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Chapter 9: Jingwei - A Mythical Creature

  As the sun rose higher in the morning sky, the villagers slowly came out of their homes, ready to start their day. The air was filled with the smell of freshly brewed tea, while the sounds of market vendors calling out their goods echoed through the village square.

  In the middle of the busy crowd, Freya Thorvald, a middle-aged woman, set up her colorful cart full of fresh fruits and vegetables. With practiced hands, she carefully arranged her produce to highlight its freshness and quality. Freya was well-known in the village for her great taste and dedication to offering only the best to her customers.

  The villagers eagerly gathered around Freya’s cart, excited to find the best ingredients for their meals. Freya greeted each customer with a warm smile, her eyes full of happiness.

  Next to Freya’s cart, Thorik Ragnar, an elderly man, set up his shop called "Heimdall’s Healing Herbs." The shop was filled with fragrant spices and herbs. The name "Heimdall" was a reference to the watchman of the gods, known for his sharp senses and alertness. Thorik was a wise man, well-versed in the healing properties of different herbs. He often shared his knowledge and stories from his travels with the customers, engaging them in lively conversations.

  As the villagers wandered through Thorik’s shop, they were greeted by the unique smell of his herbs and plants. The vibrant colors and textures of each item amazed them, and they knew that each one had the power to heal all kinds of ailments. Thorik’s passion for his work was contagious, and when customers left his shop, they felt hopeful about their treatments.

  Later, Thorik sat in the small room of his shop, surrounded by a group of curious children, all eager to hear one of his exciting stories. With a kind smile, he began to tell them about a mythical creature called the Jingwei.

  System Level: 10/12

  Power level: 89,000/100,000

  Beast type: Ceryx

  Name: Thorik Ragnar

  Age: 58

  Race: Kaelith

  Blood-type: Verdant

  Blood Color: Green

  HP: 95/100

  EP: 40/50

  AP: 60 units

  Mana: 100/100

  Beast Energy: 100/100

  Beast Race Type: Zephyrbeasts

  Beast abilities:

  Flight

  Wisdom

  One horn attack and two Clawed wings

  Skills: 64/70

  Action Speed: 1-2 seconds per action

  Skill Cooldowns: 6-15 seconds

  Movement Speed: 10-15 units per second

  Base Strength: 14

  Damage Output: 21+ damage per hit

  Carrying Capacity: 201+ units

  State Points: 195/200

  Thorik continued, "The legend tells of an emperor named Yan, who had a daughter named Nuwa. Yan was in charge of overseeing the rising sun over the East China Sea and its healing powers. Every morning, he would go there to take care of his duties. But Nuwa wanted to spend time with her father and see the sunrise for herself.

  Sadly, Yan was always too busy with his work to grant her wish. So, one day, Nuwa decided to go to the East China Sea on her own to witness the sunrise. But a terrible storm hit, causing her boat to capsize, and she was carried away by the waves. Despite Emperor Yan knowing what had happened, there was no medicine in the world that could bring her back to life. After her death, Nuwa was transformed into a bird with a flower-shaped head, a white beak, and red claws on her feet."

  Thorik smiled at the children's curiosity and continued, "Determined to stop others from suffering the same fate she had, Nuwa made a promise to herself. She began carrying twigs and pebbles in her beak every day, dropping them into the East China Sea, hoping to fill it up. The sea laughed at her, telling her that her task was impossible and that it would take millions of years to even make a difference.

  But Jingwei, as the bird was now known, was strong-willed. She replied, 'I am willing to spend ten million years filling up the sea if it means preventing others from facing the same tragedy I did.'

  One of the children listening, wide-eyed, asked, 'So, what happened next, Uncle?'

  Thorik chuckled softly before answering, 'Another child asked, 'Would the bird still be flying? And would so many birds, throwing pebbles and twigs, ever really fill up such a big sea?'"

  The children sat silently, thinking about the story.

  Thorik smiled warmly at the children, enjoying their eager faces. "Yes," he continued, "as the Jingwei bird worked tirelessly, the sea slowly began to change. Over many, many years, the endless water was slowly filled with twigs and pebbles. The shoreline stretched out further, and where there was once only the vast sea, new land began to appear."

  The children leaned in even closer, their eyes wide with wonder. "New land?" one of them asked, their voice filled with excitement. "Does that mean a new country?"

  Thorik chuckled softly, pleased by their curiosity. "Well," he said, "the new land wasn’t exactly a country, but it was a place where life could begin anew. The bird had transformed the sea, and now, where there was once nothing, there was something."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  A third child, her eyes sparkling with questions, couldn't help but ask, "Who lives there now?"

  Thorik paused for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. "That's a good question," he said. "Who lives there is something for you to imagine, my little ones. Maybe it's creatures who escaped the waves, or perhaps it’s a new world waiting to be discovered. The story is not just about the bird—it’s about hope and perseverance, and how, even against impossible odds, change is possible."

  The children were silent for a moment, letting the story sink in. Then, with wide eyes, they each started to imagine the new land in their own way, filled with creatures, people, or things they had yet to discover.

  Thorik’s smile deepened as he leaned in closer to the children, his voice lowering to add a sense of mystery to his words. "However, according to some legends, it wasn’t just the Jingwei bird who caused the transformation of the sea. There are stories that say seven powerful dark forces cast a spell to reshape the world."

  The children’s eyes widened in awe, their minds racing with new possibilities. "Seven dark forces? What are they?" one of them asked, nearly breathless with curiosity.

  Thorik’s eyes twinkled as he enjoyed the excitement he had sparked. "Ah," he said, "the Seven dark forces were not ordinary creatures. They were a mysterious snake, but not just any snake—this one existed in seven different forms. Each form was more fearsome than the last, and all were feared and respected by anyone who knew of the snake’s existence. The snake had powers beyond imagination, capable of bending the elements to his will. Earth, fire, water, air—he could control them all, shifting them as he wished."

  The children sat in stunned silence, their minds filled with images of this powerful snake in all its forms. One child finally spoke, their voice trembling with excitement, "What happened to the snake? Did it stop the bird from filling the sea?"

  Thorik chuckled softly, savoring the mystery he had built. "Ah, now that," he said, "is another part of the story. But you’ll have to wait until the next time to hear what happened between the snake and the bird."

  The children groaned in protest, eager for more, but Thorik just winked at them. "All in good time, little ones. All in good time."

  Thorik nodded slowly, his eyes gleaming with the weight of the story. "Exactly," he said, his voice soft but filled with gravity. "The Seven dark forces were never seen in their true form. The snake only appeared as seven black clouds of smoke, swirling and shifting through the air, moving faster than the eye could follow. To capture him—well, that would have been nearly impossible."

  The children leaned in closer, their imaginations racing with visions of this mysterious, smoky serpent. One child spoke up, eyes wide with wonder. "Then how did anyone ever fight him? If he was just smoke, how could anyone stop him?"

  Thorik smiled, savoring the excitement in their voices. "Uh, that's the mystery of it. Some say it wasn’t about fighting him with strength or weapons. It was about understanding him. Those who tried to stop the snake learned that you couldn’t battle smoke with force. You had to outsmart him, using patience and wisdom instead of power."

  The children looked thoughtful, imagining how they might outsmart such a mysterious creature. Another child asked, "But did anyone ever manage to stop him?"

  Thorik paused, his face growing serious. "Well, that is a story for another time," he said with a wink. "But I will tell you this—every legend has its heroes, and every dark force has its weaknesses. Sometimes, the smallest and most unexpected of heroes can be the ones to change everything."

  The children sat quietly, their minds filled with wonder and questions, all eager to learn more when the time came.

  Thorik chuckled softly, enjoying the suspense he had built. He touched his head thoughtfully, as if considering whether to reveal more. The children, eyes wide and hearts racing, were completely caught up in the moment, hanging on every word.

  "How is it not impossible?" one of the children asked, his voice filled with excitement and curiosity.

  Thorik's smile grew, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Umm, my young friends," he said, his voice low and teasing, "that is a story for another day."

  The children groaned, disappointed yet eager for more. Their minds raced, filled with questions and possibilities about how the story would unfold. They exchanged excited glances, their imaginations already running wild with the mystery of the snake and what might come next.

  Thorik could see their excitement and couldn't help but enjoy the moment. "You all have learned much today, but some stories are meant to be savored slowly," he said with a wink. "And when the time is right, you’ll hear the rest."

  The children sat quietly, their hearts still pounding with anticipation, knowing that whatever came next in Thorik’s tale would be worth the wait. They had always admired his storytelling skills, and they knew whatever was to come would be something extraordinary.

  The children’s laughter and shouts filled the air as they ran outside, their energy infectious. Thorik turned back to his medicine shelf, shaking his head with a fond smile as he watched them go. The peaceful quiet of his shop returned for a moment, but it didn’t last long.

  "Uncle, pack medicine for mother!" a child’s voice called out from the door.

  Thorik's eyes twinkled as he heard the familiar voice. "Oh! Ho! Ho! Ho! Odin, you’re still here? I didn’t even notice," he chuckled in his deep, raspy voice. "I’ve made the potion now."

  He hurried over to prepare the medicine, his hands moving with practiced care. He began by selecting the first ingredient—Milk Thistle. Its bright purple flowers were well-known for their ability to protect the liver and help regenerate its cells. Thorik carefully ground the dried leaves into a fine powder.

  Next, he added the roots and leaves of Dandelion. Known for its natural ability to cleanse the liver, Dandelion would help support the body’s detoxification process. He mixed the two ingredients with a steady hand.

  Thorik then turned to a vine growing nearby—Schisandra. The berries were known for their adaptogenic properties, helping the body resist stress and balance its functions. He included a few crushed berries to enhance the strength of the mixture.

  For the final touch, Thorik reached for Curcuma longa, better known as turmeric. Its golden-yellow roots had long been used to support liver health and reduce inflammation. He added a small portion to the blend, knowing it would give the medicine an extra boost.

  Lastly, he gathered the roots of Licorice. Licorice was known for its soothing properties, and it would help balance the other strong herbs in the mixture. With a careful hand, Thorik added it to the powder.

  When the mixture was ready, he carefully packed it into a small, neat packet. "There you go, Odin. This should help your mother," Thorik said with a smile, handing the packet to the boy.

  Odin took the medicine with a grateful smile, his eyes shining with thanks. "Thank you, Uncle Thorik!" he said before running off to deliver it.

  Thorik watched him go, satisfied with his work. The herbs, nature’s gifts, were his way of helping those in need—and he knew, just like his stories, his potions brought healing in their own mysterious ways.

  Thorik’s voice softened with concern as he looked at Odin, making sure the boy understood the importance of what he was about to say. "Remember, Odin, herbal medicines can be very concentrated, so it's important to dilute them properly," he explained. "Make sure your dad gives your mom plenty of water after she takes the medicine. This helps dilute the effects and reduces the chances of any negative reactions."

  Odin nodded, his brow furrowed as he absorbed the advice. He understood how important it was to follow these precautions, and he mentally reminded himself to make sure their father kept their mother hydrated throughout the day.

  Thorik continued, his voice steady and full of wisdom, "Also, make sure your mom takes only the prescribed amount of medicine. More isn’t always better when it comes to herbal remedies. Stick to the instructions, as the dosage has been carefully calculated for her condition."

  Odin's expression grew more serious as he processed Thorik’s words. He knew the importance of following the correct dosage. His mother had been taking these medicines for several years, and Odin was aware that even though herbal remedies were natural, they could still interact with other medications or cause problems if taken in excess.

  "I understand," Odin said quietly. He made a mental note to keep a close eye on his mother’s intake and ensure she followed the prescribed amount of medicine. He would remind his father as well, ensuring that everything was taken exactly as it should be.

  Thorik gave him an encouraging smile. "You’re a smart boy, Odin. Your mom is lucky to have you looking out for her." With that, Odin hurried off, his thoughts focused on taking care of his mother and ensuring she stayed well.

  Thorik’s voice was calm but serious as he gave Odin one final piece of advice. "Keep an eye out for any unusual symptoms or reactions," he said, his tone full of care. "If your mother experiences anything out of the ordinary, come to me right away. It’s always better to be safe than sorry."

  Odin nodded, his expression serious, understanding the weight of Thorik's words. After Thorik sealed the medicine packet, Odin waved goodbye and hurried out of the shop, shaking his head as he left, already thinking about his mother and how to make sure everything went smoothly.

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