With her newfound determination, Huanxin practiced her tribe's martial arts. Yet, her memories were hazy; she had never truly trained before. Each movement felt foreign and awkward, the techniques slipping through her fingers like sand. Frustration built within her, but she refused to give up.

Desperate for guidance, she sought out various martial arts sects, hoping someone might take her in. However, one after another, she faced rejection. "Only noblemen's or merchant's children are allowed," they would say, dismissing her with glances that made her feel smaller than ever. She was just a beggar, unworthy of their time.

Life was harsh. Huanxin survived on scraps, scouring the streets for leftover food to fill her stomach. Often, she found herself eating what others discarded—a bitter reminder of her new reality. The clothes she wore were cast off from others, too big, frayed, and mismatched.

After a month of relentless searching, she had stood at the doorstep of every martial sect in Jinggu, only to be met with cold indifference. "Wait a minute! Tianle, I can go Tianle." The storyteller's words echoed in her mind: Tianle was the strongest city in the martial world, but it felt like a distant dream, obscured by the harsh reality of her life in Jinggu.

To reach Tianle, there were two paths: the bustling merchant ships facilitating trade between the cities, or the well-worn land routes, where carriages rattled over cobblestones and travelers trudged along the official road. The cheapest way was by foot, but she needed enough money to make the journey.

Determined, Huanxin turned to begging, offering to run errands and do odd jobs for anyone willing to spare a moment. Each day was a struggle, often forcing her to skip meals just to save a few coins. But with each small triumph, she felt a flicker of hope—a reminder that she was still fighting, still moving forward.

One fateful day, she spotted two young men, their laughter ringing as they discussed their plans to travel to Tianle.

Gathering her courage, she approached them. "Excuse me," she said, her voice steady despite her nervousness. "I overheard you talking about going to Tianle. Could I join you?"

The two men exchanged skeptical glances, their amusement fading. One of them, a tall fellow with fiery hazel eyes shaped with an oval face, tousled dark brown hair and thin lips, raised an eyebrow. "What does a beggar like you want with Tianle?" He looked her up and down, assessing her worth.

Huanxin's heart sank at the judgment in their eyes, but she quickly devised a story. "I... I was separated from my parents during the 'Ascendence of Champions' here," she stammered, forcing tears to her eyes. "They came to Jinggu for the competition, and I got lost. I was supposed to meet them in Tianle, but I've been here, begging to survive."

The other young man, a shorter fellow with calm green eyes, shaped with a square face, and tidy black hair, frowned. "How do we know you're telling the truth?"

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Huanxin took a deep breath, willing her voice to remain steady. "I know my parents are there. They told me before the competition that we would find each other in Tianle if we got separated. Please, I just want to go home."

There was a moment of silence as they considered her words. The taller man's expression softened slightly, and the shorter one shrugged. "If she's telling the truth, we should take her."

Finally, the taller one sighed. "Fine. We'll take you to Tianle. Just keep up, and don't slow us down."

Relief flooded through Huanxin, and she nodded vigorously. "Thank you! I won't be a burden, I promise!"

As they began to walk, Huanxin felt a mix of hope and fear. This was her chance, but would her lies hold up? With each step toward Tianle, she steeled herself for whatever challenges lay ahead.

They stepped onto the official road, beginning their journey to Tianle. The tall fellow asked curiously, "My name is Lian Jun (Lee-ahn Jun), and he is Zhen Jian (Zhen Jyan). What is your name?"

"My name is Li Lianfeng," Huanxin replied, adopting her new identity.

"Lianfeng means persistent wind. Good name," said Zhen Jian.

Lianfeng smiled, but a flashback flickered in her mind.

"Father, why was I named Shi Huanxin?" she had once asked.

"Shi is our family's surname, and Huanxin was a great warrior—a legend. We named you after her," her father had replied, stroking her hair lovingly.

The flashback faded as Lian Jun placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, bringing her back to the present.

"Where did you get lost?" he asked.

"Nothing," Lianfeng replied, her heart racing.

"What do you mean 'nothing'? I'm asking you where you got lost, Lianfeng," Jun pressed gently.

"Oh, that... I got lost in the crowd," she answered, trying to sound casual.

"Okay," said Jun, accepting her response for now.

"There's a restaurant up ahead. Let's go eat," suggested Jian.

"Yes!" replied Jun eagerly.

They entered the restaurant, which resembled a lively tavern. A crowd had gathered around a large table, drawn by the excitement of a game. Intrigued, the trio moved closer to see the commotion. A woman was shaking dice in a wooden cup, and patrons were placing bets on whether the outcome would be big or small.

The woman announced, "Big!" with a booming voice, eliciting cheers and groans from the crowd. Lian Jun's eyes sparkled with excitement as if he had just won something great.

Zhen Jian chuckled, glancing at Lian Jun. "You enjoy this, huh? Lianfeng and I will go get the food."

"Yeah, I'll catch up!" Jun said, still fixated on the dice game.

Jian took Lianfeng's hand and led her to the bar. "What do you want to eat?" he asked.

"Can I order?" she asked hesitantly.

"Of course you can," Jian replied with a warm smile.

"I want to eat tofu," she said, her voice gaining strength.

"Okay!" Jian grinned, placing the order before they made their way to a nearby table. He called Lian Jun, "Come join us for food!"

"Coming!" Jun replied, still captivated by the dice.

They enjoyed their meal together. This was the first time in months that Huanxin felt full, the delicious food bringing a warmth she had almost forgotten. She gobbled it down, and both young men watched her with kindness, their smiles genuine.

After finishing, Huanxin took some coins from her pocket and nervously asked, "Would this be enough for my meal?"

Zhen Jian smiled gently. "You don't need to pay."

Tears welled in Huanxin's eyes, overwhelmed by their kindness. She couldn't hold back anymore, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Why are you crying?" Lian Jun asked concern etched on his face.

"Nothing, nothing," Lianfeng replied, wiping her eyes quickly but the tears weren't stopping.

"Okay, okay. Don't cry," Jun said softly, pulling her into a comforting hug.

As she rested against him, Huanxin felt a flicker of hope in her heart—a glimmer of the strength she needed to continue her journey.