Per exam tradition, each year’s national champ gets hyped up big in their home prefecture.
Lin Yun’s win zipped back to Dongyuan Prefecture fast.
Dongyuan Prefecture—Prefect’s Palace.
The prefect and his son, Yi Cheng, were mid-chess.
A soldier in armor burst in.
“Prefect—news just in from the capital—our Dongyuan’s Lin Yun nabbed this year’s exam crown!” the soldier blurted, buzzing.
“Lin Yun won?” The prefect and Yi Cheng jolted.
The prefect—about to drop a piece—froze.
They’d pegged Lin Yun for a shot after he’d topped Cao Zheng.
But hearing it? Still a shock.
Dongyuan hadn’t birthed a champ in a century—proper embarrassing.
A win should’ve been ace—but the prefect and son weren’t exactly chuffed.
“Prefect—that’s not all—bigger bomb—His Majesty took Lin Yun as a disciple,” the soldier reported.
*Thud!*
The prefect’s piece hit the board—dropped.
He blanked—thunderbolt news!
“T-Taken as His Majesty’s disciple?” Yi Cheng’s voice quaked—shrill.
“You sure?” Yi Cheng barked at the soldier.
“Young Master—straight from the capital’s Exam Hall—no mistake,” the soldier rushed out.
Silence!
The room went graveyard-quiet.
Weird vibe settled in.
The prefect and Yi Cheng’s faces flickered—inner storms raging.
They knew—getting picked by Emperor Fire Cloud? Near-impossible!
After a beat.
“He… he’s actually His Majesty’s disciple—didn’t see that coming,” the prefect rasped—throat dry.
Lin Yun’s face flashed in his mind.
Hit him—he’d underestimated the kid!
“Yi Cheng—send word—spread this across the prefecture—throw a celebration!” the prefect boomed.
“Father—this…” Yi Cheng balked.
“No buts—do it!” the prefect snapped.
Just a champ? They could shrug.
But Emperor Fire Cloud’s disciple? The prefect knew—no bad blood allowed.
He squinted, “Oh—and Lin Yun’s tight with the Zhu family—word is, Mo and Zhu clans are getting testy—warn the Mo lot to cool it!”
“Got it,” Yi Cheng nodded.
…
News hit the Mo clan.
Mo Clan estate.
The patriarch lounged in the courtyard—coaching his son’s blade work.
An elder sprinted in.
“Patriarch! Massive news!” he yelled, bolting over.
“Second Elder—what’s the flap?” the patriarch frowned.
“Patriarch—just in—Lin Yun won the exam—and… and Emperor Fire Cloud took him as a disciple!” the elder panted.
*Boom!*
The patriarch’s chair splintered—he shot up.
“What? T-Taken by Emperor Fire Cloud?” His eyes bulged.
That dwarfed the champ news—terrifying!
“Dead certain!” the elder nodded hard.
“How? How?! What’s he got!?”
Mo Yangrong roared—world spinning—impact crushing!
“We’re… we’re knackered!”
The patriarch slumped—eyes bloodshot, dazed.
Mo clan—big in Dongyuan—but against Emperor Fire Cloud’s disciple? No chance.
Levels apart—not even in the same league!
Emperor Fire Cloud rarely took disciples—his pupil’s clout? Untouchable empire-wide.
Cross Lin Yun? Smack the Emperor’s face!
…
Zhu clan got wind.
Zhu father and son—Lin Yun champ, Emperor’s disciple—pure glee!
Lin Yun’s win—and apprenticeship—blazed through Dongyuan Prefecture!
…
Fire Cloud Empire—capital.
Lin Yun barely settled at Exam Hall when a guard rolled up.
“Lord Lin Yun—by His Majesty’s order—I’m here to fetch you to Fire Cloud Camp,” the guard said.
“Fire Cloud Camp?” Lin Yun frowned, puzzled.
“Empire’s talent hub—tons of royal prodigies train there—you’re headed in,” the guard explained.
Lin Yun clicked.
“Lin Yun—off to Fire Cloud Camp—your future’s golden—recruiting you’s my lifetime brag!” Liang Yuan grinned.
Lin Yun turned—serious, “Brother Liang—anytime you need help—just say—I’ll go all out if I can.”
“Top man! Top man!” Liang Yuan nodded, chuffed.
He walked Lin Yun out.
Cart waited—Lin Yun hopped on—off to Fire Cloud Camp with the guard!
Camp’s in the inner city—on a hill—near the palace.
Sprawling—3,000 square kilometers—no neighbors.
Guard dropped Lin Yun at the gate.
A middle-aged posh woman waited.
“You’re Lin Yun, eh? Young, sharp—proper talent,” she gushed, stepping up.
“I’m Lin Yun—you are?” he asked.
“Peach Willow—run Fire Cloud Camp—bit of a dogsbody, really—folk call me Peach Sis—you can too,” she beamed.
“Peach Sis—reckon I’ll be leaning on you,” Lin Yun said, humble.
“No bother—come on—let’s sort your digs,” Peach Sis led him in.
“Fire Cloud Camp’s mostly royal hotshots—think of it as their school,” she chatted as they walked.
Lin Yun clocked it—place was lively—plenty about.
