--FIRST GLIMPSES OF GREENLEAF
The streets of Greenleaf City pulsed with life. Lanterns swung gently above narrow alleys, merchants shouted over one another, and the clatter of carts echoed through the stone-paved roads. Yet beneath the bustle, Lei Wei felt something else—threads of energy, faint and hidden, weaving between the people.
Elder Yun's hand rested lightly on his staff. "The city is not just walls and shops," he said, voice low. "Every action, every glance, every whisper carries weight. Cultivators are here—some openly, others hidden. Strength shows, but subtlety hides power where you cannot see it."
Lei Wei glanced around, trying to sense what the elder meant. He noticed a man helping a child across the street. Something flickered in the man's aura—quick, disciplined, but faint. A Spirit Seed Stage cultivator, mid-level, moving cautiously, unaware that the boy watching him could perceive him.
Beside him, the Silverflame pup trotted quietly, ears twitching at every sound. Its small form seemed unremarkable, yet Lei Wei could feel the faint heartbeat of its dormant power, like a star dimly glowing under a cloudy sky.
---
A Lesson in Observation
"The first rule in the outside world," Elder Yun continued, "is to see without being seen. Learn to read strength, to gauge intent. A cultivator at Veinforge Stage may look like any other merchant. A Coreglow may hide behind a mask of humility. And all of them are watching. Always watching."
Lei Wei swallowed, realizing how different this world was. It was not just survival by force; it was survival by awareness.
A woman passed close by, carrying herbs. Her aura was thin, fragile—Mortal Stage, early. Yet her eyes flicked to him briefly, and he felt the smallest ripple in his awareness. Elder Yun's hand tapped his shoulder.
"Notice that? Even the weakest have instincts. Even those at the earliest stages of cultivation feel something is off. Never underestimate any presence."
The Silverflame pup padded at his side, quiet, alert. Though it could not yet display its full strength, Lei Wei sensed its vigilance as if it shared his every thought.
---
The Path to the Heart of the City
They followed Elder Yun through narrow lanes until the marketplace opened into a central square. Smoke drifted from blacksmiths' forges, the clang of metal ringing alongside the hum of merchants. In every corner, Lei Wei caught glimpses of cultivated men and women—some practicing subtle qi manipulations in their daily tasks, others merely walking among the crowd, hiding skill behind ordinary motions.
"Greenleaf City," Elder Yun murmured, "may be small, but it is a hub. Traders, sect disciples, wandering cultivators… opportunities and dangers mingle freely here. Remember, power without caution draws attention, and even a suppressed presence can attract enemies."
Lei Wei nodded. The memory of Willowmist's destruction lingered in his chest. This city felt alive, but he sensed danger lurking just beneath the surface.
---
Nightfall Approaches
As the day waned, they reached a modest inn near the central square. Elder Yun inspected the place with careful eyes, noting wards etched in subtle patterns—protection against spirits and minor cultivators.
"This will suffice for tonight," he said. "Rest, observe, and remain discreet. Tomorrow, we begin in earnest."
Lei Wei placed the Silverflame pup gently on the floor. It sniffed the air, aware of faint energy signatures nearby—threads of life and qi intermingling in a way that only a creature of its bloodline could perceive.
For Lei Wei, the weight of his own power pressed against him faintly, a reminder of the fragment sleeping deep within. THUM. Quiet. Dormant. Watching. Waiting.
He glanced at Elder Yun. "Tomorrow… training?"
The elder's eyes glimmered with a faint, serious light. "Yes. Control over your qi begins in small steps. Observation, restraint, discipline. Strength alone will not save you here. And soon… you will see that even the Silverflame's recovery depends on your guidance."
Lei Wei nodded. The city hummed around them, full of life and hidden threats. Every shadow, every passerby, every flicker of energy was a test waiting to unfold.
As night descended over Greenleaf City, Lei Wei clenched his fists, feeling the weight of destiny pressing in. Tomorrow, the boy who had survived a harsh battle would step further into a world far larger, far more dangerous,
And he would begin to walk the path of a cultivator—one measured step at a time.