Chapter One: The Abandoned Disciple of the Immortal Sect

Early spring in the third month, when the lingering chill of spring still bites, the apricot grove has just begun to bud, and from afar, a faint blush can already be seen.

At noon, the weather was clear, but the sunlight was not scorching.

Outside the west gate of Four Elephants City, a rugged ancient road was already crowded with people. Among them were well-dressed gentlemen and young masters, as well as musicians and drummers, all with beaming faces, craning their necks and looking forward in anticipation. Strangely, beside this group stood another, but only five or six people—just a steward with a few house servants. They too were waiting for someone, but their mood was gloomy, as if the first group awaited the God of Wealth, while this group awaited the God of Plague.

Passersby, curious, asked others about the scene. Someone laughed and said, ""Those waiting over there are from the The Bennett Family. Their eldest young master was chosen by an immortal master seven years ago and taken to the mountain gate to cultivate. Now, after seven years, he is said to have become an inner disciple and has returned to Four Elephants City to visit his family. This is a big event—Mr. Bennett brought a large group and has been waiting here since early morning!""

""And what about the other group?""

""Haha, they're waiting for someone too. Have you forgotten? Seven years ago, two people were taken away by the immortal master. Besides the young master of the The Bennett Family, there was also the young master of the The Carter Family, Henry Carter. But though both were taken to the immortal sect and cultivated for seven years, their fates were different. The The Bennett Family young master returns to visit his family, while the The Carter Family young master was expelled from the sect for poor aptitude. He happens to be returning today as well, so the The Carter Family steward brought people to wait here, but how could their faces look good!""

Hearing this, passersby couldn't help but find it amusing, pointing and whispering about the The Carter Family people, making their faces even more embarrassed.

About half an hour later, suddenly an auspicious cloud flew in from the horizon and landed outside the city—it was the The Bennett Family young master returning. Mr. Bennett was overjoyed, generously tossing out reward money, ordering the musicians to play with all their might. Then a large crowd surrounded the Young Master Bennett, escorting him into Four Elephants City with laughter and cheer. The more joyful their laughter, the worse the The Carter Family people's faces became, sighing in misery and dejection.

""The The Bennett Family young master has already returned. Why hasn't our young master shown up yet?""

The The Carter Family steward, having waited another half hour, was growing impatient.

""Maybe... it's because the Young Master Bennett knows magic and can ride the clouds back, while our young master can only walk...""

The servants speculated wildly, all feeling that their own young master was truly disappointing.

Meanwhile, outside the east gate of Four Elephants City, in a field of reeds, a young man in green was leisurely making his way. He looked about fifteen or sixteen, with delicate features and a gentle, approachable smile always on his face. He wore straw sandals and carried a large red gourd on his back. As he admired the scenery, he slowly entered the reed field, seemingly searching for something.

After walking about two and a half miles, he saw the weathered characters ""Sword Hut"" carved on a stone by the roadside. He nodded to himself, thinking: This is the place!

He took a sip from his gourd and strode into the reeds.

If outsiders saw this, they would surely be startled, for deeper in lay a forbidden area of Four Elephants City.

Here lived a great sword master named Lucas Grant, whose swordsmanship had reached the realm of transformation. Everyone in Four Elephants City called him Master Grant.

Now over eighty years old, this sword master once had profound cultivation and could have easily lived to two hundred. Yet, more than a decade ago, he contracted a severe illness. Despite his cultivation, he could not overcome it. The illness worsened over time, becoming chronic. Knowing he had few years left, Master Grant left Four Elephants City, built a hut in this reed field, and went into seclusion to await death.

Master Grant had always been eccentric, and as his illness worsened, his temper became even more unpredictable. He declared the area around his Sword Hut forbidden. Those who trespassed unknowingly were often killed by his sword. After a few corpses were buried in the reeds, no one dared enter again.

Yet the young man in green walked right in, relaxed and seemingly oblivious to the danger awaiting him.