Chapter 16 - Scroll

An elderly man stood atop the towering city walls, his jet-black hair combed neatly and his dark robe fluttering in the wind. He exuded the air of an immortal sage, with an aura of wisdom and tranquility. The sight of him standing there, overlooking the bustling city below, was both eerie and awe-inspiring.

Long Gen, the former gang leader of the Long Gang, stood on a rooftop overlooking the city. He stroked his black beard thoughtfully as he observed a group of children tangling with the city guards below. "Six. Caught," he murmured in a low voice, barely audible to anyone nearby.

His hawk-like gaze moved to another area, where he noticed a medical team wrapping up three bodies. An eyebrow raised in surprise at the sight of the dead children, but his expression quickly returned to its usual nonchalant demeanor. He let out a sigh, "Three dead," he murmured before turning away from the view.

Finally, Long Gen's gaze landed on a small figure that was chained up to a grand, ornate carriage belonging to a Noble. The figure was a young boy, no older than 10 years old, with a look of fear and desperation etched on his face.

"Another one caught... sigh," Long Gen let out a sigh of disappointment as he observed the scene. "Looks like this year's Sect recruitment is an utter failure. However, I'm pretty sure this one is an exception," he murmured under his breath. As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on the young boy, his expression softening slightly. It was clear that he was referring to the boy, Ximen Wei, as the exception.

Upon their first encounter with the child. They were struck by the child's exceptional Qi affinity, which was almost unnatural in its strength. It was as if the Qi was drawn to the child's body, clinging closely to their form.

He could easily see that with proper guidance and training, the child had the potential to become a highly skilled Qi Expert. However, the rules of the Sect were strict, and even someone with remarkable Qi affinity was required to pass the Sect's tests in order to be accepted as a disciple.

But there was always room for exception, as the rules could be bent if someone showed exceptional promise. In this case, the child had already demonstrated their potential by lasting an impressive three minutes and twenty-four seconds against a Level 1 Qi Trainee, despite having no prior cultivation experience. He was astounded by the child's capabilities and couldn't help but commend them for their remarkable feat at such a young age.

The old man's wrinkled hand reached out and grasped a tattered scroll, seemingly conjured from the ether. Its surface was dotted with age, the once white parchment now yellowed with time, and its edges curled and frayed. Despite its dilapidated appearance, the scroll held immense value, this very scroll is enough to bankrupt Noble families and even cause powerful organizations to wage war amongst themselves.

As Long Gen stood atop the city walls, his eyes were fixated on the vast and endless sky. The sky was adorned with a myriad of colors, as numerous sky lanterns floated gracefully in the air. Suddenly, Long Gen's eyes narrowed, and his lips curled into a sly smile. In a low, raspy voice, he muttered to himself, "Ximen Wei, right? I'll lend you a small hand… I hope you don't disappoint me."

As he spoke, a powerful energy began to surge from within Long Gen. It was a force that only those who have mastered the art of Qi could harness. With a flick of his wrist, Long Gen unleashed a powerful Qi Technique - the Void Transfer. The space around him cracked, and a terrifying hole appeared in the air. In an instant, the scroll that Ximen Wei needed to become a Level 3 Qi Trainee was sucked into the hole and vanished without a trace.

Long Gen stood there, completely unperturbed by the display of his immense power. He looked up at the sky once again, lost in its beauty. "I'm feeling a faint connection between us as well… You may be the one I'm waiting for, Ximen Wei..." he murmured to himself. And with that, Long Gen's illusory figure dissipated into the wind, as if he had melted away like snowflakes on a warm summer day.

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Ximen Wei trudged along the dirt path, his heart heavy with despair. The hot sun beat down on him mercilessly, but he felt a chill run down his spine as he thought about what awaited him and the other children. They were herded together like sheep, surrounded by guards wielding sharp spears and cold eyes. The children's feet were covered in dirt and bruises, their legs sore from the long journey they had been forced to undertake.

Their faces were etched with fear, their eyes wide and lost as they gazed ahead at the towering walls of the Song family mansion in the distance. The once lively and carefree children now looked like broken shells of their former selves, their faces marked with the unmistakable look of hopelessness.

Ximen Wei knew what lay ahead for them, the horrors of the Song family's dungeon, where they would be locked away in the dark, cold cells for the rest of their lives. The thought of it was enough to make him feel physically ill. He glanced around at his fellow captives, their faces a picture of defeat, their eyes empty and hollow. They all knew what was in store for them, and the hopelessness of their situation was almost unbearable.

The journey seemed to last forever, each step feeling like a cruel reminder of what was to come. The children stumbled and faltered, but the guards urged them on with sharp jabs and cruel words. Ximen Wei felt like he was in a living nightmare, his future taken away from him before he had a chance to live.

Ximen Wei thought to himself since he escaped once, why can he not escape a second time?