The sun had only begun its descent beyond the towering walls of the Capital City when the winds of gossip turned into a storm of revelation.
A storm named Kent.
It began with one jade slip.
A disciple from the outer section of the Royal Academy had secretly recorded the battle—Kent standing alone on his golden Storm God Chariot, raining down arrows upon dozens of Hua family disciples.
Within the hour, that jade slip was copied a hundred times.
Within two hours, it had reached every teahouse, cultivation tavern, and merchant corner of the city.
By nightfall, it became legend.
In the elegant Emerald Pavilion, where nobles drank spirit wine and discussed cultivation arts, a young man slammed a jade slip onto the table.
“You must see this!” he cried, eyes wide.
A dozen nobles gathered around, placing their hands on the slip. Their spiritual senses flared—and then froze in place.
The image was vivid: Kent, bruised and bleeding, drawing a glowing bow, arrows crackling with storm energy. Hua family disciples cried out as they fell, blood spurting, their robes tattered. Above him, the golden chariot shone like a heavenly artifact, and around him, lightning danced as if obeying his command.
“Is that… a bow?” one noble lady gasped.
“Impossible. That can’t be real. No one uses a bow in this realm!”
“That’s… that’s the Storm God Chariot. I’ve only seen it in ancient illustrations.”
“He’s not even from the major clans… who is this Kent?!”
—
Meanwhile, in the Hall of Martial Archives, the elite cultivators studying techniques paused mid-script.
A senior instructor stood before the entire hall and played the jade slip for the entire group.
The battle appeared in midair—a detailed projection. The room fell into dead silence.
No one spoke. No one blinked.
And then, murmurs.
“He used a defensive mace… and chakra disk… while continuing to shoot?”
“Who coordinates weapons like that?”
“Did you see how the arrows bent in midair? They weren’t just fast—they were alive.”
The most explosive discussion, however, took place in the Central Disciple Arena, where hundreds of academy students gathered beneath the moonlight to witness the footage projected on the jade pavilion wall.
“Who the hell is this Kent?”
“Wasn’t he a sword user?”
“I heard he’s from the outer lands. A transfer.”
“Don’t joke. No outer lander can master a bow like that.”
“He’s fighting the Hua family… openly! Did he go mad?!”
But even among the chaos, the undeniable truth made hearts tremble:
A Bow Master had appeared.
And not just any. A storm-forged, war-hardened, unpredictable force who shattered traditions.
In the upper balcony, hidden in veils of divine mist, elders from the Academy Council watched the same scene.
Elder Feng, long known for his hatred of archaic weapon paths, frowned.
“The bow path… resurrected?”
Elder Yin, with her hair silver and eyes closed, finally whispered, “The way he merges essence and intent… this isn’t learned. This is lived.”
“The boy is a storm. Let’s hope he doesn’t become a calamity.”
Meanwhile, in the private chambers of the Hua family estate…
Patriarch Hua Xian crushed a jade teacup with his bare hands.
“What do you mean dozens were wounded?”
His steward trembled. “Young master Hua Jin… he was defeated. And the slaves escaped.”
“Is it Kent?” the patriarch growled.
“Yes… But… the city is calling him the Arrow Fiend on Storm Chariot.”
—
As the night deepened, information passed through jade slips from hand to hand like wildfire, one name echoed across the entire capital—
Not Kent the swordsman.
Not Kent the outlander.
But…
Kent, the Storm Archer.
The boy who used a forgotten weapon to stand tall against the elite.
The bow that defied the age, shook the Academy, and reminded the world—
That the path of power was not chained to traditional weapons.
—-
Next Day…
The sun had begun to sink behind the towering peaks, casting a warm golden hue over the Lin Clan estate. The melodic chirping of spirit birds echoed across the courtyard, their wings fluttering through the misty air. Inside the delicate walls of Lin Lin’s residence, a tender silence prevailed—a silence filled not with awkwardness, but with unspoken feelings.
Kent stood near the entrance, his robe fluttering in the breeze, his eyes calm but distant. His time here had come to an end.
Lin Lin’s voice was gentle as she stepped into the corridor, her presence like a soft breeze brushing against emotion.
“So… you’re leaving already?” she asked, trying her best to hide the subtle quiver in her voice.
Kent turned and nodded. “The academy awaits, and I can’t stay for long. The Royal Academy has its rules. Wives aren’t allowed inside the inner campus… so I’ve arranged for Bai Qi to remain here under your care.”
Lin Lin’s eyes shifted to the young woman standing beside her—Bai Qi, whose demeanor had changed remarkably over the past few days. Once filled with pride and challenge, she now carried a softness in her eyes that startled even Lin Lin. Bai Qi’s icy reserve had melted, replaced by something far more intense… vulnerability.
Kent reached into his storage ring and handed Bai Qi a green jade slip etched with storm patterns.
“This is my contact jade,” Kent said gently. “Use it if anything happens. I’ll return before the wind.”
Bai Qi took it with trembling hands, her lips parting but no words emerging. Then, as if overcome by a wave of emotion, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Kent’s waist, burying her face in his chest.
“Don’t forget me,” she whispered, her voice nearly cracking. “Come back often… please.”
Kent stood still for a moment, surprised by the depth of her attachment. Then his hand gently rested on her back as he said with warmth, “Work hard, Bai Qi. Try to earn a place inside the academy. If you can step in through your own efforts, no rule can stop us.”
Lin Lin stood a few paces away, silently watching the scene unfold. Her chest tightened with an emotion she couldn’t name.
