Chapter 3 – A Second Chance

  On a bright spring morning, a young man in his early to mid-twenties strolled down the sidewalk of a busy city. His arms were full from cradling a stack of books destined for the library, while his mind buzzed with thoughts of overdue university assignments and the latest fantasy novel that he couldn’t wait to dive into.

  As he approached the crosswalk, he took a quick glance in both directions before stepping onto the road.

  In that split second after leaving the crosswalk, he heard a blaring horn, and a delivery truck barreled toward him, seemingly out of nowhere.

  Time froze, and all the young man could see was the sun reflecting off the chrome grill.

  Moments later, he found himself hovering above the scene. He gazed down at his own crumpled form and felt a profound sense of regret settle onto his chest. He didn’t feel sad for the life he lost, but for the life he hadn’t truly lived.

  All those nights spent studying instead of partying, the countless invitations declined and, most importantly, all the romantic opportunities missed.

  “If I get another shot, I’m going all out! No more Mr. Responsible. I’m going to drink my fill, chase after any woman who catches my eye and spend my days living life to the fullest!”

  With newfound determination, the young man made his vow to the heavens that he would embrace every indulgence, savour the finest wines, embark on wild adventures and surround himself with a harem of the most enchanting women.

  But, most importantly, he wouldn’t die young, dissatisfied with his life!

  After all, what’s the point of a second chance if not to squeeze every drop of opportunity out of it?

  As his spirit began to drift upwards toward a tunnel of light, the young man’s thoughts were filled with all the regrets he had and what he would have done differently.

  The young man’s spirit entered the luminous passage, the walls shimmering with ethereal hues and a soothing warmth enveloped him. Yet, as he progressed, he felt a peculiar sensation. It was as if unseen hands were gently sanding down his memories as he travelled.

  First, his name faded into oblivion, followed by the names of his parents and the streets of his hometown.

  Personal details dissolved like mist, leaving behind only the essence of who he was. He desperately clung to his core memories, like the faces of his parents and the longing he felt for his unfulfilled experiences.

  At the end of the tunnel, through the glowing opening, he saw a vast expanse filled with countless other spirits, all floating in an orderly line that stretched beyond sight.

  ‘Reincarnation Processing: Please Wait Your Turn.’

  There was a giant wooden sign floating in the white void, with the words written in thousands of different languages. There was a bureaucratic ambiance, and a sense of anticipation filled the air.

  Wondering what his next life would be, the young man’s spirit was about to leave the tunnel and lose the last of his memories when he felt a sharp tug on his soul.

  With a last glance at the afterlife, the young man’s soul was violently yanked out of the tunnel.

  Page Break

  The Warden of the Loom stared down at the baby in solemn silence. The child’s body was warm and breathing, but it was unmistakably hollow. There was no soul stirring within it.

  He extended a hand and hovered his finger just above the baby’s brow and probed with his immortal Qi, seeking any trace of spiritual essence. There was nothing, no spark, only a void where a soul should reside.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  The Warden frowned and retracted his Qi. Settling the child back in its crib, the Warden ran his hand along the length of his beard as he thought about what to do.

  A soulless vessel could become a beacon for chaos, a blank slate upon which countless demons, cultivators or spirits desired. It was especially true for a physique as fine as this one. The child’s physical body was a precious artifact, one perfectly suitable for cultivation.

  “Was this the reason the Tapestry was disrupted, to prepare a vessel such as this?” The Warden pondered, but even his divination skills couldn’t provide him with the answer.

  Intervention was forbidden; there was nothing he could do to return the child’s original soul to this body.

  But, perhaps he could influence events?

  It was the key to fixing the Tapestry of Celestial Fate. The golden thread was almost completely gone now that the body remained, but the soul had been destroyed. It had anchored the future of the Tapestry, and without it, the entire Loom may stop functioning.

  “I have no other choice.” The Warden sighed and took a final glance at the child before leaving to return to the Celestial Palace and the Tapestry of Fate. Guiding his immortal Qi into the weave, he influenced events.

  A body without a soul. The answer to that problem was simple, but it would require time to organize and influence the mortals involved.

  Years passed, and the Warden watched with satisfaction as the golden thread grew stronger.

  Page Break

  A sudden jolt coursed through the young man’s body as his eyes snapped open, and he drew in a deep breath as if he hadn’t breathed in years.

  For a moment, he remained seated and still, completely disoriented by the vivid sensation of life pulsing through him once more.

  The last thing he remembered was the blaring horn and his impending death by a truck, yet here he was, alive!

  A grin spread across his face as the realization settled in, and he couldn’t contain his joy any longer.

  “I’m back!” He shouted, and his voice echoed loudly off the pristine walls around him.

  He looked around, taking in his surroundings as he tried to get used to being alive once again. He was in a chamber made of white marble, devoid of windows but bathed in a soft, ambient white light. He was seated cross-legged on a jade mat, his hands resting on his knees.

  But they weren’t the hands he remembered. These were long, pale and perfectly shaped to match a body that was thin, slightly muscular and healthier than his own had been. He wore white robes trimmed in purple that shimmered subtly as the cloth shifted and moved.

  Rising to his feet, he approached a bronze mirror that hung on one of the walls. The reflection that greeted him back was striking, and it took a long time for him to come to terms with his new appearance.

  He looked to be in his late teens or early twenties, with flawless features. Long black hair cascaded down his back, and it matched a pair of black eyes that were deep and warm.

  The young man tilted his head to admire his new face and chuckled when he saw the figure in the mirror do the same.

  “Well, if this is reincarnation, I’m definitely not complaining!” With a face and body like this, he would have no trouble enjoying his new life. He could already imagine walking through the world, having fun adventures, meeting new people and, most importantly, spending time with beautiful women.

  “I’ll seize every opportunity, embrace all that life has to offer and truly enjoy myself!” He promised himself once again with a renewed sense of determination.

  Standing up from the mat, he took a moment to stretch, feeling the strength and flexibility in his limbs.

  “Wait…Shouldn’t I have reincarnated into an entirely new life as a newborn? Why the hell am I an adult?” The young man suddenly thought.

  “Maybe I took over this body accidentally? But, what happened to the original owner?” The young man began to panic as he came to the realization that he might be in trouble. A handsome young man, dressed in expensive, if strange, clothing, should have a family.

  “Do I need to pretend to be whoever this is? What if they find out that I’m an impostor! My life will be over before I even begin to enjoy it!” The young man recalled several stories and movies he had seen in his past life. The details were a little vague due to passing through the tunnel of light, but he recalled there was a term for this.

  “I’ve been isekai'd!”

  He paced the marble floor as the soft glow of his robes cast reflections on the polished surface. His mind raced with the possibilities and the pitfalls.

  In the stories he remembered, the protagonist often found themselves in similar situations where they were thrust into new worlds, sometimes inhabiting recently deceased young masters or heroes and needing to navigate unfamiliar societies while concealing their true identities.

  He wasn’t sure what the consequences would be if he were caught, but it was a common theme which meant that the punishment was probably horrible.

  “Alright, I need to find out who I am and act like I belong here! I’m not going to let this second life end too soon just because I reincarnated in the wrong body. It’s not my fault!” The young man muttered.

  He straightened his robes in what he thought was the correct way and adopted a more confident posture. He was determined to make the most of his second chance, and just because he was isekai’d didn’t mean he couldn’t do that.

  “Alright world, here I come! You won’t know what hit you when…” The young man said confidently, before his voice trailed off.

  “When…when…Wait, what the hell is my name?!”