"Li Xuan, remember to prepare the PPT for the new project next week," Manager Zhang instructed as he walked past Li Xuan's workstation.
"Okay, Manager Zhang," Li Xuan replied, rubbing his tired eyes. He glanced at the time displayed in the lower right corner of his computer; it was already eight in the evening. He stretched, arching his stiff back in his office chair.
Twenty-five-year-old Li Xuan was a senior programmer at an internet company. Aside from sitting in front of a computer, his biggest hobby was martial arts. Influenced by wuxia dramas and kung fu movies since childhood, he had consistently practiced various combat techniques and traditional martial arts. Although he wouldn't call himself a master, it was effective for keeping in shape.
"Attention colleagues, the company is organizing a visit to the ancient martial arts culture exhibition. We will meet at the city museum at 2 PM tomorrow. Please arrive on time," a notification popped up in the company's internal group.
Li Xuan's eyes lit up. He had been following this exhibition for a while. Rumor had it there were many precious ancient weapons and martial arts manuals, as well as some long-lost treasures from the martial world. As a martial arts enthusiast, he was naturally very interested.
The next afternoon, Li Xuan arrived at the city museum on time. Although it was a weekday, there were still many visitors. The exhibition hall was decorated in an ancient style, as if transporting people back to the ancient martial world.
"This is the Qinggang Sword from the Ming Dynasty, said to be made by the famous craftsman Ou Yezi..." The tour guide was explaining the origins of an ancient sword. However, Li Xuan's attention was drawn to a bronze mirror not far away.
It was an ordinary-looking antique bronze mirror, with some wear and tear around the edges, and a slightly cloudy surface. But for some reason, Li Xuan felt an indescribable sense of eeriness about it. He walked closer to take a closer look and saw some strange runes carved on the mirror frame, seemingly some kind of ancient script.
"This bronze mirror has an unknown origin; it was discovered in an ancient tomb. According to research, it's over three hundred years old. There's a legend connecting it to the ancient martial arts world, but the specifics are impossible to verify," the tour guide explained, approaching.
Li Xuan leaned in to examine the runes, trying to get a clearer look. Suddenly, his gaze met the reflection in the mirror, and he felt a wave of dizziness. The scene before him began to spin and distort, as if an invisible force was pulling him into the mirror.
"What's happening?" Li Xuan tried to step back but found he couldn't move. Ripples appeared on the mirror's surface, and some blurry images flashed within—ancient streets, people in long robes, martial arts experts leaping across rooftops...
Everything around him was spinning rapidly. Amidst the chaos, Li Xuan felt his consciousness blurring. After an unknown amount of time, when he regained awareness, he found himself lying in a forest.
"Where am I?" Li Xuan struggled to sit up, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings. Tall, ancient trees blotted out the sun, smoke curled in the distance, and the air was filled with a fresh scent, completely different from the air of a modern city.
He looked down at himself; he was still wearing his modern shirt and trousers, and his phone, wallet, and other items were still with him. But when he took out his phone, he found there was no signal.
"Could it be... I've transmigrated?" The moment this thought appeared, Li Xuan himself found it absurd. However, looking around at the scene, he couldn't find any other reasonable explanation.
While he was pondering, footsteps came from a distance. Li Xuan stood up cautiously and saw an Old Hunter with white hair and beard slowly walking over. The old man wore a coarse cloth outfit, carried a bamboo basket on his back, and leaned on a bamboo staff, looking like a woodcutter.
"Young friend, are you lost?" The old man looked at Li Xuan with bright eyes and asked in a gentle tone.
"Uh... yes." Li Xuan didn't know how to explain his situation, so he could only answer like that.
The old man sized him up, his gaze lingering on his strange clothes for a few seconds, but he didn't seem too surprised: "It's getting late. My humble abode is in the mountain hollow ahead. Why don't you rest there for the night, young friend?"
Li Xuan hesitated. In this unfamiliar environment, the old man in front of him seemed to be the most reliable person to turn to for help. Besides, although he was dressed like a hunter, there was an indescribable air about him, not like a bad person.
"Then I'll trouble you." Li Xuan cupped his hands. Although he wasn't sure if he had really traveled to ancient times, he still instinctively made a gesture in accordance with ancient etiquette.
The old man smiled and nodded, then turned and led the way. As he walked on the mountain path with his bamboo staff, his steps were steady and he didn't look old at all. Li Xuan secretly observed that the old man made no sound when he walked, obviously having good lightness skills, which further confirmed that he was not an ordinary hunter.
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After passing through a bamboo forest, a thatched hut appeared before them. In front of the hut was an open space with several wooden stakes, which looked like they were used for practicing skills. Next to the house were some vegetables and medicinal herbs, and an old well.
"Young friend, please sit down first. I'll go boil some hot water," the old man said, letting Li Xuan sit on a stone bench in the courtyard.
Li Xuan surveyed his surroundings. In the afterglow of the setting sun, distant mountains loomed, and the occasional cries of birds and beasts echoed, a stark contrast to the noise of the modern city. He took out his phone, but the screen was completely dead.
The old man soon emerged, carrying a cup of hot tea. "Young friend, it's best to put those things away, lest they attract unwanted attention."
Li Xuan was taken aback and quickly put his phone away. "Old sir, you are well-informed. May I ask what era this is?"
"The 15th Year of the Chongzhen Emperor," the old man said calmly. "You must have come from a very distant place, young friend?"
Li Xuan was startled. The 15th Year of the Chongzhen Emperor? Wasn't that the end of the Ming Dynasty? He opened his mouth, unsure how to explain his origins.
"Don't be alarmed," the old man seemed to see his confusion. "The mysteries of the heavens are profound, and strange things happen in the world all the time. Since you can come here, it must be your destiny."
Hearing the old man's words, Li Xuan calmed down. Since he was here, he would make the best of it. Rather than dwelling on how he had traveled through time, it was better to adapt to this era. Moreover, as a martial arts enthusiast, experiencing the ancient martial world firsthand was not necessarily a bad thing.
"May I ask your name, old sir?"
"My surname is Zhang. When I was traveling the martial world, people called me the Hunter of Spirits Old Man. Now that I've retired to the mountains, calling me Old Hunter is fine too." The old man said, refilling Li Xuan's teacup.
Li Xuan's heart skipped a beat. He seemed to recall the name Hunter of Spirits Old Man from some ancient texts. It was said to be a mysterious martial arts master, but the details were lost to time. He never expected to meet the actual person here.
"You have quite the skill, young friend. Are you a martial artist?" Old Hunter suddenly asked.
"I know a little about combat," Li Xuan said modestly. He had indeed learned a lot of modern combat techniques, but in front of a real martial arts master like this, they probably weren't worth mentioning.
Old Hunter nodded, "Very good. In these troubled times, it's always good to have some ability to protect yourself. If you don't mind, young friend, you can stay here for a while. I can teach you some basic skills."
Li Xuan was overjoyed and quickly stood up, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect, "Thank you very much, senior!"
"No need for formalities." Old Hunter waved his hand, "It's getting late. Go rest first. Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you some basic exercises."
Late at night, Li Xuan lay on the straw mat, recalling this bizarre day. Through the window, he could see the starry sky. It was a sight rarely seen in modern cities.
He sighed softly. He wondered if his colleagues and family back in the modern world would be worried about his disappearance. But given his current situation, he could only take things one step at a time.
The next morning, Li Xuan was roused early by the Old Hunter to begin his training. Starting with the most basic horse stance, every movement was executed with extreme precision. Although Li Xuan had a foundation in martial arts, he was quickly drenched in sweat.
"Your foundation is not bad; at least you know how to circulate your qi," the Old Hunter said. "However, your techniques are too flashy, not practical enough. Martial artists emphasize using softness to overcome hardness, deflecting a thousand pounds with just four ounces of force."
Through these past few days of interaction, Li Xuan became increasingly aware that the Old Hunter was no ordinary man. The key points he taught completely surpassed Li Xuan's understanding of martial arts, as if opening a new door.
Just as Li Xuan was gradually adapting to life there, an unexpected opportunity allowed him to embark on the true path of the martial world. On this day, the Old Hunter gave him a special task.
"There's a poison master causing trouble in town recently. Go and find out what's going on," the Old Hunter said, handing him a cloth pouch. "Here's some traveling money and some hidden weapons for defense; it should be enough."
Li Xuan took the cloth pouch, knowing that the Old Hunter was testing him. In the days they had spent together, the old man had never inquired about his origins, presumably waiting for him to prove himself.
"This disciple will go at once," he said solemnly. Although he hadn't officially become a disciple yet, the word "disciple" came from his heart.
Watching Li Xuan's departing figure as he descended the mountain, the Old Hunter was lost in thought. This mysterious young man, perhaps he was the fated person the Old Hunter had been waiting for. The martial world was turbulent, and the world was difficult. It needed more young heroes with pure hearts to come forward.
Just as Li Xuan was about to head towards the town, a burst of fighting suddenly erupted in the distance, accompanied by a woman's cry of alarm. His heart clenched, and he quickened his pace, running towards the direction of the sounds. Rounding a hillside, he saw a woman in white being besieged by three men in black.