Binhai City, Slum District. As the sun set in the west, a young man stood in a small courtyard, his back straight and powerful against the fading light. Clad in a simple white t-shirt, his dark hair shone brilliantly under the sunlight. Before him lay a pristine block of white tofu. His determined gaze fixed unwaveringly on the tofu, he raised a slender silver carving knife, intricate with coiled dragon patterns, and began to work. With a deep breath, the knife danced across the tofu, its silver glint creating an ethereal scene as the tofu chips fell like delicate snowflakes. An observer would surely exclaim in awe at the masterful technique.

Minutes turned into an hour, then three. The young man stood rooted to the spot, his feet firmly planted as if part of the earth, while his delicate hands continued their swift movements. The tofu sculpture took form, becoming a vivid depiction of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix. With a satisfied glance at his masterpiece, he turned, wiping sweat from his face, his strikingly handsome features breaking into a mischievous smile. "It's done. How's this for my grand work?" he asked, his voice tinged with pride.

An elderly man behind him glanced at the sculpture, snorted, and said, "Just average."

Feigning disappointment, the young man dramatically lamented, "Ah, the artist's loneliness. No one appreciates true beauty!" The elder, dressed in a flowing white robe, held a bamboo cane in one hand and a compass in the other. His expression remained unimpressed. "Your stance is unstable, your mind unsettled, and your strength, direction, and speed are all inadequate. Haotian, you need much more practice."

The young man, named Jun Haotian, shivered at the elder’s grin, remembering the grueling training sessions. He quickly said, "Uh, I just remembered I have something to do. Gotta go!" Haotian had always found himself helpless around Yun Lao, despite his own strong-willed nature.

Yun Lao’s smile broadened. "I have a challenging task for you. Want to give it a shot?"

"What kind of task?" Haotian asked warily.

"A high-paying one. Enough to keep you comfortable for life," Yun Lao replied mysteriously.

"How much?" Haotian asked, intrigued.

Yun Lao held up five fingers, his smile growing more enigmatic.

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"Five million?" Haotian guessed.

"You're aiming too low. Five million is nothing. You've earned more from the tasks you've done for me. Why else do you think you drive a BMW?" Yun Lao chuckled.

Haotian laughed, "No matter how much I earn, I’m still a hard worker!"

"Fifty million," Yun Lao finally said, then added, "in dollars."

"What do they want?" Haotian asked, now serious.

"Snow jade wood, carved into a Thousand-Hand Guanyin."

"What?" Haotian exclaimed. "They want snow jade wood?"

"Yes," Yun Lao nodded. "Otherwise, why offer such a price? Snow jade wood is rare, but you have plenty. This task is like free money for you." Then, Yun Lao added, "But your carving skills are lacking. The Thousand-Hand Guanyin is an advanced piece. Don’t tarnish my reputation. You should visit Guanyin Sea for inspiration before you start."

Haotian nodded seriously, then grinned slyly. "How about a seventy-thirty split?"

Yun Lao chuckled, "Fifty-fifty."

"Sixty-forty," Haotian bargained.

"Fifty-fifty," Yun Lao insisted.

"Fine, fifty-fifty it is," Haotian conceded, throwing his hands up in mock resignation. He glanced at his tofu carving once more. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head, and in an instant, he vanished before Yun Lao’s eyes.

"Damn, this annoying condition again! At least I ended up in my car this time. If I’d landed in the girls’ bathhouse, I’d never be able to explain it," Haotian muttered. This strange condition had plagued him for over a decade. Diagnosed as having no meridian energy at six, he couldn’t practice martial arts, despite his grandfather’s efforts with various renowned doctors. Haotian’s affliction caused him to disappear and reappear unpredictably, making school impossible and earning him the label of a monster.

In the slum district, Yun Lao watched Haotian’s BMW drive away, his heart full of warmth. An elderly figure emerged from the backyard, dressed in a sharp suit, and respectfully said, "Master Yun, thank you for looking after Haotian these past years."

"Spatial shift? Jun, you’ve raised another extraordinary one," Yun Lao remarked with a hint of pride.

"Spatial shift?" Jun Tianzhan echoed, incredulous. "But Haotian has no meridian energy. How can he be an ability user?"

"Who said ability users need meridian energy? And who said Haotian has none?" Yun Lao’s laugh was both cryptic and delighted. "Are you saying Haotian might still have a chance to practice martial arts?" Jun Tianzhan asked hopefully.

Yun Lao didn’t answer directly but mused, "Are you sure this is your grandson? The so-called worthless prodigal? He doesn’t seem like it."

Jun Tianzhan smiled, "There’s a fine line between prodigal and genius."

After a pause, Jun Tianzhan continued, "Is Haotian heading to Guanyin Sea for an adventure?"

Yun Lao nodded, "It will be perilous yet pivotal. Life’s direction is shaped by the trials we face. He will have many choices to make."

"I entrust him to your guidance," Jun Tianzhan said earnestly.

Yun Lao sighed, "Fate is set, but choices are ours to make. No one can decide for another."

With that, Yun Lao turned, his figure merging with the sunset shadows, fading into the evening air.