The world was veiled in a somber haze, the sky heavy with brooding clouds. The scent of impending rain lingered in the air, carried by the restless wind. The distant peaks of Wa-San Mountain had long faded into the horizon.
Along the winding forest path, a lone figure trudged forward with weary steps—a young man, clad in tattered robes, his threadbare clothing frayed at the edges. A simple bamboo hat hung at his back, his only companion. This youth, known only as *Monkey*, had abandoned his birthplace, his gaze fixed upon a single destination: the Kun-Son family estate, nestled near the ruins of the old capital, Chan-An.
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### **The Kun-Son Family...**
In the martial world, the Kun-Son name was no trivial matter. Renowned for their peerless combat skills, striking beauty, and refined cultural prowess, they stood at the pinnacle of prestige. Every member of the family carried themselves with arrogance, their pride as unyielding as steel. They valued honor above all else—cross them, whether by ignorance or intent, and they would hunt you to the ends of the earth. The lightest punishment they bestowed was death.
Yet, their pride was not unfounded.
The Kun-Son bloodline was said to be blessed with ethereal grace—men so handsome they were dubbed *Prince of Elegance*, women so exquisite they were called *Goddess of Beauty*. Their martial arts surpassed even the great sects of Shao-Lin, Wu-Tang, and Hua-Mei. The family's signature technique, *The Soul-Stealing Gale Blade*, was famed for its fluid, dance-like precision, its movements as seamless as flowing water.
The current patriarch, Kun-Son Yang, and his wife, Lady Qing Yun, had three children. The youngest daughter, Kun-Son Yun Ao, had once been a legend in the martial world—her brilliance unmatched, her beauty unparalleled. She had inherited the full depth of her family's blade arts, excelling not only in combat but also in poetry, music, and calligraphy. Her name alone had elevated the Kun-Son legacy to new heights.
Yet, seventeen years ago, she vanished without a trace.
At the same time, the Kun-Son family severed all ties with the martial world.
What tragedy had befallen her? What secrets lay buried?
No one dared to ask.
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### **The Arrival**
Crimson twilight bathed the land as the scent of blossoms drifted on the evening breeze. Birds returned to their nests, and the world settled into tranquil harmony. From afar, the Kun-Son village resembled a great dragon coiled in slumber.
The path leading into the village twisted like a serpent, ending before the grand estate of the Kun-Son family—a sprawling compound, its towering gates and ornate halls exuding an air of untouchable majesty.
And there, standing before those gates, was a ragged figure.
His face was gaunt, his eyes burning with quiet fury. His lips were pressed into a thin line, as though sealing away a storm of emotions.
This was *Monkey*.
A boy who had walked for three months—without martial arts, without wealth, without allies. How had he survived such a journey?
Only the heavens knew.
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### **The Guardian's Test**
A guard emerged from the watchtower, his crimson uniform pristine, his gaze sharp.
*"Beggars aren't allowed here, boy. Go to the village temple if you want food. If the masters see you, you'll regret it."*
His tone carried a reluctant kindness, as though he pitied the fool before him.
Monkey smiled faintly. *"Uncle, I've come from Wa-San Mountain. I need to speak with the Kun-Son patriarch. It's urgent."*
The guard scoffed. *"The master doesn't entertain guests. Leave before you get hurt."*
*"I have questions that need answers,"* Monkey insisted. *"I won't leave until I get them."*
The guard's patience snapped. *"Fine. If you can get past me, I'll take you to him."*
He struck—a palm strike, swift and brutal.
Monkey barely dodged.
But the guard's fingers twisted mid-motion, driving into his chest like a spear.
A sickening crack echoed as Monkey was hurled backward, blood spraying from his lips.
The guard, Wan Tu—*The Flashblade*—was no ordinary fighter. Even holding back, his strike could kill a normal man.
Yet Monkey lived.
*"You… you have internal energy?"* Wan Tu muttered, stunned. *"But no martial skill?"*
He sighed, tossing Monkey a healing pill. *"Take this. It's the Kun-Son's injury remedy. You'll live."*
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### **The Truth Unveiled**
Inside the grand hall, three figures sat upon thrones.
The patriarch, Kun-Son Yang—regal, unyielding.
The matriarch, Lady Qing Yun—cold, imperious.
And between them, a woman in her thirties—her beauty untouched by time, her eyes like frozen daggers.
Kun-Son Yun Ao.
Monkey's mother.
*"So,"* the patriarch's voice boomed, *"you are Wu Li's grandson. The oath-breaker let you live. Be grateful. Leave now, and never speak our name again. If you do… we will silence you forever."*
Monkey's voice was steady. *"Two questions. Then I'll go."*
*"First… did my mother agree to kill me?"*
"Second… where is my father?"
A chilling silence fell.
Then Yun Ao spoke, her voice like winter's breath.
"I'll answer. We all saw you as a curse. I agreed to your death. Only Wu Li's plea spared you—on the condition you never learned martial arts."
"As for your father…" Her fingers tightened. We've hunted him for seventeen years. His skills surpass even mine. I lost to him in a single move."
Monkey exhaled.
The thorn in his heart had been pulled out.
Yet in its place, a new one festered—rage.
The rage of the powerless.
The rage of the abandoned.
And rage, unchecked, destroys all in its path.
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