"Should I go in?" Su Jian wondered, hesitating at the threshold. But his curiosity outweighed his fear. Carefully, he descended the small hidden staircase behind the door. Each step echoed, and the darkness surrounding him deepened the eerie atmosphere.
After a few moments, he arrived in a room that seemed to glow on its own, as if the walls emitted a soft light. At the center of the room stood a small altar, and atop it lay a long sword sheathed in a black and red scabbard. "Wow," Su Jian murmured, stepping closer, his eyes locked on the exquisite blade. The hilt was adorned with a carving of a small dragon, and the partially visible blade shimmered with a mesmerizing blue hue. Before he could touch it, a voice echoed in his mind. "You... have finally arrived." Su Jian jumped back, nearly losing his balance. "Who's there?!" "I am the sword," the voice replied. "I have been waiting for you for many years, master." "Master?" Su Jian stared at the sword, bewildered. "Wait a second. Me? Master? You must have the wrong person. I'm just Su Jian, nobody important." "There is no mistake. You are the destined heir to wield me. Only the worthy can find their way to this chamber and awaken me from my slumber." Su Jian scratched his head. "But I didn't do anything. I was just cleaning the house." "That is enough. Fate has guided you here." The sword glowed faintly, and as if drawn by an unseen force, Su Jian's hand reached out and grasped the hilt. The moment he touched it, a warm sensation coursed through his body. Blue light radiated from the sword, illuminating the entire chamber. Su Jian felt something shift within him. Somehow, he felt stronger, more confident, though he still didn't fully understand what was happening. The sword felt light in his hands, as though it had been crafted just for him. "So, what does this mean?" Su Jian asked, still confused. "Why would a sword like you choose me?" "You are the last heir of an ancient bloodline. Though your soul appears simple, your heart is pure. That is why I chose you." Su Jian felt odd hearing such praise. "Wait a minute. If I'm the heir, does that mean I have to do something important?" "You will understand in time. For now, you must train yourself and learn my power. Prepare yourself, for your journey has just begun." Su Jian nodded, even though he didn’t entirely understand. He sheathed the sword and slung it across his back. But before he could leave, he heard footsteps approaching the secret chamber's entrance. "Hey, who's down there?" a voice shouted from above. It was one of the Xia family servants. Panic set in. Su Jian wasn’t sure if he was allowed in this hidden room, let alone to take an ancient sword that might be a priceless Xia family artifact. Hurriedly, he ascended the staircase and shut the hidden door behind him. The servant, a burly young man, eyed him suspiciously. "What are you doing here? You look like you've been up to something strange." Su Jian forced a nervous smile. "I… I was just cleaning! Yes, cleaning this room." The servant gave him a sharp look before shaking his head. "Fine, just finish your work quickly. Don't cause any trouble." He walked away, leaving Su Jian alone. Once the coast was clear, Su Jian glanced at the sword now strapped to his back. "What am I even doing?" he muttered to himself. "You have taken the first step toward your destiny, master," the sword's voice echoed in his mind. Su Jian let out a long sigh. "Well, I hope the next step won't involve this much trouble." --- Sitting under a large tree in the Xia family’s garden, Su Jian’s thoughts drifted to the strange events he had just experienced. The mysterious sword now hanging on his back seemed to emit an aura that both intrigued and unnerved him. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling of not belonging in this world. The world Su Jian lived in was one of wonder and power. People called it the World of Heaven and Earth , a place where the skies stretched endlessly, and the land was filled with boundless spiritual energy. Here, every individual was born with the ability to absorb this energy from nature, building a cultivation base within their bodies. This base allowed them to strengthen themselves, expand their spirits, and achieve feats beyond the limits of ordinary humans. But Su Jian was an exception. Since childhood, Su Jian had been different. He lacked a cultivation base—a core that usually formed naturally in a person’s body as they grew older. While his peers began to showcase their abilities—controlling elements, enhancing their bodies, or even flying—Su Jian could only watch from afar. Those around him either pitied him or, more often, mocked him. Without a cultivation base, he was seen as less than ordinary, weaker even than the simplest farmer. This made life difficult, especially after he married Lengyi, a girl from a distinguished family of cultivators. --- The Xia Family and the Cultivation World The Xia family was one of the great families in the cultivation world, ruling over the Eastern Wind Region, a land rich in spiritual energy. Nearly all members of the Xia family were gifted cultivators, and they guarded their ancient techniques fiercely, passing them down through generations. In this world, cultivation was divided into levels. From the lowest to the highest, the ranks were Mortal, Early Spirit, Mid Spirit, True Soul, Golden Core, and finally Ascendant, a pinnacle achieved by only a select few. Each rank came with its own challenges, requiring a blend of talent, dedication, and abundant resources to advance. Lengyi, as the Xia family’s heir, was one of the most talented cultivators of her generation, having already reached the Mid Spirit level at a young age. Her mastery of ice manipulation made her a standout figure, both for her strength and her cool, commanding demeanor.However, Su Jian's presence in the Xia family was considered a disgrace. Many members of the Xia family viewed Lengyi's marriage to someone like Su Jian as an insult to their traditions. Xia Yao, Lengyi's cousin, was one of the most vocal opponents of their union."He doesn't even have a cultivation base," Xia Yao would often sneer. "How can someone like him be part of our family?"In the World Between Heaven and Earth, those without a cultivation base were often seen as burdens. Without the ability to absorb spiritual energy, they were defenseless against the dangers of this realm. The world was filled with ferocious beasts, bandits, and other threats that only cultivators could withstand.As a result, Su Jian always felt like a thorn in the side of the Xia family. No matter how hard he tried to contribute or help, he was always seen as weak and useless. Even the Xia family's servants treated him with little respect.Despite his lack of a cultivation base, Su Jian had something other
Lengyi gritted her teeth, realizing her opponent was far stronger than she had anticipated. Their attacks grew fiercer, and she began to tire. A shallow cut appeared on her arm after one of the attackers broke through her defense.Just as Lengyi was about to lose her footing, Su Jian suddenly appeared from the side, panting heavily but with an unusual determination in his eyes. “Lengyi!” he shouted. “What’s going on?”Lengyi glanced at him briefly, her eyes wide with shock. “Su Jian, get out of here! It’s too dangerous for you!”Before Su Jian could respond, one of the thieves lunged at him with a blade. Time seemed to slow down. In that moment, Su Jian felt his body move on its own, as though guided by an unseen force. He dodged the attack in a way he couldn’t even comprehend.“Wait, what am I doing?” he thought in panic.The mysterious sword he had found a few days earlier suddenly trembled on his back, as if reacting to the situation. A faint blue light surrounded Su Jian as he uns
Su Jian woke up gasping for air. The soft morning light streamed through the gaps in his window. He clutched his chest, trying to convince himself it had only been a dream. But as he opened his robes, there it was—the sword-shaped tattoo, identical to the one from his vision.“Is this... real?” he whispered, disbelief clouding his voice.There was no time to dwell on it. A knock on his door broke his train of thought.“Su Jian, get up already! We’ve got to clean the garden this morning!” one of the servants shouted from outside.“Oh... yeah, I’m coming!” Su Jian hurriedly put on his clothes, ignoring the tattoo as best he could. *It’s nothing important,* he told himself. *Besides, who would believe me? Even I don’t understand it.*The day went by as usual. Su Jian performed his duties as the “burdened husband” in the Xia household. The servants still sneered at him, some even deliberately assigning him harder tasks just to humiliate him. But Su Jian was used to the mistreatment.Even
In a small village filled with the sound of trickling water and the scent of fresh leaves, a young man named Su Jian lived as the village’s laughingstock. With a skinny frame, tattered clothes, and a vacant gaze, he was nothing more than a fool whose strange antics often drew laughter. Yet, there was something about him that no one knew.That morning, the village was busier than usual. The residents whispered among themselves as they carried flowers and red lanterns. Amid the hustle and bustle, Su Jian sat by the roadside, engrossed in playing with a wooden stick like a child discovering a new toy. He paid no attention to the mocking gazes or soft laughter directed at him. To him, the world was an endless game.“Hey, Su Jian!” shouted a burly man named Lao Wu. “Do you know what’s happening today? You’re getting married to the most beautiful girl from the Xia family! Haha! You probably don’t even understand, do you?”Lao Wu and a few other men laughed heartily, as if the news was the f
Su Jian woke up earlier than he expected. The sunlight streamed through the window of the bridal chamber, illuminating his still-dazed face. He looked up at the intricately painted ceiling before shifting his gaze to Xia Lengyi, who was still asleep on her side of the bed. In the solitude of the morning, an uneasy feeling crept over him.He knew his life had changed since this marriage, but what did it mean for someone like him? Su Jian felt like nothing more than a puppet, aimlessly drifting, following paths set by others. This marriage, which should have marked a new beginning, felt like a deeper trap than anything he had ever faced.Yet, despite his confusion, Su Jian was certain of one thing: Xia Lengyi was extraordinary. Somehow, he felt this marriage wasn’t just about their families—it was also about him, about something hidden behind his façade.Xia Lengyi woke with a heavy head. The night before, though she hadn’t slept well, she had tried to ignore the reality that she was no
The woman laughed mockingly. "Yes, your life must be simple. But be careful, Su Jian. Not everyone here is happy with your marriage."Su Jian tilted his head, feeling a bit confused. "What do you mean?"But before the woman could elaborate, she walked away, leaving Su Jian with even more questions swirling in his mind.Day by day, Su Jian began to notice the growing distance between himself and Xia Lengyi. They hardly spoke to each other, and Lengyi became increasingly cold toward him. Yet, despite her frosty demeanor, Su Jian couldn't ignore the tension that lingered in the air. He felt that there was more to Xia Lengyi than what she allowed others to see, and he couldn't help but wonder about it.What puzzled him even more was the way Lengyi sometimes softened when she thought no one was watching. Like when she saw him eating heartily, or when she overheard him laughing to himself, she couldn’t stop a small smile from forming on her lips. What was Xia Lengyi truly feeling? Su Jian w
Lengyi turned and looked at Su Jian, her usually cold eyes now appearing softer. “Let’s go,” she said, her voice gentler than usual.Su Jian stared at her in surprise but quickly followed her steps. They walked down the corridor in silence. Su Jian’s heart was pounding. What had just happened? Lengyi had defended him—against the maids who were clearly of higher standing in this household.Once they were out of the main hall, Lengyi stopped and looked at Su Jian. “You don’t need to worry about them,” she said calmly. “They’re just venting their jealousy over this marriage. But don’t let their words affect how you see yourself.”Su Jian felt a little touched, though he didn’t want to show any weakness in front of Lengyi. “Thank you,” he said softly and sincerely. “I didn’t know how to deal with them.”Lengyi nodded, though she didn’t smile. “There’s no need to thank me. This is what I should do as your wife. If anyone bothers you, I will always be here to help. But remember, this marria
A few minutes later, the oven was turned back on at the correct temperature, and the new tart was baking. Su Jian stood there, waiting with hope that this time, the outcome would be better.During the process, the maid spoke to Su Jian in a gentle tone, “Don’t worry, Mr. Su. Everyone starts from zero. Someday, you’ll be able to make a tart like this on your own.”Su Jian chuckled awkwardly. “I hope so. I just don’t know how. All of this feels like such a complicated task.”The maid smiled, looking at him with sympathy. “For some, the kitchen can be a daunting place. But don’t worry. If you’d like, I can teach you.”Su Jian was impressed. He didn’t expect someone to be so willing to help him. While he felt awkward about not being able to do it himself, the maid’s kind intentions made him feel slightly more appreciated.After a while, the tart was finally done. Though slightly burnt on some edges, it still looked good, and its sweet aroma was enticing. The maid skillfully sliced the tar