"My… mother?"
The words slipped from my lips, hesitant, as though I was speaking them for the first time. My voice sounded strange, almost unrecognizable.
"Yes, Master, your mother. Is there a problem?"
The servant standing by the door replied calmly. Her respectful tone barely hid a hint of concern, her eyebrows slightly furrowing.
I paused, overwhelmed by confusion. For a second, I'd forgotten my situation: I was no longer Zhou Chen but Ha Yu Han, and I had to play this role. Regaining a falsely assured demeanor, I replied in a clipped tone:
"Of course not! Everything is perfectly fine."
The servant nodded, her face relaxing, and she bowed slightly as she stepped aside to let me pass.
"Very well, Master. If you would please…"
I rose, casting a quick glance around me. The plush carpets, the shelves laden with ancient books—everything in this room exuded the luxury and tradition of an old, powerful clan. Yet my mind was preoccupied with one detail: the few manuscripts I was reading lay before me. Taking advantage of a brief moment, I leaned over, gathered the documents, and slipped them skillfully into the sleeves of my hanfu, quickly glancing at the door to make sure the servant hadn't noticed. My heart pounded, but there was no hint of suspicion on her face—everything was fine.
Just before crossing the threshold, I realized I had never really taken the time to look at this woman who, undoubtedly, was one of the people closest to Ha Yu Han. A moment of curiosity, and my gaze drifted over her from head to toe.
She seemed only a little older than me, perhaps in her twenties. Her black hair, smooth as silk, was carefully braided in a ponytail that trailed down her back. She wore a dress in vibrant shades of pink, accompanied by a white tunic that hugged her delicate figure. Her eyes, a warm and gentle brown, held a particular glow, like a soft and comforting flame.
"How beautiful she is…"
I found myself staring at her features a second too long, caught off guard by an unexpected fascination. She eventually noticed my lingering gaze and, slightly flustered, raised an eyebrow, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Again, Master, are you alright? You seem… distracted."
Her question shattered my daydream. I shook my head, refocusing my thoughts.
"Yes, yes, everything is fine, no need to worry."
For a moment, I wanted to call her by a name. Which one? I tried, hesitantly.
"Hua Yue…"
She tilted her head slightly, clearly surprised, her large caramel eyes looking at me with confusion.
"…?"
"Damn it, that's not it!"
Abandoning that awkward attempt, I followed her silently down the long corridors of the stronghold, trying to gather my thoughts. We walked in an almost solemn silence as she led the way. After a while, she finally admitted that her name was Zhao Chen Xī. In a composed voice, she explained that she came from a humble family, simple farmers. She had been chosen, among others, to become a servant in this prestigious clan.
After a few minutes, she finally stopped in front of a massive wooden door, covered with a thin layer of gold where two dragons appeared to ripple. Zhao Chen Xī turned to me and, in a ceremonious gesture, grasped one of the golden handles, knocking twice, firm and loud. She waited, motionless, until a voice resonated from the other side of the door—a woman's voice, deep and authoritative.
"Enter."
The servant gestured for me to go in, bowing slightly.
"Please, Master," she said before she disappeared into the distance.
I took a deep breath and crossed the threshold. The room that awaited me was vast, bathed in soft light. Tall marble pillars encircled a bright red carpet that led directly to a canopy bed, surrounded by deep purple curtains. Through the thin fabric, I could make out a reclining figure, a woman of cold and imposing elegance.
"Have you forgotten respect, you ungrateful child?"
she spat in a sharp, contemptuous voice.
The harsh and brutal tone of her question froze me on the spot. Was this… my mother? Or rather, Ha Yu Han's mother? Every word she spoke resonated with a chill that seemed to freeze the air around me.
'Thanks for the warm welcome,' I thought wryly, instinctively bowing.
"Stand up," she commanded with authority. Behind the curtains, she was smoking a long Chinese pipe, and spirals of smoke floated gracefully toward the ceiling.
She sighed with obvious disdain.
"You are a disappointment. Ha Lang Feng, your half-brother, has become clan leader. Ha Zhao Han, a master of alchemy. And Ha Tie Xiong will soon take the head of the Ha family. But you? What do you do, Ha Yu Han?"
'My… half-brothers?'
"You should be grateful that your father, Ha Zhan, accepted us into this home despite your insignificance."
I stifled a sigh of annoyance.
'Curse that Younshoul! I had to reincarnate in such a pathetic body. I share her opinion; what a waste!'
"Say something, you little fool!"
A shiver ran down my spine, reminding me where I was. I took a breath, gathering my courage.
"I… well…"
I paused, choosing my words carefully.
"I quite agree with you, Mother. Someone as insignificant as me probably has no place here, and I should probably just fade away."
She remained silent for a moment, the atmosphere growing heavier. Then she spat, full of scorn:
"Get out of here."
I blinked, uncertain.
"Excuse me? I… I didn't hear you clearly…"
"I said, get out of this room!"
I quickly turned and left without another word, my heart still pounding. After moving away, I took a moment to explore the palace, until I found myself in an inner garden, bordered by high walls, where a blossoming cherry tree stood at its center.
I let myself fall under the tree, the gentle breeze brushing against my face as a few pink petals drifted down around me.
"This place is so beautiful… It's a shame they use it for training."
I sighed, pulling out the scrolls I had stolen earlier. A slight excitement stirred in me. This body is a disaster, true, but maybe, if I strengthen it, I could achieve a strength and mastery in alchemy beyond what I ever could have hoped for…
I felt an intense hunger—not for power, but for knowledge. An insatiable desire to learn the mysteries of alchemy, to understand its foundations and its limits. And all of that… began with these few stolen scrolls.