Jin Yu walked out of his father’s study, grumbling under his breath.

  "The moment I reach the Immortal Realm, I’m hacking down that crazy uncle with my blade. He thinks he can bully me just because he’s stronger? He really has no shame!"

  He sighed, glancing at the two books in his hands while absentmindedly holding a bowl of nuts.

  "Misty... Technique? Don’t tell me I’ll turn into mist if I master this. Damn, that’d be super cool and fun!" His lips curled up slightly at the thought.

  "Slowly but surely, I’m becoming superhuman. I always wanted to be powerful, not a hero—just strong enough to do whatever I want. But now that I have the chance… I feel too calm. Too calm, and that surprises me."

  Jin Yu’s steps slowed as his thoughts drifted.

  "I accepted this world so easily. I don’t even miss my parents. Maybe….maybe I never needed to be superhuman. I just needed to escape that broken home—the one that crushed me every day, the one that only brought me pain."

  He sighed again, shaking his head.

  "The only thing I miss is technology. No phones, no laptops, no electricity… but I have to admit, the scenery here is breathtaking. You’d never see skies this vast or mountains this majestic on Earth. Plus, I can piss people off, and no one dares to beat me up. Guess I really am broken if I enjoy that."

  He chuckled to himself but quickly waved the thought away.

  'As young as I am , thinking so much, forget it , I'll just let it be as it is, when I'm strong enough,I won't anger people anymore.'

  His eyes shifted to the second book in his hands.

  "Divine Phase Technique, huh? No clue what this does, but let me guess. ‘Phase’ could mean passing through objects… Does that mean I can walk through walls? Now that sounds interesting."

  Excitement flickered in his eyes.

  "I should quickly head back and add points to these techniques. Can’t forget the spiritual Cultivation technique, either,I will keep points for it."

  As he strolled leisurely toward his courtyard, he reached a crossroads where another path intersected his. Suddenly—

  BAM!

  A body crashed into him at full force, sending both of them tumbling to the ground.

  His black bowl of nuts went flying, scattering across the dirt, but his hands instinctively tightened around the books. Ever since learning that his father’s books were heirlooms, he didn’t dare treat them carelessly.

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  "Fuck!"

  "Ouch!"

  Two voices rang out simultaneously—one furious, the other pained.

  Jin Yu, now fuming, slowly got up and turned to glare at the culprit. His was first stunned when he saw it was a young woman, dressed like a warrior in battle robes. But that didn’t stop him from unleashing his frustration.

  "I know it’s not your fault you’re blind," he snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "But seriously, shouldn’t you have some common sense? The road is wide enough for a hundred people to walk side by side, yet somehow you still managed to run into me?! How?! I’m genuinely impressed by your level of blindness!"

  The girl, who had been groaning on the ground just moments ago, suddenly turned fierce. She stood up, resting a hand on the sword at her waist. Her face twisted with rage.

  "How dare you, motherless bastard!" she shouted, her voice sharp and venomous. "Do you want to go meet your mother where she is? Do you believe I won’t send you to her?!"

  The air around them went still.

  The people nearby froze, their expressions shifting from curiosity to horror.

  Jin Yu, still simmering with anger, suddenly stiffened. His mind went blank.

  'Motherless? My mother is… dead?'

  Seeing his silence, the girl smirked smugly, folding her arms.

  "What? Cat got your tongue?" she sneered. "You were so full of insults a second ago. Why not keep going? Oh, I know—maybe you should go cry at your mother’s grave instead!"

  Laughter almost slipped from her lips, but it died the moment she met Jin Yu’s gaze.

  His expression was unreadable. A strange silence settled over him, his eyes shadowed, distant.

  For the first time since she started speaking, unease crept up her spine.

  "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, her voice suddenly unsure. "Am I wrong? Didn’t your mother die?"

  Gasps!.

  Gasp of shock rang out in the surrounding.

  The lady swallowed, suddenly aware of the sharp glares from the bystanders. Murmurs filled the air, judgment laced in their whispers.

  A sinking feeling settled in her stomach.

  "Wait… was I wrong? Isn’t he motherless…?"

  Another terrified gasps!

  Is this lady sick?,she can't read the atmosphere?!

  ----

  It took Jin Yu a full minute to compose himself. He cast one last glance at the lady before turning away, his steps heavy with unspoken emotions. He didn't even remember his bowl of nuts—his grip tightened absentmindedly around the cultivation techniques instead.

  Unknowingly, his feet carried him in the direction the lady had rushed out from, rather than toward his own courtyard.

  The warrior-like woman stood frozen, her fingers trembling as she watched Jin Yu's retreating figure.

  Guilt churned within her, sharp and relentless, making her eyes sting with unshed tears. She wanted to call out, to do something—anything—but in the end, all she could do was watch him leave.

  Jin Yu may have appeared calm, but inside, a storm raged. He couldn’t quite grasp what he was feeling, only that his heart felt hollow—like a piece had been carved out, leaving behind nothing but emptiness.

  Lost in his thoughts, he kept walking and walking, oblivious to everything around him.

  ---

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  The distant clamor of cheering and clashing filled the air, jolting Jin Yu from his daze. His heart skipped a beat as he looked around, bewildered.

  Who’s making such a racket this early in the after—

  His thoughts trailed off as he noticed the sun, now dipping below the horizon, its last golden rays painting the sky.

  "Evening already? I've been walking aimlessly this whole time... But wait—where even am I?"

  He frowned, scanning his unfamiliar surroundings. Wasn’t I heading to my courtyard? How did I get so far off track?

  A deep sigh left his lips. This is going to be troublesome. The manor is too vast—that’s why I always have Haozi with me. Now I’ve gone and lost my way…

  Then, the noise in the distance pulled his attention again, the voices were filled with raw intensity, almost too aggressive for normal training. His skin prickled... Why is it so loud over there? Don’t they rest in this part of the estate?

  Jin Yu took in his surroundings with a growing sense of unease. The buildings here were sparse, their architecture simple and unadorned—nothing like the grand structures he was used to.

  Each house was barely a quarter of the size of his own, the stark contrast in status as clear as day.

  "This must be the Jin family trainers’ quarters... If so, I can just ask someone for directions back."

  With that thought, he pressed forward, weaving through the winding paths toward the source of the commotion. The closer he got, the louder the noise became—wild shouts, the unmistakable clash of weapons, and voices brimming with adrenaline.

  "Are they fighting? This doesn’t sound like a celebration…"

  His pulse quickened. As he rounded a final corner, his gaze landed on a towering building standing boldly against the darkening sky. The uproar was coming from within, and an unexplainable chill ran down his spine.

  "So this is where my father’s men train… They’re this intense even at this hour?"

  A surge of excitement flooded his veins, washing away the gloom that had clung after meeting the lady. He couldn’t ignore the electric energy in the air—it was contagious.

  "I have to see this for myself."

  Tucking the two books securely against his chest, he strode forward, his steps light with anticipation.

  As he reached the open doorway and stepped inside, his breath caught in his throat.

  What he saw stunned him into silence.