Chapter 5: The Blank Paper’s Secrets

The rhythm of work settled in quickly. Zhang Ye cleaned tables, carried trays, and even handled the occasional drunkard who thought it was funny to spill tea everywhere. It wasn't hard just boring.

But boring was fine. It gave him time to observe.

The tea shop was a hub of information. Merchants, farmers, and even traveling warriors passed through, sharing stories over hot tea. Zhang Ye listened carefully, piecing together bits of knowledge about Murim the martial world.

Strength ruled here. Sects, clans, and rogue warriors shaped the land. Some names came up repeatedly Wudang, Shaolin, the Bai Clan, the Tang Clan. Great powers, all of them.

And then there were the whispers.

The Blood Cult. The Demon Sect. The Ghost Valley.

Names spoken in hushed voices, with expressions darkened by fear.

Zhang Ye filed it all away. Every piece of information was a step toward survival.

By midday, his body was sore, but he'd gotten into the rhythm of things. Xiao Lan sat near the entrance, swinging her legs as she waited for him to finish. Ah Liu had come and gone, promising to meet them later.

Just as Zhang Ye wiped down the last table, Madam Wu approached, holding a steaming cup of deep amber tea.

"You worked hard," she said, placing it in front of him.

Zhang Ye raised a brow. "A reward?"

"Consider it a test."

He lifted the cup, taking a slow sip.

Smooth. Bitter, but layered with a subtle sweetness. The warmth spread through his body, calming yet invigorating.

He exhaled. "Not bad."

Madam Wu smirked. "We'll see if you say the same after I teach you the real stuff."

Zhang Ye chuckled. "Looking forward to it."

But just as he set the cup down, something shifted.

A strange warmth spread from his chest.

His fingers twitched. His vision blurred for a second then refocused sharply. The necklace.

It pulsed.

A faint whisper echoed in his mind.

"Seek the paper."

Zhang Ye stiffened. What?

Then, a memory resurfaced.

The inheritance he received before dying. The blank paper that had been tucked away in his pocket when he was stabbed.

Did it come with me?

His heart pounded. If it did then it wasn't just a blank paper.

Something was hidden in it.

Something important.

Zhang Ye's pulse quickened. The necklace had reacted. The voice "Seek the paper."

His mind raced. If the blank paper had come with him, then it wasn't just an ordinary scrap. It had meaning. A purpose.

He had to check.

Zhang Ye stood abruptly. "I need to step out for a bit."

Madam Wu raised a brow but didn't stop him. "As long as you're back before evening."

Xiao Lan perked up. "Brother, where are we going?"

"Home." His tone left no room for questions.

Without another word, Zhang Ye grabbed Xiao Lan's hand and left the tea shop, his pace quickening as they made their way back to the shack.

The entire walk back, his mind burned with anticipation.

If the paper really was here then what the hell was it hiding?

The moment they reached the shack, Zhang Ye stepped inside, immediately searching through the small wooden box where Xiao Lan kept their things.

"Brother?" Xiao Lan watched, confused.

His fingers brushed against something smooth.

Then his breath hitched.

It was there.

A folded piece of paper. Blank. Just like before.

Zhang Ye carefully unfolded it, his heart pounding. No markings. No text. Nothing.

But he knew better now.

This wasn't just paper. It was something else.

His gaze shifted to the black-and-white necklace hanging against his chest.

His fingers gripped the artifact.

Was this what it wanted him to find?

The moment he thought that, the necklace hummed.

A faint, eerie glow spread from the pendant, casting strange shadows along the wooden walls. The blank paper trembled then suddenly, ink began to appear.

Zhang Ye's eyes widened.

Letters. Symbols. A hidden text.

The words formed before him, ancient and flowing, as if they had been waiting centuries to be revealed.

And then, one phrase stood out.

"Sky Piercing Sword."

Zhang Ye's breath caught.

Xiao Lan tugged at his sleeve. "Brother… what is that?"

Zhang Ye didn't answer.

Because right now his entire world had just changed.

Zhang Ye stared at the paper, heart hammering in his chest. Sky Piercing Sword. The words were written in an elegant, flowing script, standing out among the strange symbols that surrounded them.

This wasn't just any technique. Even without knowing the full details, the name alone carried weight. A technique powerful enough to shake the martial world.

Xiao Lan peeked over his arm, her small brows furrowed. "Brother, why did the paper change?"

Zhang Ye exhaled slowly. "Because it was never blank to begin with."

His mind raced. Was this why I was brought here? Was this technique waiting for me?

He ran his fingers over the ink, half-expecting it to smear. It didn't. The words pulsed faintly, as if they were alive.

More lines of text revealed themselves beneath the title. But they weren't instructions.

Instead, they read:

"The sword that splits the sky lies beyond the heavens, waiting for its master."

"Only one who walks the path of defiance shall wield it."

"Step forward, or be forgotten."

Zhang Ye frowned. Vague. No clear steps, no diagrams, no guidance. What does it mean?

Xiao Lan tilted her head. "Is it a treasure map?"

Zhang Ye blinked. That… wasn't a bad guess.

The words didn't read like a technique manual. They felt more like a challenge. A riddle. A key.

The sword that splits the sky…

Zhang Ye clenched his fist.

If this is real, then I have to find it.

Whatever this Sky Piercing Sword was, it was tied to him now.

And if this world was ruled by martial strength then he'd need it to survive.

Xiao Lan tugged at his sleeve again. "Brother, are we in trouble?"

Zhang Ye smirked, folding the paper carefully. "Not yet."

But soon, the whole world will be.

Zhang Ye carefully folded the paper and tucked it into his robe. His mind buzzed with questions. A sword beyond the heavens? A technique hidden in riddles? Why was it meant for me?

Xiao Lan watched him, her brows furrowed. "Brother… is it dangerous?"

Zhang Ye chuckled. "Everything in this world is dangerous."

Xiao Lan pouted. "That's not comforting."

He ruffled her hair. "Then I'll protect us from whatever comes next."

She brightened at that.

Still, Zhang Ye knew better than to blindly chase something powerful without preparation. He was weak. This body lacked strength, and technique alone wouldn't be enough.

First, I need to grow stronger.

And that meant finding a teacher, a sect, or a way to train.

Zhang Ye stood. "Come on. We need to get back to the village."

Xiao Lan blinked. "Already?"

He nodded. "We need money. And information. Someone in that tea shop has to know something about this sword."

Xiao Lan hesitated, then nodded. "Okay!"

As they stepped out of the shack, Zhang Ye's fingers brushed against the necklace resting against his chest.

It had brought him here. It had revealed the paper.

And something told him this was only the beginning.

The dirt path back to Qinghe Village felt shorter this time, though Zhang Ye's thoughts made the walk heavy. The Sky Piercing Sword was it a technique? A real weapon? Or something else entirely?

His instincts told him one thing.

If this world had legends, then this was one of them.

Xiao Lan walked beside him, humming softly to herself. She didn't ask more about the paper, but he could tell she was still curious. Smart girl. She knows when to press and when to wait.

As they reached the village square, the scent of freshly brewed tea drifted through the air.

Madam Wu's shop was busier than before, with merchants, farmers, and even a few travelers in martial robes sitting at the wooden tables.

Zhang Ye's gaze sharpened.

Perfect. If anyone knows about the Sky Piercing Sword, it's one of them.

He stepped into the tea shop. Xiao Lan followed closely.

Madam Wu raised a brow as she spotted them. "You're back early."

Zhang Ye shrugged. "Figured I should get to work."

She smirked. "Good. More customers today. Try not to spill anything."

Zhang Ye grabbed a tray, ready to serve but his ears were focused elsewhere.

Listening. Watching. Waiting.

Somewhere in this tea shop, someone had answers.

And Zhang Ye was about to find them.