The seasons had shifted once more, and five months had passed since the festival at Red Moon City. The once-vibrant hues of autumn had faded into the stark chill of winter, only for the thaw of early spring to paint the world in fresh greens once again. The air in Pine Village was crisper, and the wind carried the scents of damp earth, budding flowers, and burning firewood from the villagers' chimneys.
Feiyin stood at the edge of the training field, the familiar scent of dust and sweat filling his nostrils. His long black hair was neatly tied back, revealing his striking gray eyes, flecked with hints of amethyst that shimmered under the morning sun. Over the past months, his body had grown taller, leaner, and more defined, his once-childlike frame now carried obvious musculature, though he remained agile and fluid rather than bulky. Vitality thrummed beneath his skin, a constant hum of energy in his veins.
But the most profound change was his perception.
Everything, the way the wind whispered through the trees, the faintest shifts in movement, the subtlest variations in sound and scent, was clearer than ever before. His five senses had sharpened considerably. The once-overwhelming world of oscillations he had struggled to grasp now felt more natural, as though his mind had learned how to filter, categorize, and analyze everything at once.
The militia training grounds were located at the western end of Pine Village, a wide, open space surrounded by simple wooden fences. The ground, hardened by constant footfalls, bore numerous patches of disturbed dirt and faint cracks, remnants of past sparring matches. Several wooden training dummies lined the edges, their surfaces chipped and weathered from repeated strikes. A small weapons rack stood nearby, stocked with practice blades, staffs, and weighted training gear.
At this moment, the militia members were gathered, going through their morning drills.
Among them was Jiang Hu, one of the militia's unofficial officers and a seasoned warrior in his early forties. A broad-shouldered man with a stern face, his hair was pulled back into a tight bun, a few strands of silver betraying his age. His sharp eyes rarely missed anything, and his calloused hands bore the marks of decades of training.
Then there was Sun Ke, one of the younger militia members, lean, quick-witted, and always ready with a sly remark. His short brown hair was often messy, and a mischievous glint danced in his dark eyes. Unlike the others, Sun Ke had a habit of sneaking candied hawthorn into the training grounds, much to Feiyin's amusement.
Further back stood Luo Fan, a man built like an immovable boulder. Towering and thickly muscled, he carried himself with an air of quiet authority. Unlike Sun Ke, who could talk his way out of trouble, Luo Fan preferred to let his fists do the talking.
Several other militia members of varying ages and builds filled the field, each with their own strengths and personalities.
As Feiyin stepped forward, a few of them turned, their eyes flicking over him with subtle intrigue.
He had always been a curiosity, the youngest among them yet training just as hard, if not harder, than the adults. But today, their gazes carried something new.
Respect.
Jiang Hu was the first to speak, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs. "Feiyin, you're looking… stronger." His sharp gaze swept over him, analyzing the way he stood, the way he breathed, the quiet confidence in his stance. "I take it your training has gone well?"
Feiyin nodded, suppressing the proud grin threatening to break across his face. "Yes. I've been making progress."
Sun Ke, ever the troublemaker, smirked. "Progress, huh? I'd say it's more than that." He crossed his arms, tilting his head. "Last time we sparred, you were just barely holding your own. Now, if I didn't know better, I'd say you could knock me flat."
A few of the other militia members chuckled, but there was no mockery in their voices, only good-natured amusement.
Luo Fan, who had remained quiet, finally spoke. "How much strength have you reached now?"
Feiyin took a steady breath, feeling the hum of energy beneath his skin. "Three thousand kilograms."
A beat of silence.
Then, Jiang Hu exhaled sharply, eyes narrowing. "Already?"
Sun Ke let out a low whistle. "Damn. I don't think I hit three thousand until I was seventeen."
Luo Fan, who rarely showed surprise, let out a thoughtful grunt, arms crossed over his chest. "That's enough to shatter boulders."
The murmurs among the militia grew. It wasn't just that Feiyin had gotten stronger, it was how quickly he had done so.
Jiang Hu rubbed his chin, glancing toward Cai Feng, who stood at the side, observing quietly. "Your father's training must be relentless."
Feiyin smiled slightly. "He makes sure I earn every step forward."
Cai Feng's gaze met his, and though his face remained as unreadable as ever, there was the faintest glimmer of pride in his eyes.
Jiang Hu let out a deep chuckle. "Well, I suppose we'll have to see just how much you've improved. Sun Ke, Luo Fan, help me test the boy's limits."
Sun Ke groaned dramatically. "Ah, so I have to get beaten today? Great."
Luo Fan, on the other hand, merely cracked his knuckles. "Good. I wanted to see what he's capable of."
Feiyin rolled his shoulders, excitement bubbling in his chest. He had been waiting for this moment.
The sparring session began with Sun Ke as the first opponent.
The two stood across from each other, the training ground's dust settling between them. Sun Ke, though lean, was fast, his movements fluid and unpredictable. He grinned, shifting into a low, bouncing stance, his weight on the balls of his feet.
"Alright, Feiyin, let's see what you've got."
Feiyin took a steady breath, feeling the vibrations of the earth beneath his feet, the faint movements in the air around them.
Sun Ke moved first, lunging with a burst of speed, aiming to slip past Feiyin's guard.
But Feiyin saw it.
His improved perception allowed him to anticipate the rhythm of movement, and with a swift pivot, he sidestepped, his arm snapping forward.
Thud!
His palm struck Sun Ke's chest with controlled force, sending him stumbling back several paces. Sun Ke blinked, his smirk replaced with mild shock.
"Damn," he muttered, shaking out his arms. "You weren't this fast before."
Feiyin grinned.
Jiang Hu nodded approvingly. "His speed has caught up with his strength. That's good."
Luo Fan cracked his neck, stepping forward next. "Alright, my turn."
Feiyin steadied himself, knowing this fight would be vastly different. Luo Fan was a wall of muscle and raw power, his strikes heavy and unrelenting.
The moment the spar began, Luo Fan lunged, his fist whistling through the air. Feiyin barely had time to react before the impact sent a shockwave through his arms, forcing him backward.
The fight was on.
The sparring continued for several rounds, Feiyin pushing himself further each time, feeling the limits of his newfound strength and control. Every block, dodge, and counterstrike refined his movements, bringing him closer to mastery.
By the time the session ended, Feiyin was panting but exhilarated, his body thrumming with energy.
Jiang Hu clapped a hand on his shoulder. "You're progressing faster than I expected. Keep this up, and you'll surpass us in no time."
Feiyin smiled, feeling something deep within him settle.
He was getting stronger.
, -
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the village, Pine Village had begun to wind down for the evening. The scent of burning firewood and simmering broth filled the air, and the distant laughter of children playing in the streets echoed through the humble homes.
Yet, despite the peaceful atmosphere, an underlying tension lingered.
Three months ago, rumors had begun to spread, whispers carried by traveling merchants, traders, and messengers passing through the region.
A sect had been destroyed.
Not just any sect, but the Blue Sword Sect, one of the seven sects within the kingdom, and the closest to their region.
No one knew who had done it. No one knew why.
But everyone knew what it meant.
When great powers clashed, the ones who suffered most were always the common folk.
Mei Liao had heard the whispers first.
She had been tending to her usual trade, negotiating with merchants, when a group of traders from the south entered Red Moon City's marketplace, speaking in hushed, anxious voices.
She had caught snippets of their conversation as she inspected a set of silk fabrics.
"…completely wiped out."
"Not a single disciple left?"
"They say not even the elders survived. The entire sect… gone."
Mei Liao had quietly stepped closer, her ears sharp. "What happened?" she asked, keeping her voice casual.
The merchant, an older man with a bushy gray beard, paused, glancing at her before lowering his voice. "You haven't heard?"
She shook her head.
"The Blue Sword Sect is no more," he murmured. "Destroyed. No one knows by who. One of the seven pillars of our kingdom… wiped out overnight."
Mei Liao's fingers tightened around the fabric she had been holding. "Overnight?"
The merchant nodded. "The details are scarce, but those who've traveled near the area say the sect grounds are in ruins. There's nothing left. Not even the bodies of the disciples."
A cold shiver ran down Mei Liao's spine.
Sect wars were not uncommon, but for an entire sect to be annihilated without warning…
Something about this felt wrong.
She had finished her business quickly that day, returning to the village with unease curling in her stomach.
The news spread like wildfire, and though Pine Village was far from the sect's location, it was still close enough that people felt uneasy.
"What if it was the work of another sect?"
"What if the kingdom is about to go to war?"
"If one of the seven sects could be destroyed just like that… how can any of us be safe?"
The questions lingered in the air, like an unspoken weight pressing down on the village. Fear of the unknown was the worst kind of fear, it gnawed at people's thoughts, fed their paranoia, made them see threats where there were none.
Cai Feng had remained silent on the matter for a long time, keeping his own suspicions close to his chest, but Feiyin could see the way his father's gaze had grown sharper, the way his posture remained more rigid than usual, as if preparing for something unseen.
And Mei Liao, despite her usual lighthearted demeanor, had been keeping an even closer watch over their surroundings.
It was a night like this, with Feiyin helping set the dinner table, when the conversation finally came up.
His mother placed a clay pot of hot soup in the center of the table, her expression unusually serious. "I heard more rumors today," she said.
Cai Feng, who had been quietly sharpening his blade at the side of the room, didn't stop, but Feiyin noticed the slight pause before he continued.
"Still about the sect?" Feiyin asked.
Mei Liao nodded, taking her seat. "The details are vague, but… the ones who went to investigate the sect grounds never came back."
Feiyin's fingers tightened around the wooden chopsticks in his hands.
"They disappeared?" he echoed.
Cai Feng finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Which means someone, or something, doesn't want the truth to be known."
A silence settled over them.
Feiyin felt his mind racing. In all the history lessons his mother had taught him, no major sect had ever been completely erased overnight without leaving any traces of survivors. Even in war, some remnants always remained.
But this…
This was different.
"I don't like this," Mei Liao admitted, resting her chin on her hand. "A sect being wiped out is already concerning, but the fact that no other sect has claimed responsibility makes it worse."
Feiyin furrowed his brows. "Wouldn't a sect normally want to show off if they won?"
Mei Liao smiled wryly. "Exactly."
Cai Feng finally put down his blade, looking at Feiyin. "This is why your mother and I always say strength matters. When powerful forces clash, they don't care about the people caught in between."
Feiyin felt a slow determination settle in his chest.
He had already been pushing himself hard in training, but now he felt even more resolved.
If the world beyond Pine Village was this dangerous, he needed to become strong enough to face it head-on.
Though there had been no signs of immediate danger, the rumors had left their mark on the village.
The militia trained harder, their once-casual drills becoming more disciplined, more calculated. The hunters and traders who left the village were more cautious on the roads, and even the children who once played freely in the fields stayed closer to home.
Feiyin had overheard a conversation between Jiang Hu and Sun Ke just a few days ago.
"You think something's coming?" Sun Ke had asked, twirling a wooden practice blade in his hand.
Jiang Hu had exhaled, rubbing his chin. "I don't know. But when sects start getting erased without a trace… it's never a good sign."
Luo Fan, who had been listening in silence, had nodded grimly. "It means the balance of power is shifting."
Feiyin, standing nearby, had absorbed every word.
The world beyond their quiet village was changing.
And whether he liked it or not, those changes would eventually reach them too.
That night, as Feiyin lay in bed, staring up at the wooden ceiling of their home, he let his mind drift back to everything that had happened in the past five months.
His training, his growing strength, his time with the militia.
The festival, the memories he had made with his family.
And now, this looming uncertainty. He wasn't afraid. But he understood why his parents were concerned.
Closing his amethyst-flecked gray eyes, he took a deep breath, feeling the steady hum of inner strength coursing through his body.