The villagers left eventually.
Not out of mercy—they simply grew bored of mocking a cripple with a broken sword. It always happen.
Ren Fei slumped onto a jagged rock, the cracked metal of his sword digging into his palm. He stared at the shimmering text hovering in front of him, refusing to disappear. He tried closing his eyes, shaking his head violently, even poking himself with the tip of the broken sword thinking he was just dreaming.
Nothing. The letters stayed, annoyingly cheerful.
[Welcome, Sect Master!]
[Main Quest: Rebuild the Azure Sky Sect.][Sub Quest: Stop looking so pitiful.]
Ren Fei coughed dryly. "Even the heavens are mocking me now."
The text pulsed, completely ignoring his sarcasm.
[First Mission: Rebuild the Main Hall.]
[Materials required: Wood (100), Stone (100).]
[Progress: 0%.]
He blinked. "…Wood? Stone? What am I, a carpenter?"
[Correction: You are Sect Master. But also… yes, you are currently Sect Carpenter.]
Ren Fei rubbed his temples.
"Fantastic. I used to fight monsters, demons, people trying to kill me. Now I'm basically a glorified handyman."
[Tip: Sect Master must start somewhere. This is a beginning.]
He groaned. "Right. Because moving rocks and sticks is how legends are born."
But since is better that doing nothing, Ren Fei stood up. The ruins of Azure Sky Sect lay just up the mountain, blackened beams jutting from the ground like broken teeth. The courtyard was a graveyard of splintered wood and ash. He could almost hear echoes of laughter they used to share with his senior brothers and sisters and sword clashes at the training ground. Memories flashed in his head—but no time for memories. Survival first.
"Stone, huh?" he muttered. "Fine. Plenty of that lying around."
He limped toward the rubble, dragging his broken sword behind him.
Ren Fei bent down and picked up a jagged chunk of rock. It was fairly heavy. He tossed it onto the courtyard. Slightly chipping with how soft it was as it slammed to the ground.
[Stone: 1/100.]
He froze. "…It counts?"
[Affirmative.]
He grabbed another.
[Stone: 2/100.]
A twitch of a smile. First time in days, he actually wanted to laughed—half at the absurdity of his situation , half at the fact that the universe acknowledged somehow acknowledge his effort.
"So this is my grand destiny. Picking up rocks. Tremble, world!"
Hours passed. Blisters bloomed on his hands. Legs ached. Sweat dripped into his eyes.
"Stone 3… stone 4… stone 17… What is this, some medieval scavenger hunt? Next step: moss? Maybe a stick for decoration."
Sun slid across the sky. By evening, he collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.
[Stone: 32/100.]
[Wood: 0/100.]
"I used to cultivate qi. Now I cultivate back pain," he muttered, cracking his stiff fingers.
He closed his eyes trying to rest his exhausted body on the concrete floor.
Suddenly he heard soft footsteps crunching over ash.
Ren Fei's eyes snapped open. Hand gripped the broken sword—more ceremonial than useful.
From the shadows of a collapsed hall came a girl. Thin, pale, tattered robes, her hair is a mess, but her eyes are sharp and unflinching. Couldn't be older than seventeen.
They stared.
Ren Fei broke the silence.
"Ghost?"
The girl replied. "Idiot."
Relief and embarrassment hit at once.
"…Right. Not a ghost."
She stepped closer, legs trembling under the squared shoulders.
"You were a disciple of Azure Sky Sect. Right?" he looked at her curious eyes.
"…Yes," he said.
"Then you're also their desciple. A survivor."
The word stuck. Heavy, but he didn't have time to dwell in the past—the system chimed.
[New Disciple Detected.]
[Congratulations, Sect Master! Population: 2.]
Ren Fei pointed. "Wait—HER?"
[Congrats. Your lonely sect has now doubled in power!]
He slapped a hand to his face.
"Marvelous. Truly terrifying. World shall tremble before our army: one cripple, one half-pint."
The girl crossed her arms. "Who are you talking to?"
"Nobody! Just… my misfortune," he muttered.
[New Quest: Train your disciple.]
[Warning: Current disciple aptitude: ??? (Status: Questionable).]
Ren Fei groaned.
"Of course. Questionable disciples for a questionable master. Perfect."
[Suggestion: Your sarcasm is noted but not helpful.]
He shot the text a glare. "Oh pardon me! Enlighten me how sarcasm helps me carry rocks and mold children into warriors."
[Response: You will learn.]
Ren Fei blinked. "Learn. Fantastic. Nothing can go wrong here."
The girl tilted her head. "Who are you talking to? What's your name?"
Ren Fei looked at her. His tattered sword in hand.
System glowing. He flashed a wry smile. "Ren Fei. Sect Master."
She snorted. "Of nothing."
[Disciple Relationship Increased: +5%]
Ren Fei blinked. "…Was that… a compliment?"
[Response: Possibly. Or it may just be her natural wit. Observation only.]
He groaned.
The girl crouched, ignoring both him and his imaginary conversations with the entity she can't see.
"You really are… weak. They said Azure Sky disciples are crazy strong…"
Ren Fei raised an eyebrow. "Thanks for pointing that out, I wasn't aware, half-pint. Really inspiring."
[Warning: Potential disciple insolence detected.]
"Of course. Just what I needed: a smart aleck for my first disciple. Perfect," he muttered, brushing off ash.
"Alright. Let's start training. You pick up a rock, I pick up a rock. We'll build our empire of rubble!"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Joking? Of course not. Lesson one: the art of stone-wielding," he said, brandishing the broken sword like it was Excalibur.
[System Note: Sect Master humor detected. Proceed with caution.]
Ren Fei muttered, "Yeah, my humor is a survival tactic. Also probably the last shred of sanity I have left."
The girl shot him with confused glances.
"What's your name?"
"Me?" the girl pointed at herself.
"I'm Lian."
"Okay Lian! You are now the first disciple of Azure Sky Sect!"
Sun dipped below the mountains, painting the ruins red. They lifted stones, exchange sarcasm until their muscles screamed.
Somewhere deep in his chest, the ember of hope glowed stronger.
Yes, the sect was tiny. Yes, the disciple was small. And yes, the work was absurd.
But for the first time in months, Ren Fei could feel it: the start of something new.
[Main Quest: Rebuild the Azure Sky Sect.]
[Current Progress: Wood: 0/100
Stone: 47/100]
Ren Fei grinned, sore back and all. "Well, system… if this is how legends are made, I guess the world better start trembling."
And, predictably, the system said nothing.