiling, his feet came to a stuttering stop as he heard a loud screech.
Immediately pulling his sword out of its scabbard and moving into a ready stance, he faced the direction of the screech. His gaze travelled over the looming resentment of Burial Mounds when he noticed a movement outside the vermillion barrier surrounding it along with a chitter. He frowned as he relaxed his stance, wary still and ready to use it at a moment's notice.
He gingerly approached the barrier. Marveling at the Wen workmanship when a movement caught his eye. Up the mountain, among the dried bamboo, snags and black bushes he notices a figure in the dark that is swaying. Once his gaze settled on it, he heard an unmistakable clink of chains, as if someone were dragging the figure down with multiple chains and with huge force.
He had grown up in Yiling, as unwillingly as it had been at the time and he was well aware of the silent rule that the town's denizens always followed.
- Do not gaze at the mountain for it will lure you to misfortune.
- Do not raise voices near the mountain for it is disrespectful to the dead that reside in it.
- Always leave a small portion of your food at the foot of the mountain as offering once a week.
- Never leave your house after dark, especially so if you hear the voice of a loved one calling your name.
A chill crawled up his spine as he recalled them. He turned to hasten towards the town. Sure, he was a strong cultivator for his age, but he still had a long way to go before he could even dare to venture near the Burial mounds, much less investigate something from inside of it!
He panted, his steps falling in quick tandem, not running quite yet but the hastiness visible in his demeanor. Sure, he was a strong cultivator for his age, but he stood no chance before the behemoth that is the burial mounds. As he hastened towards the town of Yiling, he seldom expected a tendril of resentment to escape his notice and then try to drag him towards the mountain.
Nary a sound slipped past his lips before he found himself beyond the barrier he had been admiring. The sky coagulated with resentment and the world around him was deadened to the point that colors seemed as though they were drained. Freeing himself from the tendril with a kick charged with qi he scrambled to stand and then raced towards the closest place where the barrier was visible to him.
He expected a corpse to block his path. Anticipated for it even.
#
He did not expect for the corpse to resemble him, chunks of flesh clawed away, decaying bone exposed and a half bitten piece of eyeball hanging from his eye with blood thick and dark flowing liberally.
#
His feet came to a stuttering stop as panic and terror blinded his senses. He froze unwittingly, wishing to wretch but unable to move in dread as near transparent chains surrounding the corpse proceeded to drag it towards him.
He worked through his fright and made to step away but bones clamped onto his feet causing him to stumble and fall. Then the corpse was on him.
*
One moment. He smelt the putrid scent of decay, saw the yellowed bones with decaying bone marrow exposed where they are broken, felt the silky rough touch of resentment, tasted the death and terror that lingered in the air and heard the caws of a carrion bird alongside sickening clink of chains.
Then the corpse disintegrated into resentment and it swirled as it entered him through his mouth, nose and ears. The sound of tearing flesh echoed in the dead stillness of the burial mounds and his eyes streamed in silent tears as they became unseeing.
*
He never stood a chance.