Chapter 2: The Beginning of the Journey

Li Tian stood at the threshold of his family’s modest home, a determined glint in his eyes. The air was crisp with the lingering coolness of morning, and the faint glow of dawn painted the sky in hues of orange and purple. His mother, Zhang Mei, was busy kneading dough in the kitchen, while his father, Li Wei, sat outside sharpening a worn farming tool. His younger siblings, Li Xue and Li Ming, chased each other around the small courtyard, their laughter filling the air.

Taking a deep breath, Li Tian stepped forward and addressed his parents. “Father, Mother, I have something important to say.”

Zhang Mei wiped her flour-covered hands on her apron and turned to him with a gentle smile. “What is it, Tian’er?”

Li Wei paused his work, his sharp gaze settling on his eldest son. “Speak, boy.”

“I have decided to leave the village for a time,” Li Tian declared, his voice steady. “I want to find a way for our family to live a better life. We have struggled for too long, and if we continue like this, we will always remain at the mercy of fate.”

A heavy silence fell over the family. Li Xue and Li Ming, sensing the tension, stopped their game and looked up at their older brother with wide eyes.

“Tian’er,” his mother said softly, worry etched into her features. “Where will you go? The world outside is vast and dangerous.”

Li Wei grunted, his expression unreadable. “Hmph. And what exactly do you plan to do? A farmer’s son wandering the world won’t suddenly become a rich lord.”

Li Tian met his father’s gaze with unwavering resolve. “I don’t know exactly what the future holds, but I have to try. I will seek knowledge, opportunities—anything that can change our fate. I won’t return until I find a way for our family to prosper.”

His father remained silent for a moment before nodding slowly. “Very well. A man must forge his own path. But remember, Tian’er, no matter how far you go, this will always be your home.”

Zhang Mei sighed, sadness evident in her eyes, but she did not try to stop him. Instead, she walked forward and grasped his hands. “Take care of yourself, my son. And if you ever find yourself in trouble, remember that your family is waiting for you.”

His siblings ran up to him, clutching his arms. “Big brother, don’t go for too long!” Li Ming pouted.

“Bring back something nice!” Li Xue added.

Li Tian chuckled and ruffled their hair. “I promise.”

With his family’s reluctant blessing, Li Tian set off.

The journey away from the village was not an easy one. The worn dirt path stretched ahead, flanked by towering trees and rolling hills. He had only a small bundle of provisions—a few steamed buns, a waterskin, and some dried meat. With no clear destination, he relied on instinct, moving toward the more secluded areas of the region where few people ventured.

Days passed as he traveled deeper into the wilderness. The further he went, the more he felt the energy of the world shift. There was something different about these lands—an ancient, lingering presence that seemed to call to him.

It was on the seventh day of his journey that he stumbled upon the valley.

Li Tian had been following a narrow mountain trail when he noticed a peculiar shift in the air. The spiritual qi around him thickened, becoming almost tangible. He paused, scanning his surroundings. To his right, a natural rock formation jutted out from the mountainside, partially obscuring what seemed to be a hidden path.

Curious, he approached and squeezed through the narrow gap. Beyond it, he found himself standing at the entrance of a breathtaking valley.

Towering cliffs encased the valley, their surfaces etched with time-worn carvings, remnants of a forgotten age. A serene river wound through the landscape, feeding into a crystal-clear pond that reflected the sky like a polished mirror. The trees here were ancient, their trunks thick and their roots intertwined with the very earth. The air was rich with spiritual qi, so dense that Li Tian could almost see it shimmering like mist.

A sense of belonging washed over him. This place… it was perfect.

“This will be my new home,” he murmured to himself.

Days turned into weeks as Li Tian settled into the valley. He built a simple wooden shelter near the pond, using fallen branches and vines. He found edible plants and wild game, slowly adapting to a life of solitude. But more than anything, he focused on meditation, allowing his body to attune itself to the natural flow of qi in this untouched paradise.

One evening, as he sat cross-legged by the water, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

[System Notification: Seclusion Mode Activated.]

He had almost forgotten about the system.

[New Task: Take in a Disciple.]

Li Tian frowned. A disciple? He had just begun his own journey—how could he possibly guide another? But the system had never given him meaningless tasks before. If it required him to take on a student, there must be a deeper reason.

As if fate had been waiting for this moment, he heard the distant rustling of leaves. Instinctively, he turned his gaze toward the valley entrance. There, barely standing, was a young boy—clothes torn, face smeared with dirt, and eyes filled with fear.

The boy stumbled forward before collapsing onto the grass, unconscious.

Li Tian’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

Though the boy did not answer, Li Tian already knew. This was no coincidence. The system had given him a task, and this child had appeared at precisely the right moment.

His disciple had arrived.

Li Tian carried the boy to his shelter, carefully setting him down on a bed of soft leaves. The child was frail, his breathing shallow. It was clear that he had been through a great ordeal. Without wasting time, Li Tian retrieved some of the herbs he had gathered earlier and prepared a simple medicinal paste, applying it to the boy’s wounds.

Hours passed before the child stirred. His eyes fluttered open, filled with confusion and fear. When he saw Li Tian, he tensed, ready to flee.

“Calm down,” Li Tian said in a steady voice. “You’re safe here.”

The boy hesitated before whispering, “Where am I?”

“You’re in a secluded valley. I found you unconscious. Who are you?”

The boy’s expression darkened. He lowered his gaze, his hands clenching into fists. “I… I don’t have a home anymore.”

Li Tian studied him carefully. The boy was young, likely no older than ten. His body bore the marks of hardship, but his eyes held a spark—one of determination and resilience.

[System Notification: Potential Disciple Found. Name: Li Feng.]

Li Tian exhaled slowly. So this was his destined disciple.

“Li Feng,” he said, testing the name on his tongue. The boy flinched slightly at hearing it but did not correct him. “You have no home, and I have no family here. If you wish, you can stay with me.”

Li Feng’s eyes widened in surprise. “Stay… with you?”

“Yes. But I won’t offer charity. If you stay, you will work. You will learn.”

The boy hesitated only a moment before nodding vigorously. “I’ll do it! I’ll learn anything you teach me!”

Li Tian smirked. “Good.”

As the moon rose over the valley, a new path had been set. The journey of master and disciple had begun.

Chapter end