From the headwaters of Mount Longyun in Qinghe Province, the Zan River stretched across all the central southern provinces of the Great Four Rivers Region until it reached the sea. Its banks, wide enough for merchant vessels, served as the lifeblood of trade between the provinces.
Near the city of Shuiluo, south of Qinghe, a man sat by the riverbank. His hair was blue as the deep sea, his unkempt beard matched the same shade, and his clothes were tattered and filthy. His left arm was missing.
He stared at the water—not with sadness, but with cold calculation.
I need money. I need food. I need... anything.
He sighed. Starting from zero. Again. It wasn't the first time, and it likely wouldn't be the last.
Then, he saw his chance: a child with golden hair, dressed in fine silk, standing alone. The man's eyes gleamed—not with kindness, but with greed.
The Heavens haven't forgotten me! A golden-egg-laying hen right in front of me!
The man stood up, walking casually as if merely passing by. When he reached the child: A SWIFT MOVE. His right hand (the only one he had) shot straight for the child's coin pouch.
Got it—
But his hand wouldn't budge. He tried to pull back, but nothing happened. He looked down: the child was holding his wrist with two fingers. Only two.
The boy offered a small, knowing smile. — Trying something?
The man tried to wrench himself free—it was impossible. What strength... He pulled with all his might, but his power wavered, and the child didn't even sway.
— You... — the man broke into a cold sweat — are you a cultivator?
The child let go—and the man was sent flying ten feet back. He CRASHED against a tree, slumped to the ground, and coughed.
DAMN IT.
He scrambled up. The child was still there, standing still, merely observing him.
— Forgive me, Young Master! — the man bowed low — I didn't know you were—
— You knew — the boy cut him off.
The man froze.
— You felt my Qi. You knew I was a cultivator. And you tried anyway.
A pause.
— Why?
The man remained silent for a moment, then let out a humorless laugh. Internally, he wailed: What I thought was a golden hen is an immeasurable mountain. Heavens, what did I ever do to you?
— Because... — he looked at his missing arm — I have nothing left to lose.
The child tilted his head. — Hm. What is your name?
The man hesitated. — Liang Feng.
— Liang Feng — Sai repeated. — What happened to your left arm?
Liang Feng paused. Strange. Why do I feel compelled to tell him my story? Sai's eyes twinkled with interest.
— Liang Feng? — the boy prompted.
— The truth is, I stole from my crew — he confessed, devoid of shame. — In the end, because of our years together, they let me go.
He coughed, correcting himself.
— But they wanted a memento to remember me by.
Sai nodded, his expression unchanging. Liang Feng stared at him. What on earth is this kid?
— And now? — Sai asked.
— Now, I start over. As always.
Sai began to walk in a circle around him, inspecting him like a piece of livestock.
— You have no shame.
— None.
— You have no loyalty.
— That depends on the pay.
— You have no morals.
Liang Feng gave a crooked smile. — Morals don't fill a stomach.
Sai stopped directly in front of him.
— Do you want to be my disciple?
Liang Feng blinked, then burst out laughing. — You? — he pointed — A brat?
— Yes.
— No thanks — Liang Feng turned away. — I'd rather starve.
— Are you sure?
— Absolute. I'm not bowing down to a chi—
Sai released it—just a fraction, but it was enough. The Manifested Soul.
The air FROZE.
Liang Feng felt an IMMENSE pressure, as if a mountain had dropped onto his shoulders. He fell to his knees, gasping for air, but his lungs wouldn't expand.
What KIND OF...
He looked up. The child was still there, but now, behind him: something. An ethereal form glowing gold—a figure seated, eyes closed, serene. But the PRESSURE was suffocating.
Liang Feng trembled. This... this is...
It wasn't Qi Absorption. It wasn't Foundation Establishment. It was BEYOND.
The pressure vanished. Liang Feng collapsed, breathing desperately, sweat pouring off him. He looked at the child—no, it wasn't a child. It was a MONSTER in disguise.
— So? — Sai asked. — Still prefer to starve?
Liang Feng didn't hesitate—he threw himself flat on his face, forehead hitting the dirt.
— I ACCEPT! Please! Accept me as your disciple!
No pride, no dignity—only survival. Because Liang Feng understood one thing: Power. And this brat had far too much of it.
Sai looked down and smiled. — Stand up.
Liang Feng rose, his head still bowed.
— From today — Sai began — you are my fourth disciple.
— Yes, Master!
Sai nodded.
— Good. Now, come. We have a mountain to climb and foundations to correct.
He began to walk. Liang Feng followed, his mind still reeling. Did I just become the disciple of an IMMORTAL?
He looked at his missing arm and grinned. Best deal I ever made. Finally, he looked toward the heavens—a single tear tracing a path down his right cheek.
HEAVENS, I TAKE IT BACK! THE HEN HAS GOLDEN EGGS!
He smiled for the first time in weeks—genuinely.