Chapter 2 – Embers of Will
Dawn swept over Yunboa Village with a gentle golden light. Morning dew still clung to the tips of the leaves, and the sound of small footsteps rustled among the wet bushes. At the edge of a small forest east of the village, Lawzi Zienxi and Lawzi Vuyei stood facing each other, holding wooden sticks they had cut and smoothed themselves.
"Ready?" asked Vuyei, her eyes narrowing in challenge.
Zienxi nodded, raising his stick. "Do not regret it if you cry."
They attacked each other slowly. The movements were not yet neat, but full of spirit and determination. From a distance, Lawzi Jeu and Lawzi Kunren observed with their arms crossed. Kunren whistled softly.
"They can keep their balance better than last month," he said, stroking his short beard.
Jeu nodded. "That is because they are starting to trust their own steps. Not all children their age have that."
Kunren turned to Jeu. "You know, Jeu... I see your spark in Zienxi's eyes. But Vuyei, she inherited my restless spirit." He smiled slightly. "If they keep going like this... they could become a true cultivator pair."
Jeu chuckled. "Do not go too far, Kunren. They cannot even catch a chicken yet."
After a while, the training ended with sweat and laughter.
"Good," said Jeu as they sat under the old banyan tree. "But courage is not only about blocking and attacking. Sometimes, courage is when you stay standing even though your body wants to collapse."
Zienxi sighed, wiping his sweat. "Why do we have to train like this, Father? Are we not safe enough in the village?"
Jeu looked at the sky for a moment before answering.
"The world outside Yunboa... is vast. There are places you cannot imagine now. Floating mountains, forests that speak, rivers that flow against time. And in those places, cultivators train their strength. They unite with nature, understanding the life energy Qi."
Vuyei leaned forward, her eyes shining. "Can they fly?"
Kunren laughed. "Some of them. But those who can fly... can also split the earth. Long ago, there was a great sect that almost took over the entire northern region, but they were stopped by a sect called the Seven Leaf Sect. They were not famous, but their power was like a whisper that could tear the sky."
Zienxi exhaled. "That sounds exhausting."
Everyone laughed.
"I want to learn more," said Vuyei softly, but with determination.
Jeu looked at his niece, then smiled. "Maybe one day you will find your own path."
That afternoon, the sweet aroma of sticky rice cakes and the scent of incense filled the air. In the courtyard of the Lawzi family home, the women arranged flower decorations, the men hung lanterns. Children ran around happily.
Quim Zunxi and Tsai Mianzu were busy preparing fruit drinks and food. Zienxi and Vuyei helped them.
"Make sure the fruit pieces do not spill," said Mianzu to Zienxi.
"He cuts them neater than Vuyei, Sister. Do not worry," added Quim with a smile.
"Hmph! I am just less focused, not less skilled!" protested Vuyei.
Mianzu smiled while pinching her daughter's cheek gently. "That stubbornness is from your father. But your determination... that is from the mother's line."
Several simple carts arrived from the south. Laughter and footsteps filled the courtyard.
"Wafei!" shouted Zienxi as he saw his cousin, a tall boy with his hair tied back.
"Still remember how you lost the running race to me?" shouted Wafei.
Zienxi grinned. "Today I will win."
Jian Sixie stepped gracefully from the cart, accompanied by Defei Sixie and Jian Lode. They were warmly greeted by Defei Heifei.
"It has been a long time since I have seen you, Sixie!" greeted Vuyei.
Sixie smiled. "I brought tea from the west. We can brew it later."
That night, lanterns hung along the yard. The tables were full of food. Laughter and music filled the air.
Zienxi sat on the steps, watching the crowd with a warm heart. Beside him, Vuyei was writing in her small book.
"What are you writing?"
"The names of those who came today. I do not want to forget a single one of them."
Zienxi looked at the stars. "I hope nights like this... can last forever."
The next morning, they played in the river behind the house. Jeu, Kunren, Gue, and Lode sat on the porch with warm tea.
"We used to love playing in that river too," murmured Kunren. "Now it is our children. Time really spins fast."
Jeu nodded. "I hope they can enjoy this childhood for as long as possible."
"The outside world never sleeps," added Gue.
In the kitchen, Quim, Mianzu, and Heifei prepared snacks.
"Zienxi is stubborn," said Quim amusedly.
"Vuyei is too brave. Sometimes I worry she will recklessly go to the mountain alone," said Mianzu with a small laugh.
"Wafei... likes sleeping too much. I doubt he can wake up to be a cultivator," said Heifei.
Laughter burst from that small kitchen.
Defei Sixie suddenly came in carrying a leather pouch.
"I want to show you something."
The children came closer. The adults looked at each other. Sixie opened the pouch, taking out a dark brown ring with fine root patterns that glowed faintly.
"This... is the Spirit Root Ring."
"Spirit Root Ring..." whispered Zienxi.
Jeu stood up. "You said... Spirit Root Ring?"
Everyone fell silent. Tsai Mianzu stepped forward.
"Where did you get it?" she asked, her voice soft but sharp.
Sixie looked at Mianzu. "From the Silent God Valley. We fell into an old cave. This ring was in the middle of the roots of a dead tree... but it felt alive."
Jian Lode continued, "There was a flow of energy in those roots. And this ring... feels like it is sleeping."
Kunren stared deeply at the ring. "A sleeping ring... means it is waiting for its owner. But not every owner... can control it."
Mianzu narrowed her eyes. "I have seen this symbol before... in an old scroll at the Jing Mountain Pavilion. This is no ordinary ring. This... can open something."
Everyone looked at each other.
"Is it dangerous?" asked Kunren.
"I do not know," replied Sixie. "But fate may already have set its eyes on this place."
Zienxi looked at the ring once more. This time, in his heart arose a feeling... that he could not yet explain.