"Come in," Gu Shan responded.
The door let out a creak, and a young, petite female wearing a robe meant for maids walked in. Trace of worry is evident in her face.
"Y-young master," the maid's head slightly bowed, "I heard you screaming, i–is something wrong?" she added, struggling to maintain eye contact.
Gu Shan studied her, squinting his eyes as he sifted throughout the memories of the previous owner of his body.
Coincidentally, the previous owner shared the name Gu Shan. He has no talent for cultivation and was deemed as useless by many.
However, instead of working hard to prove them wrong, the previous owner succumbed in devastation, directing his anger towards those weaker than him.
He embraced a life of seclusion surrounded by the metaphorical trash he clung to.
'This scoundrel…'
Gu Shan saw how he treated his maid and the other servants in this house, explaining her fear towards him. He felt pity for the maid as he looked at her again.
"Ning Ning," he murmured, recalling her name before rising from his bed.
As he got up, Gu Shan could feel the pain aching in every part of his muscles.
'Just how much did they beat this kid?'
Seeing his action, the maid's eyes widened in fear, "This…"
"Y–young master, your injuries are not fully healed yet!" she hurriedly said.
"I'll prepare your food shortly! please wait!"
"Don't worry Ning Ning, I'm fine," Gu Shan reassured, stopping her before getting up from his bed. "Also, you don't need to bring me my meal starting today."
He felt pity for the maid as he was treated badly by the previous Gu Shan. She had always been at the receiving end of his master's fury, always getting yelled at.
"P–pardon me, w-what did you say young master?" Ning Ning asked, shocked.
Gu Shan witnesssd this and he really felt sorry.
'This bastard, how could he hurt such a pure soul?!' he seethed, angered by the actions of the previous Gu Shan. However, he still maintained a calm expression.
"I'm sorry," he told to the maid.
Ning Ning's eyes widened in surprise, "Y–y–young m–master?!"
'An act… t-this is an act! The young master I knew was never this gentle and kind!' Ning Ning panicked.
Gu Shan pretended to not hear her and just smiled, not bothering to explain.
He continued, "Prepare a bath and my robe. From today onwards I will join the family for dinner."
The maid was startled, unable to comprehend the sudden change.
'Has the young master really gone crazy?!' she wondered. 'Did they somehow hit him in the head this time?!'
The previous owner lived in isolation ever since he was bullied at the age of 9— the age of awakening spiritual roots. It was revealed that he has no spiritual roots meaning he couldn't cultivate beyond body tempering realm, pailing in comparison to his brothers and sisters.
'He had just been beaten to death by his elder brothers, yet he still has the gall to show up to them?!' she thought, her mind swirling with confusion.
However, despite her bewilderment, Ning Ning still followed Gu Shan's order. In the end, she remained his personal maid, bestowed by the head of the family. Her fate was sealed from the moment he landed in Gu Shan's hands.
After a while, Ning Ning came back, "Young master your bath is ready,"
Gu Shan nodded and entered the bath tub, shedding his clothes and soaking in the steaming water.
'Ah… this feeling of soaking in hot water with sore muscles is still the best,' he mumbled, relishing the feeling of pleasure.
Next, he assumed a lotus position and unleashed a body tempering technique to consolidate and heal his sore muscles.
After soaking for half an hour, Gu Shan got up. He took the clean, intricately designed golden black robe that Ning Ning had
prepared, which perfectly fitted him.
Satisfied, he looked into the mirror, 'At least, this Gu Shan cared for his appearance, I'll give him that,' he praised.
"Get me a pen and paper," he ordered Ning Ning while tidying himself in front of the mirror. The maid promptly followed.
With the pen in hand, Gu Shan listed a set of herbs necessary to strengthen his muscles and bones.
Although it was his first time transmigrating into a body who is unable to cultivate due to lack of spiritual roots, with his vast experiences, he was confident that he could find a solution in time.
'What if I have no spiritual roots? Giving up is not my style!' Gu Shan resolved.
Having experienced countless hardships, Gu Shan emerged wiser. He had a repertoire of techniques and tricks he could use; Along with his accumulated knowledge, there will be a time where solutions to his challenges would manifest.
Handling the herb-laden parchment to the maid, he issued another instruction, "Gather these herbs as swiftly as possible, preferably by nightfall. Do you understand?"
Ning Ning skimmed through the herbal inventory, whispering, "Seven colored crowned python, heart of tusita, hard molten essence, black grass dew, yamg pureflower…"
'Why do the young master need these ingridients?' she pondered. Nevertheless, she still nodded.
"I will get them by tonight, young master!"
Observing the maid hurriedly departed, Gu Shan turned his gaze towards the window. A smile graced his face as he thought delving into the story of his familial roots.
"Now, shall we see what's this family of mine were made of?" he mused as he gracefully navigate to the dining hall.
According to what he remembered from his inherited memories, Gu Shan was the seventh son of the patriarch from one of his concubine— Ming Xue, the youngest among the girls.
It was said that she was her father's cherished love.
Unfortunately, tradegy befall him as his mother died after bringing him into the world, casting a shadow over his family ties.
Initially, the patriarch sheltered him from harm but after his talents were revealed, Gu Shan witnessed a dramatic shift in his father's attitude towards him.
In this world, being weak is a sin.
After a leisurely stroll through the hallway, Gu Shan finally made it through the dining hall.
As he stepped in, several hostile glares greeted him.
The family, immersed in a concicial meal, found their joyous and lively atmosphere interrupted by Gu Shan's unexpected entrance. The shock radiating from their eyes was evident.
"Well well, look at what we have here," Gu Shan remarked with a sly smile.
Despite his disdain for the previous inhabitant of his current body, now that he is the one embodying it, he couldn't allow anyone to mistreat him.
This time, Gu Shan was prepared to take immediate action and change the perception of himself within the confines of his family.