Time is like an arrow shot from a string, and in the blink of an eye, a hundred thousand years have quietly slipped away. Ever since ancient times, humanity has embarked on a long journey, forging ahead through continuous learning and exploration, and gradually stepping into a new era of civilization.
Today, high-rise buildings stand in rows across the cities, and night brings brilliant lights that shine like bright stars in a scene of boundless prosperity. Yet beneath this seemingly prosperous exterior, countless unknown darknesses and terrors lurk quietly—like venomous snakes hiding in the shadows, ready to strike and devour the unwary at any moment.
In this highly civilized world, the forces of evil have begun to stir like awakened demons, attempting to shatter the fragile balance between justice and evil. And the root of it all stems from the greed and desires deep within the human heart.
In order to satisfy their swelling ambitions, some individuals spare no despicable means to wantonly destroy a world that was once beautiful. Their souls are gradually eroded by darkness, their consciences extinguished as they wander the world like walking corpses, becoming fertile ground for the breeding of evil.
Feng Wenjun strolled through the crowd with a tumult of emotions in his chest, keenly sensing the mocking glances and cold stares cast at him by those around him. He hailed from the Feng family, the most illustrious and renowned premier household in Teng City, Jinzhou. As the pampered youngest son of the family, Feng Wenjun possessed an enviable appearance; his cold yet handsome face seemed like that of a noble young master stepped straight out of a painting, accompanied by an extraordinary aura.
Just at the flush of youth, he had just turned eighteen this year, having celebrated his birthday not long ago. From a tender age, he had displayed exceptional cleverness and quick-wittedness. Not only was he respectful to his elders, kind to the young, and possessed of fine moral character, but he was also uniquely gifted in martial arts. He was thoroughly versed in all eighteen traditional disciplines of martial arts; swords, spears, staffs, and clubs moved with the force of howling tigers in his hands, brimming with genuine flair and artistic grace. He could truly be called an exemplary all-around student, and relying on his outstanding grades, he had successfully gained admission to the city's key high school.
Today was the first day of school. After Feng Wenjun leisurely finished breakfast at home and was just preparing to step out, Uncle Fu the butler gently knocked on the door and said respectfully, "Young Master, the car is ready. It is time to depart." Feng Wenjun nodded slightly, walked to the doorway, and looked up to see a neat line of five cars parked in a row.
His brows instantly furrowed, a trace of displeasure welling up in his heart, and he said with a hint of irritation in his voice, "Uncle Fu, why prepare so many vehicles? I am merely going to school; this sort of display is entirely over the top. Quickly dismiss the extra cars."
Uncle Fu wore a troubled expression and hurriedly explained, "Young Master, this is a special arrangement by the master. He said that since today is your first day of school, it ought to be grand so that you may become the center of attention at school and showcase the demeanor of our Feng family."
Hearing this, Feng Wenjun flushed red with anger, yet did not know what to do. "That's right! This was indeed my arrangement. After all, our family is a prominent and noble house; as the representative of the family, you naturally cannot lose your standing." At that moment, the imposing voice of the master, Feng Wanliang, came from behind. With a helpless sigh, Feng Wenjun had no choice but to accept the arrangement, and unhappily climbed into the car.
Before long, the vehicles slowly arrived at the school gates. The moment Feng Wenjun stepped out of the car, the surrounding pedestrians and students were struck dumb with astonishment by the spectacular sight, and began whispering and discussing among themselves.
"Whose family's child is this anyway? Such grand style!"
"Look at that parking arrangement—truly domineering!"
"Wow, look how handsome he is!"
Several girls flushed slightly, staring shyly at Feng Wenjun with adoration flickering in their eyes, thinking to themselves, "How wonderfully blissful it would be if one could become his girlfriend!" With a calm expression, Feng Wenjun nodded to Uncle Fu the butler, then turned and strode into the school.
The moment he stepped through the school gates, the principal hurried over with a beaming face, bowing and scraping as he said, "Young Master Feng, I am the principal of this school. Hearing that you are enrolling today, I came out specifically to welcome you!" Feng Wenjun cast a faint glance at the principal, said nothing, and walked straight toward the direction of the classrooms, while the principal trailed behind him, chattering endlessly while introducing himself like an eager lapdog.
As the crisp ring of the dismissal bell sounded, Feng Wenjun slipped away quietly through the back door to escape Uncle Fu's omnipresent "protection." His heart yearned intensely for freedom—for the desire to live according to his own wishes without the constraints of his family. Strolling through the bustling and lively alleyways, he felt the crush and clamor of the crowd, thoroughly enjoying this rare moment of solitude like a little bird breaking free from its cage, free and happy.
Yet wonderful times are always as fleeting as a flash in the pan. Unwittingly, as Feng Wenjun wove his way forward through the alleys, he gradually lost his bearings. Suddenly, a nameless sense of unease surged in his chest, and he keenly felt that someone was tailing him in secret. He turned his head alertly to look behind him, yet discovered nothing out of the ordinary.
However, as he cautiously walked into a dimly lit alley, the people behind him finally could not hold back any longer and revealed themselves. There were three of them in total, every single one wearing a fierce expression and gripping sharp long blades that flashed with cold light under the dim illumination. The leader wore an arrogant and domineering expression, glared viciously at Feng Wenjun, and shouted loudly, "One look at your clothes and styling tells me you're a wealthy young master. If you know what's good for you, quickly hand over everything valuable on you; otherwise, don't blame us for being unpolite!"
A sharp knot tightened in Feng Wenjun's chest, but he forced himself to remain calm. After all, he had witnessed plenty of the world from a young age and had cultivated no small amount of martial prowess, secretly feeling confident that he could handle the crisis before him.
Putting on a bold front and keeping his composure, Feng Wenjun rummaged through his school bag and said feignedly, "A few big brothers, hold on for a moment. I'll search for it right now."
"You'd better know what's good for you. Don't try any tricks on me!" the lead brother roared impatiently.
In truth, Feng Wenjun was somewhat panicked inside. He had originally thought that giving these robbers some money would easily resolve the matter, never expecting that he had left home in such a rush today that he was carrying no cash at all.
"Oh no, I never carry money when I go out normally; Uncle Fu always pays for everything. What on earth am I to do now?" Thinking this to himself, Feng Wenjun casually tossed a pen toward the leader. Coincidentally, the pen struck the leader's hand with pinpoint accuracy and knocked his blade to the ground.
Seeing this, the other two men immediately brandished their blades and hacked frantically toward Feng Wenjun. With agile movements, Feng Wenjun dodged left and right with nimbleness, using both hands and feet in clean and crisp motions that laid both men flat on the ground within a few moves. After all, he was someone who had undergone long and rigorous training, so his strength was naturally not to be underestimated.
Enraged beyond measure at the sight, the lead brother cursed fiercely, "You little brat, you're quite a handful!" With that, he bent down to pick up the blade from the ground and lunged threateningly and aggressively straight at Feng Wenjun. Sensing that the situation was turning foul, Feng Wenjun turned on his heel and bolted at a dead run, only one thought echoing in his mind: "I must escape this place as fast as possible!" And thus, they began a thrilling chase through the city's intricate network of alleys.
Panic reigned in Feng Wenjun's heart at that moment. With no clear destination for escape, his only thought was to shake off these vicious robbers as quickly as possible. He had no idea how long he had been running when, in his panic, he finally arrived in an unfamiliar place.
Overgrown with weeds like a small, barren prairie, the area was thick with trees whose intertwined branches blocked out the light of the sky. Silence enveloped the surroundings without a trace of human activity, resembling a corner forgotten by the world.
Feng Wenjun halted his steps, drawing in heavy breaths as he figured he must have thoroughly shaken off the robbers this time. Wearily surveying his surroundings, he realized to his dismay that he seemed to have carelessly stumbled into a natural maze. The scenery all around looked remarkably similar, and no matter how hard he tried to search, he could not find a way out.
Just as he sat down on the ground to rest in physical and mental exhaustion, the ground beneath his feet collapsed without the slightest warning. He instantly lost his balance and plummeted uncontrollably into a mysterious secret passageway. Pitch black and devoid of light, the passage filled Feng Wenjun's ears with the howling sound of rushing wind as his body dropped continuously, his heart gripped by fear and despair as he wondered what kind of unknown fate awaited him...