Li Mei: The Sorrowful Dao

### Chapter 17: Li Mei: The Sorrowful Dao

The moon hung low in the ink-black sky, casting a silver glow upon the thatched roof of their humble cottage. Ming Yue's mother, Li Mei, sat by the hearth, her hands calloused from years of tending the fire. Her eyes, once bright with hope, now held shadows—the weight of secrets she'd kept hidden.

Outside, the wind howled, rattling the wooden shutters. Li Mei glanced at the door, her intuition warning her of impending danger. She had always been attuned to the currents of qi—the life force that flowed through all things. Tonight, the air tasted bitter, like betrayal.

The masked assailants arrived silently, their footsteps muffled by the frost-kissed grass. Their eyes gleamed with malice as they surrounded the cottage. Li Mei's heart raced; she knew their purpose. They sought the ancient texts—the forbidden knowledge she'd guarded for generations.

Ming Yue, unaware of the impending tragedy, slept in the room adjacent. His dreams were filled with visions of soaring dragons and celestial battles. He was yet to understand the cost of their lineage—the legacy of cultivators who'd danced with fate and wielded qi like a double-edged sword.

Li Mei clutched the silk ribbon around her wrist—the same ribbon she'd tied around Ming Yue's tiny fingers when he was born. It held memories—the scent of jasmine, the warmth of her embrace. She whispered a prayer, her voice lost in the wind.

The door splintered, and the masked men burst in. Their eyes widened at the sight of Li Mei—a woman who'd mastered the forbidden arts. She stood, her frail form straightening with resolve. Her qi flared, but it was too late. They outnumbered her, their blades swift and merciless.

They struck her down—their swords piercing her chest, her abdomen, her heart. Li Mei's eyes met Ming Yue's through the open doorway. His scream echoed across the night, shattering the stars. He stumbled forward, but the assailants held him back, their laughter cruel.

Li Mei fell to the floor, blood pooling around her. Her last breath whispered a secret—a spell to protect her son. The assailants rifled through her belongings, snatching scrolls and talismans. But they missed the silk ribbon—the one that bound her love to Ming Yue.

As her life force waned, Li Mei's gaze remained fixed on the moon. She saw the constellations shift—their patterns rearranging. The universe mourned her passing, and the wind carried her essence away. Ming Yue's cries faded, replaced by a hollow ache—the emptiness of a world without her.

And so, Li Mei—the last of her lineage—died alone, betrayed by those who sought power. Her blood seeped into the earth, mingling with the roots of ancient trees. The cottage walls absorbed her pain, and the wind whispered her name—a requiem for a mother who'd sacrificed all for her son.

Back in the present, Ming Yue faced his inner demon. The trial of the Dao heart had thrown him into the depths of his most painful memory. His mother's death replayed endlessly, each moment searing his soul with fresh agony.

The inner demon in Ming Yue's eyes stepped forward. "Wow, good show, Ming Yue. Truly splendid how you left your mother to die and to think what she had done for you. Infilial son, aren't you?"

Ming Yue's anguish was palpable. The trial had exposed the raw wound in his heart, the guilt and helplessness he felt for not being able to save his mother. A Dao heart was like a nebula of a painful memory; one second outside was eons for Ming Yue, repeating the story he dreaded. His mother's screams as they stabbed her over and over echoed in his mind. Ming Yue felt as though she hated him for just hiding there—he should have helped.

"Why didn't you do anything?" the demon taunted, its voice dripping with malice. "You were powerless, weak. You don't even deserve to live."

As Ming Yue struggled with these thoughts, he heard a voice in his mind. The chaos tree whispered eerily, "Kill the boy, Ming Yue. Kill the boy and let the man be born."

Ming Yue opened his eyes, all that pain and anguish gone, replaced not with determination but with eerily serene and dead eyes. "Ohhh, is little Ming angry?" the demon said as it approached his ear, the scene repeating again.

"I've been stuck on this pain that I haven't been reflecting on the present. Now I will finally move on. Those dead stay dead," Ming Yue declared. He looked at his mother as a sword appeared in his hand, and he cut her down himself. "Besides, we all know this isn't her," he smiled as he looked deep into the eyes of the demon, recognizing them as the eyes of the dead, not his mother's.

Out in the material world, Ming Yue was actually bleeding through his nose and mouth. The medics were trying to use their qi to wake him from the Dao test, but his spirit just wouldn't let go.

Ming Yue opened his eyes slowly, a serene calmness in them. Unknowingly, he had changed. This Dao heart test had taught him one thing: he should simply accept reality and admit they all died. Grandpa, mother, uncle, and father—all gone. The ones he used to call family were taken away by the Tian clan. This he vowed to promise them—the sweet side of his sword.

The trials had been grueling, but Ming Yue stood among the remaining participants, his body weary but his spirit unbroken. The representatives from the ten sects gathered before the group, their expressions stern as they prepared to announce the names of those who had passed the trials.

A representative from the Mystic Water Sect stepped forward first. "Those who have shown exceptional talent and have passed all trials will be accepted into the Mystic Water Sect. Step forward when your name is called."

He unrolled a scroll and began reading the names. "Lin Hai, Song Mei, Zhao Fen." Each name was met with murmurs and gasps as the chosen candidates stepped forward, their faces a mixture of relief and pride.

Next, the representative from the Crimson Flame Sect announced their selections. "Those with a strong dao heart and commendable performance in the trials will join the Crimson Flame Sect. Liu Yan, Chen Rong, and Huo Liang." The chosen candidates stepped forward, their expressions determined.

The Jade Mountain Sect, called out their chosen ones. "Wei Lang, Fang Min, and Luo Xin." The three candidates, proud of their meager achievements, joined their new sect.

Representatives from the other sects followed, each announcing the names of those who had impressed them during the trials. The Azure Sky Sect, chose "Yun Qian, Bai He, and Feng Ming."

The Emerald Grove Sect, , selected "Mu Qing, Lin Zhu, and Ye Hua."

Finally, the representative from the Xintrea Sect stepped forward, a stern-looking woman with piercing eyes and a commanding presence. "The Xintrea Sect, renowned for its previous glory and a history that ran deep from 6 era's ago more than 5 million years of history, has chosen its candidates. Xiang Li, who displayed remarkable qi aptitude and a steadfast Dao heart. Luo Ning and his commendable resilience stood out."

Ming Yue's heart pounded in his chest as the names were read. He knew that his performance had been strong, but the competition was fierce.

The representative paused before calling the next name, her eyes scanning the remaining candidates. "And finally, Ming Yue," she announced, her voice echoing with authority.

A wave of relief and determination washed over Ming Yue as he stepped forward. He had chosen the Xintrea Sect not only for its history and reputation but also for the quality of its legacy he intended to uphold and surpass.

The representative continued, "Ming Yue, your Wood affinity, impressive qi pool, and unyielding spirit in the face of your Dao heart trial have earned you a place in our sect. The Xintrea Sect recognizes your potential and welcomes you."

Ming Yue bowed deeply, a gesture of respect and gratitude. "Thank you," he said, his voice steady despite the emotions swirling within him.

As the newly chosen disciples gathered, the representatives from the other sects dispersed, leading their recruits away. The ten sects had made their selections, and the atmosphere was charged with anticipation for the future.

Ming Yue knew that his journey was just beginning. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but he was ready. He would honor his family's legacy, avenge their deaths, and carve his name into the annals of history. With his acceptance into the Xintrea Sect, Ming Yue stepped forward into a new chapter of his life, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.

The trials had forged him anew, and now, he was prepared to ascend the path of cultivation with unyielding resolve.