In the southernmost lands of Vu Kingdom, beneath layers of thick, gray clouds, there lay a small town nestled beside a mountain called Thanh Ha. Beyond it stretched the vast Stone Forest, where boulders piled like waves of the sea, rolling endlessly toward the horizon.
This town was called Dinh Quang — home to barely a hundred families living humble, meager lives. Only during festivals did laughter occasionally echo through the streets; on most days, the townsfolk toiled relentlessly just to survive.
For the mortals here, Immortals were but a distant dream — to soar through the skies, to wander freely across mountains and seas. Who had never dreamed of such a life?
Yet, the spiritual energy of this land was thin, barely enough for anyone to cultivate. That dream, no matter how bright, remained forever out of reach. So the people buried their aspirations and lived out an ordinary lifetime.
Still, in every corner of the world, there were always the ambitious who refused to give up. Through power or sacrifice, they sought blessings from the Immortals — even if it meant destroying their nation's prosperity. And the small town of Dinh Quang was no exception, caught up as a mere tool in their schemes.
"How was business today?" asked Old Tu, his voice weary.
"Not much better than yesterday," sighed Madam Lam, her face tired. "Earn ten coins and three of them go straight to those arrogant tax collectors."
"I heard the king himself seeks to become an Immortal," Old Tu muttered, shaking his head. "But at what cost… who knows how much gold and silver he's already spent."
Just then, a young voice piped up:
"Why do we have to pay tribute to them?"
Old Tu turned, surprised — it was Lam Chau.
Lam Chau, an eight-year-old boy, thin and frail, with nothing remarkable about his appearance, stood beside his mother helping with the stall. He was the youngest in the Lam family; his older siblings had long since left home, leaving only him and his mother.
Since childhood, he'd been quiet, withdrawn — so much so that some villagers thought he wasn't quite normal. Yet, with those close to him, he was gentle and kind.
"Lam Chau, you're still too young to understand," Old Tu said kindly, patting the boy's head. "Common folk must obey their king — that's the way Heaven made it."
But Lam Chau, ever curious, still wasn't satisfied.
"Why must we obey them?" he asked again.
At once, Madam Lam pinched his ear and scolded him for speaking so rudely. "Watch your tongue! Now go buy some salt from the market for me!"
The boy, though young, was sharp and full of questions. His mother and the others often avoided his gaze whenever he asked something they couldn't answer.
Though it seemed like a simple question, it lingered in his mind all the way to the market. Why must we obey them? Why do they wish to become Immortals?
"Immortals…"
The word haunted him as he walked through the narrow alleys, past weary faces etched with hardship. Everyone was busy, heads bowed, living lives they believed they could never change.
Only Lam Chau stopped beneath an old tree, lifting his gaze toward the gloomy sky above.
In the boy's eyes, something began to flicker — faint yet defiant.
The first spark of rebellion… against the destiny laid upon him.