Zhuge Minghui perched on a high branch, his gaze fixed on the ruins of the village below.

The moonlight cast eerie shadows over the once lively community, now silent and desolate.

His lips curled into a satisfied smile as he watched the bandits dragging the resisting Tian away.

"Everything's going as planned," Zhuge murmured to himself. His voice was faint, as it was carried away by the cold night breeze.

His eyes were focused as he saw the muscular boy struggling against his captors. Tian's spirit and raw potential wanted him to be a disciple of his.

All along, it was Zhuge who had orchestrated the entire bandit raid, manipulating the events to push Tian to his limits and make him suffer, all to create the perfect moment to "save" him.

With a swift motion, Zhuge leaped from the branch, his body cutting through the air like a shadow.

He landed silently on the ground, his movements, bearing gracefulness as if he's in tune with the Heaven and Earth.

He approached the bandits stealthily, his presence masked by the profound understanding of the Dao of Nothingness he had cultivated.

The bandits, relishing their plunder, were unaware of the approaching danger.

Zhuge's eyes gleamed with a cold light as he closed the distance, his mind calculating each step with precision.

Tian, bound and surrounded, glared defiantly at the bandit leader. "Ahh! You killed my father! Let me go!" he spat, his voice hoarse but unbroken, as he struggled against the ropes that binded him.

The bandit leader chuckled, leaning closer to Tian. "Such fire. It will be interesting to see how long you can keep it burning."

Suddenly, a chilling wind swept through the area, and the bandit leader's expression twisted into confusion. "What—?"

With arms being coated in the terrifying energy of nothingness, Zhuge's eyes flashed with a cold light as he cut down the bandit leader with his arms which looked like a black hole due to the presence of nothingness qi.

Zhuge's arms sliced through the air, silencing the leader's command. The bandit leader's head rolled to the ground, eyes wide with shock and horror.

Before others could react, Zhuge Minghui emerged from the shadows once again, his aura terrifyingly calm.

The bandits turned and saw him. Weirdly enough, his entire appearance seemed to look more like an erratic form, an indistinct figure wrapped in an aura of emptiness.

His features were impossible to discern, as if the very fabric of reality recoiled from revealing his true visage.

Without a word, the shadowy figure moved at extreme speeds.

With a sonic boom, it glided effortlessly across the ground as if untouched by gravity.

His movements were fluid, almost ethereal, as he closed the distance between himself and the bandits instantaneously.

One bandit to react swung his sword wildly, aiming to cut down the intruder. But the blade passed through the figure as though he were a wisp of smoke.

A split-second later, the bandit was thrown back, his body slamming into a tree with a bone-crunching thud.

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He crumpled to the ground, with a big fist-sized hole in his abdominal area, he's clearly dead.

Panic spread among the remaining bandits. "It’s a ghost!" one of them screamed, his voice high-pitched and frantic.

They began to scatter, but the shadowy figure was relentless.

He moved with the speed of sound, appearing before each bandit in turn, dispatching them with a series of swift, precise strikes.

Tian, still bound and bruised, watched in awe and confusion.

Who—or what—was this savior? The figure's presence was both terrifying and reassuring, an embodiment of both danger and salvation.

Within seconds, the clearing was silent.

The bandits lay strewn about, some had no heads, and others were more or less just a pool of blood.

The shadowy figure stood in the center, his form still obscured by the qi of nothingness.

Slowly, he turned towards Tian, his movements deliberate and controlled.

As he approached, the qi of nothingness began to dissipate, revealing Zhuge Minghui's form. His expression was calm, yet there was an intensity in his eyes that spoke of power and resolve.

"Are you alright?" Zhuge smiled and asked, his voice unexpectedly gentle.

The young man looked like a banished immortal from the nine heavens, with his flowing robes amplifying his heavenly looks, as if he's the darling of the heaven and earth.

Tian nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. "Who are you?"

Zhuge said, with a hint of warmth in his otherwise cold demeanor. "A friend. You showed great courage, boy. What is your name?"

"Tian," he replied, still wary but grateful.

"Tian," Zhuge repeated thoughtfully. "You have immense potential. I could not stand by and let it be wasted."

Tian's eyes widened in realization. "You saved me…"

Zhuge nodded, turning the bindings that held Tian into absolute nothing.

"You're right. But remember, the path ahead is filled with danger. You must become stronger." He looked at Tian with a smile like a maniac that exuded the aura of death.

Tian was shocked, trying to avoid looking straight into the eyes of Zhuge that's filled with bloodlust, as he just looked at his wrists which he rubbed where the ropes had chafed.

"Thank you. I want to be strong. Strong enough to protect my home."

As if being influenced by Zhuge's deathly aura, he slowly looked blankly at the ground, seemingly contemplating what path to take.

After a moment, he suddenly felt the need to grow stronger, to the point where anyone wouldn't want to dare mess with him.

Tian nodded, then looked back at Zhuge, who's eyes have become gentle without the looks of a cold-blooded killer seconds ago. "I need to get stronger," he said, as he clenched his fists.

Zhuge's eyes gleamed with approval. "Then come with me, Tian. I will teach you, guide you. Together, we will uncover the true depths of your potential."

Tian, with a bit of hesitation, then nodded resolutely. "I will. I won't let this happen again."

What if this guy's here with an ulterior motive? Well, Tian's got nothing to lose either way, so he made a bet and risked it all on being a disciple of this young man.

As a last wish, Tian wanted to go back to the village and pay respects to the people who once held him dearly as one of their own.

During his grieving, he went and looked for his dad, the village chief, who was lying on the ground with scars and a hole in his stomach that he was holding.

Tian then fell on his knees while crying as he looked at his father's deceased body. "Father, I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to protect you and the others. But don't worry, father, your child will grow to be as strong as you wished."

He took a deep breath, his tears mingling with the dirt on his cheeks. "I will become a warrior that you would be proud of. I swear on my life, I will never let anyone suffer as we have suffered."

Zhuge Minghui watched silently from a distance, his eyes having no emotions. He allowed Tian this moment of grief, understanding that it was necessary for the boy's transformation.

"Father," Tian continued, his voice breaking, "I promise I will honor your memory. I will make sure your sacrifice was not in vain. I will find strength in your teachings, and I will carry your wisdom with me always."

He reached out and gently closed his father's eyes, a gesture of finality and respect. After some time, he stopped sobbing, "Rest in peace, Father. Your legacy will live on through me."

Tian stood up, wiping his tears. His gaze hardened with determination. "Master," he called out, his voice now steady. "I am ready to leave."

Zhuge Minghui approached, his expression softening slightly. "You have shown great strength, Tian. We will leave this place, and I will help you achieve the power you seek."

"Remember, while strength alone may not be sufficient, there are moments when you must be an unstoppable force, not allowing anyone to stand in your way."

Tian nodded solemnly. "I understand, Master. I am ready to learn and grow."

Zhuge stared at him and said: "Now that you're my first disciple, then it means you've been reborn. Your name would be Zhao Tianfeng from this day until eternity ends, and whoever shall opposes you would also be your master's enemy."

Zhao Tianfeng looked back at him, feeling the warmth of his master's words.

"Yes, master. Thank you for the opportunity you've given me."

"I swear to the heavens that I will be absolutely loyal to you and be ready to go through water and fire for you". Zhao Tianfeng kneeled then kowtowed towards his master three times which showed his resolution to be under Zhuge's banner.

As he stood up, he looked back once more to the village and then after a few seconds looked away.

As they began to walk away from the ruined village, Zhuge cast one last glance over his shoulder, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

The first part of his plan had succeeded. Tian was now in his grasp, and soon, the boy would become a powerful ally, someone who can be his beck and call.

An individual, who in the future, will be below one and above billions.

With a final, silent farewell to the village, they began their journey, the path ahead shrouded in uncertainty but illuminated by the promise of power and retribution.

The bond between master and disciple had been forged in the fires of tragedy, and it would shape their destinies in ways Tian could yet imagine.

The night sky stretched endlessly above them as they walked away, leaving the remnants of the past behind.

In the darkness, Zhuge Minghui's eyes gleamed with anticipation.

Together, they would carve a path through the cosmos, driven by the flames of ambition and the allure of unimaginable power.

The journey had just begun, and Zhuge Minghui knew that the trials ahead would shape Tian into the companion he desired.

But for now, he had sown the seeds of trust and loyalty. The future held many uncertainties, but one thing was clear: Tian's fate was now intertwined with his own.

And thus, the night swallowed them, the village's ruins a silent testament to the beginning of a new chapter.

What awaited them in the days to come would test their resolve and reveal the true extent of their destinies.