It was gone! Gone! GOOONE!!
Lin Youming lay still on the bed. Screaming in his head.
You dumb ass system.
What monkey peaches?
That's one of my precious!
One of my BALLS!!
He was supposed to celebrate because he had received a system, but the first thing it did was take one of his balls. Now he's not sure.
Meanwhile, the servants saw only a strange look like he was looking afar. And thought the young master was just thinking deeply.
Inside, Lin Youming was losing his mind.
You should have taken it if I failed the mission! Don't take it as a hostage! Give it back! I need balls to take on the mission! It feels so damn uncomfortable!
He held the silk sheets tightly.
Then, he let go as he realized something.
Wait.
He remembered the mission was… convince her not to divorce? Right?
That's it?
He almost laughed.
He had watched many dramas and read countless web novels. He knew all the basic skills: sweet words, promises, acting sad, and being sincere.
So he believed he could do this.
Easy!
He was about to speak again when another thought struck him.
By the way… what is Cripple Cultivation?
The translucent screen in front of him appeared again.
[ Explanation: The title Cripple Cultivation does not influence future cultivation speed, comprehension, or breakthroughs.
[ The host can continue to cultivate normally and will not truly lose their cultivation as long as the host got that title. ]
Lin Youming blinked.
"…Huh?"
He stared at the words.
"You're telling me… even crippled, I can still cultivate?"
[ Correct. ]
He froze.
In all the dramas he watched and all the novels he read, being crippled meant being trash. It meant being hopeless. It meant being a background character just waiting to die.
This was different.
"You're serious?"
[ Yes. ]
Lin Youming sucked in a breath.
This was new.
Before he could think about it, loud voices around him burst forth like gunfire in his ears.
"You possibly think it's appropriate to come here and speak to us in this manner, especially now?"
"I can't believe how bold you are to just stand there like that! You even introduced yourself as 'Miss' while we're dealing with this!"
"Surname Shangguan! you actually had the nerve to stand in front of young master Lin Youming and mention divorce like it's nothing, especially at a time like this?"
The room exploded with shouting.
Lin Youming snapped back to reality.
Several subordinates stepped forward, their faces twisted with anger. Their eyes were sharp and their voices were all fatally loud.
"You need to recognize your place and know when to hold back!"
"Honestly, who do you think you are to behave this way?"
"The young master hasn't kicked you out yet even when your whole clan was slaughtered like a pig, so you should really be on your knees thanking him!"
"Divorce? With your standing, do you honestly believe that's even an option?
Lin Youming stiffened.
Wait.
Why are they yelling?
He looked at Shangguan Wanwan. She looked calm… No, maybe too calm.
That was strange. Very strange.
In his memories, Shangguan Wanwan was a meek woman who acted like a background ghost hoping to be ignored and not get bullied. It was because her Shangguan Family had been wiped out years ago causing her to lose her backing and her value. A discarded wife. A wire that had lost its importance. That was what the original Lin Youming believed.
But the woman before him didn't look like that. She appeared composed and distant, as if everyone in the room were beneath her.
So he couldn't help but feel something was wrong. Very wrong.
Before Lin Youming could think further, a sharp warning flashed before his eyes.
[ Warning. ]
[ Target detected: Shangguan Wanwan. ]
[ Identity mismatch. ]
Lin Youming's heart dropped.
"…What?"
The screen changed.
[ Shangguan Wanwan (Original): Deceased. ]
Lin Youming's pupils shrank.
[ Cause of death: Prolonged neglect. Physical abuse. Emotional trauma. ]
[ Responsible parties: Lin Youming's subordinates and servants. ]
Lin Youming felt cold.
The screen continued.
[ Current host body occupied by: Immortal Goddess — Yue Xuan. ]
[ Status: Reincarnated. ]
[ Background: Betrayed by Dao Companion. ]
[ Psychological profile: Extreme aversion to men who abuse women. ]
Lin Youming's breath caught.
Immortal… Goddess?
His scalp tingled.
His mouth went dry.
What the fuck.
This was not easy.
This was not easy at all.
He thought this would just involve simple acting—sweet words, lying through his teeth, love bombings… That was his plan.
Now? It was going to be different. This was more complicated than he had expected.
He found himself standing before a goddess, a goddess who despised men like him.
He felt his heart pound.
If this goes wrong, I won't just lose my balls. I'll lose my life too.
Meanwhile, around him, the shouting continued.
One subordinate stepped forward. His face was red. His voice was sharp.
"The young master has shown great mercy!"
"You should be thankful he even lets you stay here!"
"With your background, you should be begging for the chance to serve him!"
Lin Youming's head buzzed.
You bastards!
Shut up!
Shut up right now!
I just escaped the main character.
Now you want another one to endanger my life again!?
Shangguan Wanwan lifted her chin slightly, making it clear she wasn't backing down.
"That's perfect," she said, her voice steady and firm, cold and unapologetic.
"I'm gonna divorce him."
The room fell into an icy silence, shock gripping everyone present.
She continued, unflinching.
"And I will take the other two wives with me."
Gasps erupted as disbelief spread in the room like wildfire.
"What?!" one voice shattered the stillness.
"Insolent!" another exclaimed, fury igniting.
"That's impossible!" a subordinate closest to her roared in outrage, his disbelief hardening his features as he raised his hand in a gesture of authority, ready to strike her.
Lin Youming's heart stopped.
No.
No no no.
Are you all insane?!
She is not unreasonable. She came here to ask for divorce peacefully.
There's a chance to convince her.
But If any of you touch her—
You're going to trigger a goddess.
You're all gonna fail me in my mission!
"Stop!" Lin Youming shouted.
But it was too late.
The subordinate's hand came down.
Then—Lin Youming's eyes glinted!
I won't let you take my balls and my life away!
Soon, a fist appeared beside the cheek of his subordinate.
It was sudden.
It was fast.
It materialized beside the subordinate's face as if it had broken reality itself.
Shangguan Wanwan's eyes widened.
Bang!
The sound shook the room.
The subordinate flew backward like a broken doll, smashing into a pillar. Blood sprayed, and his body slid down, collapsing onto the ground.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
He coughed weakly.
"Why… Young master—"
Then his eyes rolled back.
He lost consciousness.
Everyone froze.
Servants stared with mouths open.
Subordinates stood stiff like statues.
The maidservants behind Shangguan Wanwan trembled. Their faces were pale. Their eyes were wide.
Shangguan Wanwan herself looked shocked. Only for a moment. Then her expression returned to calm. But something unreadable lingered in her eyes.
Lin Youming was now out of his bed, and then he stepped forward.
"No one," he said firmly, "is allowed to touch my wife!" he declared.
Inside, he almost collapsed.
Thank heavens.
Thank heavens I made it in time.
If that slap landed, I'm sure this room would have turned into a grave.
Fortunately, this body is a little strong because of pills.
Suddenly, two system notifications popped up.
[ Ding!
[ The host protected his wife.
[ Pampering Shop unlocked. ]
Another followed.
[ Ding!
[ The host declared protection over his wife.
[ Gained 10 Pampering Points. ]
Lin Youming blinked.
"…Huh?"
It worked like this?
He stared at the screen.
Amazing.
Suddenly, he'd ask himself. Should I peek at the system shop?
He was still processing what to do when he suddenly noticed something.
The room was silent.
Too silent.
Everyone stared at him.
Lin Youming looked at them. Shit the mission!
Suddenly, his panicked eyes turned into questioning eyes.
"Huh?" he said. "What? You all don't understand?"
No one spoke.
His servants were speechless.
The maidservants were speechless.
Shangguan Wanwan looked at him quietly.
Her gaze was calm, but something was glinting beneath it.
Lin Youming swallowed.
"Wife," he said, "why do you want to divorce me?"
She suddenly snorted.
"Because I want to."
"At least tell me why," Lin Youming said softly.
He sounded polite, almost gentle.
But inside his head, he screamed,
"My balls! I need to take it back!"
He had to maintain his composure and act polite.
Shangguan Wanwan looked away, her face calm but distant.
"Ever since I came here," she said slowly, "I have been treated like nothing."
Her voice was steady, but there was a deeper emotion just beneath the surface.
"When the Shangguan Family was destroyed, I was left all alone. No one protected me."
"Your subordinates bullied me."
"Your servants mocked me."
"They hit me."
"They ignored me."
Each of her words carried the weight of past pain, yet she spoke as if telling a story from long ago.
Lin Youming felt a tightness in his chest.
Although her tone was detached, he could vividly picture the original Shangguan Wanwan's situation reflected in her words.
Inside his head, guilt crashed down.
That wasn't me.
That was the original Lin Youming.
But the guilt still pressed on him.
Two souls replaced two bodies.
Now the debt was on them.
"Wife," he said quickly, "tell me who bullied you. I will punish them all!"
His voice was firm, but she shook her head.
"It's not important."
"What I need is a divorce. I've had enough."
Lin Youming coughed.
"That can't be."
"I don't want to."
He forced sincerity into his voice.
"I love you."
"I can't agree to this."
She looked at him, her gaze was ice cold.
"That's a lie."
"Wife," Lin Youming said, "I'm telling the truth. I will do anything."
"Anything," he stressed, "as long as you don't divorce me."
She let out a light laugh, a mocking sound.
"Men," she said. "All liars."
Her eyes glinted as if she wanted to see just how low his promise could go.
Lin Youming looked at her, his eyes pleading.
"Wife, please…"
Inside his head, his voice begged,
Please. I don't want to lose my balls.
You can take everything from a man, but not their balls.
Please. Please.
She stared at him.
"Anything?" she asked.
Lin Youming nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, wife. Anything."