While Tang San was known for his discipline and quiet nature, Shen Lian was known for his ethereal beauty. Even at six years old, his skin held the luster of polished white jade, and his eyes were like deep pools containing the starlight of a thousand fallen heavens.
He was an orphan, taken in by Old Jack after being found wrapped in silk that felt like woven clouds. He didn't just live in the village; he graced it.
The Hill of Two Prodigies
Every morning, Tang San would climb the nearby hill to practice his Purple Demon Eye. But lately, he wasn't alone. On the opposite peak sat Shen Lian.
Tang San watched him curiously. While Tang San worked through rigorous internal pathways, Shen Lian simply sat in stillness. The sunlight didn't just hit Shen Lian; it seemed to refract off him, creating a faint, shimmering halo.
"He doesn't look like he belongs to this world," Tang San thought, his own mature soul feeling a rare sense of awe. "He looks like an immortal who has forgotten how to fly."