Chapter 1 - Can You Keep Me Here?

Qingshi, located in the north of the Jin Kingdom, is surrounded by green mountains and clear waters, presenting a scenery that resembles a beautiful painting.

At this moment, on a mountain path amidst this picturesque landscape, a young man in tattered clothes walked with steady steps.

This young man, named Leng Yan, was eighteen years old and a beggar from the southern part of Qingshi.

Having faced a lonely and tragic life since childhood, Leng Yan possessed an extremely strong will. At the age of eight, he stealthily entered the General’s Mansion of the Fang Family to secretly learn Martial Arts.

However, after several attempts, he was caught by the young master of the Fang Family, Fang Rui.

Although Fang Rui desired to enhance his cultivation level in Martial Arts, everyone in the mansion refrained from challenging him seriously due to his status, leaving him without a worthy opponent.

In his frustration, Fang Rui captured Leng Yan. Instead of killing him to protect the secrecy of the Fang Family’s Martial Arts, he surprisingly passed on all his knowledge to Leng Yan. However, as a condition, Leng Yan had to spar with Fang Rui every three months!

Leng Yan was neither afraid of death nor of trouble, and in his view, the benefits of this matter far outweighed the drawbacks.

Over the years, Leng Yan diligently practiced cultivation and planned his future, knowing that Fang Rui was merely using him and that once he became useless, he would face Fang Rui’s wrath.

To hone his skills, Leng Yan even joined the assassin organization Red Leaf, where he trained at the edge of life and death while earning money and Primordial Spirit Elixirs.

After ten years of hardships, Leng Yan finally advanced through the Physical Body Realm to the Divine Valor Realm, making him a master in his own right.

Today, it was time for another spar with Fang Rui, and Leng Yan knew it would be their last. He had learned that Fang Rui’s family had secured him an entry into the Jin Sect, a cultivation sect of the Jin Kingdom where one could learn magical techniques and achieve feats like flying.

Fang Rui was leaving, and what he likely intended was to eliminate Leng Yan to protect the Fang Family’s Martial Arts heritage.

Walking on the mountain path, Leng Yan felt no fear; instead, excitement filled his heart.

If he lived today, he would no longer be under anyone’s control; if he died, it would be a glorious end!

On Huijian Peak of Qingscreen Mountain, Leng Yan stood opposite a young man in a white robe, who held a sharp sword with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. This person was Fang Rui!

Fang Rui was extremely handsome, with a heroic spark in his eyes and a subtle, comforting smile on his lips.

However, outsiders were unaware of his ruthless heart and deep cunning, marking him as no ordinary man!

Leng Yan smoothed his tattered clothes, his face streaked with dust, creating a stark contrast between the two.

“Leng Yan, you’re always so punctual. Actually, you should have come later today! That way, you could have lived a bit longer.” Fang Rui’s smile widened as his palm wiped the blade of his sword.

Brushing the dust from his ragged clothes, Leng Yan appeared nonchalant. He coughed as if choked by the dust, frowning, “Today marks our final showdown. Arriving late would seem like I didn’t value it, right?” He waved his hand in front of him to clear the dust, adding, “Besides, who will win and who will lose today is still uncertain.”

“Good! Choosing you as my opponent was the best decision I’ve made! I’m eager to see how much you’ve improved over these three months!”

With a swoosh, Fang Rui’s sword danced in his hand, tracing a graceful arc through the air before thrusting towards Leng Yan.

Leng Yan looked carefree, but he was intently focused on Fang Rui. As Fang Rui made his move, Leng Yan also reacted.

Reaching towards his waist within his tattered clothes, Leng Yan suddenly drew a three-foot soft sword, meeting the attack.

The flash of swords, the back and forth between the two, saw them trembling through dozens of exchanges in an instant. Leng Yan’s soft sword, like a snake emerging from its hole, struck at Fang Rui’s vital points with each move.

Fang Rui’s footwork was mysterious, always seeming perilously close to danger yet smoothly evading.

“The Divine Valor Realm, you certainly haven’t disappointed!” Fang Rui stated as his sword moved as quick as lightning, parrying Leng Yan’s assaults while stepping back.

Leng Yan gave a slight smile, his soft sword vibrating with a buzzing sound, “Not only have I not disappointed you, but I will also leave you in disbelief!”

“Spirit Snake Entanglement!”

Leng Yan suddenly leaped forward, thrusting a palm out, sending a surge of force towards Fang Rui, who quickly dodged to the side. Immediately after, Leng Yan closed the distance, his soft sword slashing towards Fang Rui’s waist.

“How vicious!”

Fang Rui cried out in surprise, too late to fully dodge, hurriedly blocking with his sword at his side. He narrowly blocked Leng Yan’s blade.

But Leng Yan’s sword was a soft sword. Although the middle of the blade was blocked, the tip curved, slicing a tear through Fang Rui’s clothes.

Fang Rui quickly backed away, trying to escape Leng Yan’s range of attack. “Trying to leave!” Leng Yan didn’t give him a chance to breathe, infusing his soft sword with inner power, thrusting it straight at Fang Rui as if it were a hard sword.

Surprise flickered in Fang Rui’s eyes as he counter-thrusted at a tricky angle, a move that smacked of desperation!

Seeing this, a smile curled on Leng Yan’s lips, exactly the effect he wanted. Midway through, he changed his move; the soft sword buzzed, wrapping around Fang Rui’s blade like a rope, the tip even coiling towards the handle, right where Fang Rui’s right hand gripped it tightly.

“Not good!”

Fang Rui’s face blanched as he quickly let go, and Leng Yan took the opportunity to pull, flinging Fang Rui’s sword aside!

The Spirit Snake Entanglement wasn’t entwining a person’s body, but the sword itself, a move meant to disarm!

“Without your weapon, you are no match for me!” Leng Yan pointed his sword tip directly at Fang Rui and said coldly.

“True, I have lost!” Fang Rui sighed and then said, “Ever since five years ago, I have never beaten you. I thought this time I could finally redeem myself, but I have lost to you again!”

“You said this would be our last contest, I suppose even if I had won, you wouldn’t have let me leave this place alive!” Leng Yan lowered his soft sword, letting it quiver in the wind, and spoke coldly.

“Indeed, I won’t let you leave here alive. The Martial Arts you possess belong to the Fang Family, so you must die!” Fang Rui still smiled, as if he had everything under control.

Leng Yan scoffed, saying, “Call your men out!”

Fang Rui clapped his hands and laughed, saying, “Leng Yan, I really admire you. Knowing there was an ambush and still you came; I am indeed impressed by your courage!”

As Fang Rui clapped his hands, four figures leaped from behind the surrounding boulders, each wielding a steel broadsword and exuding an imposing aura, all masters of the Divine Valor Realm.

“Jackal Guard, Wolf Guard, Tiger Guard, Leopard Guard-it’s the Fang family’s Four Elite Guards! You really think highly of me!” Leng Yan said with a cold laugh.

“Respecting you is respecting myself. Today, you will stay here!” Fang Rui said sinisterly.

“Do you think they can keep me?” Leng Yan retorted, looking back at him disdainfully.

“Let’s find out. Kill him!” Fang Rui commanded.

At his command, like wild beasts, the Four Elite Guards charged at Leng Yan with their broadswords.

Leng Yan smiled, stepping back swiftly. Suddenly, he raised his right hand and pointed forward-a gesture that was a command on its own. A whistling sound of arrows tearing through the air followed.

“No good! It’s archers, fall back!” the Tiger Guard shouted, his face changing color dramatically.

The other three exhibited their remarkable skills, retreating swiftly. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Four thuds followed, and where they stood, arrows quivered in the ground, their power evident.

“Young master, there’s an ambush!” the Leopard Guard said, his face grim, addressing Fang Rui.

Fang Rui’s face was filled with rage as he glared at Leng Yan and said venomously, “No wonder you are so fearless; you had planned this all along!”

“Paths will cross again in this world; we will meet again. For now, I take my leave!” With a cold smirk, Leng Yan turned and walked toward the distant forest.

Fang Rui, his face ashen with fury and fists clenched, had set a trap to kill Leng Yan but now found himself outmaneuvered and unable to move, forced to watch as Leng Yan walked away calmly.

“Young master, what should we do?” the Tiger Guard asked quietly.

“What else can we do? I’m heading to the Jin Sect tomorrow. Tell the elder to send someone to find him; he must be killed!” Fang Rui said angrily.

At nightfall, within the confines of a dilapidated temple, Leng Yan sat atop a pile of straw, alongside a young man similarly clad in tattered clothes.

“Yan-ge¹, are you really going to seek the dao²?” This youth, named Leng Yu, had grown up with Leng Yan as brothers. Unaware of his original name, Leng Yu had been cared for by Leng Yan all his life, which led him to adopt this name for himself. Furthermore, it was Leng Yu who crafted the bows and arrows used during the day!

“Yes, I have made up my mind. Fang Rui will not let me be. Even if I manage to evade the Fang Family’s assassins, I cannot escape once Fang Rui returns from cultivating dao! Therefore, I must join the dao sect. First, to evade the assassination attempts, and second, to learn dao magic to confront Fang Rui!” Leng Yan declared. Then I will accompany you! Leng Yu said firmly.

“No! You cannot go. It’s too dangerous, and I cannot let you risk your life by following me!” Leng Yan exclaimed loudly.

“It’s precisely because it’s dangerous that I want to be with you!” Leng Yu argued.

“Are you not even going to listen to me now?” Leng Yan said, his expression darkening.

“I…”

“Enough! If you still consider me your elder brother, then find a place to settle down honestly. If I am still alive in two years, I will come to find you!” Leng Yan did not give Leng Yu another chance to speak and walked out.

On the rooftop, Leng Yan gazed at the stars above, his heart heavy with emotion. After more than a decade of relying on each other for survival, it pained him to part ways, but staying would only endanger Leng Yu.

In his hand, Leng Yan held a golden mirror, its back intricately engraved with various mythical beasts and spirits, a truly unique artifact. This mirror was the only item left to him by his father, whom he had never met. Leng Yan often held this mirror, lost in thought.

Footnote:

1. -Ge(哥):In Chinese, the term “Ge” (哥) is a respectful and affectionate way to address an older male friend, colleague, or brother.  It is often added after the person’s name to show respect and familiarity, similar to how one might use “bro” or “big brother” in English.
2. Dao(道):“Dao” is a fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy and religion, particularly in Daoism (Taoism).