Ling Yun returned to his manor after seeing off the members of the Ling family.
As a Heavenly Demon who had spent years refining himself in solitude, witnessing such a reaction was a novel experience. People had always regarded him as a god to be worshipped, but in this life, he was an honorable young master—one who had been willing to sacrifice himself to save his family.
Ling Yun sat at the wooden table by the window.
"I thought that after all these years, nothing could surprise me. But today... people came here because of me. What is this feeling? To be cared for?"
But he was a demon. He couldn't understand such emotions.
For a demon, life had always been cold and lonely. Demons followed their own set of principles, and Ling Yun was no exception.
"People can either hate me or revere me; that is their choice. But I... I cannot allow myself to develop emotions that could one day be used against me."
"Cultivation truly is an arduous and relentless path. Those who seek power must rid themselves of human emotions. Feelings and strength exist in opposition. If you wish to be loved, you must abandon perfection..."
His gaze fell upon the flowers on the table.
"Flowers are beautiful, but in the end, they last only a few days... Power, however, endures forever!"
He rose and paced the room, murmuring to himself,
"My only hope lies in refining the Cultivation Pill. I must fortify my body with dense spiritual energy. Because of the curse, I know I will fail time and time again... but this is the only path available to me."
"Contrary to what mortals believe, the Dao is not a single path. It has countless branches—separate yet one."
He stroked the petals of the flower in the vase.
"The Dao of Fortune, the Dao of Power, the Dao of Wisdom, the Dao of Death, the Dao of the Demon, the Dao of the Soul, the Dao of Fate..."
His expression hardened.
"I must advance far enough in several of these paths to change my destiny."
"And what I need right now are the Dao of Fortune, the Dao of Power, and the Dao of Fate!"
Deep in thought, he was considering the next move.
"I must avoid the Dao of the Demon and the Dao of Death. The paths of the Dao influence one another and are influenced in return..."
And so, his decision was made. The day came to an end.
The next morning...
The steward of the Feng family arrived to meet Ling Yun.
Having spent the entire night developing a breathing technique attuned to the fire element, he hadn't closed his eyes even once. When he opened the door, he was still wearing a long sleeping robe that exposed his well-defined chest. His long hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his complexion was pale as snow.
Ling Yun's voice was slightly hoarse as he asked,
"Master Steward? Is there a reason you've come to see me?"
The steward adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and spoke in a calm yet measured tone.
"Young Master, I apologize for disturbing you. Would you like to take a walk around the palace and discuss various matters? I have a feeling you're growing weary of staying inside the manor."
A subtle reference to the events of the previous day—a clear sign that the steward was keeping an eye on him.
He was free to visit the library, but he was always under watch.
Ling Yun smiled faintly and ran a hand through his hair. As he tied up his long locks, he turned to get ready.
The Feng manor was vast.
They walked through many corridors before reaching the gardens behind the palace...
Along the way, Ling Yun caught sight of the alchemy hall and began searching for an excuse to enter.
"Master Steward, the Feng estate is truly grand. Living here must be the dream of any noble family."
The steward smirked. "Indeed, Young Master. This palace is no small place, which is why one shouldn't wander too freely. In such a vast estate, many things can happen. If an incident were to occur, who would take the blame?"
Ling Yun's smile barely shifted.
"Naturally, you're right. That said, a clan as powerful as the Fengs, one that built such a magnificent estate, must surely be capable of safeguarding it as well. Otherwise, how could they be worthy of living in such a place?"
The steward let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! Precisely! A man who cannot protect his own home should return to a hovel!"
For a brief moment, Ling Yun hesitated. Was that statement merely a jest, or a veiled insult toward the Ling family?
Maintaining his composed smile, he replied,
"You're absolutely right, Master Steward. Some things can only be wished for, while others can be obtained through effort."
His eyes gleamed.
"Did you know that I never had any desire to become a warrior?"
The steward was caught off guard.
The eldest son of the Ling family—the one feared by every young prodigy, the strongest of his generation—had never wished to be a warrior?
The statement piqued his curiosity.
"Oh? Then may I ask what your true aspiration was?"
Ling Yun took a deep breath, as if reminiscing about a distant past.
"I always wanted to be a scholar." His gaze lingered on the alchemy hall. "And now that I'm here in the Feng estate, I believe I have the chance to pursue that dream."
The steward smiled, intrigued.
"Fascinating... I never expected the God of War from the Ling family to have an academic side!"
Ling Yun laughed internally, but outwardly, he remained composed.
The bait had been taken.
Now, he could get exactly what he wanted.
"Then, may I ask for permission to visit the library more often? And perhaps the alchemy hall as well? I've seen books on medicinal herbs that I'd love to study."
Ling Yun paused for a moment, a cunning smile forming on his lips.
"Of course. Any knowledge I gain, I will gladly share with the Feng family's alchemists."
The steward let out a sly chuckle.
"Naturally! A genius like you shouldn't waste his life sitting idly in a room. It's only right that you put your talents to use in research... just as you've always dreamed!"
Ling Yun clasped his hands together and lowered his head slightly.
As his hands rose, partially obscuring his face, a wicked grin spread across his lips.
"You want to see me struggle? To watch me spend my entire life desperately clawing to regain my lost cultivation?
Hahaha!!! You bastard! So you know... you know I've lost my cultivation?
My gods!!!! Hahaha!!!! Again!!! I've been betrayed again!!!
No, we have been betrayed!!!
My second life... has begun with betrayal!"
With immense effort, he suppressed the murderous intent surging within him.
When he finally lowered his hands, the steward gestured for him to move forward.
They passed by several grand estates and even a few mountain courtyards before finally arriving at the vast garden behind the Feng palace.
"Young Master, the clan leader is expecting you. Please, go ahead. And a word of friendly advice..."
The steward hesitated, his eyes darkening.
"For your own sake... do not provoke him."
Ling Yun offered a polite smile and thanked him before stepping onto the stone-paved path.
The path twisted and turned through drooping willow trees, eventually leading to a small pond and a pavilion where a middle-aged man sat waiting.
Upon seeing Ling Yun, the man smiled and gestured for him to come closer.
Ling Yun returned the smile, his expression composed, and made his way toward him.
This man was none other than Feng Shan, the leader of the Feng family.
His physique was broad and solid, a testament to his years of battle. The name Shan—meaning "mountain"—had been given to him because, like a towering peak, he had never once fallen in combat.
He had reached the fifth layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm and was the second most powerful figure in the Feng family, just behind the clan's patriarch, who was set to emerge from seclusion the next day.
Ling Yun approached, tilting his head slightly in greeting before taking a seat across from him.
Feng Shan gazed at him with sharp, piercing eyes.
"So, you're the infamous Ling Yun?"
For the briefest moment, his eyes flickered with surprise.
It was subtle—fleeting—but to Ling Yun, it was crystal clear.
He had caught the man's reaction.
A knowing smile tugged at his lips.
Saying nothing, he calmly poured tea for both of them.
The delicate aroma of the tea curled through the pavilion.
Feng Shan stroked his beard and gave a small nod.
Ling Yun took a slow sip before speaking in an unhurried tone.
"The world is full of wonders, Elder Feng. Just like the depths of the heavens... the essence of cultivation remains an enigma."
Feng Shan chuckled quietly.
Ling Yun studied him intently.
"Friends of yesterday become enemies of today… and yet, enemies of yesterday sit together, sharing tea."
Feng Shan's lips curled into a faint smile.
"The real question is... do yesterday's enemies remain enemies? Or... do they prefer to drink tea instead?"
Ling Yun lifted his cup.
"As long as good tea is served... why reach for a sword when one can hold a cup, listen to the song of birds, and enjoy the view?"
Feng Shan laughed heartily.
With a casual wave of his hand, he said,
"Precisely! Friends of today must have such a mindset… to truly double the pleasure of drinking tea!"