Who is he?

Pushing the long vines and undergrowth out of his path, Zi Qian trekked tirelessly in search of his missing companions. Each step weighed on his already weary legs, and his throat, parched and aching, pleaded for the relief of water to quench his thirst.Exhausted and unable to take another step, he settled on a nearby stone, seeking respite. Leaning against the sturdy trunk of a tree, he panted heavily, beads of sweat dripping from his fair face.His labored breathing filled the air, mingling with the sweat that rolled down his face.Regret seeped into his thoughts for not being more responsible, for not heeding Wei Yang's advice about carrying a signal flare."Oh, God, I'm so tired," he soliloquized, wiping the sweat from his face with his clothes thst was already dirty and muddy.Suddenly, a piercing voice cut through the forest, and Zi Qian recognized it without needing to look. It was none other than Xue Rui. "Brother! Brother!" The little girl came running towards Zi Qian, her joyous cries echoing through the woods.He tears spilled endlessly as he saw his brother from afar. Following closely behind her were Li Yingying and Wei Yang.Ying Ying's concern was etched on her face and evident as she warned, "Be careful, Xiao Rui! Don't run so fast."

In the midst of their reunion, Xue Rui rushed into her older brother's arms, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. Zi Qian knelt to her level, his hands tenderly wiping away her tears, and he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I'm fine, Xiao Rui," he reassured her, his voice filled with warmth and love."Young master! Are you fine? We have been looking for you since we woke up," Wei Yang exclaimed with an unmistakable look of concern, his eyes scanning Zi Qian's body. Despite the injuries he had sustained at the hands of the bandits, the magical pills had performed their miracles, and now, not a trace of injury remained. This astonishing recovery filled Zi Qian's mind with intrigue and questions. "Zi Qian, if you're well, we need to hurry! The entrance exams are in 6 hours. We must cross this forest to reach the capital," Li Yingying chimed in, her impatience evident as she mounted her horse.Zi Qian, somewhat taken aback by her directness, muttered under his breath, "How rude! She isn't worried about me at all.""Enough of your complaints, brat! Let's go," Yingying snapped.Zi Qian, his stomach audibly grumbling, pleaded, "Can I at least have something to eat or drink?" Wei Yang promptly handed him a steamed bun and a container of water.With their supplies in order, they continued their journey to the city on horseback. During the ride, Zi Qian seized an unexpected moment to question Li Yingying. "Aunt YingYing, are there any members of the Zhao Clan still alive?"Li Yingying, puzzled by the question, responded, "No, that's impossible. The Zhao Clan was wiped out long ago, vanishing without a trace. It's a pity that such a powerful family met their end at the hands of a mere demoness."Intrigued, Zi Qian probed further, "Who was this demoness?"

" Black sorceress!" Li yingying said. According to myth, black sorceress was a 5000 years vengeful spirit that has been haunting the zhao clan since ages due to her conflict with the Zhao Xian. One of the most powerful cultivator that existed 5000 years ago. It is said that Zhao Xian was about to attain immortality but eventually died in doing so.

On his path to immortality, Zhao Xian encountered the Black Sorceress, a woman who, at the time, was a widow and expecting a child. The villagers believed her to be a demon due to her appearance and mysterious aura, unaware of her tragic past. She had been unwittingly sacrificed by her parents in a dark ritual that left her disfigured and resentful.In the village where Zhao Xian passed through, the residents, fearing her presence, implored him to get rid of her. The tragic tale told of her being burned alive while pregnant, a fate that had left her deeply embittered. The root of her vendetta against the Zhao Clan,5,000 years later, was a heart-wrenching plea. Before her execution, she had begged Zhao Xian to spare the life of her unborn child. However, believing the child might be a demon, Zhao Xian chose to end both their lives, fueling her enduring resentment and transforming her into a vengeful spirit.Over the centuries, the Black Sorceress cultivated her powers to become a powerful ghost, surviving by drawing on the life essence of others. Her unwavering vow remained: to annihilate the entire Zhao Clan, whose ancestors had shown her little compassion, disregarding the fate of her child.

" I can't believe it! How can a parent treat her own child like that!" Xue Zi Qian shouted. "Remember don't think about capturing or pushing black sorceress, she is way too powerful we can't even defeat her," yingying said. As they reached the grand capital, they decided to take a break at an inn, where Zi Qian changed into fresh, clean clothes. Afterward, he and Xiao Rui ventured into the vibrant city streets to soak in the lively atmosphere, the night sky illuminated by a sea of enchanting sky lanterns.Hisp serene walk, however, was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a growing commotion. A chorus of voices, each more vehement than the last, filled the air with claims of ownership, cries of, "This is mine!" and "No, it's mine!" " i took it first," " No i took it first," Intrigued, Zi Qian dashed toward the source of the turmoil, only to discover a young boy, dressed in pristine white and blue garments, entangled in a spirited hair-pulling match with Xiao Rui. Both combatants clung fiercely to their respective claims , none of them willing to let go first.

In a state of bewilderment, Zi Qian dashed toward Xiao Rui, urgently trying to separate her from the young boy who seemed to be waging a hair-pulling war to prove his point."Xiao Rui! Let him go," Zi Qian pleaded, his hands working to gently but decisively pull them apart. Yet, neither of the youthful contenders showed any inclination to relinquish their grip, both unwilling to back down."This lantern is mine, not yours, little girl. Give it to me," the boy asserted with an air of arrogance, his resolve unshaken."You brat, how dare you! I had it first," Xiao Rui countered, her grip on the boy's hair tightening."Rui, mind your language!" Zi Qian reprimanded sternly, urging her to remain composed. However, in the midst of this chaotic tug-of-war, a voice called out, "Xiao Bai." Astonishingly, the mere mention of this name compelled the boy to release his hold on Xiao Rui's hair. As the crowd dispersed, Zi Qian's attention was captivated by a young man of similar age, who stood there in a striking black ensemble adorned with exquisite embroidery. In his grasp, he wielded a finely honed sword. His jet-black hair flowed gracefully with the gentle breeze, giving him an air of effortless elegance. His eyes, a deep shade of brown, revealed little emotion, exuding an enigmatic and stoic aura.