Chapter 1: A Chilly Small Town
On the Tianyuan Continent lie five nations: the Tianjin Empire in the north, the Huasheng Empire in the south, the Luori Empire in the west, and the Suoyu Federation in the east. Situated at the center of these four powers, sharing borders with each, is a relatively small hexagonal territory known as the most renowned Holy See of the Tianyuan Continent. Among the four kingdoms, except for the strained relations between the Luori Empire and the Huasheng Empire, the others coexist peacefully. Every year, each nation must pay a certain amount of “protection fees” to the Holy See to cover its expenses.
The humans of the Tianjin Empire are almost entirely Caucasians, characterized by their tall stature, golden hair, and blue eyes. In contrast, the peoples of the Sunset Empire and the Huasheng Empire are predominantly East Asian, with black hair and dark eyes. The only federal state on the continent, the Suoyu Federation, boasts a complex ethnic composition, including Caucasians, East Asians, and physically robust Black Africans; many other non-human races also reside within the federation. In terms of overall comprehensive strength, the Suoyu Federation, composed of six distinct ethnic groups, stands as the most powerful, while the other three nations possess roughly comparable military capabilities.
Besides humans, who form the majority population on the continent, there exist several minority races: the kind-hearted Elves, the short-tempered Dwarves, the singing-and-dancing Winged People, the rare Half-Orcs who dwell solely within dense forests, and the most mysterious Dark Demons along with the legendary Dragons. These races, far fewer in number compared to humans, are scattered across various nations and have coexisted peacefully with humanity for thousands of years. However, due to differing lifestyles, non-human races generally inhabit sparsely populated valleys or forests and rarely interact with humans.
Although the Holy See occupies only a small territory on the continent, it holds supreme status throughout the land. With the exception of a tiny minority of atheists, nearly all humans are loyal believers of the Holy See. Clergy members constitute the most respected profession. Within the Holy See, the Pope wields the highest authority. Beneath the Pope serve four Cardinal Priests, who assist in managing ecclesiastical affairs; they are also known as Cardinals. Below them are twelve White-Robed Priests. Should more than half of both the Cardinal Priests and White-Robed Priests deem the Pope guilty of a grave error, they may initiate impeachment proceedings. However, given the extremely rigorous process required for papal elevation, no such impeachment has ever occurred since the founding of the Holy See. Beneath the White-Robed Priests rank Senior Priests, Intermediate Priests, Ordinary Priests, and Probationary Priests; priests are also referred to as monks or priestesses. Clergy members in the Holy See are not forbidden from marriage, but their spouses must be the most devout believers of the Holy See. Another reason clergy command such respect is that they are all Light-element mages. Advancement to the position of White-Robed Priest requires monks to achieve at least the level of a Light-element Archmage; yet, the total number of Archmages on the continent has never reached three digits. The power of the Cardinal Priests is even more unfathomable. Legend has it that if all four Cardinal Priests and twelve White-Robed Priests were to act simultaneously, the potency of their Light magic would equal the combined military might of any single nation. Popes are typically selected from among the Cardinal Priests through an exceedingly strict procedure. Upon electing a new Pope, the outgoing Pope conducts a succession ceremony, transmitting the Holy See’s supreme and unique abilities to his successor. No one has ever witnessed the true extent of the Pope’s power, as no situation requiring the Pope’s direct intervention has arisen in nearly a millennium. Generally, the Holy See handles external affairs through the Inquisition, overseen by priest-supervisors. The Chief Inquisitor possesses authority equivalent to that of a Cardinal Priest. The judges under the Chief Inquisitor are regarded as the executioners of the Holy See; they are the most fanatical devotees of the Divine, and when dealing with heretics, they recognize only one principle: kill. Unlike orthodox clergy, all members of the Inquisition operate without any reservations, being entirely controlled by the Chief Inquisitor, who reports directly to the Pope.
The continent utilizes a unified currency system established by the Holy See, featuring coins engraved with the Holy See’s emblem. The currency follows a decimal conversion rate: one Diamond Coin equals ten Amethyst Coins, one hundred Gold Coins, one thousand Silver Coins, or ten thousand Copper Coins. An average household’s annual income is approximately fifty Gold Coins, while sustaining a family for a year requires roughly thirty Gold Coins.
Each of the four nations has its own common language, while in the major cities and among the nobility across these lands, the Court Tongue is generally spoken. Our story begins in Nino, a small town located in Bilno Province, the northernmost region of the Tianjin Empire on the continent’s northern side.
Nino City, situated at the farthest northern edge of Bilno Province within the Tianjin Empire, lies within the extreme north of the Tianyuan Continent. Here, days are short and nights long, with perpetually cold weather. Most inhabitants make their living by fishing in the icy sea beside the town. Floating icebergs drift constantly across this frozen expanse, where seals and sea lions abound; their pelts are highly prized by the nobility.
Dark clouds drifted slowly across the sky, seemingly heralding another snowstorm. In a gloomy alleyway of Nino City, several people clad in tattered cotton jackets huddled together. Among them, a middle-aged man bearing a knife scar across his forehead glared furiously at a slender little girl before him, no more than twelve or thirteen years old, with black hair and dark eyes, dressed only in thin clothing. The girl was extremely thin, her complexion sallow; her half-long bangs obscured everything above her nose, hiding her features from view. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably as her bright, large eyes peered through her black hair, fixed upon the man in fear.
“Slap!” The man struck the little girl hard across the face, knocking her to the ground, and raged, “You worthless brat! I ought to let stupidity kill you! You couldn’t even complete such a simple task. If A-Dai hadn’t dragged you back, you’d still be apologizing to that old woman! I must have been blind to take in a good-for-nothing like you. All you do all day is eat; you’re incapable of doing anything else.”
A boy, slightly taller than the girl, stepped forward from beside the middle-aged man. He gently lifted the trembling little girl, carefully wiping the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, and said blankly to the middle-aged man, “Uncle Li, please forgive the girl just one more time. I… I’ll go catch a few more fish later.”
Uncle Li snorted. Looking at the boy, who shared his black hair and dark eyes and wore an equally vacant expression, his voice softened somewhat. “Ah Dai, you plead for her every time. Do those few fish you catch suffice to feed everyone? Here, no one gets something for nothing. Girl, today, for Ah Dai’s sake, I’ll let you off once more. But if there’s a next time, hmph. Let’s go.” Saying this, he led several other young children away. Before they even reached the alley entrance, Uncle Li turned back and, with a gentle expression, said to Ah Dai, “Don’t forget what you just said. Better catch some big fish, understand?”
Ah Dai nodded blankly. Only then did Uncle Li leave, satisfied.
This group consisted of thieves living at the very bottom of Nino City. They couldn’t truly be called robbers, as they relied solely on petty theft to survive. The so-called “catching fish” meant stealing, and Uncle Li was their leader. He had over a dozen children under him; only the girl was female. All were orphans he had picked up from the streets. Among these children, the boy named Ah Dai was the most capable. Initially, Uncle Li took him in because he noticed Ah Dai’s nimble little hands. This child always appeared dull-witted; sometimes he couldn’t even speak clearly. When asked his name, he didn’t know, and he learned pickpocketing techniques very slowly, seeming rather slow-minded. Hence, everyone called him Ah Dai (meaning “idiot”). Yet, although Ah Dai was笨 (clumsy/slow), he was incredibly persistent. After several months of Uncle Li’s instruction and his own diligent practice, he finally mastered the art of “lifting things顺手牵羊” (literally: leading a sheep along the way, meaning opportunistic theft) and refined it to perfection. To practice his speed, he would even stand alone on the cold streets, poking snowflakes on the ground with his finger; the fewer snowflakes that stuck, the better his eyesight proved to be. Though this method was笨 (clumsy), it yielded excellent results. After months of such practice, Ah Dai finally laid the foundation for “catching fish.” What excited Uncle Li most was that Ah Dai, in his simplicity, knew no fear and didn’t understand that “catching fish” was wrong. As long as he was given steamed buns to eat, he would faithfully carry out any order given.
Walking down the street, no one would pay attention to an ordinary-looking child with a blank stare, yet often in the brief moment of passing by, their money pouches would already be in A-Dai’s hands. When Uncle Li first saw the bulging pouches in A-Dai’s grasp, he was so astonished that his jaw dropped. From then on, A-Dai became the most “favored” among the group of children; every day, he could at least eat one or two cold, hard steamed buns, making the others extremely envious. Although A-Dai was somewhat simple-minded, he had a good heart. Often, even when he himself went hungry, he would share part of his food with others. However, instead of appreciating his kindness, his companions frequently teased him and even snatched his food away.
Ya-Tou was taken in by Uncle Li from the streets a year ago. According to Ya-Tou herself, ever since she could remember, she had lived with an elderly woman. Though life was harsh, she always had enough to eat and warm clothes to wear. Over a year ago, the old woman fell ill and passed away, leaving Ya-Tou without any means of support, forcing her to survive by begging. The reason Uncle Li took Ya-Tou in was not because he cared for her, but rather because he coveted the dilapidated house left to her by the old woman. In the freezing city of Nino, what could be better than a shelter from wind and snow? Ya-Tou was exactly the opposite of A-Dai; she learned everything extremely quickly, mastering all of Uncle Li’s “skills” in less than a month. Yet, Ya-Tou remains the only child who has never successfully stolen anything. It wasn’t due to lack of skill; primarily, it was because her heart was simply too kind. Several times, she had already succeeded in stealing, but upon seeing the distressed expressions of the victims, she couldn’t bear to keep the items and returned them. For this, she was beaten countless times, and each time, A-Dai took the blows on her behalf. Naturally, these two children—one clever, one simple—became close friends. They stood out conspicuously among the group of thieves because they were the only ones with yellow skin. Perhaps precisely for this reason, a deep friendship developed between A-Dai and Ya-Tou. Today, once again, because Ya-Tou returned something she had just stolen to a worried woman, she suffered Uncle Li’s beating.
Finally, Uncle Li’s figure disappeared at the end of the alley. Ya-Tou suddenly threw herself into A-Dai’s arms, sobbing loudly. A-Dai stared blankly at the frail body in his embrace, wiped the snot from his face, and gently patted the girl’s shoulder, saying, “Ya-Tou, don’t, don’t cry. Does it hurt a lot?”
After a long while, Ya-Tou’s crying subsided. She lifted her small face, frozen red, looked at the boy before her, and said through tear-blurred eyes, “Brother A-Dai, living is truly so painful!”
A-Dai clearly didn’t understand what the girl meant. He pulled out half a steamed bun, now hard as a stone, from inside his shirt and handed it to her, saying blankly, “Little Sister, have this. Once you’re full, the pain will go away.”
Looking at this silly yet utterly sincere boy before her, the girl took the bun, sniffled a few times, and asked, “Brother A-Dai, why are you so kind to me?”
A-Dai led the girl to a corner, took off his tattered cotton-padded jacket, draped it over both their shoulders, and snuggled close to her. Speaking with simple honesty, he said, “Am I really being kind to you? Just eat the bun; once you’ve eaten it, you won’t feel cold anymore. I still need to go catch fish later.” As he spoke, he gazed longingly at the half of the cold, rock-hard bun in the girl’s hand, mouth watering.
Gazing at A-Dai’s honest face, the girl found herself momentarily spellbound. With both hands, she broke the half-bun in two and handed one piece back to A-Dai.
Ah Dai swallowed hard and said, “I… I’m not hungry. You eat it yourself.”
The girl stuffed the steamed bun into Ah Dai’s hands, saying, “I have a small appetite and can’t eat that much. Let’s share it.” As she spoke, she held her own quarter-piece of the bun with both hands and took a hearty bite.
Ah Dai murmured an “Oh,” then gulped down his quarter-piece of the bun in huge bites. Eating so quickly, he choked, gasping, “Ah… uh…”
Seeing Ah Dai’s face turn crimson as he struggled to breathe, the girl couldn’t help but chuckle softly. While patting his back to help him, she scooped up a handful of snow left over from the day before on the ground and popped it into his mouth.
A-Dai struggled to melt the snow into water, and after much effort, finally managed to swallow the dry steamed bun stuck in his throat. He let out a long sigh, patted his chest, and said, “Thank you!”
After a while, the girl finally finished struggling with her own steamed bun. Suddenly, she turned to A-Dai and said, “Brother A-Dai, when I grow up, will you marry me?”
A-Dai was stunned. He strained to understand the meaning of the word “marry,” and after a long pause, stammered, “What does ‘marry’ mean?”
The girl sighed inwardly and explained, “To marry means I want to become your wife and take care of you for the rest of my life. I’ll take that as your agreement; no backing out now! From this moment on, I, Ya Tou, am officially your, A-Dai’s, fiancée. You’d better treat me well from now on.”
Ah Dai nodded and said, “Fiancée? Oh, alright then, I’ll share a few more steamed buns with you each day.”
The girl rolled her eyes at him, rendered speechless.
After a long while, warmed considerably thanks to the cotton-padded jacket, she draped it back over Ah Dai’s shoulders and urged him, “Brother Ah Dai, hurry up and reel in the fish, or Uncle Li will scold you again. I… I’ll go with you.”
Ah Dai nodded, helped the girl to her feet, and asked, “Sister, why is it that even though your skills are better than mine, you always give the fish back?”
The girl sighed and said, “Brother Adai, don’t you know it’s wrong to steal from others?”
Adai shook his head and replied, “But… but if we don’t ‘pull fish,’ we’ll go hungry!”
Realizing she could never make this simple-minded fellow understand, the girl gave up trying to explain. Instead, she took Adai by the hand and led him out of the alley. They headed toward the busiest district of Nino City, knowing that only there could they find suitable targets. Silently, the girl resolved that no matter what, today she would help Adai “pull” more fish than usual to repay his kindness toward her.
They had not gone far when suddenly a voice called out from behind them, “Little girl, stop right there.”
A-Dai was startled, and he turned around at the same time as the young maid. Before them stood an ornate carriage; from its small window peered the face of an elderly woman. The maid recognized her immediately—it was the very person to whom she had returned the money pouch earlier that day.
“Little girl, it really is you?” A look of delighted surprise spread across the woman’s face. The carriage door was lifted, and with the help of a servant, the old lady stepped down. Her attire was sumptuous, made of fabrics that neither A-Dai nor the maid could ever have imagined, and over it all she wore a mink fur cape.
The young maid spoke timidly, “Is… is there something you need?”
Thinking the old woman meant to cause trouble for the maid, A-Dai quickly stepped in front of her, shielding the girl behind him as he watched the elderly lady with guarded suspicion.
The old woman smiled warmly and said, “Children, don’t be afraid. Young lady, just now you returned my purse to me, and I haven’t even thanked you yet! In such cold weather, why are you dressed so thinly?”
The girl shook her head and replied, “There’s no need for you to thank me. I was the one who stole your purse in the first place.”
A-Dai was startled. Though slow-witted, he knew all too well what fate awaited someone caught by the very person they had tried to swindle. He quickly covered the girl’s mouth and urged anxiously, “Girl, don’t speak recklessly!”
Contrary to A-Dai’s expectations, the old woman did not order her servants to beat the girl. Instead, she continued smiling gently and asked, “Then why did you return my purse to me?”
The girl pulled Ah Dai’s hand away, summoned her courage, and said, “I… I saw you were in such a hurry, so I returned it. Please don’t blame him; if anyone deserves to be punished, let it be me.”
The old woman smiled gently and said, “Mm, you truly are an honest and kind child. I know you wouldn’t have stolen something unless you had no choice, right? Where are your parents?”
The girl’s eyes reddened as she replied, “I have no parents. I’m an orphan.”
The old woman furrowed her brows, sighed, and said, “A good child like you shouldn’t be suffering here. Come, come closer, let Grandma take a look at you.” With that, she beckoned the girl over with her hand.
Ah Dai, worried that the girl might suffer, quickly said, “Don’t go, little one. Let’s leave right now.”
The girl did not heed Ah Dai’s warning. She vaguely sensed that the old woman before her might change her entire life. Lowering her head, she walked up to the old woman and stood there, trembling slightly.
The old woman gently lifted the girl’s dirty little face, brushed her messy hair back behind her ears, then took out a clean white handkerchief from her bosom and wiped the girl’s face. Nodding, she said, “Yes, child, you must have endured much hardship. Would you like to come with Grandma? I can provide you with a good life and give you a proper education.”
The girl’s big eyes lit up. She turned to look at Ah Dai, who appeared anxious, standing frozen in place, bewildered.
“What’s the matter, child? Are you unwilling to come with me? My husband is the governor of Mica Province, where the Empire borders the Holy See. It is spring all year round there. Here, it is simply too cold.”
The young girl turned around and glanced at the old woman’s splendid and radiant attire before tentatively asking, “Grandmother, could you take my older brother along as well?”
The old woman looked at Ah Dai just as he was wiping two streams of yellow snot running down his face with his hand, appearing utterly foolish. A flicker of disgust passed through the old woman’s eyes; she shook her head and said, “No. He just tried to deceive me; he is not an honest child. I can only take you alone. Decide quickly; it is truly very cold here.”
The young girl hesitated for a moment, glancing first at the carriage and the old woman before her, then at the shabby Ah Dai. Finally, she nodded resolutely and said, “Very well, I will go with you.”
The old woman smiled with satisfaction and said, “Good, that’s a well-behaved child. Now, let’s go to the carriage. We must first find a place to get you some proper clothes; wearing so little, you’ll catch a cold.”
The young girl said, “Grandma, please wait a moment for me.” Turning around, she quickly ran to Adai’s side. “Brother Adai, I’m leaving. Don’t blame me, okay? I truly can’t bear this life of lacking food and clothing any longer. Brother Adai, remember what we just talked about. When I grow up, I will definitely come back to find you.”
Adai replied, “Little Girl, are you really leaving? If Uncle Li finds out, he will beat you.”
Two streams of tears slid down from the young girl’s eyes. Choking back sobs, she said, “Brother Adai, don’t worry. From now on, he will never have another chance to hit me. I’m going now; remember what we just discussed. If you get the chance, leave Uncle Li too; he is not a good person. Stop being a thief.” Before Adai could ask how he would get steamed buns without stealing, the young girl had already turned and run toward the old woman. The old woman boarded the carriage first, and with the servants’ help, the young girl also climbed into that seemingly warm and magnificent carriage. Just before the curtain fell, the young girl took one last deep look at Adai, as if trying to imprint his features forever in her memory.
The carriage sped away, leaving Ah Dai standing motionless in its wake. As he watched it disappear into the distance, a faint sense of loss welled up within him. For Ah Dai, in his heart, Ya Tou was the only thing more important than mantou.
…
“Slap—” Uncle Li slapped several small coin pouches out of Ah Dai’s hands and cursed, “Are you an idiot? You just let Ya Tou leave with someone else? Damn it! I wasted so much grain on her, and before she could even repay me, that damned girl dares to run off! It’s infuriating! Truly infuriating!” Uncle Li kicked Ah Dai to the ground and paced back and forth incessantly within the cramped wooden hut.
Ah Dai curled up painfully on the floor, sobbing, “No, I didn’t make her leave. She chose to go on her own.”
Uncle Li was already furious, and Ah Dai’s words only made his anger flare up even more. He kicked Ah Dai hard several times, shouting furiously, “If she wants to leave, just let her go! You’re so stupid it’ll be the death of you. Take that for being stupid, take that!” Wails of pain kept escaping from Ah Dai’s mouth, while the other thieves nearby watched with glee, none stepping forward to intervene.
After a while, Uncle Li’s anger subsided somewhat. Only then did he remember that Ah Dai was, after all, his main source of income; if he beat him too badly, where would he find such an obedient subordinate? Grumbling angrily, he picked up the money pouch from the ground and snapped at Ah Dai, “From now on, learn to be smarter.” Then he walked out alone. The thieves all knew he was going off to drink.
Ah Dai curled up in the corner, his whole body aching. He couldn’t understand why Uncle Li had beaten him when clearly none of this was his fault. The girl’s parting words kept circling endlessly in his mind, refusing to fade away.
The other thieves ate the leftover soup and rice Uncle Li had somehow obtained from some restaurant, laughing and chatting about their day’s experiences. By the time Ah Dai remembered he hadn’t eaten anything all day, there wasn’t even a scrap left. His heart felt as though weighed down by something heavy, and his longing for the girl grew ever stronger. She was right; living truly is so painful!
Early the next morning, Uncle Li, in a rare moment of mercy, tossed Ah Dai a steamed bun. After Ah Dai devoured it ravenously, he was sent out once again to begin his day of “fish-leading.”
Sparse snowflakes drifted down from the sky, imparting a faint chill to passersby. Walking slowly along the road, Ah Dai thought to himself, “When will another old woman appear to take me away too? I’d be content if I could just have enough steamed buns to fill my stomach.” He wondered about Yatie: “How is she doing? Since she left with that old woman, does she get to eat steamed buns every day?”
Just as these thoughts crossed his mind, he suddenly spotted someone ahead dressed strangely. What struck him as odd was that the person’s tall figure was completely enveloped in a large cloak, making it impossible to discern their features from the outside. Beneath the cloak, a bulging money pouch seemed to be swaying. Ah Dai decided that this person would be his first target for the day. While formulating his plan, Ah Dai quietly followed, slipping his sharp little blade from his belt and waiting for the right moment to strike. Ah Dai’s frequent success in “leading fish” was largely due to his tenacity; once he set his sights on a target, he would stick to them relentlessly until he succeeded.
As he followed, the cloaked figure entered a luxurious restaurant. From the outside, the establishment looked resplendent, its roof tiled with glazed ceramic tiles. Ah Dai thought, “Anyone who can afford to eat here must have plenty of money in their pouch.” At this thought, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of quiet joy. “If I can lead back more ‘fish’ today, perhaps Uncle Li will let me feast on steamed buns until I’m full.” He crouched in a corner beside the restaurant entrance, waiting patiently.
“Go, go, go! Where did this little beggar come from? Get out of here!” The restaurant doorman kicked A-Dai and glared at him with disgust.
A-Dai was long accustomed to such snobbish doormen. He quickly bowed and scurried farther away, finding a shadowy corner sheltered from the wind and snow before crouching down again.
Toying with the sharp little blade in his hand, A-Dai waited patiently. He wasn’t in the least bit anxious; after all, anyone who eats must eventually come out.
A full hour passed before finally, the person wrapped in a large cloak stepped outside. What thrilled A-Dai even more was that they were walking straight toward him. A frontal approach made for the easiest target. He hastily rose, steadied his nerves, and headed directly toward the stranger. The person was tall; A-Dai only reached about their stomach. As the distance between them steadily closed, A-Dai scratched his hair with the hand concealing the blade. Just when they were a meter apart, A-Dai stumbled slightly and bumped into the stranger.
A-Dai instantly felt as though he had crashed into an iron wall, his entire body racked with indescribable pain. Unconsciously lifting his head, he caught sight of the man’s face. It was an aged countenance, etched with countless fine wrinkles, appearing to be seventy or eighty years old.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it,” A-Dai hurriedly apologized.
The old man merely snorted without saying a word and continued walking forward, seemingly unaware that his cloak had been sliced open and the money pouch at his waist was gone.
Seeing that the other party meant him no harm, A-Dai excitedly dashed forward, only to slip on the snow-covered ground and tumble onto his back. The fall jolted the wounds from yesterday’s brutal beating by Uncle Li, sending spasms through his body. Yet even so, he could not conceal the excitement swelling within him. When he had seized the money pouch, he noticed its unusual weight; even if it contained nothing but copper coins, it would surely suffice for today’s quota. Struggling shakily to his feet, he sprinted into a narrow alley. Glancing back to confirm no one was pursuing him, he breathed a sigh of relief, patted his chest, and sat down. What A-Dai did not know, however, was that the target of his theft practiced a peculiar profession across the continent—that of an alchemist.
The most revered profession on the continent is that of the clergy. Beyond the clergy, each nation also boasts several professions that stand above ordinary laborers. These professions have each formed their own guilds, becoming unique and influential forces across the continent.
The Mercenary Guild is the largest among all guilds. So-called mercenaries are essentially a special profession hired by employers to carry out tasks ranging from simple to extremely difficult. They receive varying levels of compensation based on task difficulty, and the local branches of the Mercenary Guild scattered throughout the lands serve as the ideal places for them to accept missions. Of course, the Mercenary Guild does not provide its services free of charge; it collects fees proportional to the difficulty of each task. Groups formed by mercenaries are known as mercenary companies. For particularly challenging missions, employers prefer to hire powerful mercenary companies, regardless of the high costs involved. Both individual mercenaries and mercenary companies are divided into six ranks: the lowest being Rank Four, followed by Rank Three, Rank Two, Rank One, Special Rank, and finally the highest rank, Super Rank. Due to the vast number of mercenaries and mercenary companies, advancing even one rank is exceedingly difficult. The Mercenary Guild issues distinct badges corresponding to each rank. Within mercenary organizations, higher-ranked mercenaries or companies command great respect from those of lower ranks.
The Mage Guild represents the second most prestigious profession on the continent, surpassed only by the clergy. Since mastering magic demands exceptionally high personal aptitude, mages are extremely rare. Moreover, nearly all those who practice light-element magic have been recruited by the Holy See, further enhancing the scarcity and value of mages. They are often employed at high salaries within armies, and almost every mage of intermediate rank or above is ennobled by their respective kingdom. Thus, becoming a mage is the aspiration of many commoners, as it symbolizes honor and power. Mages are classified into six ranks: Junior Mage, Intermediate Mage, Senior Mage, Archmage, Magus, and Grand Magus. Since state subsidies constitute their primary income, mages typically obtain from the Mage Guild a badge corresponding to their rank in order to claim their due remuneration. Naturally, acquiring such a badge requires passing examinations administered by the Mage Guild. Notably, the Mage Guild is the only guild that pays its members without requiring any service in return.
The Alchemist Guild, though small in membership, enjoys immense respect across all nations. National governments often seek to co-opt these guilds because weapons forged by alchemists far surpass those crafted by ordinary blacksmiths, making them the optimal choice for equipping elite military forces. The Tianjin Empire derived its very name from possessing the largest alchemist guild among the four major kingdoms. Alchemists are essentially an offshoot of mages; most specialize in fire-element magic. Their advantage over conventional mages lies in their profound knowledge of minerals and medicinal substances. Powerful alchemists can forge legendary divine weapons whose value is nearly immeasurable, earning them favor not only from royal courts but even from the Holy See. Apart from assassins, alchemists constitute the wealthiest group among all professions. Alchemists are ranked into six tiers: Apprentice, Junior, Intermediate, Senior, Special, and Master. Although universally recognized rank badges exist for alchemists across nations, high-ranking alchemists often disdain claiming them.
The Assassins’ Guild, the smallest yet most mysterious guild on the continent, is also known as the Assassins’ Consortium. Though few in number, its members possess extraordinary abilities. They accept assassination contracts through underground channels, commanding exorbitant fees. The guild’s organization is extremely tight-knit; there are only two ways to join: first, by passing a series of arduous trials; second, by completing an exceptionally difficult mission that the guild announces annually. Anyone who succeeds in this mission is admitted as a member. Of course, the difficulty of accomplishing such a task far exceeds that of the trials, and one might very well lose their life in the attempt. Due to human scheming and power struggles, this guild, which makes ordinary people tremble at its mere mention, has managed to survive across the continent. Assassins are clearly ranked, from lowest to highest: Assassin, Slayer, Ninja Killer, and Annihilator. These killers are uniformly managed by the Assassins’ Guild; their identities remain highly secret, unknown to outsiders. They belong to no nation, their numbers never exceeding one hundred, yet they constitute a formidable force. Rarely are there any mages among them.
The Thieves’ Guild, plainly put, is an assembly of master thieves. Some nobles hire guild members to steal precious items they desire. Not every thief can join the Thieves’ Guild; although its membership requirements are not as stringent as those of the Assassins’ Guild, candidates must still pass various assessments. Only thieves with outstanding qualities and exceptional professional skills are admitted. Thieves are ranked from lowest to highest as Thief, Senior Thief, and Acquirer. Generally, only those who have repeatedly stolen priceless treasures earn the honor of becoming an Acquirer; they are also the group most feared by the majority of nobles. The Thieves’ Guild enforces one strict rule: absolutely no killing. Precisely because of this, they have never been eradicated by the armies of various nations. To better fulfill the tasks assigned by their employers, the Thieves’ Guild maintains the most extensive intelligence network. Like the Assassins’ Guild, the Thieves’ Guild belongs to the shadowy forces of the continent.
…
Pulling out the heavy money pouch, A-Dai’s heart overflowed with joy. The pouch was exquisite, crafted from leather and adorned with a six-pointed star embroidered in golden thread. A-Dai had never seen such a beautiful money pouch before. Hastily, he untied the drawstring and reached inside, dreaming: if only there were a single purple crystal coin within, how wonderful that would be! In over a year of practicing his trade, he had stolen a purple crystal coin only once. He remembered how Uncle Li, thrilled by that feat, had rewarded him with a large chicken drumstick, making all his companions intensely envious. He had never tasted anything so delicious; finally, he shared it with Yatie, even gnawing the bones clean. That delightful flavor still lingered vividly in his memory.
When Adai emptied all the coins from his pouch, he froze in astonishment. Inside, not only were there the “chicken legs” he had long dreamed of, but also dozens of gold coins, and even a shimmering blue coin he had never seen before, glowing with brilliant light. Gazing at the small pile radiating purple hues, he realized it amounted to more than a dozen “chicken legs”! “I can finally eat my fill! I can finally eat my fill!” Adai shouted excitedly.
Just as he was overwhelmed with excitement, the golden six-pointed star on the pouch suddenly glowed. Immediately afterward, an elderly voice sounded beside his ear, “Have you never been full before?”
Adai shuddered violently, accidentally scattering the coins from his hand across the ground. A voice—where was this voice coming from? He looked around frantically, but there was no one nearby. “Heaven protect me, heaven protect me,” Adai murmured repeatedly, pressing his palms together before his chest.
“Do you think the heavens would protect a thief?” the old voice spoke again. This time, Adai heard clearly—the sound seemed to be emanating from that exquisite pouch itself.
“Ah—” A-Dai cried out in shock, throwing the money pouch away. His whole body trembled involuntarily; this was the first time he had ever encountered something so bizarre. After all, he was still just a child, and fear shone clearly in his eyes. Sparse snowflakes continued to drift down, and the sky remained just as gloomy. In that moment, A-Dai’s tattered cotton jacket seemed no longer able to offer him any warmth, as a chill rapidly rose from deep within his heart.
The money pouch, having landed not far away, emitted a faint glow. On its beautiful golden six-pointed star shimmered a dreamlike, pale golden light. Under A-Dai’s terrified gaze, the golden radiance suddenly intensified, and a blurry human figure appeared above the pouch. The figure gradually became clear—it was none other than the elderly man in the large cloak from earlier.
A strange, low voice continuously emanated from within the cloak. Had Uncle Li been present, he would certainly have recognized that the old man was chanting a magical incantation. Finally, the man’s body fully solidified; with a gentle float, he descended to the ground.
The old man landed beside the money pouch. Slowly bending down, he picked it up from the ground and sighed, “I haven’t used this spell in so long; I’ve grown quite rusty!”
Seeing the person he was pickpocketing appear in such a bizarre manner, even someone as dull as Adai knew he was in grave trouble. He never could have imagined that after four months without a single mishap, he would be caught by his target just after successfully snatching a big prize. Curling into a ball on the ground, his body trembled incessantly. In his mind, what awaited him was surely a storm of brutal beating; this wasn’t his first time being caught. The last time, that burly man had nearly broken his hand. If Uncle Li hadn’t appeared just in time to scare the man away, Adai would have long lost his ability to pick pockets, let alone enjoy his favorite steamed buns.
The old man tossed the money pouch in front of Adai and said calmly, “Pick it up and put the coins back inside.”
“Y-yes, sir.” Adai carefully grabbed the pouch, taking a deep look at the six-pointed star embroidered upon it with golden thread. He simply couldn’t comprehend how a person could possibly “emerge” from a money pouch. Trembling all over, he cautiously began placing each coin back into the pouch, a process that took quite some time. Strangely, the old man did not urge him on; beneath his cloak, a pair of eyes gleaming with sharp intensity continuously scrutinized Adai.
“Alright, alright, here you go.” A-Dai tried his best to appear humble, holding the money pouch with both hands and offering it to the old man. Perhaps, by acting more cowardly, the beating he was about to receive would be lighter. A-Dai had never even considered resisting; how could someone with his “weather-beaten” body possibly fight back? Even if the opponent was an old man.
The old man took the money pouch but neither struck A-Dai nor showed any intention of letting him go. He simply stood before him, gazing at this small, frail child.
A-Dai lowered his head and crouched down, shielding his head with his frost-reddened hands, curling his body up as tightly as possible while awaiting the impending storm.
“Hmm, your hands are quite remarkable—slender fingers and broad palms. No wonder I didn’t even notice anything had been stolen. You still haven’t answered my earlier question, have you?”