In Black Rock City, Hu Zhan spoke with his older brother.
"Brother, why did the Master send us all the way to Black Rock City? Wouldn't it be better to sell it in Prosperity City?"
"Shut up and stop asking so many questions!" Hu Jian replied with evident irritation.
Although the brothers had similar personalities, Hu Zhan was more talkative than Hu Jian and even a bit naive.
Hu Zhan fell silent, but his eyes, visible through the mask, reflected his discontent with his brother.
"We're here. Don't open your mouth, I'll do the talking. Don't say anything," Hu Jian growled.
"Hmm." Hu Zhan nodded, understanding that this was not the time for games.
Upon entering, an attendant approached them."Gentlemen, how may I assist you?" he bowed respectfully.
"We are here to see your manager, Lan Tianhua, on behalf of our Master," Hu Jian said in a deep and serious voice.
"I wonder, which Master are you referring to?" the attendant asked politely.
"Just tell him it's about the Dragon's Breath. Your manager will know," Hu Jian replied impatiently.
The attendant frowned uncertainly upon hearing the name Dragon's Breath but asked no further questions. He bowed again and quickly left.
Hu Jian and Hu Zhan remained still in the lobby, their gray robes and masks concealing any trace of identity. Around them, the trading house employees cast furtive glances, but no one dared to inquire.
It wasn't long before the attendant returned and led them through a richly decorated hallway to a private room. Inside, seated behind a wooden desk, Lan Tianhua awaited them with a neutral expression. However, curiosity shone in his eyes.
"I've been expecting this delivery. Please, have a seat," he said with a slight smile.
Hu Jian stepped forward without responding and placed a small wooden box on the table, secured with a dark wax seal. Then, he set down a rolled parchment beside it.
"This is the merchandise. The rest is in the lobby. Here is the delivery contract. Your signature will confirm receipt." His tone was dry and direct.
Lan Tianhua did not touch the box immediately. Instead, he took the parchment and unrolled it, examining the terms of the agreement.
Everything was straightforward: an initial delivery to evaluate the market response. Payment would be made after the trial before further transactions.
"Your Master seems to be a meticulous man," he commented as he picked up a brush to sign. His gaze shifted to both men.
Silence.
Lan Tianhua smiled, unsurprised. "Of course. I wasn't expecting an answer."
He signed the contract with a precise stroke and returned it.
"If the market responds as I expect, this will be the first of many transactions."
Hu Jian took the signed contract and stored it without a word before turning to leave.
Hu Zhan followed without hesitation.
Lan Tianhua rested his elbows on the desk and intertwined his fingers, gazing at the box before him. But his mind lingered on the transaction with that young man.
A minute after the two men left, Lan Yueqing entered the room.
Lan Yueqing walked in with a firm stride, her gaze sweeping the room before settling on the wooden box atop the desk.
"Did he come to deliver it?" She asked curiously.
Lan Tianhua nodded slowly. "They sent two emissaries."
Lan Yueqing frowned slightly but did not press further. In her experience, those who operated with such a level of discretion were rarely ordinary people.
On the table rested an unadorned wooden box, lacking any ostentatious decorations.
Without wasting time, they stepped forward to open it. Inside, ten smaller, black, and elegantly decorated boxes were precisely arranged. Taking one and sliding open the lid, they revealed a beautifully decorated black ceramic bottle, accompanied by two matching small cups.
Lan Tianhua nodded in approval and, without hesitation, broke the wax seal on one of the bottles. A rich, deep aroma immediately filled the room.
Slowly, he poured some into one of the cups and brought it to his lips.
"Hmmm… as exquisite as I remembered." His tone reflected genuine pleasure as he savored the drink.
"Hmph, of course. Last time, you drank the entire bottle," Lan Yueqing remarked with evident displeasure.
Lan Tianhua cleared his throat, showing not the slightest hint of shame.
"Cough, cough… It was necessary to test the quality. We can't sell something we don't know."
Lan Yueqing crossed her arms and looked at him skeptically.
"Yeah, sure." Her voice was dry, but her expression showed resignation.
Setting the topic aside, she asked in a more serious tone:
"How do you plan to sell it?"
Lan Tianhua twirled the cup between his fingers, watching the reflection of the liquor.
At night, in a rundown inn of a small town, a seventeen-year-old young man ate in silence. His gaze was firm, and although his mercenary clothes were worn, his posture still reflected an unshakable dignity.
His name was Ye Han.
As he chewed his food, his mind drifted to the past, recalling the moment that changed the course of his life. Three years ago, his entire village was filled with anticipation when news arrived that the Iron Fist Sect would be recruiting disciples. Families encouraged their young ones to try, dreaming of a glorious future within an immortal sect. He was one of them.
The journey to the selection site was filled with excitement. Several young people from the village traveled with him, including Jiang Wei, the chief's son and his childhood friend. For years, they had shared training, hunts, and dreams. But upon arrival, reality was cruel. During the evaluation, it was revealed that Ye Han possessed no spiritual roots.
"Trash. You should go back," Jiang Wei mocked with a disdainful smile.
A chill ran down Ye Han's spine. That same Jiang Wei who used to call him brother now looked at him as if he were garbage. At first, he thought it was a joke, but the look of contempt on his other companions' faces confirmed the truth.
The sect's rejection was devastating. While the fortunate ones departed, the rest had to return home empty-handed.
Ye Han bit his lip. His family received him with sadness but without scorn. However, the village was no longer the same for him.
A year later, he left with a single goal in mind: to become strong.
Now, at seventeen, he was someone different. His body had strengthened, his hands were hardened by practice, and his gaze had lost the naivety of that boy who once dreamed of seeking immortality. He had no spiritual roots, but he had learned to survive in a world that showed no mercy to the weak.
As he finished his meal, the inn's door opened, and a man covered in a gray cloak entered. A dark hood concealed his face, and a mask covered the rest. His presence was discreet. Strangely, he sat in front of him.
"Ye Han."
The young man was surprised but remained calm. "Who are you?"
The man slightly raised his head. "Call me Orion."
Ye Han narrowed his eyes. "And what do you want from me?"
Shen Bao gave a faint smile. "I want to invite you to join us."
Ye Han observed the man in front of him with caution.
"Us?" he repeated skeptically.
Shen Bao kept his smile, but his gaze turned more serious.
"A group with a clear purpose. We do not follow the path set by this world."
Ye Han frowned. "And what is that purpose?" he asked in a controlled voice.
Shen Bao did not answer immediately. Instead, he drummed his fingers on the table in a slow rhythm.
"To forge a path where none exists," he finally said, his voice barely a whisper but carrying an impossible-to-ignore weight.
He lifted his gaze and held Ye Han's eyes. "To break the rules of this world. To carve out our own destiny."
"Carve out your own destiny?" Ye Han let out a slight chuckle. "And what does that have to do with me?"
"Much more than you think." Shen Bao watched him. "They rejected you because you had no spiritual roots. They called you trash. Yet, you're still here, aren't you? Still standing, stronger than before. You're not someone who accepts his fate without a fight."
Ye Han felt a slight chill. Shen Bao's words touched something deep within him, but he was still not convinced.
"Sounds nice," he said coldly. "But that tells me nothing. Why should I trust you?"
Shen Bao smiled slightly and placed some coins on the table to pay for Ye Han's meal. Then, he stood up.
"You don't have to trust me now. Just think about it. If you change your mind, come see me tomorrow morning outside the city, to the east, at the forest entrance."
Without waiting for a response, he disappeared into the night.
Ye Han narrowed his eyes. His hands clenched into fists on the table as his mind wrestled between distrust and possibility.
He sat in the same position for hours, lost in thought. He recalled every moment of his past: Jiang Wei's betrayal, the sect's rejection, the looks of contempt, the lonely nights on the road, surviving only with his determination.
He could continue like this. Wandering from one job to another, sword in hand, with no real destination. Just another mercenary lost in the crowd.
But that man's words kept echoing in his head.
"Break those rules. Create a new path."
Something stirred within him.
Finally, he let out a sigh and stood up.
Maybe it was all a trap. Maybe that man was just manipulating him.
But if he kept wasting time, he would never achieve anything.
He crossed the inn's door and looked east.
At the forest entrance, a decision awaited him.
And he had made his decision.