A crowd has formed in the courtyard. Hundreds of servants — dozens of maids, butlers, and cooks — that facilitated your every daily need have gathered to send their ${YM} off on a faraway journey. They all understand the sad truth — it may very well be the last time they see ${pronoun_2} alive and ticking. The Jianghu is fraught with lethal risks as much as it is filled with opportunities, ${pronoun_1} would not be the first from this household to perish on the road of martial supremacy.

You also understand it. You are very much aware that instead of living in comfort — and safety — of your home, you will enter the world where even something basic as survival is not guaranteed, but earned.

Your sweaty palms are clenched and your breathing quickened from anxiety, yet you hold no doubt that this is the path you want to take.

Why?

*choice
	#I want to become the most powerful Martial Artist in the world.
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 5 "arrogant" "+"
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 2 "violent" "+"
		*set mc_goal 1
		You not only want to fight against the strongest people in the world, you want to beat them. Partaking in tournaments, testing your skills in battle — is there a greater joy than fighting with the cheer of thousands boosting your prowess? 
		
		You desire for the status and respect the position of the strongest brings. You earn for reverence and worship the strongest enjoy. 
		
		And you [i]will[/i] achieve it.
	#I want to restore my Clan back to its former glory.
		Your clan has been around for hundreds of thousands of years. One of the nine that helped founded the Empire, your ancestors earned glory that has spanned for centuries. 
		
		Yet now, the clan is decadent and poor. Weak. Its power and influence have waned, its might no longer as respected as it once was. 
		
		You [i]will not[/i] let your clan's name drown in the river of time. You [i]will[/i] return it to its peak — and maybe even beyond. 
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 3 "arrogant" "+"
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 3 "egoistical" "-"
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 3 "ruthless" "-"
		*set mc_goal 2
	#I want to free commoners from the oppression of nobles.
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 5 "elitist" "-"
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 3 "egoistical" "-"
		*set mc_goal 3
		Once free and equal, for hundreds of thousands of years, the commoners have been reduced to mere slaves. Rightless and defenseless, they have been abused by those with higher strength. Treated more like animals, livestock for sale, than like humans. 
		
		And yet, their spirit is unbroken. Despite the lack of hope and the lack of any chance for success, there are revolts all around the globe. Brave men and women who would rather die rattling the chains of aristocracy than accept life in shackles. All they need is a leader, a leader powerful enough to turn the tide.
		
		You [i]will[/i] be that leader. 
	#I want to keep commoners in line.
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 5 "elitist" "+"
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 2 "arrogant" "+"
		*set mc_goal 4
		The empire is rattled by revolts. Peasants and slaves, emboldened by the current weakness of the Tangs, decided to fight against the tyranny of nobles. They battle for their freedom and wage war for independence.
		
		What absurd! How can you argue against the power of blood, the destiny of birth? Their efforts — no more than struggles of crazy ants. And what do you do with feral animals?
		
		You [i]put them down.[/i]
	#I want to have complete freedom: doing whatever I want, whenever I want. 
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 5 "egoistical" "+"
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 2 "arrogant" "+"
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 2 "impulsive" "+"
		*set mc_goal 5
		You care neither about status, clan nor commoners. All you ever wanted and will want is to [i]be free.[/i] Free in its most encompassing sense.
		
		Unbound by rules. Unburdened by propriety. Unchained by both society and nature. 
		
		And there is only one way to do it. Grow so strong, so overwhelmingly powerful that you become invincible — just like the First Emperor.
	#I just want to enjoy life, indulging in the pleasures of the flesh.
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 5 "indulgent" "+"
		*gosub_scene subroutines change_personality 2 "egoistical" "+"
		*set mc_goal 6
		
		The Jianghu is full of dangers, struggles and backstabbing: you want no part of it. Instead, you desire for the strongest wines, for the tastiest food and for… sturdiest beds.
		
		Is that too much to ask for?
	#I don't have any particular goal.
		No particular desire drives you and you, instead, take life as it comes.
		*set mc_goal 0

You take a deep breath and, with clear determination, take a step towards the gargantuan beast waiting for you. 

Fenghuang are birds of prey that can reach up to forty feet in length and almost a hundred tons in weight. They boast sharp like blades feathers and a motley coloring. Their tails are a mix of cerulean and green, their wings and head are between yellow and orange, while their apteric bodies are dark blue with black spots. Such bright and diverse colors make fenghuangs the second most desired consorts of dragons — right after phoenixes.

[[b]Uncle Tao[/b] added to [b]Character Glossary[/b]]

*set characters_2_opinion 50
Two men stand before the bird: Your father and Uncle Tao. They both watch you, but their gazes differ. Your father expresses worry and reluctance, while Uncle Tao is unperturbed. For him, you are but an heir and an heir's duty is to climb the Jianghu as high as ${pronoun_1} can, carving a place at the peak for both ${pronoun_2}self and the clan. 

"Take care of ${pronoun_2}, old friend." — your father quavered, barely holding back his voice from cracking. 

"Of course, Master." - Uncle Tao replies and then pads the fenghuang — "Come on, child. Climb on." 

You give your father, your servants, your home one last look — and mount the bird.

*page_break Heavenly Ascension Sect
*goto_scene journey_to_sect