Chapter One: The Ruins

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"Caw, caw."
A flock of black crows perched upon the crumbling eaves, bringing with them the stench of death.
As far as the eye could see, collapsed and shattered houses stretched endlessly, the once level ground now battered and ruined, riddled with the craters left by battles between powerful foes. The land was a vast, desolate ruin.
The heavy scent of blood hung thick in the air, and the very earth itself was stained a deep, dark red.
Among the broken walls and fallen stones, corpses lay strewn about, shattered swords scattered haphazardly around them. The crows pecked relentlessly at the rotting flesh, a nauseating spectacle.
Even the river that wound through this place had been dyed a blood-red hue. One could easily imagine the countless deaths that had taken place here—so many that even the rushing water could not wash the blood away.
It was a scene straight from hell.
The dying light of the setting sun cast its glow upon the ruins, making the blood-soaked earth appear even more crimson.
Beside a heap of rubble, a corpse lay face-down. Across its back, a ghastly wound revealed gleaming white bone, and several crows were still tearing at the decaying flesh.
Suddenly, the corpse stirred, sending the crows flapping into the air in alarm.
To be precise, it was not the corpse that moved, but a pair of hands beneath it, struggling to push it aside.
Perhaps the body was too heavy, for the hands could not move it at first. After a moment, gathering their strength, they finally managed to roll the corpse off.
The owner of those hands was a young man. His once smooth black hair was matted with blood, his face streaked with dried gore. The fine clothes he had worn were now caked in filth, and his entire body bore the marks of grime and battle. Only his blinking eyes seemed untouched and clear.
The youth lay on the blood-soaked ground, gasping for breath, as if the effort of moving the corpse had drained the last of his strength.
After resting for a long while, he at last propped himself up and stood, weary and unsteady.
He glanced around, his eyes wide with disbelief. Everywhere he looked, there was only red—blood, and countless corpses littering the ground.
The sight left his mind in turmoil, his whole body frozen in place.
He could not believe what he saw. Fear took hold of him, and he stumbled back several steps, overwhelmed.

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"Impossible, impossible—how could it come to this? This can’t be Hua River City. I must be dreaming," the youth screamed inwardly. He refused to accept any of it, his heart unable to bear the truth, yet what lay before him forced him to face it.
Helpless, he collapsed to the ground, clutching at his tangled hair. Tears welled in his eyes, but as they ran down his bloodstained face, they fell to the earth as drops of red. He choked out, "With so many powerful warriors in the Yu family, how could we be destroyed? Why..."
Silence reigned; no one answered his cries. Only his own weeping and the cawing of crows echoed in the void.
After some time, the youth’s sobs ceased. He gradually collected himself, accepting the reality before him.
Lifting his head, he scanned the area, searching for any sign of life. But all he saw were bodies lying motionless.
Suddenly, he spotted the corpse he had pushed aside earlier. He rushed over. Though the face was unrecognizable, the clothing gave away the man’s identity.
"Father..." The boy dropped to his knees, shoulders slumped, beside the body. Fresh tears streamed down his face. He clenched his fists, sorrow giving way to a blaze of fury.
His mother had died when he was just a child, leaving only him and his father. Their bond had been deep. And now, his father was gone as well.
Rage burned within him, erupting at last. He raised his head and howled at the sky, "Who was it? Who dared slaughter my kin, wipe out my clan? I, Yu Qi, swear I will tear you to pieces!"
Yu Qi’s cries echoed through the ruins, his solitary figure radiating helplessness and grief.
The enormity of the blow had left his heart chilled to its core.
After some time, Yu Qi managed to calm himself. He lifted his father’s body and laid it in a shallow pit, slowly covering it with earth to form a simple grave.
Though he wished to bury the rest of his kin as well, his strength was spent, and he could do no more.
He knelt before the grave, bowing three times, then rose and set off in a chosen direction. If he was to have his revenge, he needed strength. The Yu family had always specialized in the sword, and Yu Qi knew he must find a blade. Yet here, all the weapons were broken and useless.
As a scion of a sword-famed house, Yu Qi knew of a place where weapons might yet be found—but now, with his family’s city in ruins, he could not be sure it still existed.
Determined, he set off toward that place. After all, if he did not see for himself, he would never know.
Everywhere he walked, corpses littered his path. The closer he drew, the greater their number, a clear sign that the enemy had made this their target.
Yu Qi quickened his pace and soon reached a ruined structure. At its center, a concealed entrance descended into the earth. Though night had not yet fallen, only the stone steps vanishing into darkness were visible at the threshold.

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Yu Qi remembered that a tall tower had once stood here—the Sword Cage, forbidden ground of the Yu clan, forbidden to all but the patriarch.
It was said to house many legendary swords, some of which had even been listed among the wonders of the world.
Until now, Yu Qi had thought the Sword Cage was merely a tower. Only upon reaching this place did he discover an entrance beneath it.
The Sword Cage had always held an air of mystery for him. Now, seeing this hidden passage, his curiosity grew even stronger.
"As the forbidden ground of the Yu clan, I know I should not enter," Yu Qi muttered to himself. "But now, disaster has befallen my family. Though my heart thirsts for vengeance, I am powerless. I have no choice but to seek a weapon here, that I may one day master the sword arts left by my ancestors. Forebears, please do not blame me."
With this silent prayer, Yu Qi descended the shadowy staircase.
Though the gloom was deep, torches lined the walls, their flickering flames casting enough light to guide his way.
Step by step, Yu Qi followed the lights downwards, longing to know what secrets lay hidden within this forbidden place.
He did not know how far the stone steps descended—he had walked a long time and still had not reached the end. Weakened as he was, the journey left him breathless. At last, he was forced to stop and rest.
When he had recovered some strength, he pressed on.
Before long, he reached the bottom of the steps. Before him stretched a corridor, winding into unknown depths.
"Why is there still no end?" Yu Qi muttered in frustration. But having come this far, he could not turn back.
He continued onward. After a short distance, the air grew thick with the stench of blood.
Sure enough, he soon found many corpses along the passage.
From their attire, Yu Qi could tell they were the Yu clan’s elite, guardians of the Sword Cage. Now, they too had been struck down in an instant. The skill of the enemy was beyond imagining.
Yet their presence meant he must be close to the passage’s end. Steeling himself, Yu Qi quickened his pace and pressed on.