Chapter 2

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Chapter 2: The Loving-Jealous Childhood Sweetheart

Time was slipping through his fingers like grains of sand in the wind. Yun Xi watched Hua Huo’s graceful figure fade into the distance, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. Though they both stood at the 3rd Rank, their paths could not have been more different. His was a world of flour and dough, where the heat of the oven sculpted his destiny, while hers was one of steel and swordplay, where the Thousand Sword Technique danced between offense and defense with a harmony that few could rival.

As a 3rd-ranked Baker, Yun Xi could craft bread so delicious it brought joy to the heart, yet the pinnacle of his talent lay in the butter bread he had offered Hua Huo that very morning. It was no ordinary loaf; his hands, honed by years of practice, could imbue it with strength—an essence beyond mere taste. However, such wonders had their limits, and he could only create ten such loaves each day.

Hua Huo, with her unrivaled mastery, was already recognized as a true prodigy. Even a mere whisper between them spoke volumes, an unspoken understanding born of years spent side by side. With a resigned sigh, Yun Xi slid the next batch of dough into the oven, already envisioning the day she would leave for the White Lotus Sword Domain’s prestigious Sword Palace. She was destined to shine among the finest, with no need for exams or trials. As a 3rd-ranked swordswoman, she would stand among the elite with effortless grace.

“Perhaps I should think about the others too,” he mused, a bittersweet reluctance gnawing at his heart. Letting go of his childhood sweetheart was no easy feat. Yet, as he pondered his own future and the dreams of those around him, he couldn’t help but acknowledge his place in this vast world.

Unlike Hua Huo, whose brilliance would soar to unimaginable heights, Yun Xi’s dreams were simple, rooted in the fragrant warmth of his bakery. The townspeople admired his skill, and a handful of shy, blushing girls had even tried to express their affections. Yet, curiously, once they had confessed, they always seemed to drift away, leaving Yun Xi perplexed and alone.

Milei, the gentle florist’s daughter down the street, had just turned twelve. Three years hence, they could consider marriage. Then there was El’phyllis, the radiant gem store’s eldest daughter, now seventeen—her father had all but offered her hand the last time Yun Xi visited. And Ye Li, the adorable daughter of the cake shop owner, though she was only nine, had a sweetness that promised a charming future.

Counting the possibilities on his fingers, Yun Xi reassured himself, I’m not being unfaithful. His heart had always belonged to Hua Huo. The feelings he nurtured for her were as real as the rising sun, yet reality was a stubborn thing. She was fated to ascend beyond the humble confines of their village, while he was content to stay, rooted like an old oak tree in familiar soil.

One day, I’ll have to smile and let her go, he reminded himself, patting his face as though bracing for the inevitable. That day loomed closer with each passing moment, for the Sword Palace exams were but a week away—a monumental occasion for the entire White Lotus Sword Domain.

On that day, hopeful youths would gather from all corners, their dreams gleaming like unsheathed swords, each hoping to prove their worth. Some sought honor, others salvation from a life of obscurity. For them, the Sword Palace was a chance to leap over the dragon’s gate, to transform from common carp into mighty dragons.

The prestigious institution only welcomed candidates aged sixteen to eighteen, and for those who missed the mark, their only recourse lay in lesser schools. In the White Lotus Sword Domain, the Sword Palace was a beacon of supreme honor, towering above all other academies like a monarch atop a throne.

The domain itself was a reflection of its purpose—its very landscape shaped like a sword. The hilt belonged to the common folk, the blade to the myriad schools and sects, and at the pinnacle, the Sword Palace reigned supreme. It was but a small fragment of the greater Sky Sword God’s Domain, a colossal sword-shaped realm where the art of the sword was sacred.

The mighty Sky Sword Palace stood at the zenith, ruled by the enigmatic master of the Sky Sword. White Lotus Sword Domain, though not among the highest ranks, held a treasured secret that had long captivated the interest of upper domains.

Each year, the Sword Palace exams attracted prodigies from distant realms, all eager to seize the hidden gem that the domain guarded so jealously. Yet to Yun Xi, such aspirations were as fleeting as clouds in the sky, distant and irrelevant. His dreams were simpler—to knead, to bake, to perfect his craft until he became the youngest 4th-ranked Baker in the village’s history.

Most of his peers would marry by eighteen, ensuring a harmonious balance of family and work. He envisioned expanding his humble bakery, handing it down through generations, securing his legacy one loaf at a time. That was his dream, his quiet rebellion against a world obsessed with the sword.

Humming an old tune from the Western God’s Domain, Yun Xi methodically prepared the ingredients for the afternoon’s baking. Each step was familiar, comforting in its routine.

“Yes, I like you. From the ocean of many, I fell in love with you at first sight. Beautiful, can you smile for me?”

The melody drifted through the warm air as Yun Xi lost himself in his work, his heart temporarily at peace.

Bang!

The bakery door swung open with a forceful kick, shaking Yun Xi from his reverie. He sighed, already knowing who it was.

“Little Xi, I forgot something!”

Hua Huo’s cheeks were flushed a delicate crimson, her breath ragged from the morning exercises. She leaned forward, hands on her knees, eyes burning with an intensity that sent a shiver down Yun Xi’s spine. He stood there, puzzled, flour dusting his apron like the last remnants of a snowfall.

“If it’s about the bread, there’s none left.” Yun Xi spread his hands helplessly, a rueful smile playing on his lips. If he had known, he would have saved her some. But alas, the loaves were gone.

“Not the bread!” Hua Huo’s eyes locked onto his with the ferocity of a warrior unsheathing her blade.

“What then?” Yun Xi frowned, glancing down at himself, half-expecting to find something amiss beyond the flour clinging stubbornly to his clothes.

“It’s your heart!” she declared, her voice quivering with righteous indignation. “Just now, I heard everything!” Her fiery gaze bore into him, accusatory and unwavering. “Milei from the flower shop, El’phyllis from the gem store, and that little Ye Li from the cake shop across the street—how dare you, Yun Xi! You were being unfaithful!”

The words struck him like a bolt of lightning.

“What? How did you—” Yun Xi stammered, blinking in disbelief.

Hua Huo’s face twisted with righteous fury, her voice rising with each word. “Don’t quibble with me! I heard it all, clear as day!”

Yun Xi was at a loss. How does she always know? Ever since they were children, Hua Huo had possessed an uncanny ability—an almost supernatural intuition when it came to detecting the slightest fluctuation in his feelings. A mere heartbeat out of rhythm, a fleeting thought of another girl, and she would appear, sword in hand, ready to pass judgment.

“Uncle and Auntie told me to always keep an eye on you!” she huffed, hands on her hips, her breath still uneven from her morning routine. “They told me not to let you stray!”

Yun Xi swallowed nervously. That fiery determination in her eyes had been there since they were children. It was a force to be reckoned with.

To her, the idea of childhood sweethearts was something sacred, a bond as natural as the passing of the seasons. And to Yun Xi, the memories they shared—laughter in the summer fields, quiet moments under the cherry blossoms—were treasures beyond measure.

But Hua Huo had fought tooth and nail to protect what they had. To fend off the admirers who flocked to him like moths to a flame, she had trained relentlessly, rising to the 3rd Rank and becoming the village’s strongest swordswoman. A prodigy in her own right, her blade had carved through the hearts of those who harbored designs on him, cutting down their hopes with unwavering precision.

And yet, Yun Xi, the oblivious fool that he was, had never quite realized just how irresistible he was to others. Even back in school, each Valentine’s Day would see a line of girls eagerly awaiting their turn to offer him chocolates—a veritable army of admirers.

“Uh… I was found out?” Yun Xi murmured, scratching his head sheepishly.

Hua Huo’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You idiot! You keep saying you’ll only marry me!” With a swift motion, she drew her long sword and pressed its cool edge against his neck. “If you don’t, I’ll carve those words into you myself!”

Yes, Hua Huo was perfect in many ways—beautiful, talented, the pride of the village. But if there was one flaw to her perfection, it was this:

She was possessive to a terrifying degree.

And for Yun Xi, that was a headache he could never quite cure.

As dusk settled over the village, Yun Xi locked up the bakery, the scent of fresh bread lingering in the air like a warm embrace. He swept his gaze around the shop one last time, ensuring everything was in order before retreating upstairs.

The family bakery had been passed down for four generations, and though the wooden staircase creaked with each step, it carried the echoes of countless footsteps before his own. To Yun Xi, the sound was a lullaby of familiarity, one he found oddly comforting.

“Hua Huo, you really need to go,” he whispered to himself.

For as long as he could remember, Hua Huo had been a constant in his life, always hovering, always watching. But it was different now. She had outgrown this little village, outgrown him. The sword strapped to her back bore the insignia of the White Lotus Sword Palace—a simple cyan blade, its hilt engraved with a delicate white lotus. It was the mark of a chosen one, a future master.

Yun Xi sighed, tracing the edge of the table absentmindedly.

At only sixteen, Hua Huo had surpassed even the Sword Palace’s requirements. Her talent was undeniable, and soon, she would leave.

Childhood sweethearts rarely end up together.

It was a thought he had come to accept. His path was not one of heroism or adventure. He would inherit the bakery, craft loaves of bread, and watch the seasons pass by from behind the counter.

They had met at six years old, and now, ten years later, their destinies were beginning to diverge. She was meant for the stars, while he was content with the earth beneath his feet.

“Really… is the cake shop’s Ye Li better?” Yun Xi mused aloud, staring at the ceiling, his voice barely above a whisper.

On the small wooden table near the window sat a simple cake with a single candle. It was modest, but it was his—his own way of celebrating. In just a few hours, when the clock struck midnight, he would officially turn sixteen.

Staring out the window, Yun Xi’s gaze wandered toward the endless night sky, the stars twinkling like fragments of a distant dream.

He reached out and closed his eyes, a silent wish forming on his lips.

Tonight… will I dream of the maiden guarding the gate?

For Yun Xi, turning sixteen meant nothing extraordinary. It was simply another step forward in an ordinary life, another day passing like the ones before it.

And yet, deep down, a quiet longing stirred within him.

A dream.

A dream of something beyond the horizon.