Deities Descend to the Mortal World

Torrent City.
The Underground Nest.

A guard blocked a young man and demanded, "Name."

The youth replied, "Ye Ran."

The guard scrutinized the boy standing before him. He had a thick head of black hair, bangs brushing his brows, and a pair of lively, penetrating eyes beneath. The angles of his face were anything but gentle, lending him a rather cold and stern appearance. He looked to be fifteen or sixteen, yet bore no trace of childishness.

He wore a white shirt and black shorts, both washed clean, though it was obvious at a glance they were the cheapest street market goods. As the guard lowered his head to record the entry, he cast another glance at Ye Ran. The boy wore no armor, no ornaments, had no weapon—only a cloth pouch tied at his waist. The guard muttered under his breath, "Another pest from the slums."

Encountering the poor from the slum district meant not only no profit to be made, but also the need for extra scrutiny.

"Hey, is it really appropriate for you to say that right in front of me?" Ye Ran protested, displeased.

The guard, with shifty eyes, gave a low laugh. "Young man, I'm not making things hard for you. Tell me, which major guild are you with, which godly lineage, or which great family? Or perhaps, are you a student at some school? You know the rules here."

The rules of the Underground Nest were clear: only members of approved guilds, great families, renowned schools, or chosen by the gods could enter. All others were forbidden.

The guard