“Sigh… and that’s what happened, Mun-mun.” Fluffy sighed deeply.

  High up in the mountains of the Sect, Fluffy was recounting his tale to a skinny-looking banyan tree perched on the summit.

  He had named it Mun-mun.

  It wasn’t just any tree—it was a bonsai Fluffy had seen in the Sect Leader’s quarters during his initial days in the Open Sect. Bound tightly and confined to its pot, it had looked so helpless that Fluffy couldn’t bear it. He had freed it and planted it here, deep within the mountains.

  Of course, the disappearance of the Sect Leader’s beloved bonsai caused quite an uproar, but Fluffy ignored the chaos. The tree was his friend.

  Maybe the only being that truly listened to him. Did not judge him. In this world of Jianghu only Baek Cho and Mun-mun were his close friends.

  “The Sect Leader tore my diploma and handed it to me. Said, to never see him again. EVER!” Fluffy exclaimed dramatically, mimicking the Sect Leader’s scowl.

  He tried to smile, but only tears rolled from his swollen cheeks.

  “Tomorrow will be the last time we see each other,” he muttered.

  Fluffy was kicked out of the Open Sect.

  Leaving Shanxi, now he had no choice but to return to his grandfather’s place—the same old, rundown shop and the same chicken noodles.

  “All this… because of that Gu…” Fluffy clenched his fists, biting his lip hard. Gu Changgee’s smug smirk flashed in his mind, turning Fluffy’s face red with anger.

  It was infuriating. Humiliating. Hateful.

  But what could Fluffy do? Add salt in Gu Changgee’s food? Steal all his meals? Or maybe break a leg off the chair he sat in so Gu Changgee would fall while eating? Maybe diarrhoea mushrooms in his soup?

  Sigh…

  No. Fluffy wasn’t someone who could commit such heinous acts.

  “Even if I duel with him, me winning the duel is close to impossible,” he sighed again. “Someone like me… can’t beat the star and genius of the century.” He dropped his head in defeat.

  “Gu Changgee is one thing, but I don’t understand—why does EVERYBODY hate me? They say I’m a bother, but I never intend to cause anyone trouble. Then why? Sniff.”

  Big tears fell from Fluffy’s eyes, landing on the bark of Mun-mun.

  “Why? Am I so… bad, Mun-mun? Why?” Recalling the wary faces of the new disciples and Xiao Lin’s eyes filled with disgust, Fluffy’s sadness deepened.

  This world was something he just couldn’t understand.

  Looking at Mun-mun—his little, skinny, almost dried-up tree buddy, Fluffy felt sadder.

  Why had he planted a banyan tree instead of a plum blossom or oak tree?

  The soil here was incredibly fertile, with plenty of sunlight, water, and space. The Plum Blossom would’ve looked marvellous in this weather too. Still, the only tree he thought of freeing was a Banyan tree.

  Why did he do that?

  Even after freeing the scrawny tree, no matter how much nourishment was given, Mun-mun never grew in the past decade.

  It was just like him.

  Fluffy chose a banyan tree.

  Why? Because of a childhood story he’d heard from a wandering monk—the story of the Buddha attaining enlightenment under a banyan tree, giving it the name of the Bodhi Tree.

  The tale was beautiful, as was the little bonsai banyan Fluffy had planted. But what fascinated him even more was his idol, the star of today’s world: the Jade Dragon’s story. A slave of the Sun Temple who attained power rivalling that of a god—beneath this very Bodhi tree.

  Yet, even after a decade, Mun-mun had barely grown. And so had Fluffy.

  How could Fluffy desire enlightenment from his little friend in such a state?

  A pain they both shared.

  [It’s okay, Fluffy! It’s alright! Cheer up! You can do it!]

  Pretending to be Mun-mun talking, Fluffy cheered himself up. His mimicry skills were truly improving.

  Fluffy smiled slightly.

  Looking at Mun-mun’s small leaves, he felt a flicker of hope. Touching them, he convinced himself that growth wasn’t far off—one day, or maybe even one week, Mun-mun would become a splendid tree.

  [Everyone has bad days! Cheer up, Fluffy! Don’t give up!]

  “Umm.. what was it? The wandering monk’s saying… umm.. Was it that a fish can’t fly?” Crouching on a rock nearby, Fluffy mumbled.

  “Um-hm! I think my dreams are like that of the fish. Far too fetched... impossible, maybe.”

  “What do you think, Mun-mun?” Fluffy crossed his legs and pulled a small bag from his bosom.

  Now that he had lost all hopes in becoming a martial artist, why not just throw in the towel ad accept that fact—or so he thought.

  The entire ordeal was too much to think about, so he decided to take a break. And eat something.

  The bag was as light as a feather—for him. But it carried an enticing aroma and a ton of dumplings. Looking back at his day of sulking, Fluffy felt as though it was a compensation.

  Or perhaps, it was his reward for today’s hard work? Who knows?

  “Maybe the day wasn’t as bad as I thought.” A wide smile bloomed on Fluffy’s round face.

  As he opened the bag, the aroma danced in the air and tickled his nostrils.

  Even though Gu Changgee had tricked him and ruined his image in front of the Sect Leader, resulting him in losing his diploma and letter of recommendation at the graduation ceremony...

  Even though an elder from the Sect had almost died in the incident... Fluffy forgot everything as he looked inside the bag.

  “It was still worth it.” He gasped.

  “As they say, the tides of bad brought the shells of pearls.” Fluffy received an incredible gift—a gift from an elderly lady he had helped earlier on his way back.

  Food from the outside was prohibited in the Open Sect. For an entire decade, Fluffy had missed the opportunity to taste the delicious delicacies of the outside world—or so he convinced himself in thinking.

  But today, the goddess of luck smiled upon him!

  During his morning training, Fluffy had helped an old lady gather medicinal herbs in the mountain. Not only that, he had carried her back to the province on his back.

  That’s when he overheard the townsfolk discussing the graduation ceremony—and how Gu Changgee had intentionally given him the wrong information!

  As outraged as Fluffy was, the elderly lady handed him with this bag as a token of gratitude. It was the heaven itself, wrapped in a pouch.

  “Whoaaaaaa! This is what life is!” Fluffy clasped his hands together and offered a prayer to whichever god was ready to hear him.

  And he took the first dumpling.

  “Munch, munch... Maybe I was just overthinking.” The soft, delicious dumplings melted in his mouth, and Fluffy’s mind suddenly grew more positive.

  “Or maybe... I think I should just quit...” But as another dumpling disappeared, Fluffy’s thoughts turned anxious once again.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  This cycle of—putting a dumpling in his mouth, feeling momentary joy, then sinking back into his worries—continued for a while.

  Eventually, Fluffy stopped.

  A thought struck him, and it killed his appetite.

  “You know what, Mun-mun? Nobody here likes me anyway,” he said, placing the remaining dumplings back in the bag.

  “Nor would a torn diploma from an Open Sect—even one I barely passed—will land me a government job,” he added, his voice unusually logical.

  “Wouldn’t it be better to just continue with Grandpa’s noodle shop?” Fluffy paused, picturing the kind face of his only family member, his grandfather.

  “I might as well try selling these dumplings along with chicken noodles instead of dreaming of becoming a martial artist,” he concluded, his cheeks stuffed with a couple more dumplings.

  Looking at the lonely, skinny bodhi tree he called Mun-mun, Fluffy felt a pang of sadness.

  “You should eat more, Mun-mun. Look how skinny you are!” he said through a mouthful, handing a dumpling to the little tree.

  His massive frame cast a shadow over Mun-mun, sheltering it entirely.

  “Isn’t it funny?” Fluffy murmured, his expression softening.

  He chuckled, realizing how ironic it was that the bodhi tree—supposed to provide shade for others—was the one receiving shade from him.

  [You look better when you’re smiling. Why don’t you do that more often?]

  “Hehe, thanks, but that’s not how I voice over you Mun—mun?!” Fluffy flinched, his heart skipping a beat.

  This place, deep in the mountains, was his sanctuary—hidden from the rest of the Sect.

  No one knew of it. No one cared about this place.

  Then how?

  Someone had definitely spoken to him.

  Did Mun-mun really speak?

  For a moment, Fluffy stared intently at Mun-mun. But it did not move.

  Without hesitation, Fluffy swallowed the remaining food in his mouth and stood upright. He frantically scanned his surroundings, searching for the source of the voice.

  Whoever they were, their presence was unsettling.

  The person must have incredible strength to remain hidden in an area where even the faintest movement was detectable.

  Fluffy thought before taking a wary stance.

  [You want to kill a bird, but aim at the jungle... What are you? The Sun?] the voice mocked.

  [If you try this hard to LOOK for me, you will never SEE me. Instead, try to SEE me, without LOOKING at me.] The voice carried a playful tone, mingled with mischief.

  “But... how can I SEE without LOOKING?” Fluffy retorted, confusion etched across his face.

  “Wouldn’t it be easier for you to just SHOW yourself? For someone as stealthy as you, hiding isn’t necessary against someone like me.”

  Fluffy had much more to say but chose his words wisely. The world of Jianghu was weird. You never knew whom you’d offend unknowingly.

  Compared to the person hiding, he was a nobody. Still, strangely enough, the mysterious figure did not harm him instead continued to speak in riddles.

  [You cannot kill the bird if you focus on the entire forest. If you want to SEE me, you have to FIND me.]

  Closing his eyes, Fluffy concentrated on his surroundings. “Hmm...” Yet aside from the faint hum of the voice, he found nothing.

  [I heard you cannot sense Qi, nor can you use it. Is that true? Because I refuse to believe that.]

  The voice, calm yet probing, seemed unbothered by the risk of revealing itself.

  “Y-you heard it right, Mr. Unknown,” Fluffy replied, naming the mysterious figure on the spot.

  With his eyes still shut, he turned toward the direction of the voice. “I cannot sense Qi, nor can I wield it.”

  But the voice was all over the place. There was no specific direction to it.

  [Hmm? That’s indeed strange,] Mr. Unknown mused, intrigue lacing his tone. [If that’s the case, why do you want to become a martial artist? Haven’t you heard? Those with no Martial talent get killed in Jianghu.]

  The voice shifted, as if moving through the air, coming from a different direction. Fluffy turned again.

  “What do you mean, Mr. Unknown?” Fluffy asked, a slight frown forming on his round face.

  [You know what I mean, stop pretending.]

  Although it was a general assumption that only those capable of sensing and wielding Qi could become the martial artists, the words still stung Fluffy.

  “I have seen people without the ability to sense Qi or wield it roam the Jianghu with pride,” Fluffy answered.

  “Qi is indeed an integral and major part of martial arts, but it doesn’t define martial arts entirely.”

  A reply he had read hundreds of times. The words the Jade Dragon had said to the Lord of the Sky.

  Fluffy’s nervousness vanished as soon as he thought of the Jade Dragon. He turned and waited for Mr. Unknown’s reply.

  [Hmm, those words. I have heard them. Still, what might be the reason for you to be…hmm…] Mr. Unknown mumbled to himself, his voice trailing off thoughtfully.

  Suddenly, Mr. Unknown clapped as if the puzzle clicked.

  [Is it because you’re FAT?] Mr. Unknown, unconsciously asked with genuine curiosity.

  However, Fluffy’s reaction wasn’t calm. He, who almost never got angry. He, who was focusing on the voice did not understand it’s intentions.

  To him, it felt like a provocation.

  Mun-mun’s leaves suddenly made a sound. As if they were calling to Fluffy.

  At that moment, Fluffy’s eyes shot open. He dashed toward the direction of the sound of Mun-mun, his arm cocked back.

  “DO. NOT. CALL. ME—”

  With all his strength, Fluffy swung his fist. His feet planted in the ground firmly, his hand moved faster than anticipated.

  “FAT!”

  BAM!

  A gust of wind howled, carrying dust that swirled chaotically in the air. A sharp noise echoed, startling the birds in the nearby trees, sending them scattering in a hurried flurry.

  Amid the sudden turbulence, two figures emerged from the haze—Fluffy and Mr. Unknown.

  [I didn’t expect such temper] Mr. Unknown said, laughing heartily. With just one finger, he blocked Fluffy’s punch. The one that followed after heating the ground.

  [I meet many, and among them, those without ambition are the first to leave the Open Sects—] He calmly added.

  [—The very places that offer them a chance to achieve greatness.]

  Fluffy couldn’t help but gulp as he stared into the old man’s eyes, glowing faintly with a golden halo.

  [That’s why I was interested in you—the one blob of fluff that’s stuck around for almost a decade.] Slowly the dust settled.

  Fluffy, who had acted on impulse, suddenly began to sweat profusely. Realizing the gravity of his actions, he silently prayed to the god of Dumplings for his well-being in the afterlife.

  [They call you Fluffy, right?] Mr. Unknown asked again, his voice calm.

  Well, not “Unknown” anymore.

  Lost in thought and guilt, Fluffy didn’t respond and silently backed down.

  [Huhuhu… Today is indeed a great day.] Mr. Unknown exclaimed, his pristine robes catching the fading light. An embroidered dragon gleamed on his chest.

  [I saw you jump high into the sky earlier, and I doubted whether it was possible without using Qi,] he said with intrigue.

  At that moment, Fluffy snapped out of his stupor and slowly bent down on his knees. Realizing his mistake, he immediately prostrated on the ground with his nose rubbing the floor.

  “GREAT GRAND ELDER! OH MIGHTY ONE! THIS LITTLE ONE APOLOGIZES FOR HIS RUDE BEHAVIOUR!” Fluffy shouted, bowing repeatedly.

  “What I did then—and just now—were nothing but cheap tricks to compensate for my lack of Qi!” he added hurriedly.

  “Unlike Gu Changgee, the star of the Open Sect, the saviour of geniuses, I can only perform these small stunts through some training and pushing a bit of my body limits!” He bowed again.

  “Look at him! Look at Fairy Xiao Lin—she can even manipulate daggers with her Qi!”

  Without realizing it, Fluffy had started ranting again, degrading himself before Mr. not-so-Unknown-anymore.

  “The juniors can wrap Qi around their bodies to fly and reinforce themselves! They’re all incredibly skilled! And I? This lowly one is the only oddball here.”

  The old man kept stroking his long beard at Fluffy’s words.

  “I can’t even feel Qi, let alone wield it!” Fluffy’s voice grew louder as his emotions overwhelmed him.

  “This lowly one has crossed his limits! Please take my hand, no, maybe a leg and spare my life! I really can’t give anything beyond this! I need hands to cook and eat after all. Leg is fine. Not to mention my body needs—”

  Fluffy’s voice cracked as tears welled up in his eyes.

  “I—I am indeed FAT! No, maybe I am the fattest. No matter how hard I try, how many diets I follow, or how much harder I train... it only grows! Like that of a moon!” His rambling continued as his emotions spilled over.

  “What am I supposed to tell Grandpa? How am I supposed to live without achieving anything? A martial artist? I look like a fool!”

  “It would’ve been better if I’d stayed in the countryside and helped Grandpa make noodles. If I’d quit like the others, at least I wouldn’t be a bother!”

  “I want to quit! I really want to quit!”

  As Fluffy’s thoughts spiraled, he broke into sobs.

  Mr. “Unknown” stood silently, watching him with a crooked smile on his face. He waited patiently until Fluffy had poured out all his emotions.

  [What an amusing fellow] He finally said, placing a hand on Fluffy’s shoulder.

  In that instant, time seemed to stop.

  Fluffy looked around in awe—it felt as though the entire world had frozen.

  [Fluffy] Mr. Unknown’s voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. [You’re only SEEING what’s shown to you. What you need to SEE is what you’ve been avoiding LOOKING at.]

  Fluffy blinked, unsure of what to say.

  [Quit, don’t quit; noodles, don’t noodles—that isn’t the answer to your questions] Mr. Unknown continued cryptically.

  For a moment, Fluffy’s mind, flooded with self-doubt, became still.

  “?”

  The gentle hand on Fluffy’s shoulder vanished. Turning, Fluffy saw the elderly man standing before him, his long white beard flowing and his smile as warm as the sun.

  [A fish may not fly, but it can still jump. Soar high in the sky... all it needs is a little push.] the old man said, patting Fluffy’s head this time.

  Fluffy didn’t recognize him before punching him, but this old man was the Grand Elder of the Grand Heaven Open Sect.

  [Stop looking at the forest and focus on the bird. Can you do that for me?] the Grand Elder asked, his smile radiating reassurance.

  [For now, just look within yourself] He added, reaching into Fluffy’s bag.

  Taking one of Fluffy’s dumplings, the Grand Elder ate it. Then something happened and he turned. Then began walking toward the cliff.

  All of this happened before Fluffy could even say any word.

  [The last thing I’ll tell you before I leave,] He said without turning, pausing at the edge of the cliff,

  [I once knew a madman. People called his ambitions foolish, far-fetched, even impossible.

  But he didn’t stop.

  Can you believe it? That madman achieved the impossible.]

  The Grand Elder chuckled.

  [He defeated the Descendants of the Sun… under the Sun itself—without the help of the Eclipse.]

  The Grand Elder gazed at the setting sun as he continued, [The Sun’s blessing was said to make the Descendants immortal beneath its light. Yet he proved them wrong.]

  [All of them.]

  Turning his head, the Grand Elder smiled warmly.

  [Fluffy, I’ve seen one madman in this lifetime. When we meet again, I hope... I hope to see another one.]

  And with that, the Grand Elder disappeared into thin air.

  Time resumed. Fluffy stared at the horizon, mesmerized by the Grand Elder’s words.

  For the first time in a long while, a fire reignited in his heart.

  As he reached into his bag of dumplings, Fluffy’s face twitched.

  “Hey, Mun-mun...” he said with a deadpan expression. “When did the Grand Elder took my bag of dumpling.”

  The Grand Elder was indeed mischievous.

  But instead of anger, a question mark spread across Fluffy’s face.

  Why, you ask?

  Because in Fluffy’s hands was now a scroll.

  Opening the scroll with shakey hands, Fluffy read the context of the parchment that read—

  [Letter of recommendation to the Heavenly Jade Divine Dragon Cult.]