Yu Chen let off a whistle as one of the sheep broke away from the others, making a run for it. The nearby sheepdogs quickly responded, cutting off the stray sheep with loud barks as they drove it back to join the rest of the flock that were following after his brother, Yu Mo.

  Yu Chen, laughing, caught up with the dogs and ruffled their fur, praising them for a job well done before letting them return to their positions, where they kept a watchful eye on the sheep the two young boys guided towards the pasture.

  It was a perfect morning, one that Yu Chen would look back on in the years to come. The sun had just begun to crest the horizon, casting the landscape alight with a golden glow. A tinge of frost still lingered in the air; a gift left behind by a receding winter that was too stubborn to know when its time was over. Everywhere you looked new life was appearing, from the first green shoots of spring grass to the sheep, plenty of whom were heavy with lambs.

  It was Yu Chen’s favorite time of year, when he could escape the confines brought about by a long winter and was once again free to roam the world. He hated being cooped up inside, preferring the outdoors, where he could explore the world with his brother.

  Once they arrived at the pasture, they let the sheep spread out and begin to graze. The sheep seemed to enjoy this time of year too, Yu Chen thought, as he watched them tear at the fresh shoots of grass, as if attempting to wipe out the taste of the hay they’d lived on throughout the winter.

  The dogs knew their jobs well, spreading throughout the pasture before falling to the ground and lounging around, keeping a watchful eye on the sheep. Yu Chen joined his brother as he walked the perimeter of the clearing. They both looked around, checking for signs of any changes, a routine task for any shepherd bringing their sheep to pasture at the start of the season.

  There was nothing out of the ordinary, so they made their way to the large boulder where they often sat, talking as they passed the time. A couple of the dogs followed them, settling nearby and panting as they kept watch over the sheep.

  Yu Chen glanced at his brother as he sat down, and Yu Mo smiled up at him. His brother was a handsome boy, relatively lean and somewhat tall, and his thick black hair curled gently around his shoulders.

  Yu Chen smiled back, taking a seat beside his brother before nudging him playfully.

  “Another year older,” Yu Chen teased his brother, who’d celebrated his 16th nameday the day before. “How does it feel to be an old man now?” he asked.

  Yu Mo pretended to stroke his non-existent beard as he gazed into the distance, before turning and sighing as he looked at his brother. “Life weighs heavier with each passing year. Sometimes I wish I could return to the carefree days of my childhood, like those you still enjoy.”

  Yu Chen rolled his eyes at his brother's antics. Just a few weeks ago, Yu Mo had caught the local tanner’s dogs, covered them in flour, and set them loose to run home.

  If he was grown, he certainly didn't act like it.

  Not that it mattered. Sixteen was considered the age of manhood in their village and the world didn’t require you to act grown to consider you grown.

  “You know, Xiao Yu, the sheep will be your responsibility once I leave. Are you ready for that?” Yu Mo asked in a serious tone.

  Yu Chen nodded glumly. He wasn’t worried about taking care of the sheep, he'd been doing that since his earliest memories. No, it was the time with his brother that he loved, and he hated the thought of it coming to an end.

  “Did Mei Lin’s father accept your proposal?” Yu Chen asked with a smile. Yu Mo had been courting the girl since they were kids, and he knew the strong feelings his brother had for her.

  “He did,” Yu Mo said with a wide smile. “If all goes to plan, we will build the house later this year. Next summer, me and Mei Lin will be married together.”

  “Congratulations!” Yu Chen exclaimed, leaping onto his brother and wrapping him in a tight hug. They tumbled off of the boulder and into the grass, where they lay laughing together.

  “You know I'll miss you, but I’m really happy for you.” Yu Chen whispered to his brother as he lay by his side.

  “I know Xiao Yu, and I’ll miss you too.” His older brother said, squeezing him tight. He sat up, pulling his younger brother up with him.

  “Don’t worry, we will still see plenty of each other. Father is sure to give me some of the flock and a pasture or two. We won’t be strangers. Perhaps we can even graze our flocks together.”

  Yu Chen nodded, letting the subject drop. It wasn’t right to let his feelings overshadow his brother's happy moments. Besides, his brother was right. They’d still see plenty of each other. After all the village was only so big.

  Also…

  “Maybe I’ll have some nieces and nephews soon.” Yu Chen said slyly, bursting into laughter as his brother’s face turned bright red.

  They spent the rest of their day in a companionable silence, broken only by the occasional joke followed by the sound of laughter. For the most part they kept to themselves, each lost in their thoughts about the coming year.

  Yu Chen was lying on his back in the field, listening to the sheep bleat, when something in the distant sky caught his eye. At first, he thought he was seeing birds move across the horizon, but they moved far faster than any bird he’d ever seen. Frowning, he sat up, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

  “What is that?” Yu Chen asked, nudging his brother who sat nearby.

  Rousing himself from his thoughts, his brother stood up, shading his eyes as he looked at what Yu Chen was pointing at.

  Both boys stared at the distant dots as they grew larger, gradually resolving into the fantastical sight of three men flying through the sky. Their mouths dropped open as they took in the sight of the formidable figures standing on their swords as they soared through the sky. They cut a stunning image with their arms clasped behind their backs.

  One of the men seemed to notice the small boys watching them, raising a hand in greeting as he flew by. Yu Chen dazedly lifted his own hand in reply, keeping his eyes on the man until he disappeared into the distance.

  “Was that…” Yu Chen asked in shock, staring at the spot on the horizon where the men had disappeared.

  “Cultivators!” His brother shouted in excitement, startling some of the nearby sheep.

  The two boys spent the rest of the afternoon discussing the mysterious figures, coming up with wild theories about where they’d come from and what they were off to do. Their imaginations ran wild until well into the late afternoon.

  Suddenly realizing how late it had become, Yu Mo let out a short curse, before letting out a long, low whistle. The dogs leaped into action and began to corral the sheep for their journey home.

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  The trip back was much more animated than the one from the morning, as both boys breathlessly discussed the men on the flying swords.

  They arrived back home and hurried through their chores, only making sure to lock the sheep into their paddock and ensure they were safe before racing to the small cottage they called home. They pushed and jostled each other at the entrance, fighting to be the first to tell their mother about what they’d seen.

  She was standing in the kitchen humming as she cooked dinner, and she let out a laugh as the two boys spilled into the kitchen talking over each other.

  “These three men, mom, were-,” Yu Mo began speaking breathlessly.

  “FLYING!,” Yu Chen yelled over his brother.

  “THROUGH THE SKY!” “ON SWORDS!” They both yelled in unison.

  “Cultivators?” Their mother asked, stopping what she was doing as a touch of worry colored her voice. “Where did you see these men?”

  “They flew over the pasture today while we were with the sheep, the one to the north east!” Yu Mo quickly blurted out before Yu Chen could say anything.

  “They didn’t stop or anything, they only flew over?” Their mother asked, questioning the excited boys.

  “One waved at us!” Yu Chen stated proudly, and his brother nodded along.

  Their mother chewed her lip in worry as she looked at the two boys before nodding her head and turning back towards dinner.

  “How exciting! Now go wash up; your father will be home soon, and he’d hate for dinner to be late because of you two!” She said, stirring the pot.

  “Yes ma’am!” The two said in unison as they headed outside to the water barrel. They took turns washing their hands and faces, before going to their shared room and changing their clothes.

  They returned to the kitchen and found their mother had already begun laying out food upon the table. The two boys began helping without needing to be asked, bringing the plates and cutlery to the table.

  Taking their seats, they watched, mouths watering, as their mother placed plate after plate of food upon the table. Freshly baked bread still steaming from the oven joined the ever-present pot of rice, followed by a pot of stewed beans and a basket of boiled eggs in soy sauce.

  Normally, Yu Chen’s focus would only be on the food, but today he felt his gaze drawn to his mother. Something, perhaps the conversation with his brother or his worries about the future, bid him to notice her.

  She was a short woman, not quite as petite as she had once been, but still slim and beautiful. The hardships of a rural life had left their marks upon her, but it had also given her a quiet sort of strength that shone through her movements.

  He continued watching as she finished arranging the table before returning to the kitchen to clean up as they waited for their father to arrive. The two boys fell back into conversation as she left, eagerly discussing the cultivators they had seen. They talked for quite a while, oblivious to the food that was slowly growing cold in front of them.

  They heard the front door open, and then the sound of heavy bootsteps resounded throughout the house, signaling their fathers arrival. Both boys bowed their heads, greeting him as he stepped into the room.

  Yu Chen’s father was a large man, heavyset but tightly muscled. He was usually full of energy and was the sort who filled a room with his presence, but he seemed unusually tired today.

  Their mother could sense it as well, and she questioned their father as soon as he walked into the room.

  “What’s wrong?” She asked, her voice filled with worry.

  “It’s war.” Their father replied shortly, meeting her anxious eyes.

  “It wasn’t just rumors then.” She said, her voice was tense, and her fingers bunched into her skirt as she gripped it tightly.

  “No, it wasn’t.” He answered, voice hard and even.

  “Wash up then.” His mother said after a pause, frowning. “This talk can wait until after dinner.”

  Their father stomped out of the room and the boys began talking, whispering under their breath as they discussed the news. They spoke in hushed tones, not wanting to draw the attention of their mother who was staring into the distance and nibbling her lips.

  Their father soon returned, and the boys quieted down, as everyone began eating in a somber silence. The boys tucked in heartily, hungry after a long day outside in the pasture, but their mother only picked at her food.

  Once the meal was finished, the boys helped their mother clean up the table while their father sat there packing his pipe. By the time everyone else had returned to the table, he was already puffing away at it, the harsh smoke mingling with the uneasy atmosphere.

  “Who did you hear it from?” Their mother asked first, before the boys could speak.

  “The mayor. He heard it from some tinkers who’ve recently come from the Capitol. Apparently, the news is spreading all over, and it won’t be long before the officers arrive to conscript people.” Yu Chen’s father growled around the stem of his pipe.

  “Oh dear!” His mother said with horrified eyes as she looked between her husband and Yu Mo.

  Yu Mo clenched his fists and abruptly stood up, his chair scraping across the floor.

  “Of course I will fight!” Yu Mo declared; his eyes gleaming with excitement.

  Their father didn’t speak, his brows furrowing as he slapped a meaty hand down on Yu Mo’s shoulder and pushed him back into his seat.

  He stared at Yu Mo for a long moment before speaking. “It’s not me or you that I'm worried about boy.” He said as he blew out a haze of smoke, balefully glaring at his oldest son.

  “But… you can’t mean Yu Chen! He’s just a boy!” His mother cried, her voice shaking as she glanced towards her youngest son with wide, panicked eyes.

  His father slammed his hand on the table, and everyone fell silent. “Look at him!” He demanded.

  His mother, who had already been looking at Yu Chen, turned away at his father’s words, her gaze falling to the ground as her face flushed red with shame. Yu Chen glanced at his brother, but Yu Mo, usually so quick with a smile, now avoided his gaze. The room began to feel stifled, an awkward tension filling the atmosphere.

  Yu Chen understood why. He was still a month away from his thirteenth name day, but he stood a hand taller than his brother, who was taller than most, and was nearly as broad at the shoulder as their father. He’d been blessed with a powerful physique since birth, growing faster and stronger than the other children his age, and the only blemish on his skin was a bright red birthmark near the corner of his lips.

  However, despite his size, he was still just a young boy. He felt a knot tightening in his chest as the atmosphere in the room slowly infected him. Would they really send him to war? His size made it all too likely they would conscript him.

  Yu Chen looked around the room, unsure of what to say. His father’s face was a stormcloud as he puffed away at his pipe, Yu Mo looked embarrassed and helpless, and his mother sat listlessly in her chair.

  “There is one option,” His father said, leaning forward as he tapped on the table. Hope flickered in his mother’s eyes as she sat up, looking like a drowning man who’d received a gasp of air.

  “The tinkers I mentioned are still in town. They plan to head north, and will stop by the Golden Mist Sect. They already have a few boys they are taking there and they are willing to take another. With Yu Chen’s physique, he might be able to pass their tests and gain admission. Immortals are detached from mortal affairs, and he should be safe from the war there.”

  His mother nodded slowly as she pondered the idea. She was still chewing her lip in worry, but her face now looked somewhat relieved, while Yu Mo beside her wore a bemused smile.

  “They only take in children twelve or younger, so there is a chance it could work. If not…” His father trailed off, leaving the rest unspoken.

  Yu Chen felt a surge of alarm as he saw his mother coming around to the idea. Going to the sect would mean leaving his family and everything he knew behind. Who would take care of the sheep? Who would help Yu Mo build his house, and watch his back in the war?

  They needed him, and he opened his mouth to protest when a voice thundered in his mind.

  YOU MUST GO.

  The deep rumbling bass filled every corner of his consciousness, driving out all other thoughts. The voice that didn’t belong to him and shouldn’t have been in his head left him feeling dazed and confused.

  By the time Yu Chen regained his bearing and remembered what was happening, things were already in motion. Yu Mo was carrying a pile of his laundry out of their room and handing it to their mother, who whisked it off to be washed. He realized belatedly that his father was speaking to him, explaining what to expect at the sect, telling him what little he knew about it and what he should do.

  Yu Chen barely heard him, unable to grasp how swiftly his entire world had just been turned upside down.