Windgrave City lay nestled in the wind-scoured plains of the Green Wind province, a place where the wind stay still and always releases a burst of strong wind. The city had once been a beacon of trade and martial might a proud branch of the ancient Zhou Clan, but centuries of decline had turned it into a monument of faded visage.
And facing south lays the Blackscale jungle a large mountainous area filled with giant broad leaf trees making the region dark day in and day out. The Blackscale jungle is scaled to all type of creatures covered in scale, even normally fur creatures have scales on certain part of their body.
This strange phenomenon caused by unknown reasons to historians give the region its name "Blackscale forest", people also believed that if humans spend a long time in the forest they would also developed scales on their body. Making it a forbidden region despite the forest full of thriving monsters and treasured herbs.
This forbidden region separates the Windgrave city from the Blackscale village, housing the Wu clan.
"bang!, bang!!, bang!!"
"who is there" Yaun asked getting up from his be while using his hands to sooth his aching head as he yawned away his sleepy state.
"dai Yaun" a husk and wary sounding voice called out from behind the door.
"you are being called by the patriarch"
The voice said again after falling silent for few seconds before another silence took over the courtyard.
"for what?" Yaun asked squinting his eyes in forbearance after awaiting what the owner of the voice would say, but as the resulting silence continued Yaun moved closer to the door and placed his ears on the wooden door frame.
"hope, it is not what I am thinking" Yaun muttered to himself before turning to look back into the courtyards space to check if there is any thing necessary for him to take, only to realize that all he had in this room was the skin bag containing few useless and trashy items.
The Wu clan great bronze gong sitting at the center of the training ground echoed across the inner courtyard—its solemn tone calling all disciples to assembly. Rows of youths in emerald green and black robes stood in formation, their breath misting in the cold air. At the forefront, the elders sat upon stone benches, their faces impassive as statues.
At the forefront of the standing youths stood dai Yaun, in his worn out and patched tunic cloths, rising his head Yaun coldly looked at all the elders gathered here, this evening as his suspicious heart signal to him what might likely happen to night.
Elder Wu Han, his voice as sharp as drawn steel, rose to speak.
"Dai Yaun, orphan of unknown blood and origin. For years, you have brought nothing but shame to this glorious court of the great Wu Clan. You are seventeen and remain without a spirit root. You defy the heavens with mediocrity, and now… this insanity of yours affects the clan youths, their mental and martial progress become an issue due to your incessant fits."
He gestured to the report in his hand a record of Dai Yaun strange collapse on the training ground. "Possession, demonic influence, or simple insanity it matters little. The Wu Clan will not harbor this insanity or what ever it is of yours again."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Elder WuHan's voice fell like a blade.
"As of this day, you are expelled from the Wu Clan. Your name shall be erased from the register and you are forbidden to step within these walls again."
The words struck like thunder.
Dai Yaun raised his head slowly, looking at the face of all the elders and senior members of the Wu clans, their unconcerned and condescending look said it all, it suddenly occurred to him that the entire Wu clan have decided they have had enough of him and they are sending him away.
"Understood," he said softly.
A ripple of disbelief moved through the disciples. No protest, no cry for mercy. Just those two quiet words.
Elder Han frowned, perhaps disappointed by the lack of spectacle. "You may take what belongs to you and leave before the evening bell."
"thank you clan master!" Yaun bowed before turning around to leave the hall as the clan disciples made way for him to walk through.
By the time the evening bell rings, Yaun have already parked his belongings and walked out of the Wu clan residence, stepping out of the residence gate Yaun stooped and stared back at the clan in silence as memories of his time in the clan come crashing back all over his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, he resolutely turns around and walked away towards the Blackscale village outskirt.
Black scale village is located on a flat and fertile surface area boarding the Blackscale jungle, the jungle which stood some miles away from the village is separated by a large vegetation of mountains and tall coniferous looking trees, the village surrounding have visible lone trees dotting the out living area.
But people always seek wealth in danger, and usually the most dangerous place is the most bountiful place, the area within the outer reaches of the Blackscale jungle, is the hunting and also pastoral region of the Blackscale village citizens.
Having been fending for himself these past few yeas after Grandpa Mo went missing, dai Yaun have become familiar with the are surrounding the village south, west and eastern area, during which he had already made arrangement for this rainy day.
Approaching the village entrance, dai Yaun greeted the guard clad in a black iron armor, standing by the entrance.
"young Dai" the guard call out to him with great familiarity.
"where are you heading to by this time of the day?"
"no where uncle Li"
"i am going out to search for some herbs" Dai Yaun waved to the clad middle aged man, having been a frequent customer of the southern region of the village outskirt, almost all of the village guard stationed here have become acquainted with him, as his giant stature would always stand him out among his peers.
"well you ghat to be careful kid" uncle Li said while nodding towards dai Yaun as he walked past the village entrance,
"and you make sure to come back early before the night comes kid"
"yes uncle Li" dai Yaun said forcing a cheerful smile on his face.
Leaving the Blackscale village behind, he walked southwest toward a lone hill situated about a thousand miles away from the village, making his way through the sparse thicket of grasses and trees, dai Yaun arrived at the foot of a giant mountain covered in overgrown grasses.
Beneath the foot of the mountain stood a wooden crude and worn out cottage covered and hidden by grass, as only the shape of the cottage could be made.
"squick" the cottage made some squeaky noise as he pulled the crawling grass covering the door.
"creek"
Dai Yaun pushed open the door of the cottage open after successfully clearing off the vegetation covering the entrance, but before he could step in a bat zoomed out of the cottage across his head giving him a bad fright as he stumbled backward and land on his buttocks.
"Damn it!"
Dai Yaun cursed as he picked himself of the ground while patting his beating chest to calm his scared heart, Yaun cautiously moved closer towards the opened door and peeped inside before stepping inside after making sure there is no any other creature inside.
Dai Yaun found these cottage during one of his time out in the forest while searching for herbs and fruit, due to the proximity of these area with the Blackscale jungle wild animals rarely come to these area of the forest and strangely people don't usually frequent these area too, maybe it due to the lack of resources and only spiky looking grass growing all over the area.
Although the sight of the village is slightly obscured by the tall trees and grasses on can still make out some movements and commotion when it happens outside the village.
"cough! Cough!! cough!!"
Dai Yaun began coughing after carelessly inhaling the dust from inside the cottage, quickly covering his mouth, Dai Yuan examined the now dirt covered room full of cobwebs and dust made visible by the rays of light coming in throw the openings made on the wall of the cottage.
"sigh"
Releasing a deep sigh Dai Yaun dropped his load outside and begin cleaning the inside of the cottage. After taking his time to clean and tidied up the place, he began placing his belonging at the other side opposite the entrance.
By the time he was done with everything night has arrived and only the creaking sounds of crickets echoed across the entire world of his. Closing his eyes Dai yuan slowly drifted away into a deep slumber as a result of exhaustion from the days turmoil.