Chapter Two: The Gate That Opens After Eighteen Years

After Fan made his sudden declaration, silence hung in the hall.
The three Elders looked at one another in brief hesitation,
Until the First Elder finally spoke:

“You are the Supreme Judge. Your departure… would not be simple.”

The Second Elder added:

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but the outside world is dangerous. You are the most vital existence to the Court.”

The Third Elder interrupted:

“I believe we should allow the Supreme Judge to leave.”

The First Elder snapped:

“Elder Three! Fan leaving would expose him to great risk. Even with his talent in martial arts, the world is full of poisons, traps, deceptions… Strength alone means nothing.”

Fan interrupted in a steady voice:

“You all seem to be misunderstanding something. I am not asking for permission… I am announcing my departure. Your agreement is irrelevant.”

The Second Elder responded sharply:

“You are not yet of age. With the passing of the previous Supreme Judge, the full authority rests with us until you come of age.”

Fan replied calmly:

“I am aware.
But I also have the right to make one unconditional request during my apprenticeship.”

He continued:

“That request… is to leave the Court for a year, to discover the world.”

There was a pause.

The First Elder sighed, then said:

“Very well. But you will be accompanied by the Sixth Judge during your journey.”

The Second Elder muttered:

“Tch… troublesome.”

The Third Elder chuckled softly, clearly amused.

Fan bowed slightly to the Elders and turned to leave.

Outside, he stood in the White Courtyard, eyes fixed on the massive outer wall of the Court. He stared deeply, as if trying to see through it.

The Next Morning...

The Court was in chaos.

Servants rushed through the stone corridors, bowing to passing guards as they made their way to prepare the ceremonial drums and secure the gate mechanisms.

For the first time in his life, Fan brewed his own tea.
Yet again, he simply sat and stared at the cooling cup.

His preparations had already been completed: clothes, mask, hair — all readied by the Court's finest hands.
He now wore a plain white robe, devoid of any Court insignia. His mask remained unchanged.

A knock echoed through the room.

Judge Six — Hao Lin Namjung — entered. A young man of 21, dressed in white robes adorned with a green dragon motif,
carrying a notebook in which he recorded everything meticulously.

He bowed and recited the Court's creed:

“May the trees, the seas, and the sky submit to divine justice,
and may the birds sing with the voice of the scales.”

Then he smiled politely.

“Greetings, Your Grace. I am Lin Namjung, Sixth Judge of the Court, and your escort for this journey.”

Inwardly, Hao Lin thought:
(This is the Supreme Judge? I don’t feel a trace of energy from him…)

Fan spoke:

“It is rude to examine someone’s energy without consent.”

Startled, Hao Lin bowed deeply:

“My apologies, Your Grace. It was not intentional — a mere habit.”

Fan stood and approached him, his voice low:

“It’s fine. Just… don’t make a habit of mischief.”

Hao Lin nodded:

“Understood.”

Together, they walked to the White Courtyard.

There, the Three Elders awaited them.
Behind them stood the great stone gate of the Court — ancient, overgrown with creeping trees, sealed for nearly two decades.

The First Elder said:

“Let us hope you cause no trouble, Supreme Judge.”

The Second Elder added:

“Watch both yourself… and the world, Judge Six.”

The Third Elder simply said:

“Take care, Judge Six.”

Fan nodded in silence.
Hao Lin bowed deeply.

Suddenly, a powerful voice echoed from atop the Court walls:

“Let sky, earth, seas, and mountains submit to the divine law!
Let birds, beasts, and men know the weight of the Supreme Court!”

“The Tenth Supreme Judge… Fan… now departs.
Let the gate open! Let the drums be struck! Let the world witness the Court’s might!”

BOOM… BOOM… BOOM...
HOOOOOOO… HOOOOOOOO...

The great gate, untouched for 18 years, began to shift.

The ground trembled. The noise thundered through the bones.
The light of the morning sun poured in through the widening gap.

Fan stood still.

Then — the world revealed itself.

A vast green plain, flat and endless, beneath a sky of perfect blue.
Short grass shimmered in the wind.

Fan turned slightly, bowing once to the Elders behind him —
and stepped forward.

The Elders remained behind… silent.
Their faces showed no expression — but their eyes held fear.

Fan’s first steps upon the world were slow.
He stared deeply… not at an enemy, nor at a city,
but at a sky he had never seen —
a world untouched by rules.

To be continued…