The hong kong woke early, even before the sun light touched the lands.
Hong kong breathed with its usual restlessness - bus horns echoing through the air, faint chirping of sparrows sitting on electric wire, elders doing exercises in the park, stall owners opening their stalls and arranging their things on perfect places while talking with eachother -- everything was peaceful.
In a narrow street, there was small yet cozy house above a noodles shop which was connected with a small living room and beside it there was beautiful garden connected with them too...the alarm rang on a phone which showed it was 4 AM and a hand reached out to snooze it lazily...the room corners were filled with stacks of books - some new, some second handed, some old...the boy sat up and rubbed his eyes blinked few times, adjusting to the morning light. Zhen yi -- a 16 year old boy, a cute one with pale skin, full lips, doe eyes , yet sharp v shaped jaw line that contracted in a good way with his features. His mom entered the room with cup of milk and smiled warmly at him.
"Good morning, yi. Here's your milk, drink it fast and get freshed, grandfather is waiting on garden"
She handed him the milk cup and he took it, still sleepy and in the state of trying to process his own name as he drank it slowly. After finishing it, he went to bathroom to fresh up.
After freshing up, he went to the garden where his grandfather was waiting for him. He saw his grandfather watering the plant and he smiled and snuck behind him then hugged him tightly.
"Morning, zhen hong", he said while chuckling mischievously as he released his grandfather and stepped back.
His grandfather turned to look at zhen yi, his eyes sparkling with affection at zhen yi's antics. He reached out and ruffled his hair.
"How many times I told you not to call me by my name?, I'm your grandfather", he said but his voice held no real annoyance.
"Okay okay, my mother's husband's father", zhen yi smile widened as he kept calling him anything but grandfather.
"Grandfather", zhen hong corrected, trying to sound stern but still smiling
"Right, right. Grandfather", zhen yi finally said grandfather, the old man nodded, satisfied with zhen yi giving in.
"What's going on here?" Another deep and rough voice pierced through air as foot steps approached, it's zhen yi's dad who just woke up, came to garden, stretching himself and doing little warmups.
"Testing grandfather's patience", zhen yi said with a chuckle as his grandfather poked his forehead playfully.
"See how your son's disrespecting your father? Don't you defend me? And correct this little thing?", zhen hong asked zhen yi's father while pointing a accusing finger at zhen yi who just giggled.
"Uh did you call me, honey? Wait I'm coming, dad my wife's calling me, it's you and your grandson's problem", his father walked inside house, leaving zhen hong and zhen yi on garden again.
Zhen yi laughed.
"I know your son is too afraid to solve our fight"
"Your father", zhen hong corrected zhen yi who just rolled his eyes.
Zhen hong looked at the clock hanging inside the living room and the time was 4:30 AM. He turned to zhen yi with serious expression, completely opposite to what they were doing before.
"Fine fine, no teasing or banters now. It's time for training. Go get your sword"
Zhen yi nodded and went to his room to take his sword, the ancient sword they refused to hand over to government museum, the sword zhen yi always felt attracted and attached to. The sword that showed off that zhen family had rich history to themselves even when other proofs faded.
Zhen yi did a respectful bow to the sword, still respecting the past it held that zhen yi didn't knew. He took it and came back to garden. His grandfather looked at him and asked.
"Now tell me what are you holding and how significant it is?"
Zhen yi told that he's holding a sword, not just normal sword but it was passed down by their ancestors and it's a precious thing they should treasure forever and he would pass it down to his younger generation.
His grandfather nodded in satisfaction and placed hand on his shoulder and patted him in a appreciating way.
"Good boy, now go and practice your stance"
Zhen yi nodded and stood at the center of garden, foot position steady, hands raised while holding the sword, shoulder relaxed as he did his moves, the grandfather sat on the wooden plank floor that connected their living room with garden and watched him do it.
Zhen yi's stance was not perfect, but still it was filled with sincerity. Zhen yi's dad again came back and sat down next to his father.
"I still don't know why you are teaching him this... We can just sell this 'historical sword' for great amount that government offered us, atleast it would help our family rather than having a single noodle shop for our living. sword fights have no value these days. You see, my son will study well and become a CEO and change the fate of our family", his dad said with hint of pride and the faith he had on zhen yi.
"You shut up", zhen hong said softly, not sternly.
"My grandson will never let this culture die and he will continue this, right?", zhen hong looked at zhen yi with hopeful eyes who stopped his moves and nodded with a sweet smile.
"You and your grandson", his dad shook his head, being done with this topic.
"I'm going to work, bye zhen yi, bye father", his dad stood up and got ready for his work, he works as daily wages labour in construction. He placed a soft kiss on his wife's cheek and walked out of house.
Meanwhile, it's 5:30AM now. After one hour of practicing sword, zhen yi took deep breaths, feeling tired but somehow still energetic.
Zhen hong ruffled his hair, smiling at him proudly.
"Your moves are clearer than yesterday, keep doing like this"
Zhen yi beamed at the praise and flashed his sweet smile and nodded.
"Take rest for 30 minutes and start getting ready for school", zhen yi's mom yelled from kitchen.
"Okay", zhen yi yelled back and went upstairs to his room, he sat on his bed and looked at the book he placed on table yesterday after reading it, he opened the book and read the unread pages determined to finish this book.
Few minutes later, he finished the last 5 page he left unread and he sighed in satisfaction.
"Finally I finished this amazing story"
He inserted the book between his other books on the stack and changed to his uniform then ate breakfast. Finally, he bid byes to his mom and grandfather. He walked out of house...
Hong Kong was always a busy place. The distant sounds of buses and cars blended with the chatter of people rushing to work. Street vendors shouted out their best deals—"Fresh buns! Hot dumplings!"—their voices echoing through the air.
Zhen Yi reached his school and walked inside. He was greeted by his friends, Chen Ming and Li Qiyue, who spotted him immediately.
"Morning, bookworm," Li Qiyue said in a teasing tone that made Zhen Yi roll his eyes.
"How was your swash-swash training?" Chen Ming swung his hand side to side like he was holding a sword—almost hitting Li Qiyue. She stepped back and shot him a warning glare.
Chen Ming froze instantly, lowering his hand. He leaned toward Zhen Yi and whispered, loud enough for her to hear anyway,
"Girls are always like this…"
"I heard that," Li Qiyue snapped, flicking her hair. "My makeup is more expensive than your brain."
"Yeah, yeah… makeup…" Chen Ming teased and poked her cheek. She quickly swatted his hand away.
Zhen Yi chuckled at their banter.
"Okay, guys, stop. Let's go to class."
As Zhen Yi walked toward the classroom, they followed behind him, still arguing over the smallest things.
The day passed with classes, recess, and the usual mountain of homework.
When the final bell rang, students rushed to pack their bags and scatter out of the building.
Zhen Yi, Chen Ming, and Li Qiyue walked out together, complaining about assignments they hadn't even started yet.
Outside, the sky was painted with an orange-pink glow as the sun slowly dipped beyond the horizon. They passed through a lively street filled with food stalls. Steam rose from bamboo baskets; vendors flipped fish balls in sizzling broth; the sweet smell of sugar figure candy drifted in the air.
They bought fish meatballs on skewers and steamed buns, eating as they walked.
But suddenly, Zhen Yi stopped.
The world tilted slightly, as if the ground moved under him. A mild ache pulsed behind his forehead. He lifted a hand to his temple—and then the vision hit.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stood on a battlefield. He wore ancient armor, his presence overwhelming and fierce. Dust swirled around him as he cut down enemies with a single swing of his sword.
Then a powerful voice roared across the battlefield:
"GENERAL YAN ZHEN!"
Zhen Yi blinked—snapping out of the vision as Chen Ming shook his shoulder gently. Both of his friends stared at him with deep concern.
"What happened? Why did you stop? Does your head hurt?" Li Qiyue asked softly, placing a hand on his arm.
Zhen Yi shook his head, though his heart was still racing.
"Don't pretend. You're not feeling well—this is why I told you not to study so much, bookworm," Chen Ming said, trying to lighten the mood.
Zhen Yi managed a weak smile.
They walked him home. His mother was at their noodle shop downstairs, serving customers. She looked up when she saw them.
"Welcome, kids. It's been a while since I last saw you. How have you been?"
"We're doing great, Aunt," they said in unison. "Zhen Yi seemed a little unwell, so we walked him home."
Zhen Yi's mom frowned and turned to him, worry written all over her face.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Mom," he said. "Just a bit tired from school. I'm going to my room. Bye, guys."
He went upstairs, and Chen Ming and Li Qiyue said their goodbyes.
In his room, Zhen Yi sat on his bed, hands resting on his lap. His mind replayed that strange vision again and again.
The battlefield.
The armor.
The voice calling a name he had never learned… yet felt familiar.
Everything about it felt too real.
Too connected to him.