Qijia City

After Elder Brother left, ten-year-old Qin Fengming seemed to see the direction his life should take. He began going into the mountains with his father every day to hunt and train his strength. His mother spent no small sum on him as well, deliberately making his meals more nutritious.

Four months flew by in the blink of an eye. One day, while Qin Fengming was training his strength on a small hill outside the village, he heard from his companions that Elder Brother Qin Xiang had returned home.

Upon hearing this, Qin Fengming knew that the time had come for him to leave home.

With ten-year-old Qin Fengming leaving home alone, the Qin Family naturally had many words of advice for him. Yet after saying it all, there were no more than two main points: first, always keep an extra eye open around people and never trust others too easily; second, endure and yield when trouble arose. If he was not selected or could not bear the hardship, he should return home.

Qin Fengming nodded again and again with utmost obedience. Watching his parents and family grow farther and farther away, yet still stand at the edge of the village and wave without stopping, tears streamed endlessly down Qin Fengming's face as well.

Qijia City's walls were built entirely from enormous mountain stones. The city itself was unimaginably vast, stretching beyond the eye's reach.

A tall gate tower stood at the city entrance, weapons glinting brightly from above it. Outside the city ran a broad moat, extending into the distance alongside the walls. Water rushed through the ravine, its bottom impossible to see, making it appear exceedingly deep. At this moment, more than a dozen soldiers were maintaining order at the gate.

Without hesitation, Qin Xiang briefly greeted the guards and urged his warhorse straight into the city.

Looking at the towering city, countless times larger than Tenglong Town, Qin Fengming felt as though his eyes were not enough to take it all in.

Standing on the main street, Qin Fengming wore a look of astonishment. Qijia City was the largest city within two hundred li, and it was naturally prosperous beyond measure.

People flowed along the streets without end, an unbroken stream. They wore clothing of every color and looked exceedingly well-dressed. Shops stood shoulder to shoulder on both sides of the street, their goods strange and rare, with everything one could wish for. Qin Fengming could barely take it all in.

Qin Xiang did not linger on the street. Instead, he urged his horse onward, winding through turns and corners until they entered a small courtyard.

"Third Brother, rest here for now. Elder Brother still needs to report to the military camp. There are too many people on the streets, so do not leave this courtyard, lest you get lost." After settling Qin Fengming in, Qin Xiang needed to head to the military camp to report.

"Mm, Elder Brother, go ahead and attend to your work. Your little brother understands." Though Qin Fengming was only ten, he did not feel restrained in the least.

It was nearly evening when Qin Xiang returned. Seeing Qin Fengming sitting quietly in the courtyard, he smiled faintly and led Qin Fengming directly to a restaurant.

The moment they entered, a waiter warmly called out, "Master Qin, you've arrived. Please head upstairs."

This was Qin Fengming's first time entering such a bustling restaurant. Following behind Qin Xiang, his eyes continually wandered in every direction.

"The usual, plus a chicken stewed with codonopsis root."

Qin Xiang led Qin Fengming straight to a table beside the window and immediately gave the order to the waiter.

Seeing how composed Elder Brother was, Qin Fengming could not help but yearn for it.

"Third Brother, after traveling these past few days, you must be tired. Over the next several days, rest well and prepare yourself for the entry examination." Qin Xiang looked at his young Third Brother with eyes full of affection.

"Elder Brother, I understand. Please rest assured. In this Luoxia Valley selection, I will definitely be chosen." Qin Fengming raised his youthful face, a trace of stubbornness and extraordinary determination flashing in his eyes.

Over the following days, Qin Fengming did not idle away his time. Every day, he kept jumping atop the stone benches in the small courtyard to maintain his physical strength.

On the afternoon of the eighth day, Qin Xiang, who had never before returned home early, pushed open the door and entered with great excitement. "Third Brother, the people from Luoxia Valley who have come to receive the new disciples arrived today. Tomorrow is the day you will leave."

Hearing Elder Brother's words, Qin Fengming knew that the day of his departure had arrived. His young heart was filled with both joy and fear. What lay ahead was beyond what someone his age could grasp.

After breakfast the next day, Qin Xiang handed Qin Fengming a bag filled with dried provisions and several changes of clothes. "Third Brother, once you leave today, you alone will have to face dangerous roads. As much as possible, do not rely on others. The world is vast, and there are many people with unfathomable hearts. Thus, be careful and cautious in all things, and think thrice before acting."

Listening to Elder Brother's words, young Qin Fengming could not understand all of them, but he still bit his lip and nodded heavily. "Mm, Elder Brother, I'll remember. You must take care as well."

Outside Qijia City's northern gate, the scene was a boiling cauldron of voices and extraordinary bustle. Everywhere, there were words of advice and encouragement.

Qin Xiang brought Qin Fengming before a stern-looking man clad in a green robe and respectfully said, "Third Brother, this is Lord Commander. Hurry and step forward to pay your respects."

Before Qin Fengming could even see the man's face clearly, his body had already dropped to its knees. "Greetings, Lord Commander."

Seeing how obedient Qin Fengming was, the Commander was exceedingly pleased. "Mm, very good. Your little brother is quite clever and spirited. He will surely achieve something in the future."

"These children are also here to take part in this selection. Once you are together, help one another. I hope all of you will be chosen by Luoxia Valley."

Following the Commander's finger, Qin Fengming saw seven children about his own age.

After glancing at Elder Brother, Qin Fengming moved his feet and went to stand among the seven children.

"Everyone, quiet down. All children participating in the selection are to board the large carts ahead. Eight per cart. No shouting." Just as Qin Xiang was about to offer Qin Fengming a few more words of advice, a big man in purple standing nearby suddenly spoke in a ringing voice. His voice was not loud, yet everyone present heard him with crystal clarity.

At these words, several dozen children reluctantly parted from their parents and stepped forward to board the carriages. Led by a Burly Man, Qin Fengming and the other seven children climbed into the carriage at the center. After waving farewell to Elder Brother, Qin Fengming ducked into the carriage canopy.

There were forty-seven candidates recommended by Qijia City in total, divided among six carriages. More than a dozen Burly Men traveled alongside them, riding horses on either side as guards. There was no clamor from the entire procession, and it appeared exceptionally orderly.

Once Qin Fengming and the others set off, nearly two months passed in a flash.

During that time, Qin Fengming had become familiar with the other seven children in his carriage. All seven children of the same age came from military families in Qijia City.

One was the nephew of a Deputy Commander, named Duan Meng. Two were sons of Commanders of a Thousand, named Zhang Li and Wei Boqiang. Another was the grandson of a military camp registrar, named Zhang Changming. The remaining two were sons of Commanders of a Hundred, one named Xu Liang and the other Li Da. Duan Meng was the oldest among them, already twelve this year.

That day, after the group arrived at an inn in a large town, they stopped before a restaurant. The big man in purple ordered the warhorses unharnessed, then shouted, "All children, get down from the carriages. We will rest here today and enter Luoxia Valley early tomorrow morning."

Hearing that they would reach their destination the next day, Qin Fengming's heart filled with a trace of joy.

At dusk the next day, the convoy entered a great mountain range. In the distance, a massive gray peak thrust upward, surrounded by several dozen smaller stone peaks standing tall. The peaks were ink-blue in color, appearing exceptionally magnificent.

The horsemen stopped before a plaza at the foot of a tall gate tower. The Burly Men on horseback ordered the children down from the carriages, then led them toward the towering gate tower.

Before the big man in purple could say anything, a figure flashed. An elderly man in a yellow robe, wearing a gauze headcloth and holding a Feather Fan, suddenly appeared before them.

"Greetings, Elder Wang." The moment the elder appeared, the leading big man in purple hurriedly bowed and respectfully saluted him.

"Are these the prospective disciples from Qijia City? How many are there?"

"Reporting to Elder Wang, there are forty-seven in total."

"Mm, not bad. You have worked hard, Martial Nephew Li. Arrange them in Tingsong Courtyard, and tell them not to wander about. When the assembly begins, bring them together for testing."

"Yes, Elder Wang."