I was the child of a Paz citizen and a Cresh native. I lived a happy life in the country of Paz. My life was progressing smoothly. My Heaven’s Path cultivation was advancing quickly and I married my beautiful wife. I rose in the military ranks to become a Lieutenant-Colonel and became known as the Uplifted Sword.

But with all of this good fortune I became comfortable, and then, with great regret, I started compromising. I was compromising to higher-ranked officers, to politicians, and merchants. Before I had realized what I was doing, my character had been defined, and I was expected to settle into this role.

As the realization dawned on me, a white-hot fury overtook me and my cultivation broke through to the Master rank. At that moment I understood that my cultivation path would not allow me to ever compromise; that it was a weakness that I had to cast away. And in that way I moved forward in my life, making my stance for what I believed was right.

But as was natural, I had begun to make enemies as I was making choices that involved the interests of others. One day, I was recalled to the capital to discuss the deployment of my troops to suppress a Cresh uprising; a few hundred Cresh had banded and had started gathering soldiers to take back the land that the country of Paz had conquered. I refused, knowing my origins. Although I understood the perspective of the country, if I could avoid having the task landing on my hands, I would. Little did I know that they had asked me to this meeting not simply for this task, but to test my loyalty to the country of Paz. It became apparent that my loyalties did not align with their ideals. That night an assassin was sent to my home. I survived the encounter, but my wife did not. That night I questioned whether what I did was worth fighting for. I questioned my identity and I questioned my cultivation path. I fled into the night, a broken man.

I became a wanderer within the country of Seer. I would sometimes find myself in Seer’s cities, indulging in wine and women or completing assassination jobs. My ideals had faltered and I became less a man, and more like a beast, living day to day without aim.

Then, one day, I had received a message from the Paz military. They would set up an encounter with the person who approved my assassination if I helped them kill someone. With this, I saw the light. If I could find the person who gave the order and strike him down to console my wife’s soul in the afterlife, it would also be a step forward in mending the deep wound in my heart. I set out immediately and followed the instructions to find the target near Fortitude Forest. By the time I had arrived, the target was within the depths of the forest, and by the time I found the target, they had entered an underground tunnel.

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I followed him and entered the tunnel. In the tunnel, my already muddled mind became even more lost. Images and scenes of my past kept replaying in my mind, and with it, all of the emotions I felt. My foolishness when I stopped making compromises, my arrogance as I denied the order to suppress the Cresh uprising. What was it all for? For my cultivation path? Who gives a fuck about my cultivation path! I lost my wife! It was worth fucking nothing…

I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and approached to find myself in a hall. I look forward to see a young man gazing into my eyes as if he knew me. He must be the one, I thought. I readied my sword and moved in to strike. But as I approached, my mind began to wonder whether this, like many things in my past, was worth it. My speed had slowed, and oddly, this provided the time for an arrow to pierce my shoulder. A deadly poison had quickly spread throughout my body as I felt myself becoming weaker. “Why?” I asked to no one in particular. As my consciousness still lingered, I couldn’t help but wonder whether this was okay, and what my wife would think of me. Maybe… just maybe… this might be alright…

…

…

Siyu's eyes open, and his mind lingers on what he just experienced. The life and emotions of a man he had killed. It was an experience he would have to carry forward, and something set the second he chose to act with the intent to kill.

Siyu could feel a sticky sensation on his face and realized he's been crying.

Siyu sighs deeply, but the emotions wouldn’t leave him.

…

…

“How did you find your way back?” Siyu asks Frey.

“Well, after you lost consciousness, we waited for you to wake, assuming you could lead us back. But after waiting two days you wouldn’t wake. Elizabeth had found a river nearby, and from my memory, I knew there was a small lake near Fortitude Forest. We followed the river downstream and made our way back to the Demon Hunters from the lake.” Frey explains.

“Thank you,” Siyu says with sincerity, before laughing softly at himself. I was meant to guide them but they found the way on their own. Am I a fool? He asks in amusement. “And the Demon Hunters? Are they satisfied?” He asks, curious.

“They say that although we took our sweet time, we passed the test. And they said that they have a mission for us; something that they are passing on to you specifically. It’s something they have been unable to make sense of since it happened, and they were hoping you would shed some light.” Frey says.

“What’s the mission?” Siyu asks, feeling the story begin to churn.

“To solve a murder.” Frey responds.

Siyu sighs deeply. The work never ends, he thinks to himself.