Now at twelve years old, Ye Tian had already become the silent rumor that ran through the Ye Clan's courtyards — the boy who trained when the moon was high, who disappeared into the forest at dusk and returned with eyes too sharp for his age. The clan's elders called it "gifted talent." The younger disciples called it something else: unnatural.
But Ye Tian cared little for whispers. Every night was a battlefield, every breath a measured step toward power.
Tonight, the night smelled of rain and blood.
A storm rolled over the horizon as he stood atop the training plateau, the faint glow of moonlight cutting through the clouds. The Night Immortal System pulsed softly within him, each beat syncing with the thrum of his heart.
> [Night Cultivation System Active]
[Shadow Vein Expansion: 62% Complete]
[New Skill Available – Moonstep Technique]
The air shimmered faintly around him. Ye Tian took a slow breath, closed his eyes, and stepped forward.
In an instant, he vanished.
The next heartbeat — whoosh! — he reappeared several meters away, his movement nothing but a flicker of shadow. Lightning illuminated his form as he continued, one step, two, then ten — each motion more fluid, more silent, until even the wind seemed to hesitate around him.
Watching from beneath a covered pavilion, Ye Xiuying clutched the hem of her cloak. Her brother no longer looked like a child. His movements were too precise, his aura too cold. But when he turned, that faint smile — distant yet gentle — was still there.
"Xiuying," he said quietly, sheathing his training dagger. "You've been watching me every night."
She blinked, startled. "I—I just wanted to learn like you."
Ye Tian approached her, resting a hand on her head. "Then remember this," he said, voice low. "Strength is built when no one is watching. If you fear the dark, learn to see within it."
The rain began to fall, slow and heavy. Ye Tian stood silently, letting the droplets run down his hair. His thoughts, however, were already far from the clan's courtyard — toward the upcoming Clan Youth Trials.
They were to begin in two weeks. A rite of passage, one where the disciples of the Ye Clan would prove their worth. For Ye Tian, it was not a test — it was an opportunity.
---
The night of the trials arrived under a clear moon. Disciples gathered in the main arena, their auras bright, full of nervous energy. Ye Tian stood among them, calm as still water.
When his turn came, the elders murmured quietly. "Ye Tian, age twelve, representing the Shadow Branch," one announced.
A snicker came from one of the older boys — Ye Ming, the favored grandson of an elder. "The ghost child dares to compete?" he mocked, spinning his blade lazily. "Let's see how far your tricks take you."
Ye Tian didn't respond. When the gong sounded, he simply moved.
Ye Ming lunged forward — confident, loud, predictable. Ye Tian sidestepped, his body dissolving into darkness. A breath later, he appeared behind Ye Ming, palm pressed to his spine.
Crack!
A burst of qi sent Ye Ming sprawling into the dirt, coughing blood. The crowd gasped, the elders whispering in shock. Ye Tian's expression remained blank.
> [Combat Prediction Successful: Probability of Victory – 99.8%]
He bowed slightly to the judges and turned away.
"Technique: flawless. Movement: unreadable," one elder murmured. Another added, "He cultivates too fast. His night-based qi control is unheard of."
They didn't know that his cultivation was not driven by talent — but by an unrelenting will honed over two lifetimes.
---
That night, under the glow of the waxing moon, Ye Tian stood atop the clan walls, looking over the silent valleys beyond. Ye Xiuying joined him quietly, her small figure wrapped in a white cloak.
"Brother," she whispered, "you're getting stronger so fast. Everyone's afraid of you now."
Ye Tian's eyes stayed fixed on the distant horizon. "Fear is good. It keeps them from acting foolishly."
"But doesn't it make you lonely?"
For a moment, his gaze softened. The assassin in him wanted to scoff, but the brother — the faint human piece still buried beneath — spoke instead.
"I don't need their company," he said slowly. "Only yours. You're the reason I still remember what warmth feels like."
Ye Xiuying looked up, blinking in surprise. Her brother rarely said such things. He turned away, his expression once again unreadable.
"The world beyond the clan will not care for our kindness. So before that day comes," he said, voice steady, "I will make sure no one can touch you."
The wind howled past the stone walls, carrying the scent of rain-soaked pine and iron.
Somewhere far below, an elder watched the siblings from the shadows, eyes narrowing. "That boy… he'll either lead the clan to glory or destroy it."
Ye Tian felt it — the gaze, the doubt — and smiled faintly into the dark.
"Let them choose their side," he murmured. "When night falls… all are equal beneath its shadow."
And with that, the boy vanished once more, his figure melting into the moonlight, a silent promise echoing behind him.
The night remembers everything. And Ye Tian… was born of it.