Juwon stood still as the last echoes of the Drum Dance faded into the night. The Wudang disciples had long since moved on, drinking and laughing with the Miao people, but Juwon remained rooted in place. His mind reeled from what he had just witnessed—this was not mere movement, nor was it simple Qi manipulation.

  The dance was alive.

  His gaze shifted toward Yun Ji, who had been watching him closely, as if waiting for Juwon to say something. The elder’s expression was calm, but his eyes held something deeper—an understanding that Juwon had seen what others could not.

  Juwon exhaled; his voice low. “That wasn’t just a dance, was it?”

  Yun Ji chuckled, shaking his head. “Not to us. To the Miao, it is far more than mere tradition. It is the retelling of a legend—one we have carried through generations.”

  Juwon frowned. “A legend?”

  Yun Ji nodded. “Yes. The tale of the first shaman… the first descendant of the dragon.”

  Juwon’s eyes widened slightly. “A dragon?”

  Yun Ji smirked. “Surprised? Would you like to hear the tale? It might take a bit of your time young master.”

  Juwon hesitated, then nodded, curiosity flickering in his gaze. “Go on.”

  Yun Ji’s voice softened, his eyes reflecting the firelight. “Then listen well, Young Master. Our story begins long before history was written—before kings and empires, before gold held value in a man’s hand. It was during the Longshan Era, in the untamed lands of Xiangxi, where the rivers raged and the mountains stood untouched, that a lone orphan walked the earth…"

  The land was wild. Untamed rivers carved through valleys, and forests stretched endlessly, hiding secrets older than mankind. The rains were relentless, reshaping the land with their fury, forcing people into scattered settlements, where the strong ruled and the weak were forgotten.

  And in the shadows of this harsh world, there was a boy.

  His name was Wu Shen.

  To the world, he was nothing. A nameless child who survived by stealing from farms and outwitting the guards of the village elites. He had no home, no family—only the orphans who huddled together for warmth in the alleys, sharing what little food they could find.

  “Big Brother Wu Shen!” A young voice called from behind him, barely above the noise of the bustling market.

  Wu Shen turned sharply; his hands full of stolen root vegetables. He grinned and tossed a radish toward Ba Shu, a burly but kind-hearted boy who always acted tougher than he was.

  “Did you really steal from the same farm again?” Yu Lan, the eldest girl in their group, whispered sharply, her eyes scanning the crowd for guards.

  Wu Shen smirked, biting into a berry. “If they were smarter, they wouldn’t leave their crops unattended.”

  Ba Shu laughed, stuffing a radish into his mouth. “One day, you’re going to get caught.”

  Little Mu, the youngest of them all, clung to Wu Shen’s sleeve. “Big Brother, will we always have to run?”

  Wu Shen hesitated.

  For the first time, he had no answer. The question weighed on him, heavier than any burden he had carried before. He wanted to say they would find a way, that they would carve a future free of hunger and fear. But the words never came.

  That night, Wu Shen snuck into the same farm again, confident in his routine—only this time, he failed to notice the guard posted nearby.

  “Got you, you little rat!” the guard bellowed, lunging toward him.

  Wu Shen barely managed to slip out of his grasp, sprinting toward the market. “Come back here, you rat!” the guard shouted, his heavy boots pounding behind him.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  He darted between stalls, knocking over baskets of fruit as vendors cursed at him. With practiced ease, he leaped onto a bamboo scaffold, climbed a stack of crates, and vaulted over a clay rooftop. The night wind rushed past him as he scaled the building's uneven bricks, finding momentary safety atop the rooftops.

  Once he was sure the guard had given up, Wu Shen exhaled and dropped back into the alley, where his siblings were waiting.

  “You nearly got caught!” Yu Lan scolded.

  Wu Shen smirked. “But I didn’t.”

  His stomach growled audibly, and Ba Shu smirked. "Guess all that running made you hungry."

  Wu Shen tossed the bag of stolen vegetables onto the ground and sat beside them. "Let’s eat before it gets cold."

  The small group gathered around, peeling radishes and dividing the spoils. Yu Lan took a cautious bite, her expression softening. "It’s fresh today."

  Little Mu nibbled on a carrot, swinging his legs. "Big Brother, one day will we have food like the landowners?"

  Wu Shen ruffled his hair. "One day. But for now, this is enough."

  As they ate in silence, savouring their small victory, Yu Lan sighed. "We can’t keep doing this. Sooner or later, they’ll catch you."

  “We should find work under a master,” Ba Shu suggested.

  Wu Shen scoffed "Hah? brats like you? Do you think it's easy being a labourer? Have you seen how they treat labourers these days? "

  Wu Shen flicked a finger against Ba Shu’s forehead. “Stop having weird thoughts, alright?"

  "Besides, I’ve already talked with Master Shan’s attendant. He agreed to speak to Master Shan about letting me work on their farm. Master Shan treats his labourers well, so I’ll get four people’s worth of rice and milk daily—I can share it with you guys”

  Ba Shu grinned. “That’s more food than we’ve ever had.”

  "And that’s exactly why there’s no ‘we’ in this. I’ll handle the work—at least until you all grow up enough to take care of yourselves. Understood?"

  Everyone nodded.

  Wu Shen grinned, holding his fist to his chest. "Yes, and soon, this big brother will work hard while you little rascals wait for me in a warm brick house with full bellies. Just you wait, I’ll make sure of it."

  Their moment of peace was shattered by the sound of marching footsteps.

  Master Wei scoffed, "Hmph brick houses? and you rats?"

  They came with torches that cast flickering shadows on the alley walls, with ropes that dangled like nooses, and with chains that clinked ominously with each step. Master Wei stood before the captured orphans, his cold gaze sweeping over them like they were cattle. "These wretched brats have been stealing from my land for too long," he spat, gripping the hilt of his dagger. "They belong in the fields, earning back what they've taken."

  The guards yanked the children by their arms, dragging them toward waiting carts. Wu Shen struggled violently, his feet kicking up dust as two men held him firm. "Let me go!" he screamed, his voice breaking.Wu Shen stirred hours later, hay clinging to his battered skin. His body screamed in pain. Chains rattled as he turned his head.

  Wu Shen stirred hours later, hay clinging to his battered skin. His body ached from the relentless labor, his wrists sore from the tight ropes binding them. He glanced around the dimly lit barn, where his siblings lay curled up, exhausted and bruised.

  He clenched his fists. He had to get them out.

  In the dimly lit barn, Wu Shen sat hunched over, his back pressed against the rough wooden wall. The stench of sweat, damp hay, and blood filled the air. His wrists throbbed from the tight ropes binding them, but he ignored the pain.

  "We can’t stay here," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Yu Lan glanced at him, her face shadowed by exhaustion. "Do you have a plan?"

  Wu Shen took a deep breath. "Tonight, during the shift change. The guards rotate near the west fence, and there’s a loose section. We slip through, follow the river upstream, and disappear into the forest."

  Ba Shu furrowed his brow. "What about Little Mu? He’s too small to keep up."

  Wu Shen’s jaw tightened. "I’ll carry him if I have to. We can’t wait any longer. If we don’t leave now, we may never get another chance."

  Yu Lan exhaled shakily and nodded. "Then we do it tonight."

  Ba Shu forced a smirk. "Risky as hell, but I’d rather die running than rot in this place."

  The night came.

  They moved quietly, slipping toward the fence, their hearts pounding. Just as Wu Shen reached the gap, a guard’s voice rang out.

  "They're escaping!"

  Wu Shen had already slipped through the gap in the fence, his feet landing softly on the damp earth outside. His heart pounded as he turned back, expecting to see the others right behind him. But they weren’t.

  Panic surged through him as he saw Ba Shu struggling, his arms pinned by two guards, while Yu Lan desperately tried to shield Little Mu. Wu Shen took a step forward, his mind screaming at him to run back, to help. But before he could move, more guards swarmed the orphans, dragging them away.

  "Go!" Ba Shu roared, blood trickling from his forehead. "You’re free! Don’t waste it!"

  Wu Shen clenched his fists, his breath ragged. "I won’t leave you!"

  Master Wei stepped forward, his eyes cold and mocking. "A rat that escapes its cage is still a rat. Watch closely, boy. This is what happens when you defy those above you."

  With a wicked grin, he raised a thick wooden staff and brought it crashing down onto Ba Shu’s back.

  "Ba Shu!" Wu Shen screamed, his entire body trembling.

  Ba Shu coughed, blood trailing from his lips, but somehow, he still smiled. "Run, brother… find us later… they don't intend to kill us, we’ll be waiting."

  Wu Shen’s nails dug into his palms as tears blurred his vision. He wanted to fight. He wanted to save them. But Yu Lan’s desperate gaze locked onto his, her silent plea cutting deeper than any wound.

  Wu Shen's heart filled with rage, and he gritted his teeth "Wei!"

  "I will kill you"

  Master Wei chuckled, "Haha I am right here kid"

  With a final, anguished cry, Wu Shen turned and ran, his heart burning with fury and grief.

  "I will be back Ba shu, Yu Lan, Mu… wait for me!"

  "And Wei-"

  Blood dripped from Wu Shen's mouth while he bit his lower lip out of fury.

  Hi everyone,

  We're about to dive into a 4-chapter side story set in 3000-1900 BC.

  If you're wondering whether this detour impacts the main storyline, the answer is yes—but not significantly. This side story lays the groundwork for the role of shamans in this cultivation world. There will be moments in the main narrative that reference events from this short arc.

  I highly recommend giving it a read—who knows, this tale might just resurface later on with its own series of chapters

  Anyways I hope you like it