Chapter 10 — A Valley on the Edge
Morning came silently, with cold mist floating over the dusty houses of Cloud Veil Outer Mountain.
The sun was weak, like it was afraid to shine on this valley.
Long Tan walked toward the village square.
His saber was tied to his back, steps calm, aura hidden.
The mountain felt heavier than yesterday.
The world felt like it was watching, waiting.
People gathered near the water well.
Their faces were pale and tired.
A thin old man spoke first:
> "Elder Yun is dead… truly gone."
A woman gasped, covering her mouth.
"And Elder Qin?" someone asked.
"Alive, but injured badly. He cannot even walk."
Cloud Veil Faction was built by two brothers — both Foundation Building cultivators.
In this small valley, they were kings.
Not powerful in the grand world, but enough to protect this land.
Now one brother was dead.
The other was half-broken.
The mountain shook without a sword raised.
---
Fear and Taxes
Two sect collectors entered the square.
Grey robes, tired faces, strict eyes.
The taller one unrolled a jade slip and read loudly:
> "Due to tragic events in the Cloud Veil Faction,
current monthly fee remains 10 Spirit Stones."
People groaned. Some cried.
"And," the collector continued, voice colder than wind,
> "there may be increase to 12 Spirit Stones next month."
The crowd exploded in whispers—
"What?! Twelve?!" "We already can't survive!" "My baby… my baby will starve…"
An old man knelt.
> "Senior… we only earned six stones this month.
Please show mercy!"
A poor mother cried while holding her skinny child.
> "I only have three stones… take them, but how will we eat?"
The collector's face did not move.
> "Cloud Veil protects you. You pay. That is the rule."
A late-stage Qi Condensation guard walked forward.
Sword at waist. Eyes sharp, voice cold:
> "If anyone speaks of leaving this valley, I will cut him down."
People lowered their heads.
Despair weighed like stone.
A hunter shouted from behind:
> "Bandits entered yesterday!
They robbed a farmer!
We are not safe even here!"
The guard's expression sharpened.
> "Bandits are wolves.
But outside the valley, beasts and death live everywhere.
You want to leave? Go.
Let wolves and demons tear your bones."
No one answered.
Fear strangled every voice.
Collectors went hut to hut.
When they reached Long Tan's home, they took coins without a word.
Long Tan stayed silent.
Silence was armor here.
---
Home — A Quiet Fire
Inside their small hut, Su Lan placed rice and boiled leaves on the table.
Her hands shook slightly.
"You seem troubled," she whispered.
Long Tan nodded.
> "Sect leaders gone.
Bandits rising.
Taxes rising.
Cloud Veil is cracking."
Su Lan's breath caught.
Fear flickered in her eyes, but she forced them steady.
"What will we do?"
Long Tan looked at the fire.
> "I cannot go deep forest now.
If I leave you alone, danger comes.
If I stay, we starve."
Su Lan lowered her head… then slowly lifted it with new resolve.
"We will not break," she said softly.
"We cannot run.
So we must grow stronger.
Together."
Long Tan watched her.
Her voice was small, but her will felt strong.
> "Yes," he said, gently. "Quiet strength.
Quiet steps."
---
Saber Practice
Outside, mist still hugged the mountain.
Long Tan stood in the yard and handed Su Lan a bamboo practice saber.
"Hold it like this," he said.
She tried.
Shaky. Nervous.
"No rush. Breathe. Balance first."
He corrected her posture.
"Feet firm.
Arms loose.
Blade follows the heart, not fear."
She swung— awkward, clumsy.
But she tried again.
And again.
Sweat formed on her neck.
Her breath grew deeper.
> "Good," Long Tan said softly.
"You have a quiet fire inside. Do not lose it."
Su Lan's eyes shined a little.
---
Night Resolve
When evening came, they lit a small oil lamp.
Outside, a dog barked — far, scared.
Su Lan sat cross-legged.
She closed her eyes.
Qi flowed slowly inside her, gentle but determined.
> I am too weak
I cannot be a burden
I will not let danger take everything we have
Long Tan watched in silence.
His heart warmed quietly.
His grip tightened on his saber.
> This world does not pity the weak.
So we will not remain weak.
Cloud Veil Valley trembled.
Bandits lurked.
Taxes rose.
Fear spread like cold wind.
But inside one small hut, two souls refused to bend.
Their fire was small—but fire always starts small.
And it burns quietly
until one day
it burns everything in front of it.
Long Tan stepped outside again, just to breathe.
A few villagers were gathered near the herbal field behind the huts.
A young herbalist girl, barely thirteen, sat crying near her basket.
"My mother is sick," she sobbed, "and I only picked two Silver Leaf herbs. They won't give us medicine with this…"
Her brother, only a little older, clenched his fists.
"We work every day. We eat dry rice. Still not enough…"
An older herbalist shook his head sadly.
"Child, this valley changed. Before, small herbs could trade for medicine. Now sect asks more. Everyone struggling."
Long Tan watched quietly.
He wanted to help… but he knew giving one coin today would bring ten hands tomorrow.
Good heart in a starving world can invite blades.