Days passed, but the village no longer felt the same. Since the arrival of the envoys from Wuyin City, a wave of whispers had swept through every corner. Children who once spent their days running through fields now sat quietly, gazing at their parents with questioning eyes.
Would they be allowed to go? Were they truly gifted enough?
In front of the village hall, elders and family heads gathered to discuss the offer.
"A martial arts school? In a big city?"
"Our children have never left the village... what if they never come back?"
"But isn't this a rare chance? The world... it's changing."
"I heard a village up north just went through a drought... maybe that change is real."
The village chief, an old man named Mr. Zhen, stroked his beard slowly. He had lived for over sixty years, and never before had envoys from a major city come in person. His eyes drifted toward the evening sky, now slowly turning red, as if sensing something ominous.
"The wind is changing direction," he murmured. "That usually means a storm is coming."
At Li Yuan's house, his father remained silent after hearing the news from his son.
"Father... if I'm chosen, may I go?" Li Yuan asked.
His father looked at the young man deeply.
"What is it you seek, Yuan'er?"
"I want to know the world. I want more than this... but not for power. I just... want to understand. And to protect."
His father gave a faint smile.
"Then you already know the answer. But don't forget this land... the place where you grew."
At Fan Tu's house, his mother clung to him tightly.
"No! I won't allow it! The world out there... it's too harsh."
But Fan Tu simply held her hand firmly.
"I want to protect you and Father. If I stay here... I'll just remain an ordinary child forever."
Meanwhile, Mu Yi responded with his usual cheer.
"If I get picked, I'll buy a golden sword and bring it home! Then I'll become the village hero!" he laughed.
But quietly, after night had fallen and everyone else was asleep, Mu Yi sat alone outside his house, gazing up at the stars.
"Mother... will I be okay if I go...?"
At the same time, strange things began to be reported by villagers.
A bird that usually nested at the top of a large tree was found dead without reason.
The river in the north suddenly dropped for a brief moment, though the season hadn't changed.
A deer wandered into the village, its body marked by unfamiliar claw wounds.
Mr. Zhen watched it all with a troubled expression.
"They say the world is changing. Perhaps not just politically... but something deeper. Something... is awakening."
Night clouds covered the moon. From the outside, the village still looked peaceful.
But within, the seeds of both anxiety and hope were beginning to grow.
Was this the beginning of something greater?
And what would happen if the village children truly stepped beyond its borders?
"Something is coming," Mr. Zhen said, eyes fixed to the east.
"And we must choose whether to remain the village we've always been or become part of the change."
That day arrived sooner than anyone expected. The normally quiet village was bustling as children and elders gathered in the central square. Amid the crowd stood a dignified middle-aged man in simple robes, and beside him a young assistant with a notebook, ready to record any standout talents.
He was Mr. Yu Shan, the official envoy from the Qinglong Academy one of the largest martial arts schools in the eastern region.
"We will evaluate not just physical strength," he announced, "but also the calmness of heart and the depth of the soul."
The young candidates lined up. Li Yuan stood among them, alongside Mu Yi and Fan Tu. All three tried to maintain steady expressions, though their hands trembled.
The first test began.
It was simple: execute basic martial arts moves punches, kicks, and stance balance.
Many participants stumbled or executed poorly. But Li Yuan, with his two years of training, moved with light steps. His movements were unremarkable, yet rhythmic and calm, like flowing water.
The second test was the gaze.
Mr. Yu Shan walked down the line, looking each youth in the eyes. One stepped back nervously. Another looked down.
When it was Li Yuan's turn, the old master locked eyes with him.
In that moment... time seemed to pause.
"Hm?" Mr. Yu Shan murmured to himself.
Li Yuan's eyes a dim gray abyss, hiding boundless depths. In his gaze, there was calm, sorrow... yet also untapped strength.
"What is this? Like staring at a starless night sky. Calm... but terrifying."
Mr. Yu Shan took a breath, momentarily caught off guard. Li Yuan bowed politely, unaware of his own effect.
The third test was sensitivity:
The youths were blindfolded and asked to detect gentle attacks from different directions. Most merely guessed at the source. But Li Yuan remained still. And then tap! he caught an attack from his left with serene reflex.
"His body isn't fast... but his heart is unwavering," whispered the scribe.
From across the square, villagers watched and murmured among themselves:
"Look it's Li Yuan... the skinny, shy boy."
"He's truly changed..."
When the trials concluded, Mr. Yu Shan called out a few names. Only three were selected:
"Mu Yi..."
"Fan Tu..."
"Li Yuan."
The crowd erupted in cheers; some wept with joy.
Li Yuan offered a small smile not from pride, but because he knew his life's path had begun to shift. Something within him had begun to stir. The world remained silent, with no Qi yet awakened but the journey toward true strength had begun.
And his eyes the abyss Mr. Yu Shan had sensed were still not fully awakened.
"I want to know where you come from, Li Yuan," Mr. Yu Shan thought, watching him from afar.