e, run! Don’t just stand there!”

“It’s my livelihood. I can’t just leave it,” he protested.

“They’ll kill you!” I stressed.

The vendor sighed, “If I lose my tools, it's as good as dying. Might as well fight.”

His words struck a chord—the thought of my own family steeled my resolve. Grabbing a wooden stick, I handed it to him, “Uncle, take this.”

The servant sneered, “You brat, do you have a death wish?”

I picked up a stone and hurled it at him. Enraged, he bellowed, “Get that kid too!”

Several goons rushed at me, and seeing the vendor struggle to defend himself, I grabbed his arm and pulled him towards Senior Brother’s stall.

Within moments, we reached Senior Brother, who was tending the herbs. Seeing us, he exclaimed, “Junior Brother, what happened?”

Before I could answer, the men chasing us arrived, yelling, “Don’t let the blacksmith and that brat escape!”

“Run, Senior Brother!” I shouted.

Without hesitation, Senior Brother slung the vendor’s arm over his shoulder, and we dashed up the mountain. I marveled at Senior Brother’s speed, barely keeping up.

“Junior Brother, hurry!” he called, noting the growing gap between us.

Out of breath, I thought, “Senior Brother is so fast!” Even as he urged me on, we continued running for what felt like an eternity.

Pursuers exhausted, the servant panted, “Stop! I can’t run anymore.”

“Only a fool would stop,” I thought.

“Throw something!” one of the beefy pursuers shouted.

Several men hurled wooden bats at us. Dodging one, I laughed but tripped over another, tumbling down the mountainside. Dizziness overtook me, and I blacked out.

Chapter 9: Fortuitous Encounter (Part 2)

I seemed to be dreaming, hearing someone laughing heartily. Slowly, I opened my eyes, but there was nothing in front of me. The laughter grew clearer, suggesting it was not a dream.

“Kid, you’re awake?”

“Who are you? Why can’t I see you?” I shouted.

The elder continued laughing, “Not bad, not bad. Who would have thought that the Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger are all inside you?”

I froze and exclaimed, “How do you know that?”

This secret had been kept from everyone; how could he possibly know? At that moment, energy sealed within me began to stir, and four different-colored phantoms floated out and transformed into human figures.

They bowed toward the empty space, saying, “Master, Master.”

I was still processing this when a distorted air current revealed the shadow of an elder floating. My pupils contracted, and cold sweat broke out. The elder, seeing my reaction, asked, “What’s your name?”

“Ba Qiyun,” I replied cautiously. “What’s going on here? How did they come out?”

The elder laughed and said, “Qiyun, I created them, so I am their master. That’s why they came out. Understand?”

My hear

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