Wang Qing

In Verdant Wilds, strange things stirred at the stroke of midnight. The villagers whispered of a headless general, sword in hand, dancing silently within the General's Shrine. His blade, they said, gleamed like frost in the moonlight. Some claimed they heard the crash of pottery from deep inside the shrine. And in the morning, wine jars would appear within the shrine as if conjured from the air. The shrine had once been a sacred place, built to honor a general who had stood his ground against the Khitan. It should have echoed with solemn prayers, a place of reverence and remembrance. But ever since the statue within lost its head, whispers of spirits and curses had only grown louder. Drawn by curiosity or perhaps mere foolishness, a villager from nearby began sneaking out at night, hoping to uncover the truth for himself. He claimed to have seen flickering shadows, more than one, dancing just beyond reach. But by the time he rushed inside, the shrine was empty, silent as a tomb. In time, his story was dismissed. Some said he had imagined it all, too frightened to even step past the gates. Like so many others, his tale was swallowed by doubt, its truth blurred beyond recognition. Now the shrine, worn by time and left to decay, stands alone in the wilderness.

Wang Qing can still recall the argument he once had with his junior, Jiang Yuan, over what it truly meant to be a great hero. Jiang Yuan, taken in by the sect as an orphan, believed that mastering martial arts came with the duty to support fellow disciples and serve the sect with loyalty. But to Wang Qing, that view was far too narrow. In his eyes, a real hero stood for something greater, serving the nation, protecting the people, and striving for peace and stability. They were both young then, too young to see the world through each other's eyes. Their disagreement grew heated, and when words failed, fists followed. The clash ended with both of them being punished and ordered to spend three days in quiet reflection. In the years that follow, Wang Qing stays true to his convictions, heading to the front lines to battle the Khitan. And Jiang Yuan also keeps his vow, dedicating himself to the affairs of the sect. But fate does not let their paths remain apart for long. In one brutal campaign, Wang Qing finds himself surrounded by the enemy. At the critical moment, it is Jiang Yuan who comes, leading a group of disciples into the heart of battle to save him. The fighting is fierce, and amid the chaos, Jiang Yuan takes an arrow to the chest. As he lies dying, he turns to Wang Qing and entrusts his young son to him with his final breath. Kneeling beside his fallen brother-in-arms, Wang Qing still hears the echo of words once spoken long ago, "A great hero helps his fellow disciples." Only then does he fully grasp what Jiang Yuan's idea of a great hero truly means.