The sun beat down on Ren Kai's back as he wandered the outskirts of the village, his feet kicking up small clouds of dust with every step.
His clothes, once passably decent, were now little more than rags, and his stomach growled loudly enough to scare off the occasional bird.
"Seriously? This is my life now?" he muttered, dragging his feet along the dirt road.
He ran a hand through his messy, medium-length black hair, which flopped over his forehead. At 18, he looked like a walking beanpole—scrawny and lanky, easily mistaken for someone's servant. His dark eyes, filled with desperation and sarcasm, scanned the horizon, searching for anything that could change his miserable luck.
"I thought transmigration was supposed to be all glory and cheat abilities. Instead, I get nothing but dirt in my shoes and hunger in my belly. Where's my legendary sword? My wise old grandpa? I'd even settle for a minor tutorial at this point."
Ren Kai glanced up at the sky, half-expecting some mystical force to drop in and tell him his real powers were just waiting to be unlocked.
Five seconds later.
"..."
Nothing.
Sigh!
"Of course. I get the one universe where nothing cool happens. Fantastic."
He bent down to pick up a stone, weighing it in his hand. A small sigh escaped him as he tossed the rock aimlessly ahead.
"Every transmigrator gets something. A magical artifact, or some OP ability that makes them the chosen one, destined to save the world. And what do I get?" He spread his arms wide, addressing the empty road.
"Sunburn. I get a freaking sunburn!"
The rock clattered ahead, skidding off the dirt path.
Ren Kai kicked at another, watching it skip further away, as if hoping one of them would lead him to something—a clue, a hint, or even just a meal.
Again, Nothing!
Clack!
Ren Kai kicked another rock, harder this time.
The stone skittered across the dirt path, clunking against something half-buried up ahead. He squinted down at the chunk of stone, sitting there like it was mocking him.
He sighed, walked up to it, and gave it a half-hearted nudge with his foot.
"Great. Now even rocks are giving me attitude."
Just as he kicked it, a soft chime echoed in his head.
[System Activated: Welcome, Sect Leader!]
Ren Kai blinked. "What…?"
He glanced around, suddenly alert.
"Who said that?"
A glowing blue panel popped up in front of him, hovering in midair. His eyes widened.
[System: Congratulations! You've activated the Legendary Sect Leader System!]
Ren Kai stood still for a long moment. Then he slowly rubbed his eyes.
The glowing screen remained.
"Nope. Not happening. I'm not seeing this. I refuse."
He turned his back on the screen, determined to keep walking. But the chime sounded again.
[Your First Task has been initialized : Recruit a disciple to establish your sect.]
Ren Kai froze mid-step.
"Recruit... a disciple?" He slowly turned back to the floating screen. "In this place? You mean right now?"
[Correct.]
Ren Kai's mouth hung open. He looked around, scanning the empty dirt road and distant fields. Not a single soul in sight.
"Yeah, sure, let me just grab one of these rocks over here. I'm sure they'd love to join my sect."
The system remained silent, unimpressed.
"What if I don't want to?"
[Refusal will result in the obliteration of your soul. Reincarnation privileges will be revoked.]
Ren Kai blinked again, processing the words.
"..."
"W-Wait... y-you're not serious, are you?" His voice cracked.
[You want to try?]
Ren Kai swallowed. His eyes darted nervously toward the now completely unremarkable stone he'd kicked moments before.
"Nope! Nope! All good! Yeah, uh, okay. One disciple, coming right up."
Ren Kai stared at the system screen, then back at the dirt road stretching ahead of him. One disciple. That's all it wanted.
"Just one..."
"Right. Sure. Let me just find a random person in the middle of nowhere." He sighed, glancing around at the empty fields.
"This place is practically a paradise of candidates." Ren Kai remarked sarcastically.
The system didn't bother replying.
Ren Kai groaned and shoved his hands into his pockets, kicking the occasional rock as he walked.
"Maybe there's some poor guy out here lost like I am. Someone with low enough standards to join a sect led by a guy with zero martial arts skills…"
A rustling sound to his left caught his attention. Ren Kai stopped in his tracks, squinting toward the source.
The bushes shook slightly, and a young boy stumbled into view, covered in dirt and clutching something under his ragged cloak, looking around nervously like a cat caught stealing fish.
The boy couldn't have been more than 14 years old, with messy brown hair falling over his amber eyes. He barely reached Ren Kai's chest, making him look even more scrappy and underfed.
"Is he... stealing?" Ren Kai raised an eyebrow.
"From where, though? There's nothing here to steal."
The boy noticed Ren Kai standing there and froze like a deer in headlights.
For a moment, they both stared at each other in awkward silence.
Ren Kai glanced at the system panel, still floating in his peripheral vision.
"You can't be serious..." He muttered under his breath, eyeing the kid. "This is the guy?"
The boy slowly backed away, eyes darting left and right.
"Alright.." Ren Kai sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Here goes nothing."
He took a step forward, putting on what he hoped was a non-threatening smile.
"Hey, you there! Wanna join my sect?"
The boy blinked. "Huh?"
"You know, a sect." Ren Kai waved a hand vaguely, like that explained everything. "Martial arts, training, all that good stuff. I'm the sect leader. It's a pretty exclusive offer."
The boy stared at him, then clutched his cloak tighter. "Uh… I'm good, thanks." He turned to bolt.
"Wait! I'm serious!" Ren Kai called after him, jogging a few steps forward. "Look, I only need one disciple, and you seem... free. So what do you say?"
The boy hesitated, eyeing Ren Kai suspiciously. "You don't look like a sect leader."
The words hit Ren Kai right in the chest.
Ouch... He flinched, taking a step back as if physically wounded.
'I mean, I don't look that bad, right? I've got... charm? Maybe?'
He tried not to let the blow show on his face, but his inner monologue wasn't cooperating.
'Man, even a dirt-covered thief thinks I look like a mess. That's just depressing.'
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ren Kai finally asked, but his voice lacked conviction.
"You look like you're about as lost as I am." the boy said, tilting his head. "What's the catch?"
Ren Kai straightened up, throwing on a serious face. "Catch? Oh, no catch. I'm actually the leader of a... former grand sect."
The boy raised an eyebrow. "Former grand sect?"
Ren Kai nodded, fully committing to the bluff. "Yep. The... uh... Void Sky Sect. Ever heard of it?"
The boy squinted. "Nope."
Ren Kai waved a hand dramatically. "Of course you haven't. It's been lost to history, but once upon a time, it was the strongest sect in the world. Legends say its disciples could summon storms with a flick of their wrist, tearing the very heavens apart with their might."
The boy widened his eyes. "S-Storms?"
"Storms." Ren Kai confirmed, nodding as if this was completely normal. "And I'm here to revive it. That's why I need disciples. You'd be the first, you know. Get in on the ground floor of something huge."
The boy looked him up and down, clearly skeptical. "So... where's your sect now?"
Ren Kai cleared his throat, glancing off to the side. "Well, it's more of a... work-in-progress. We had some... setbacks. You know, economy and all that. Rebuilding a legendary sect isn't exactly easy."
"Uh-huh," the boy said, clearly unconvinced. "And where are all the other disciples?"
Ren Kai scratched his head. "Right. They, uh... they're coming. Just had to take care of some, uh, personal business. You know how it is. But once they get back, the sect's going to be thriving again. Big plans."
The boy crossed his arms. "So you're telling me you don't have a sect, no disciples, and you're just wandering around?"
Ren Kai hesitated for a split second before flashing a confident grin. "Exactly. See, that's where you come in. You get to be the first. The one everyone remembers when this sect is back on top. Imagine that—'the first disciple of the Void Sky Sect.' Sounds pretty impressive, doesn't it?"
The boy's eyes narrowed again. "I'm not sure if that sounds impressive or... sad."
Ren Kai let out a nervous chuckle. "Trust me, kid, it's impressive. You ever wanted to learn martial arts? Become stronger than anyone else? Well, this is your chance."
"Martial arts?" The boy tilted his head again. "You don't look like you know any martial arts."
Ren Kai's smile faltered for a moment. "Looks can be deceiving. I've got... uh, secret techniques. Really rare stuff. Only taught to the top disciples of the Void Sky Sect."
The boy didn't look convinced. "Show me."
Ren Kai blinked. "Show you?"
"Yeah. If you're a sect leader with secret techniques, show me one."
Ren Kai's mind raced. 'Crap, crap, crap. Okay, think...' He glanced around, looking for something—anything—that could pass for a technique. His eyes landed on a rock.
'Alright, let's do this.'
He picked up the rock and held it out dramatically. "Observe! This is the secret art of... uh... Rock Displacement Technique."
The boy frowned. "Rock Displacement Technique?"
"Yep. Watch carefully." Ren Kai hurled the rock as hard as he could. It bounced off a nearby tree and landed with a thud on the ground.
The boy stared at the rock, then at Ren Kai. "That's just... throwing a rock."
Ren Kai nodded sagely. "Exactly. But with precision."
The boy raised an eyebrow. "And that's a secret technique?"
Ren Kai shrugged. "Hey, it's an ancient art. Takes years to master. You wouldn't understand."
The boy stared at him for a long moment, then let out a long sigh. "This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
Ren Kai grinned. "So does that mean you're in?"
The boy eyed Ren Kai with the same expression someone might give a stray dog that followed them home.
Ren Kai smiled confidently, trying not to let his nervousness show. "Look, I get it. You're skeptical. But imagine this—you, the first disciple of the legendary Void Sky Sect. People will write stories about you. They'll sing songs. You'll be famous."
The boy crossed his arms, looking unimpressed. "Famous, huh? Do you even know any martial arts?"
Ren Kai hesitated. "Well, technically—"
Before he could finish, a loud voice interrupted them.
"Hey! You two!"
Both Ren Kai and the boy turned to see a group of three rough-looking men approaching, their faces twisted into sneers. One of them, the tallest, had a rusty sword strapped to his side. Another carried a heavy wooden club.
The third man, stocky and bald, cracked his knuckles. "Heard you talkin' about some 'grand sect' or whatever. Got anything valuable on you?"
Ren Kai swallowed.'Oh, great.'
The boy's eyes darted toward the men, then back to Ren Kai. 'This is bad. Really bad. He's gonna get us both killed.'
Ren Kai forced a grin, taking a step forward. "Valuable? Uh, of course! But nothing you'd be interested in. Just some... ancient scrolls. Real boring stuff."
The tall one sneered. "Ancient scrolls, huh? Hand 'em over."
Ren Kai's heart pounded in his chest. He glanced at the boy. The kid was already looking for an escape route. Smart.
'We're dead. He's going to get us both killed.'
"Actually, you know what?" Ren Kai said, raising a hand. "Why don't we settle this like men? No need for violence."
The man with the club raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? How's that?"
"Simple." he bluffed, keeping his voice steady.
"You three versus me. One on one. If I win, you walk away. If you win..." He hesitated, realizing he had nothing to offer. "Uh... you can keep the kid."
The boy's eyes widened. 'Excuse me?'
The men laughed, clearly not taking Ren Kai seriously.
The bald man stepped forward, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, I'll bite. Let's see what this 'sect leader' can do."
Ren Kai's mind raced. 'Oh no... what have I done?'
The bald thug cracked his neck, a smug grin plastered across his face. He flexed his hands, clearly ready to take Ren Kai down in one blow.
Ren Kai, on the other hand, had no plan. No backup. Nothing.
'Alright, Kai, think fast. How do we not die here?'
He glanced at the boy, who was edging away, probably planning his own escape. 'Yeah, good luck, kid. I'm stuck here.'
The thug advanced, swinging his fists lazily. "You ready for this, 'sect leader'?"
Ren Kai raised his hands, stalling. "Wait, wait, wait. Before we start—what's your name again?"
The thug blinked, confused. "Why does that matter?"
Ren Kai waved a hand. "It's just... y'know, respect for the fight and all that. Gotta know who I'm about to defeat."
The bald man paused, scratching his head. "Uh, it's Toma."
Ren Kai nodded sagely. "Toma. Great name. You sure your mom didn't name you 'Tomato' by mistake?"
Toma's eyes flashed with anger. "What did you just say?"
'Oh crap, I just made things worse.'
Before Toma could react, Ren Kai picked up a handful of dirt from the ground and threw it directly into Toma's face.
Toma yelped, clutching at his eyes. "You—! You little—!"
Ren Kai didn't wait for the rest. He grabbed the boy by the arm and bolted.
"Run!"
The two of them sprinted down the path, Ren Kai's heart pounding as he dragged the boy along. Behind them, Toma was screaming, and his two buddies were trying to figure out what just happened.
The boy gasped for air. "What the hell was that?!"
"That.." Ren Kai puffed, still running, "was tactical genius."
"That was dirt!"
"Exactly! They didn't see it coming!" Ren Kai grinned, as if he'd just pulled off some brilliant strategy. In reality, it was pure desperation.
The boy glanced back. The thugs were still stumbling after them, but the distance between them was growing.
"Keep running!" Ren Kai yelled, pulling the boy along as they dove into the bushes by the side of the road.
They tumbled down a small slope and landed behind a large rock, panting heavily. Ren Kai peeked over the top of the rock, watching as the thugs ran past, still shouting and stumbling in the dirt.
When they were finally out of sight, Ren Kai let out a long breath of relief. "See? Told you I'd handle it."
The boy shot him a skeptical look. "You threw dirt."
Ren Kai shrugged. "Yeah, and it worked, didn't it?"
The boy rolled his eyes. "Sure, genius."
Ren Kai wiped the sweat off his brow and turned to the boy. "Alright, now that we're alive, what's your name?"
The boy hesitated for a moment, as if weighing whether or not to answer. Finally, he sighed. "It's Liu Xian."
"Liu Xian, huh? Nice to meet you. I'm Ren Kai. Sect leader of the Void Sky Sect, as I mentioned."
Liu Xian scoffed, crossing his arms. "You're still sticking with that story?"
"Of course I am. You think I'd lie about something as important as a legendary sect?" Ren Kai's grin was back, full of misplaced confidence. "Besides, you saw my technique in action. Dirt-Throwing Technique is a secret Void Sky art."
Liu Xian gave him a flat look. 'This guy is so full of it.'
Ren Kai raised an eyebrow, sizing the boy up. "What are you, like... 12?"
The boy shot him a glare. "I'm 14."
Ren Kai grinned. "Ah, so you are a kid. Makes sense."
Liu Xian sighed again, rubbing the back of his neck. 'This guy's either crazy or really persistent.' He glanced at Ren Kai's confident grin and shook his head. "You really don't give up, do you?"
"Nope."
'He's worse off than me.' Ren Kai thought, glancing at the kid. 'Perfect first disciple material.'
Liu Xian's stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence.
Ren Kai raised an eyebrow. "Hungry?"
Liu Xian glanced away, embarrassed. "A little."
Ren Kai leaned back, stretching. "Well, if you join my sect, you can have food. As much as you want."
Liu Xian shot him a skeptical look. "You don't have any food."
"Not yet." Ren Kai admitted. "But we'll figure it out. What do you say?"
Liu Xian hesitated, his arms still crossed. 'I know he's bluffing. This guy's just making stuff up as he goes along.' He glanced down at his ragged clothes, his stomach growling again.
'But... he did save me. Kind of.'
With a long sigh, Liu Xian nodded. "Fine... I will join your sect."
Ren Kai beamed. "That's the spirit! Welcome, my first disciple."