Master Jian, one of the six Martial Sages of the Celestial Empire. He bore the title 'Severed Sky'. A name he earned when he broke through to the Soaring Realm and severed both a mountain and the clouds above with a single sword strike. That feat made him known as the strongest sword cultivator in the Celestial Empire.
The nurse, who had introduced herself as Yao Lan, leaned down and gave Yuki a piece of advice. "Please be respectful to Master Jian," she said sternly.
"Of course, Miss Yao." Yuki nodded politely.
"I want to see what this f*cker from my novel looks like." Yuki sneered inwardly.
Yao Lan slowly helped her into the wheelchair and began pushing her down the corridor.
Normally, other kids would be thrilled to meet the renowned Master Jian, even the adults would be excited, even starstruck if they were to meet with such a legendary figure.
Unfortunately for him, she was the original author. She knew the truth about Master Jian. How he broke through to the Soaring Realm and how the so-called "severing of the sky" had truly happened.
It was all false. There was no divine sword skill, no sudden enlightenment, no legendary comprehending the sword breakthrough.
It was the sacrifice of tens of thousands of soldiers during the war.
Deep in the northern mountains, hidden from the world, was a forbidden array—an ancient formation capable of unleashing immense power. Jian Tong Xuan, now known as Master Jian, had been one of the three commanders stationed in the region at the time. At the cost of two True Spirit Realm masters and more than ten thousand soldiers, he had successfully activated the array and used it to force his breakthrough.
Then, to erase all evidence, he triggered the array's self-destruction. The resulting explosion leveled the mountains and tore through the skies, thus creating the perfect illusion of a sword that had severed heaven itself.
After that incident, Jian Tong Xuan's reputation soared. He was hailed as a genius, a prodigy, and eventually, the greatest sword cultivator the empire had ever seen.
"I never thought I'd end up creating a backstory for such a fake scumbag," Yuki muttered, sighing.
But then, a thought popped out.
"Wait… Is it technically my fault ? I'm the one who wrote him that way… which means… those ten thousand soldiers…" Her voice grew smaller, her breath catching in her throat. Her body trembled.
Her face paled.
Yao Lan, noticing the sudden shift, gently stopped the wheelchair. Then, without a word, she moved to the front and knelt slightly, wrapping her arms softly around Yuki's shoulders in a warm embrace.
Yuki froze.
"W-Wha…?" Her eyes widened as her body locked up. "W-Wait, I— I-I'm fine, I don't—!"
But the current dumbstruck Yuki can't even organize a proper sentence. Her face burned with embarrassment as her hands hovered awkwardly mid-air, unsure of what to do.
"It's okay," Yao Lan whispered, her voice soothing. "It's all going to be fine, little Fei."
Yuki's thoughts were crumbling into a mess. Her heart pounded in confusion, warmth creeping up her neck. She hadn't been hugged like this in… how long? Years? Maybe longer?
She didn't know how to respond.
"I-I… um… o-okay," she stammered, finally allowing herself to lean into the embrace, just a little.
A moment passed in silence.
Eventually, she gently pulled away, cheeks slightly red. Yao Lan offered a kind smile, and with nothing more said, resumed pushing the wheelchair forward.
Not long after, they arrived in front of a tall, gold-inlaid wooden door. Yao Lan knocked firmly a few times.
A pause.
Then calm voice of an old man was heard from within.
"Come in."
The door creaked open with a quiet groan, revealing a well-appointed chamber filled with the scent of sandalwood, aged paper, and the faint smell of herbal medicine. Sunlight streamed through slatted windows, casting warm rays across scroll-lined walls and a rosewood tea table.
A kind-faced elderly man stood by the desk. He wore scholar's robes in muted greens and golds, his snow-white hair tied neatly back. Though his posture was refined, his smile radiated warmth and a gentleness that instantly softened the air.
"Ah, you must be little Fei," he greeted warmly. "I am Director Wen, the head of Cloudveil City Medical Pavilion. It's good to finally see you awake."
Yuki bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, Director Wen."
The director smiled once again and told Yin Mei to take a seat.
In front of her, she saw 2 figures.
One of them was a man who appeared in his early forties, with a presence as sharp and cold as unsheathed steel. His black robes bore silver-stitched clouds that flowed down to a pair of sword emblems along the hems. And on his waist, there was a sword contained in a silver scabbard. His eyes were calm, his stance composed. Even without intention, he exuded an intimidating aura.
Yuki stiffened. Master Jian.
The man known across the empire as 'Severed Sky', one of the six Martial Sages, stood before her. He looked just as she imagined—no, more refined, more poised than the words she had once written in her notes.
But what caught her off guard wasn't him.
It was the teenager beside him.
Young. He should be around fifteen. With bright eyes, a refined face, and a calm, pleasant smile. He bowed lightly before stepping forward to prepare tea.
He moved with quiet efficiency, setting another cup from the cabinet and carefully pouring tea from a brown celadon pot. The gentle steam curled in the air as he placed the cup neatly on the table and refilled the other 2 cups on the table.
Wait… what? Yuki blinked.
"Who the hell is this kid? I didn't write him. Jian Tong Xuan's disciple? Wait, he has a disciple?"
She stared, internally rattled. After the boy finished pouring, he silently returned to stand by Master Jian's side.
Director Wen gestured with one hand, smiling. "Yin Fei, allow me to formally introduce Grandmaster Jian Tong Xuan—one of the six Martial Sages of the Celestial Empire and his disciple, Xiao Chen. Little Chen was the one who found you near the wild forest bordering Cloudveil City and brought you here."
Yuki blinked once. Twice.
"Ah… um… thank you…" Her voice was awkward, caught between disbelief and instinctive courtesy.
The boy, Xiao Chen, bowed again. "I'm just glad you're safe, Miss Yin."
Her lips twitched. "This kid… " Yuki was exasperated. "Good-looking, handsome, and polite… What the hell? That Jian Tong Xuan got such a disciple ?"