The Void King

1. Reborn & The Mysterious Pill

"Where…"

 

Fenn opened his eyes, his heart pounding. He gripped his throbbing head and slowly sat up on the edge of the bed. Everything felt wrong. "Where am I?"

 

He lifted his hand and caught his reflection in the silver plate nearby. His eyes widened in horror. That wasn't his face. He touched his cheeks tremblingly. "What in the world…?"

 

Before he could gather his thoughts, a flood of memories crashed into his mind. He wasn't who he used to be. He was now Zhou Feng, fifth-generation direct descendant of the Zhou family.

 

Knock, knock, knock.

 

"Brother Feng? It's me, Yan'er. Are you there?" A girl's voice rang out, clear and sweet.

 

"Zhou Yanlin?" More memories surfaced. Zhou Yanlin had left the family with a mysterious old man when she was only eight. Why she’d returned now, he didn’t know — but he’d always cared deeply for her.

 

"Brother Feng? Are you awake?" She sounded softer this time, careful not to disturb him.

 

"The room isn't locked. Come in," he called out.

 

The door creaked open, and a gentle breeze carried in a faint, lovely fragrance. Zhou Yanlin stepped in — graceful, bright, and beautiful. Even now, with youthful innocence still in her eyes, he could tell: in a few years, she’d be a beauty to topple empires.

 

"Brother Feng… are you alright?" Her lips parted. A flicker of anger flashed across her face when she saw his condition, but it vanished in an instant. She stepped closer, her gaze softening.

 

"I'm fine," Zhou Feng said, closing his eyes briefly.

 

"Here — this is for you." Zhou Yanlin bit her lip and held out a small wooden box that glowed with faint blue light. "I hope it helps."

 

He didn't take it right away. He studied the box, his gaze sharp. "What is it?"

 

"It's a Meridian Pill — it repairs damaged meridians!" she said earnestly.

 

Zhou Feng jolted as if struck by lightning. He shot up from the bed, gripping her arms. "You mean… an elixir? That kind of pill?"

 

"Mm." She smiled, happy just to see him excited. "I hope it's not too late for your dantian."

 

But his excitement faded fast. He frowned. "Where did you get this? Is it from the family ancestral hall?"

 

"No, no —" she said quickly, looking nervous.

 

"Yanlin, tell me the truth." He knew exactly how precious such a pill was. A thousand years ago, a wandering alchemist had left the Zhou family two first-grade elixirs. One was kept in the ancestral hall, guarded like a treasure; the other was lost. No one had dared use them in a thousand years.

 

"It’s from my master!" she said quickly. "Before we came back, he gave it to me — said to keep me safe. It has nothing to do with the family."

 

Zhou Feng relaxed slightly. Her master was that legendary old man — powerful, mysterious, respected even by the family elders. If it came from him… maybe it really was fine.

 

"Hmph, when have I ever lied to you? Besides, why would I lie to you?" She pouted, turning her head away in pretend offence.

 

"Alright, alright. I believe you. Pardon my insolence," he chuckled.

 

"It's okay, Brother Feng!" She beamed again, then noticed his hands still gently holding hers. Both froze. Her face turned a lovely shade of pink. His own face warmed, and he quickly let go.

 

The silence stretched, warm and awkward.

 

"Then — then take it quickly! Don't wait!" She quickly pressed the box into his hands, turned, and hurried out the door. "Get well soon!" In a flash, she was gone.

 

"This little girl…" He smiled fondly, then looked down at the box, his expression turning serious.

 

He opened it. Inside lay a dark, round pill, about the size of a longan. A rich, warm scent filled the room — far richer and purer than any herbal medicine he’d known.

 

"A first-grade elixir… truly extraordinary." He took a deep breath, then swallowed it.

 

Instantly, it dissolved. Warm currents spread outward, flowing along his shattered meridians, knitting them back together — the Conception Vessel, the Governing Vessel, the Penetrating Vessel, and the Girdle Vessel. Four meridians, restored.

 

Hours later, he opened his eyes. He felt strong. His face was no longer pale.

 

"I can cultivate again!" Joy surged through him. He stretched — his whole body hummed with new strength.

 

But then —

 

Cough — gag — !

 

He clutched his chest, blood spilling over his lips. The joy on his face shattered. Inside him, something unseen lashed out — and the four newly healed meridians snapped apart all at once.

 

"NOOO —!"

 

Darkness swallowed him.

 

***

 

When he came to, he wasn't exactly awake — he was seeing inside his own body. His blood and energy raged violently against his broken meridians. But then his gaze settled somewhere else — deep within his sea of consciousness.

 

Resting there was a string of Buddhist prayer beads, glowing with soft golden light, calming his mind. He stared in shock.

 

They were identical to the very beads he’d bought at that small antique shop in his old world.

 

His heart skipped a beat.

 

"Could it be… that these beads are the reason I was brought here?"