章 6: 6. Forfeit Present Gains For Future Gain.
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"Hey, promise me you will live,"
Floating around in thick darkness, Hiro's consciousness moved like the wind. A voice echoed throughout the darkness, again and again.
"Hey, promise me you will live,"
But all Hiro could say was. "Where… where am I? It hurts,"
Even in this darkness, he felt pain. He didn't know from where it came from but…
"It hurts… it hurts so bad,"
He cried out ignoring the voice that echoed in the darkness.
"Ah! It hurts!"
The pain forced him to open his eyes. What greeted him was the appearance of two old men and a room ceiling. One held him down and the other held a bowl and applied its content to Hiro's body.
"It hurts… Ah!!! Stop, stop! Please stop!"
"Bare with it a little, lad, so you don't get bedridden,"
"Stop! Please! It hurts!"
He didn't know which of the old men had spoken and he didn't care. Right now, Hiro kept screaming.
"Ah!!! It hurts! It…"
His voice left him. He was in too much pain to scream. Just what the hell were they applying to his body.
Soon after the old man dropped the bowl and exhaled.
"That's it. The pain you feel lad, should subside in a few breaths,"
Hiro glared at him and the old man looked away.
"Old ancestor, this lad is now a mortal. His core was damaged too severely. It's a miracle he is alive, but he won't live passed four or five days. Treating him further is a waste of resources,"
Hiro's glare grew fiercer as he opened his mouth. He definitely understood what he heard but his mouth couldn't make a sound.
"Is there a way to save him?" the old ancestor asked. "Not just save him, but to also allow him cultivate,"
"This… old ancestor, it would be a waste to try,"
"Tell me,"
"There is a way but it requires five mystic crystals and the ancestor rank godly pill. Since his core was destroyed, we would use the mystic crystals to temporarily act as his core. While the godly pill is the only thing that can heal his internal wounds and meridians,"
"I see,"
"Five mystic crystals means the birth of five seventh stage nascent soul realm. And that godly pill means your fast recovery,"
"Hmm," the old ancestor waved his hand and cast a barrier over Hiro. "Old Sai, we should weigh things properly,"
"Old ancestor, you mean?"
"First the ancestor level beast is dead, though it cost my injuries to increase greatly. But let's call a spade, a spade, it was because of him I was able to sneak attack and kill it,"
"Yes but old ancestor, this is just our region. If you can heal and join the other regions we would end this long lasting battle,"
"Hmm, he also saved my granddaughter's life. I should save his life,"
"That… I understand where you are coming from my friend, but for his life we can save you and more lives,"
"Finally my friend, this should be between us. He has an immortal type physique. I can't tell which type, but it's definitely an immortal type,"
"This…"
"Your grand god-niece's physique is the pure fire type physique. A one in a thousand. She is only sixteen and she's already at eighth stage of the nascent soul realm. Give her ten to twenty years, and she'll reach the ninth stage. Something that took a lot over fifty to seventy years to attain,"
Old Sai looked at Hiro as the old ancestor continued.
"Now, we are talking about an immortal physique. I don't need to say much, other than the boy looks fifteen or sixteen at most,"
Old Sai nodded. "It's not just his appearance that looks young, even his bones are less than two decades old. But how come I can't tell his physique? The ancestor level and ninth stage really has a huge gap, sigh,"
"Haha, don't let that bother you my friend. You are still the most capable alchemist,"
"Not the most. I'll go get the mystic crystals. I'll get one each of the five elements. That should be better than just any,"
"Alright, I'll stay here with the lad,"
Old Sai walked out of the room and the old ancestor removed the barrier.
"May I ask what you talked about?"
Hiro asked as soon as the barrier was gone. The pain he felt had subsided a bit and he could finally make words with his mouth. He stared at the old man, who had neatly trimmed beards and short white hair. His brown eyes was out of place when compared to the two, though they matched his old looking yet smooth wrinkle-less face. For some reason Hiro felt like touching his face.
"Hmm, whether to save you or not. The resources we would use to save you will give more value if used properly elsewhere,"
"So why the contemplations? Do I have a value that can not easily be foregone?"
"True, you do. But it will take a few years to manifest. The risk is a high one,"
"So, it is, forfeit present gains for future gain. Quite risky, and what are you going to do?"
"You saved my granddaughter's life, the little I can do is save yours. This is one, while two is, about your immortal physique,"
"My what now?" Hiro frowned.
"Your physique, you didn't know?"
"Sorry to say this, but I don't remember anything. I woke up on the battlefield with no knowledge of anything. I don't know who I am? Where am from? And what my name is? A man on the battlefield gave me the name Hiro,"
"Hmm?"
"I wonder if he is alive?"
"Do tell me, what happened since you woke up!"
"What's there to tell. I woke up, fought, ate pills and almost got killed,"
"That's quite brief,"
"I guess I wouldn't be fighting anytime soon,"
"No, one you need to recover and two, we killed the leader and thousands of the subordinates. Only a few hundred escaped,"
"I see,"
"Well, I sincerely thank you for saving my granddaughter,"
"How is she?"
"She's fine. A few burns and wounds but none life threatening,"
"Hmm? I can feel my legs, haha. I can finally feel my legs,"
"That's good. All thanks to Old Sai,"
"What's all thanks to me?"
Old Sai asked as he steps into the room. Hiro turned to him and said.
"Huh? Thank you, I can control my legs,"
"You should allow them rest. I'll apply some things to it and I'll give you a body strengthening medicine later,"
"Thank you,"
Old Sai turned to the old ancestor. "I've got the mystic crystals. I'll need your help when he takes the pill,"
"Okay,"
Old Sai turned to Hiro. "I'm sure you heard what I said before. I can save you but the process will be worse than the last and the chances of you surviving it are six out of ten. Knowing that, do you want us to proceed?"
"Hmm? Why not? I'll get the chance to grow stronger after right? That is better than living with the strength I have now,"
"Alright, let's begin,"
…
~Two Days Later~
"Phew, we are done,"
Old Sai wiped the sweat beads on his forehead and sat down. The old ancestor turned to him and said.
"I would never have believed a mortal body could take mystic crystals,"
"A normal mortal would die if they tried. The only reason he survived is because of his shattered core. The mystic crystals absorbed the energy in it to settle down in his body,"
"Okay,"
"I didn't expect you to knock him out six times,"
"He was in serious pain and screaming too much,"
"Haha, well, he is sound asleep now,"
"I will leave him in your care, I'm going to heal my wounds,"
Old Sai tossed him a bottle. "It should help a bit. Don't expect much though,"
"Thanks,"
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