Yu Chen laughed as he ran after a stray sheep that had broken away from the herd. His eyes swept over the field, making sure the rest of the flock didn’t stray as they followed his brother, Mo Chen, who led them from the front. A few sheepdogs flanked the herd, circling around the sides in long loping arcs as they guided the sheep towards the pasture.

It was a beautiful morning. The sun had just begun to break over the horizon, alighting the landscape with a golden glow, and a tinge of frost lingered in the air, a testament to the receding winter. New life appeared everywhere you looked, and plenty of the sheep were heavy with lambs.

It was one of Yu Chen’s favorite times of the year, when he could roam freely again after a long winter cooped up inside. He loved being outdoors, exploring the world around the small shepherd’s cottage with his brother.

Soon they arrived at the pasture and stopped, letting the sheep spread out to eat their fill. Yu Chen imagined the sheep must enjoy this time of year too, as he watched them eagerly tear at the fresh shoots as if to wipe out the taste of the hay they’d eaten all winter.

The dogs knew their jobs well and lounged around, keeping a watchful eye on the sheep. Meanwhile, Yu Chen joined his brother in walking the perimeter of the pasture, checking for signs of any changes, a routine task for a shepherd bringing their sheep to pasture for the first time of the season.

After ensuring there was nothing out of the ordinary, they made their way to the large boulder where they often sat, talking to pass the time. A couple of the dogs followed, settling nearby and panting as they kept watch over the sheep.

Yu Chen glanced at his brother as he sat down, and Mo Chen smiled back at him. Mo Chen was relatively lean and somewhat tall, with thick black hair that curled gently around his shoulders.

Yu Chen smiled back as he took his seat beside his brother before nudging him playfully.

“Another year older,” Yu Chen teased his brother, who’d celebrated his 16th nameday the day before. “How does it feel to be an old man now?” he asked.

Mo Chen pretended to stroke his non-existent beard as he gazed into the distance, before turning and sighing as he looked at his brother. “Life weighs heavier with each passing year. Sometimes I wish I could return to the carefree days of childhood, like you still enjoy.”

Yu Chen rolled his eyes at his brother's antics. Just a few weeks ago, Mo Chen had caught the local tanner’s dogs, covered them in flour, and set them loose to run home. Both brothers had laughed themselves silly at that prank.

No, his brother wasn’t grown up by any means, not that it mattered. The truth was, the world didn’t require you to act grown to consider you grown, and in their village sixteen was considered the age of manhood.

“You know, Xiao Yu, soon I'll be leaving, and the sheep will be your responsibility. Are you ready for that?” Mo Chen asked in a serious tone.

Yu Chen nodded glumly. He wasn’t worried about taking care of the sheep, he'd done so since his earliest memories. However, he loved spending time with his brother and hated the thought of it coming to an end.

“So Mei Lin’s father accepted your proposal?” Yu Chen asked with a smile. His brother had been courting the girl since they were kids, and he knew the strong feelings his brother had for her.

“He did,” Mo Chen said with a wide smile. “If all goes to plan we will build the house this year, and next spring we will be married together.”

“Congratulations!” Yu Chen exclaimed as he leaped onto his brother, wrapping him in a tight hug. They tumbled off of the boulder and into the grass, where they fell laughing together.

“You know, I'll miss you, but I’m really happy for you.” Yu Chen whispered to his brother as they lay there side by side.

“I know Xiao Yu, and I’ll miss you too.” His older brother said, squeezed him tight. He sat up, pulling his younger brother up with him.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure we will see plenty of each other. Father is sure to give me some of the flock and a pasture or two. We won’t be strangers. Perhaps we can even graze our flocks together.”

Yu Chen nodded and let the subject drop. It wasn’t right to let his feelings overshadow his brother's happy moments. Besides, his brother was right. They’d still see plenty of each other and the village was only so big.

Also…

“Maybe I’ll have some nieces and nephews soon.” Yu Chen said slyly, before bursting into laughter as his brother’s face turned bright red.

They spent the rest of the day in a companionable silence, broken only by the occasional joke and laughter. For the most part they kept to themselves, each lost in thoughts about the coming year.

Yu Chen was lying on his back in the field, listening to the sheep bleat, when something in the distant sky caught his eye. At first he thought they were birds, but they moved far faster than any bird he’d ever seen. Frowning, he sat up, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

“What is that?” Yu Chen asked as he nudged his brother.

His brother roused himself from his thoughts and stood up, shading his eyes as he looked at what Yu Chen was pointing at.

Both boys stared at the distant dots as they grew larger, eventually resolving into the fantastical sight of three men flying through the sky. Their mouths dropped open as they took in the formidable figures standing on their swords, soaring through the sky with their arms clasped behind their backs, shoulders high, and faces proud.

As they watched, one of the men seemed to notice them, and even raised a hand in greeting as he flew by. Yu Chen dazedly lifted his own hand in reply, keeping his eyes on the man until he disappeared into the distance.

“Was that…” Yu Chen asked in shock, staring at the spot on the horizon where the men had disappeared.

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“Cultivators!” His brother shouted in excitement, startling some of the nearby sheep.

The two boys spent the rest of the afternoon discussing the mysterious figures, coming up with wild theories about where they’d come from and what they were off to do. Their imaginations ran wild until it was well into the late afternoon.

Suddenly realizing how late it had become, Mo Chen let out a short curse, and, pulling a bell from his belt, gave it a few hard shakes. The dogs leaped into action, beginning to corral the sheep for their journey home.

The journey home was much more animated than the peaceful trip from the morning, and both boys were breathless as they discussed the men on the flying swords.

Once they arrived home they hurried through their chores, locking the sheep into their paddock and ensuring they were safe before racing to the small cottage they called home. At the entrance they pushed and jostled each other, each trying to be the first to tell their mother about what they’d seen.

She was standing in the kitchen humming as she cooked dinner, and she couldn’t help but let out a laugh as the two boys spilled into the kitchen talking over each other.

“These three men, mom, were-,” Mo Chen began speaking breathlessly.

“FLYING!,” Yu Chen yelled over his brother.

“THROUGH THE SKY!” “ON SWORDS!” They both yelled in unison.

“Cultivators?” Their mother asked, stopping what she was doing as a touch of worry colored her voice. “Where did you see these men?”

“They flew over the pasture today while we were with the sheep, the one to the north east!” Mo Chen quickly blurted out before Yu Chen could say anything.

“They didn’t stop or anything, they only flew over?” Their mother questioned the excited boys.

“One waved at us!” Yu Chen stated proudly, and his brother nodded along.

Their mother chewed her lip in worry as she looked at the two boys before nodding her head and turning back towards dinner.

“How exciting! Now go wash up; your father will be home soon and he’d hate for dinner to be late because of you two!” She said as she stirred the pot.

“Yes ma’am!” The two said in unison as they headed outside to the water barrel. They took turns washing their hands and faces, before going to their shared room and changing their clothes.

By the time they returned to the kitchen, their mother had begun laying out the food upon the table. The two boys helped without needing to be asked, bringing the plates and cutlery to the table.

They took their seats and watched, mouths watering, as their mother placed plate after plate of food upon the table. Freshly baked bread that was still steaming joined the ever-present pot of rice, followed by a pot of stewed beans and a basket of boiled eggs in soy sauce.

Normally, Yu Chen’s focus would only be on the food, but today he felt his gaze drawn to his mother. Something, perhaps the conversation with his brother or his worries about the future, made him really look at her.

She was a short woman, not quite as petite as she had once been, but still slim and beautiful. The hardships of a rural life had left their marks upon her, but it had also given her a quiet sort of strength that shone through her movements.

He continued watching until she finished arranging the table and returned to the kitchen to clean up as they waited for their father. The two boys fell back into conversation as she left, eagerly discussing the cultivators they had seen, by far the most thrilling event in recent memory. They talked for quite a while, oblivious to the food slowly growing cold.

Eventually, they heard the front door open, followed by the sound of heavy bootsteps that resounded throughout the house, signaling their fathers arrival. Both boys bowed their heads, greeting him as he stepped into the room.

Yu Chen’s father was a large man, heavyset but tightly muscled. He was usually full of energy and filled the room with his presence, but today he seemed unusually tired.

His mother could sense it as well, and she questioned their father as soon as he walked into the room.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, her voice filled with worry.

“It’s war.” His father replied shortly, meeting her anxious eyes.

“It wasn’t just rumors then.” She said, her voice tense. She broke eye contact, her fingers bunching into her skirt as she gripped it tightly.

“No, no it wasn’t.” He answered, his voice hard and even.

“Wash up then.” His mother said after a pause, frowning. “This talk can wait until after dinner.”

As their father stomped out of the room the boys started talking to each other under their breath about the news, speaking in hushed tones as they glanced at their mother who was looking into the distance and nibbling her lips.

Their father returned and the boys quieted, as everyone began eating in a somber silence. The boys tucked in heartily, hungry after a long day outside in the pasture, but their mother only picked at her food.

Once the meal was finished, the boys helped their mother clean up the table while their father sat there packing his pipe. By the time everyone else had returned to the table, he was already puffing away at it, the harsh smoke mingling with the uneasy atmosphere.

“Who did you hear it from?” Their mother asked first, before the boys could speak.

“The mayor. He had it from some tinkers who’ve recently come from the Capitol. Apparently the news is spreading all over, and it won’t be long before the officers arrive to conscript people.” Yu Chen’s father growled around the stem of his pipe.

“Oh dear!” His mother said with horrified eyes as she looked between her husband and Mo Chen.

Mo Chen clenched his fists and abruptly stood up, his chair scraping across the floor.

“Of course I will fight!” Mo Chen declared, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Their father didn’t speak, his brows furrowing as he slapped a meaty hand down on Mo Chen’s shoulder and pushed him back into his seat.

He stared at Mo Chen for a long moment before speaking. “It’s not me or you that I'm worried about boy.” He said as he blew out a haze of smoke, balefully glaring at his oldest son.

“But… you can’t mean Yu Chen! He’s just a boy!” His mother cried, her voice shaking as she glanced towards her youngest son with wide, panicked eyes.

His father slammed his hand on the table, and everyone fell silent. “Look at him!” He demanded.

His mother, who had already been looking at Yu Chen, turned away at his father’s words, her gaze falling to the ground as her face flushed red with shame. Yu Chen glanced at his brother, but Mo Chen, usually so quick with a smile, now avoided his gaze. The room began to feel stifled, an awkward tension filling the atmosphere.

Yu Chen understood why. He was still a month away from his thirteenth name day, but he stood a hand taller than his brother, who was taller than most, and was nearly as broad at the shoulder as their father. He’d been blessed with a powerful physique since birth, growing faster and stronger than the other children his age, and the only blemish on his skin was a bright red birthmark near the corner of his lips.

However, despite his size, he was still just a young boy. He felt a knot tightening in his chest as the atmosphere in the room slowly infected him. Would they really send him to war? His size made it all too likely they would conscript him.

Yu Chen looked around the room, unsure of what to say. His father’s face was a stormcloud as he puffed away at his pipe, Mo Chen looked embarrassed and helpless, and his mother sat listlessly in her chair.

“There is one option,” His father said, leaning forward as he tapped on the table. Hope flickered in his mother’s eyes as she sat up, looking like a drowning man who’d received a gasp of air.

“The tinkers I mentioned are still in town. They plan to head north, and will stop by the Golden Mist Sect. They already have a few boys they are taking there and they are willing to take another. With Yu Chen’s physique, he might be able to pass their tests and gain admission. Immortals are detached from mortal affairs, and he should be safe from the war there.”

His mother nodded slowly as she pondered the idea. She was still chewing her lip in worry but her face now looked somewhat relieved, while Mo Chen beside her wore a bemused smile.

“They only take in children twelve or younger, so there is a chance it could work. If not…” His father trailed off, leaving the rest unspoken.

Yu Chen felt a surge of alarm as he saw his mother coming around to the idea. Going to the sect would mean leaving his family and everything he knew behind. Who would take care of the sheep? Who would help Mo Chen build his house, and watch his back in the war?

They needed him, and he opened his mouth to protest when a voice thundered in his mind.

YOU MUST GO.

The deep rumbling bass filled every corner of his consciousness, driving out all other thoughts. The voice that didn’t belong to him and shouldn’t have been in his head left him feeling dazed and confused.

By the time Yu Chen regained his bearing and remembered what was happening, things were already in motion. Mo Chen was carrying a pile of his laundry out of their room and handing it to their mother, who whisked it off to be washed. He realized belatedly that his father was speaking to him, explaining what to expect at the sect, telling him what little he knew about it and what he should do.

Yu Chen barely heard him, unable to grasp how swiftly his entire world had just been turned upside down.