Min Yon Sul couldn’t help but stare. What looked like an ornamented wooden box floated through the sky towards them, pulled by a pair of horses with manes made of living fire. He’d never seen anything its like.

The animals pulling the coach must’ve been spirit beasts. How they’d been tamed, he had no idea. They were magnificent though, he had to admit. Soon, the horses touched down and his wonder grew once more as the wooden structure stayed afloat mid air by a couple of hand’s width.

Shortly after, three people exited the wooden box. Two youths in pristine robes and not a blemish on their clear skin, followed by older man.

Great, the help we get are some rich kids who’ve never seen a hard day’s work, Min Yon Sul thought.

The young man standing on the left had his nose so far up in the air that it’d be a wonder if his neck didn’t start hurting soon. His sharp features were framed by shoulder length long hair.

The young woman’s attitude didn’t seem much better as she stared at his group like they were something that had stuck to her shoe. Min Yon Sul begrudgingly agreed she was easy on the eyes, though. A long orange red hair flowed all the way to the small of her back. Pair of piercing eyes the colour of honey mixed with darker amber studied her surrounding cautiously. A button nose and bow-shaped lips softened her overall image.

The pair carried fancy looking straight swords on their hips. Fillings of gold and gems ran across the hilts and all the way to the end of the scabbards. To Min Yon Sul they looked exaggeratedly ornamented. Not that he knew anything about swords, though.

Finally he studied the older man behind the pair. His short cropped black hair had streaks of gray coloring his temples. He was clean shaven and as sharply dressed as the other two, but in notably less decorative clothing. He also lacked any sort of weapon. Noticing the lack of sword, Min Yon Sul took him for a servant.

Then the man turned and met his eyes. A shiver ran through Min Yon Sul as he felt the full weight of the man’s gaze settle on him. An unfathomable weight pressed on him for barest of moment as the man studied him. Min Yon Sul’s breath caught in his throat. Soon, the man lost interest and turned back to the pair in front of him.

Min Yon Sul let out the breath didn’t realize he had been holding.

He hastily corrected his judgement. It wasn’t that the man didn’t have a sword. He didn’t need one.

The man standing behind the snot nosed noble brats could level everything around them without breaking a sweat. He wasn’t sure how he knew. But he did. He’d felt the immense power sleeping inside the man in his gaze.

The overseer who’d been sitting in the shade, sipping a drink had sprung up the moment the coach had been spotted. The man was now approaching the newly arrived group.

The overseer cupped his right fist in his left and in front of him and bowed deep ”Esteemed cultivators, it is our greatest pleasure have such renowned aid. May I inquire your names?”

The young man scoffed audibly ”How dare you? Do you not know who we are?”

”Oh esteemed cultivator, this lowly servant was only told of arrival of aid of the utmost status.” The overseer said, still bowed at the waist.

”It seems the countryside truly is in need education if you poor folk cannot even recognize the crest of the Winter Sword Sect.” The young man said, looking down at the overseer along his nose.

”Of course, young master” The overseer answered.

”Now, now, Jun Chang, many of these people have lived all their lives here, far away from the center of the Empire.” The older man said and then continued ”Allow me. This is Jun Chang, the young master of the Winter Sword Sect and the heir of the current patriarch of the Sect.”

”And this is Rei Yang, the young lady of the Soaring Phoenix Sect and the daughter of said Sect’s patriarch.” The older man said. ”I’m Shin Yang and I’ll be here purely as their guardian and teacher.”

Min Yon Sul noticed the overseer twitch at the last sentence and then drop to one knee.

”This lowly servant ask for an apology for not recognizing the Sky Rending Sage immediately”

Min Yon Sul noticed several heads turning to each other among their group and muttered remarks were passed between the miners.

”Tch, I see that title has still yet to die. Nevertheless, it is as I said to the young man here, I’m surprised that a name like that has carried this far. There is no need to apologize.”

”Thank you, Sky Rending Sage.”

Min Yon Sul was sure the older man let out a sigh and then said ”Please, we’re here to work, just Shin Yang will be fine.”

For the first time the overseer lifted his head in surprise ”Oh, I couldn’t address a Martial King by given name.”

The older man rubbed the bridge of his nose ”Fine. Then call me Master Shin, or if that is too much, Master Shin Yang.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

”It will be my pleasure, Master Shin Yang.”

Min Yon Sul had no idea who the older man was, but even he’d heard of Martial Kings. The people who stood so far above regular people that it was unfathomable. That was made apparent by the snivelling of the overseer.

They always acted high and mighty, like they were better than anyone else. It seemed there always was a bigger fish. Min Yon Sul couldn’t deny feeling a sense of pleasure seeing one of the fuckers grovelling before someone else.

”Now there’s a sight you don’t see every day” Wong Shuan muttered quietly to him.

”Tell me about it. It is quite refreshing.” Min Yon Sul replied, equally quiet.

The overseer finished his bows to the entourage of new people and turned around ”You should feel all honoured beyond reason to be in the company of such esteemed people! They have had a long journey to come aid you sorry bunch! We will not waste their time and will move to Sector 13 immediately!”

”Just a moment, overseer. As you have said, we’ve had a long journey in the confines of the skycoach. I think I speak for all of us when I say we would like to settle down first.” Shin Yang said.

The young man next to him looked taken aback ”But Master Shin, then we’ll have to stay -”

”No buts, Jun Chang. We will be doing this properly. Think of it as a part of your training.”

The overseer also turned back to the older man ”But esteemed Master Shin Yang, this will put us behind in our quotas for the day. Please reconsider.”

”I will take responsibility for the delay.” Shin Yang replied.

The overseer bowed again ”As you wish, Master Shin Yang. Do you wish to keep the miners here, at the ready?”

The older man glanced back at Min Yon Sul group ”There would be no point in that. Send them back to their barracks and have them on stand by.”

A low, yet exited murmur passed through the group. The miners of Istor Mines didn’t get free days. Ever.

”You all heard Master Shin Yang. Get back to your barracks. Be ready to move the moment you get the command.” The overseer addressed the group of miners in raised voice.

The dirty miners started making their way back to the Hotel. Min Yon Sul he could almost see something resembling joy on the grime covered faces.

”Doang Heng, get over here!” The overseer shouted from behind them.

Min Yon Sul turned to see Doang Heng sprinting back to the overseer, like an over eager puppy back to its master. He spit on the ground. He also noticed the older man in the group of cultivators gesturing towards them and speaking to the overseer.

The overseer said something to Doang Heng and a moment later the man was sprinting back to the group of miners. The scrappy group ground to a halt. Doang Heng made his way straight to Min Yon Sul. The man wore a smile on him that didn’t bode anything good.

”The esteemed cultivators require a servant to show them around and assist them in their needs. I volunteered you, Min Yon Sul. You are to attend them at once.” Doang Hend said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

”Oh you motherfucker” Min Yon Sul muttered under his breath. He was struggling not to reconfigure the bastard’s face with his fist. Violently.

”Did you say something?” Doang Heng asked.

Min Yon Sul glanced around him and at the group of cultivators looking at them from a hundred paces away ”No, nothing.”

Min Yon Sul was about to walk past Doang Heng, the man said ”That’s what I thought.”

Without a moment’s hesitation Min Yon Sul bashed his right soulder hard against the other man’s, spinning the man half way around ”Don’t test your luck.”

”What do you think you’re-” Doang Heng started raising his voice and went to grab Min Yon Sul. But then glanced at the waiting group of people and lowered his hand ”This isn’t over.”

”Whatever.”

Min Yon Sul made his way back to the raised, wooden platform. As he approached the group he realised he didn’t have the faintest clue how he was supposed to address them. He’d heard of people losing limbs, and worse, after disrespecting a cultivator.

He decided he couldn’t go terribly wrong emulating the overseer and dropped to one knee in front of the group, bowing and cupping his fist in a salute ”Min Yon Sul greets the esteemed cultivators.”

”Do you think we care for your name, slave?” the young man called Jun Chang scoffed.

”At least he shows respect” the young woman next to the man said.

Yes, of course I’m showing respect to you spoiled brats. I still want to keep my head where it is, Min Yon Sul thought.

”So, Min Yon Sul, I’m curious, where did you learn court etiquette?” the older man asked.

”Pardon me, Master Shin Yang, but I just followed what I saw earlier. I have not the faintest idea of etiquette or anything like such.” Min Yon Sul said, raising his head and meeting the man’s gaze.

”How dare you address him with such familiarity!” Jun Chang half shouted, stepping towards Min Yon Sul.

Before Min Yon Sul could so much as react, a backhanded strike swung towards his face. In the last moment, a clap filled the air as the older man appeared next to him and caught the young man’s strike by the wrist. Mere air from the impact ruffled his hair.

The older man gave the younger a stern look ”Jun Chang, I specifically asked to be addressed in that way. Temper yourself and think for a moment.” Then he gestured towards Min Yon Sul and continued ”That strike would have most likely killed him.”

”Apologies, Master Shin, but he’s just a slave”

”A slave who followed instructions.”

Min Yon Sul was still taken aback. Apparently he’d just narrowly escaped with his life. Hastily, he rushed to correct his mistake ”Thousand apologies, esteemed Sky Rending Sage.”

The older man turned towards him ”No, you will call me Master Shin Yang. Are we going to have a problem with that?”

”No, Master Shin Yang” Min Yon Sul replied. For the briefest instant he could’ve sworn he saw a twinkle in the older man’s eyes.

”Uncle, please have him bathe at the very least” The young woman said.

The older man gave Min Yon Sul a once over and then turned to the overseer ”This man will be acting as our servant for the time being. I trust there will be no issue with him using the facilities to clean himself?”

The overseer glanced at Min Yon Sul, his distaste apparent, but hurried to answer the older martial master ”Of course, Master Shin Yang. I will notify the bathhouse.”

”And have a clean set of clothes provided for him.”

”Pardon, Master Shin Yang?”

”Bathing is hardly going to do much good if he were to wear these dirty rags that I doubt have ever been washed by the looks of them.”

The overseer bowed again and said ”As you wish, Master Shin Yang.”

”I trust the man here knows this fortress and can guide us to a suitable wide, flat location where we can set up our lodgings?” Shin Yang asked.

The overseer nodded.

”Good. Then that will be all, overseer.”

The dismissal clear, the overseer bowed once more and headed for the bathing house. Min Yon Sul was having hard time believing his fortune. He didn’t think himself especially dirty but he looked forward to soaking in a tub nonetheless. It was one of the few things in this shitty place he could almost call a luxury.

”Right, then. Shall we?” Shin Yang said, gesturing Min Yon Sul to lead the way.

Min Yon Sul stood in place for a breath, still caught off guard by the latest turn of the events. He snapped out of his thoughts, remembering the what the man name Shin Yang had said to the overseer. Right. A wide, flat location. He raked his brain for a moment and then it struck him. He knew just the right place.

”Follow me, esteemed cultivators.” Min Yon Sul said, and started towards the main castle. He then paused for a bit, casting a quick look towards the skycoach ”I assume you will be bringing that thing with you?”

Shin Yang nodded to him and waved a hand towards the skycoach. Without any delay, the pair of magnificent beasts pulling the floating box fell in behind their group. And so Min Yon Sul lead the group deeper into the fortress. It was fair to say that so far, the day had turned quite different from what Min he'd expected the previous evening.

Little did he know that this day was about to upend his whole world.