Qingshi County, in a Martial Hall surrounded by white walls at the east end, dust filled the air.
The scorching sun streamed through the sparse wooden windows, casting dappled shadows on the ground, illuminating the figures inside who were sweating like rain.
In the center of the Martial Hall, a brawny man with a scar-covered bronze torso stood with his arms behind him, the instructor of the martial arts school.
His voice was like a great bell, each word resounding with a metallic ring, making the eardrums of those around tremble:
"The world today is unstable! Ever since the blood rain came down years ago, strange phenomena have appeared in the sky, bringing forth all kinds of demons and ghosts."
As he spoke, his eyes swept over the dozen or so young men practicing their punches, suddenly kicking a nearby disciple who had deformed movements, not hard enough to hurt but making the disciple stagger and nearly fall.
