Lu Ximing opened his eyes.
He immediately sat up.
Grass.
Trees.
Birdsong.
A cool breeze brushed against his face.
He looked around.
He was lying in the middle of a vast forest.
"...So this is the beast world."
He stood.
His body felt incredible.
No weakness.
No pain.
He looked down at himself.
Then he noticed his reflection in a small pool of water.
Ximing froze.
His skin was a deep, rich brown.
His extremely long black hair fell around him in thick, beautiful coils.
His eyes were strikingly blue—sharp, cat-like, almost siren-like.
His nose was small.
His lips were full.
And beneath one eye was a small mole.
He stared at himself.
"...The goddess actually gave me a completely different life."
He touched his hair.
"Why is it so long?"
He shook his head and laughed.
Then he remembered his special ability.
"My space."
He closed his eyes.
Open.
A golden doorway appeared.
Ximing stepped through.
His eyes widened.
A beautiful house stood on a large piece of fertile land.
There were fields, fruit trees, a river, storage buildings, clothes, food, tools, and everything he needed.
He walked around slowly.
"This is incredible."
For the first time in his life, Ximing had a place that belonged completely to him.
He returned to the forest and closed the doorway.
Then he heard something.
Crack.
Ximing stopped.
He turned toward the trees.
"Who's there?"
Nothing.
Then—
Rustle.
Something large moved through the bushes.
A huge man stepped out.
Ximing's eyes widened.
The stranger was enormous.
He had pale white skin, pointed ears, long silver blond hair, gold eyes that seem to glow and two small tusks.
An orc.
A very handsome orc
The orc stared at Ximing.
"...Human?"
Ximing blinked.
"Yes?"
The orc looked confused.
"What are you doing here?"
Ximing glanced around.
"Honestly?"
The orc waited.
"I have absolutely no idea."
The orc frowned.
"You don't know?"
"I woke up here."
The orc studied him carefully.
"You shouldn't be alone in this forest."
"Why?"
"There are predators."
Ximing raised an eyebrow.
"How dangerous?"
The orc's expression became serious.
"Dangerous enough to kill you."
Ximing was silent for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Well... that's inconvenient."
The orc stared at him.
"You aren't afraid?"
Ximing shrugged.
"I just got a second life. I'm trying to enjoy it."
For the first time, the orc laughed.
"You really are strange."
Ximing smiled.
"And you haven't told me your name."
The orc looked at him.
"Kael."
"Kael."
Ximing extended his hand.
"Lu Ximing."
Kael looked at the offered hand before taking it.
His large hand completely surrounded Ximing's.
"Lu Ximing."
Neither of them knew it yet...
But their meeting in that forest was only the beginning.
Ximing had been given a second life.
And this time, the story would be his to write.