1. Wind Rises, Night Unending
The night had yet to end, and the lanterns still glowed faintly. The bustle of Luodeng Alley seemed like a dream that had never existed. The flames had died, the cold wind howled through the alley, and the wooden window of the Shen Apothecary had split open. The fluttering paper seemed like a nightmare baring its fangs.
Shen Qingyuan lay half-curled behind a medicine cabinet, his palm tightly clutching a blood-stained letter. His knuckles were white from the force, veins bulging, his inner shirt soaked with a mix of sweat and chill wind.
The air still reeked of killing intent.
He looked at the shattered medicine counter, at the flickering lamplight on the floor, and at the blood on Qian Santong's forehead. His heart pounded like a drum, the only sound in his ears the thumping echo—as though the bell of fate were being struck.
Qian Santong sat on the floor, panting heavily, one hand pressed against his chest, blood seeping between his fingers.
"Uncle Qian, are you badly hurt?"
"I'll live," the old man managed a grin between gasps. "But if you don't learn to hide soon, the one who dies next will be you."
Shen Qingyuan remained silent. He tucked the bloodletter into his pocket and pulled out the medicine box, quickly taking out wound powder and herbs to bandage Qian Santong.
"You know martial arts," he said quietly.
"A bit," Qian Santong closed his eyes. "I was your master's junior back in the day. I left the martial world for medicine because I couldn't endure the hardships. That was before you were born."
"That assassin… was coming for me?"
"The bloodletter is in your hands, so yes." Qian Santong's gaze turned cold. "Ziyuan Tower, the Kill List, the Blade List, Shadow Gate… none of them care who you are. They follow the bloodletter. Now, you are their target."
"But I'm just an apprentice."
"But you're surnamed Shen."
—Surnamed Shen, so what?
Shen Qingyuan repeated the words silently in his heart.
2. The Past of Severed Souls
After drinking a bowl of medicated wine, Qian Santong slowly spoke.
"Do you know that the Shen family was never just a pharmacy?"
Shen Qingyuan shook his head.
"The Shen family once descended from the 'Healer's Shadow Hall,' one of the Three Shadow Guards of the Great Chu court," Qian Santong sighed. "On the surface, they healed the sick, but beneath that lay lethal secrets. They were the most mysterious branch of the imperial dark forces. Your great master Shen Zhongren once poisoned thirteen northern tribes in a single night, leaving no trace."
"Healers… killing people?"
"This is the martial world," Qian Santong looked out the window. "The Shadow Guards walk in the dark—blades cloaked in shadow."
"My parents… were they also part of the Healer's Shadow Hall?"
"They were. When you were three, the 'Soul Severing Blade' resurfaced, and chaos swept the martial world. All factions fought for it. One night, the entire Healer's Shadow Hall was wiped out. Your parents died protecting you. Your master risked everything to escape with you and has hidden here in Luodeng Alley for over ten years."
Shen Qingyuan lowered his head in silence.
"Your name, 'Qingyuan,' means 'souls severed return to the deep, peace returns to the martial world.'"
He whispered, "But peace never came."
"Because the Soul Severing Blade has yet to be drawn."
Qian Santong's voice grew soft, yet carried weight. "That blade… it is the most dangerous weapon in the world. Not just a weapon—it is fate."
3. The Killing Returns
By midnight, the wind outside grew fiercer.
"What happened tonight means you can't stay in Luoyang," Qian Santong said grimly. "You have to leave."
"Where?"
"Seek the 'Tower of Heaven's Secrets.'"
"Heaven's Secrets Tower?"
"They're the only ones who dare deal with the remnants of the Shadow Guard. If you can find the Tower Master, you might uncover the truth behind the bloodletter."
Qian Santong took out a wooden token, carved with the single character: "Return (归)."
"Take this. Travel upstream along the Luo River, enter the dense forests of Mount Song. Within three days, if fate spares you, someone may answer your call."
Shen Qingyuan took the token as if holding a mountain.
"What about you?"
"I'll stay." Qian Santong wiped the blood from his brow. "This old life isn't worth much, but if I can hold off a wave of killers, it'll be worth it."
"But I—"
"You're not just of the Shen family. You are the Shen family's blade. Shen Buyu kept you alive for ten years not to let you die in a medicine shop."
Shen Qingyuan froze, teeth clenched.
4. Night Flight from Luoyang
He changed into night gear, packed rations, herbs, and the token. The bloodletter was wrapped in oilcloth and sewn into his inner garments. At the third watch of the night, he slipped out the back window and into the alley.
Though he'd never practiced formal martial arts, years of growing up among medicinal fumes made him agile and able to hide his breath. He weaved through Luodeng Alley, then to Liu Alley in the east, and toward the Luo River docks.
But just as he stepped onto the stone bridge, a soft chuckle sounded beneath it:
"Descendant of the Shen family, bold indeed, to attempt escape alone."
His heart tightened, fingers brushing the poison darts in his sleeve.
A shadow stirred in the river's reflection. A figure rose gracefully—a young man in dark clothes with a three-foot thin sword, eyes full of scorn.
"Who are you?"
"Qinghong Tower, Kill List number seven—Han Lingxue."
"Another one from the Kill List…" Shen Qingyuan gritted his teeth.
Han Lingxue smiled. "What you carry could start a massacre. The martial world won't let you go. I won't kill you yet. I just want to know—what's written in that letter?"
"Come take it."
"Good courage!" Han Lingxue thrust his sword like lightning!
Shen Qingyuan flung his sleeve—poison darts shot out! Han Lingxue dodged like a ghost and slashed the bridge lantern with a single swipe!
Sparks flew. Shen Qingyuan slipped into the riverside forest.
"Just a mere apprentice, trying to resist?" Han sneered.
Without a word, Shen Qingyuan activated a hidden "Drunken Fragrance Powder."
A thick, wine-scented mist rose. Han's expression shifted and he backed off three steps.
"Well played, little apothecary," he mocked. "Next time, I'll take your life myself."
With that, he vanished like a heron over water.
Shen Qingyuan collapsed, gasping.
He knew—he had truly stepped into the martial world.
After Han fled, he forced himself up, following the river westward through the night until he reached the edge of Mount Song before dawn.
The forest loomed ancient and dense. Mist wound through the trees like silk—eerily silent, cold.
Holding the "Return" token, he found a quiet stone path. The wind howled, no birds cried. It was as if the world held only him.
Not far in, he heard water flowing—and faint flute music.
Creeping closer, he saw a woman in blue robes sitting cross-legged by a stream, playing a sorrowful tune.
He turned to leave, but she called out:
"You carry the Return Token. Why not come forward?"
Startled, he turned and bowed. "Shen Qingyuan. I seek the Tower of Heaven's Secrets."
She nodded slightly. "You are three incense sticks late. Any later, you would have been lost forever in the 'Phantom Mist Forest.'"
"Phantom Mist Forest?"
"This is an old Shadow Gate formation. After three days, the mists induce illusions—trapping the soul forever. Your token protected you. And your body… carries medicine qi."
"You're of the Tower?"
"I'm the Tower's Vice Envoy—Luo Xue."
6. Forest Killing Trap
Before Shen Qingyuan could ask more, birds shrieked outside the forest.
"They're here," Luo Xue's face darkened. She drew her long needles.
"Who?"
"Three killers from 'Flowing Light Temple.'"
Three figures burst from the forest.
The leader wore white, face handsome, twin blades on his back—Kill List rank five: Nie Changfeng. Known as "Twin Shadows of Death," his ambidextrous blades struck with lightning speed.
Beside him stood twin masked women with daggers—"The Twin Crows of Flowing Light," poison assassins both.
"Shen Qingyuan, give us the bloodletter and we'll spare your life," said Nie. His voice was like icy springwater.
Shen Qingyuan tensed. Luo Xue stepped in front of him, eyes like frost. "He bears the Return Token. You cannot touch him."
"A token?" Nie sneered. "Heaven's Secrets Tower is no longer the Shadow Gate. You think a wooden token can protect him?"
Luo Xue said nothing. With a wave, three bronze pillars rose from the ground, etched in runes and glowing.
"Heaven's Machine Formation—Form of Fire."
In a flash, her needles shot out at the Twin Crows!
Shen Qingyuan backed off, watching the battle. Though outnumbered, Luo Xue's movement was ghostly, needles coiling like serpents.
The trio didn't dare hold back. Blades, poison, and hidden weapons flashed—filling the forest with chaos.
He realized: Luo Xue was buying time.
Sure enough, moments later, three more figures arrived.
At their head was a man in black, holding a white bone folding fan. Upon its surface—nine serpents and scorpions.
"The Tower Lord—Bai Jingyi," Luo Xue called out.
Shen Qingyuan's heart jumped.
With a flick of his fan, golden threads burst forth, forming a web of light.
"Eight Directions Spirit-Sealing Formation—activate."
Nie's face twisted. "Retreat!"
But as he turned, the light trapped him like a swamp.
In moments, all three assassins were defeated and captured.
Shen Qingyuan watched in awe. This was true martial combat—not like anything he'd ever seen before.
7. The Tower's Judgment
After the battle, he was led to the Tower of Heaven's Secrets.
Hidden in a secret valley of Mount Song, the tower had nine levels. Only envoys and the Tower Lord could ascend.
He entered the third floor: the Hall of Fated Threads. Fragrance hung thick, and traps lay hidden.
Bai Jingyi sat at the head. Luo Xue stood nearby. Two white-haired elders flanked them.
Shen Qingyuan presented the bloodletter.
Upon reading it, Bai Jingyi's expression changed. "This must not fall into enemy hands."
Luo Xue whispered, "My lord… the letter says the Soul Severing Blade has been reforged—is it true?"
Bai Jingyi sighed. "The blade was forged by the Healer's Hall and Shadow Gate together. Shen Zhongren last held it. Twenty years ago, it shattered—one piece lost in the west, one buried in Tianyin Valley. The third…"
He looked at Shen Qingyuan.
"Is inside you."
The room fell silent.
"Inside… me?"
Bai Jingyi nodded. "When you were gravely wounded as a child, Shen Buyu melted the blade's remnant and sealed it in your 'Life Palace' acupoint. That's why you can endure medicine and poison. And why everyone wants to kill you—not for the letter, but for you."
Shen Qingyuan staggered, chills running through him.
He wasn't just a medicine boy. He was a fragment of a legendary blade.
"If you can reforge this blade, the fate of the martial world will rest with you."
"And if I can't?"
Bai Jingyi's gaze turned icy.
"Then you die by the blade. And the martial world bleeds for another thirty years."
8. The Blade Enters the Dream
That night, Shen Qingyuan sat alone in a hidden pavilion behind the tower, his thoughts a turbulent storm.
In his dreams, he wandered into a lake of blood. On the water floated a broken blade, wreathed in crimson mist.
He reached for it, but the blade dissolved into shadow and fused into his palm.
"Child of Shen… by bearing this blade, there is no turning back."
A whisper echoed in his ear, ancient and near.
"The Soul Severing Blade… is no tool for killing—it is a blade to judge the soul."
He awoke drenched in sweat.
Dawn had already come.
(End of Chapter Two)