The Golden Sparrow Thieves Guild was rarely solemn. Its courtyards usually rang with drunken laughter, clattering dice, and the sound of arguments over split purses. But that morning, all of it had been silenced.
The wide stone courtyard at the heart of the guild compound was packed with apprentices, each standing in uneasy rows. Their whispers buzzed like flies, but even that seemed too loud under the heavy tension that hung in the air.
Lu Mao stood near the back, one foot lazily propped against a pillar, arms behind his head as though he had stumbled into a festival rather than a gathering that could decide his future.
"So stiff," he muttered, eyes darting over the fidgeting crowd. "If everyone keeps clenching like this, the guild will need to open a stall selling laxatives."
An elbow jabbed sharply into his ribs. Yan Mei, standing properly beside him, didn't turn her head.
"Shut up. You don't want attention for the wrong reasons."
Lu Mao winced dramatically. "Wrong reasons? Mei, I specialize only in the best reasons."
Her lips twitched almost a smile but she quickly masked it, keeping her gaze forward.
On his other side stood Li Xian, their senior. She adjusted the crimson sash at her waist, tall frame radiating calm command. Among dozens of apprentices, she was impossible to miss every step measured, every glance cool, her beauty dangerous enough to disarm. The close-fitting robes she wore clung to her figure with an ease that suggested she didn't care what anyone thought, and her sharp eyes scanned the crowd like a predator bored of waiting for prey.
Lu Mao lingered on her for a moment too long. Senior Sister Xian… one look and a man forgets his coin pouch, his sword, and maybe even his surname. If this is what the Guild means by 'training with danger,' I volunteer.
A hush rippled through the courtyard.
Heavy footsteps echoed from above. Slowly, every head lifted toward the grand balcony that overlooked the gathering.
There, in simple black robes embroidered with a faint golden sparrow, stood Madam Yan Guild Leader of the Golden Sparrow Thieves Guild.
Her long hair, streaked with silver, cascaded over her shoulders, her beauty sharpened by age rather than dulled. Her presence was enough to silence even the most restless thief. It wasn't jewels or silks that made her terrifying, but the sheer weight of her aura. It pressed like a mountain on the chest of every apprentice present, reminding them that this was not some merchant matron, but a woman who had carved her throne in blood and shadow.
Her gaze swept over the assembly, pausing for the briefest of moments when it landed on Old Wu—Lu Mao's master who stood off to the side with his usual lazy posture. For a heartbeat, her expression softened. Then it was gone, replaced by a sharp coldness.
When she spoke, her voice rang clear and commanding.
"Golden Sparrows. We are born without banners, without noble names, without recognition from the great sects. We are called thieves, shadows, vermin. Yet here we stand—because we survive. Because we endure. Because where others falter, we learn to take what they guard, to escape what they chase, and to smile while the world curses our name."
A murmur of agreement swept the courtyard. Apprentices straightened, eyes widening as the weight of her words pressed into their bones.
"For generations, this guild has thrived not because we are the strongest, but because we are the cleverest. But cleverness without discipline is like a blade without edge—it will snap the moment it strikes steel. Today, we sharpen our blades. Today, we see which of you have wings strong enough to take flight."
Lu Mao leaned sideways toward Yan Mei, whispering, "She's good. Almost makes me want to work hard."
"Almost?" Yan Mei hissed.
Madam Yan raised her hand, and silence fell instantly.
"Some of you will remain here. You are not yet ready to step beyond street tricks. A few of you, however, will leave today and join the Outer Sect of the Golden Sparrows. There, your wits, blades, and lives will be tested. Fail, and you will be forgotten. Succeed… and the treasures of this world will no longer be beyond your reach."
Excited whispers broke out. Lu Mao's eyes gleamed. Outer Sect? That sounds like a proper sect already. Maybe they even have free food. Rice cakes, perhaps.
Names began to be called. One by one, apprentices stepped forward, some with pride, others with fear.
Then
"Lu Mao."
The boy blinked, straightened, and stepped forward, scratching his cheek. "Eh? Me? Guess someone recognizes talent."
A ripple of chuckles stirred through the ranks, but it died instantly when Madam Yan's gaze pinned him like a nail. For one suffocating heartbeat, Lu Mao felt the weight of a mountain press against his chest. Then she moved on.
By the end, only a handful stood forward: Yan Mei, Lu Mao, two boys of similar age Chen Yuan, wiry and sharp-eyed, and Bao Fu, broad-shouldered and quiet and finally Li Xian, towering behind them as their appointed senior.
The rest were dismissed, bitterness and disappointment painting their faces as they shuffled away.
Madam Yan's final words echoed like steel.
"Chosen Sparrows remember this. Your first flight is never your last. Every shadow hides an opportunity. Seize it."
She turned, vanishing into the guild halls, her robes trailing behind her like flowing ink.
By afternoon, the chosen gathered at the gates.
Li Xian led the way, her crimson sash swaying with each step, her posture exuding easy authority. Yan Mei walked silently at her side, while Chen Yuan and Bao Fu followed closely, their nerves written plainly on their faces. Lu Mao, naturally, filled the air with chatter.
"So, Senior Sister," he said, hands behind his head, "this Outer Sect—do they really hand out spirit stones as snacks? I heard cultivator sects are generous like that."
"No," Li Xian replied curtly.
"Hmm. Secret manuals, then? Maybe one on how to look intimidating while walking gracefully? You'd be the model."
Her sharp glance cut him like a dagger. "Those who talk too much on the road often lose their tongues before reaching the city."
Lu Mao blinked, then grinned. "Lucky for me, I'm excellent at escaping. My tongue's safe."
Chen Yuan snorted before quickly stifling his laugh when Li Xian's eyes flickered toward him. Bao Fu muttered, "You'll get yourself killed."
The road wound through valleys, forests, and ridges until, by afternoon, a vast city appeared at the foot of a towering black mountain.
It was like no city Lu Mao had ever seen.
The Black Market City sprawled like a coiled serpent, its outer walls bristling with mercenary guards whose eyes gleamed with hidden killing intent. Flags bearing shifting symbols hung from stalls, selling everything from bloodstained daggers to shimmering spirit robes. The air reeked of incense, roasted meats, and treachery.
Lu Mao's jaw dropped. "Beautiful. So much treasure in one place. I think I'm in love."
Yan Mei smacked the back of his head. "Don't touch anything."
"Touch? I was just admiring," Lu Mao protested, rubbing his head. "My eyes are clean. Mostly."
Li Xian led them deeper, explaining as they walked.
"The outer city is where new disciples live and train. Here, you will earn your keep with missions, thefts, and survival. Beyond the black stone gates lies the inner city, home of senior disciples who have proven their worth. And above all…" She raised her chin toward the towering mountain, its peak veiled in clouds. "The Guild Masters. Few ever climb those steps."
The boys craned their necks. Bao Fu swallowed hard. Chen Yuan's face tightened. Yan Mei's gaze remained steady.
Lu Mao grinned. "Looks cozy. So… when do we start stealing from the inner city?"
Li Xian's glare promised pain. "Try it, and you'll vanish without a trace."
They reached a courtyard near the outer city's gates, where disciples trained in sparring circles and merchants hawked goods. Li Xian stopped and turned to face them, her eyes gleaming with challenge.
"Your first task is simple," she said. "Find your own lodging. The sect does not hand you homes you must earn them. Each of you will steal enough before evening to pay for your accommodation. If you fail, or if you are caught, you will be expelled immediately."
The boys froze.
Yan Mei blinked, surprised. "Even the chosen…?"
Li Xian's lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Especially the chosen."
Lu Mao's eyes lit up. "So… we just have to rob someone? Finally, something I'm good at."
Chen Yuan muttered, "This is insane."
Bao Fu clenched his fists.
Li Xian turned, walking away with her long strides. Over her shoulder, her voice drifted back:
"Evening. Return with your tales… or don't return at all."
The apprentices exchanged glances.
Lu Mao stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Well, looks like dinner's on me tonight."
He tilted his head, eyes sparkling at the bustling crowd. The city pulsed with opportunity.
Time to show them who's clever enough to survive.