Shou Man followed the narrow path that wound toward the awakening ceremony grounds. The road sloped gently upward, and in the far distance, the high gates of the inner clan rose like a wall between two worlds.
The gate stood tall and proud, its heavy wood reinforced with bands of black steel. Carved patterns of dragons and phoenixes ran along its surface, gleaming faintly under the morning sun. A faint trace of spiritual pressure lingered in the air here, enough to make an ordinary person's chest feel tight.
Two guards in silver armor stood at either side, long spears resting easily in their hands. Their eyes were sharp, scanning each passerby with the calm arrogance of those who knew they stood at the threshold of privilege.
As Shou Man approached, both spears shifted to block his way.
"Little boy," one guard said, his tone neither kind nor cruel, simply cold, "where are you going?"
Shou Man hesitated. His steps faltered, and for a heartbeat, the years between now and his childhood seemed to blur.
He remembered — he was six then, small and thin, his robe torn at the hem. He had wandered close to this very gate, eyes wide with curiosity, dreaming of seeing the paradise beyond. The guards had stopped him, not with words, but with force. A single kick had sent him sprawling onto the dirt road outside. The pain had burned through his ribs for days, but the humiliation had burned far longer.
That day, something inside him had hardened. It was the day he learned that in this world, mortals were like ants — too small to matter. If a cultivator crushed one, no one would care. If a thousand were crushed, no one would remember.
The memory passed, and his jaw tightened. Without a word, he reached into his robe and drew out a small token, its surface marked with the emblem of the awakening ceremony.
The guard's gaze flicked to it, then he stepped aside with a slight nod.
"You may enter."
He did not recognize the boy he had once kicked into the dirt. Why would he? An ant stepped on years ago was hardly worth remembering.
But Shou Man remembered. Every detail. Every word. Every bruise.
He stepped past the gates.
And then—he stopped.
The world before him opened like a dream.
The rough dirt paths of the outer area were gone. Here, the streets were paved in smooth jade bricks, shining faintly under the morning light.
Inner clan
Beyond the great stone gates, the world changed.
The streets here were paved with smooth jade bricks, each one cool and shining under the morning light. Gentle streams flowed along the roadsides, so clear you could see every grain of sand at the bottom. Their waters carried lotus blossoms, petals drifting like small boats, while golden koi swam lazily beneath.
Willow trees lined the paths, their green threads swaying and dipping into the water. Gardens overflowed with flowers in every hue — red peonies burning like little suns, pale orchids glowing like frozen moonlight, and roses that shimmered faintly, as if holding a bit of starlight within their petals.
The houses stood tall and graceful, built from white stone and dark sandalwood. Curved roofs swept upward like the wings of cranes, and in their courtyards, small waterfalls tumbled over mossy rocks. The air smelled of fruit trees heavy with golden and jade-like fruit, their fragrance warm and sweet.
Far in the distance, a crystal pagoda rose toward the sky, its tiers catching the sunlight until it shone like a tower made of light itself. Above it, rainbow-feathered birds circled lazily, their calls mingling with the soft chimes of wind-bells swaying in the breeze.
Here, the air felt lighter, fresher. Every breath seemed to wash away weariness and fill the heart with calm. For a mortal from the outer area, this was more than beauty — it was a dream given form.
Shou Man slowed his steps without meaning to.
His eyes widened slightly, the deep blue in them catching the reflected light of jade streets and flowing water. For a moment, his gaze wandered from the crystal streams to the rainbow-feathered birds above, drinking in every detail as if afraid he might never see it again.
The morning breeze brought with it the scent of lotus and ripe fruit, and he drew in a slow breath, letting it linger in his lungs. His shoulders, usually straight with stubborn resolve, eased for a heartbeat — just enough to betray that this place stirred something in him.
--
Seeing the place, he froze in his steps.
"Have I stepped into heaven?" he wondered. The air here was softer, the colors brighter, as if the world itself had been painted by the hands of a god. Flowers bloomed in quiet pride, their fragrance drifting like whispers through the breeze. Crystal-clear streams curled between stone paths, and ancient trees stretched toward the sky like guardians of a forgotten paradise.
"It's like this… this is a land made for the divine alone," he thought, his heart trembling. "I never dreamed such beauty could exist in this world."
But beneath that quiet awe, a shadow passed over his expression. His lips pressed into a thin line, and the warmth in his eyes cooled into something sharper. He knew this beauty wasn't meant for people like him. Every polished stone, every blooming flower seemed to whisper of the walls that kept him and his mother outside.
Shou Man's gaze swept over the jade streets, the drifting lotus petals, the elegant courtyards.
This… he thought, his steps slowing for a moment.
This is the place where Father and Mother once lived. The place Mother truly deserves. But now… we live in a worn house, on a cracked street, far from this beauty. One day— his fingers curled into a fist at his side —I will bring her back here. And we will live here again.
The oath took root in his heart like a seed planted deep in rich soil, unshakable, already reaching toward the future.
Around him, the streets were alive with voices. Men and women in fine robes strolled by, their words light and full of excitement.
"—The awakening ceremony will be grand this year."
"They say it will be held in Ember Will Garden itself…"
"I heard one of the elder's sons might awaken a high-grade flame!"
Shou Man kept walking, his footsteps steady as he followed the road toward Ember Will Garden. The morning sun spilled over the rooftops, and the sound of water flowing beside the street was like a quiet song.
Then—
"Oi, Shou Man," a voice called out, his name twisted and dragged through the dirt with mocking tone, "you lost, outer-rat?"
The words cracked through the calm like a thrown stone.
Four boys stepped into view from the other side of the street, all dressed in bright, fine robes that spoke of comfort and status. They moved as one, but the tallest among them stood at the center, his chin slightly raised, an air of casual arrogance in every step.
Shou Man's face darkened at the sight of him. His eyes, which moments ago held quiet determination, now narrowed like a blade finding its target. He had no need to ask the boy's name—this was someone he could never forget.
They were the same age, but that boy's father held influence in the outer area, a name even recognized by Flame Masters. His family's shadow stretched far, giving him the confidence to trample over others without fear.
To Shou Man, his presence was like the echo of an old wound — something that never healed, something he did not wish to see, yet could not avoid.
The tall boy smirked, stepping forward while his companions laughed behind him. "Didn't expect to see you here, trash. The awakening ceremony isn't for ants, you know."
Shou Man's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Inside, his resolve hardened a little more.
------