The wind whispered through the temple grounds, carrying the scent of old wood and incense. The golden morning sun bathed the courtyard in a warm glow, yet Fang Lin felt a strange chill as he stood before Uncle Zhou.
A deep silence stretched between them.
Uncle Zhou's sharp, aged eyes studied Fang Lin for a long moment before he finally spoke.
"Fang Lin… I have watched over you since you were a child," Uncle Zhou began, his voice steady yet tinged with something unreadable. "But even I don't know everything about your origins."
Fang Lin's heart pounded. "What do you mean?"
Uncle Zhou let out a slow breath and motioned for him to follow. "Come with me."
The old priest led him deeper into the temple, past the main hall where incense burned before the Mountain Deity's statue. They descended a narrow stone staircase, their footsteps echoing against the cold walls. At the bottom, they arrived at a dimly lit chamber, where an ancient wooden chest sat in the center.
Uncle Zhou knelt before it and carefully unfastened the heavy metal lock. The lid creaked open, revealing only two items inside—a folded black cloth and an old letter, its parchment worn with age.
He took them out and handed the letter to Fang Lin.
"This letter was left with you when you were just a baby."
Fang Lin's fingers trembled slightly as he took it. The parchment was aged, but the ink had not faded. A single name was written on the front—Fang Lin.
Slowly, he unfolded it.
---
To the One Who Will Protect Him,
"If you are reading this, then fate has already taken its course.
"This child, Fang Lin, is more than he appears to be. His destiny is tied to something far greater than what this world can understand.
"But know this—he is in danger. If his origins are ever discovered, he will not be safe.
"Raise him well. Let him live an ordinary life. Never let him walk the path of cultivation."
"If the day comes when he awakens… then the past will return."
"And the world will tremble once more."
"Protect him. No matter what it takes."
—(empty)
---
Fang Lin's breath caught in his throat.
The words… were filled with an overwhelming sense of urgency, fear, and sorrow.
"Who wrote this?" he asked, looking up at Uncle Zhou.
The old priest shook his head. "I do not know. The letter was the only thing left with you."
Fang Lin's mind spun. This letter wasn't just a farewell—it was a warning.
His fingers clenched around the parchment.
Who was he really?
Why was his existence dangerous?
And what did "the past will return" mean?
Uncle Zhou let out a heavy sigh. "I raised you here in Jincheng because I believed this place was safe. But if you have truly awakened a spirit…" His gaze darkened. "Then the past is already starting to unfold."
Fang Lin swallowed hard. "Does this mean… someone is looking for me?"
Uncle Zhou's silence was answer enough.
A deep unease settled in Fang Lin's chest. He had spent his whole life believing he was ordinary, a child abandoned without a future. But now, his very existence seemed to carry secrets that could shake the world.
He looked back at the second item in the chest—the folded black cloth.
"What's that?" he asked.
Uncle Zhou picked it up carefully and unfolded it. As the fabric unraveled, a strange black robe was revealed. Despite its age, it looked untouched by time, the embroidery gleaming faintly in the dim light.
Fang Lin frowned. "It looks… familiar."
Uncle Zhou hesitated before speaking. "This robe bears the insignia of the Celestial Shadow Sect."
Fang Lin's eyes widened.
The Celestial Shadow Sect.
One of the most feared and mysterious sects in the entire cultivation world.
Unlike righteous sects that operated in the open, the Celestial Shadow Sect was an enigma—a faction that lurked in the shadows, their movements unknown, their motives hidden. Rumors claimed they were assassins, spies, and wielders of forbidden arts. Some said they had vanished decades ago, others whispered that they had never truly disappeared.
Fang Lin took a step back, his heart racing. "Are you saying… I was born into that sect?"
Uncle Zhou shook his head. "I do not know if you were part of them. But this robe was left with you, and I do not believe it was by accident."
Fang Lin felt his breath grow heavy.
If he truly had ties to the Celestial Shadow Sect…
Then he wasn't just an abandoned orphan.
He was part of something dangerous.
Uncle Zhou's voice turned solemn. "Fang Lin, the life you have lived until now… may not have been your true life. If the Celestial Shadow Sect was involved in your past, then you must be careful. There are those who would kill you just for that connection."
A silence hung between them.
Fang Lin's mind was a storm of questions. The letter's warning, his mysterious awakening, the robe of a long-lost sect…
Had fate been waiting for this moment all along?
He exhaled, his fingers tightening into fists.
No.
He wouldn't let fear control him.
If the past was returning, then he would face it head-on.
"…What do I do now?" he asked.
Uncle Zhou looked at him, his expression both sorrowful and resolute.
"You must become strong."
Fang Lin nodded.
Strength.
If he was to unravel his past… if he was to survive what was coming…
Then he would forge his own path.
Even if the entire world stood against him.