Chapter 3: First Steps into the Village
The morning sun rose slowly over Willow Brook Village, casting warm light over the bamboo trees and the winding paths between the houses. Ashen blinked his golden eyes, taking in the quiet village around him. He sat up slowly on the blanket where the Han family had let him rest.
Lian, the boy who had carried him from the river, was standing nearby, his blue robe marked with the Azure Sky Sect emblem. He looked calm and polite, like someone used to thinking before acting.
"This is my home," Lian said softly. "I'm Lian, a disciple of the Azure Sky Sect. That's my father and mother there, and my little sister Lina."
Ashen nodded slightly, bowing his head. "Thank you… for saving me. I shouldn't have caused so much trouble. I will leave soon."
Mei Han, Lian's mother, shook her head. "No, you should rest here a little longer. You've been through a lot."
Ashen hesitated. "I will stay… but only for a little. If I decide to stay forever, I will. But for now, I don't want to be a burden."
Lina, Lian's little sister, smiled brightly and stepped closer. "You don't have to worry about that! You can stay as long as you want… if you want to."
The family looked at Ashen with quiet curiosity. Jiro Han, Lian's father, asked carefully, "How did you end up by the river, boy?"
Ashen shook his head. "I… I don't remember. I'm… an orphan," he admitted softly, staring at his hands. Sometimes he muttered quietly to himself, lost in thought.
He looked at Elder Rian, who had been watching quietly from the corner. "What… is this world?" he asked.
Elder Rian frowned, puzzled by the question. "This… world? I… I don't understand, boy. Why do you call it that?"
Ashen turned back to Lian. "You said you are a disciple of a sect. What… is a sect?"
Lian paused, then explained patiently. "A sect is a place where people train in martial arts. We learn to control our Qi and become stronger. My goal is to grow stronger and serve my sect with honor, to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
Ashen listened quietly, then thought to himself. I am… in a Murim world.
Lina, noticing his curiosity, offered, "If you want, I can show you around the village. There's a lot to see, and it's not far from here."
Ashen looked at her and nodded. He followed her out into the village, quietly taking in the sights. People moved with a natural rhythm, some practicing simple martial stances, others carrying baskets or tending to animals. He noticed a faint hum of Qi in their movements — small, gentle, but present.
"This village… it feels different," Ashen thought. "Calm… alive… yet strange. What does it have to offer?"
As the sun rose higher, Ashen walked beside Lina, exploring the village for the first time. Though he had no answers yet, a small spark of curiosity flickered inside him. For now, he would observe, learn, and rest. The Han family respected his presence, though Elder Rian still watched him carefully, sensing something unusual — a presence that did not belong entirely to this world.