I Will Leave Before Dawn

Chapter 1: Qing Zhu Jun has taken another disciple!

A youth with very messy hair was found sleeping at the entrance of the Eternal Forest, sheltered in the shade of the sun, while a calming breeze blew over him.

When he opened his eyes, he felt disoriented, as if he had just awoken from a very deep dream. Memories escaped from his mind, slipping away like sand through his fingers. His body felt numb, yet gradually, that numbness faded away. The non stop chirping of birds and the gusts of wind were too loud it tormented his senses. It became unbearable, causing him to instinctively shield his ears. After a while, everything sounded fine. As he attempted to rise his feet, his legs weighed him down, defying his will. But in no time at all, he regained control over all his limbs.

The youth mustered the strength to budge, then he suddenly felt the fabric clinging to his skin. It struck him then, his garments were damp, though almost on the verge of drying. Had it rained? But there was no trace of post-rain ambiance in sight. It was sunny. Had he been asleep for days? How could that even be possible?

As his thoughts began to overpower his senses, it was then that he noticed a slip of torned paper tucked beneath his robe. The message on the paper was brief but cryptic as if it was written in a rush of time;

To the green leaf of my mind,

Find the Qing Shan Sect and fit yourself under a master renowned as Qing Zhu Jun.

I hope you will grow just like how the leaves sprout and flowers bloomed in my mind, gracefully unfolding under the sunlight. Wishing you everlasting health and happiness.

However, the lack of a signature or return address left him questioning the identity and motives of the sender.

The youth, plagued by forgotten memories, discovered an unfamiliar name. Despite his confusion, he embraced the name as his own, forging a path through the enigmatic maze of his existence.

Green Leaf. Lu Ye. The youth, Lu Ye, was apparently on his way to the Qing Shan Sect.

So without wasting any time, he set off deeper into the forest, leaving behind the tree he had just made friends with. Though his memory was hazy and fragmented, he felt a compelling urge to seek out the Qing Shan Sect, as if some unseen force was guiding his steps. Without looking back, Lu Ye walked towards his destination, his mind focused on the road ahead.

After a long time walking, Lu Ye finally caught a glimpse of the mountains that encircled the forest. Unlike the forest entrance, which had emitted a sense of warmth and hospitality, the trees and bushes here seemed to recoil from his presence. But Lu Ye mustered up his courage and walked in anyway.

As Lu Ye walked deeper into the forest, his sense of direction became muddled and uncertain. His feet started to give in. He had no food. In utter loss, Lu Ye leaned against a tree, losing his will to live, jokingly.

"Huh?"

His eyes widened at the sight of a pink-furred fox with yellow colored eyes. It was bizarre. The color of the fur. Dark, bright pink. Lu Ye was dazed. Was that an illusion people saw before they lost their lives? But Lu Ye blinked so he was sure he wasn't seeing things.

Lu Ye decided to ignore the pink-furred fox as it only watched him intently from a distance. He assumed it was just a curious forest creature and paid it no mind, resting against a nearby tree for a moment.

However, his peaceful break was shattered when the fox suddenly stood up on two legs, fixing him with an unnervingly human gaze. When Lu Ye took a step back as he retreated, the fox followed his lead. That only lasted for three steps before the fox started approaching him faster. The previously starving Lu Ye mustered up all last bit of his energy to run and get away from the fox sight. Tears streamed down his face as he ran blindly, desperate to escape the bizarre creature's grasp.