I am Lian Myung, youngest son of the Myung Family.
I wasn't very good in Martial Arts and was looked down upon by many, even from my own family. They despised me for bringing shame to the family.
It was as cruel as it can get.
Despite the huge drawbacks I didn't once give up and kept trying for years and years.
After enduring all kinds of trials, experiments and hardships, the talentless me was somehow able to keep up with the standard of the family to an extent.
I had tried very hard not to let this talentless body drag me down and let it be the end of me.
Hopefully, everything was slowly starting to look good again.
People were slowly starting to notice my little growth. I had finally managed to overcome the 3rd foundation realm.
3rd foundation was one of the first three basic realms that were expected to overcome by the time one became 16 years old.
I was only 14 and I was doing better than most people.
But even with resources and early-stage cultivation, that was the best I could do. But nevertheless I was still doing alright and people slowly started to have faith in me.
It was all supposed to go well, however deep down, a hole was starting to worry me. My anxiety was starting to grow more and more, until eventually my worst anticipation had started to become a reality.
I suffered from a devastating energy deviation. Not only did it severely harmed my internal organs, my inner energy was completely shattered making it extremely imbalance and hard to cultivate in the future.
Top it all of, I lost alot of my lifespan.
I couldn't even control my qi as effectively as I could before.
I would have been crippled if not for my mother who used a chunk of her lifespan to save me.
That was how I had to give up on Martial Arts FOREVER....
***************
Thirty Years had passed by just like that.
During this time, I completely changed my lifestyle and decided to become a scholar.
Gaining immense reputation and influence throughout the entire nation.
In a short period of 30 years, I had accomplished more than what my entire family did in the last 1000 years.
A lot of things happened around this time. With the death of my mother, I stopped caring about the Myung family. They were the reason I got humiliated in front of the public multiple times, they were the reason I forced myself beyond my limits.
I gave everything I could to catch up to them and make up for the talent difference but in the end I lost more than what I could gain.
I never once looked back at that clan again, I just simply had no obligation to anymore.
Turns out they got caught up in the Great Murim War that broke out 8 years after I left the clan. More than 30 Clans got wiped out along with countless other sub sects. Our Clan Myung was one of the many.
During this same time, I was climbing up the positions in the Government. Starting from as a Law Enforcement in a small district I had climbed all the way to the Chief Military Advisor, just third-in-command after the Great Prime Minister and the Emperor himself.
Throughout this time I had gained enlightenment on many levels and grounds. Gained all the knowledge that was ever known to mankind.
I had even recovered all the lifespan I lost and gained twice that what I had lost.
I met all kinds of Martial Experts from all kinds of clans and places, and what's more satisfying was to see them greet me with both respect and fear.
I even got to meet the people who were at the pinnacle of a human's peak. People who were so strong and profound that it would leave one in awe and beyond shock.
It was also around this same time that I came up with the knowledge that there were certain herbs spread throughout the Murim that could have helped cure my energy deviation and also help me cultivate despite having a weak and talentless body.
But it was too late, I am already in my 50s. Not only have I lost the appetite to it, I am already nearing my end.
My hands have been too much strained in bloods of many lives. To reach this position I had to kill plenty of people. But for what reason did I tried so hard? I didn't even know anymore.
Even now, there are countless of people within the government that hates me and are ready to sheath their swords anytime.
Have I truly lived a life worth living?
************
In a luxurious carriage embedded in gold, Lian was travelling followed by his elite guards just behind him.
Upon passing a small village, he raised his hands to stop the carriage.
Lian noticed something suspicious. However he soon passes on it.
Lian's calm demeanor soon turned sharp with a tensed expression.
'So this is how it is going to end.'
Lian had started to write something on a piece of paper, tied it to a pigeon's leg and put the pigeon on a bag.
Few minutes later -
"Take this bag and go straight, don't ever look back. Open it once you are far enough and let the pigeon free."
Lian hands over the bag to his most trusted subordinate.
The subordinate stares at Lian with tears in his eyes. "My Lord..."
Lian quickly calls to stop the carriage. Lian orders the guards to find a ring that he had just accidentally dropped along the way.
This gave Lian's subordinate a chance to run away.
Cheng slowly turns into a shadow and escapes in the blink of a second.
[Cheng Bai, 5th Profound Realm]
As Lian looks at the trees that surrounded the entire place, he knew the forest was only getting more thicker.
This is the last of me.
I'm sure Cheng would be able to get away just fine.
Soon after, a group of people came out from the forest that Lian was passing by. 100 of them to be exact as opposed to only 20 in Lian's favour.
All 100 of them are Martial Experts! No one of them is a Profound Expert?
But what's worse was those 20 also betrayed Lian and he was already well aware, and was just waiting them to throw off their acting.
"Enough with the games Goro, I know you have betrayed me. You greedy bastards just finish me already."
"How could I possibly betray you, My Lord" Goro spoke in a mocking tone as he charged towards Lian with his sword.
I should have just died fighting alongside with my family.
No matter how cruel they were, they would have never killed me. They were still my family even if they were bad guys.
What a ridiculous way to die.
As soon as the entire enemies charged against Lian, he used a self destructing boom.
"I will die but I'll take you guys along with me.
20 years
For Twenty freaking years I have been accumulating destructive energy within my body for a moment like this.
You think I'm naive? The moment I stepped into the Imperial Order I knew how shady politics in there is. I prepared this gift specially for people like you. Farewell."
Cheng, the rest is all up to you.
A huge explosion erupts!
The soul energy from Cheng's bag quickly reacted to the explosion covering his entire body.
"What in the hell just happened"
The huge explosion destroys everything within the range of 5 kilometres.
************
It was dark..
Completely dark..
No sounds could be heard from far far away..
It was very quiet but relaxing at the same time..
Am I in afterlife
It is peaceful
Very Peaceful
Soon After, a small faint of light could be seen emitting...
The Light was becoming larger and larger, until eventually it covered the entire darkness.
In a instant, Lian found himself in the middle of a room filled with people.
All the family members were gathered as they stared at the young boy.
Lian looked at all of them in disbelief.
'Is this also a part of afterlife?'
'If not....'
Soon after Lian stared at everyone.
'This really isn't a dream.'
'I'm back to my...'
'Home Sweet Home'