The door to the main villa slid open with a faint creak as Li Tianlei stepped inside.
The scent of aged wood and faint incense drifted through the air. The main hall was quiet, lit by natural light spilling through the tall windows along the sides. A few old scrolls hung from the walls, and the furniture was simple—polished darkwood chairs, low tables, and a woven mat covering the center of the floor.
At the far end, sitting on a cushioned seat behind a broad desk, was an older man with silver-streaked black hair and sharp, steady eyes.
This was Li Qing, patriarch and founder of the Li Family and Tianlei's grandfather.
His presence wasn't loud, but it was solid. His back was straight even when sitting. His gaze, when it lifted to meet Tianlei's, was clear and thoughtful. He wore a plain dark-blue robe with light silver embroidery around the cuffs, small waves and clouds, not flashy, just enough to mark his status.
Tianlei stepped forward and bowed lightly, his body trembling despite himself. He hadn't noticed it before, back when he was still a mortal, but now, after taking his first step into cultivation, he finally understood why people would fall to their knees the moment they saw his grandfather. Standing before the old man felt like facing a towering tidal wave, one that could crash down and swallow him whole at any moment. He had felt something similar when facing his father earlier, but this was far more overwhelming, so much so that he couldn't even form words.
His grandfather's eyes lingered on him for a moment before softening slightly. With a subtle motion, the old man retracted his aura. Tianlei gasped, as if he had been underwater and could finally breathe again. A long, shaky breath escaped his lips, and he sighed in quiet relief, the crushing pressure lifting from his shoulders.
"Grandfather," he said.
Li Qing nodded, his expression softening a little more as he glanced at his grandson.
"I saw the spiritual light around you from here," he said, his voice calm and even. "So you've finally taken your first step."
Tianlei smiled proudly and gave a firm nod.
Li Qing's lips curled slightly at the corners. He reached under the desk and pulled something out.
"Sit," he said, gesturing toward the mat across from him.
Tianlei walked up and sat cross-legged, folding his hands in his lap as he watched his grandfather place a small, pale-green object on the table between them.
It was a jade slip—smooth and flat, no bigger than a child's palm. Its surface was slightly translucent, and faint lines shimmered beneath it, like threads of light hidden inside the stone.
Li Qing tapped it lightly with a finger. "This is a jade slip," he said, holding it between his thumb and forefinger. "You'll be seeing these a lot from now on."
Tianlei leaned forward a little, eyes curious. "What does it do?" He asked.
Li Qing passed it over.
"It stores information," he explained. "Techniques, maps, instructions—anything someone wants to preserve. You push your spiritual sense into it, and the knowledge inside appears in your mind. You won't remember it forever unless you study it, but it saves time."
Tianlei held the jade slip carefully, turning it over in his hands.
"This one," Li Qing continued, "contains the basic theory of swordsmanship. Footwork, grip, angles, control. You won't learn to fight from it alone, but it'll give you the foundation you need."
Tianlei looked up.
"You're going to teach me?"
Li Qing nodded once.
"Starting tomorrow morning, you can come here at dawn. Wear something light and bring your wooden sword."
There was no smile on his face when he said it, but there was something else. It felt like there was a kind of weight behind his words. It wasn't pressure. It was more like Li Qing was about to transfer something precious, and Tianlei could feel it.
He'd heard bits and pieces about his grandfather over the years. Li Qing had been born to low-level cultivators with great potential. However, he had no background, no influence, and nobody to give him a chance of rising. But somehow, he'd done it anyway. He had managed to gain entry into the Spirit Sword Sect and become recognized as one of its most talented members. Unfortunately, things happened, and he chose to leave the sect and come to this faraway county to start a family.
Tianlei didn't know his grandfather's full story, but from what he managed to piece together, the latter could be said to have had a legendary story, and he respected that. So, he nodded firmly and responded.
"I'll be here." Said Tianlei, making Li Qing give him one small nod in return.
"Good. Spend the rest of the day reading what's in the jade slip. You'll need to understand it before you can apply it."
Tianlei stood and bowed again, tucking the jade slip carefully into the inner fold of his robe.
"I will."
With that, he turned and walked back toward the door.
From his seat behind the desk, Li Qing watched the boy's back disappear down the steps, past the lotus-lined path, and around the corner of the nearest pavilion.
The room fell silent again.
He remained still for a moment, then leaned back slightly in his chair. His hand rose, brushing across the faint white stubble along his jaw before falling to rest on the armrest.
A quiet sigh escaped him, not loud, not dramatic, just… tired.
"He's happy now," he murmured, his voice so low that even the walls might miss it. "Let's hope it lasts."
The cultivation world was many things: majestic, powerful, and filled with beauty. But for those without a great name or strong backers, it was also cruel and merciless. One misstep could spell the end.
It didn't care how much you trained, how sincere you were, or how hard you tried. One moment of carelessness, and you could lose everything.
"This world… doesn't let you grow slowly. It doesn't let you make mistakes."
He had seen it too many times—young geniuses crushed under the weight of expectations, talented disciples discarded over minor political blunders, entire families uprooted for offending the wrong person or being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
That was one of the reasons he left the Spirit Sword Sect. Though praised as a genius among many, he knew his life held no meaning to those above him. If he said or did something they didn't like, they could discard him just as quickly as they had exalted him.
He had long since stopped caring about fame. What use was recognition if you weren't yet standing at the top? It only painted a target on your back.
That's why he started this family. He wanted to build a place where people could love and protect each other—a place where his children and grandchildren could grow without fear, without groveling, without needing to betray others to survive.
"I don't expect them to change the world," he thought. "But maybe… they can protect each other within it."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Behind the stern face and quiet discipline, there was still something soft in him. He didn't show it often as he didn't see the need to. But it had never disappeared.
He no longer chased power for power's sake. He chased safety. And maybe, if the heavens were kind enough to allow it, peace.
Thinking to that point, he opened his eyes and straightened, the softness draining from his expression like mist under the morning sun. By the time he rose to his feet, he looked exactly as he always did—calm, controlled, and unreadable. However, deep inside, his wish remained.
"Grow well, Tianlei… and protect what we're building here."
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When I first planned these chapters, I expected them to be longer. But as I write, I often find natural stopping points that feel just right. I hope you don't mind the shorter chapters so far.
That said, I'll do my best to adjust and extend the upcoming chapters, even if it means pushing past those natural breaks, to deliver a bit more each time. Anyways, thank you for reading, and I hope you're enjoying the story so far!