The sun beat down on the dusty courtyard, casting a worn, golden glow over the crumbling tiles and the lone figure sweeping them. Lin Feng's movements were mechanical, his eyes fixed on the ground as he pushed the broom with a rhythmic whoosh-whoosh. The air was thick with the scent of decay and neglect.
The Azure Dragon Clan's outer courtyard was a far cry from the grandeur its name suggested. The once-majestic dragon statues now stood worn and faded, their eyes seeming to gaze down with a mixture of disappointment and disdain. The clan's inner disciples and elders lived in the more luxurious inner courtyard, hidden behind intricately carved wooden gates and guarded by formidable cultivators.
Lin Feng was just an orphan, a lowly servant tasked with keeping the outer courtyard clean. He'd grown accustomed to the monotony of his life, the drudgery a familiar comfort. At least here, he had a roof over his head and food in his belly.
As he swept, Lin Feng's mind wandered to the upcoming monthly allocation of resources. He hoped to receive a few extra spirit stones, enough to purchase some decent medicine for Elder Liu, who'd been ailing for months. The old man had taken Lin Feng under his wing, teaching him the basics of cultivation and reading.
The sound of approaching footsteps broke Lin Feng's reverie. He glanced up to see a group of inner disciples, their clothes adorned with the Azure Dragon Clan's emblem, walking toward the inner courtyard. They were laughing and chatting, their voices carrying on the wind. Lin Feng recognized one of them, a young woman named Liu Yunxia, who'd been kind to him in the past.
As they approached, Liu Yunxia's gaze met Lin Feng's, and she nodded slightly in greeting. The others barely acknowledged him, their eyes passing over him like he was a piece of furniture. Lin Feng returned to sweeping, watching from the corner of his eye as they entered the inner courtyard.
The sound of their laughter and chatter faded, replaced by the distant hum of cultivation and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. Lin Feng's thoughts turned to his own cultivation. He'd been trying to break through to the first level of the Azure Dragon Clan's cultivation technique, the "Dragon's Breath," but so far, he'd made little progress.
Just as he was about to take a short break, a loud shout echoed from the inner courtyard. "Lin Feng! Report to Elder Wang's quarters immediately!"
Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. What could Elder Wang want with him? He leaned the broom against the wall and hurried toward the inner courtyard, his mind racing with possibilities.
As he entered the inner courtyard, Lin Feng was struck by the intricate carvings and murals adorning the walls. He'd never been this far in before, and the grandeur was both breathtaking and intimidating. He approached Elder Wang's quarters, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.
"Enter," a gruff voice called out.
Lin Feng pushed open the door and bowed. "Greetings, Elder Wang. You summoned me?"
Elder Wang, a stern-looking old man with a long white beard, looked him up and down before gesturing for Lin Feng to approach. "Lin Feng, I've been looking for you. You have a... visitor."
Lin Feng's confusion deepened as a figure emerged from the shadows. Tall, with piercing green eyes and jet-black hair, the stranger wore clothes that seemed to shimmer and glow in the dim light.
"Ah, Lin Feng," the stranger said, their voice low and husky. "It's been a long time. You don't recognize me?"
Lin Feng's mind went blank. Who was this person, and why did they seem to know him?
The stranger's gaze locked onto Lin Feng's, and he felt a strange sensation, like his very soul was being probed. Suddenly, visions flooded his mind – memories of a life he'd never known, of power and glory, of people and places he'd never seen.
The world around him began to spin, and Lin Feng stumbled backward, his eyes wide with shock and confusion.
"You're... you're not who I thought you were," the stranger said, their voice dripping with a mix of surprise and menace. "You're... the reincarnation of..."
The words hung in the air, unfinished, as the door slammed shut behind Lin Feng, and everything went black.
To Be Continued...