Two weeks after awakening the Divine Dragon Flame, Shen tossed me a satchel, kicked me out of the valley, and grunted, "Survive three days in the wild. If you do, I'll consider calling you a disciple. If not… well, then you weren't worth the fire in your blood." That was his version of a blessing, apparently.
I didn't ask questions. I never do with Shen. I slung the satchel over my shoulder, strapped the dull blade across my back, and walked east. No fanfare. No goodbyes. Just me, my scars, and a fire in my palm that still didn't like being told what to do.
The path down the valley was harsh—sharp rocks, thorn vines, steep edges—but that was nothing new. I'd learned to bleed quietly. Shen said if you screamed during pain, you were letting your enemy know when to strike harder. "Grin or die," he liked to say. I preferred the grin.
By the second day, I reached Chisan Market Town, a rundown place that smelled like fried tofu and cheap sweat. The guards looked bored. The people looked busy pretending not to be poor. I passed the gate, hood up, keeping to the side. I wasn't here to make friends. I just wanted food, rest, and maybe a lead on the Stoneveil Sect.
Turns out, the town had other plans. I rounded a corner and bumped into a guy built like an ox—wide shoulders, narrow brain. I staggered slightly. He didn't. He looked down at me, clearly offended that I existed. "Watch it, rat," he growled. I shrugged and stepped around him. "Sorry. Didn't see the boulder with legs." Probably shouldn't have said that.
He shoved me hard from behind. I caught my footing, exhaled, and turned slowly. He had friends now. Three of them. One held a dagger like it was part of his personality. Another had that "I headbutt problems" look. The third just cracked his knuckles like he was paid by the sound.
"You got a death wish, kid?" Boulder-with-Legs asked. I smiled calmly. "Not today." He lunged. I sidestepped, grabbed his wrist mid-swing, and twisted. Something snapped. His scream echoed across the alley. I kicked him into a stack of crates. His friends rushed me—sloppy. I dropped one with a low sweep, flipped the dagger out of the other's hand, and planted an elbow into his jaw.
People watched from the corners. Some laughed. One old lady tossed me a steamed bun. I caught it midair, bowed slightly, and kept walking like nothing happened. If you hit fast and clean enough, people assume you're too dangerous to question. Useful trick.
I found shelter behind an abandoned shrine near the north edge of town. Cracked tiles, a crumbling Buddha statue, and just enough space to breathe. I dropped to one knee, drew my sword, and focused. Spirit energy coiled in my veins like smoke trapped in glass. The dragon inside stirred. I could feel it pressing against my ribs like a fist trying to punch its way out.
I closed my eyes and sank into my breath. Calm. Still. But right as I hit that sweet middle between focus and fire, a voice cut through the silence like a slap. "You meditate like a boar bathes—loud and clumsy." I opened one eye. A girl stood a few paces away, arms crossed, expression unimpressed. She had travel-worn boots, a chipped sword strapped to her back, and confidence written all over her smirk.
"You always insult people when they're glowing with power, or is this a special occasion?" I asked. She snorted. "You're leaking spiritual energy like a novice. Someone's going to rob you in your sleep." I stood and dusted off my robes. "Thanks for the advice, stranger." "Yan Qing," she said. "You're welcome, stranger."
She turned to leave, then paused. "If you're heading north, you should know Stoneveil Sect doesn't play nice. They take in monsters and spit out corpses." I tilted my head. "Sounds like my kind of place." She chuckled, tossed me a spirit coin, and vanished into the alley fog like she was never there.
That night, I sat on the temple rooftop, bun in one hand, sword in the other, fire curled around my wrist like a sleeping snake. I watched the stars and thought about the girl, the fight, and Shen's words—"Only pain separates fools from warriors." I wasn't afraid of pain. I welcomed it. I was already halfway broken. All that was left… was to finish the job and rebuild stronger.
Tomorrow, I'd reach Stoneveil Sect. I didn't expect a warm welcome. I wasn't looking for one. I was looking for a battlefield—somewhere to sharpen my blade, test my soul, and remind the heavens that I wasn't born just to survive. I was born to rise.