The moon hung high over Fenglu Village, casting its silver glow across the rooftops and narrow dirt paths. Crickets sang their usual nocturnal symphony, and the faint rustle of leaves danced with the night breeze. Yet, inside Lei Sheng's small room, the air felt heavy dense with something more than just the humidity of summer.
Lei Sheng sat cross-legged on the worn mat, the ancient scroll unrolled before him. The dim glow of an oil lamp flickered, casting shifting shadows on the parchment's faded symbols. His fingers brushed over the intricate calligraphy, feeling the texture of history beneath his touch.
He had read parts of the scroll before, learning techniques and meditative forms. But tonight felt different. Perhaps it was the lingering adrenaline from the battle with the Fierce-Tusk Boar or the villagers' wary glances that still echoed in his mind.
There's more to this scroll than just techniques, he thought, his heart steady but curious.
As he carefully flipped to an older section, the ink appeared darker, almost as if it resisted fading despite the scroll's age. The title at the top was written in bold strokes:
"The Legacy of the Jade Soul Path."
Lei Sheng frowned. Legacy? He leaned closer, letting the lamplight catch every detail.
"Long before kingdoms rose and fell, before the names of emperors were etched into stone, there existed warriors of pure spirit those who walked the Jade Soul Path. They were not born of privilege nor chosen by fate. They were forged by purpose, bound by a singular belief: to stand against the darkness that dwelled beyond the mortal realm."
Lei Sheng's eyes widened as he continued to read. The scroll detailed tales of these cultivators heroes who wielded jade-infused Qi with mastery far beyond anything Lei Sheng could imagine. They battled not just wild beasts but forces described as "Shadows from Beyond," entities born from hatred, fear, and chaos itself.
One passage stood out:
"The Jade Soul Path is more than a technique; it is a beacon. Its light calls to both those who seek protection… and those who seek destruction."
A chill ran down Lei Sheng's spine. A beacon?
His mind flashed to the battle with the boar. Its aggression had felt unnatural, almost driven by something more than instinct. Could it have been drawn to him… to the power of the Jade Soul Path?
The thought made his chest tighten.
Morning found Lei Sheng still seated, the scroll now carefully rolled up beside him. His body ached from sitting for hours, but his mind felt heavier than any physical fatigue.
He stood, stretching his stiff muscles, then grabbed the scroll and made his way outside. The cool morning air hit his face, refreshing yet unable to clear the weight in his heart.
Without thinking, his feet carried him to the riverbank their usual training spot. He found Jiao Lan there already, practicing her stances. Her movements were sharp, controlled, but when she saw him, she paused, tilting her head in concern.
"You look like you've been up all night," she said, wiping sweat from her brow.
Lei Sheng gave a tired smile. "Because I have."
She set her practice staff aside, walking over to him. "What's wrong?"
Without a word, he handed her the scroll. She unrolled it, skimming through the section he had marked. As her eyes moved over the ancient text, her expression shifted from curiosity to seriousness.
After a long silence, she spoke softly, "So… the Jade Soul Path isn't just a cultivation technique. It's part of something much bigger."
Lei Sheng nodded. "I thought I was just learning to be stronger to protect the village. But what if this power… calls to something else? Something dangerous?"
Jiao Lan rolled the scroll back up, her gaze steady. "If that's true, then it's even more important that you master it. You can't run from this, Lei Sheng."
Her words settled over him like a quiet truth.
Later that day, Lei Sheng visited his grandfather, Elder Wei, hoping for answers. The old man sat under the shade of an ancient tree near their home, whittling a small piece of wood with practiced ease.
"Grandfather," Lei Sheng began, his voice respectful but tense. "Can I ask you something about… history?"
Elder Wei looked up, his sharp eyes gleaming with wisdom and perhaps recognition. "Of course, my boy. History is the root of all understanding."
Lei Sheng hesitated before pulling out the scroll. "Do you know anything about the Jade Soul Path?"
At the mention of the name, Elder Wei's hand froze mid-carve. A shadow passed over his face brief but unmistakable.
"Where did you hear that name?" the old man asked quietly.
Lei Sheng swallowed hard. "I've been studying it. Training with it."
Elder Wei sighed deeply, setting the carving knife aside. "The Jade Soul Path… it's not a name I've heard in many years."
Lei Sheng sat beside him, eager for answers. "The scroll says it was practiced by ancient heroes. That they fought against some great evil. Is that true?"
Elder Wei nodded slowly. "Yes. Long ago, there were warriors who channeled their spirits through jade, wielding power unlike anything the world had seen. They stood against creatures and forces that didn't belong in our world. But such power comes at a cost."
Lei Sheng frowned. "What kind of cost?"
"The kind that attracts attention," Elder Wei replied gravely. "The light of jade burns brightly, and shadows are always drawn to light."
The words echoed what Lei Sheng had read. A beacon.
As Lei Sheng left his grandfather's side, his heart felt conflicted. The power he had worked so hard to cultivate was not just a tool for protection it was a symbol, a signal, perhaps even a curse.
That night, as he lay awake staring at the ceiling, his thoughts churned. What if the darkness the Jade Soul warriors fought against… never truly disappeared?
Could it still exist, lurking in forgotten corners of the world?
And if so, had his awakening of the Jade Soul Path already begun to stir it?
He clenched his fists, the jade Qi responding faintly to his emotions.
Whatever the answers were, he knew one thing:
I can't turn back now.
Whether he had chosen this path or it had chosen him didn't matter anymore.
The following day, Lei Sheng met Jiao Lan at the river again. She noticed the determination in his eyes before he even spoke.
"I'm going to master the Jade Soul Path," he said firmly. "Not just for the village, not just for myself… but because I believe it's my responsibility."
Jiao Lan smiled, her eyes filled with both pride and concern. "Then I'll be here every step of the way."
Lei Sheng felt a warmth in his chest, not from Qi, but from something deeper friendship, loyalty, maybe even the early flickers of something more.
Together, they resumed their training, unaware that far beyond the borders of Fenglu Village, in the shadowed corners of forgotten places, something ancient had begun to stir.
Drawn by the light of a boy's awakening power.