Chapter Text
High upon the peaks that divide the known world from the heavens, where the clouds themselves seemed to kneel, rested the abode of the Heavenly Alliance. It was a realm of martial legends and profound cultivators, men and women whose command of qi could shake the very foundations of the mountains. And in their midst, a singular genius was rising, a star whose light was destined to shine across the Murim.
His name was Guō Kèjiān : Conquer the Hard.
In the martial arts, he was a prodigy without peer. In the esoteric paths of cultivation, his mind grasped truths that left elders astounded. Yet, Kèjiān was a genius of a peculiar stripe: a lazy genius. He moved through the world with an unhurried grace, a carefree spirit who absorbed techniques and theories as effortlessly as sunlight, barely stirring from his repose. While he often skirted the edges of tradition, his profound martial prowess more than compensated for his lack of rigid discipline, earning him a grudging, universal respect.
Fortune had smiled upon him in a way it seldom did upon those who walk the martial path: his parents were still alive. They ran a small, humble shop, their hearts full of gratitude for their simple life, and they refused to ever be a burden upon their extraordinary son. But the world of Murim is a crucible, and safety is a fleeting illusion for those connected to a rising power. For their protection, and to forge his own legend upon the anvil of the Central Plains, Kèjiān knew he must leave his homeland, just as countless martial artists had done before him.
The Third Day of the Third Moon.
He walked alongside a chattering stream, its waters a silver ribbon cutting through the wild landscape. His robes, a seamless blend of grey and deep red with accents of black, flowed as freely as his untamed mane of long, silken hair tied in a low ponytail. Behind him trailed his juniors, fellow disciples from his homeland who had begged to accompany him on his journey. He had promised them his protection, for the path to the Central Plains was fraught with dangers for the weak.
"Aiyah... are we there yet? How much longer until we reach the Central Plains?" Kèjiān pouted, his hand absently fiddling with the sheathed sword at his hip, a gesture of youthful impatience that belied his immense skill.
A younger junior, emboldened by the familiar journey, piped up with a teasing lilt. "It's a four-day trip, Senior Brother Kèjiān~! And we're only just beginning the fourth day!"
A playful glint sparked in Kèjiān's eye. In a motion too fast to follow, yet gentle enough to cause no harm, his elbow found the junior's ribs. "Making fun of me, are you!? For that grave sin, you are hereby sentenced to buy me twenty dishes the moment we set foot in an inn!"
The other juniors, walking in their wake, dissolved into synchronized chuckles, their laughter carrying on the breeze as they good-naturedly commiserated with their suddenly impoverished companion.
The day passed by smoothly without disturbances, until they reached the central plains, only to find out that the doors... are closed!?
Kejian basically ran to the guards in front of the gates, his robes billowing behind him, before asking frantically, "What is this!? What's with all this heavy guarding of the damn central plains!?"
The right guard, a burly man with a buzzcut and a jagged scar cutting across his left eye, stared him down with cold indifference before scoffing. "You don't know? The Emperor came to visit and forbade any entrance after he walked in."
The disciples murmured quietly among themselves, clearly shocked as well, their faces pale with disappointment. They had traveled so far, endured so much, only to be stopped at the very threshold of their destination.
Before anyone could react, Kejian yelled out, "What's so damn important about an emperor!? Needing to block the whole central plains!" His voice echoed off the massive gates, carrying the frustration of their entire journey.
The guard looked him up and down slowly, taking in his dusty robes and weary expression, before looking away with a hint of amusement. "I could tell you... but it would cost you."
Kejian stared in disbelief, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. But he knew he had to satisfy his curiosity... and his belly with central plains foods. The thought of steaming dumplings and sizzling noodles was too powerful to ignore.
"Aiyo, why didn't you say so sooner?" He reached into his sash, his fingers fumbling slightly before pulling out two silver coins and extending them to the guard. "Amuse me, I beg."
The guard took the coins with practiced swiftness, palming them before they could catch the light, and hid them somewhere within his armor. He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial rumble. "His son is coming of age and has decided to join the Blue Dragon Academy."
The words hung in the air like a physical weight. Kejian blinked once, twice, before a strangled laugh escaped his throat. "The Blue Dragon Academy? That Blue Dragon Academy?"
The guard raised an eyebrow. "Is there another?"
Behind Kejian, Lian tugged at his sleeve urgently. "Senior Brother, that's—"
"I know what it is," Kejian interrupted, though his voice had lost its earlier fire. The Blue Dragon Academy was not merely a school; it was the proving ground for the empire's finest cultivators, a place where young masters and sect prodigies went to polish their talents into weapons. Graduates didn't just find jobs, they shaped the fate of provinces.
And now the Emperor's son wanted in.
Kejian ran a hand through his hair, leaving it more disheveled than before. "So let me get this straight. The Emperor shuts down the entire Central Plains—the economic heart of the region, mind you, because his precious little prince wants to take an entrance exam?"
The scarred guard shrugged, utterly unbothered. "When you put it that way, it sounds almost reasonable."
"Reasonable!?" Kejian's voice cracked. "Reasonable is when you close a street, maybe a market square. Not an entire-" He gestured wildly at the walls stretching in both directions. "-this!"
The younger guard, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up. "The exam is tomorrow at dawn. His Majesty wanted the area... peaceful. No distractions, no crowds, no merchants hawking lucky charms to nervous examinees."
Kejian pressed his palms against his face and dragged them downward, pulling his features into a mask of exhausted acceptance. "Fine. Fine. When does the blockade lift?"
The guards exchanged another glance, the kind that made Kejian's stomach drop.
"After the exam concludes," the scarred one said slowly. "Provided the prince passes. If he fails, well..." He trailed off meaningfully.
Lian's voice was small when she asked, "If he fails?"
"Then His Majesty might need some time to... process the disappointment. Could be a day. Could be a week." The guard had the decency to look slightly apologetic. "Word of advice? Find an inn outside the walls. Wait it out."
Kejian opened his mouth to unleash a torrent of creative curses, but Lian grabbed his arm and physically pulled him back a step. "Thank you, honored guards. We'll do just that."
She dragged him away from the gates, his protests dying into mutters as they rejoined their fellow disciples. The group huddled together, a small island of dejection in the shadow of the massive walls.
"What now?" asked a young disciple named Fen, his face pale with disappointment. "We came all this way for the Central Plains Herb Gathering. If we miss it—"
"We won't," Kejian said, though his tone carried little conviction. He stared at the gates, his mind churning. The Herb Gathering was a once-a-year event where rare spiritual plants were traded, bartered, and occasionally fought over. Their sect needed those supplies.
But more than that, Kejian needed to eat.
His stomach growled loudly, punctuating the thought.
Lian sighed. "Inn first. Plan second. Starving third. Agreed?"
The disciples nodded, and Kejian reluctantly turned away from the gates. But as they walked toward the cluster of buildings visible down the road, he cast one last glance over his shoulder.
Somewhere beyond those walls, steam rose from a thousand food stalls, carrying the scent of everything he couldn't have.
"Aiyo," he muttered. "This emperor better hope his son passes. For all our sakes."
Kejian trudged toward the village nestled just outside the Central Plains walls, his stomach leading the way and his feet reluctantly following. The sun had begun its slow descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and amber that would have been beautiful if he weren't so thoroughly irritated. An inn first, he reminded himself. Then liquor. Then maybe the world would look less like it was personally conspiring against him.
The village was modest but bustling, clearly accustomed to catching the overflow of travelers who couldn't make it through the gates. His eyes scanned the main street, passing over several establishments before landing on a particular building. It stood slightly crooked, its paint peeling in places, but the windows glowed with warm light and the sounds of laughter and clinking cups spilled out onto the street. A semi-run down inn, but a busy one. Good food always drew a crowd.
He turned to his juniors, gesturing enthusiastically. "Come come! More people equals good food!"
Without waiting for a response, he sprinted toward the inn, his robes flapping behind him like desperate flags. The disciples exchanged weary glances before breaking into a jog, their hunger propelling them forward despite their aching feet.
Just before reaching the door, Kejian spun around to face Li San, the cheeky junior who had teased him earlier. A wicked grin spread across his face.
"Don't forget," Kejian announced, loud enough for their group alone to hear, "you owe me twenty dishes!"
Li San's face crumpled instantly. "But I was just joking earlier! I didn't think you'd actually mean it!"
Kejian's grin widened into a smirk. "Joking, not joking! Doesn't matter! You owe me!"
Lian San, Li San's sister, and the same sharp-witted girl who had diplomatically de-escalated the earlier confrontation with the guards, placed a comforting hand on her little brother's shoulder. Her expression, however, held no comfort whatsoever.
"I can't believe I'm siding with Senior Brother," she said slowly, "but he's right. You teased him."
Though the judgment was arguably unfair, teasing was practically the foundation of their group's dynamic, the other juniors snickered mercilessly. After all, Lian San was the person her brother held dearest, and also the one who teased him most... right after Kejian, of course.
Li San's pout deepened into something truly tragic.
Kejian patted his stomach triumphantly and pushed through the inn's creaking door. The warmth of the interior washed over him immediately, a mingling of body heat, cooking fires, and something savory that made his mouth water. He scanned the room with practiced ease, his eyes passing over crowded tables and animated patrons before settling on a corner spot. Not too obvious, not too hidden. Perfect for observing the room's happenings while remaining unobtrusive.
He slid onto the bench, and the juniors quickly filled the remaining seats, their eyes already roaming hungrily toward the kitchen.
Moments later, the innkeeper appeared at their table, a woman in her forties with kind eyes and the efficient movements of someone who had spent years navigating crowded rooms. A warm smile creased her face as she wiped her hands on her apron.
"What brings you fine gentlemen and a dear lady to our establishment?" she asked, her voice carrying the practiced cheer of hospitality. "Food? Drinks?" Without waiting for an answer, she began listing items from memory, rattling off dishes that were clearly designed for travelers with modest coin, stir-fried noodles with wild vegetables, braised tofu in brown sauce, preserved meats with steamed buns, and a house speciality of pickled vegetables that she personally vouched for.
Kejian's stomach growled audibly, prompting a chuckle from the innkeeper. He pondered for a moment, his finger tapping against the worn wooden table, before beginning to order from the very list she had just recited.
"We'll start with the noodles! three portions to share while we decide. And the pickled vegetables she's so proud of," he added with a wink. "And bring your strongest liquor. Not the expensive stuff," he clarified quickly, "just the strongest."
The innkeeper nodded approvingly and disappeared toward the kitchen.
Li San slumped against the table, defeated. "Twenty dishes... I'll be paying this off until I'm old and gray."
Lian San patted his head absently, her attention already fixed on a table across the room where a group of travelers were speaking in hushed, urgent tones. "Look alive, little brother. Something tells me we're not the only ones with business in the Central Plains."
Kejian followed her gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly. The travelers wore dusty robes like them, but their bearing suggested something more than simple merchants. Cultivators, perhaps. Or worse, competition.
He filed the observation away and leaned back, allowing himself a small measure of relaxation. The inn was warm, food was coming, and for the first time all day, no one was telling him he couldn't go somewhere.
Now if only that liquor would arrive faster.
Kejian pondered for a bit as he ate, his chopsticks idly pushing noodles around his bowl while his juniors chattered enthusiastically about their plans for the Central Plains. Li San was describing in great detail all the delicacies he intended to try, once he finished paying off his twenty-dish debt, of course, while the others debated which herb stalls to visit first and whether the famous Central Plains spirit beasts were really as docile as the rumors claimed.
Kejian's eyes glazed over slightly, his mind wandering. The food was good, the liquor was better, but the problem of those sealed gates sat at the back of his thoughts like an uninvited guest. There had to be a way in. There was always a way in.
Then, like a bolt of lightning illuminating a dark path, an idea struck him.
"Hey," he said, his voice cutting through the chatter. Then, louder, with the enthusiasm of someone who had just discovered fire: "What if we sneak in!?"
The table went silent.
Before he could elaborate, Lian San's hand shot across the table and clamped firmly over his mouth. Kejian's eyes widened in indignation, muffled protests rumbling in his throat as he glared at her.
"Quiet down..!" she hissed, her eyes darting nervously toward nearby tables. "Although there are no guards here, you can't just speak rashly!"
Kejian grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand away, looking thoroughly displeased at being so unceremoniously silenced. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and fixed her with a look of exaggerated offense.
"Do you really think I'm stupid enough to yell that out in front of people who actually live in the Central Plains?" He gestured casually around the room with his wine jar. "I've already checked the people in here. Everybody clearly looks like they only came for business—look at those robes, all tattered and meant for travel, not a single silk hem in sight. If they had been living in the Central Plains, their clothes wouldn't be so worn, and they certainly wouldn't be staying at an inn this far from the walls."
He took another long swing from the jar, drinking straight from the vessel like it was water, earning a few impressed glances from his juniors. Despite his youth, Kejian's capacity for liquor was the stuff of minor legend within their sect. Three jars in and he merely grew more talkative; four and he became philosophically inclined; five and he would attempt to challenge anyone, mortal or cultivator, to a drinking contest. They were only on jar number one.
Lian San blinked, retracting her hand slowly. "You... checked everyone?"
"Of course I checked everyone." Kejian looked almost offended by the question. "I'm impulsive, not incompetent. There's a difference."
Li San leaned forward, his earlier pout forgotten. "So you really think we could sneak in? Past the Emperor's personal guards?"
Kejian's eyes gleamed with the particular light that always made his juniors simultaneously excited and terrified. "I think where there's a wall, there's a way. And where there's an Emperor throwing his weight around, there's bound to be someone annoyed enough to look the other way, for the right price."
He set down the wine jar and lowered his voice, though his earlier assessment of the clientele seemed accurate; no one was paying them any mind.
"Earlier i heard the younger guard mentioned a courier gate on the eastern wall. Small, used for deliveries. If we can find it, time it right, and maybe grease a few palms..." He let the implication hang in the air.
Lian San bit her lip, clearly torn between caution and curiosity. "But the Emperor's personal guards-"
"-are probably bored out of their minds," Kejian interrupted. "Guarding a wall all day with nothing happening? They'll be half-asleep, playing dice, thinking about their sweethearts back home. Nobody expects anyone to actually try anything."
The juniors exchanged glances. Then, the youngest, looked positively giddy at the prospect. "When do we go?"
Kejian raised a hand. "Slow down, little sprout. First, we finish our meal. Then we scout the eastern wall after dark. And most importantly-" He grabbed his wine jar and raised it solemnly. "We drink to our inevitable success, or at least to a entertaining failure."
Lian San sighed, but she was smiling. "You're going to be the death of this sect someday, Senior Brother."
"Probably," Kejian agreed cheerfully, and drank deep.
character description :
Guo Kejian:
Seventeen years old with a lean, agile build. His black hair is tied in a low ponytail, often with loose strands escaping. He wears grey and black robes accented with red trim, and carries a well-used sword at his waist. Sharp features, mischievous and slightly tainted red brown eyes, and a perpetual smirk, equal parts charming and infuriating.
Li San:
A junior disciple with a youthful, round face that makes him look younger than his years. Wiry build, always fidgeting. Large, expressive eyes that widen dramatically whenever he's in trouble—which is often. Prone to pouting. Wears standard sect robes that never seem to fit quite right.
Lian San:
Li San's older sister. Sharp, intelligent features with a perpetual "I'm surrounded by idiots" expression. Slender build, moves with quiet purpose. Her hair is pulled back in a severe but practical bun. Observant eyes that miss nothing. The unofficial voice of reason in the group, much to her dismay.
Bao Shun:
The oldest of the juniors, eighteen years old. Tall and solidly built with broad shoulders—looks like he could arm-wrestle a bear. Untamed rough short hair that reaches below his ears, perpetually disheveled. Surprisingly soft brown eyes that betray his gentle nature. Speaks quietly, worries loudly. Built like a fighter, acts like a mother hen.