I open my eyes, the sun glazes my face with warmth, tall trees and gigantic
mountains the size more than Mount Everest surrounds the area in the distant
which was hard to miss "what… what is this?" filled with confusion, and my
eyes sparkle from the view of what i was seeing in-front of me, i struggle to recall
who am i or what am i.
"Zi Han Pei" the name i remember clearly, the name i'm born with. but with
more confusion, theres a distant name that hums in my mind… "Andrei
Tongpao"
"i remember clearly that i worked as an assistant for a mega corporate bank, i
managed their finance and everyday im faced with torture by the higher ups"
memories flood in like tidal waves-images of Earth, my old life. A modern world
of glass towers and advance machineries, where poor and rich are divided by
how much income one hordes.
"have i been transmigrated? but i have no memories of how i got here" I wear
a black robe which was similar to the previous world's attire called kimono, i
grew a healthy long black hair that reached right above my chest and my eyes as
dark as the abyss.
"i used to dream of time like this, bored in my office work, while managers,
shareholders and CEO, do whatever they want, i really was a failure in my
previous life, maybe God has given me second chance to live another life, if thats
the case then i wont waste it"
I began walking through the thick woods when I was greeted by a figure
wearing the same black robes as mine.
"There you are, Brother Zi Han!" he called out, rushing toward me with
excitement.
I stood frozen for a moment, confusion washing over me.
"Brother… Yi Han Pei!"
Memories surged again—this person, this voice—it was my younger brother.
One year younger than me, with hair as smooth as silk, the only difference
between us being his eyes: a rich brown, tinted like aged leather.
Both of us belong to the Pei Clan, a modest-sized clan barely able to sustain its
population of 50,000 mortals. In this world, cultivation is known as Zan—a
mysterious force and system of power built upon 22 awakening pathways, each
corresponding to the major arcana of the tarot cards from my previous life. Zan
is the conscious essence that bridges heaven and earth, assisting Zan Masters in
their spiritual progression. When one awakens their internal realm—called the
Gate—they begin their journey through the Mortal Realm, from stages one to
four. Breaking through to five and beyond leads to the Immortal Realm. Those
who awaken are known as Awakens.
"Brother Zi Han, what pathway do you think is meant for you?" Yi Han
asked with childlike wonder.
I gave it some thought before answering,
"Since we were young, I've always hoped to awaken with The Fool. It feels…
right for me."
Did I actually think I would be chosen by The Fool? Probably not. After all,
everything in this world is bound by fate. Is free will even real here?
"Ahh, of course," Yi Han nodded. "As for me, I hope to awaken with
Temperance—so I may become a man of patience."
The Fool, one of the major arcana pathways, specializing in trickery and fresh
beginnings.
"Brother Yi," I sighed, a dull throb forming in my temples. "Tomorrow we
awaken our Gate. What I need more than anything is a night of rest."
The sudden flood of memory was taking its toll. The strain of transmigration
—of being someone else in a world so strange—made my mind ache.
"Sorry, Brother Zi Han. I'll stop bothering you," Yi Han said with a sheepish
grin. "Let's get home before sunset."
We lived in a modest home, neither wealthy nor poor—similar to a middle-
class family in the suburbs from my previous life. Our parents had both passed
away under mysterious circumstances, but the village elder, a good friend of our
late father, watched over us and often granted us favors.
As we walked, a strange thought settled in my heart:
I really am in another world. An isekai, if such a thing is truly possible.
But this isn't a dream. This world is ruthless, where mortal lives are treated
like livestock. In the eyes of the Immortals, mortals are no different from ants.
Only through perseverance… and deceit… can an Awakened survive. That is the
path. That is the truth. That… is the pinnacle of existence.