I created this anthology as a collection of short poetic stories depicting human emotions of happiness, sadness, love, hate, hope, regret, dreams and more. Basically capturing a little bit of life in a snapshot. 

As a writer these stories are based on my personal experiences, but I'm sure that you as the reader will also be able to relate. 

Please enjoy these stories and the feels they are intended to create, and please feel free to share with me how these make you feel.

I did not know that my life was turning upside down at that time, it happened like a dream for a night in the middle of winter..and the winter of that night continues

I was born twice first as a princess on a cold dark night in the middle of winter in xxx year and then again as commoner who lost everything in one fateful night".


"Those who have betrayed will buy with their life,
tell them to wait for comeback"

"Liquor is like a knife. It cuts your throat as you swallow."
'Fire Blade' was a type of spirits. It was also an inexpensive alcohol.
Normally, people would think that good liquor was expensive while cheap liquor was low-quality alcohol. But that was not necessarily true. Liquor was generally not something good so there's no such thing as good liquor.
Shen Lian would drink once in a while too but he usually would drink the 'Lvyi' rice wine. That type of rice wine was low alcohol content.
The taste of spirits hitting your throat sure was not a good feeling. Furthermore, Fire Blade was the type of alcohol with high alcohol content.
Shen Lian was not taking sips and instead was gulping down bowls of it. If one were accustomed to the gentle side of him, they would not believe this bold drinker was, in fact, Shen Lian. Bai Yufei too was surprised.
He was the one who bought drinks and peanuts for Shen Lian.
That was all he could afford with his wages.
Although Shen Lian owns the place and he could have easily requested for any dishes, Shen Lian only wanted the wine and dishes prepared by Bai Yufei.
Bai Yufei too felt the same.
"I've never thought you would drink so boldly." Bai Yufei patted Shen Lian's shoulder with a hint of drunkenness. It was not his first time drinking with other people but it was a different ball game drinking with Shen Lian. Shen Lian possessed a special kind of charisma that would give people around him a peace of mind. If he became a friend, he would definitely be the person one can rely on.
Bai Yufei was usually more cautious when he drank with other people. But with Shen Lian, he believed that everything would be fine. This was Shen Lian, the one and only Shen Lian in this universe.
"Am I not a bold person?" Shen Lian replied tipsily. Although slightly intoxicated, his eyes were still sharp and clear.
"Nope, you are not!" Bai Yufei laughed.
"Then what about you?" Shen Lian asked.
"What?" Bai Yufei was showing signs of intoxication. Next to his feet lined ten earthen jars of liquor. If any ordinary person consumed ten earthen jars of liquor, he would be totally wasted.
Bai Yufei was still able to stand strong. His practice of Qinggong had helped him keep his balance although he was drunk.
"I was asking, are you a bold person?" Shen Lian increased his volume and this time Bai Yufei heard him loud and clear.
"I am someone who is afraid to be bold," Bai Yufei laughed again. When you're drinking you would think that you're speaking in a loud voice but that's not necessarily the case. However, Shen Lian was able to hear his answer crystal clear.
Shen Lian patted Bai Yufei shoulder without saying anything. At this point, there was nothing much left to say. All they could do was drink.
Shen Lian was in fact drunk.
Jokes and plans for world domination could not beat one good night of heavy drinking.
Drinking at his inn with his employee.
Bai Yufei had no hidden intentions or so. All he wanted was to drink with Shen Lian. That was also why Shen Lian agreed to drink with him.
The reason why Shen Lian was not a very bold person was due to his insecurities.
Bai Yufei, on the other hand, was actually a very bold person. But he did not have many friends and that was why he was afraid of being bold. He knew that once the thrills of being bold were over, there might not be any other opportunities for him to be bold again.
That night, the two men were drunk to their core.
It was already noon by the time Shen Lian opened his eyes.
That was the first time in the two years where he woke up late. He did not manage to sleep well as the hangover kicked in.
He drank way too much the night before.
Bai Yufei collapsed by the time he hit the 12th earthen jar. At that point, Shen Lian was still partially sober.
By the time Shen Lian passed out, he did not know how much he had drunk.
He too was not aware that Bai Yufei was not the only one who paid for the drinks. Steward Wu contributed to the bill too.
The bed was soft and comfortable but the weather outside was unforgivingly cold.
During days like that, a majority of people would just stay in bed.
There was a popular saying that went, "why sleep for so long when you can sleep forever once you are dead."
However, Shen Lian was one of the minorities.
When he walked down to the lounge of the inn, Bai Yufei had already reported for work. He looked hard working as usual and no one could tell that his real identity was actually a world-famous thief.
The higher you soar, the more you would enjoy the down-to-earth feeling.
Bai Yufei's martial arts skills were not top-notched but Shen Lian believed given ten or twenty years, Bai Yufei would peak.
It was a pity that he had no fate with the road to Dao. But that was not something worthy to be sad about.
There were just way too many people who were fated to be part of neither Dao nor Jianghu. Instead, they lived an ordinary life.
Steward Wu handed Shen Lian an invitation. It was an invitation to Shen Ruoxi's poetry gathering.
A purple invitation signified an honorable invitation.
A poetry gathering by Shen Ruoxi was big news to the city.
Entertainment was limited during the bitter winter. Initially, Shen Ruoxi only invited a couple of familiar faces to her gathering. Who knew that it would turn out to be a hit among people?
The plum blossom appreciation and poetry gathering were held at the manor of the Shen residence. Horse carriages filled the roads, a huge crowd turned up for the party.
From talented men, beautiful women to wealthy merchants, there were, however, no sights of commoners.
The type of people who would be bored during winter were not commoners who were busy making a living.
Poor people would not have first world problems such as being too bored due to the lack of entertainment. When one was poor, a slice of meat or a glass of wine was the highest form of enjoyment.
Shen Ruoxi was from a wealthy family. In her lifetime, she would never understand poverty.
Young girls were generally poetic. But young girls from a poor family had no choice but to suppress their poetic intention.
Shen Ruoxi was very fortunate. She could compose her own poem or she could just get someone to write one for her.
The Qing State had always been a place that lacked literature. By the time the party ended, no one heard of anything impressive. However, everyone present was in good mood.
"The plum blossoms thrive in the wintery forest, 
Not mingling with the plums and peaches to be reduced to secular;
Suddenly, the refreshing fragrance permeates through the night, 
It scattered became the new spring of the world."
The poem was recited deliberately but it did not mask the elegance of the poem.
The crowd's face changed color when they heard the poem.
A couple of scholars could not help but bow down to this poem that was destined to spread through the ages.
The charm of this poem lies in the meaning that goes beyond border, class and even culture.
A man's nature was good at birth. It was the materialistic approach to life that caused people to be vain and calculative.
The charm of a song of a thousand years old lies in its ability to bring out the good in humanity.
Shen Ruoxi stood on the stage with a veil covering her face. She saved this poem for the last.
The settings of the poem were quiet and calm. Even though people have memorized the poem, Shen Ruoxi could not help but feel a sense of loss after hearing for the second time.
She felt that she knew a little bit more about her cousin now.
Unfortunately, Shen Lian was not by her side. Her eyes scanned the crowd and she could not find him among the audience.
She did not notice someone waved to her and disappeared into the winter night.
The twelfth month of the lunar year came to an end. Spring was to approach soon.


What is a Daoist Master? One that is imageless in ten directions and vanishes in the six paths; unrestrained by the three realms and the five elements.                                                                                                                                           
After a day at the clinic, Dr. Li Feng met with an accident on his way home. When he regained consciousness, Li Feng found himself in the body of a weak teenage boy who was born out of wedlock, Shen Lian. Who was the father? The mother would not tell. A scripture he found among his mother’s remnants was the only thing he knew about his father.                                                                                                    
The mother came from a wealthy and well known family. When Shen Lian was recalled back to the Shen family, he was entitled for part of the grandfather’s inheritance and businesses. Despite the grand value, Shen Lian did not take a cent with him when he decided to leave the family. Why would he leave this comfortable life behind?                                      
His journey with this new identity brought him into this new world as he travelled between realms in search of knowledge to improve his Daoist skills. As he conquered trial after trial, would he become the chosen one? Will he succeed in becoming the Daoist Master? Only time will tell.

In the blink of an eye, it had been late November. The winter was coming as Dragon Emperor City turned cold at once. All the imperial gardens in Forbidden City were covered with silver-like frost in each morning. There were no more brilliant peonies, osmanthus flowers or tiger chrysanthemums anymore. All the flowers in the imperial gardens had been withering, except for the red plum blossoms in the Plum Garden. They welcomed their own season with their brilliant glory. 
Leng Manxue was born in winter; therefore, she liked winter. She was more obsessed with plum blossoms which could still open arrogantly in winter. Leng Manxue's residence in Forbidden City was close to the Plum Garden in the internal courtyard. In the small building where she lived, the moment she would open her windows, she would be able to see the beautiful scenery in the Plum Garden.
Last night, it started to snow in Dragon Emperor City. On the second morning, when the general manager of Forbidden City got up and pushed open the vermilion windows, she saw that the purplish red plum blossoms were covered in pure white. In a split second, Leng Manxue felt good.
"After wind and rain gave way to spring, the snow over the sky welcomed spring. Long icicles are hanging over the cliff; however, the plum blossoms are still contending with each other. Despite being beautiful, plum blossoms don't contend with peach blossoms and apricot blossoms. You just notice the others that the spring is coming. When the mountain is covered with blossoms, you just smile in the flowering shrubs."
Watching this scenery, Leng Manxue recited a poem unconsciously. 
Of course, it was not made by Leng Manxue herself, but made by Zhang Tie casually when he met Leng Manxue last month after exiting his cultivation. Zhang Tie expressed that this poem about plum blossoms was his favorite. Leng Manxue bore it in mind at once. Not only Zhang Tie liked it, but Leng Manxue also liked it; because she felt a heroic spirit in this poem, a strength that could give people hope and brilliance in despair. Such a heroic spirit and strength resonated with the depth of one's soul. Implored by Leng Manxue, Zhang Tie could only write it down and gift it to Leng Manxue.
At that moment, the poem was hanging on the wall of Leng Manxue's bedroom. She would take a look at it every day.
Although being not runes, Zhang Tie's words also carried a marvelous strength.
"Is spring coming?" Leng Manxue murmured with a faint smile as she watched the silver-covered Forbidden City and the golden glazed tiles of those houses and palaces under the white snow.
"Now that winter has arrived, would spring be far away?"
With such a good mood, General Manager Leng started her work. 
When Zhang Tie was in secluded cultivation, Leng Manxue mainly served as the general manager of the logistic affairs of Qianji Agency and the five major departments of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. All the materials that Qianji Agency and the five major departments required in Forbidden City were under her control. Those who passed messages between five major departments and Qianji Agency were also Leng Manxue's subordinates. On this occasion, even if Leng Manxue didn't participate in making decisions with the five major departments and Qianji Agency, everything that happened to the five major departments and Qianji Agency within Forbidden City was transparent to her. 
Leng Manxue sorted out the daily important things and prepared to present them to Zhang Tie when he exited his backroom.
Zhang Tie didn't leave his backroom especially for writing a poem for Leng Manxue last time; instead, he was finishing the second round of trade with Wu Qiankun from Emperor NvWa Palace.
Leng Manxue knew that Wu Qiankun was here with the second batch of six demon generals. Leng Manxue arranged some people to send the six big iron cabinets to Jiaotai Palace where Zhang Tie was in secluded cultivation. 
The second round of trade underwent smoothly and calmly. After completing this round of trade, Wu Qiankun left there.
After completing the second round of trade, Zhang Tie didn't stay overnight in the Palace of Heavenly Purity; instead, he only stayed there in the afternoon. After writing a poem for Leng Manxue and taking a short rest, he had a grand supper. In the evening, he returned to Jiaotai Palace and entered secluded cultivation again. 
This made Leng Manxue admire Zhang Tie. As Dragon Emperor, Zhang Tie still spent so much time in cultivation. This really made many people ashamed. 
Given Zhang Tie's diligence, all the 7 elders of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace felt shameful being indolent in cultivation as they stopped contending with each other for the sake of their profits. Besides those elders on duty in Qianji Agency, all the other elders were in secluded cultivation when they were free. They dared not interfere with the affairs of the five major departments anymore. 
The others might treat Zhang Tie's diligence as a good example; however, Leng Manxue always felt that Zhang Tie had his own concerns. It seemed that he was not doing that only for growing more powerful.
As she touched Zhang Tie in an increasingly higher frequency, Leng Manxue became more and more confused about him. She felt that he was becoming more and more profound and unpredictable. 
Sometimes, Leng Manxue felt that she and Zhang Tie came from two different worlds.
...
Leng Manxue's office was in the Westcold Pavilion beside Yangxin Palace.
As each affair in Forbidden City was exclusive to some personnel, Leng Manxue only needed to command or arrange people to do things. She had over 10 subordinate immortal generals. Therefore, she didn't need to do too many things herself. 
Like usual, the first thing that Leng Manxue did was to make a tour inspection around Forbidden City. Then, she would return to Westcold Pavilion to handle public affairs.
"Last afternoon, Commander-in-Chief Huang quarreled with President Guan of Earth-Treasures Department for the sake of Dragon's Teeth Army!"
In Westcold Pavilion, soon after Leng Manxue handled some public affairs, she had received the report on the event that happened to Earth-Treasures Department last afternoon from one of her subordinates. 
"Hmm, why did Commander-in-Chief Huang quarrel with President Guan?"
"It's said that they quarreled over the compensation of Dragon's Teeth Army. Last month, two more immortal generals joined Dragon's Teeth Army. However, the monthly compensation that Earth-Treasures Department distributed to Dragon's Teeth Army didn't increase. Therefore, Commander-in-Chief came there to ask President Guan about that. However, President Guan told Commander-in-Chief that all the military compensation for Dragon's Teeth Army were budgeted in advance. The new immortal generals of Dragon's Teeth Army were not covered in the budget. Therefore, they couldn't enjoy it. If Dragon's Teeth Army wanted more compensation, they had to apply for it from Earth-Treasures Department in advance. According to Commander-in-Chief, only those qualified candidates who had passed the examination could join Dragon's Teeth Army; however, he didn't know how many candidates were recruited in advance precisely. He could estimate it at most. He hoped President Guan to not comply with the rules so strictly..."
"What did President Guan say?"
"No way. Therefore, Commander-in-Chief reported it to Qianji Agency and hoped those elders on duty to solve it through reconciliation..."
"Hmm, I see. You could leave..." Watching the subordinate leaving, Leng Manxue let out a sigh inside. After that, she recorded this event briefly on her work report.
Although Leng Manxue was standing on the side of Huang Baimei, she knew that President Guan was right too; because this was the responsibility of Earth-Treasures Department and the procedures that they followed. As for Commander-in-Chief Huang, he just followed Zhang Tie's order to expand Dragon's Teeth Army. Huang Baimei was always serious, he would never falsify a number for more element crystals than in need. Additionally, it was troublesome to do that. If he did that, he would commit a felony and couldn't pass the examination of the Supervision Department at all. What was more, so many people in Earth-Treasures Department were keeping an eye on Dragon's Teeth Army. They were crystal clear about the concrete strength of Dragon's Teeth Army. If the population of Dragon's Teeth Army that Huang Baimei reported was not right, Earth-Treasures Department would get a reason to go berserk and curtail the provision of element crystals for Dragon's Teeth Army...
In the final analysis, it was because of a shortage of element crystals. Although Leng Manxue didn't know how many element crystals Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace had, she knew that stockpile of element crystals might be limited given the deeds of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace in the past couple of years. Otherwise, the 5 elders would not have sold immortal wind palaces to Emperor NvWa Palace and President Guan would never be so careful about the monthly compensation of Dragon's Teeth Army. 
However, as long as they ran out of element crystals, Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace would collaspe for sure. As Leng Manxue grew up in Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, she had a special affection for Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. She never wanted to see the fall of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. 
When all the others were anxious about the supply of element crystals, Leng Manxue was curious that Zhang Tie didn't even care a bit about it. Therefore, she thought Zhang Tie might have got a solution.
"General Manager, Wu Qiankun from Emperor NvWa Palace is paying a visit to His Majesty outside the Forbidden City!"
When Leng Manxue was thinking about Huang Baimei's trouble in Westcold Pavilion and pondering how to give a favor to him, she received the message from her subordinate——Wu Qiankun is coming...
'Did he send the third batch of demon generals for His Majesty? That's too fast. It's not even been a month since he did it last time.'
Leng Manxue knew that Zhang Tie liked those demon generals that Wu Qiankun brought here. Before noticing Zhang Tie, she asked, "Is he here alone or with the same iron cabinets like how he did the last two times?"
"He's here alone!"
"Hmm!" Leng Manxue sent the order after a short silence, "Lead him to the Westcold Pavilion..."
"Yes, sir!"
After waiting in Westcold Pavilion for less than 10 minutes, Leng Manxue had seen Wu Qiankun.
Wu Qiankun was here alone. Even though he tried to be composed, he still couldn't cover his anxiety in front of Leng Manxue. 
After inviting him to take a seat in Westcold Pavilion and having people serve him a cup of tea, Leng Manxue asked him, "General Manager Wu, what are you here for this time?"
"Is His Majesty free? I want to see His Majesty!"
　　


After the Catastrophe, every rule in the world was rewritten.
In the Age of Black Iron, steel, iron, steam engines and fighting force became the crux in which human beings depended on to survive.
A commoner boy by the name Zhang Tie was selected by the gods of fortune and was gifted a small tree which could constantly produce various marvelous fruits. At the same time, Zhang Tie was thrown into the flames of war, a three-hundred-year war between humans and demons on the vacant continent. Using crystals to tap into the potentials of the human body, one must cultivate to become stronger.
The thrilling legends of mysterious clans, secrets of Oriental fantasies, numerous treasures and legacies in the underground world — All in the Castle of Black Iron!
Written by Drunk Tiger, this novel is a prime example of fantasy steampunk. Let us journey through the world of limitless possibilities and inventions together!
------
**Warning: This novel contains mature content**


Remember summer?
The summer of year 2018?
I was tired… bored.
But what overcame me was…
That haiku poem I wrote

It's that very thing
That I don't regret sharing
That "Poison" poem
I don't regret sharing it
With my eighth grade teacher, right?

I remember how it began and ended
Though I still have it with me
On this year, 2020…
I would like to think back two years ago
July of 2018 when I first wrote
"Poison" the haiku poem
Without taking
A single
Glance
Of that it now…

Dear now and future
I wish to remember these
Lines it began with

"I hate how it reeks
of its death metalic smell
Yes, it's called 'Poison'"

It's the very first stanza
That may have shook my ELA teacher
And a social worker
He shared it with in the winter
Of early 2019

That haiku poem
Made up of eighteen stanzas
Became powerful… 
What went through my mind as I
Wrote this with no intentions?

After reading it
All I remember are these:
Deep rain and dark grave

I thank the past me
For sharing that dark poem.
I feel so evil… 
Yet my heart is in Eu. Pho.
Ri. A. Yes, euphoria.

I'll never forget
That sudden pounce of courage
But that fear I felt
When I was suddenly called
To see the social worker

That quiet and peaceful engine in my brain
Became a sudden ruckus of confusion
And panic of fear
It felt like all I could hear from those millions
Of tiny working cells scream out,
"W-what is happening?!"
And all that emergency alarming, beeping
And wee-wooing like a broken siren
All for the sake of this one thought… 
"What have I done for the social worker to seek me?"

"I hate how it reeks
of its death metallic smell
Yes, it's called 'Poison'"
It was this very poem
This dark and sad haiku one

Remember winter?
In mid-winter, one poem
Became my treasure
I thank myself for this piece
Written perfect on a whim

Stories of lessons, life, and many other things aren't always long and just stories. It can also be small and short...like poems.

When did it start to get this cold? The change of time? The change of day? Season? The coldness in the air reminds me of a poem. I know this poem, by heart, soul, and mind. This poem has stuck by me, for no apparent reason at all. It reminded me so much of my life, yet there was nothing lively about it. 

I kept my eyes on the ceiling, the emptiness of it, the lonely colour of white. I've had countless thoughts whilst staring at this ceiling, the calming atmosphere of complete nothingness has left me numb, bored, and unsatisfied. 

I stared at the ceiling but the image of my room itself came into mind, another empty place. Bed, floor, cupboard. Nothing more, nothing less. It's weird to imagine that this is usually a place where you could see one's entire life and personality. For example it the room was messy, you would be able to describe the one living there as messy, lazy or unmotivated. In my room, there was just an endless amount of space.

The sound of the front door opening then banging shut, made me jumpy. I could hear the thumps of his heavy feet meeting the floor, the sound became thicker, I could hear his movement. My body became agitated, my heart slowly thumped, as loud as his footsteps. Anything worse than your heart beating incredibly fast, it's when you feel as if your heart has completely stopped beating. That was happening right now, I could feel him standing just a few feet away from my room's door. The seconds felt like hours, I closed my eyes. Mentally I counted, slower than ever were the numbers that my inner speech countered. 5...6...7... Then finally his presence moved as if he had made up his mind.

I was in the clear tonight, I didn't have to worry about my face the next morning or the pains the next day would bring. I was in the clear because I have done exactly what he wanted me to. Get home, cook up dinner, clean up, sett his warmed food with a beer or two beside it. I'd place his dinner on the small table next to his favourite armchair. With the TV sett on the sports channel, a few feet away from him. By the time he gets home, everything goes quiet, and still and I disappear for the night so he could imagine that it was just him. That was how he wanted it, that was how he got it. 

I was scared to death by my father, he wasn't like most. He is a drunkard, abusive asshole and if I could disappear, I would. I would go anywhere, anywhere in the fucking world as long as it means that he was far behind me.

Even though I was safe for the night, my heart still broke as I thought about him. I had disowned him a long time ago, he wasn't my father. He was just a cruel person that I was stuck with. I had a year left. A year then I'd be free of him. It's quite sad to think that most teenage girls fear that their boyfriends are cheating or that they're getting too fat for their favourite jeans while I, on the other hand, fear the man who's supposed to be my father. 

I guess that's why I've become so cold, now at home, I was a weakling, I was scared, helpless rat but at school. At school I was different, I didn't have time for shit, I didn't have time to worry about boys or fashion. 

I was as stuck as... well just stuck. Too young to run, too broken to fix, too unloved to love. I almost laughed at my words, so sentimental. I laughed yet again, the sad hopeless kind of laugh the one you make just before you're about to cry. 

When did it get so cold? When did everything just go numb? I can't remember when my heart broke, I can't remember when the cracks froze. I only woke up with one thought.

Get out of this town, Dakota. Get out.

I was going to do that, just that, that's when I worried about my grades, that's when I got a job, that was when I grew up. So whether it is cold or numb or so absolutely terrifying I was going to make it past this winter. This storm, this horror. 

When did it get this cold? 

When she left me when she condemned me to my hell. 

I love how dark it gets, 

how the days suddenly get shorter.

The way the sky is always grey,

seeking in its own shadows.

How the air nips at your numb nose,

as you see your breath. 

But mostly how, 

it's the season of 

death.

I whispered the poem out loud, quietly. It's words stung, but those words were not my fate. I was gonna get out, death wasn't an option. You live with the shit you got so I was either gonna be free or die trying. There sure as hell isn't going to be a reason for me to stay.

____________

I got that poem off google
if anyone wants it, it's by (SN).
I know this is really grey and dull for a first chapter 
but this is a warning, 
this is a sad book. 
You have been warned ;0
But just because its sad doesn't mean it's worth any less than a good book.

Descent to the valley and reaching Carvahall took me most of the day as most of the people would be readying themselves for supper by the time I arrived. The village was composed of log houses with low roofs, some thatched, others shingled. There was not a single stone building in here not to mention clay bricks. This really reminded me that I was in a different world.

Pasing sparse people that were yet to go home I noticed Katrina talking with Horst. I decided to go and greet them.

Eragon: Good evening Katrina, Horst.

I nodded to them in the greeting because I was carrying the doe on my shoulders.

Horst: Eragon, good to see you were successful.
Katrina: Eragon it's good to see you.

They both smiled at me in a familiar manner while Katrina seemed slightly more happy.

Eragon: Yes. This one will really help going by in the winter.
Horst: We will eat supper soon would you join us?

I slightly hesitate.

Eragon: I don't know… Garow is awaiting my return.
Katrina: You were carrying your game all the way here. You must be tired and you still have ten miles to go!

I see Katrina's worried look and see that Horst will probably insist too. This could be even a good opportunity for me to fish for some info to give my plans some "legitimate" background.

Eragon: All right. I'll stay for the night. But you Horst can go first. I would like to have a word with Katrina before we part.

With a knowing smirk the blacksmith gave Katrina his goodbyes and went home first. I stayed with Katrina alone and she seemed even more expectant than earlier. I make a serious face and start talking.

Eragon: Katrina… [dramatic pause] I would like to set a date for you…

Katrina gagged hearing the news. She was probably thinking about "someone" else…

Katrina: [kof, kof] What are you… talking about.
Eragon: Oh! Not with me… Roran will come into town as soon as merchants arrive and he wants to meet with you then.
Katrina: Oh… Thank you. That's great news. Didn't he speak something else?
Eragon: Yes he did. But let me put it in words as best i can. When it's breakfast he can't eat because he only thinks of you. When it's dinner he can't eat because he reminisces about your beauty. When it's supper he can't eat because he thinks about moments you spent together.

I ended the cheesy poem on a fast note and awaited her reaction. I hope Roran won't have it against me for this little joke.

Katrina: How sweet of you Eragon. From when are you so good with words.
Eragon: Well I had the whole hunt to think and there is little entertainment deep into Spine. But honestly you two should tone town now Roran can't even sleep at night…

I pause to bring her hopes up for continuation of the romantic poem.

Eragon: … because he's hungry!
Katrina: Hahaha!

Katrina laughs at the joke, which is unsurprising for me, because nobody knows otherworldly jokes here other than me. After saying goodbyes we split and I went sup with Horst and his family. Really they are such nice people to me, Roran and uncle Garrow. During small talks during eating I dug out the info about Albriech wanting to become a master smith. I still did not conclude what to do with Roran but it's good to have options.

What would you do if you were given a chance to live a life of your choosing? To live a life where you strive to have no regrets. To attain what was one only a dream or even a meme...
I don't know what I would really do but I decided to write a book about what I think I would do.
---
Be warned that every chapter is a gift from fate. I don't know if I reach the end of Inheritance cycle but I'll try.
---
I only care about constructive criticism so feel free to analyze in-depth everything. Any other form of bad criticism is only a statistics bump that'll add to the popularity of this novel for the algorithm.

Due to being hoodwinked repetitively by Zhang Zian, Fina was not interested in his promise. She was lazily teaching the kittens to dance without putting in much effort. 
Unlike the languages of humans, the language of cats didn’t possess abundant expressions that enabled Fina to make the kittens understand how to dance by only uttering a few meows. She had to demonstrate the movements by dancing in front of the kittens so that they could remember and comprehend. 
Though the movements were exactly the same, they were interpreted by Fina and the kittens differently. The kittens clumsily tried to imitate every movement made by Fina, but frequently, their left legs tripped on their right legs, and they would stumble onto the ground like limbless fur balls. Their devastated looks made people feel bad for them and want to hold them up. As for Fina, one could tell how its dancing was by looking at the admiration in Snowy Lionet’s eyes. It was so sexy and seductive! 
The dance movements of the kittens originated from the dancing of South Korean and Japanese girl groups, especially the South Korean girl groups, whose choreography always emphasized the waist and legs of the performers. With her slim and slender physique, Fina’s limbs were long among cats, making Snowy Lionet inferior. The way cats walked were charming and fascinating. That was how the reputation of a "catwalk" was born. If anyone had seen Fina’s dancing, a new word—"catdance" —may be born. 
Zhang Zian had never set up a tent or grill before, and he succeeded by reading the manuals and restarting several times. After igniting the fuel, he boiled the water, added the tea leaves he had brought from China, and brought it over to Old Time Tea. Old Time Tea was lying comfortably in a camping chair, narrowing its eyes to overlook a corner of the city of Los Angeles. From this small mound, the tall buildings could be seen vaguely. 
"Zian, Los Angeles is so big!" The tone of Old Time Tea revealed a rarely disclosed surprise. "Does that large group of buildings in the distance belong to Los Angeles? This is much bigger than Binhai City, and it is also much more prosperous!"
"Of course, Grandpa Tea," laughed Zhang Zian, pouring tea for it. "Binhai is only a medium-sized city in China; it can’t compete with Los Angeles or other cosmopolitan cities. Just wait for nighttime. I heard that the night view of Los Angeles is also very beautiful. It is a city without darkness."
Old Time Tea nodded full of expectation, "Then this journey will be worthwhile."
Richard fluttered its wings, flying around to tease the kittens. Though it was not flying high, it was as annoying as flies were. Zhang Zian warned it not to land on the barbecue grill. If it insisted, at least it should pluck out its own feathers first, otherwise it might not be delicious.
Galaxy was exploring the small mound. Due to the year-round warm climate in Los Angeles, even in the winter, there was very little rain and snow, so the bush on the mounds still appeared green and luxurious.
Zhang Zian was never good at using the oven to grill meat at home, not to mention this was his first time using a barbecue grill in a field. As he hurried and scurried, his face was smeared by the smoke the grill emitted, and several pieces of chicken had already been burnt. When it was time to eat, Fina was complaining and fussy as usual, while Zhang Zian, as always, was immune to her nagging. 
In the afternoon, the gentle sunshine made everyone drowsy. Zhang Zian lined up the tarpaulins and camping chairs that he brought. Everyone covered themselves in blankets and took a nap under the sun. He also put on a pair of blindfolding goggles to help him sleep even more soundly.
Richard’s fluttering wings and quacking awakened him. When he removed his goggles, he found that it was already sunset. He must had slept for two or three hours.
It seemed that Fina had completed the task of training the kittens to dance, since the kittens were playing hide-and-seek with Galaxy. Seeing that he had been awaken, Old Time Tea stretched out a paw and pointed to another hill far away, "Zian, what is that place?"
There were several English letters erected on that small hill and they couldn’t be seen clearly during the day. Because of the angle of the sun light, the letters were sparkling right now.
"It's the famous Hollywood sign, the center of the world's film industry," explained Zhang Zian. "Many of the movies you watch are actually produced there."
"Oh!" said Old Time Tea with surprise, "So, it is a place full of Masters?"
"No, most of the performances of the Kung Fu Masters in the movies are made using stunts. If the actors really knew any small tricks of Kung Fu, that would be enough for them to boast for a lifetime." Zhang Zian quietly whispered to Old Time Tea, "But there are lot of interesting attractions that are worth visiting. I will take you there in a few days."
Seeing that Galaxy and the kittens were running further away, Zhang Zian worried that they might encounter danger, because snakes might still be active even in the warm winter of Los Angeles. He rushed over to take care of them, preventing them from running into the dense bushes. 
The sun sets earlier in winter. After dinner, in almost the blink of an eye, night had fallen. 
"Grandpa Tea, look over there!" Zhang Zian pointed into the distance.
When the evening lights were lit, Los Angeles was breathtakingly beautiful. It was a fantastic world composed of luminous spots. There were several flowing rivers of light. Some were broader, some were narrower, some were brighter, and some were darker. All of them were meandering through different terrains, but in the end, all the rivers converged into the ocean of lights. The colorful neon lights were like numerous round pebbles immersed in and scoured by the rivers of lights. A certain area of the ocean of lights was brilliantly illuminated as if it was daytime there. That was downtown Los Angeles, where even an inch of land came at a premium. It seemed that over the ocean of lights, a layer of luminous mist shrouded it, so bright that it could even eclipse the stars.
Old Time Tea, Snowy Lionet, Galaxy, and even Fina were all attracted by this, but not everyone was. Because of the night blindness of parrots, Richard couldn’t see anything clearly, and it was quacking annoyedly. 
"Shining things ..."
Fina was fascinated, and her grumpiness towards Zhang Zian during the day had vanished. Her pupils wide-open, the reflective films of her eyes gathered the glows and then re-emitted them twice as bright as before. Her pupils were so astonishingly green right now that even opals or tigers’ eyes were dwarfed. 
Looking at Fina from its behind, her silhouette was almost identical to that of the statue of the Cat Goddess thrown in the corner of the pet shop.
Gazing at Fina’s profile face affectionately, Snowy Lionet forgot itself.
"Galaxy, look at what’s over our heads," Zhang Zian gently urged it.
Galaxy raised its small face and exclaimed, "Meow! So many stars!"
Ever since they had enjoyed tea and admired flowers on the pet shop's roof, Zhang Zian had been thinking of taking Galaxy to stargaze in the wilderness, but such a plan had been delayed for several reasons. Although Binhai City was not a big city, they lived in the downtown area, where the light pollution was still very serious, and the air quality in winter was not very good.
The dazzling Milky Way drooped near the horizon, as if a lightsaber was obliquely cutting through the hill erected with the Hollywood landmark.
Their location was not the best place for stargazing, but the advantage was that no one was bothering them. Except in the direction of downtown Los Angeles, they could see in the other three directions of the night sky clearly. 
Galaxy was running around excitedly at the top of the hill. Between the interior of the pet shop and the green field behind the shop, it had never experienced anything as spacious as this hill! Today, it could have a wonderful time here!
The rays illuminating from Old Time Tea’s brass eyes were as bright as those of Fina, but they were more stable and mature, unlike Fina’s eyes that were breathtakingly beautiful. Gazing at the rivers of lights across Los Angeles, it slowly recited a poem: "Stars rise over fields that spread far and wide. The river that is perpetually flowing reflects the moon and it shines. I've been roaming without purpose — what does that say of me? I am no more than a gull with no fixed abode on earth, prowling in the sky."
Because of night blindness, Richard couldn’t see anything and felt it was disadvantaged. It couldn’t help but shout, "Quack! What gull?! I’m a parrot!"
Its words made everybody smile, and diluted the melancholy implication contained in the poem.
Zhang Zian looked up and suddenly his eyes brightened. He pointed to the sky and yelled, "Look! It’s a meteor!"
Everyone looked up, and saw that a bright meteor with its long tail was streaking across the sky from west to east, and right now it was just over their heads. They turned their heads alongside the meteor's trajectory and were amazed by it. Even Richard was pretending to be able to see it.
"Make a wish! Hurry!" said Zhang Zian urgently.
Everyone stared at the fleeting meteor silently. Near the City of Angels, everyone made their own wishes. 


1. Download a suspicious game
2. Catch a few magical pets as partners
3. Go through interesting daily routines and lead the pet shop to a whole new level

An Lin had never regretted impersonating the Blood Martial Wanderer as much as he did now.
A simple cup of milk had put him in a huge bind.
A fragrant scent wafted from the creamy-white milk before him, and he knew that its taste would probably be very delicious. However, he was unable to overcome the obstacle in his mind.
Admittedly, drinking cow milk or horse milk were both very normal behaviors. However, this dragon-horse milk was different. After all, it had been produced by a highly intelligent life form. Moreover, the producer of this milk was currently gazing at him affectionately. As such, the hidden significance behind this cup of milk was quite different from ordinary cow or horse milk.
An Lin was extremely hesitant at this moment.
Was his hard-to-maintain disguise going to crumble here?
"Blood Martial Wanderer, what's wrong? "Xian Bo asked in curiosity upon seeing An Lin's hesitation. "You look quite pale in the face. Could it be because of this milk?"
"Does the Blood Martial Wanderer not like it?" Ma Ying tapped her hooves uneasily as she turned her gaze toward An Lin. Right now, she looked like a little girl who had done something wrong and had gotten into trouble.
A brilliant thought suddenly flashed through An Lin's mind. "To tell you the truth, I've made a promise with Princess Bai Teng of the Mountaintop Spirit Cow Tribe. I promised that in this lifetime of mine, I would only ever drink her milk. I'm an honest and faithful person, and there's truly nothing more I can do. Anyhow, I would like to thank you for your great kindness, Sister Ma Ying…"
The Herd Beasts were all astonished upon hearing this.
"Heavens! I heard before that the Blood Martial Wanderer had ventured to the Mountaintop Spirit Cow Tribe. Who would've thought that his relationship with Princess Bai Teng was so intimate! Not only that, but they even made such a promise!"
"As expected of the amazing Blood Martial Wanderer!"
Everyone spoke in admiration and envy as they looked at the Blood Martial Wanderer. Meanwhile, a look of dejection flashed across Ma Ying's eyes.
Milk produced by cows from the Mountaintop Spirit Cow Tribe was famous throughout the entire beast world. Moreover, Princess Bai Teng had a very lavish upbringing, and she was also especially beautiful. As such, her milk was even more attractive and alluring.
Who would've thought that the Blood Martial Wanderer had such an intimate relationship with Princess Bai Teng? Although the Herd Beasts were all astonished, they didn't find this promise to be odd in the slightest.
An Lin smiled and remained silent. The Blood Martial Wanderer had indeed visited the Mountaintop Spirit Cow Tribe before. It was also true that he had met with Princess Bai Teng. However, the peculiar promise that An Lin spoke of… was obviously a load of bullsh*t!
In any case, the Herd Beasts that were present wouldn't be able to verify his claim any time soon. In addition, he was simply borrowing this identity to disguise himself for a while. The Blood Martial Wanderer could deal with any problems that arose by himself.
In reality, if the real Blood Martial Wanderer was present, he would probably drink this fragrant milk even if he had genuinely made a promise with Princess Bai Teng. In fact, he would perhaps even ask for a second cup!
An Lin sighed with emotion in his mind. Everyone had their own way of living. As for this Blood Martial Wanderer… his life was truly unique and full of spectacular peculiarities.
There was even a short instant where An Lin became envious of his lifestyle.
Ma Ying cut a dejected figure as she took her cup of milk away. Since a promise already existed between the Blood Martial Wanderer and Princess Bai Teng, there was naturally nothing more she could say.
Thanks to his quick-wittedness, An Lin successfully navigated his way out of the tricky situation. He continued to drink and chatter with the Herd Beasts.
Before they knew it, the sun had already set.
After rejecting a beautiful Herd Beast female's invitation to spend a passionate night together, An Lin walked to the Fluorescent Grassland, which was located to the east of the Immortal Grass Clan. There, he enjoyed the beautiful nightscape of the Winter Sheep Plains by himself.
This stretch of grassland was brimming with spiritual energy. During the day, it would absorb the energy of the sun. During the night, it would release a portion of this absorbed energy through the formation of countless specks of green light. These specks of green light had the effects of gathering spiritual energy and also driving away mosquitos.
"Oink… Oink…"
"Zzz… Zzz…"
In the distance, there were thousands of Red Wind Pigs snoring in a pig shed. There was a red glow on each of their bellies, and every time they snored, this red glow was like a lantern that flickered brighter or dimmer. Gazing over from afar, this scene was dazzling and beautiful.
"How spectacular…" An Lin sighed.
He suddenly felt like eating pork.
After hesitating for a moment, he eventually abandoned his bold thoughts.
Right now, he was the Blood Martial Wanderer, not some impulsive glutton!
An Lin spent the entire night enjoying the beautiful sceneries of the Winter Sheep Plains. He witnessed the splendid illusory lights of the Seven-Colored Grassland, he witnessed the eccentric and bewildering behaviors of bizarre nocturnal grassland animals, and he also witnessed the beauty and calm of the Dual Moon Grassland.
"Wow… What beautiful scenery…"
An Lin spread his hands as he praised the beauty of nature.
"Right now, all I want to do is recite a poem!"
An Lin was in extremely high spirits. "Below the Purple Star, the Winter Sheep Plains do lie. Like a big dome is the sky, covering the prairie nigh. The lofty sky is deeply blue, the vast wildness not seen through. The wind lowering grass in green, sheep and cattle are easily seen[1]."
"Brilliant poem! Absolutely brilliant! As expected, fellow cultivator Blood Martial is a refined and tasteful individual!" At some point in time, Xian Bo had already arrived by An Lin's side.
An Lin chuckled and remained silent.
He felt fairly refreshed after plagiarizing someone else's work.
"Fellow cultivator Xian Bo, are you not going to rest yet?" An Lin asked.
Xian Bo extended a hand and waved it lightly. The grass in the surroundings suddenly started to sway back and forth.
"Fellow cultivator Blood Martial, are you going to continue on your journey?" Xian Bo asked.
"Huh? Why do you ask?" An Lin was slightly bewildered.
"News of your journey has definitely spread already. They probably know about it as well. There's absolutely no need for you to continue. You can pretend that you're scared of them, then turn around and head back the same way that you came. They'll definitely follow you." There was a profound look in Xian Bo's eyes.
An Lin's heart jolted.
Xian Bo's utterances…
An Lin knew that his disguise had been seen through!
At least, Xian Bo had already seen through it!
When was my disguise seen through? Is my acting truly that bad?
Not only that, but Xian Bo even managed to guess my objective…
An Lin couldn't help but fall into a state of extreme self-doubt.
At the same time, he felt that Xian Bo was far more impressive than he appeared.
"I was only able to see through your disguise because the Herd Beast Cultivation Method that I've been practicing has already reached the pinnacle stage. I'm extremely sensitive toward small expression changes, auras, and biological characteristics of living beings. It was thanks to these skills that I was able to detect some subtle oddities in your behavior." Xian Bo smiled warmly before continuing, "Don't worry, the others have never seen you before, so they definitely won't be able to see through your disguise."
An Lin was still mystified. "Why are you telling me this?"
Xian Bo plucked a blade of grass and chuckled. "We detest war, and we're also afraid of war. However, this doesn't mean that we're absolutely neutral.
"If it's possible, I also hope that they can disappear from this world forever. They're whimsically interfering in the life and death of countless beings, and this in itself is great treason. Their actions will only accelerate the decline of this world."
An Lin nodded. Then, he bowed and said, "Thank you for the reminder, fellow cultivator Xian Bo."
"Hahaha… We'll drink and chat merrily when peace returns to the world." Xian Bo squinted his eyes and chuckled cheerily.
…
The next day…
The roars of various beasts sounded around the Winter Sheep Plains.
A new day had arrived.
An Lin farewelled Ma Ying and Xian Bo, as well as the higher-ups of the Immortal Grass Clan. Then, he set off on his journey back toward home. He stopped heading toward the east. Instead, he changed his route so that he would pass through the Holy Glacial Lands.
Normalcy resumed.
One day later.
On the Winter Sheep Plains.
For some reason, a male suddenly appeared before Xian Bo, who was currently training his immortal beasts.
This was a male who wore a purple top hat and had his face made up like a clown.
He tossed two small red balls in his hands as he strolled toward Xian Bo leisurely. An exaggerated smile spread across his face. "Hi, do you want to play a game with me?"
[1] Largely based off 'The Ode to the Chile Prairie'/'The Chille-River', a folk song written in the Northern and Southern dynasties. (Translation by Z. Manfield)


On modern-day Earth, An Lin seems to have been abandoned by God. 
When his father suddenly disappears, An Lin is left with his father's immense debt, putting his life at risk. 
After being forced to a rooftop by his pursuing creditors, An Lin is unexpectedly swept off his feet and brought to the ground safely.
    
After learning that he was saved by an Immortal, An Lin is gifted, seemingly out of pure generosity, the 'God Of War System,' and a pass to a new realm.
Follow An Lin as he experiences a whole new world of legends, meets many new friends, acquires legendary weapons and tools, and starts on his path of becoming a powerful cultivator. There is never a dull time in An Lin's new life with his ‘great’ new system!

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