Lu Yan stood still as she watched the boy in white walk away without a glance. She was baffled by his indifference. This was the first time she had felt fear when facing someone her age. The feeling gnawed at her, and she couldn't shake it off. It was as if she had encountered something far greater than what appeared on the surface. Maybe it was the subtle coldness in his eyes, or the way he carried himself. She couldn't tell, but it stirred something inside her.
Was he truly weak, as his cultivation suggested, or was there more to him than met the eye? She thought of his words—"If you try to kill me, you will die too." They echoed in her mind. He hadn't said it like a threat, but as a truth, as if the world itself had warned her. She could sense that he didn't fear death, nor did he care to fight for anything trivial.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Elder Su, who hurried toward her with a worried look on her face. The elder had seen everything—the almost-fatal encounter, the boy's unexpected calm, and the chilling moment when the dagger had been drawn. She had failed to protect her young lady, and it was more than she could bear.
"Are you all right, Young Lady?" Elder Su asked, inspecting Lu Yan for any injuries. When she found none, she exhaled in relief, but her expression darkened as a wave of fury crossed her face.
"Should I kill that brat for nearly killing you? No one dares to harm you in my presence!" she hissed, her eyes narrowing with intent.
Lu Yan raised a hand, her gaze sharp but calm. "No need. There's something about him that doesn't sit right with me. His eyes… I've never seen anything like them before. The way he concealed his killing intent—it was more sophisticated than any general who's slaughtered hundreds."
The elder blinked, confused. "But that brat doesn't even have any cultivation. How could he possibly kill anything? Even low-level beasts would easily overpower him."
Lu Yan shook her head, her thoughts clearer now. "No, Elder Su. It's not his cultivation. It's something deeper. He has a presence, something beyond the ordinary. I've met many cultivators, but he… he's different."
Elder Su's brows furrowed. "Different? But he's no more than a weak boy…"
"I said, no need." Lu Yan's voice was firm. "We have more important matters at hand. I came here for a purpose, and I will not let distractions keep me from it. My brother sent me to break through the lower realm of my sword intent. Time is running out. We need to focus."
She turned her gaze back to the retreating figure of the boy in white. There was something haunting about him—like the calm before a storm. It unsettled her, but she pushed the feeling aside. She had her own mission.
Green Cloud Valley had always been shrouded in mystery, its myths as old as the land itself. Rumors whispered that a sword emperor once lived in the valley, hunted down by other emperors, his final battle fought and lost beneath its depths. Those were only stories—until now. Recently, she had discovered something that made her question the truth of those rumors.
With a determined look, Lu Yan leapt into the air, her sword unsheathing with a soft flick of her wrist. She was resolute. But what she didn't know was that her encounter with the boy in white marked the beginning of a legend that would ripple through the martial world for millennia to come.
It was here, in Green Cloud Valley, that the Lady in Red and the Boy in White first crossed paths—two figures destined to become legends.
City Tower, East Yard
Meanwhile, far from Green Cloud Valley, two people sat in the spacious yard of the City Tower, sipping tea under the shade of ancient trees. One was an elderly man with white hair—Gu Yan, a respected elder in charge of the East Yard. The other, a young man no older than seventeen, his face handsome and composed, exuded an aura of nobility and authority that made him seem far older than his years.
Gu Yan observed the young man with a respectful expression, though there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Young Master Yang Han," he asked, "what brings you to this humble place? Is there something you require of us?"
Yang Han smiled slightly, his gaze distant as he looked out over the vast city. His features, though young, carried a commanding presence. He reached into his sleeve and withdrew a portrait, unfolding it with a subtle reverence.
The moment Gu Yan laid eyes on the portrait, his breath caught in his throat. The woman depicted was stunning—her beauty ethereal, her aura commanding. She held a sword, wrapped in flowing red robes, and her posture radiated an unmistakable strength and determination. Even from the painting, Gu Yan could feel the weight of her presence.
"Gu Yan," Yang Han spoke, his voice calm but with an edge that suggested authority, "I want to know everything about the movements of the lady in this picture. There will likely be a King-level servant beside her, so ensure she doesn't notice the follower. Do whatever it takes."
Gu Yan studied the portrait closely, his brow furrowing. "This is… the Lady in Red. Her reputation precedes her."
Yang Han's lips curled into a smile, his expression almost wistful. "Ah, the arrogant sword princess. The ice-cold fairy who holds herself above everyone. To most men, she is unreachable, untouchable. But to me…"
Gu Yan glanced up at the young master, his expression betraying some surprise. "You wish to pursue her?"
Yang Han's smile grew faint. "Perhaps. But before that, I have business to settle here. This city may be small, but there are some matters to deal with."
He turned his eyes toward the Li Clan, which loomed in the distance. His gaze darkened, and a cruel smile twisted on his lips. The gentle demeanor he had worn earlier vanished completely, replaced by a cold, calculating look.
The Li Clan had no idea what was coming.
Yang Han's thoughts turned to the task ahead, but what he didn't know was that his plans were already set in motion. The boy in the valley, who had no cultivation and no name to speak of, was a far greater threat than he realized. For in the world of martial legends, nothing was ever truly as it seemed.
The stage was set. The pieces were moving.
And the martial world would never be the same again.