《Son of Heaven》


 Chapter One: Zhuge Sai

    Toward the east, on a land blanketed by rocks, sand, and grass, a strong wind howled through the plains, carrying a hint of fallen pine. The raging draft coursed over the flatlands, passing by the forests, rivers, lakes, and even traveling down the cloud-capped mountains residing in the center-most region. This gale didn¡¯t disperse until it crashed against the robust walls of Rahvin kingdom ¡ª the land of prosperity and grain.


    Armored warriors marched along the top of the walls with steady steps and staunch expressions. Their backs were as straight as a pole as they fulfilled their guarding duty, only opting to return to their stations when their shift was over. Once they were replaced, the warriors would then proceed to walk on top of the northern gate, where they could observe their flourishing country. The streets were filled with merchants selling their wares; Silk, food, weapons, ale, and other luxuries. Men and women could be seen selling other services, such as escorting, hunting, guarding, and sexual favors.


    Not only was the merchandise of Rahvin kingdom extraordinary, but the atmosphere was blissful as well. Expensive homes layered the streets of both the outer and inner sector, without a hint of discrimination. Children frailed about in the wide streets, playing with their friends or parents. Not a single man, nor woman could be spotted that was homeless, starving, or ill. It was an unprecedented golden age, one that was filled with peace and exorbitance.


    Past the outer and inner sectors, large estates and Manchurian-styled mansions circled the grand palace in the middle of the kingdom. This was where the Imperial family members and great clans called home. Unlike the rest of the nation, where it was happy and peaceful, this area was incomparably solemn and quiet. Few scions stayed inside of the expensive pavilions and even fewer nobles strolled down the roads.


    At this very moment, the morning court session was taking place. Thousands of imperial warriors stood guard in front of the palace gates while ministers of varying influence streamed in and out of the royal doors. They adorned exquisite hanfu robes and stylish hats, while some fashionable souls carried elegant hand fans with them as well. They quickly filled the innermost region of the palace, sitting down on both sides of the gigantic halls.


    Seating arrangements were allocated based on rank. The closer you sat to the emperor, the higher prestige you held within the court. Soon, all of the available seats were occupied and a eunuch stepped forward, gazing down on all of the officials and nobles. The closest to him was the Prime Minister, Grand Preceptor, Kings, Grand Dukes, Dukes, Grand scribe, and other high-level subjects.


    ¡°Court is now in session!¡± The eunuch roared, following which, a man with an overflowing aura stepped out and sat behind a thick curtain.


    ¡°His Majesty has decreed that every valid memorial should be presented if there are any concerns or important matters within or out of the kingdom. If there are no problems at this time, then withdraw!¡±


    Immediately after the shrill voice reverberated throughout the halls, a high-level official stepped forward. ¡°This lowly subject wishes to submit a memorial!¡±


    With this, the court session started and several heated debates ensued. The morning quickly passed into noon, and noon turned into the evening until finally, The Emperor waved his hands and exited the hall. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and promptly exited the palace after the departure of their undisputed ruler.


    One middle-aged man, in particular, was excessively exhausted after this court session. He loosened his collar and mumbled listlessly as he walked back toward his manor. The man passed by a few stone-paved roads and soon entered into his family estate. A wooden plaque stood on top of the house and displayed the family name in all of its splendor, ¡®Zhuge¡± indicating that it was the Zhuge clan property.


    Creak! The door creaked open and the smell of water lilies and paint instantly assaulted the middle-aged man¡¯s nostrils. He scrunched up his nose and marched through the corridors, slamming open one of the sliding doors. Rage was apparent in his eyes as he scrutinized the young man inside ¡ª the cause of the pungent smell.


    It was a young, androgynous man that appeared to be either seventeen or eighteen years of age, elegantly painting with a small brush. Potted water lilies fluttered in the breeze from the nearby window, accentuating the man¡¯s graceful appearance. Yet, none of this picturesque beauty dissipated the middle-aged minister¡¯s anger.


    ¡°You good-for-nothing boy!¡± the man growled, his chest heaving up and down, ¡°your father and mother died because of you, and now, I have to spend every single day wasting my life inside of that damned court while you paint in luxury!¡±


    The man took another step forward, pointing his figure at the young man across the room. ¡°You are coming of age soon, and as a law within the Zhuge clan, you must enter a battlefield, big or small, to bathe in the blood of battle!¡±


    Finally, the young man glanced up at his uncle. His piercing, yellow eyes peered into him as if he were a single word on the page of a book. ¡°Uncle, I am well aware of the upcoming ceremony,¡± he replied without much concern, ¡°Grandfather has already pulled a few strings and enlisted me into a small skirmish on the Gao Protectorate border, which is where my first battle will take place.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°This¡­¡± Uncle Feng muttered with an astonished look. He had never expected the old master to have already made ample preparations for this useless nephew of his. He could only snort and leave the room in response.


    Once Feng left, the young man, named Sai, continued painting on the canvas. His carefree expression and beaming smile which he had shown to Feng were nowhere to be seen. Instead, his eyes were full of apprehension. Both his father and mother had died in the last war with the Turks, Tibetans, and Arabians, rendering their once great clan to lose a majority of their prestige, and the rightful heir. His uncle was the child of an affair and tragically possessed no logistic, nor warfare capabilities, which meant he was unfit for clan leader as well, leaving only Sai to pick up the torch.


    These factors resulted in a ton of weight to be pressed down onto Sai, whom only wanted to read books and paint. He lusted for knowledge, not power nor bloodshed. His clan, which was full of generals, simply did not understand his mindset, so he was often looked at as if he were a fool.


    A deep sigh suddenly escaped from Sai¡¯s lips, ¡°there seems to be no choice, even my grandfather insists on me entering the battlefield.¡±


    Sai was young, but he was not stupid. The reason for his uneasiness regarding the battlefield was due to the extraordinarily dangerous future ahead of Rahvin kingdom. On the surface, as one of the two strongest kingdoms in the continent, it was inconceivably safe, but Sai thought otherwise. Their kingdom allowed for a stupendous amount of trade to take place from foreign merchants within their dynasty and in other kingdoms that bordered them. Here lies the problem.


    Unlike other nations, the Rahvin kingdom possessed another name, The Central Plains. They were surrounded by enemies, both powerful and weak. They required four different armies to guard the borders, and another army to defend the capital. Even if they were prosperous now, due to the reign of the current Emperor, who was unmatched in the lands, it was bound to erupt in total war soon.


    Sai read many books, studied past eras and dynasties, and observed the annals of history as they were recorded. And, utilizing the knowledge obtained from such research, he came to a rather dark conclusion. Rahvin kingdom would fall in less than twenty years, or when the current emperor died!


    He heaved another sigh as he once again reached this conclusion. But, his repressed mood and train of thought were both interrupted by the opening of the door. He glanced at the entrance and couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°Grandfather, you came,¡± he greeted with a deep and respectful bow.


    ¡°Save the pleasantries for later, boy,¡± Old Master Song replied with a chuckle, ¡°come, let us battle on the board again.¡±


    Zhuge Song cleared the nearby table and placed two boards on top of it, one was Chess and the other was Go. ¡°You will be moving with a group of heavy cavalry toward the rendezvous location in a few moons from now,¡± Song spoke while setting up the games, ¡°I have already made a few arrangements and the dangers of this mission are practically non-existent.¡±


    Sai nodded his head with a thankful expression ¡°Zhuge Sai thanks Clan Master.¡±


    Old Master Song didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he gestured for Sai to sit down, opposite from him. He moved a piece on both the Chess and Go board ¡ª he controlled white. ¡°I¡¯ll be going first,¡± he said, slyly.


    A sharp glint appeared within Sai¡¯s eyes as an air of solemnity exuded from him. It was clear that both he and his grandfather treated these silly games of most importance.


    As their soldiers battle each other on the board, Old Master Song began to converse about a few humane matters. ¡°Once you are of age, you can finally choose your inheritance,¡± he said, ¡°your father choose the great warrior, Ganji, and your mother had chosen the archer, Tomoe. We have all sorts of ancient inheritances within our clan vault, you will be allowed to enter our catacombs once you are of age.¡±


    Sai smiled and moved his piece, ¡°grandfather, this grandson means no disrespect, but you should focus on the match next time,¡± he chuckled, ¡°checkmate!¡±


    Old Master Song peered down at the two boards and squinted his eyes, ignoring Sai who quickly got up from the chair and exited the room. He was an old and talented tactician, one that had already reached the last pathway of his ancient inheritance. Not only had he led innumerable wars, but he also retired as an illustrious general.


    Yet, his grandson who could not even grow a beard was capable of defeating him in both Go and Chess. This revelation pleased him!


    ¡°Haha, our clan will never die¡­ not as long as you live, Sai,¡± Old Master Song whispered with a strange look in his eyes. No one knew what he was thinking at this moment, but a trace of sorrow permeated the room.


    ¡­


    In another part of the nation, in the West, at the Gao protectorate, an armored general was seated on top of an iron throne. A thick killing intent surrounded him as he perused through the piece of paper in his hands. Unlike the other men of Rahvin kingdom, he was at least eight feet tall, muscular, and appeared to be foreign.


    ¡°Oh? A request from War Sage Song, huh? How interesting,¡± he muttered with a playful smile on his lips.


    The protectorate general contemplated for a few moments before handing the paper to the vice general, ¡°make preparations, we don¡¯t want to offend one of the brightest relics of the past!¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    With that, the lanky and vicious-looking attendant received the letter and quickly left the room to comply with his orders. Once the door closed, a burst of loud laughter escaped from the protectorate general¡¯s mouth. ¡°To think that the old sage would be so cruel and ruthless¡­ I like it!¡±

 Chapter 2: Journey

    Right as Sai left the room, he sauntered down the corridors and deliberated about the matter regarding his future inheritance and cultivation. Once a man or woman reached the age of eighteen, both their meridians and dantian would undergo a fundamental change. It would begin to accept energy exuding from the earth, wind, fire, water, sun, moon, and stars. Not only would this energy enable the human body to strengthen itself, but it would also enhance every other bodily function as well. The only restriction that this ¡°holy¡± energy possessed was its inability to lengthen longevity. Although it could increase a practitioner¡¯s life-span to a certain extent, it certainly wasn¡¯t by much.


    Different techniques and powers were granted to the user, depending on the cultivation manual or inheritance utilized. Some gave an exorbitant amount of power over a long period of time, while others allowed for quick reward and less gain. Whether it was a scion, noble, minister, or commoner, most people wanted to find the most reliable manual possible. But, it wasn¡¯t that simple. At the end of the day, gaining strength was mainly dependent on comprehension, determination, and luck!


    Of course, there was an exception to this rule ¡ª inheritances. Ancient civilizations were home to plenty of legendary warriors, many of which dedicated their lives to cultivating and gaining strength. Yet, no matter how powerful a warrior was, the sands of time were not merciful to just anyone. Thus, these ancient warriors would inscribe books with their very own soul, cultivation, and even techniques. When inherited, the lucky man or woman¡¯s body would slightly change and gain a stronger physique or talent.


    When thinking to here, Sai couldn¡¯t help but remember the Old Master¡¯s words. The Zhuge clan possessed a huge assortment of inheritances, some rarer than others. However, Sai was well aware that a very common mistake many powerful scions often make was assuming that the rarer inheritances are stronger than the others. Moreover, not only are the more legendary inheritances difficult to cultivate with, many of the scriptures are missing or decayed.


    It was essential to a cultivator, especially a noble, to choose a good inheritance. This major decision would follow them for the rest of their lives, and their deeds, good or bad, would be recorded in the annals of history. But, Sai had long ago lost interest in most of these things. His mother and father died, and his country was beginning to wane. Ideally, he just wanted to read books, paint, and play Go with his grandfather. Essentially, he was lazy with no ambitions.


    Reaching this conclusion, Sai ceased contemplating about such silly matters and opened the door to his personal residence. He sat down on his massive bed, fit for a king, and glanced around the room. It was relatively plain, with a simple dresser, closet, and bathroom, laying on top of the most precious and rarest of rose-wood.


    His gaze didn¡¯t linger for much longer. He reached into one of the nearby drawers and pulled out a thick, brown book. His grandfather didn¡¯t appreciate Sai¡¯s lack of ambition, but he supported his strong thirst for knowledge. New and unique books entered into this drawer every other day, this was a testament to his grandfather¡¯s view on the matter.


    Sai didn¡¯t mind the particular type of book, so his grandfather usually brought him texts about war, history, and logistics. It didn¡¯t matter what he read, as long as it was a new book, Sai would immediately begin reading without a hint of hesitation.


    Like this, time slowly, but peacefully passed. News of Duke Song¡¯s grandson finally entering into the fray, his coming-of-age ceremony, was like a boulder slamming into a placid lake. Generals, officials, and even ministers were shocked at this revelation. The last time Old Master Song¡¯s name was heard, both his son and daughter-in-law had died to a Turkish prince. Some minor officials had never even heard of the fact he had a grandson!


    While the inner court was in turmoil, Sai wasn¡¯t even aware of the fact that his visage was now under the eyes of many. While his grandfather achieved many merits for the Emperor, both his father and mother died far too young. So, his Zhuge clan was declining at an incomparably fast rate, something that Old Master Song could only lament about.


    But now, there appeared to be new hope for the Zhuge clan. This case was now the talk of the inner sector, though it still didn¡¯t warrant the attention of truly big figures.


    ¡­


    A few days passed and it was finally time for Sai to head toward the Gao protectorate. He adorned his favorite gown and strode out of the Zhuge residence, where a small group of heavily armored cavalry awaited him. To their side, two beautiful stallions were present. One was snow-white, and the other was raven-black. A young maiden rode on top of the white horse, like a fairy within the snow. Her eyes didn¡¯t even glance toward Sai, as if he were an insignificant figure in her view.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Sai stroked his elegant, purple and long hair back while strolling toward the black horse. His very essence emitted sophistication and beauty, yet the young girl seemed to be unperturbed by his allure. Naturally, Sai didn¡¯t care about her reaction either, he merely smiled and straddled the horse, signaling for the heavy cavalry to start moving.


    ¡°We pay our respects to Young Master,¡± they said in unison while bowing and urging their horses forward.


    Sai and the young maiden followed the elite cavalry from behind. She controlled the reigns of her horse in a proficient fashion, a stark contrast in comparison to Sai¡¯s ability. He was wobbling all over the place as he appeared to gradually get the hang of riding a horse. His grandfather had always wanted to scold him about riding horses more, but he preferred reading books in the estate.


    The steeds galloped down the wide streets and weaved by the bustling crowd. The atmosphere was tense and none of the soldiers were willing to break the ice. Only Sai was smiling at this time, observing the young girl without the smallest intention of hiding his gaze. Such blatant disregard for manners caused the young girl¡¯s eyes to twitch.


    ¡°Do you have a problem, young master?¡± she asked in irritation as they trodded into the outer sector. Her voice was melodious and gentle, but it caused Sai to frown even deeper.


    ¡°A problem? Of course not,¡± Sai replied with a faint smile, ¡°I was simply baffled at the fact that I was going to fight my first battle with a young and beautiful woman!¡±


    The surroundings immediately chilled and even the heavy cavalry flinched. They glanced at Sai with both dread and respect. No one would dare talk to the Fairy Doctors disciple in this way.


    ¡°Bastard¡­ do you look down on women?¡± the young girl asked while gritting her teeth. At first, she wanted to disregard this pompous scion in front of her, but his tone and arrogance were unacceptable to her.


    Her question caused Sai to tilt his head in confusion, a small chuckle leaving his lips. ¡°No, I do not look down on woman, child, nor man. I stare straight at them,¡± he said, ¡°I simply don¡¯t believe a young girl such as yourself is fit for battle.¡±


    Crack! The young girl cracked her knuckles and tried her damnedest to hold back her rage. She pulled the reigns and urged her horse to move in front of the heavy cavalry, away from Sai. The girl hated it when people looked down upon her, especially for her frail appearance. It was her reverse-scale, something that she detested down to her very bones.


    Sai didn¡¯t mind her reaction much at all. In fact, he wanted to remain in the back alone, anyway. Once she was gone, his clunky way of horseback riding disappeared, replaced with smooth and efficient skill. He even reached into the satchel hanging at his waist and pulled out a book to enjoy for the journey. No matter how lazy or unambitious Sai was, as the heir to a clan of generals, it would be preposterous to not be at least a little skilled in the way of the horse.


    Slowly, time trickled by and they finally departed from the confines of Rahvin kingdom, entering into the vast Central Plains. The roads were long and windy, filled with carriages and merchants traveling to and from the capital. Dust was picked up by the particularly strong winds as they moved closer and closer to the Gao protectorate; alongside a diminishing number of merchants. Soon, it was only them and the howling winds waltzing down the roads.


    ¡­


    The day quickly went by and they stopped to rest for the night, opting to continue in the morning. Sai and his group pitched tents at the side of the road and boiled food over a campfire ¡ª some noodles and a small portion of meat. Sai laid down on a mat beside the small fire and reached for a bowl of cooked noodles. The broth was relatively bland, but such insignificant things didn¡¯t bother him, nor the trained soldiers who ate their food with relish. Only the young girl scrunched up her nose as she picked at her bowl full of noodles and meat.


    ¡°Young Master Zhuge Sai, once we reach the Gao Protectorate, you will be forced to select a weapon and begin your adolescent training,¡± one of the warriors opened up with a mouth full of noodles. He was middle-aged with a long and crooked beard flowing from his chin.


    Sai nodded with some understanding.


    ¡°After training, we will join you and the young lass over there to launch an assault on a small Tibetan training camp,¡± the bearded man continued with a solemn tone, ¡°you will be graded on not only your actions, but also your results during the process.¡±


    At the side, another guard chipped in. ¡°But don¡¯t worry too much, lad, we¡¯ve already received orders to protect you, no matter the cost!¡± he said with a chuckle, ¡°as the son of War Sage Song, plenty of soldiers would willingly die for you.¡±


    ¡°This junior thanks the both of you,¡± Sai replied with a nod of his head and continued to eat his food. He was aware of his grandfather¡¯s prestige within the army, so he had long gotten used to such treatment.


    Once the two cavalrymen broke the extremely tense atmosphere, more and more men began to converse with each other and erupt in laughter. They questioned Sai about his childhood and his grandfather, even asking him to put in a good word with the Old Master for them. As such, a harmonious mood wafted about, resulting in a much more productive atmosphere.


    Their food was quickly transferred into the pits of their stomachs and drowsiness followed soon after. Other than those on nights watch, everyone else entered into their tents and entered into a deep sleep. The only one who didn¡¯t immediately drift off to dreamland was Sai, who remained seated by the smolders of the campfire.


    He reached into his sleeves and pulled out a medium-sized piece of slender bamboo. It was engraved with all sorts of beautiful inscriptions and painted the most exquisite of ice-blue coloring. A few promiscuous holes layered the side of the piece of bamboo ¡ª a flute!


    Sai brought the first hole to his mouth and positioned his fingers onto the other ones accordingly. He then blew into the instrument and moved his slender fingers in an orderly fashion, releasing a gentle, yet melodious tune. Its waves traveled through the encampment and caused a few of the guards on night duty to close their eyes in bliss.


    At the corner of the camp, a pair of bright eyes couldn¡¯t help but tremble at the sight of Sai¡¯s elegant figure fluttering within the gentle breeze.

 Chapter 3: "Training"

    The next morning, the blazing sun rose into the sky and illuminated the lands as far as the human eye could see. It pierced through the thick clouds and gleamed onto Sai¡¯s encampment, waking them up from their deep slumber. Birds chirped in the cloud-filled sky and swooped down, perching themselves down on almost every tent other than Sai¡¯s. This strange obscurity wasn¡¯t noticed by anyone other than the person in question, Sai himself. However, such a sight could be considered a normal occurrence to him, so he simply shrugged it off.


    Ever since he could remember, animals both large and small would steer clear from him. Whether it was due to fear or disgust, even Sai didn¡¯t have the faintest of clues, but nonetheless, he had long been unfazed by this strange aspect. He walked over to a nearby bin and rinsed his mouth, face, and hair before adorning a basic looking hanfu robe. After this, he glanced at the busy soldiers picking up and packing the encampment.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the veterans to finish readying themselves and prop their bodies onto their warhorses. The camp utensils rested on top of the pack horses in the back while the cavalrymen led the group at the forefront. Sai and the young girl moved in between the pack horses and the warriors upfront, safely in the middle.


    The maiden turned toward Sai with a strange look in her eyes; she had witnessed him playing with the flute last night and reassessed her judgment of him. In the Rahvin kingdom, no matter who it was, most of the citizens felt it strange for women to be on the battlefield. Her master had long taught her this fact, so after some thought, she gradually began to forgive Sai.


    ¡°My name Rui Xiu,¡± she said while turning toward Sai, ¡°I may have over-exaggerated a little bit earlier, I apologize."


    Sai scrutinized Rui Xiu, "I too was out of line. There are many fierce warriors and archers that happen to be women in history, so it is only right you are given a fair chance in battle as well, " he responded with a short and courteous apology.


    Sai paused as he observed her cold facade, "would you allow me to refer to you as just Rui?" He asked with a sincere smile.


    Rui froze for a moment before quickly regaining her calm. ¡°Yes, that is fine as long as I can call you Sai.¡±


    Sai nodded and reached into his satchel, pulling out one of his thicker books. ¡°Then, as to commemorate our friendship, I will give you one of the books I have already finished.¡±


    Rui hesitated for a single second before resolutely grabbing onto the book and stashing it inside of the satchel hanging from her white steed. She then thanked Sai and began trodding in the opposite direction of him. Let alone friends, she had barely any interaction with fellow peers, so she needed some time to digest this new ¡°friendship¡±


    On the other hand, Sai felt that a friendship held little to basically no meaning at all, so he didn¡¯t care much for her distant attitude. Instead, he simply continued to follow the cavalrymen ahead of him. He wanted to get his coming-of-age ceremony over with as quickly as possible so that he could return to the estate.


    As such, the group continued their travels without any hiccups on the road. They rested at night and moved during the day for a total of seven days until finally, the massive walls on the Gao border presented themselves. The walls appeared to be capable of toppling mountains and withstanding tsunamis, further accentuating the strength of The Great Rahvin. No enemies dared to underestimate the protectorates, not even the powerful Arabians and Abbasid Caliphate.


    Sai and the group of cavalrymen immediately picked up their speed at the sight of the towering walls. They galloped down the stone-paved path and stopped at the extensive gate, where an innumerable amount of warriors lined up. Standing in front of the army was an exceedingly tall and armored man. His profound aura emanated from his body and caused the surroundings to tremble in its wake. Protectorate General Wang Fuu, one of the most powerful and ruthless great generals in the Central Plains.


    The cavalrymen at Sai¡¯s side all bowed down with the utmost of respect, including Sai himself. ¡°Zhuge Sai pays his respects to Lord Protectorate General!¡±


    Wang Fuu glanced at Sai and a hint of pity appeared in the depths of his eyes, only to disappear in the next second. He acknowledged the small groups courtesy and waved his sand, signaling for them to be at ease. ¡°Welcome to the Gao border, we have been expecting you for some time,¡± he said, gesturing toward the left side of the gate, ¡°there, a group of other scions have been waiting for your arrival.¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    As Wang Fuu spoke to here, he scrutinized the lady behind Sai, ¡°as for you, go join the other ladies in their ¡°special¡± training,¡± he continued with a voice full of disdain.


    Rui clenched her fists and nodded solemnly, quickly walking to the location where Wang Fuu had pointed toward. It was a group of fellow women cultivators, and judging by their expressions, they were both bitter and annoyed as well.


    After she left, Wang Fuu led Sai to where his fellow peers were waiting for him. The young men were standing in a circle around a relatively dense bucket of weapons. Swords, spears, shields, and all other sorts of iron weapons were placed inside the bin. Wang Fuu clapped and clutched the bucket with his right hand, ¡°the first part of your training is familiarizing yourself with a weapon of choice, choose wisely.¡±


    The young men vigorously nodded their heads and promptly began to scour through the available weapons. Most prominent amongst this group was a young man of around seventeen. His silver-white hair fluttered about in the wind and garnered the attention of most everyone present. Such a rich and unique color couldn¡¯t be seen anywhere in the Central Plains, let alone on the Gao border. But, after their initial shock, the energetic boys lost interest and focused on their selection.


    Sai, on the other hand, was more interested in the silver-haired boy, it wasn¡¯t every day that you met someone who shared an exotic hair color. His gaze lingered on the man¡¯s angular facial structure and handsome features for a moment before returning back to the bucket full of weapons. He rubbed his hairless chin and squinted his eyes in contemplation, deliberating about which weapon to choose.


    Other than inheritance and cultivation, Sai had never really thought much about his future path in life. Weapons, of all things, had never even crossed his mind before this ceremony, so even though he thought about it on his journey, he was still indecisive. The spear was effective for warfare and counter-attacking against cavalry, while the bow was excellent for Auxiliary and long-range support. In addition to these popular weapons, the shield was perfect for defensive fighters and the sword was the best choice for all-around soldiers.


    Thinking to here, Sai stepped forward and grasped one of the swords at the very bottom of the bin. It was both longer and thinner than its counterparts, exuding a level of beauty that the other weapons simply could not compare to. The other young men couldn¡¯t help but look at Sai in a new light as he selected this weapon ¡ª gazes of absolute ridicule. Everyone here knew that the longer the blade, the more brittle and easier to break.


    Even Wang Fuu frowned at Sai¡¯s weapon of choice, but for an entirely different reason than the ignorant fools in front of him. He nodded in approval at the sight of Sai¡¯s lack of reaction to the ridicule, while also gratified at his selection. A sword did not make a man, it was the other way around. As long as you choose what felt right, you made the correct decision.


    Clap! Wang Fuu slapped his hands together and called the group of five or so teens to stand in front of him. They varied greatly in both height and appearance, but they all held onto their weapon of choice. One man had chosen a bow, while another choose a spear. As for Sai, the white-haired man, and the other boy, they all choose the emperor of iron weapons ¡ª the sword.


    Wang Fuu nodded at this sight and proceeded to call over five of his soldiers. They stood in front of each respective scion and cracked their thick knuckles. ¡°Each of these experienced warriors will be your personal trainers for the next two weeks,¡± Wang Fuu explained, ¡°they will guide you in the way of your chosen weapon and temper your bodies. Treat them with the utmost of respect and remember one thing, your powerful families have no say in the Gao protectorate!¡±


    A few of the young men gulped down a mouthful of saliva as they gazed worriedly at the burly men in front of them. They adorned metallic armor and their killing intent seemed to pierce their very soul. Once Wang Fuu had walked away, they even began to chuckle and stretch their limbs, further escalating the fear the young men felt. The only two who remained unperturbed were both Sai and the silver-haired man, each with a different reason. Sai still ignorantly believed that his grandfather¡¯s reputation with cause the warrior to hold back, while the silver-haired boy had long prepared for such treatment.


    ¡°Begin!¡±


    With a roar, the training session officially began. Sai lost interest in the other four participants and inspected his main opponent. He was a tad bit taller than the others and looked to possess even higher cultivation as well. The profound sense that radiated from him was on a whole other level. Yet, Sai didn¡¯t pay this much mind and leisurely lifted his light blade, pointing it at him.


    ¡°So, what will you teach me firs-¡±


    Before Sai could even finish his question, the silent combatant exploded forward with incomprehensible speed. He appeared just a few inches away from Sai¡¯s smiling face within a millisecond, his fist flying into the Young Master¡¯s abdomen before he could even react.


    Boom! Sai¡¯s stomach convulsed as he shot back like an arrow released from a taut bowstring. His back crashed into the stone wall behind him, wafting up a plume of dust and shaking the very ground they stood on. The other men, even the silver-haired boy, looked on in shock at the small hole where Sai currently laid.


    ¡°The first matter I will educate you on is rather simple,¡± the armored man talked while walking toward the collapsed Sai, ¡°humility and respect!¡±


    Sai coughed up a mouthful of blood and shakily stood to his feet, looking at his armored combatant in an entirely new light. ¡°I must say, you are the first person to have thoroughly stunned me,¡± he said with a strange glimmer within his piercing yellow eyes, still shocked from the pain he currently felt.


    But, before Sai could continue his monologue, the armored man once again punched him in matter of a split second. His body streaked across the ground like a skipping rock, dirtying his clean robes and blemishless skin. Even he, who was renowned for remaining calm and collected, couldn¡¯t help but twitch in anger. The pain was nearly unbearable for someone who had never been hurt before.


    ¡°How annoying,¡± Sai muttered while once again rising to his feet. He clenched his blade with both of his hands and pointed it toward his opponent; he would no longer be careless!


    In contrast, the soldier finally smiled. At first, he thought that this arrogant young master in front of him would be worthless, but his naive assumption had been proven to be inaccurate. The fact that Sai could still stand after two of his attacks had already proved his worth.


    ¡°Now that you¡¯re prepared, let¡¯s begin the real training!¡±

 Chapter 4: Dragon

    ¡°My name is Guan Hei,¡± the armored man spoke while lazily strolling toward Sai, ¡°inscribe this name into your memory as the one who taught you basic manners!¡±


    Sai snorted with disdain apparent in his eyes, ¡°pardon me for being rude, but this junior has yet to even walk on the road of cultivation,¡± he paused while glancing at Wang Fuu in the distance, ¡°so far, you have yet accomplished anything that is even worth mentioning next to my name!¡±


    The veteran could only laugh in response to Sai''s insult. "Whether you''ve just stepped onto the road of cultivation or have already reached the peak, it makes no difference in war. There are only two important things that matter in battle; victory and defeat! The loser is a loser, no matter how loud they scream out injustice."


    Sai shielded his eyes from the sun and pretended to peer far into the distance. "I may be blind, Guan Hei, but I cannot help but notice the lack of both enemy troops and commanders. Perhaps, it is due to my untrained eye, but the Gao protectorate is safe with no ongoing war! Not a single battlefield of which you speak of is present.¡±


    Guan Hei chortled in response. Instead of speaking with his lips, he decided to talk with his fists. After all, it wasn¡¯t as though he individually wanted to beat War Sage Song¡¯s grandson, orders were orders, and soldiers were meant to follow them. He ignored Sai¡¯s clever quips and continued to use his superior cultivation to subdue him in front of his fellow peers. No matter how calm and serene a man was, a bubble of rage was bound to appear at one point or another.


    Even though Sai raised his vigilance to a significant extent, he was still powerless in front of a well-trained warrior. His eyes couldn¡¯t even see through the blurs, let alone attempt to counter-attack them. Each respective realm on the path to the divine was a gigantic leap in strength, especially for those who cultivated ancient arts. So, for someone who had not even stepped onto the bone-refining stage, it was a fruitless effort to fight back.


    Sai was beaten back again and again until he could not even manage stand on his two feet, nor raise the blade still tightly clenched within his hands. He glared at the arrogant Guan Hei from the ground, unable to mutter a single word. The only thing that he could vividly think about at this moment would have been unheard of for him in the past. ¡®For once¡­ I actually desire strength!¡¯


    With this last thought in mind, his eyes closed and his body collapsed onto the ground. None of the lazy and arrogant expressions on his face remained, only an irritated smirk. This sight pleased Wang Fuu in the distance, resulting in a nod of approval directed at Guan Hei. None of this was a personal vendetta; it was a request made from Zhuge Song himself!


    ¡°Let him rest in the infirmary and have a few field doctors take care of him, I don¡¯t want any prolonged injuries to dampen his cultivation in the future!¡± Wang Fuu ordered with a reverberating roar.


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Guan Hei responded with a nod and hurled Sai¡¯s unconscious body over his shoulder. He then picked up the fallen blade at the side and marched toward their protectorates small hospital. It was located inside of the thick, stone walls, adjacent to the Lord Generals personal room.


    He laid Sai¡¯s tall body on a simple bed inside of the healing quarters and immediately retired with a respectful bow. The room was a stark contrast in comparison to the rest of the overwhelming buildings in the Gao protectorate. In replacement of mounted weapons and Rahvin flags, elegant paintings decorated the room along with medical supplies and a fresh scent of flowers.


    An elderly man with an amiable smile plastered on his face watched as Guan Hei entered and promptly left his residence. Only after his aura completely dissipated, did the old man stand up from his chair and walk over to the collapsed Sai. He used his thumb and index finger to feel Sai¡¯s pulse while also using his left hand to sense the energy within Sai¡¯s dantian.


    ¡°How interesting¡­¡± a deep and archaic voice sounded out.


    ***


    The next day, the morning sun rose into the vast sky and released its light on to the massive Gao border. The army woke up early in the morning and began their early drills, while the new recruits continued their training from yesterday. The only one who remained in bed was Sai, who could barely lift his sore body. The beatdown from the last afternoon warranted more pain in the muscles than the culmination of Sai¡¯s entire life.


    He flipped his eyelids open and observed the old man who sat to the left of him with minor vigilance. Even though he looked like your ever-day elder, the fact that he was stationed at the Gao border said otherwise. Rather, it was because Sai could feel no aura emanating from the grandpa that he was even warier than normalA case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Hoho, fret not, young one,¡± the old man opened up with a chuckle, ¡°I am a doctor; unlike those barbarians inside of the Gao protectorate, my sole job is to heal and mend wounds.¡±


    Sai nodded his head and eased up a little bit, scrutinizing the man in a different light. From a  spectators point of view, the elder truly didn¡¯t look all that bad. From his amiable smile to his wrinkled and weathered facial features. He seemed like an all-around kind guy who just happened to be stationed in a war-zone.


    "Regardless, whether you are wary of me or not, I have a few things to tell you, young man. "As I''m sure you''re well aware of, there are many mysteries that riddle this world, including cultivation. Thus, there is something that you should be aware of."


    Sai nodded.


    ¡°Each realm signifies the strength of a cultivator, but it also pushes the body one step closer to ascension,¡± the old man said with squinted eyes, ¡°the realms are generally referred to as the bone-refinement stage, Martial Warrior, Primordial Enlightenment, Martial Saint, and the obscure stage. After that, however, is a level that no one in this world has reached, not even the emperor of the Central Plains ¡ª The Divine realm.¡±


    Sai could feel his eyes tremble, ¡°why are you telling me all of this now, elder?¡±


    The old man gazed deeply into Sai¡¯s eyes, ¡°I cannot tell you everything, but know this. Your destiny is nothing short of extraordinary. Do not take the bone-refinement stage for granted, nor look down upon the use of swords!¡±


    After his words ended, the elder shot a stream of energy into Sai¡¯s body, revitalizing his muscles and repairing the torn tendons. It nourished Sai¡¯s inner regions and healed him at a rate visible to the eye, causing him to quake in shock. The pain vanished in an instant and was replaced by a comfortable feeling that washed his body away in bliss. Yet, the moment Sai reopened his eyes to show his gratitude to the miracle doctor, there was no one else in the room. It was completely silent, with no sign of anyone else being present.


    Sai furrowed his brows and scanned the humble, yet sophisticated room, but it was of no use. That enigmatic and familiar figure was no longer in the room, leaving the now recovered Sai alone on the bed. He ripped the covers off of his body and stood up, once again glancing around the small shack.


    ¡®A book?¡¯ Sai thought inwardly as he inspected the table at the very end of the room. A thick, jade book rested on top of the desk. At first, Sai thought it to be normal, but he felt as though the ancient-looking scripture was calling to him. It tugged on his innate thirst for knowledge and brought him forward, causing Sai to inadvertently place his hands on the cover.


    ¡®The True Dragon¡¯ Sai read as he immediately flipped to the front page, where a huge influx of words instantly caught his eye. They weren¡¯t words describing a certain way to cultivate, nor train. No, they were both warnings and requirements that deterred the reader from continuing. It stated that not only does the one to cultivate this technique have to possess the blood of the dragon, but he also may not have cultivated any other technique prior to starting this one. Moreover, obtaining an inheritance was impossible while utilizing this martial art!


    Sai gaped in shock as he read on; more and more requirements were strewn across the first two pages. Possessing a certain blood-line was already difficult enough, but being required to have no cultivation experience, inheritance, or be a female, was an entirely different story. Even Sai couldn¡¯t help but shake his head in disappointment. Ancient books generally did not lie, and the chance of him being blessed with the blood of a dragon was extremely unlikely.


    With these thoughts in mind, Sai began to close the book and place it back onto the table. As curious as he was, he did not partake in things with such a low success rate. But, as Sai closed the book, it suddenly illuminated with a blinding light. The pages ignited and turned to dust within a split second, leaving only the afterimage of a two-meter-tall eastern dragon. Its life-like purple scales and yellow eyes peered down onto Sai as if he were an insect.


    Sai looked back in a daze, unable to glance away. All of this happened in a mere second, and this development was far from what he had ever expected to happen. He stared in awe as the dragon floated in the air and gradually moved closer to him. Let alone escape, Sai was unable to even blink. The dragon moved closer and closer until finally, it seemed to enter his glabella, jolting the sweating Sai back.


    He trembled in shock and touched his forehead with the palms of his hands, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Then, as if his confusion was a spark, a huge assortment of techniques and obscure words drained into his mind. Different images entered his brain and it took him an unknown amount of time to reach a conclusion of what he had just witnessed.


    ¡®Bone refining and Sword-ki, the way of the True Dragon¡­. Is this an inheritance?¡¯ he thought, but quickly discarded the notion, ¡®it¡¯s an art, both an inheritance and a manual combined? But, it ends at the bone refining realm?¡¯


    Sai squinted his eyes and stroked his clean-shaven chin, unable to conclude what he had just stumbled upon. If the old man were still here, then he could most definitely receive a few answers, but alas.


    He deliberated about the matter for a few additional minutes before the sound of knocking interrupted his train of thought. ¡°Young master, Guan Hei has ordered you to attend morning practice,¡± a voice belonging to a young woman sounded out behind the door.


    With a deep exhalation, Sai grabbed the slender sword at the side and walked out of the room. He decided to place any, and all unnecessary thoughts at the back of his mind ¡ª to focus on his training for the time being. Even an idiot would be able to realize that Sai just received an inheritance of some sort, one that could either be a blessing, or a curse.


    ¡®Oh well, at least the name sounds domineering!¡± Sai cheerfully thought as he made his way to the training grounds.

 Chapter 5: Mysterious Mantra

    Sai followed the armored guard down the narrow corridors and soon arrived outside of the stone protectorate. The other young masters were busy drilling with their trainers, while Guan Hei stood at the furthermore reaches, standing with both of his arms crossed. His back was straight and domineering as he gazed down on Sai from afar.


    Sai smiled wryly as he approached the hardheaded soldier, a hint of hesitation within his steps. He moved unhindered and soon arrived a few feet in front of Guan Hei, clenching his blade tightly. Sai raised his vigilance to the maximum and felt his muscles become taut, preparing for the inevitable attack.


    Yet, surprisingly, Guan Hei did not immediately attack. Instead, he ripped off his helmet, revealing his scar-filled face and short black hair. A small practice sword appeared in his burly, right hand as he strolled toward Sai. "Sparring is over, we''ll go through the basics, now."


    Before Sai could respond, Guan Hei tossed the wooden sword into Sai¡¯s hands and separated his feet a few paces apart. ¡°Since you have chosen the sword as your weapon of choice instead of the various alternatives, I will make you comfortable with wielding it before you begin cultivating,¡± Guan Hei explained with a stoic expression as if he were made of steel.


    Sai nodded his head whilst resting his slender blade onto the ground, opting to clench the wooden one that was given to him instead. He had yet to digest the potential inheritance he just received, but one thing was for sure, his inner body roared in excitement at the thought of utilizing a blade. Sai was not yet proficient in weapons, nor did he research them in the past, so every little bit of information was helpful to his uneducated self.


    ¡°The foundation for superior swordsmanship is relatively simple to understand, but very difficult to master,¡± Guan Hei educated while entering into a horse stance himself, ¡°we are not mindlessly waving steel around, it is very important to not look at the sword as if it were a mere weapon, but an extension of ourselves instead. This, however, is my own opinion of the blade, you will formulate yours in time as well.¡±


    Guan Hei then went on to explain the difference between a sword practitioner and a basic martial artist. A swordsman was not only capable of developing sword-ki, but they were also expected to master three of their five senses. Vision, hearing, and touch. Perception was essential for pinpointing flaws and attack patterns, while the ability to hear was important to fend off multiple enemies, or when battling in strange circumstances. Most of all, mastering the nerves within your hands and body would render your sword handling capabilities to be more refined.


    Just like there were Inheritances and a plethora of other unanswered mysteries in the world, sword ki was another one of these questionable things. While it wasn''t nearly as practical, nor practiced to the extent of modern cultivation methods, it was still a feasible way to gain power. Many different clans and dojos both taught and practiced the way of the sword. However, a remarkable sword practitioner who could stand toe-to-toe with a cultivator without a solid cultivation base himself had not existed in hundreds of years. This was not a coincidence by any means.


    The reasoning was actually quite simple; all power was manifested by someone or something. This "power" could be obtained quicker if you attempted to become something or someone more powerful than you. As such, thousands of cultivation manuals were based on legendary creatures and deities; those that humans were clearly inferior to. If one followed a set of guidelines in an attempt to shed their mortal entrapment, they would excel quicker. Thus, leaving those who contemplated the dao of the sword behind when it came to raw strength.


    Nonetheless, these little factoids were not related to Sai in the least. On top of practicing the sword, he planned to cultivate according to some sort of manual as well. He soaked up the information that Guan Hei informed him on and began swinging his wooden sword as instructed.


    "Before technique, comes tempering, " Guan Hei spat, "your body is far too weak for any unorthodox skills, so it is vital for you to strengthen the correct muscles!" He continued In a loud voice, deep within the day as sweat rained down Sai''s body.


    The young master''s elegant and graceful appearance was nowhere to be seen as he swung his weapon down. The other warriors and scions had long entered the protectorate to eat dinner and sleep, leaving Sai alone with Guan Hei. Even when the moon gleamed down with its bright luminescence, his youthful figure remained unthwarted by the intense aches and exhaustion. He was not a determined person by nature, but a small flicker within his heart urged him to continue. It breathed life into his soul and gave meaning to every slash; causing him to fall in love with the addicting sensation.


    It wasn''t until the dead of night that Sai''s muscles finally began to experience failure. They quivered under the tense pain and suffered from continuous shredding. His hands trembled as he dropped the wooden blade to the ground and fell to his knees. The strange immersion that he had just experienced was washed away by the discomfort inside of his body. He gasped for breath as his chest heaved up and down, unable to comprehend what had just happened.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Seeing this, Guan Hei sent a stream of energy inside of Sai''s body and observed his painful expression with shock. The boy in front of him was clearly still a child and judging from his physique, he had never completed any rigorous training. Yet, the sheer willpower he displayed on this night would completely change anyone''s judgment of "silk pants" that they had initially placed on him. Training until muscle failure was no easy task and Sai had officially received Guan Hei''s respect.


    He picked up the sore boy and heaved him over his shoulders, concealing the strange light in Sai''s eyes. Sai knew better than anyone how misunderstanding Guan Hei truly


    was; it was not willpower, nor determination that kept him going. No, it was the strange flame within his heart that urged him to continue past his limits. Even he was confused as to how it happened.


    The small dragon that had entered into Sai''s body earlier was shrinking at a rate visible to the eye whilst coiling around his heart. Its energy was clearly beginning to seep into his body, unbeknownst to even himself. Such an occurrence was strange even for this world, which was full of obscurities.


    Sai could not see, nor feel the dragon dissipate inside of his body, but he could feel the odd changes in his physique. He inwardly decided to try and find the kind old man in the infirmary; there were many inexplicable things on his mind that could only be answered by him. Arguably, the cause of all of this was the doctor in the first place.


    Before that, however, Sai was in dire need of nutrients. His thundering stomach alerted both him and Guan Hei, causing the stoic man to change directions toward the cafeteria. Every warrior needed the proper nourishment to flourish in battle.


    Guan Hei streaked down the empty halls and into the massive cafeteria, where the smell of food still wafted about. He brought sai to the countertops at the end of the building and slammed his fist down on the metallic walls. It caused the small section of the protectorate to vibrate, summoning a fragile girl to the opposite side of the counter. Her brown hair cascaded down her shoulders and accentuated her fairy-like features.


    "Xiao Meng, can you prepare something for this little guy?" Guan Hei asked while stroking his beard, "I pushed him to his limits, and his muscles are beginning to deteriorate because of it."


    The very young and beautiful girl who appeared to be around twelve glanced at the near unconscious Sai. She nodded her head and a smile stretched across her face. "I''ll do you a favor, little Hei, " she said, "but, the next time you slam this table to summon me¡­ I''ll kill you!"


    A thick killing intent pervaded into the room, provoking Sai''s body to react and tense up. ''She is strong, probably stronger than Guan Hei!'' Sai thought inwardly while scrutinizing the little girl in front of him.


    Guan Hei snorted in response and sat Sai down on the table. He darted out of the cafeteria shortly after, leaving Sai alone with the demoness. ''I thought you were a fearless soldier! How dare you leave me alone here.'' He thought while his eyes followed Guan Hei''s departing back. A streak of sweat could be faintly seen coursing down the side of his face.


    Bang! A plate of food suddenly slammed onto the table. Strips of steak, corn, and a bountiful bowl of rice simmered in front of him. Moreover, a refreshing beverage was set next to the tray by the fair girl. She observed Sai shortly forget her appearance and chow down on the sumptuous feast instead. For the first time, a tinge of curiosity appeared in her bright eyes.


    She placed her finger on the indulging young man and bared witness to his mutilated tendons repair themselves at an astonishing rate.


    She gasped in shock as she took a step back, reevaluating the youth. He seemed unimpressive as he chopped down on the food, but his graceful appearance could not be shrouded. His striking, purple hair and yellow eyes were not things that a normal person could even hope to possess. "He must hail from a powerful bloodline to amass this kind of innate regeneration speed¡­ I wonder where he''s from?" She whispered to herself while sneaking her way back behind the counters.


    Whether it was a royal lineage or a high ranking clan, she didn''t want to get her hands mixed into any trouble. After all, unlike Guan Hei or her general, she possessed no familial backing!


    Sai was unaware of her strange thoughts and finished his food with relish. His sighed in bliss as he directed his consciousness into his mind, onto the manual he had received from the small dragon. Now that no one was around and he was no longer restricted to the training under Guan Hei, Sai immediately decided to try out his supposed "inheritance"


    Each manual or cultivation method was blocked behind a complicated mantra. As the cultivator progressed further and further into the mantra, their body would reform and their dantian would expand. Once their energy attained a high enough grade, it would be refined into an exquisite stream of true energy, finally allowing the cultivator to pass into a new realm. Henceforth, each subsequent realm would allow the usage of an entirely different power.


    Sai studied the first part of the mantra with unbridled enthusiasm. As a scholar, the deciphering of the initial sentence was not too arduous, but it still took an entire hour for the meditating Sai to fully comprehend it.


    "Shed your moral integrity and sever your connections; for the True Dragon is not restricted by human constructs."


    "Do not mindlessly destroy; for a dragon leads and conquers their enemies with decisiveness and wisdom."


    "A pack of seasoned warriors led by a sheep is inferior to a herd of sheep led by a competent dragon."


    "One laceration can separate the heavens, one thrust can cause the mountains to tremble, and one mistake can mean the death of all."


    ¡­


    Sai read word for word with his mind abuzz. ''What a domineering mantra!''

 Chapter 6: Accident!

    Sweat drenched Sai''s clothes as he continued translating the divine-like mantra. Energy from the seven origins; earth, wind, fire, water, sun, moon, and the stars began to stir inside of his immature dantian. Soon, a small maelstrom was formed and absorbed the overflowing forces within two meters of Sai, enriching his meridians and bringing him closer to the road of cultivation. This power, however, did not come without a price.


    Sai felt as if a thousand needles were stabbing into him as the substantial energy coursed through his veins. He was not yet eighteen, so his dantian was not fully formed as a result, causing the stinging pain. Sai immediately paused his cultivation and gritted his teeth, stopping the vortex inside of his abdomen and releasing the strain on his meridians. He had completely forgotten about the age requirement and ignorantly began to start cultivating ahead of time.


    He heaved a deep sigh and stood up from his chair. ''Thankfully, I stopped the energy flow before it caused irreversible damage to my future cultivation prowess'' he thought to himself while walking out of the cafeteria.


    As Sai exited, a sudden realization dawned upon him ¡ª he had absolutely no idea where his temporary room was located. Guan Hei had only led him into both the infirmary and cafeteria, both of which were when he was basically unconscious. When he glanced left and right, only the long and unrecognizable corridors could be seen. Mounted torches layered the sides of the walls, illuminating the vacant halls and large assortment of wooden doors. Each room was listed with its corresponding number, ranging from ¡°1¡± to ¡°200¡± on this specific floor of the Gao Protectorate.


    Sai grumbled out a string of curses directed toward Guan Hei as he hesitantly walked down the right corridor, where the spiritual energy was significantly weaker. After feeling the initial stages of origin energy earlier, he could now vaguely sense it in the nearby atmosphere. It was deep into the night and Sai was not foolish enough to rely on Guan Hei to return and pick him up; he was clearly unreliable. As for sleeping in the cafeteria, the creepy girl who cooked his food seemed to control that domain.


    Thus, he decided to use his influence as War Sage Song¡¯s grandson to its fullest extent and bunk-up with a random soldier. He continued walking until he landed in front of a rather dainty door with the number ¡°8¡± engraved into it. Unlike the other doors, this one didn¡¯t have a lock, nor did it appear to be of much importance.


    Sai hesitated for a moment, his thin lips forming a wry smile. He knew that it was incomparably rude to interrupt someone¡¯s sleep, especially in the Central Plains. But, he didn¡¯t have much of a choice in the matter. He delicately pushed open the door and strode inside, the smell of fragrant tea assaulting his nose.


    ¡°This is¡­¡± Sai mumbled, unable to believe his eyes.


    Almost every single possible scenario, good and bad, had run through his head before he decided to enter the room. Yet, the scene in front of him betrayed all of those expectations, rendering him flabbergasted and confused. Instead of the sleeping soldiers of which he assumed to be present, laid a small table with five or so young women sitting around. They adorned their undergarments, some more revealing than others.


    All of them were frozen in place as they observed Sai, who had just waltzed into their room. Their cups of tea were paused in mid-air, a few inches away from their supple lips. Steam rose up from the cups and broke Rui Xiu out of her daze, causing her to furrow her brows and stand up from her chair in a fit of rage. Perverts were heavily disdained upon in the Central Plains, especially if the perpetrator was a scion of high status!


    Her lips trembled as she was about to rebuke Sai, but her trail of words was cut off by the sound of him clearing his throat. ¡°Before you reach any rash conclusions,¡± he started with a solemn expression, ¡°Wang Fuu had ordered me to come and check up on you ladies; to make sure that the refreshments were up to standard, of course.¡±


    The tense atmosphere eased up a little bit, but the young girls remained a little unconvinced. ¡°Why would he send you so late into the night, and why did you not first knock on the door?¡± one of the dames to the right, asked. She possessed vermillion red hair and very sharp facial features.


    It only took Sai a slight moment to bubble up an excuse, ¡°Wang Fuu is both a prestigious and ruthless general,¡± he explained, ¡°what would his enemies think if it became known that he was worried about a few young women? He would become a laughing stock!¡±


    The red-haired lass nodded in understanding, as did the other gals, except Rui. She scrutinized Sai with a suspicious glare, ¡°if Wang Fuu was so worried about his image, then why would he send you, an unruly scion as his messenger?¡± she paused, ¡°besides, I highly doubt that the man who looks down upon me and the other women would be so worried about our refreshments.¡±Stolen story; please report.


    Sai flicked his hair back and replied with an eloquent tongue, ¡°Wang Fuu does not look down upon women, he simply believes them to be fragile. You see, it is due to the fact that he wishes to protect you, that he has sent me to make sure all of your refreshments are to your liking.¡±


    The corner of his lips curled upward as he continued, ¡°as for why he has asked me, a supposed unruly scion, that is rather simple. I am the grandson of War Sage Song, the man known for his integrity and trustworthy nature. Surely, you have heard of the saying ¡ª the apple doesn''t fall too far from the tree?¡±


    With this being said, even Rui found it hard to find any holes in his story. The worst part was that she could not even ask Wang Fuu if what he said was true. She could only close her eyes and let this matter go, shooing Sai out of the room.


    None of them actually fretted about being seen in their undergarments, it was the principle that they mainly cared about. After all, they were aspiring warriors, not those little girls who relied on their father¡¯s influence. They saw Sai out and continued conversing around the table, forgetting about the matter entirely. Since it was an order from Wang Fuu, none of them deliberated about it much more.


    After Sai was ¡°gently¡± thrown out of the room, he massaged his forehead and sighed. ¡°How unforeseen,¡± he whispered to himself and made his way onto the next room. Whether it was his trainer, Guan Hei, or his other mishaps, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that his luck was at an all-time low. Even if his silver tongue could wiggle him out of the most perilous of situations, it would not work forever.


    In fact, forging orders from a direct superior could land Sai into a lot of trouble, but he covered most of his bases. Even if they assumed him to be lying, on the slight chance that he was telling the truth, it was not worth it to look into it. Lest they want to offend Wang Fuu, who is known for disciplining his soldiers a little bit harsher than normal


    Due to this, Sai became a tad bit more vigilant. He decided to knock on the next average-looking door, instead of making another mess.


    He could hear the shuffling from behind the door as the man or woman got out of bed and rushed to the door. Soon, a silver-haired young man popped out of the room with his messy hair and sleepwear on.


    The refinement he had shown at the training grounds, prior, had utterly disappeared, replaced by a groggy and exhausted man. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and inspected Sai, a hint of surprise flashing within his eyes. ¡°Do you need something?¡± he asked, after a moment of contemplation.


    His voice was surprisingly sharp and deep, causing Sai to squint his eyes. The more he scrutinized the silver-haired youth, the more he felt as though he were a foreigner. These people were often referred to as Hu. Although such a thing was not unheard of, particularly in the Central Plains, being sent to the Gao Protectorate was a huge privilege that few nobles were capable of possessing. Let alone a Hu, even a Han would find it rather difficult.


    Even though Sai was thinking about hundreds of different issues, none of it showed on his placid expression. Instead, he smiled and bowed toward the man. "I was not assigned to any particular room, so I was wondering if I could sleep here for the night."


    The white-haired youth hesitated but relented after some thought. "Please call me Liu, " he said while stretching his hand out, attempting to greet Sai as a friend.


    Sai, of course, accepted the handshake and strolled into the room. He was in dire need of a place to sleep and recollect his thoughts.


    The room was simple, with a few dressers and only one bed. A bathroom was placed to the right and a small table was set next to the door. Unlike the girl''s room, there were no clothes, tea, nor food left out to enjoy. Only a strong smell of sweat lingered about.


    Arguably, Sai was a source of the odor, but he didn''t pay it much mind. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Liu, he laid on the floor and organized his thoughts.


    He would be turning eighteen in one month from now, signaling the beginning of his cultivation path. Which also meant that he should focus on something a little noteworthy in the meantime.


    Though, It didn''t even take him more than a few winks to conclude what he should be practicing.


    The sword!


    Even though his current mantra and "inheritance" was a complete mystery to him, he understood one thing. His body felt afresh and free when he swung a sword¡­ almost like it was his calling. Sai could similarly feel his skill with the blade grow as he practiced, further proving his theory.


    Sai''s main ideal in life had always been to shed his ignorance. Whether it was studying, or reading, he believed himself to have always been walking on that very path. But now, with the emergence of an incredible mantra, and the countless cultivators surrounding him, he understood that he had been a frog at the bottom of a well. He would never learn the intricacies of the world if he did not gain the power to do so.


    Slowly, a new ambition was formed, replacing the lazy ambitions Sai once held in high regard. He began to desire more and more power; strength that could split the heavens and tremble mountains.


    He couldn''t help but smile as he thought of this, slowly drifting off to sleep.

 Chapter 7: Sword-Ki

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    The next morning, Sai stretched his long limbs and stood up from the floor in a groggy state. He rubbed his drowsy eyes and slicked his hair back before heading into the restroom, where he then splashed some water on his face. His eyes were squinted as he observed himself in the mirror, perusing over every minute detail. Other than the multitude of bruises layering his body, he looked relatively similar to how he had appeared a month ago. Yet, Sai could feel as though something was different within his body, but he could just not put his finger on it.


    ¡®Perhaps, reciting the first part of the mantra transformed my body in some way?¡¯ he thought to himself while dusting his clothes off.


    There were many mysteries that he still did not understand, and the only possible way to gain some of the answers was to find the strange old man residing inside of the infirmary. Alas, Sai was forced to train in the morning and afternoon, leaving this window of opportunity rather slim. Departing from the designated locations without proper authorization was a huge crime ¡ª which could easily result in death or dishonorable discharge.


    With that in mind, a small, but clever smile formed on Sai¡¯s lips as he pushed open the restroom door. He could hear Liu¡¯s abhorrent snoring in the other room as he exited, opting to leave without exchanging any pleasantries. Although Sai was grateful for Liu¡¯s magnimosity, it was something that he would have to repay at another date. Waiting for the young boy to wake up and end up being late to the training grounds as a consequence would be absurd. On the other hand, forcefully waking up another noble was also considered to be rude, so Sai decided to do nothing.


    He transversed the narrow corridors and headed to where he could feel the largest mass of energy inside of the Gao Protectorate, presuming it to be Wang Fuu. Large groups of soldiers, maids, and workers alike marched down the halls beside Sai. The entire protectorate was bustling as he weaved in and out of the crowds, slowly making it the outdoors region.


    A massive number of lined up troops, alongside the blazing sun, greeted Sai as his feet touched the sand. A few of his fellow compatriots, the other young men, were also waiting for him. The morning drills were just about to begin, so everyone present had already acquired their weapons and training gear. They stood with their backs as taut as a bowstring, awaiting Wang Fuu¡¯s orders.


    Sai didn¡¯t dawdle for long after seeing this sight, he quickly scanned the large group of soldiers and walked toward Guan Hei, his instructor. The man stood out like a sore-thumb; he was a head taller than his peers and emanated a far stronger aura, only being outclassed by Wang Fuu, himself. As such, Sai was easily capable of both locating and reaching him before practice commenced, saving himself a headache.


    ¡°Pardon me, coming through,¡± Sai repeated while walking through the condensed crowds of warriors, not a hint of shame appearing on his pale face.


    Like this, he managed to close the distance between him and Guan Hei, reaching only a few feet away from him. Afterwhich, he placed the palms of his hands behind his back and waited for Wang Fuu to give the signal. Sai knew that Liu was more than likely going to be late, but he was very intrigued as to what punishment the young man would receive. After all, Liu was a Hu who managed to attend the Gao Protectorate training grounds.


    Time slowly passed and Wang Fuu blew the horn after the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, causing the warrior to release a collective sigh of relief. They turned to their adjacent partners and began training, while Sai twirled toward Guan Hei¡¯s direction. A wooden sword was instantaneously flung in his direction, to which Sai caught without excessive difficulty.


    He clenched his hands around the wooden hilt and spaced his legs according to the correct sword-wielding posture. Sai had always been paying attention, even when he was being fiddled with by Guan Hei. Therefore, his gains could not be considered small when it came to sparring advancement.


    Guan Hei didn¡¯t have much of a reaction to Sai¡¯s quick wit and started to ruthless correct his stance. He swatted the backs of his legs when Sai eased up, slapped his back when he slouched and roared when he slowed down. Over time, using this method, Sai¡¯s body would proceed to subconsciously correct itself. Tempering one''s muscle memory was the key to gaining proficiency in something.


    While Sai was perfecting the fundamentals of swordsmanship, a white-haired youth darted out from the Gao Protectorate. His clothes were in tatters and his face was flushed red. He galloped toward Wang Fuu with small droplets of tears threatening to fall from the corners of his eyes. To an outsider, he truly appeared to have been wronged in some way, shape, or form.


    ¡°Lord Protectorate General,¡± he shouted in a shrill voice, like a harassed woman.


    Wang Fuu¡¯s face scrunched up and his brows furrowed. His nostrils flared, while the muscles on his body flexed. How long had it been since a young recruit dared to unceremoniously scream out his name? However, Liu¡¯s following words rendered everyone that attended the morning training, speechless.


    ¡°S-Someone barged into my room last night and stole all of my valuable, and even knocked me unconscious!¡± he implored with a depressed voice.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Wang Fuu¡¯s anger was temporarily forgotten as he scrutinized the young noble in front of him. His robe was in tatters, exhibiting patches of bruised skin and small cuts. Likewise, the tears streaming down the sides of Liu¡¯s face were also rather believable. More so than that, was the absolute confidence that no mere child would dare to lie in front of him.


    Then, while everyone was still shocked, Liu reached into his garbs and pulled out a single strand of hair. It glistened in the sunlight and caused those nearby to smile wryly while casting a glance in each other''s direction.


    It wasn¡¯t just any normal piece of hair, it was a beautifully combed strand of purple hair. Anyone who boasted some form of intelligence could immediately guess who the owner was, especially Wang Fuu. He let out a sigh while glancing in Sai¡¯s direction, scrutinizing the hardworking boy. Everything could be perfectly aligned with Liu¡¯s story.


    The fact that Sai came out of his room in the morning had already been relayed to him, alongside the proof that Liu departed from the residence after, filled with bruises and tattered clothes. Even more evidently, was that Sai also did not enter his very own room last night, or so the young boy who shared rooms with him had broadcasted.


    Under normal circumstances, with all this evidence piled on top of them, they would immediately be sent back home in disgrace. But, Sai was War Sage Song¡¯s grandson, someone who had pledged fealty to the Son of Heaven, achieving countless merits. Disgracing Sai would be like going against Old Song, which Wang Fuu was not willing to do.


    Besides, Wang Fuu was powerful enough to keep tabs on each and every single happening inside the protectorate. He knew fully-well that Sai had truly done nothing wrong, so he quickly snatched the strand of hair and crushed it within his hands.


    Liu opened his eyes wide in shock. He was unable to comprehend how his plan had failed. His father had told him to shame the Zhuge family in some way, so when Sai walked right into his room last night, the perfect opportunity presented itself. Yet, the prideful general who was famed for disregarding nobility seemed to be uncaring.


    ¡°Why?¡± Liu asked in a strange voice, slightly distraught.


    Wang Fuu glanced down at Liu and snorted. He couldn¡¯t publically beat the boy to his background, but he could easily reproach him. ¡°It matters not if someone has broken in your room and beaten you, for strength is the only thing that matters in the Gao Protectorate.¡±


    He paused, glancing at Sai in the distance, ¡°if you have a problem with someone or something, then you can solve it by yourself. We don¡¯t believe in using another one¡¯s sword to strike your enemy!¡±


    Liu could only begrudgingly nod his head as Wang Fuu dismissed him, ordering him to go and train with the others. Along the way, he couldn¡¯t help but look toward Sai, who was still in the middle of a trance. Liu ground his teeth in irritation at the sight. ¡®Father was right, the Han will always treat the Hu like subjects¡­¡¯ he quietly thought to himself.


    The man in question, Sai, was far too focused on his training to even acknowledge Liu or Wang Fuu in the distance. He closed his eyes in cultivation as he continuously struck with his wooden sword, flinging sweat in the process. Unlike last time, the dragon within his body didn¡¯t assist him, so his sore muscles were beginning to wane. Pain assaulted every fiber of his being as he ground his teeth¡­ he hated pain!


    Soon, Sai¡¯s knees collapsed, causing him to fall onto the ground. His eyes dilated, swiftly using his hands to catch his fall, lest he plunges on his face. He had momentarily dropped the sword in the process, but at the very least, his face wasn¡¯t plastered into the dirt.


    Guan Hei¡¯s eyes flashed, ¡°was that night just a delusion?¡± he whispered to himself, seeing none of the determined man from that evening in Sai.


    Nonetheless, none of Guan Hei¡¯s thoughts showed on his face. He helped Sai up from the ground and began teaching him how to develop sword-ki, instead. In contrast to the physically arduous procedure of tempering your body, formulating ki was a mentally draining task.


    Although comprehending a mantra was relatively simple to understand, Ki was an entirely different form of power. Instead of absorbing the energy from the seven origins, one had to assemble their very own source. To do this, you were forced to use your own essence and create a strand of Ki, to which you would then twirl it around itself hundreds of times, condensing it into a small ball. Gaining more and more Ki required one to repeat the process thousands of times until they possessed an abundance of energy.


    Of course, most cultivators disregarded sword-ki and focused on their cultivation, which gave birth to its own advantages. As such, when Sai was given a choice to continue physical training or developing sword-ki, he decided on the latter without hesitation. It didn¡¯t take a minister or Grand Scribe to know that Sai had little, to no physical talent. No matter how hard he worked those muscles, they wouldn¡¯t grow much.


    It was due to this that Guan Hei had no qualms about teaching Sai the utilization of sword-ki. He figured that it was quite a suitable choice for him until he reached the age of eighteen, to which he could then focus on cultivation. However, no one present, not even Sai, could imagine the magnitude of this decision for the future.


    Sai sat cross-legged on the ground, ignoring the army of men just moments away from him. He focused all of his senses within his body, moving his inner energy the way Guan Hei had instructed. As he slowly began to circulate the Ki inside his body, a small, purple thread was formed. It was extremely thin and would serve as the catalyst for his future sword method.


    Once his first strand of Ki was formed, Sai started to swirl it around itself, dozens of times. It became shorter and shorter as time passed, but the light it shimmered became bright in response.


    Hours passed and Sai¡¯s tightly clenched eye-lids didn¡¯t open up until the moon had already descended upon the Central plains. The rest of the warriors and students had already left, leaving only him and Guan Hei.


    With a deep sigh, he stood up from the ground and dusted off his buttocks. He stared at Guan Hei with a slight smile playing on his lips, ¡°I did it,¡± he said, as gently as the cool breeze.


    As he spoke to there, Sai lifted his right index finger and pointed it at the ground. A small, purple light jumped out of his fingertip and darted toward the ground, breaking a nearby rock.


    ¡°So fast!?¡± Guan Hei thought with dilated eyes.


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 Chapter 8: Brewing Storm

    Guan Hei peered down at the shattered rock in amazement. Although the sword-ki itself wasn''t too condensed, nor powerful, Sai had formed it remarkably brisk. It normally required weeks to achieve even a hint of progress, let alone a few hours. Even he, himself, could not hope to produce results nearly as fast.


    Noticing his awe, Sai smiled coolly; it was the first time he had achieved something by himself, without the aid of fortuitous encounters. It took a long while for him to complete his first rotation, but after condensing the purple strand, he grasped the hang of it.


    "You''ve done well, " Guan Hei praised. The boy in front of him did not possess the same talents that he did, but he excelled in other areas. Even though Guan Hei was prideful, he was beginning to soften up toward Sai. Although the kid was an arrogant noble, it was a pleasant domineering; fit for the military.


    Sai relished in his first success and followed behind Guan Hei, toward his residence. He temporarily forgot about the need of food and quickly returned to his room.


    Once Sai entered, he disregarded his roommate and sauntered directly to his bed. His initial excitement for developing a glimmer of sword-ki had still not yet dissipated. Instead of relaxing and reveling in happiness, he decided to continue his cultivation. He once again developed another strand of sword-ki, condensing it hundreds of times, even more than before. It was a strenuous process, but Sai was a patient man.


    Like this, he spent his time either holed up in his room, or at the training grounds. Guan Hei instructed him on a few things every now and then, but nothing too drastic. Rather, the tough man decided that it was best to let Sai focus and evolve by himself. If he ran into any trouble, then Sai would immediately ask Guan Hei for pointers. But, if not, then he would continue refining his sword-ki.


    Months passed in relative silence and Sai''s eighteenth birthday was just right around the corner. He sat atop his wooden-framed bed with relaxed brows and a placid expression. to his side, multiple strands of Ki intertwined with each other and surrounded his sitting body. His roommate had long vacated the room in fear of being attacked, so Sai was free to do as he pleased. In comparison the first strand, each subsequent rotation has increased their purity.


    Sudden, his eyes flashed open and the intermixing threads began to absorb one another, forming one solid piece. It was about as thick as a piece of bamboo and as long as a chopstick. It swiveled around Sai''s wrists and strutted a shocking amount of destructive power. With this, Sai was finally pleased.


    He concealed his sword-ki and once again stashed it inside of his dantian. Then, he hopped off of the bed and headed into the bathroom, to wash the muck off his body. Once there, he gazed into the mirror and thoroughly scrutinized the changes in his physical appearance.


    Although he appeared nearly identical a month ago, his body emanated a sharpness that could not have been found prior. Not to mention the dangerous glint within his yellow eyes, seemingly looking down on everything in sight.


    Seeing this, Sai nodded with satisfaction and walked out of his room, heading toward the training grounds. It had been a few months since he had arrived, so it was about time they had completed their coming-of-age ceremony. In fact, the operation was set to occur tonight, at nightfall. Him and the others were tasked with destroying some rations and providing cover support during the skirmish.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Strangely enough, their target was a small training grounds, on the border of Tibet. It was moderately concealed within the plateau, but Rahvin Kingdom spies had supposedly discovered a secret path up the plateau. If everything went according to plan, then not many mishaps would occur, or so the trainees were told.


    With this in mind, Sai traveled down the corridors layered with sconces and soon arrived at the training grounds. Incompatible with the busy morning drills, not many warriors were present. Only Guan Hei and a handful of elites attended, alongside the other five male recruits. To the side, a group of downcast women were also present.


    Among them, Rui Qiu lifted her chin and observed Sai from afar. Her expression was filled with annoyance and unwillingness. A layer of frost exuded from her body as she shifted her chin away, releasing a snort.


    Confused, Sai tilted his head in novelty. Thinking back, he hadn''t left his room for a while, nor had he come across the ladies since the strange accident. Upon some deliberation, he couldn''t understand why she appeared to be angry, so he walked toward Guan Hei, forgetting about the matter entirely. It didn''t occur to him that his lack of interest in her, his "friend", is what caused her so much frustration.


    Nonetheless, such minor trivialities were unimportant to the current situation. Once Sai had arrived, the last participating member appeared. Thus, Guan Hei whistled toward the nearby stallions and roared out a string of commands.


    "Wrap some cloth around the hooves of your horses and silently follow us!"


    Sai and the others nodded their heads in acknowledgment, soon wrapping soft linen and other fluffy material around the hooves. Their goal was to sneak up on the Tibetans, not to rile up a huge commotion. Destroying the entire camp had never been feasible, only a few assassinations and the burning of their granaries were optimal.


    Soon, they departed from the Gao Protectorate, heading north, toward Tibet. It was around a five-day journey, including ample rest and preparations. One could not invade the plateau without first getting used to the height, lest they wanted to become sick. Regulating your body and slowly adapting to the new geography and atmosphere was critical to the strategy.


    Thus, they traveled in a rather simple formation, with Guan Hei and the other seasoned warriors at the forefront. At the back, Sai and the other five boys were trodding along, staring at the group of women in front of them. Each man and woman strapped a weapon to the sides of their belts and dressed somewhat lightly. Even the armored warriors wore leather to generate less sound.


    While on the back of the horse, Sai contained his wildly fluttering hair and focused on his dantian. In the last month, he had concentrated primarily on building up his personal strength. The sword-ki inside his body was a testament to this fact. It was capable of slashing a thick tree trunk in two pieces and cracking a boulder. The only thing that he needed was practice¡­ real battles.


    Especially now that he was so close to the first step of cultivation, the bone-refining stage. It had to be understood that a very pure source of sword-ki would potentially speed up the process of refining his bones. Rendering him one step closer to achieving an even higher state.


    With this in mind, Sai ignored his surroundings and began to condense more strands of sword-ki.


    ***


    Inside of Rahvin Kingdom, at the center of the Central Plains, a different kind of storm was brewing. A group of multiple military officials, including the Minister of War, had presented a few memorials requesting five martial arts institutes to be established. Each training camp will incorporate a different type of civilian, such as nobles, women, commoners and other basic young cultivators.


    The five institutes were referred to as the Jade claw, Vermilion peak, qilin grounds, tiger camp, and bronze stronghold. Each one possessed an entirely different selection of mantras and martial arts, some catering to various nobles, while others to commoners.


    The wealthy families scrambled around and vied for the better position. Momentarily, all eyes were away from the upcoming battle in Tibet. That is, except for one particular man.


    His starry gaze peered at the large map, a small smile playing on his lips. "So, it has begun!''