Morning at the orphanage never waited for anyone.
The rusted iron bell rang once—harsh, uneven, unforgiving—and silence shattered instantly into groans, shuffling feet, and muttered curses that children far too young had already learned to whisper.
Luo Yi opened his eyes.
For a few seconds, he didn't move.
The ceiling above him was familiar. Cracked. Stained by years of rain leaks and careless repairs. A thin beam of gray morning light slipped through the window, cutting across the room like a blade.
His chest felt tight.
Again.
The dream still clung to him like cold mud.
Rain pouring down.
Branches tearing at skin.
A woman running—bleeding—yet never slowing.
Her back shielding a crying child.
Her smile, calm and gentle, even as death chased her.
And then—
Fire.
Luo Yi clenched his fists.
"…Damn it."
His face was wet. He wiped it angrily, teeth grinding as if that could erase the weakness from his body.
Every time.
The same nightmare.
The same ending.
The same helpless feeling.
He was tired of it.
"Tch… crying already?"
A lazy voice came from the next bed.
Luo Yi didn't turn. "Shut up, Chen."
Chen stretched noisily, yawning. "You should start charging rent for that nightmare. It visits more often than Sister Mei."
"At least it doesn't snore."
That earned Luo Yi a sock to the head.
"Oi!" Chen laughed. "If you keep crying like that, people are going to think you're scared of the dark."
"I'm scared of idiots," Luo Yi shot back. "And yet here you are."
The other kids snickered.
Despite the teasing, no one really mocked him. Not seriously. They all knew. Everyone in the orphanage carried something—memories, fears, scars they didn't talk about.
This was his.
After washing up with cold water that stabbed his skin awake, Luo Yi joined the others for breakfast. Watery porridge. One steamed bun. The same as always.
A younger boy stared at him across the table. "Big brother Luo, did you fight a ghost again?"
Luo Yi paused mid-bite.
"…Something like that."
"You always lose," the boy said innocently.
Luo Yi smirked faintly. "Not forever."
Across the room, Sister Mei clapped her hands. "Eat faster. School doesn't wait."
The word school brought mixed reactions—groans, sighs, a few excited whispers. For the orphanage kids, school wasn't just education. It was proof they were still part of the world.
After changing into worn but clean uniforms, they gathered at the gate.
The sky was gray. The rain had stopped, but puddles still dotted the road, reflecting the clouds like broken mirrors.
As they walked, the kids talked loudly.
"Did you finish the math homework?"
"I copied yours."
"You copied wrong."
"Hey! That's your fault!"
Luo Yi walked near the back, hands in his pockets, eyes unfocused.
A small girl skipped up beside him. "Luo Yi."
He looked down. "What?"
"You didn't sleep again."
It wasn't a question.
"…Did you?"
She shook her head proudly. "I dreamed I was flying."
"…That's better."
She frowned. "Why don't you tell your dream to stop?"
Luo Yi laughed softly. "If it listened, I wouldn't be having this problem."
They passed the old intersection.
And that was when everything changed.
The road ahead was empty.
Too empty.
The sounds of laughter and footsteps seemed to fade, as if swallowed by the air itself. Luo Yi slowed unconsciously, his instincts screaming.
Something was wrong.
Then he saw him.
A man stood in the middle of the road.
No—an old man.
Tall. Bald. Broad shoulders stretching his plain clothes tight. His hands were clasped behind his back, posture straight, unmoving, like a statue carved from stone.
The kids hesitated.
"Uh… mister?" one of the older boys called out. "You're blocking the way."
The old man lifted his head.
His eyes were sharp. Clear. Not the cloudy gaze of age—but something deeper. Older.
"Children," he said calmly. "Move aside."
A chill ran down Luo Yi's spine.
"We're going to school," another kid said nervously. "You should—"
The old man sighed.
"So noisy."
He moved.
Luo Yi didn't even see it happen.
One moment, the old man was standing still.
The next—
BOOM!
A shockwave ripped through the air.
The boy in front flew backward, slamming into a fence hard enough to bend metal. Screams erupted instantly.
"What the—?!"
"RUN!"
Chaos exploded.
The old man walked forward casually, as if strolling through a market.
A palm strike sent one child tumbling unconscious. A flick of his wrist knocked another aside like a doll. He didn't chase. He didn't rush.
He simply advanced.
"STOP!" someone screamed. "STOP! LEAVE US ALONE!"
The old man glanced at them. "Running wastes energy."
That was when his gaze locked onto Luo Yi.
Their eyes met.
The world seemed to narrow.
"There you are," the old man said softly.
Before Luo Yi could even think to move, a hand grabbed his collar and lifted him clean off the ground.
"H-HEY!" Luo Yi shouted, kicking wildly. "LET GO!"
The grip didn't budge.
"I'LL CALL THE POLICE!" Luo Yi yelled desperately. "YOU'RE KIDNAPPING ME!"
The old man nodded thoughtfully. "Good idea."
"You—!"
"Though they will be slow."
With that, he turned and leapt.
The ground vanished.
Trees blurred past at terrifying speed. Wind roared in Luo Yi's ears, tearing screams from his throat.
"PUT ME DOWN!" Luo Yi shouted. "YOU'RE CRAZY!"
"Correct."
The old man tilted his head. "You're loud."
"I HAVE RIGHTS! I'M A MINOR!"
The old man paused mid-leap.
"Minor?" he repeated slowly.
He considered it seriously.
"…Is that a cultivation stage?"
"What?! NO!"
"Shame."
He flicked Luo Yi's forehead with two fingers.
Pain detonated.
Luo Yi's consciousness shattered like glass.
He woke to cold.
And pain.
Every muscle screamed as if it had been beaten individually.
"…Ugh…"
He tried to move and immediately regretted it.
"Awake already?" a voice said cheerfully.
Luo Yi forced his eyes open.
Wooden walls. A low ceiling. The smell of smoke and herbs.
He stumbled toward the door and pushed it open.
Fresh air hit him.
They were on a mountain peak.
Below, a vast forest stretched endlessly, mist drifting between ancient trees. The world felt… isolated. Removed.
Nearby, the old man sat beside a fire, stirring a pot and humming off-key.
"You brought me to a mountain?" Luo Yi croaked.
"Yes."
"You attacked children."
"Yes."
"You kidnapped me."
"Yes."
The old man smiled. "Efficient."
Luo Yi trembled with rage. "You're insane!"
The old man stood, towering over him. "I found a treasure today."
"…What?"
"You," he said proudly. "Best disciple. Best future. World conqueror."
"I'm not your disciple!"
The old man frowned.
Then—
BAM.
Luo Yi crashed into the ground.
"I refuse—!"
BAM.
"I want to go back!"
BAM.
After several blows, Luo Yi could barely breathe.
The old man crouched beside him. "Good."
"…Good?" Luo Yi wheezed.
"Spirit," the old man said. "Still alive."
He smiled gently.
"Training begins."
Luo Yi stared at the forest, tears mixing with dirt.
That nightmare… wasn't the worst thing anymore.
Reality had surpassed it.
And it had just begun.