The climb up the cliff was nothing now.
My legs moved like they belonged to someone else. Strong. Sure. Every step pushed me higher without breaking a sweat. The wind hit my face, but it felt good—like it was welcoming me back to the world I used to hate.
At the top, I stopped for a second. Below me, the three guards were still tied up, groaning in the dark. I left them there. Alive. They would crawl back to the family eventually. When they did, they would spread the story.
Lin Feng, the trash, beat three Qi Gathering cultivators like they were children.
Good.
I adjusted the torn robe on my shoulders. It was dirty, ripped, covered in blood—not mine. My body felt clean inside. The system had healed the small cuts from the fall already. No scars. Just smooth skin and power humming under it.
Azure Cloud City spread out in front of me. Big walls. Tall towers. Lanterns glowing red and gold along the main streets. The Lin family estate sat in the eastern district—biggest compound after the city lord's mansion. Stone lions at the gate. Red pillars. Servants everywhere.
I walked straight toward it.
People on the road stared. Some whispered. A few pointed.
"Is that… Young Master Feng?"
"He looks different."
"Did he really fall off the cliff?"
I ignored them. My eyes were locked on the gates ahead.
Two guards stood outside. Same ones who used to laugh when my cousins ordered them to beat me. Today they straightened up when they saw me coming.
"Young… Young Master?" one said, eyes wide.
The other swallowed hard. "You're… alive?"
I stopped right in front of them. "Open the gate."
They looked at each other. Then at me. My eyes were calm, but something in them made them move fast. The big wooden doors creaked open.
I stepped inside.
The main courtyard was full of people. Servants sweeping. Guards training. Cousins and uncles talking under the big cherry tree. Everyone froze when they saw me.
Lin Hao was the first to speak. My third cousin. Qi Gathering 7th layer at seventeen. Arrogant. Always the one who ordered the worst beatings.
He laughed. Loud. Fake.
"Well, well. The trash crawled back from the dead. Did the cliff spit you out because even rocks didn't want you?"
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Servants giggled behind their hands. A few young girls—daughters of branch families—covered their mouths.
I walked closer. Slowly.
Lin Hao crossed his arms. "What? You think falling off a cliff made you stronger? You still can't sense qi. You're still useless."
I stopped five steps away from him.
The system dinged in my head.
[New Mission: Public Humiliation
Target: Make Lin Hao lose face in front of at least thirty witnesses.
Reward: 200 Spirit Points, Intermediate Body Refining Technique, Random Bloodline Awakening Chance (Low)]
Perfect.
I smiled. Small. Cold.
"Lin Hao," I said quietly. "Remember last month? You and your friends dragged me to the training field. You said I was an embarrassment to the family name. You broke three of my ribs. You made me beg in the dirt."
His smirk faded a little. "So what? You deserved it."
I stepped closer. "Today is different."
Before he could answer, I moved.
My hand shot out. Open palm. Straight to his cheek.
SLAP!
The sound echoed across the courtyard like thunder.
Lin Hao's head snapped to the side. He stumbled two steps. A red handprint appeared on his face. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then someone gasped.
I didn't stop.
I slapped him again. Other cheek.
SLAP!
He fell to one knee.
The crowd stared with open mouths.
Lin Hao looked up, eyes wide with shock. "You… you trash—"
I grabbed his hair. Pulled his head back.
"Say it again," I whispered.
He tried to swing at me. His fist came up fast—Qi Gathering 7th layer speed.
I caught it with one hand.
His eyes went bigger.
I squeezed.
Crack.
Bones in his hand broke.
He screamed.
I let go. He dropped to the ground, holding his hand, crying like a baby.
[Ding! Mission complete!
Face-slapping target: Lin Hao (public)
Extra bonus: Witness count 47
Rewards: +200 Spirit Points, Intermediate Body Refining Technique unlocked, Random Bloodline Awakening triggered…
Analyzing… Bloodline detected: Hidden Shadow Dragon Lineage (Dormant – 5% Awakened)
Current bonus: +10% agility in darkness, slight night vision]
I felt it immediately. Something deep inside my blood stirred. Like a sleeping dragon opening one eye. My movements felt even smoother. Shadows around me seemed… friendlier.
I looked around.
Everyone was staring. Servants. Guards. Cousins. Even the elders who just came out of the main hall.
My father—Lin Tian—stood at the top of the steps. Face dark. Eyes narrow.
"Feng," he said. Voice low. "Explain."
I turned to him. No bow. No respect.
"I fell off the cliff. I didn't die. I came back stronger. That's the explanation."
Murmurs everywhere.
Lin Hao was still on the ground, whimpering.
One of the elders—Third Elder Lin Wei—stepped forward. "Impossible. You had no talent. No spirit root. How—"
I cut him off. "Doesn't matter how. It happened."
I walked past Lin Hao. Stepped on his broken hand on purpose. He screamed again.
Then I looked at the crowd.
"Anyone else want to call me trash?"
No one spoke.
Good.
I turned back to my father. "I want my old courtyard fixed. New furniture. Better food. And no one touches me again. Or I leave. And I take the family secrets with me."
His face turned red. But he didn't argue. Not yet.
"Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "Go."
I nodded once. Then walked toward my old broken courtyard at the back.
People moved out of my way like I was fire.
As I passed a group of young girls—daughters of branch families—one of them caught my eye.
She had long silver hair. Purple eyes. Skin like snow. Wearing a light blue dress that hugged her body. Beautiful. Very beautiful.
Her name was Yue Ling. She was new—daughter of a guest elder who joined last year. Never talked to me before. Never even looked at me.
Now she was staring.
Our eyes met.
She didn't look away. Instead, a small smile touched her lips. Curious. Interested.
I gave her a small nod. Then kept walking.
Behind me, I heard whispers.
"Did you see that?"
"He slapped Lin Hao like it was nothing…"
"He's different."
Yes. I was.
I reached my old courtyard. It was worse than I remembered. Broken roof. Weeds everywhere. One wall half collapsed.
But now it didn't matter.
I sat on the only good stone bench left.
Opened the system shop.
Spirit Points: 350 now.
I bought:
Intermediate Body Refining Technique (150 SP)
Qi Gathering Boost Pill x3 (150 SP)
Shadow Cloak Skill (Common) (50 SP)
I swallowed the three pills one after another.
Heat exploded in my dantian.
My realm climbed.
Qi Gathering 3rd → 5th → 7th Layer.
In minutes.
My body cracked. Bones strengthened. Skin tougher. Muscles denser.
I stood up. Punched the air.
The wind from my fist broke a tree branch twenty meters away.
I laughed.
Then I tested the new skill.
[Shadow Cloak – Blend into shadows for 30 seconds. +50% speed in darkness. Cost: 10 qi per second]
I stepped into the shadow of the wall.
My body vanished.
Completely.
Even I couldn't see myself.
Perfect for revenge.
Night was coming.
I looked toward the main house.
My ex-fiancée Su Mei lived in the guest wing tonight. She came to "discuss family matters" after breaking the engagement. Probably to laugh at me one last time.
Not anymore.
Tonight, I would pay her a visit.
But first…
I heard footsteps.
Yue Ling.
She walked into the courtyard alone. No guards. No servants.
She stopped a few meters away.
"You really changed," she said. Voice soft. Clear.
I let the shadow cloak drop. Appeared in front of her.
She didn't flinch.
"I did," I said.
She stepped closer. Looked up at me.
"I always thought you were… interesting. Even when everyone called you trash."
I raised an eyebrow. "Interesting?"
She smiled. Real smile this time. "Yes. You never begged. Never cried. You just… took it. That takes strength."
I studied her.
Beautiful. Smart. Not afraid.
The system dinged again.
[New Side Mission: First Ally
Target: Gain the loyalty or interest of one female cultivator.
Reward: 100 SP, Random Companion Slot Unlock (Future harem member potential)]
I almost laughed.
The system knew.
I looked at Yue Ling.
"Stay," I said. "Help me rebuild this place. Train with me. You won't regret it."
She tilted her head. "And if I do?"
"Then you can leave anytime."
She thought for a second.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
She stepped even closer. Her scent was like flowers and moonlight.
My heart beat faster. Not fear. Not anger.
Something new.
Power. Revenge. And now… maybe something more.
The night was young.
And my rise had just started.