Taking a close look at himself in the mirror, Chen Ge couldn't help but be surprised — his appearance remained unchanged, as if time had no power over his looks. Long black hair, falling in soft waves, and piercing purple eyes, like two precious gems, adorned his face. His body, though somewhat lean due to neglect of physical training, retained noble features.
Despite his natural attractiveness, there was a certain fragility in his appearance, characteristic of those who neglected physical strengthening. His facial features remained refined, but they lacked the strength that was inherent in true martial arts masters.
Upon closer inspection, it became obvious that he was standing before a young man of rare beauty, whose appearance could have been the envy of many. However, his true value as a cultivator was pitifully small — the talent bestowed by nature remained unrevealed, his potential buried in the ground by neglect and frivolity.
His gaze indifferently swept over the pompously decorated room, where every element of ostentatious luxury screamed about the upcoming wedding. The luxurious wedding attire, carelessly thrown on the bed, seemed like a mockery of his current situation. With a bitter smile, Chen Ge turned away from this farce and donned his usual black robes — a symbol of his true self, untainted by false celebrations.
The thought of the upcoming wedding ceremony only aroused irritation and a desire to put an end to this absurdity as soon as possible. With determination in his heart, he made his way to his father's chambers, ready to put an end to this ridiculous scheme once and for all, which could ruin not only his reputation but also his entire future life.
— Hey, look, it's Chen Ge! That same loser who's about to marry Liang Si Yao herself! What kind of injustice is this! — a sneering voice rang out from the crowd.
— How on earth did the Liang clan agree to such an alliance? What is Liang Si Yao herself thinking? — another one wondered.
— And look at his attire! Could it be that the Liang clan has abandoned this idea after all? — hope lingered in the speaker's voice.
— Of course! To think — marrying such a nonentity! It would be absolutely unbearable! — someone from the crowd chimed in.
Chen Ge walked through this human maelstrom, and every word, every whisper, every taunt pierced his consciousness like sharp needles. The clan members showed no concealment of their contempt; their venomous tongues worked tirelessly, and curses poured forth like from a cornucopia. They did not hide, did not hesitate — on the contrary, they spoke loudly, demonstratively, as if wanting to wound him as deeply as possible.
Their envy and hatred were so obvious that Chen Ge could almost physically feel their bitter breath at his back.
Chen Ge perfectly understood the reasons behind their behaviour — the burning envy towards his position and the upcoming marriage to their unattainable goddess drove them to frenzy. These feelings transformed into a poisonous mixture of despair and indignation at the thought of such, as they believed, glaring injustice of fate.
— Hey, Chen Ge! — a brazen voice rang out right in front of him. — So has Liang Si Yao changed her mind after all? Or did she just lack the courage to show up for her own wedding? Why aren't you wearing your wedding attire?
One of the clan members brazenly blocked his path, flauntingly spreading his arms to the sides. His defiant behaviour instantly attracted the attention of the gathered crowd. His arrogant gaze and insolent manners clearly displayed obvious contempt — it was obvious that he was completely unafraid of the clan patriarch's wrath. Moreover, his audacity bordered on an open challenge.
— Get out of my way! — Chen Ge growled through clenched teeth, his voice dripping with icy contempt. With a look of disgust on his face, he deliberately stepped around the insolent man, as if he didn't exist.
Enough of these humiliating scenes! The current Chen Ge was no longer going to tolerate their mockery. With a contemptuous curl of his lips, he rushed towards his father's courtyard like the wind, not deigning to give the offender even a fleeting glance. His back expressed such arrogance and confidence, like none had ever seen in this once weak youth.
However, he had no idea what a stunning impression his behaviour had made on the gathered crowd. The onlookers, who until that moment had been watching the spectacle with eager curiosity, now froze in dumb amazement.
Every member of the clan knew Chen Ge as a spineless, cowardly weakling who would lose heart at the slightest pressure. His current arrogance and self-confidence contrasted so sharply with the familiar image of the timid youth that many's jaws dropped in surprise.
A heavy silence hung in the air, disturbed only by the occasional whispers of witnesses deeply shocked by this unexpected metamorphosis.
"How on earth has this pitiful coward become so arrogant all of a sudden?!" — this thought raced through the minds of the stunned onlookers like a whirlwind.
— Chen Ge! How dare you speak to me like that?! — the young man, finally recovering from his shock, roared in fury, his face turning crimson with anger.
But his cries dissolved into thin air — Chen Ge walked onward, seemingly deaf and blind to what was happening. His back expressed such contempt, as if this upstart simply didn't exist in his world.
— Scoundrel! — the man howled in indignation, his voice trembling with restrained rage.
His face contorted with rage, veins bulged in his neck, and his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. He couldn't accept how this once pitiful weakling now treated him as if he were nothing.
Rage clouded the young man's mind. Unable to endure Chen Ge's disdainful attitude any longer, he rushed after him like a wild beast scenting blood.
Reason clouded by anger — all rational thoughts dissolved in the raging ocean of fury. Without uttering another word, he raised his hand to strike, intending to teach the insolent man a lesson right here and now. The fist, like a hammer, rushed towards Chen Ge's defenseless nape.
But in that very instant, when the knuckles were about to touch the skin, time seemed to stop. An invisible force seized his body, preventing him from moving.
Petrified with horror, he didn't notice the moment when Chen Ge turned around. Only when their eyes met did he realize that he had looked into hell itself. Such power and threat were visible in those eyes that the blood froze in his veins. It seemed that one more step — and death would open its arms to claim his soul.
The young man's knees betrayed him, as if all the bones had been pulled out of them, and he collapsed to the ground like a sack of sand. His face contorted with fear and humiliation, and his body was shaking with a slight tremor.
— Ha! What a pathetic fool you are… — Chen Ge's voice dripped with obvious mockery mixed with contempt. His footsteps echoed across the courtyard as he walked away from his defeated opponent.
The crowd froze in deathly silence, unable to tear their eyes away from what was happening. Their gazes revealed unconcealed amazement — no one had expected that the humble and weak Chen Ge was capable of displaying such strength and authority.
Every person present felt a chill run down their spine as they realized that a completely different person stood before them — a person it was better not to mess with.
*****
— Oh, you've finally come to your senses! — Chen Xiao said with obvious relief as soon as he noticed Chen Ge entering. His gaze, filled with anxiety, swept over his son's figure, and when he saw that he no longer looked like a dying man, the clan head visibly relaxed.
— You woke up just in time! Today is your wedding day, and we cannot afford even the slightest mistake. How are you feeling? — Chen Xiao's voice carried genuine concern mixed with slight anxiety.
— Everything is perfectly fine, just a bit of fatigue — Chen Ge replied calmly, trying to hide the true reasons for his illness behind a mask of composure.
Stepping over the threshold of the room, Chen Ge paused for a moment, scanning the people present. His gaze fell upon two figures: a young maiden with exquisite features and a stately man in the prime of life. Thanks to his suddenly awakened memories, he instantly recognized them as his closest people — his closest sister and father.
Chen Yanran — that was the name of his sister, whom he had already had the honor of meeting earlier in his chambers. Being a year younger than Chen Ge, she had entered her fifteenth year of life. Despite her young age, this young maiden was a true miracle — not only did she shine with incomparable beauty, but she had also achieved an impressive ninth level of Initial Ascension(1).
Her cultivation talent was no less than that of Liang Si Yao herself, and the entire clan reverently pinned their highest hopes on her, seeing in her the future pride of the clan. Such giftedness was an extremely rare gift from the heavens, and every member of the clan understood that they were looking at a true genius capable of reaching unprecedented heights.
As for the man — Chen Xiao — it was the first time Chen Ge had seen him face to face, not counting the suddenly awakened memories. On his way to his father's courtyard, he had often wondered what his parent looked like, and now, meeting him face to face, he froze in amazement.
Seated at the massive table was a man in his forties. His face was unnaturally pale, and it was immediately obvious even to the naked eye that something was amiss with him. However, his body was in excellent shape — it was clear at once that the clan head had never neglected physical training.
His posture exuded unbending strength, and his movements revealed hidden power. Despite the visible signs of illness, he radiated an aura of inner strength and authority, compelling everyone to involuntarily bow their heads in respect.
But all of this faded into the background, for before him sat not just a man — this was his father and the head of the powerful Chen clan. Even a brief conversation with him allowed Chen Ge to clearly understand: before him was a man endowed not only with natural charisma capable of winning over anyone, but also with the unyielding character of a true leader.
According to fragmentary memories, Chen Xiao was the strongest warrior not only within the clan but also among all cultivators in Shentou City. His cultivation realm — the sixth level of Earth Ascension(3) — was a truly impressive achievement for such a remote area. Such a rank indicated that he stood at the pinnacle of the local cultivator hierarchy, being a true pillar of strength in this region.
However, what impressed Chen Ge the most was not his father's power, but their striking resemblance. The man seemed to be his older version — so great was their physical similarity. At one glance at Chen Xiao, it became obvious: if the clan head were younger, they could be mistaken for twins.
This thought troubled Chen Ge — after all, he clearly remembered that he had retained the appearance of his past life, which had no connection with this clan. Such a resemblance seemed an inexplicable mystery, violating all the laws of reincarnation known to him.
— Chen Ge, why aren't you wearing your wedding attire? — Chen Xiao suddenly broke the silence, his voice sounding wary.
With just an hour remaining until the grand ceremony, the groom's lack of wedding attire raised serious suspicions.
— You see, father… — Chen Ge hesitated, his voice treacherously trembling. He was well aware that the clan head approved of this union, and that made him hesitate. But memories of his past life and his own powerlessness in his current situation gave him determination. — I have an important matter to report.
Thoughts raced through his mind about how dangerous it was to bind one's fate to a genius — it always brought numerous problems. Marrying a girl for whom he felt no genuine affection would be more than just a mistake — it would be a fatal folly.
— Father, I have decided to cancel the wedding! — Chen Ge's voice sounded firm and resolute. — There is nothing in common between me and Liang Si Yao. Our paths diverge like stars and earth — we are completely different people, and this marriage would be the greatest mistake of our lives.
— I can see through her true intentions — her heart remains cold towards me, and her agreement to marry is driven only by the desire for our sect's resources. And I cannot, I have no right to enter into such an alliance!
Heavy silence descended upon the room like a leaden blanket. Time seemed to halt its course, frozen in tense anticipation.
Chen Xiao, having heard his son's words, furrowed his brows deeply. His face reflected a complex range of emotions — surprise, thoughtfulness, even slight concern. He remained silent, immersed into the depths of reflection, as if trying to unravel the mystery hidden behind the heir's words.
The strangeness of his son's behavior troubled him, contradicting all his previous perceptions. But suddenly, as if in an epiphany, a smile bloomed on his face.
— Finally, you have seen the light, — he said with unconcealed relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Pride for his son, who had finally made the right choice, was evident in his voice.