The first thing Tiān È ever saw was fire.
Not the warm flame of a lantern.
Not the quiet glow of a hearth.
The entire Tiān estate was burning.
Three hours before his birth, Commander Tiān Zhèngwǔ stood on the eastern wall of the family compound with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Below him, guards moved through the courtyards in ordered formations.
No one shouted.
No one panicked.
Zhèngwǔ did not allow panic in his household.
"Second unit."
"Present!"
"Seal the eastern gate."
"Yes, Commander!"
"Third unit."
"Present!"
"Move the younger servants to the underground shelter. No one leaves alone."
"Yes, Commander!"
His orders were short.
Cold.
Precise.
Anyone seeing him for the first time would have thought he felt nothing.
But the fingers around his sword hilt had not relaxed for hours.
A young officer approached carefully.
"Commander."
Zhèngwǔ did not turn.
"Speak."
"The physician says Lady Róuxīn may give birth tonight."
"I know."
"The divination hall also sent another warning."
That finally made him look over.
"What warning?"
The officer hesitated.
"The flame pattern appeared again."
Zhèngwǔ's expression hardened.
Months ago, when his wife's pregnancy had entered its final stage, every diviner brought to the estate had seen something different.
Some saw fire.
Some saw blood.
Some saw a blazing sun rising from ruins.
One old diviner had refused payment after examining the unborn child.
He had looked directly at Zhèngwǔ and said:
"Your son carries fortune greater than kings."
Then his face had gone pale.
"And calamity great enough to bury a household."
Zhèngwǔ had nearly thrown him out personally.
He did not believe in allowing prophecy to decide a man's life.
But he had doubled the guards anyway.
"Where?" Zhèngwǔ asked.
"The western sky."
He looked toward the horizon.
Nothing.
Only darkness.
Still, his hand moved from his sword to the communication talisman at his waist.
"Triple the outer patrol."
"Commander, that may alarm the family."
"Then let them be alarmed."
The officer bowed.
"Yes, Commander."
He turned to leave.
"Wait."
The officer stopped.
Zhèngwǔ spoke without looking at him.
"If anything happens tonight, the inner residence is the priority."
The officer understood immediately.
"Lady Róuxīn?"
"And the child."
The officer smiled faintly.
"You could simply say you are worried."
Zhèngwǔ slowly turned his head.
The officer immediately straightened.
"I will increase the patrol."
"Do that."
He fled.
Zhèngwǔ watched him disappear before muttering under his breath,
"Too much talking."
A soft laugh came from behind him.
He froze.
Only one person in the Tiān household laughed at him like that.
Tiān Róuxīn stood beneath the archway leading onto the wall.
Her pregnancy was obvious beneath her pale robes.
Two maids followed anxiously behind her.
Zhèngwǔ's face darkened immediately.
"Why are you outside?"
Róuxīn smiled.
"Good evening to you too, husband."
"You should be resting."
"I have rested."
"You walked up forty-three stone steps."
"Were you counting?"
"Yes."
Her smile widened.
Zhèngwǔ sighed.
He walked toward her and offered his arm without another word.
She took it.
For a few moments they stood together overlooking the estate.
Lanterns glowed between tiled roofs.
Servants crossed courtyards.
Guards patrolled the walls.
The Tiān household was not one of the greatest powers of the continent.
But it was respected.
Its guards were disciplined.
Its servants were paid properly.
Merchants travelling through Tiān territory could sleep without fearing bandits.
Zhèngwǔ demanded obedience from everyone under his banner.
In return, he considered every life beneath that banner his responsibility.
Róuxīn looked at him.
"You're worried."
"No."
"You doubled the night watch."
"Standard caution."
"You moved three squads closer to our residence."
"Efficient deployment."
"You also threatened the physician this morning."
"He was late."
"He was late by three breaths."
"Three breaths are still late."
Róuxīn laughed again.
Zhèngwǔ frowned.
She rested her head briefly against his shoulder.
"You will frighten our son."
"He will learn discipline."
"He hasn't been born yet."
"Then he has time to prepare."
She gave him a look.
Zhèngwǔ's expression remained completely serious.
Then, very carefully, he placed his palm against her stomach.
Something moved beneath his hand.
His eyes changed.
Only slightly.
Róuxīn noticed.
She always did.
"Scared?"
"No."
"Our son just kicked you."
"A poor stance."
She almost laughed hard enough to lose her balance.
Zhèngwǔ caught her immediately.
"You see?" she said. "Commander Tiān can face three hundred soldiers without blinking, but one unborn child already defeats him."
"The soldiers follow orders."
"Then perhaps our son outranks you."
Zhèngwǔ said nothing.
But his hand remained over her stomach.
For that single moment, the estate was peaceful.
Then the western bell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Zhèngwǔ's hand left Róuxīn instantly.
A guard appeared below the wall.
"COMMANDER!"
"What happened?"
"Fire in the western residence!"
Zhèngwǔ's eyes sharpened.
"How large?"
Before the guard could answer, orange light rose behind the rooftops.
Then another building caught fire.
Then another.
Too fast.
Far too fast.
Zhèngwǔ drew his sword.
"Escort Lady Róuxīn to the birthing chamber."
Róuxīn grabbed his sleeve.
"Zhèngwǔ."
He looked at her.
For once, the commander disappeared from his face.
Only her husband remained.
"Go."
"What about you?"
"I will handle it."
She knew what that meant.
He saw the understanding in her eyes.
Neither of them said the word goodbye.
Róuxīn simply reached up and touched his face.
"Come back."
Zhèngwǔ covered her hand with his.
"I will."
It was the only promise he made that night that he would fail to keep.
The fire spread against the wind.
Water did nothing.
Formation barriers shattered.
Spiritual rain evaporated before reaching the roofs.
By midnight, half the Tiān estate was engulfed.
Zhèngwǔ stood in the central courtyard surrounded by bodies.
Some belonged to attackers.
Some belonged to Tiān guards.
His armour was broken across one shoulder.
Blood ran down the side of his face.
His sword was chipped in three places.
Still, he remained standing.
"Commander!"
A wounded guard stumbled toward him.
"The western gate has fallen."
"How many enemies?"
"We don't know."
Zhèngwǔ's jaw tightened.
That was the worst answer.
These were not ordinary raiders.
Their faces were covered.
Their robes carried no insignia.
They attacked the estate from multiple directions at the exact moment the strange fire appeared.
This was planned.
And whoever planned it did not want to be identified.
"Withdraw the surviving guards to the inner residence."
"But Commander—"
"Now."
The guard hesitated.
"What about you?"
Zhèngwǔ looked toward the burning western courtyard.
Shadows were moving through the flames.
Coming closer.
"I said withdraw."
The guard bowed deeply.
"Yes, Commander."
Zhèngwǔ stood alone.
Then he raised his sword.
"Tiān household guard!"
Across the estate, scattered voices answered.
"PRESENT!"
"Protect the inner residence."
"YES, COMMANDER!"
A masked figure stepped through the fire.
Then another.
Then twelve more.
Zhèngwǔ rolled his shoulders.
"You chose a poor night to enter my home."
One attacker raised his blade.
"You cannot protect them."
Zhèngwǔ's eyes turned cold.
"Come test that."
They moved.
Inside the birthing chamber, Róuxīn screamed.
The physician wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Again, my lady!"
Another explosion shook the room.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
A maid rushed to the window.
"Lady Róuxīn…"
Róuxīn gripped the sheets.
"What?"
"The fire has reached the inner courtyard."
For a moment, fear appeared in her eyes.
Not for herself.
"Zhèngwǔ?"
No one answered.
She understood.
Her breathing trembled.
Then she closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, the fear was gone.
"My child."
The physician nodded.
"Yes."
"Bring him into this world."
Outside, Zhèngwǔ cut down the seventh attacker.
His left arm no longer moved properly.
Two ribs were broken.
Blood filled his mouth every time he breathed.
Still, he did not retreat.
Behind him stood the door to the inner residence.
Beyond that door was his wife.
Beyond that door was his son.
One masked man stared at him.
"You are dying."
Zhèngwǔ spat blood onto the stone.
"Then you should hurry."
The attacker frowned.
Zhèngwǔ smiled for the first time that night.
"My son dislikes waiting."
Then he attacked.
The child cried.
Every flame in the estate turned white.
For one breath, the world became completely silent.
Róuxīn stared at the newborn placed in her arms.
A boy.
Tiny.
Alive.
His eyes were already open.
Dark eyes stared up at her.
Too calm.
Too focused.
As though he were trying to understand her face.
The physician whispered,
"My lady…"
Róuxīn barely heard him.
She touched the child's cheek.
"Tiān È."
The physician blinked.
"His name?"
"Yes."
She smiled.
"My Tiān È."
The child's fingers closed around hers.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Outside, another explosion shook the chamber.
The door trembled.
The maid screamed.
Róuxīn pulled Tiān È closer.
"Listen to me."
The physician looked at her.
"My lady?"
"The underground passage."
His face changed.
"No."
"Take him."
"We can still move you as well."
Róuxīn looked toward the door.
The protective inscriptions carved into the wood had begun glowing red.
"There isn't enough time."
"My lady—"
"Take my son."
The maid fell to her knees.
"No…"
Róuxīn looked at her.
Her voice remained gentle.
That somehow made it worse.
"You have served me for eleven years."
The maid cried silently.
"Then serve me one last time."
Róuxīn placed Tiān È into her arms.
"Make sure he sees tomorrow."
The maid clutched the child to her chest.
Róuxīn leaned forward and kissed her son's forehead.
Tiān È stared at her.
His infant mind could not understand death.
Could not understand war.
Could not understand why this woman's heartbeat was so fast.
But something inside him was already different.
Her face.
Her voice.
Her scent.
The warmth of her hands.
Everything entered his mind with impossible clarity.
Róuxīn smiled through her tears.
"My little È."
Her fingers brushed his cheek.
"Live."
The stone door to the underground passage opened.
The maid ran.
Tiān È continued looking back.
For the final time, he saw his mother sitting beside the bed.
White fire appeared behind her.
The hidden door closed.
The tunnel shook.
The maid ran while carrying him.
A physician followed.
Two guards came behind them.
Above, the Tiān estate collapsed.
Then Tiān È heard something.
A sound far behind them.
A sword striking stone.
Then another.
Then a voice.
Deep.
Severe.
Familiar, though he had heard it only once while still inside his mother's womb.
"MOVE!"
Zhèngwǔ.
The tunnel entrance exploded.
One wounded figure stepped through the smoke.
His armour was covered in blood.
His sword was broken.
Tiān Zhèngwǔ.
The maid stopped.
"Commander!"
"Why did you stop?"
He looked at the child in her arms.
For the first time, father and son saw each other.
Tiān È stared at him.
Zhèngwǔ stared back.
Neither spoke.
The commander walked closer.
He touched two fingers to the child's forehead.
His hand was covered in blood.
"Tiān È."
The maid nodded.
"Lady Róuxīn named him."
Zhèngwǔ closed his eyes briefly.
When he opened them again, the commander had returned.
"How far to the exit?"
"Less than half a mile."
"Good."
He turned around.
The physician stared at him.
"You're coming with us."
"No."
"Commander—"
"They are behind me."
The physician went silent.
Zhèngwǔ looked once more at his son.
Then at the maid.
"Take him away."
She cried.
"Commander…"
"If he asks about us someday…"
Zhèngwǔ paused.
He had faced armies more easily than this sentence.
Finally he said,
"Tell him his mother loved him."
The maid nodded.
"And you?"
Zhèngwǔ looked toward the darkness behind them.
His grip tightened around his broken sword.
"Tell him his father expected him to stand straight."
Despite everything, the physician laughed once.
Zhèngwǔ looked back.
"And tell him…"
His voice became quieter.
"…that he was never unwanted."
Footsteps echoed through the tunnel.
Enemies.
Many.
Zhèngwǔ turned away.
"Go."
They ran.
Tiān È watched his father become smaller behind them.
The last thing he saw was Commander Tiān Zhèngwǔ standing alone in the tunnel.
Broken sword raised.
Back straight.
Waiting for the enemy.
Then darkness separated them forever.
The tunnel collapsed behind the survivors.
The physician died beneath falling stone.
One guard died protecting the maid.
At the final exit, masked men were waiting.
The last guard fell.
The maid was struck.
Tiān È rolled from her arms and landed on the ground.
A masked man raised his sword over the newborn.
Tiān È looked at the blade.
Something inside his mind awakened.
The world slowed.
Not truly.
Only to him.
The man's wrist.
His shoulder.
The angle of the sword.
The distance.
The falling dust.
Everything separated into pieces.
Information.
Patterns.
Movement.
His infant mind processed them faster and faster.
Then pain tore through his head.
He screamed.
The blade descended.
The world vanished.
Tiān È opened his eyes beneath a sky filled with pale stars.
There was no tunnel.
No blood.
No killer.
He lay upon a black surface stretching endlessly into darkness.
Far ahead stood shelves.
Countless shelves.
Books.
Scrolls.
Jade slips.
Stone tablets.
An endless library disappearing beyond sight.
And farther still stood a single white flame.
Frozen.
Silent.
The same fire that had consumed the Tiān family.
Then words appeared directly inside his consciousness.
CALAMITY COMPLETED.
Another line appeared.
EXTREME FORTUNE BORN.
Then everything disappeared.
When Tiān È opened his eyes again, morning had come.
He was wrapped in rough cloth inside a wooden cart.
Two men sat at the front.
"That's him?"
"So they say."
"The Tiān child?"
"The last one."
A pause.
"What are the orders?"
"Remove him from the mainland."
"Where?"
The second man glanced back at the newborn.
"To the Last Island."
The first man laughed.
"That place?"
"Yes."
"No clan. No sect. No future."
The cart began moving.
"That is basically a death sentence."
Neither man noticed the child watching them.
Tiān È could not understand their words.
He did not know what the Last Island was.
He did not understand why his home had disappeared.
But his abnormal mind had preserved two faces perfectly.
A woman with warm eyes whispering:
Live.
And a blood-covered man standing alone with a broken sword.
Stand straight.
The wooden cart rolled toward the edge of the known world.
Behind it, smoke continued rising from what remained of the Tiān estate.
Ahead waited exile.
And somewhere beyond everything Tiān È could yet imagine, fate had already begun moving again.
End of Chapter 1