Awakening the Divine Spark

’Is this how the old people feel?’ Was Lee’s first thought after waking up.

His body ached all over, and even the sunlight coming through the window hurt his eyes.

This time he wasn’t in the Healing Hall, but in his own room. Or so it seemed. It was hard to tell because his vision swam, and he mostly saw everything covered in a thin mist.

After crawling out of the bed with a move that more resembled a stumble, on wobbly legs Lee slowly proceeded to the door, and stepped outside. Sunlight shone his face, blinding him, and guided mostly by touch and memory, he found a barrel of water around the corner.

He washed his face first, then drank, then washed again. And then a curious thought sprung to his mind.

’I wonder how I look with a gray beard?’ Lee laughed to himself, but then realized that he just washed himself and it felt like usual.

’Probably nurses from the Healing Hall take a good care of the elderly like me. I wonder if my job from now on will be raking leaves or something similarly menial ...’Lee thought, and looked at his own reflection in the barrel of water.

The ripples distorted the image, with waves shifting the focus, but Lee didn’t really care. He had made the peace with what was about to come, and didn’t feel sad or in any way bad about himself. He was curious, though, whether the impulsive stunt had any effect and allowed the Healing Hall’s experts to save Xiao Lian in time.

"You look like shit!" Familiar voice behind him answered his question.

"Have you seen yourself?" Lee glanced in Xiao Lian’s direction, but only saw a person supporting themselves on a tall stick.

For a split moment he had a funny thought that both of them had aged overnight and till the death could hang out as old men. Fortunately, judging from the posture, it was clear that the guy was supporting himself on his weapon out of habit, not because of necessity. And while Lee couldn’t see Xiao Lian’s face clearly, his voice was energetic and youthful.

"I’m starving!" Lee said, "Let’s go grab a bite!"

"Is it alright for you to eat regular food after three months of lying in coma?" Xiao Lian asked.

Hearing this, Lee stumbled and fell face-first in the dirt. Cursing Xiao Lian for startling him and himself for own clumsiness, he got up, and went to wash his face again.

"I’ve been checking up on you daily after they let me leave the Healing Hall." Xiao Lian said, "But I must say, Brother Lee, ten days in a bed is nothing when pretty senior sisters take care of you."

Lee was glad to hear that the chatterbox was still his old self. Obviously the guy was beating around bush, trying to find the proper ways of saying thanks, but Lee didn’t need to hear it. He was happy his effort payed off, no matter the price.

"And what Sister Qin has to say about that?" He teased, "Is she fine with other disciples touching you, or maybe even washing?"

He could swear he heard Xiao Lian blush, not that such thing was physically possible.

"She was the one who mostly took care of me." Xiao Lian said. Then in a barely audible voice added, "We’re engaged now."

Lee would’ve stumbled again if Xiao Lian didn’t catch him on time. He could accept the fact that he lied three months unconscious. He could’ve even accepted that he died from going all out in the Blackwater fortress. But the two teenagers were kind of making too large steps in their relationship.

"I’m happy for you, of course ..." Lee said, trying to find the correct words, "But ... isn’t this kind of too fast? Aren’t you two ... too young to get married?"

"Oh? We’re not going to get ... you know ..." Xiao Lian explained, and it was cute to see how awkward he became talking about anything related to the other gender, "We agreed to become elemental masters first."

"Then how exactly did you propose?" Lee tried to imagine the hilarious event, with the two standing across each other, faces in beet-red color, not capable of uttering a word.

"I didn’t. After hearing about the Blackwater incident, my father sent the proposal to Qin family, and they happily agreed." Xiao Lian said.

"I should’ve figured." Lee nodded. He forgot that arranged marriages were a thing, especially in this world, "Well, anyway, congratulations! Let’s go and get something to eat to celebrate!"

"Brother Lee, I ..." Xiao Lian tried to find the correct words to express everything that had piled up during these months, but Lee interrupted him, guessing where this was going. He might’ve aged, maybe even become an old man who’ll die soon, but it was fine.

"It’s alright, Lian." He said, "Get me a proper lunch, and we’re good!"

They went to the closest canteen, with Xiao Lian occasionally supporting Lee, and the latter kept cursing the aging concept. Regular people becoming weak the older they got seemed to be unfair.

Compared to the elemental lords who spent their lives comprehending elemental laws, the twilight years of a commoner were filled with aches and suffering. And while the former became increasingly more powerful, the lives of the normal people slowly died out.

But it was fine. Psychologically Lee felt content. His gamble payed off, no matter the price and he soon will be able to start over, with loads of cultivation techniques to choose from. In fact, he already picked a particularly interesting one that allowed a person to begin accumulate elemental energy even before they knew their affinity.

Lee was certain that based on the accumulated knowledge in the next life he surely was bound to become a strong elemental master, if not lord.

"Elder Shen ordered to report to her as soon as you woke up!" Lee’s thoughts were interrupted by a man rushing up to them.

"Damn ... Brother Lee, I forgot to tell you ..." Xiao Lian tried to explain, but the man, probably from the Hall of Justice wasn’t asking.

"Please, follow me!" He politely ordered, and his tone didn’t allow any discussions.

"What’s this about?" Lee curiously asked.

"No idea. Elder Shen will probably tell you herself." The man said.

"Wait! Elder Shen?" Lee froze in his steps.

"Right, Brother Lee ... there had been some changes." Xiao Lian explained, "Junior Elder Shen became the elder leading the Mission Hall."

"Well, I was out for some time." Lee said with a shrug, "Can’t we grab a bite first?"

His request was ignored and he had to walk several miles to the inner sect, to the main building of the Mission Hall.

Fortunately, on the way Xiao Lian was allowed to support him, otherwise Lee was certain he would’ve fallen to the side of the walkway and passed out there. Because of both – the hunger and the weakness of an old man, he was turned into a disabled person.

The worst part was that after all the hurry, he had to wait until late afternoon until Elder Shen was willing to receive him. If he knew this would’ve taken so long, he would’ve grabbed his bag – at least he had some water and provisions in there.

Aging and lying in coma wasn’t fun. Lee felt weak, his body ached, and now he was hungry and thirsty at the same time.

’If I die because of her, I’ll come back to haunt her!’ Lee decided, stepping into Shen Rouya’s office.

The only positive aspect of the waiting was that his vision improved. He would’ve preferred for it to happen the next day, though. That way he couldn’t have recognized the incredible annoyance that was written all over Shen Rouya’s face.

She sat at the large table that was stacked with heaps of documents, and the haughty and impressive elemental lord looked tired and worn out. Even her nature’s gifts seemed slightly deflated, although they were probably the largest Lee had ever seen.

Despite Lee’s condition, she didn’t offer him to take a seat. She stared at him, as if trying to see through him, and then snapped, "What the heck I’m supposed to do with you?!"