Xiao Chen dragged his weary body through the bustling streets of Azure Dragon City, the day's grueling training weighing on him like a physical yoke. His muscles screamed with every step, but the ache was a familiar companion. The Soaring Dragon Assembly loomed, a specter of both opportunity and anxiety. He knew he was lagging behind. Talented youths from rich families, like that bastard Jin Feng, had access to resources he could only dream of—pills, techniques, spirit stones. They could out-skill him through sheer wealth, despite his Heaven Root.
He arrived at the compound of the Crimson Fang Mercenary Company, the only home he had ever known. The sight of the familiar, slightly worn banner—a red fang on a field of grey—eased a tension in his shoulders he hadn't realized was there.
A voice, warm and sharp as a honed blade, cut through his fatigue. "Xiao Chen! You look like you just finished a week's worth of training in a single day!"
He turned to see Auntie Lin, her hands on her hips. She was a core member of Second Captain Gao's team, the woman who had practically raised him after Gao found him as an infant on a remote mission. Her eyes, however, held a deep concern that belied her teasing tone.
"Haha, Auntie Lin. Just a little tired is all," Xiao Chen replied, mustering a grin that felt more genuine as he looked at her. "The Assembly is close. I can't afford to slack off."
"Slack off? You? The boy who started practicing his stances before he could properly talk?" She reached up and brushed a streak of dirt from his cheek, her touch gentle. "We worry you'll push yourself to breaking."
"I'll be fine," he said, his voice firming with conviction. "This is my chance. Our chance. When I distinguish myself, the Crimson Fangs will rise. We'll become an A-grade company. Just watch."
He was steered toward the main hall, where the leadership awaited. Leader Hong, a bear of a man in the early stages of the Golden Core realm, sat at the head of a large table, his presence a steadying rock for the entire organization. Beside him stood Second Captain Gao, the man Xiao Chen called 'Dad,' his weathered face creased with a proud smile.
"The boy returns," Leader Hong boomed, his voice filling the spacious hall. "The scouts say you've been putting even the clan young masters to shame at the academy."
Gao stepped forward, his expression turning serious. "We know what you're up against, son. And we may not have the treasury of the Jin Clan, but we have our pride. And we have this."
He lifted a long object wrapped in dark silk from the table and presented it to Xiao Chen. Unwrapping it, Xiao Chen's breath caught in his throat. Nestled in the cloth was a saber. Its blade was a dull, smoky grey, but it hummed with a low, earth-level energy. The hilt was wrapped in durable dragonhide, and the guard was crafted in the shape of two interlocking fangs.
"This... this is a medium-grade earth-tier weapon," Xiao Chen stammered, his eyes wide. He knew the value. Seventy-five thousand spirit stones, at least. It was the equivalent of the entire company's income for three months. They only possessed three or four other artifacts of similar or higher caliber.
Leader Hong nodded, his gaze intense. "The 'Rending Fang.' It's yours. Consider it an investment. In you, and in our future."
Xiao Chen's grip tightened on the scabbard. The weight felt right, perfect. A surge of gratitude, so powerful it threatened to overwhelm him, washed through his chest. "I... I don't know what to say. Thank you. I won't let you down."
"We know you won't," Gao said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now, go. Rest. A sharp blade is useless in a tired hand."
Xiao Chen retreated to his small, spartan room, the Rending Fang placed reverently on his bedroll. His mind, however, would not quiet. The scuffle with Jin Fang earlier in the week replayed in his mind. *The Jin Clan wouldn't dare cause real trouble with the sect recruitment so close... would they?* He shook his head, brushing the concern aside. Once the sects arrived, things would change. If he could get into the good graces of a major sect, even the Jins would have to tread carefully.
A soft knock at his doorframe interrupted his thoughts. "Xiao Chen?"
He looked up to see Ling Er, Leader Hong's daughter, peeking in. Her cheerful demeanor and bright eyes were a constant comfort. He'd always treated her like a little sister, though rumors around the compound suggested her feelings ran a little deeper.
"Ling Er. Come in."
She stepped inside, her gaze immediately falling on the saber. "Oh! So the rumors are true. They really gave it to you." She smiled, a genuine, happy expression. "It suits you."
"It's more than I deserve," he said honestly.
"Nonsense," she chided, sitting cross-legged on the floor opposite him. "You're the pride of the Crimson Fangs, Xiao Chen. Everyone is rooting for you." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "I heard you had another... disagreement with Young Master Jin."
Xiao Chen let out a short laugh. "He still hasn't gotten over that sparring match from last year. Thinks his family name makes him better."
"But you'll show him, right? At the Assembly?"
"I'll show everyone," he said, his voice low but filled with iron resolve. He looked from Ling Er's hopeful face to the Rending Fang. The weight of their expectations was heavy, but it was a burden he welcomed. It was the fuel for his fire."
Ling Er stayed for a while longer, their easy conversation about nothing and everything slowly easing the last of the tension from his body. After she left, Xiao Chen lay back, staring at the ceiling. The Assembly was his gateway. Not just to power, but to securing a future for the only family he had ever known. He would not fail.