Green mountains and clear waters stretched endlessly beneath the falling sun.
A young man in a coarse robe lay beneath an old pine before a thatched cottage, his face bright as he watched the crimson horizon.
An old man in a green robe walked up and kicked him lightly.
"What are you doing lazing here? I've done all that you asked. There's a whole mountain of firewood," the young man said, pointing toward the stacked logs behind the hut.
The old man said nothing. He walked to the pile, struck a spark, and flame rose under the youth's stunned gaze.
"We leave today," the old man said. "Didn't you always want to learn the sword? The chance has come. But first, there's somewhere we must go."
Without another word, he led the youth away from the hut toward a narrow canyon.
In the gorge stood a lonely mound. The gravestone bore no inscription.
"Old man, whose grave is this?" the young man asked.
The old man looked at him quietly. "You kicked this tombstone a few times before, didn't you? Then listen well—this grave belongs to you."
The young man froze. His eyes darted between the mound and his own chest.
"That's right," the old man continued. "Fourteen years ago, I passed this place and sensed a trace of life within. I dug you out and raised you ever since."
Shock filled the youth's eyes. "You mean you didn't pick me up, Old Man Qingye… you dug me out?"
"Yes. There was the word Xu on the jade pendant at your neck. The sun was rising that day, casting the shadow of a little dragon through the clouds, so I called you Xu Xiaolong. I've delayed my journey for fourteen years; today, I must tell you everything."
Xu Xiaolong fell silent, then bowed deeplys. "Xu Xiaolong thanks you for raising me these fourteen years."
"Back then, you had a sword wound that pierced clean through your chest," the old man said, eyes calm beneath his green hood. "You survived only because a drop of Sacred Blood flowed within you. Remember this well, and never speak of it to another soul one careless word, and you'll lose your life."
His gaze deepened, like a mountain lake under dusk.
He went on, "The stone coffin you were buried in was split open by a single sword stroke. Whoever buried you must have been fleeing the strike that wounded you was from your pursuer. If you wish to uncover your past, that jade pendant around your neck is your only clue. Take it and go to the Tianyun Sect. There is an Elder Mo Han there, a man versed in deduction. Perhaps he can trace what happened fourteen years ago."
Xu Xiaolong listened silently.
"For fourteen years, I've had you soak in medicinal baths every day. The Sacred Blood in your veins has grown stronger. Continue cultivating the mental method I've passed down. As for that stubborn wish of yours to join Tianyun Sect and learn swordsmanship if it's truly in your heart to do it, then go!"
The old man's tone softened, though the lines of his face did not.
"But know this," he said. "It won't be easy to see Elder Mo Han. Without strength, you are nothing. Without merit, no one will help you. You seek the truth of your birth, yet you don't even know how you died. To live, you must first make yourself strong. At the very least, learn how to earn tomorrow's meal."
When he finished, his figure blurred into the wind and vanished among the clouds.
Xu Xiaolong stood before the lonely tomb for a long while, tracing the cold stone with his fingers.
"No matter who buried me," he muttered, "you had some nerve… burying me alive."
After a moment of silence, he turned back toward the thatched hut. He packed a few rough garments, slung them over his shoulder, and without hesitation, set off toward the mountains.
Through the wild forests, Xu Xiaolong struck down every beast that crossed his path with a single blow, even the tigers of the southern ridge.
Beyond the mountains lay the Southern Flame Province, and within it, the Tianyun Sect, the sole sword sect of the land, a holy ground for all who sought the path of the blade.
Every time the sect opened its gates for disciples, tens of thousands came to kneel in awe. Yet in the end, among them all, only one might be chosen.
The Tianyun Sect's annual apprenticeship ceremony had ended. Some left with joy; many more left with faces streaked by disappointment. Those who had failed to enter the sect drifted away in low spirits, the banners and tents returning to their quiet state.
A lone youth with a travel pack hurried up the path and stood before the sect's mountain gate. He blinked at the empty courtyard, baffled. "Why is there no one at the disciple recruitment?" he called out.
The gate disciple regarded him with thin contempt. "The apprenticeship ended yesterday. Do you expect anyone to remain?"
Hearing that, the youth slapped his forehead and cursed under his breath. He had raced all night and arrived too late. That youth was Xu Xiaolong.
"Brother, please make an exception. Just look kindly on me," Xu Xiaolong pleaded, rubbing his palms together. He had no other choice; if he could not enter the sect today, he had no chance to eat properly in the days to come.
"What makes you think you deserve an exception at Tianyun Sect? What qualifications do you have? Who are you?" the gate disciple snapped, eyes narrowing.
Xu Xiaolong's hands ran through his messy hair. He pivoted, feinted, and then struck fast, clean, without finesse: a single palm to the gate disciple's belly. The man crumpled, clutching his middle and folding like a snapped reed.
The courtyard fell into a hush. Before the gate disciple could recover, two middle-aged men emerged from inside the mountain. One of them, familiar to Xu Xiaolong, was Elder Lu Yuan. The other hurried away, calling back, "Brother Lu, please take care of my child," and vanished down the path.
Elder Lu's gaze slid to the sprawled gate disciple, then to Xu Xiaolong. "You assaulted a gate disciple?" he asked, voice even.
"He insulted me, so I hit him," Xu Xiaolong answered, taking a step back and squaring his shoulders. If Elder Lu moved to punish him, Xu Xiaolong would not be defenseless he was ready.
"It's true he cursed you first," said the middle-aged man evenly, "but striking someone at the Tianyun Sect's gate is a serious taboo. You're only a youth, so I'll let it pass this time. Tell me what brings you here?" The man huffed.
Realizing that the elder had no intent to punish him, Xu Xiaolong exhaled in relief. "I came to join Tianyun Sect. I was hoping someone might be willing to make an exception for me," he said.
The man's brows arched with faint amusement. "The apprenticeship ceremony ended yesterday. Tianyun Sect has stood for countless generations, with tens of thousands of disciples. Do you truly think I can grant exceptions so easily?"
"You should," Xu Xiaolong replied without hesitation, eyes clear. "Because one day, Tianyun Sect will be proud of me."
The elder paused, his expression unreadable. "You said… the sect will be proud of you?"
"Yes," Xu Xiaolong declared, tapping his chest once. "I, Xu Xiaolong, said it."
"Elder Lu, don't listen to this nonsense!" the bruised gate disciple cried, clutching his stomach. "Allow me to drive him away!"
Elder Lu Yuan stood silent for a long breath, then said, "The recruitment has ended, and the disciple assessments are already over. Even so, I'll give you one chance. You won't be an outer disciple, but if you're willing, you can start as a servant disciple in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall."
Xu Xiaolong's eyes lit up. "I'll do it! Why wouldn't I? A place to stay and a meal to eat good enough for today!"
Elder Lu Yuan led Xu Xiaolong through the mountain gate of Tianyun Sect and brought him to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. After a few words of explanation to the steward, he turned to leave.
Xu Xiaolong followed him out and bowed. "Elder Lu, thank you. You won't regret today's decision."
"It's not bad for you to have spirit," Elder Lu Yuan said, giving him a measured glance. "But it's not good to strike people so easily." He sighed lightly, then turned and left. Yet in his heart, he couldn't help thinking this boy was full of vitality, that was the real reason he had kept him.
Under the steward's arrangements, Xu Xiaolong was led by several servant disciples to Verdant Bamboo Peak, where the lower-disciples' quarters stood.
There were many servant disciples coming and going, but none spared him a glance. Before long, a very fat disciple tossed him a broom. "You, new one, start working!"
Xu Xiaolong caught the broom and began sweeping. Before half an hour had passed, the fat man had already scolded him several times.
After dinner, the steward divided the quarters. Xu Xiaolong noticed that the fat man had a room all to himself, while he and several others had to share a crowded chamber.
He frowned. "How do servant disciples get ranked like this? Did that fat one arrange it himself?"
The thin disciple lying on the bunk beside him turned over and said quietly, "No. He can fight. If we can't beat him, he becomes the leader. Besides, if he can keep things running, the Law Enforcers of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall are happy to let him be."
For the next two days, the fat servant Zhang Dahu kept shouting at Xu Xiaolong, his voice echoing across the yard. Xu Xiaolong grew more and more dissatisfied.
Just as he sat down to rest, Zhang Dahu stomped over. "Xu Xiaolong, go clean the Outer Sect disciples' toilets."
"I won't go. You go," Xu Xiaolong said flatly, not moving an inch.
Zhang Dahu's face darkened. "You looking for a fight?" He swung a heavy fist.
Xu Xiaolong stepped back, then lunged forward and drove his fist into Zhang Dahu's gut. The fat man folded with a grunt, and Xu Xiaolong pinned him to the ground, hammering a clean punch into his eye.
"I started from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall," he said coldly. "Nothing wrong with that!"