Chapter 1: Ye Tianci

Great Blue Mountain, Wolong Village, a small courtyard enclosed by a fence.

“I can’t go on living!”

Beneath an ancient pagoda tree, an elderly man with hair and beard as white as snow stood on a stone stool, looping a hemp rope over a branch as if to hang himself.

“Old man, all I did was beat you ten times in a row at chess. Is it really that serious?” The speaker was a young man, about twenty years old, who leaned lazily against the pagoda tree, a stem of foxtail grass between his teeth. The dappled sunlight danced on his lips, where a faint, teasing smile played.

Clutching the hemp rope with both hands, the old man glared at the youth with aggrieved eyes. “Ye Tianci! You ungrateful wretch! I’ve taught you everything I know, yet you refuse to let me win—didn’t let me have a single game!”

Ye Tianci replied solemnly, “Old man, you’re the one who taught me to give my all in everything I do.”

“You—”

“How did I end up with such a blockhead for a disciple? I have no face left to live!” The old man looked utterly despondent, thrusting his head toward the noose.

Just then, the screech of brakes broke the air as two Red Flag sedans sped up and stopped abruptly at the entrance to the courtyard.

The car door opened, and a pair of elegant, jade-white legs stepped out, followed by a beautiful young woman. She wore a black, form-fitting dress that accentuated her graceful curves; her features were breathtakingly exquisite, and her bearing was otherworldly—like a celestial maiden descended to earth.

The old man had already hopped down from the stool, standing with hands clasped behind his back, exuding the air of a reclusive master.

“I am Lin Qingqian of the Lin family from Shu City. It is an honor to meet the legendary Ghosthand,” the young woman said, entering the yard with several bodyguards and bowing respectfully to the old man.

Ghosthand studied Lin Qingqian, a spark of interest flickering in his eyes. “You must be Lin Daonan’s granddaughter, Lin Qingqian? It’s been over ten years, and you’ve grown into a fine young woman. How is your grandfather’s health?”

Lin Qingqian replied with deference, “Grandfather is gravely ill. I’ve come to beg you, Master, to descend the mountain and save his life.”

Ghosthand pinched his fingers, as if making calculations, and said coolly, “I have long since retired. Life and death are none of my concern now. Your grandfather’s time has not yet come—he will not die. Someone else will save him.”

“And who is it that will save my grandfather? Please, sir, I beg your guidance!” Lin Qingqian’s eyes shone with hope as she bowed again.

“The one who will save your grandfather is right here—and he is also your betrothed,” Ghosthand said, beckoning to Ye Tianci. “Brat, come here and meet your fiancée!”

Ye Tianci approached, limping noticeably—he was lame.

“Master, you must be joking,” Lin Qingqian’s delicate brows furrowed instantly.

“Old man, what nonsense are you spouting?” Ye Tianci snorted as well.

Ghosthand pulled out a yellowed, old envelope and tossed it to Ye Tianci. “See for yourself.”

Ye Tianci opened it. Inside was a marriage contract, the black ink clearly spelling out the engagement between him and Lin Qingqian of the Lin family in Shu City.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me about this, old man?” Ye Tianci scratched his head.

“The time wasn’t right,” Ghosthand replied, stroking his beard in the manner of a sage. “I foresaw that your fate would arrive today, that you’d leave the mountain. So I prepared this for you. Losing ten games in a row was just to put you in a good mood for your journey.”

“Tch!” Ye Tianci rolled his eyes.

Ghosthand blushed and turned to Lin Qingqian. “Girl, Ye Tianci is both your fiancé and your grandfather’s savior. Take him back to the Lin family.”

Lin Qingqian snatched the envelope from Ye Tianci’s hands. The handwriting on the contract stunned her—it was indeed her grandfather’s, complete with his private seal.

The engagement was real!

“My fiancé… is him?” Lin Qingqian stared at Ye Tianci in disbelief, her gaze complex.

Ye Tianci wore a coarse linen outfit faded from countless washings, and his shoes were so worn they were falling apart—he looked utterly rustic. Worse yet, he was lame. He seemed to have no redeeming qualities at all.

Just as Ye Tianci was about to greet Lin Qingqian, a bodyguard in black stepped forward to block him. The guard sneered, “My lady is not only the leading beauty of Shu City, but also known as the ‘Helen of Troy of Commerce’—peerless in both brains and beauty! And you think a cripple like you is worthy of her? You’re a toad lusting after a swan. Take a look at yourself—”

Before he could finish, a slap sent him flying, crashing to the ground.

Ghosthand stepped forward, his voice icy. “No one has the right to insult my disciple.”

The bodyguard scrambled behind Lin Qingqian, not daring another word.

Ghosthand fixed Lin Qingqian with a cold glare. “If you look down on Tianci so much, then all of you should leave.”

“Master, Du Yong is my driver and lacks manners. Please accept my apologies. I… I will take Ye Tianci back to the Lin family,” Lin Qingqian said hastily.

With a grunt, Ghosthand slipped a black-and-white ring onto Ye Tianci’s finger.

“Old man, isn’t this your treasure? How could you bear to part with it?” Ye Tianci’s lips curled into a smile.

“Brat, I’m an old man now. It’s time for you to inherit Tianmen, and time for you to avenge your blood feud. Go down the mountain.”

“Remember, never reveal your true abilities lightly—unless you’ve reached the seventh level of the Primordial Art,” Ghosthand said solemnly.

Seeing the care in his master’s eyes, Ye Tianci could not help but feel moved. “Don’t worry, old man. I’ve already reached the seventh level.”

“What?!” Ghosthand’s eyes bulged as if he’d seen a ghost. “When did this happen?”

“Just a few days ago,” Ye Tianci replied with a hint of a smile.

Ghosthand slapped his forehead, letting out a long sigh before tears of emotion welled up in his eyes. “I have no face left to live!”

He’d prided himself on his talent, having taken over fifty years to reach the seventh level, while Ye Tianci had needed only fifteen. Not only that, but Ye Tianci’s skills in medicine, fortune-telling, and talismans now rivaled his own—and his chess was even better.

Ghosthand jumped onto the stone stool, as if determined to hang himself again.

Ye Tianci grabbed him, consoling him with genuine filial piety. “Alright, old man, don’t take it so hard. I can teach you chess from now on.”

“Get out! Leave this instant!” Ghosthand shoved and kicked Ye Tianci into Lin Qingqian’s car, hurling a bundle into his arms as he cursed, “Don’t come back unless you fill the place with disciples and grandchildren! Go!”

The two Red Flag sedans roared out of Wolong Village.

Lin Qingqian sat beside Ye Tianci, her face utterly expressionless. After a long silence, she glanced at his lame leg and spoke in a frosty tone, “Forgive my bluntness, but since you studied under Ghosthand, your medical skill must be remarkable. Then your leg…”

Ye Tianci understood what she meant and replied calmly, “It’s not an illness, it’s an injury. When I was five, my bones were shattered and tendons severed. I barely survived—Master saved me.”

Lin Qingqian’s brows knit together. “Even Ghosthand couldn’t heal your leg?”

“To heal it, I’d need to find Dragon Tendril Vine and Arhat Bone—two rare ingredients—and refine Dragonbone Elixir. Without them, not even my master could cure my leg, nor could the gods,” Ye Tianci said, his voice steady.

A curious light flickered across Lin Qingqian’s exquisite face. “What sort of person would be so cruel as to shatter the bones and sever the tendons of a five-year-old child?”

Before Ye Tianci could answer, the screech of brakes pierced the air.

The Red Flag sedan was forcibly cut off by several SUVs!

A dozen burly men leapt from the vehicles, wielding clubs and surrounding them with murderous intent.