The Sword in the Lake

Master said that Er* could leave the village only if he left Master's sword at home. Er* agreed.

At seventeen, Er* went down the mountain to roam the martial world, lost in a fight, and returned to recover...

At eighteen, Er* had grown stronger and went down the mountain again, only to lose again...

At nineteen, Er* returned to the mountain and rested for a year...

At twenty, Er* went down the mountain and met the person destined for him, and a second person.

Now Er* is thirty and has been back on the mountain for ten years. Looking back on all the enemies he's encountered along the way, he feels a little wistful. He picks up Master's sword. Who should he kill first?

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.