"I will get you some elixirs later," he said finally, his tone laced with determination. "Take care of your body well." His eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing me as if trying to piece together what had changed about me.
Perhaps he was already noticing the difference between me and the "good-for-nothing" son whose body I now inhabited.
"Thank you, Father," I replied, bowing again. I could feel his gaze linger on me, heavy with suspicion, yet tempered by affection.
He let out a small hum, a sound that carried both relief and doubt. "It seems you truly have lost your memory," he murmured, his fingers stroking his beard thoughtfully.
His lips pressed into a thin line, the beginnings of a frown appearing as if he were debating something internally.
My father's voice broke through my reverie. "And forget about taming beasts," he added firmly, his tone now edged with the authority of a seasoned general.
"What?" I blurted out, caught off guard.
Old man, are you kidding me? Do you really want me to continue being a useless piece of trash for the rest of my life?
No way! I refuse to be some loser who gets thrashed around by every arrogant young master and their dog!
This body I'd been reincarnated into might be weak now, but dammit, I was a transmigrator! Who knew? Maybe I'd end up taming dragons and phoenixes, commanding them to kneel before me.
Just imagining the envy on those smug cultivators' faces made my lips curl into a wicked grin.
The old man—my father in this world—sighed heavily. His once-proud shoulders slumped as though they bore the weight of a hundred defeats.
His sharp eyes, a mix of age-old wisdom and recent disappointment, glinted beneath his snow-white brows.
"You've tried cultivating for years, and what has it gotten you? Nothing but a ruined reputation," he said, his voice tinged with resignation.
"Perhaps cultivation isn't your path. I'll arrange a business for you. That way, even if I pass away, you'll at least have wealth and won't suffer at the hands of the Rosani family's vultures."
"Adi…" His tone dropped to a chilling low, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. His lips twitched with suppressed anger, while his fingers trembled slightly—was it frustration or worry?
No way in hell am I living the same dull life I had in my previous world. In my last life, I had all the money I could ever want, yet no one to spend it on.
Even the endless nights of indulgence, sex, and pleasure had left me hollow. There was no love, no purpose—only an emptiness I vowed never to repeat.
In this world, I would carve a new destiny. I would climb to the top of the cultivation ladder, loved by countless beauties, feared by my enemies, and revered by all.
"You've had opportunities most people in Felloro City could only dream of," he snapped, his voice rising for the first time. "And what have you done with them?"
"Then I'll find a beast on my own!" I declared, puffing my chest as though that alone could intimidate him.
"ADI..." His voice cut through the air like a blade. It was low, sharp, and carried the weight of an unyielding authority.
"Do you realize how dangerous it is to wander into a beast's territory to tame it?" Father's voice boomed, his stern expression etched with both anger and concern.
His piercing eyes, sharp as a hawk's, seemed to drill into my soul.
His voice softened slightly but retained its edge. "If you can't handle the beasts I've already captured and subdued, how do you think you'll fare against untamed, feral ones?"
His brows furrowed, and his lips tightened into a thin line, betraying his inner turmoil.
I clenched my fists, taking a deep breath to steady myself. I understood his concern—it was genuine, almost suffocating.
Yet, I couldn't simply submit to his overprotectiveness, especially when I wasn't the original owner of this body.
As a transmigrator, this was my second chance, and I wasn't about to waste it by giving up without a fight. I need to convince him somehow.
A slow smile curled on my lips as I straightened my posture. "How about a bet, Father?" I proposed, my tone calm yet brimming with unshakable confidence. My eyes locked with his, unwavering and resolute.
Father blinked, momentarily taken aback. The confidence in my voice must have startled him; it was a stark contrast to the tantrum-throwing, cowardly behavior of the original owner of this body.
His expression softened, shifting from sternness to curiosity. "A bet?"
"Yes," I replied, leaning forward slightly. "Give me one last chance. If I can't tame a beast this time, I'll give up. I'll accept your offer to manage a business." I crossed my arms, my voice steady and firm.
The corners of his mouth twitched, as though suppressing a smile. His sharp eyes studied me, trying to gauge my determination. "You're serious about this?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
I nodded, my heart thundering in my chest. This was my last shot to prove myself. In truth, I had a backup plan; if I failed, I could fall back on the skills from my past life. But giving up without trying wasn't an option.
"Fine," he relented, sighing deeply. "But are you planning to go alone?" His tone was cautious, but the flicker of worry in his eyes betrayed his emotions.
"Of course not," I said with a sly grin, stepping back slightly to pull someone into the conversation. "I'm taking Meiyara with me."
Meiyara, who had been standing a few steps away, froze as I grabbed her arm and dragged her into view. Her delicate features—almond-shaped eyes framed by long lashes, a small nose, and full lips—were now twisted in a mix of confusion and mild annoyance.
She glared at me with narrowed eyes, her lips parted as if to protest, but no words came out. "Meiyara," I continued, ignoring the sharpness in her gaze, "will accompany me as my bodyguard."
She crossed her arms over her chest, the faintest blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Bodyguard? Or your meat shield when you were chased by the beast?" she quipped, arching a delicate brow. Her voice was sweet and melodic, but her sarcasm cut like a blade.
I chuckled, brushing off her comment. "Either way, I trust her to have my back," I said confidently, my smile widening.
Father observed the exchange, his expression softening further. Perhaps he saw something in me—a glimmer of potential or simply a streak of stubbornness that reminded him of himself.
He nodded slowly. "Very well. But remember, you brought this upon yourself," he said, his voice a mixture of resignation and hope.
As the conversation ended, Meiyara pulled me aside, her eyes darting around to make sure Father wasn't watching. "Are you insane?" she whispered harshly. "You've never even succeeded in taming a dog, let alone a wild beast!"
I grinned, leaning in closer. "Who says I haven't? Just trust me," I said, winking at her.
Meiyara kept glaring daggers at me, though her lips twitched in a reluctant smile. She might act annoyed, but I could tell she was intrigued by my newfound confidence.
After all, just a week ago, this body I now inhabited had belonged to a spoiled, cowardly brat with a penchant for tantrums. The sharp contrast between the past and the present must have felt jarring.
But I had an ace up my sleeve, one I couldn't explain to anyone—not even her. My confidence didn't stem from blind arrogance but from a truth no one else here could possibly understand.
I was a transmigrator.
With the memories of my previous life intact, I had knowledge, skills, and strategies foreign to this world.
A world of cultivation, where strength ruled and the weak were trampled. If this was the realm I now inhabited, then fate surely intended for me to rise above the rest.
I straightened my back and raised my chin slightly, letting the faintest smirk tug at the corners of my mouth.
I'm bound to succeed, Right? I thought to myself, trying to quiet the small, nagging doubt that occasionally crept in.