Along with the overwhelming weakness came fragmented memories belonging to Tian Yang himself.
(Master is a good man.)
(Big Senior Brother is handsome and a good man.)
(Second Senior Brother is a bit strange, but still a good man.)
(Third Senior Brother rarely speaks, yet he is the best of them all...)
What’s all this nonsense?
It took Li Fan a long time to sort through Tian Yang’s chaotic and disordered memories.
He had been picked up in the wilderness by his master and raised within the sect.
Since childhood, he had been frail and sickly, and needed to take medicine every day just to stay alive.
Fortunately, although the sect was small, his senior brothers were all exceptionally good people. They took great care of him and doted on him.
Struggling to lift his head, Li Fan saw that his current body was no larger than that of a five- or six-year-old child, and finally understood what was going on.
Children were simple-minded, after all. And because Tian Yang was so physically weak, his world had been confined to the small mountain gate. On top of that, he spent more than half his time asleep. It was no surprise that his memories were filled only with those closest to him.
He doesn’t even know the names of his master and senior brothers. But he does know the name of the sect: Embodiment Transformation Dao...
Having pieced together the general situation, Li Fan tried to prop himself up to get a better look at his surroundings. But a wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over him.
This little guy’s body is ridiculously weak. This was the last thought Li Fan had before sinking back into a heavy, dreamless sleep.
In a dazed stupor, he lost track of time.
Somewhere in the fog of his mind, Li Fan seemed to hear a series of rapid, urgent bell chimes.
He tried to open his eyes, but it was impossible.
Once again, he fell into a deep slumber.
The next time he awoke, it was to the sound of a conversation nearby.
“What bullshit is this conscription decree? Why should we obey? Those major sects have thousands of members. Sending a few is no problem for them.
“But our Embodiment Transformation Dao Sect has so few members, and they still want us on the front lines? What kind of logic is that?”
The speaker sounded like Second Senior Brother—eccentric, blunt, always speaking his mind, and hot-tempered.
“Enough! The conscription decree was issued jointly by the Ten Great Immortal Sects. Do you think we can simply ignore it just because we feel like it?
“Haven’t you heard? The nearby Spark Dao Sect refused to comply and was wiped out in the blink of an eye!
“Truth be told, the Spark Dao Sect was much stronger than our Embodiment Transformation Dao Sect. You reckless fool, always shooting your mouth off without understanding the consequences!
“In peaceful times, I might have let it slide. But these are not ordinary days, Ling Xiao. You must watch your words and actions. Do not bring disaster upon our sect!”
The aged voice sounded weary as it reprimanded him sternly.
It was the same person who had fed him medicine earlier, the leader of Embodiment Transformation Dao Sect.
Second Senior Brother Ling Xiao fell silent.
An awkward stillness settled over the room.
Finally, a voice tinged with cynicism broke the silence.
“I’ll go. After all, I’m the Big Senior Brother. Besides, it’s a good chance to show those barbarians just how sharp my sword really is.”
“Si Xing...” The master sighed, as though patting Eldest Senior Brother on the shoulder.
Big Senior Brother walked to Tian Yang’s bedside, looking at the body Li Fan now inhabited.
After a long while, he finally spoke. “Ah, what a pity. I won't be able to wait for our Little Junior Brother to wake up.”
Li Fan's heart stirred, and he was about to open his eyes to speak when a wave of exhaustion washed over him once more. Unable to resist it, he drifted back into a heavy slumber.
Li Fan didn't know how much time had passed when he finally awoke again. This time, he felt much more alert. At the very least, he could manage to get out of bed and walk around, albeit weakly.
His surroundings were deathly quiet, with no one in sight.
So Li Fan called out softly, "Master! Master!"
"Junior Brother Tian Yang, you're awake?" A man in white robes hurried over at the sound of his voice. His hair was disheveled, and his eyes were bloodshot.
"Second Senior Brother, what's happened to you? Where are Master, Big Senior Brother, and Third Senior Brother? Why have they all disappeared?" Li Fan couldn't help but ask.
Ling Xiao forced a strained smile. "It's nothing. They're all in the main hall discussing matters."
"Here, look. This is the mechanical puppet I promised to give you. I went through great trouble to trade for it." He produced a small humanoid puppet and handed it over.
Li Fan took the puppet and examined it closely. Its shape and appearance were about eighty to ninety percent similar to the Tian Yang puppet he'd seen in his future life.
"When you're tired and can't walk anymore, this puppet can carry you around. You won't have to ride on Big Senior Brother every time..." Ling Xiao's voice gradually trailed off as he spoke.
Li Fan looked up and saw that Second Senior Brother's eyes had turned completely red.
"Second Senior Brother..."
"Haha, it's nothing. Stay here and play with the puppet for a while. I still have matters to discuss with Master and the others." With that, Ling Xiao patted Li Fan's head, turned, and left.
After a while, Li Fan quietly followed.
But the main hall doors were shut tight, seemingly protected by some defensive array, making it impossible to see what was happening inside.
Left with no other choice, Li Fan decided to explore other areas within the sect for now.
Suddenly remembering something, Li Fan manipulated Tian Yang's young body and arduously made his way to the ancestral hall of the Embodiment Transformation Dao sect.
Using every ounce of strength he could muster, Li Fan finally pushed open the heavy doors.
At the very bottom of the modest number of spirit tablets, Li Fan indeed found the one belonging to First Senior Brother Si Xing.
After a moment of silent contemplation, Li Fan bowed respectfully and slowly withdrew. He closed the doors again and thought about visiting other places, but exhaustion washed over him once more.
His entire body began to tremble uncontrollably, as if he hadn't eaten for days.
Tian Yang's body seems to have some hidden ailment. This doesn't feel like ordinary weakness. He thought. Even walking is problematic.
Then, inspired by a sudden insight, Li Fan attempted to control the small mechanical puppet he held in his hand.
In an instant, the mechanical puppet grew from toy-sized to the dimensions of a normal adult.
Under Li Fan's command, it carried him back to his room.
Aside from being a bit stronger than an ordinary person, this puppet seemed to have nothing else going for it—no cultivation to speak of. Li Fan thought as he lay in bed. Eventually, he could no longer fight off the urge to sleep and slowly drifted off.
Sometime later, Li Fan was jolted awake by a voice like thunder.
"Honored Envoy, please spare our Embodiment Transformation Dao Sect.
"Including myself, our sect only has five members.
"I have already lost two disciples tragically at the front lines in the last few years alone. If this continues, our Embodiment Transformation Dao Sect's lineage will be severed before the enemy even reaches us!"
The master pleaded incessantly, his voice desperate.
Yet the other party seemed completely unmoved. "Don't come to me with your troubles. I've seen sects far worse off than yours.
"Within seven days, you must send another member to join the expedition.
"Otherwise, whether one of you dies or you all die together, the choice is yours."