Volume 1 — The Boy With the Celestial Qin
Chapter 1 — A Lone Traveler on the Road to Shrek
The morning mist clung to the dirt road like a thin veil, drifting lazily between the trees that lined the wilderness outside Shrek City. A solitary figure walked along the path, his steps steady and quiet, as though he feared disturbing the peaceful silence of dawn.
Lan Tianyi carried no luggage beyond a simple wrapped bundle on his back. His clothes were clean but plain, showing the careful mending of someone used to relying on himself. His black hair fell loosely behind him, brushing past the slender, pale wooden case that hung across his shoulder — the case that held his martial soul's true form: his Celestial Qin.
He breathed in deeply. The faint spiritual essence in the air here was richer than anything he'd felt before. Even without circulating his soul power, his body absorbed it naturally, like water into parched soil.
"So this is Shrek…" he murmured.
The name alone carried weight across the continent — a place of miracles and legends, where geniuses gathered and monsters were forged.
He had come alone.He always did.
But today, fate had decided he would not reach Shrek alone.
A rustling sound came from the forest to his right.
Tianyi paused, his eyes narrowing. His spiritual perception was sharp — sharper than a normal eleven-year-old's had any right to be. Threads of mental energy brushed outward like invisible strings plucked from his qin.
Three presences.Two human.One… soul beast.
And the beast was chasing the two.
Without hesitation, he dashed through the underbrush.
A scream echoed through the trees.
"Brother Bei Bei—! It's catching up!"
A girl with long blue hair stumbled out of the thicket. She was holding one arm against her ribs, face tense. Behind her was a calm-looking youth with bright blue dragon patterns shimmering faintly on his skin.
And behind them—
The air trembled as a powerful blast of wind exploded through the clearing.
A Duskgold Dreadwolf burst forth, its eyes glowing with savage hunger.
Tianyi's muscles tightened.
A ten-year beast? No… thirty years. Fast. Too fast for that girl to outrun.
Just as the wolf lunged—
Tianyi stepped forward, hand already resting on the wooden case across his back.
"Step aside!" Tang Ya shouted, misreading his intention. "It's too dangerous—"
But Tianyi ignored her. His fingers slid across the case, and the air resonated with a faint musical hum.
The wolf pounced.
Tianyi exhaled.
Clang—!
A single crystalline note rang through the forest.
The soundwave curved like a gentle arc of water, striking the wolf's shoulder. It wasn't a heavy attack, but the controlled vibration sent the beast stumbling sideways, as though its joints had suddenly turned soft.
Tang Ya blinked. "A sound-type martial soul…?"
Bei Bei immediately stepped forward, his calm eyes flashing."Junior Sister, behind me."
Lan Tianyi did not retreat. His right hand hovered over the qin case, ready to draw again.
The wolf snarled, recovering quickly.
Tianyi frowned.If it keeps moving that fast, I'll need to use a stronger note…
But before he could—
Boom!
Blue lightning exploded beside him as Bei Bei's body erupted in draconic aura. The Radiant Thunder Dragon surged forth, claws blazing like white-hot iron.
The wolf barely managed to howl before the electric strike sent it crashing into a tree.
The clearing fell silent.
Tang Ya clutched her chest. "That was close… Brother Bei Bei, are you okay?"
Bei Bei nodded. "I'm fine." Then he turned toward Tianyi. "And so are we, thanks to him."
Tianyi shook his head modestly."I only slowed it down."
"Still enough to change the outcome," Bei Bei said with a gentle smile. "You handled yourself well."
Tang Ya crossed her arms. "You're strong for someone who looks like he hasn't eaten in two days."
Tianyi opened his mouth—Only to be interrupted by a rustle behind them.
A thin, pale boy staggered out of the bushes, breathing heavily.
His clothes were torn. His eyes were determined yet timid.
Huo Yuhao.
Tianyi's sensing threads had detected him earlier — a boy chasing desperately after Tang Ya and Bei Bei, though clearly inexperienced.
Tang Ya sighed dramatically. "Yuhao, you're too slow!"
Yuhao bowed respectfully. "Sorry… Senior Sister…"
His gaze then shifted to Tianyi, curiosity flashing in his eyes.
Bei Bei clasped his fist politely."My friend, thank you for intervening. May I know how to address you?"
Tianyi bowed back."Lan Tianyi."
Tang Ya scratched her cheek. "Huh. Nice name. Lan Tianyi… Lan… blue… Hmm. You two blue-haired boys might get along."
Yuhao blinked. "You… saved them just now?"
"A little," Tianyi said quietly.
For some reason, Yuhao smiled warmly at him — a genuine, grateful smile.
"Thank you."
Tianyi felt something stir in his chest, faint and unfamiliar.
Perhaps… fate had begun weaving its first strings.