Under the morning sun, as the autumn wind blows, a single leaf detaches from the tall tree. It drifts through the air, caught in the wind's gentle current. The leaf twists, flutters, and begins its slow descent toward the ground.
In mid-air, a blade flashes.
Clean and sharp, it splits the leaf into two halves before it can land. The blade belongs to a teenage boy, his grip steady, his eyes calm.
After the cut, he takes a step back from the tree. Without a word, he lifts the blade once more—and then swings it toward the towering trunk in a single, fluid motion.
The blade's edge gleams with light as he swings. A crescent-shaped energy blade bursts forth, slicing through the air with a sharp hum. It cuts the tree cleanly in half, so smooth and swift that the massive trunk remains upright, unmoving, as if untouched.
He sheathes his sword without a glance, the click of metal quiet in the autumn breeze. Then he turns and walks away, each step calm and unhurried.
After a short distance, he stops and lightly kicks a small stone behind him. The stone arcs through the air and strikes the tree.
With a deep groan, the halved tree begins to tip. A second later, it crashes to the ground in the direction opposite the boy, its fall echoing across the quiet landscape.
The teenagers walk through the open field and step on a path. As he walks the path, houses start to appear, and people walk on the dirt path. Every person who comes across the young boy bows in respect. But the young boy walks nonchalantly as he is in deep thought.
The young boy, while walking, is thinking, ' tomorrow I can leave this city. This body's father permitted me to leave the city after I reached the middle samurai realm, and last night I reached it yesterday night.' The young boy mentioned this body's father because he is Merin.
And a month ago, the seal that the mirror placed in his soul weakened, and his memories were released. After regaining his memory, he decided to leave home and roam the world to increase his knowledge of the world. The most important thing is cultivation exercises. And the profession of this body allows him to get most of the exercise without force.
Merin's soul appeared in this world 14 years ago. He was born and named Matsuda Kanoru. His father is a healer. So, when he was taught about medicine and treatment from his childhood and even if Merin's soul was sealed, it still affected him, and he learn quickly and in 10 years age of, he could discover minor illnesses and treat those patients.
And after two years, when he was 12 years old, he learned entire knowledge of treatment and medicine. But along with studying with his father, he also trained with the guards and later alone in the way of the samurai. This world also has its own extraordinary cultivation path. It starts with Low-level Samurai, Middle-level Samurai, High-level Samurai, and Great Samurai.
Low-level Samurai- Rank 1
Middle-level Samurai- Rank 2
He is able to match up to this as he is only a middle-level Samurai. After his cultivation increases in the future and advances to the next two realms, he would be able to match the Rank System of the mirror.
His eyes caught a food stall ahead. A warm aroma drifts from it—savoury, rich, familiar. Hunger grips him fast and hard, so he quickens his steps. A moment later, he stands beneath the stall's modest roof.
"Give me some meat buns," he says.
The stall owner looks up and smiles. "Dr. Matsuda, you want some meat buns? Four will cost a square coin."
It's a small town where most people know everyone, and everyone knows him. An important figure, a healer, is recognised by nearly all the locals.
Merin pays the coin. Soon after, he's handed a plate of freshly cooked, steaming meat buns. Without waiting, he picks one up and bites in. The heat doesn't bother him. As a middle-level Samurai, his body is refined enough to endure temperatures that would blister an ordinary man.
Low-level Samurai aren't much different from common folk, aside from enhanced control and strength. But the real separation begins at the middle level. That's when inner energy begins forming naturally within the body. The path of a Samurai is one of constant physical training: from an ordinary person to low-level, then to middle, high, and finally, Great Samurai.
According to what he's learned so far, Great Samurai marks the peak of the extraordinary path in this world.
Merin puts down the empty plate and turns to leave.
The stall owner says, "Today, my married daughter is coming home. Tomorrow, my wife will take her to you for treatment."
Merin stops and says, "I won't be at the clinic tomorrow. If she needs treatment from me, bring her today."
The stall owner frowns slightly, then nods. "Okay, then the day after tomorrow."
Merin shakes his head. "I'm leaving town tomorrow. She can still be treated by my father or one of the other healers at the clinic."
"Oh! Then I'll tell my wife to see if my daughter can go today," the stall owner says quickly.
Merin nods and walks away, heading toward his family clinic. After a few minutes, he sits inside the treatment room where he sees patients. Lilia, the assistant, opens the door and lets in the first patient of the day.
One after another, patients come in. Merin examines them, identifies their illnesses, and prescribes treatments. The rhythm is familiar—steady hands, focused mind, calm words. Outside, the day moves on while inside the clinic, healing continues.
As night falls, the last patient leaves, and the clinic closes. Merin walks home beside his father in the cool evening air. After washing up, he joins his family at the dinner table, the warmth of home settling quietly around them.
After everyone finishes their dinner, Merin's mother looks at him with tearful eyes. "Do you really want to go outside tomorrow?"
Merin meets her gaze, his voice calm. "Mother, I've told you many times. My healing skill hasn't improved for months. If I want to grow, I need to leave."
She hesitates, worry thick in her voice. "But the situation outside isn't safe anymore. Disasters—natural and man-made—are everywhere. The court has lost its power. Rebellions have broken out in many regions."
Merin nods. "I know. But I'm a middle-level Samurai. I can protect myself. And with my hidden weapon laced with poison, I can even stand against high-level Samurai."
His father speaks up, steady and supportive. "Kanoru's mother, Kanoru, has grown. He can take care of himself. And to improve his healing, he needs to meet other healers, see new illnesses, and help people where help is rare."
"But…" she starts, voice trembling.
"No, but," his father says firmly. "It's time. If he wants to advance, this is the path he must walk."
His father then turns to him and says, "But when you're outside, go to the Baidi Prefecture."
Merin raises an eyebrow. "Why? Do we have relatives there?"
His father shakes his head. "No, not now. But in the future, they may become our relatives."
Merin frowns. "I don't understand."
His father exhales slowly. "When you were three months old, your late grandfather betrothed you to the granddaughter of his close friend."
Merin's frown deepens. The path he's set for himself is clear—to reach the realm of Great Samurai and then carve the next realm beyond it. He doesn't want anything to interfere with that.
Still, he knows he can't dismiss the matter outright. As the eldest son of the Matsuda family, he bears responsibility—not just for himself, but for the family's legacy.
He has a younger brother who can carry on the family line, but his parents expect grandchildren from him. If his children are as talented as he is, the Matsuda family might flourish for generations.
He doesn't mind the idea of marrying someday, but only after reaching a bottleneck in his cultivation, when he's forced to slow down. And when that time comes, he wants to marry someone of his own choosing, not someone picked for him when he was a baby.
So he says carefully, "Father, we haven't heard from them in years. They may have forgotten about the engagement. If I go there and bring it up myself, it might damage our family's reputation."
His mother says, "Your grandfather and his friend signed a marriage contract. When both of you turn eighteen, you must marry. As long as the court isn't replaced, the contract remains valid—neither of you can marry someone else."
His father adds, "And if either side breaks it, some might use the contract as a reason to punish both our family and hers. That's why you must visit them. There are still about four years before the contract takes effect. You need to talk to them—to see if they want to uphold the agreement or cancel it."
Merin nods. "Alright. I'll start my journey and head toward the Baidi region. But I'll need an address to find them."
His father says, "Your grandfather's friend is from the Bai family. Given the name, you can guess the Baidi region is named after them. It won't be hard to find them."
Merin frowns. "They must be influential. Why would they believe me without any proof?"
His father replies, "We have the original contract. Take it with you."
Then, with a glance at his wife, he signals her. She quietly rises and walks away from the table.
While waiting, Merin notices his eight-year-old sister's teary eyes locked on him. He softens and asks, "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
His sister bursts into tears. "Brother, you promised you'd never leave me! But now you're going away!"
Merin moves closer and gently pats her head. "I'm not leaving forever. I'll come back. And wherever I go—every city, every town—I'll send letters with stories about my travels. And I'll send gifts, too."
She sniffles. "Gifts?"
He smiles. "Yes, lots of gifts."
His twelve-year-old brother cuts in. "Then what about me?"
Merin smirks. "For you, I'll send rare and new healing books I find."
His brother scrunches his face in frustration but doesn't speak. Their father is still sitting there, and the pressure to live up to Merin's talent hangs heavy on him.
Their father says, "Yes, Kanoru. Any useful books you find, send them. I can't travel like you, but I'll study them here and improve."
At that moment, their mother returns and says, "Then I expect gifts too," handing Merin a scroll tied with a red ribbon.
Merin accepts it, unties the ribbon, and unrolls the contract. His eyes fall on the name—Bai Yanli. The rest is exactly as his father described.
Later, after his parents offer final words of guidance—what to do and what to avoid while travelling—they retire for the night, leaving Merin alone with his thoughts, the scroll still resting in his hand.