The sun had barely risen when Jiang Yuefeng stepped onto the winding dirt path leading down from the ruined temple. The mountain was quiet—no spirit beasts, no cultivators, no qi in the air. A dead zone, compared to the realms he once knew.
Every step reminded him: he was mortal again.
His breaths were short. His muscles ached. But his spirit—his will—remained unbroken.
"Low realm," he muttered, gazing over the distant hills. "Low qi density. Weak mortals. But even mud can grow a lotus."
He reached a narrow road, barely used, and followed it to the edge of a small farming village nestled between hills. A wooden sign creaked in the wind.
Qinghe Village.
It was poor. Mud walls. Straw roofs. No protective formation, no sect insignia. Just simple, unguarded life.
But then—he heard it.
The sharp thwack of a wooden stick striking air. Over and over again.
Drawn by instinct, Yuefeng followed the sound toward the edge of the village, near a lonely willow tree. There, barefoot in the grass, a girl trained in silence.
She looked no older than sixteen. Her clothes were plain and patched. Her long black hair was tied carelessly behind her head. Sweat dripped from her brow, and bruises marred her arms. But her grip on the wooden sword never wavered.
Step. Swing. Step. Swing. Again and again, with fierce, unrelenting focus.
Yuefeng watched in silence.
Her technique was flawed. Her stance unbalanced. But the fire in her was unmistakable.
> [Potential disciple detected.]
[Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Lightning]
[Willpower: Exceptional]
[System Compatibility: 83%]
[Would you like to initiate disciple bond?]
He almost said yes instantly. But he took a breath.
She was raw. Mortal. And this time, he would not choose recklessly.
"Your footing is too wide," he said, stepping from the shadows.
The girl froze. Her eyes snapped to him—alert, guarded. She raised the stick like a sword.
"Who are you?"
"Someone who's seen better swordplay," he said calmly.
She frowned. "This is Qinghe village. Outsiders don't come here."
"I'm not from here."
"Clearly."
She didn't lower the stick. Yuefeng admired that.
"Why do you train?" he asked.
She hesitated, then said, "To protect myself. And to leave."
"Leave?"
"This village is a cage. I won't die here."
He nodded slowly. Her spirit reminded him of someone—himself.
"What's your name?"
"Lin Xue."
He stepped closer. She didn't back down.
"I can teach you," Yuefeng said. "But not like this. What you want—true strength—won't come from swinging sticks under trees."
She narrowed her eyes. "Teach me? With what sect? You don't even have a sword."
"I don't need one," he said with a small smirk. "All I need… is a disciple willing to walk the path with me."
> [Initiate Disciple Bond?]
[Target: Lin Xue]
[Current Compatibility: High]
[Reward: Cashback system partially unlocked upon first shared cultivation breakthrough.]
> [Confirm?]
Yuefeng didn't hesitate.
> [Bond established.]
[Disciple Status: Unawakened]
[New Objective: Assist disciple in reaching Qi Gathering realm.]
[Progress: 0%]
Lin Xue blinked. She suddenly felt… something shift. A warmth in her chest. A strange clarity in her thoughts. She stared at Yuefeng.
"What did you just do to me?"
He smiled. "Something very few masters ever do."
"I don't trust you."
"Good," he said. "Trust is earned. But if you want power, follow me."
For a long moment, Lin Xue was silent.
Then—she dropped the stick, wiped her sweat, and stood straighter.
"Fine. But I want results."
"You'll get more than that," Yuefeng said, turning toward the forest. "You'll get a new life."
Together, they walked into the trees—two mortals bound by fate, unaware of what the system had already begun to awaken between them.