Village Ming. Zhou Dynasty in the Ming Hua Mountains.
On a plateau in the Ming Hua Mountains lay a young man relaxing.
"I wonder what life is like outside the village?" A young man murmured to himself, gazing at the sky in awe, looking up where cultivators flew back and forth.
"Could I be like them?"
The young man lay on the green grass, surrounded by bamboo trees that sheltered him from the midday heat. He was reading a book about how to become immortal through cultivation. He had always wanted to experience life outside the village and learn how to cultivate.
"Hmm... This book says that if you want to cultivate, you must first be able to sense the spiritual energy of nature, but how do you sense it?"
"Ah. It seems almost dusk. I should go home before Mother worries."
The young man got up from the mountain grass. Along the way, he read about cultivation and almost bumped into a tree. He walked through a two-li-long bamboo forest that stretched along the path before finally arriving at the front of his house and entering the yard.
The young man slowly opened the wooden gate. In the yard, a woman was making clothes from silk fabric to sell.
"Xiao Jun, you're finally home. Mother was worried you'd be late," the woman said to the young man who had just entered the yard.
The young man was Xiao Jun. His family was quite wealthy in Ming Village. The Xiao Jun family was famous for owning an effective medicine shop, and besides the medicine shop, his family was also known for being the best clothing makers in the village.
Xiao Jun was known in the village as a good and obedient child to his parents. He always helped his father by picking some medicinal herbs in the mountains.
"Yes, Mother, I just finished picking some herbs for us to make medicine and then sell," Xiao Jun lowered the basket he was carrying, which contained several medicinal plants.
Xiao Jun ran to his mother with hopeful eyes. He crouched beside his mother, who was sewing clothes from silk fabric, his eyes sparkling as if expecting something.
"Xiao'er, what is it?" his mother looked at him with affection, her gentle hand touching Xiao Jun's head and stroking his hair slowly.
"Mother... Can I go out of the mountains and see the outside world? I also want to join a sect," his eyes twinkled as he waited for his mother's answer.
Since childhood, Xiao Jun had never left the mountains and the village. He was always curious about the outside world and the world of immortals.
His mother, who was sewing, suddenly stopped. She didn't give any answer at all.
Before his mother could answer, a middle-aged man approached them, a small smile visible on his face.
"Xiao'er, do you want to register for that sect?" The middle-aged man approached Xiao Jun and his mother from inside the house. He was quite sturdy, his body was rather large, and his clothes were slightly tattered.
"Why did you suddenly interrupt our conversation?" Xiao Jun's mother looked at the middle-aged man, slightly annoyed that he had suddenly interrupted their conversation.
The middle-aged man was Xiao Jun's father. He was the best graduate of the Imperial Alchemy School several years ago. He was also from the Dragon Human race and inherited a martial art that had been lost for about three hundred years: the Azure Dragon Art.
He also had a legacy from the previous Dragon Emperor. It was a sword and the primordial spirit of the Dragon Emperor himself. He intended to pass all of this on to Xiao Jun to protect him in the future.
Xiao Jun stood up excitedly and approached his father.
"Am I allowed, Father?" His eyes sparkled as he waited for his father's answer.
Xiao Jun's father hesitated to answer, but he still replied, his large hand ruffling Xiao Jun's hair, a slight smile on his face.
"Yes, if you want to, you're already about 15 years old."
"Can I also become an immortal cultivator like those outside the mountains?" Curiosity filled Xiao Jun, so he asked his father.
His mother stood up, leaving the clothes she was sewing. Her face was upset, and she spoke to both of them.
"Xiao'er, you must not join any sect!" his mother shouted at Xiao Jun and his father. His mother went inside the house after saying that, leaving the sewing behind.
Xiao Jun's father held Xiao Jun's shoulder, sighed heavily, and looked at him with a sad gaze.
"Xiao'er, did you hear what your mother said? Forgive Father," his father paused for a moment. "Father... cannot give you permission if your mother doesn't allow it."
Xiao Jun became sad hearing that. He had to postpone his dream. His father suddenly spoke again before going into the house.
"Father might be able to secretly teach you about martial arts and cultivation. Remember, this is a secret between the two of us. Don't let your mother know."
Xiao Jun, who was initially sad, now became a little happy because his father was willing to help him learn martial arts and cultivation.
The long day had ended, replaced by the glowing orange twilight. Cranes flew back to their nests.
The full moon illuminated the mountains, the sky a beautiful blue with sparkling stars.
Inside the house, dinner was ready, and the oil lamp had been lit, casting a faint glow. That night, the sound of crickets was louder than usual.
"Xiao'er, come eat!" his mother called for dinner.
"Yes, Mother, just a moment!" replied Xiao Jun, who was outside washing the herbs that his father would use to make medicine tomorrow.
Xiao Jun left the herbs and went inside the house. He sat at the dining table. The atmosphere at the table was a bit awkward because of the incident earlier in the evening.
His father, seeing the atmosphere, started a conversation at the dinner table to ease the tension.
"Xiao'er, have some more rice. We still have plenty of side dishes, don't waste them," said Xiao Jun's father, slightly nervous.
Xiao Jun's mother looked at his father with a sharp gaze. His father became flustered and immediately continued eating.
Xiao Jun's mother put his favorite sweet soy sauce meat into his bowl.
"Xiao Jun... I'm sorry, Mother," his mother said to Xiao Jun.
"What about, Mother?" Xiao Jun asked his mother, a little awkward.
"About... this afternoon. Mother got a little emotional with you, dear," his mother said, feeling a bit regretful for scolding him.
"Oh... It's okay, Mother. Forgive Xiao Jun too if he made Mother worry."
"No, no. You didn't do anything wrong. Mother is the one who should apologize. Forgive Mother, Xiao Jun," his mother lowered her head briefly and looked at Xiao Jun with affection, a sincere smile on her face.
"It's okay, Mother, forgive me too," Xiao Jun lowered his head slightly.
"Well, since the matter is settled, let's continue our meal, and then we'll rest and sleep," said his father with a smile.
They finished dinner and then rested in their respective rooms.
When Xiao Jun was in his room and just about to sleep, suddenly there was a knock on his door.
"Yes, yes. I'm coming, wait a moment."
He got out of bed and walked sleepily.
"Who could it be at this hour?" he mumbled, walking slowly towards the door.
Xiao Jun was already in front of his bedroom door. He opened it, slightly surprised to see that it was his father who had knocked.
"Father, why are you knocking on my door?" Xiao Jun asked, yawning tiredly.
"Don't you remember our promise this afternoon?" his father turned to ask Xiao Jun about earlier, his promise to teach him how to cultivate.
"Promise? What promise, Father? Xiao Jun is sleepy and wants to sleep," Xiao Jun forgot his father's promise and instead turned around to go to his bed and sleep.
"Are you serious? Well then, Father will go to sleep too and won't teach you about cultivation and becoming immortal," his father turned around and slowly began to walk away from Xiao Jun's room. He stopped his father because he had just remembered the promise.
"Father, wait! Yes, I remember our promise. Let's practice, Father," exclaimed Xiao Jun, running towards his father.
"Shh, don't be noisy. What if your mother finds out?" his father said. "Okay, if you remember, let's go up the mountain to train you. Are you ready?!"
Xiao Jun answered enthusiastically.
"Yes, Father, I'm ready!"
"Alright, let's go now!" exclaimed his father, raising his hand with a slight fist.
"Let's go!" Xiao Jun got ready and began to walk with his father up the mountain.
They walked past bamboo trees along the way before finally passing through large trees. They had only walked a few li from the path leading up the mountain when they were ambushed by mountain bandits.
"Stop! Quickly hand over your valuables, or we'll kill you!"
Said the bandits who emerged from the forest bushes. There were about five of them wearing face coverings and holding sharp weapons.
Xiao Jun's father immediately protected him.
"Xiao'er, hide behind Father!"
Xiao Jun nodded and immediately went behind his father's body.
"Defeat me first if you want to rob my treasures!" his father challenged the five bandits.
"Oh well, if that's what you want. I was going to let you go if you gave us your valuables. But... you chose the difficult path instead."
"Boys, let's teach this big guy a lesson!"