CG Chapter 1: A Xianxia World (Patreon)

The soft glow from three 27-inch monitors lit up Kai’s face as his fingers danced across the keyboard.

The twenty-five-year old’s eyes darted between screens, each displaying different aspects of the latest MMORPG video game he was currently dominating. One showed a map of the world, another his character's inventory, and the main screen displayed the intense battle happening before him.

Hmm, if I flank from the east while my team distracts from the front, we can take down their defenses in under three minutes, Kai thought, a small smile playing on his lips.

He leaned forward, his lean frame hunched over the keyboard as he executed his plan. His dark brown hair fell slightly over his blue eyes, but he didn't bother pushing it back. Every second counted in this game.

"Kai, you there?" a voice crackled through his headset.

"Yeah, I'm here. Listen up, team. I've got a plan," Kai replied, his voice calm and focused. "Sarah, I need you to keep their attention on the main gate. Jake, you're with me. We're going to slip around the back and hit them where they least expect it."

"Got it, boss," Jake's voice chimed in. "You always come up with the craziest strategies, but they somehow work."

Kai allowed himself a small chuckle. "That's because I don't just play the game. I think three steps ahead of everyone else."

As his teammates moved into position, Kai couldn't help but reflect on how he approached not just this game, but life itself. Every situation was a puzzle to be solved, every interaction a move on a grand chessboard. It wasn't that he was cold or unfeeling – he just saw the world differently. Everything was a series of patterns and probabilities, waiting to be analyzed and exploited.

Life is just a complex game, he mused. And I intend to win.

With practiced ease, Kai guided his character through the virtual landscape, dodging enemy patrols and slipping past defensive lines. He could almost feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, the thrill of outsmarting his opponents sending a rush of satisfaction through him. This is what he lived for.

"Alright, we're in position," Kai whispered into his headset. "Sarah, start the attack... now!"

On cue, explosions rocked the enemy base on his main screen. Kai watched with satisfaction as chaos erupted, the enemy players scrambling to defend against the frontal assault. Little did they know, the real threat was already inside their walls.

"Jake, follow my lead. We're going for their command center," Kai instructed, his fingers flying over the keys as he navigated the battlefield.

As they approached their target, Kai noticed something odd. A small glitch in the corner of his screen, a flicker that shouldn't be there. He frowned, his mind immediately trying to process this unexpected variable.

Probably just a graphics bug. Focus on the mission, he told himself, pushing the anomaly to the back of his mind.

But the glitch persisted, growing larger with each passing second. Kai's frown deepened as he realized it wasn't just affecting one screen, but all of them.

"Uh, guys? Are you seeing this?" he asked, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his usually confident voice.

"Seeing what? Kai, we're kind of in the middle of a battle here!" Sarah's stressed voice came through the headset.

Before Kai could respond, the glitch exploded across his screens. The virtual world dissolved into a chaotic swirl of pixels and code. At the center of it all, a trident-like symbol pulsed with an eerie red light.

"What the hell?" Kai muttered, his mind racing to understand what was happening. This wasn't like any computer error he'd ever encountered.

He reached for the power button, intending to shut down his system, but froze as an overwhelming surge of energy seemed to burst from the screens. It wasn't just a visual phenomenon – Kai could feel it, like static electricity crackling over his skin.

This isn't possible. Computers don't do this, his logical mind protested even as the energy intensified.

"Kai? Kai, can you hear me?" Jake's voice seemed distant now, barely audible over the strange humming that filled the room.

Kai tried to respond, to move, to do anything, but found himself paralyzed. The energy enveloped him, seeming to seep into his very being. His vision blurred, the world around him fading away as consciousness slipped from his grasp.

His last coherent thought before darkness claimed him was, I really hope this is just some weird dream...

The first thing Kai noticed as he regained consciousness was the smell. Gone was the familiar scent of his room - a mix of coffee, electronics, and the faintest hint of sweat from long gaming sessions. Instead, his nostrils were assaulted by the nauseating smell of manure.

Did someone leave my window open again? he wondered groggily.

Kai's eyes fluttered open, then immediately widened in shock. Instead of the familiar sight of his bedroom ceiling, he found himself staring up at the evening sky.

"What the..." Kai muttered, pushing himself up to a sitting position. His head swam with the movement, and he took a moment to steady himself.

As his vision cleared, Kai took in his surroundings with growing disbelief. He was in the middle of a forest. Towering trees stretched as far as the eye could see. The ground was carpeted with a thick layer of moss and ferns, dotted here and there with overgrown mushrooms.

This has to be a dream, Kai thought, pinching his arm hard. The sharp pain did nothing to dispel the scene before him.

"Okay, stay calm," he said aloud, his voice sounding oddly muffled in the large forest. "Think this through logically."

Kai stood up, brushing leaves and dirt from his clothes. He was still wearing the t-shirt and sweatpants he had on while gaming, but his feet were bare.

First step, assess the situation, he thought, falling back on his analytical instincts.

He patted his pockets, finding only his phone and wallet. The phone, unsurprisingly, had no signal.

"Great," Kai muttered. "No shoes, no food, no idea where I am. This is just perfect."

As he continued his self-assessment, Kai noticed something strange on his right wrist. A faint, glowing mark pulsed just beneath his skin. It resembled the symbol he had seen on his computer screen just before... whatever this was had happened.

"Okay, that's new," he said, prodding at the trident-like mark. It didn't hurt, but he could feel a subtle warmth emanating from it.

Focus, Kai, he chided himself. Weird glowing tattoos can wait. Need to figure out where I am and how to get back home.

Kai picked a direction at random and started walking. As he moved through the forest, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The air felt different - thicker somehow, charged with an energy he couldn't quite explain.

It's like I can almost feel the life in this place, he thought. Stop it, that doesn't make any sense. You're just disoriented.

After what felt like hours of walking, Kai's ears perked up at a sound that didn't belong to the forest - voices. Human voices.

Finally, some answers, he thought, quickening his pace.

As he pushed through a particularly dense patch of undergrowth, Kai found himself at the edge of a small clearing. His jaw dropped at the sight before him.

A small village nestled at the foot of a towering mountain, its architecture unlike anything Kai had ever seen outside of historical documentaries or fantasy games. The buildings were constructed of wood and stone, with sweeping, tiled roofs that curved upward at the corners. People milled about, dressed in robes and carrying baskets of what looked like herbs and vegetables.

"No way," Kai breathed. "This can't be real."

He watched from the treeline for several minutes, his mind racing. The villagers spoke a language he couldn't understand, but their mannerisms and the general layout of the village reminded him of something...

It's like I've stepped into one of those Xianxia novels, he thought. But that's impossible. Right? This must be some sort of prank?

Deciding that standing in the forest wasn't going to get him any answers, Kai steeled himself and stepped out into the open. Almost immediately, several villagers noticed him and began pointing and talking excitedly.

Here goes nothing, Kai thought as he approached the nearest person – a bald old man.

"Excuse me," Kai said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Can you tell me where I am?"

The old man's eyes widened in surprise. He replied in a language Kai didn't understand, gesturing animatedly.

"I'm sorry, I don't..." Kai began, but trailed off as he realized something incredible. While he couldn't understand the man's words, their meaning was somehow becoming clear in his mind.

"Young man," the old man was saying, "are you lost? This is Misty Waterfall Village. If you don’t know where that is, we’re at the foot of Mount Celestial Ascent."

Misty Waterfall Village? Mount Celestial Ascent? I’ve never heard of either place. These names sounded like something out of a fantasy game, not real locations!

Kai struggled to keep his face neutral, not wanting to alarm the old man. Where on Earth was he? Or was he even on Earth anymore? The thought sent a chill down his spine.

"Yeah…I think I am lost," Kai said. "I'm not sure how I got here. Everything's a bit... fuzzy."

The old man's expression softened. "Ah, a troubled mind. Come, come. Let's get you something to eat and drink. Perhaps that will help clear your thoughts."

As Kai followed the elder into the village, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt at his deception. But he pushed the feeling aside, knowing that before he found out what was going on, caution was necessary.

It's not really lying, he rationalized. I am confused and lost. I'm just... omitting some details.

The old man led Kai to a small tea house near the center of the village. As they walked, Kai took in every detail he could, cataloging information for later analysis. The villagers went about their daily routines, but many paused to stare curiously at the newcomer in his odd clothing.

Inside the tea house, the air was fragrant with the scent of herbs and spices. The old man gestured for Kai to sit at a low table, then spoke quietly to the proprietor. Soon, a steaming cup of tea and a plate of dumplings were placed before Kai.

"Eat, drink," the elder encouraged. "Then we can talk about your situation."

Kai nodded gratefully and took a sip of the tea. The flavor was unlike anything he'd tasted before - complex, earthy, with an underlying energy that seemed to invigorate him.

Focus, he reminded himself. Gather information. But be careful what you reveal.

"Thank you for your kindness," Kai said, setting down the cup. "I'm afraid I don't remember much. My name is Kai, but beyond that..." He trailed off, shrugging helplessly.

The old man nodded sympathetically. "I am Chen Lao. It's not unheard of for cultivators to experience memory loss after a particularly intense breakthrough or battle. Perhaps that is what happened to you?"

Kai's ears perked up at the familiar term. Cultivators. So, this really is a xianxia world…

"Cultivators?" he asked, feigning ignorance. "I'm not sure what that means."

Chen Lao's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You don't know of cultivation? But surely, with your level of qi..." He trailed off, studying Kai more closely. "Fascinating. It seems your memories are more damaged than I thought. Tell me, young man, what do you know of qi?"

Kai pretended to concentrate, as if trying to recall something just out of reach. "Qi... it sounds familiar. Something about energy? Life force?"

The elder nodded encouragingly. "Yes, yes. Qi is the energy that flows through all living things. Cultivators are those who have learned to harness and strengthen their qi, gaining great power in the process."

As Chen Lao spoke, something extraordinary happened. A translucent window suddenly appeared in Kai's field of vision, hovering in the air like a holographic display. Kai managed to keep his expression neutral, but internally, his mind was racing.

A status window. Just like in the games. Either I’ve taken too many mushrooms again or I’m really in a new world…

The window displayed his name at the top, followed by a series of stats:

Name: Kai Thorn

Level: 1

Qi: 10/10

Strength: 10

Agility: 12

Durability: 10

Intelligence: 15

Wisdom: 10

Kai's eyes widened slightly at the intelligence stat. At least that carried over, he thought with a hint of pride.

"Is something wrong?" Chen Lao asked, noticing Kai's distraction.

Kai quickly refocused on the conversation. "No, sorry. Just... trying to process everything. You said cultivators can gain great power? How does that work?"

As the old man launched into an explanation of the basics of cultivation, Kai listened intently while also experimenting with the status window. He found that he could interact with it using his thoughts, expanding different sections and viewing more detailed information.

This is a game-changer, Kai realized. With this interface, I can optimize my growth in ways others can't even imagine.

"...and that's why many young cultivators join sects," Chen Lao was saying as Kai tuned back in. "The major sects provide resources and training that can greatly accelerate one's cultivation journey."

Kai nodded, filing away this crucial information. "These sects, are there many of them?"

"Oh yes," the elder replied. "The largest in our region are the Azure Sky Sect, known for their righteous path, and the Dark Moon Sect, who... well, they have a reputation for being more pragmatic in their pursuits."

Righteous path versus pragmatism, Kai mused. I'll need to learn more about these sects before making any decisions.

"Thank you for explaining all this," Kai said, bowing his head slightly. "It's helping to clear some of the fog in my mind. I'm still not sure how I got here or where I came from, but at least I have a better understanding of where I am now."

Chen Lao smiled. "You are welcome, young man. Now, we should consider your next steps. Without your memories, you are vulnerable. With your talent, perhaps we could arrange for you to meet with one of the sect recruiters when they next visit our village?"

Kai considered the offer. It was tempting - a direct path into this world's power structure. But he also knew he needed more information before committing to anything.

"That's very generous," he said carefully. "But I think I need some time to... find myself first. Is there somewhere I could stay for a few days? I'd be happy to work in exchange for lodging."

The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Hmm, yes, that could be arranged. My nephew runs the village granary. He could always use an extra pair of hands during the harvest season. And we have a small guest house where traveling cultivators sometimes stay. It's yours for as long as you need."

Kai bowed deeply, genuinely grateful for the man's kindness. "Thank you, Chen Lao. Your generosity is overwhelming."

As they stood to leave the tea house, Kai caught his reflection in a polished metal surface. He still looked like himself - short dark hair, lean build, blue eyes - but something seemed different. There was an energy about him that hadn't been there before.

Welcome to your new life, Kai, he thought to himself. Time to start playing the game.