In the mist-shrouded valleys of the Azyre Mountains, where ancient pine danced alongside the breeze, stood Wu Feng. Arms outreached, in a perfect position of harmony, he felt enlightenment creeping towards his soul. Thunderous wind blew through every crevice of his frame, with every intention of knocking him off his grandstand. If one were to see him from the foundation of the mountains, they would mistake him for a great sage.

Wu Feng was extremely pleased with himself. He felt heavenly, a god among mortals, and plus, his breakthrough was nearing. His dantian was thrumming with energy and he could feel another meridian slowly clearing up. Any second now…

Whoosh!

“YES!” He exclaimed to himself. His breakthrough attempt had been successful, until he realized he was sideways…on the ground.

Visibly confused, Wu Feng flipped up and pondered about what had just occurred. He didn’t feel any new meridian, so he had assumed that his breakthrough had failed. What a stroke of bad luck!

Wu Feng, naturally dejected, looked around for a perpetrator. How dare they approach the great Wu Feng, nevertheless disturb his moment of enlightenment. The winds seemed to rotate around him, as though they were snickering at his failure.

And then he saw it, a shadow…

Wu Feng, infuriated, roared at the intruder, “Who was that!”

“Oh Feng, always so rude. Don’t you know you're talking to your superiors?” replied the shadow.

“Show yourself!” bellowed Wu Feng, refusing to take anymore of this mockery.

As the shadow stepped into the limelight, Wu Feng instantly recognized him. How could he have not? It was Li Han, his “supposed” best friend.

“Li Han?... but why?”

“Don’t tell me, is it because of Liu Mei?” cried Wu Feng.

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“You’re as sharp as ever, huh?”

“I want you to break ties with Liu Mei.” declared Li Han.

Liu Mei was Wu Feng’s beloved fiancee, and the love of his life. He had known her his whole life, how could he break all ties now?

“Impossible” said Wu Feng resistingly.

Another shadow emerged from the side of the mountains.

“Nothing is impossible, Feng.” announced the shadow.

“Mei Mei?” Wu Feng was so shocked that blood flew out of his nose.

“What are you doing here?” weakly said Wu Feng. He was in complete denial of his dearest fiancee colluding with the darkest of monsters, his former friend, Li Han.

Everything had happened so fast. He was in the clutches of the devil, waiting to be slaughtered. There was nothing more. He was at the end of the road. He completely fell apart. His friend and fiancee had betrayed him, and he was at his weakest point.

“Choose Wu Feng, pick your poison.” bellowed Li Han.

“I-I…don’t know” mumbled Wu Feng, trembling.

“This mongrel doesn’t know what’s good for him,” shouted Li Han, as he rushed at Wu Feng with a jian [1].

“Stop.” calmly said Liu Mei, gesturing to Li Han to return.

Li Han was pulled back as if a magical force was acting upon him. He didn’t dare refute Liu Mei.

“Feng, you need to go. I’m giving you this chance. I’ve been accepted into Mystic Lotus Sect. I’m way out of your league now.” uttered Liu Mei.

“You see now, you half-blood!” asserted Li Han.

Wu Feng had regained his confidence and was out for vengeance.

‘I will never forgive you of this great injustice! I swear to the cultivation gods that I’ll end your life before I ascend to the heavens.” declared Wu Feng.

*shwing* Li Han had swung his sword at Wu Feng.

Wu Feng couldn’t feel his meridians anymore. His dantian was extremely faint. He was on the verge of collapsing.

“Why would you do that!” shouted Liu Mei.

“I’m sorry sister, but that dog wouldn’t stop insulting you.”

Wu Feng couldn’t hear them bickering anymore. His five senses drastically lowered. He could only hear faint mumbles by now. As he was on his knees, his eyes completely blacked out. He had reached enlightenment, but not the kind that was expected. He had vowed to end everything in his path, to reach his dao of this world. He was determined and confident that this was his calling.

The dao of destruction.