This is a small town. Though called a "town," it is more like a large village. Its name is Qingniu Town, but only those rustic mountain folks nearby, who lack broader experience, would keep calling it "Qingniu City" as if it were something grand. This sentiment comes straight from the heart of Zhang Er, who has served as the town gatekeeper for over a decade.

Qingniu Town is indeed small. It has only one main street running east to west, named Qingniu Street. There is just one inn, the Qingniu Inn, located at the western end of the long, narrow town. Any passing merchants unwilling to camp out under the stars have no other choice but to lodge there.

At this moment, a weathered carriage is entering Qingniu Town from the west. It speeds past the gates of Qingniu Inn without stopping, heading straight to the opposite end of town before halting in front of Chunxiang Tavern.

Chunxiang Tavern is not particularly large and even looks a bit worn down, but it exudes an old-fashioned charm. As it is currently lunchtime, the tavern is bustling, with almost every seat filled.

From the carriage descend a round-faced, mustached man with a portly figure and a dark-skinned boy around ten years old. The man strides confidently into the tavern with the boy in tow. Some familiar patrons immediately recognize the man as "Fatty Han," the tavern's manager, but no one seems to know who the boy is.

"Old Han, this dark-skinned kid looks just like you! Don't tell me he's your illegitimate son, born behind your wife's back?" someone suddenly jests.

This remark elicits roaring laughter from those nearby.

"Bah! This is my nephew from my own family. Of course, there's a resemblance!" Fatty Han retorts without taking offense, looking rather proud instead.

These two are none other than Han Li and his third uncle, known to others as "Fatty Han." They've just arrived in town after a grueling three-day journey.

After greeting a few regular patrons, Fatty Han leads Han Li to the back of the tavern, where a secluded courtyard awaits.

"Xiao Li, rest here and get some sleep. Save your energy. When the inner sect steward arrives, I'll call you over. I need to step out to tend to some regulars," Fatty Han said kindly, pointing to a side room in the courtyard.

With that, he turned to leave, but as he reached the gate, he paused, seemingly still worried.

"Don't wander off. There are too many people in the town. You might get lost. Best to stay inside the courtyard," he reminded again.

"Okay!" Han Li obediently nodded, putting his uncle at ease as he finally walked away.

Feeling utterly exhausted, Han Li collapsed onto the bed and fell fast asleep, showing no sign of the nervousness typical of a child in a strange place.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

By evening, a servant brought over a meal. Though not a lavish feast, it was tasty enough. After eating, the servant returned to clear away the dishes, and only then did Fatty Han enter the room unhurriedly.

"How was it? Did the food suit your taste? Are you feeling homesick?" he asked with a friendly smile.

"A little," Han Li replied softly, appearing well-behaved.

Fatty Han seemed pleased with his response and began chatting with him about family matters and sharing amusing tales of his past. Slowly, Han Li relaxed and started laughing along, gradually feeling at home.

In this manner, two days passed uneventfully.

On the third evening, just as Han Li was finishing dinner and eagerly awaiting another of his uncle's captivating stories, a sleek carriage stopped in front of the tavern.

This carriage was painted pitch black, its shine betraying the high-quality lacquer used. The horse pulling it was a rare yellow steed, the kind highly prized and seldom seen. The most striking feature, however, was the small triangular black flag mounted on the side of the carriage, embroidered with a single word: "玄" (Xuan). The silver characters edged in red gave off an aura of mystery and authority.

Anyone familiar with the area would immediately recognize this flag as the insignia of the Seven Mysteries Sect, one of the two dominant forces in the region.

The Seven Mysteries Sect, also known as the Seven Absolutes Sect, was established over two centuries ago by the renowned master "Seven Absolutes." Once a dominant power in Jingzhou Province, the sect had spread its influence to neighboring provinces as well. However, following the death of its founder, the sect's fortunes declined sharply, eventually being forced out of Jingzhou's capital city by rival factions. A century ago, they relocated to the remote Xianxia Mountain, where they rebuilt their foundation, albeit as a third-rate regional force.

Yet, as the saying goes, "a starving camel is still larger than a horse." The Seven Mysteries Sect, despite its decline, retained considerable latent strength. Upon settling in Xianxia Mountain, they quickly brought several towns, including Qingniu Town, under their control. With a roster of three to four thousand disciples, the sect remains one of the two dominant powers in the area.

The only rival capable of matching the Seven Mysteries Sect is the Wild Wolf Gang.

Originally a notorious band of marauding horse thieves, the Wild Wolf Gang splintered after repeated government crackdowns, with one faction accepting amnesty and the other forming the gang. However, the gang retained the ruthless ferocity of their marauder days, often gaining the upper hand in skirmishes with the Seven Mysteries Sect.

Although the Wild Wolf Gang controls more territories, they lack the Seven Mysteries Sect's knack for management. As a result, their wealth falls far short of their rivals'. Recently, the gang has grown increasingly envious of the sect's prosperous holdings, provoking frequent clashes between the two factions. This escalating tension has driven the sect to expand its recruitment efforts in recent years.

A wiry man in his forties leapt nimbly down from the black carriage. His movements were quick and precise, clearly marking him as someone with martial prowess. Without hesitation, he strode directly toward Han Li's room, seemingly familiar with the layout.

Upon seeing the man, Fatty Han hurriedly approached, bowing deeply.

"Protector Wang, what brings you here personally?"

"Hmph!" Protector Wang snorted coldly, his expression aloof.

"Roads have been unsafe lately. The elders ordered me to personally escort the recruits. Enough talk. Is this the boy you're recommending?"

"Yes, yes. This is my nephew. I'll have to trouble Protector Wang to look after him on the way," Fatty Han said, hastily producing a heavy pouch from his robe and discreetly handing it over.

Protector Wang weighed the pouch in his hand, his stern demeanor softening slightly.

"Fatty Han, you certainly know how to handle things. Rest assured, I'll take care of your nephew on the journey. Time is short. Let's get moving."

Han Li, though not fully understanding the exchange, grasped that his journey into the wider world was about to begin.