In a dusty corner of the ancient library, Li Yuan sat cross-legged between old wooden shelves lined with scrolls and books whose origins he no longer tried to guess.
Sunlight streamed through cracks in the worn roof, casting soft rays on his face, a face that had begun to show signs of maturity. He was only fourteen, but his thoughts ran deeper than most his age.
"How many years has it been since I first found this place…?"
He let out a quiet sigh. Book after book he had read.
Around a thousand volumes had passed from shelf to lap, and back again.
Yet before him still remained thousands more. Perhaps five thousand, or even more.
The world within those pages had shaped his thoughts, and molded his heart.
That day, he reached for a random book. The cover was worn, its color faded, and the ancient script barely legible. But as he opened it, a single sentence struck his mind like a gentle yet firm wind:
"With strength, peace can be forged.
Do not lose your wisdom.
With age comes insight.
But the young may stray if they do not first learn wisdom."
Li Yuan fell silent.
The words echoed within him.
He thought of his training. Of how his body had changed, and how his mind had grown alongside it.
"What does it mean to be strong… if the heart becomes rigid?"
"What meaning is there in victory… if those who are defeated learn nothing from it?"
In this world, Qi had not yet awakened.
But he understood, a calm soul and a deep mind could surpass physical might.
He closed the book gently, then stood.
Those old shelves, once a place of quiet escape, had become silent teachers, guiding him in their own way.
"I want to be strong… but not just for battle.
I want to become someone who understands this world.
And protect it, if one day, it begins to change."
The morning sun shone gently on the small village, its rays illuminating faces filled with hope, doubt, and deep emotion. Today, three young men who had grown up together would leave their village, heading toward a new place, a new journey, and a destiny yet to be revealed.
In the yard of an old wooden house, Li Yuan stood before his father, Li Haoming, a simple man, but one with a deep heart. Silence lingered for a moment before the father placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder.
"Li Yuan… Don't fall into darkness. Strength is good, but without direction, it can become disaster."
"Whatever you achieve, remember to remain a person with heart."
"I'm proud of you."
Li Yuan lowered his head, his voice soft, "I won't let you down, Father."
Elsewhere in the village, Mu Yi stood before his thin, stubborn yet loving father, a merchant through and through. They didn't speak much. Mu Yi scratched his head, then let out a small laugh.
"Father, I'm going to become a student at the academy!"
"I'll write to you from the city, and bring back some nice fabric for you."
His father sighed, turning his face away so his son wouldn't see the tears welling in his eyes.
"Don't cause trouble there, you hear?"
"Take care of yourself. You're my only son…"
Fan Tu stood with red eyes before his mother. She gripped his hands tightly, unwilling to let go.
"Mother… I'll come back."
"I'll become strong… someone you can be proud of."
She nodded, even as tears fell freely down her cheeks.
"I believe in you, Tu'er... Don't forget to come home, even if just for a while."
The three of them gathered at the main road of the village. Waiting there was a horse-drawn carriage that would take them to Wuyin City, a large city, home to Qinglong Academy, a martial arts school under the patronage of the Wen Family, one of the old and respected noble families.
The man sent to retrieve them stood dressed in clean clothes, with sharp eyes and a calm demeanor. His name was Yu Shan, a representative from the academy, tasked with finding talent in remote villages.
"Get in. The journey ahead is long. But your future can begin from here."
The carriage began to move slowly, leaving the peaceful village behind, passing fields, forests, and dusty roads.
Leaving memories behind…
…to meet a new destiny.