Rude Dismissal

Ding Wei walked to the Ding Compound early the next morning, his steps filled with excitement.

The strength of the breathing technique he had practiced had kept him awake. He marveled at its amazing power.

The creator of the technique had been far too modest. Instead of being called the Inferior Seven Cyclic Breaths, it should have been named the Great Dragon Breathing Method! It was at least ten times, no, a hundred times more powerful than his previous technique.

He could only hope that Shadow Steps would be just as good. If so, it would mean that he had found a world-class treasure.

Already, he had reached the Eye-Opening Level after years of wasted effort. He could even sense that he would soon progress to the next level. Right then, he decided that he would never return the ancient tome, even if it belonged to the king.

Speaking of the Eye-Opening Level, Ding Wei could now see the energies all around if he focused. The energies were mostly hazy, making it difficult to distinguish between the different types, but he could clearly observe the various colors of mist floating about. Some were thicker, while others were thinner. There were even different shapes mixed in the haze.

Each tree that he passed was covered by a thin film of green mist, as were many of the surrounding plants. The ancient tome shone with a bright purple, reminiscent of the ink it used, and his clothes emitted a brown energy reminiscent of mud and stone. Reds, blues, yellows—all these colors were present in countless shades that he couldn't even count.

He willed his eyesight to return to normal.

There were still many things he couldn't make out, so many impossible colors for which he had no words. It was all too overwhelming. Processing so much information at once left him feeling very overwhelmed.

"Hopefully, it gets easier..." Ding Wei muttered.

A wall, twice his height, surrounded the Ding Compound. The clay bricks of the wall were long and thin, and a line of bricks near the base showcased a parade of animals, specially made at great expense.

On the giant wooden gates, a detailed engraving of a snarling tiger caught his attention. His mother had once associated him with that animal.

He knocked on the gate, expecting the usual guard to greet him. Instead, the gates swung open, revealing his uncle who held a grim expression.

Ding Wei dipped his head in greeting. "Good morning, Uncle."

His uncle, Ding Feng, was an imposing figure. His frame was covered by a grotesque dark red aura that made him nauseous.

'I thought I turned that off already...' he thought to himself.

"You still dare to show your face here after disrespecting my son!" Feng yelled, his face turning red and spit flying. Even from this distance, Ding Wei could smell the wine on his breath.

"But uncle... I did no such thing..."

"Pretending to be dumb now? You know very well what I'm speaking of. How dare you challenge Ding Chen to a public fight! He is the heir of this house and your rightful master!"

Ding Wei's eyes turned serious. "No man is my master."

"Impudent!"

Uncle Feng reached out one of his meaty hands. He moved slowly enough that Wei could have caught it if he had been prepared but caught off guard, he was slapped.

He tumbled to the ground, shocked into silence.

His uncle was not a cultivator and had no cultivation talent. But he was a fully grown man, and the difference between a second-level Awakened and a normal mortal was not that great.

Even mid-level or high-level Awakened had been defeated in battle by especially skilled or crafty mortals.

"I took you in as a custodian because of our blood ties, even though you were poorly suited to the task! Time after time, you have shown yourself insubordinate and made countless errors... I overlooked all of them!"

No, he didn't. He complained every time, deducted wages for simple mistakes, and often refused to pay at all. Despite doing more work, Ding Wei was paid only half the wage of a normal custodian.

Still, Wei continued to stare.

"From this day forth, you are no longer welcome in this compound! Begone!"

"But what about my wages? I have worked for nearly two months now and haven't yet been paid!" Ding Wei called.

His uncle scoffed. "That puny amount cannot compensate for the disrespect you have shown this household. Were it not for the memory of my sister, I would have you whipped in the street!"

The surrounding peasants stared, muttering amongst themselves and pointing at him. His uncle sneered at them before stomping back into the compound.

Han, the guard who usually met him each morning, gave him an apologetic look before closing the gates.

"... This is for the best. Now there will be no distractions between me and my cultivation!" Ding Wei cheered himself on but felt hollow inside.

His stomach growled painfully.

Wei had not been eating well for the last week. The cost of rice and meat had gone up recently for some reason, so he had cut his meals to stretch the last coppers he owned until his uncle finally paid him. Something that would not be happening now.

Usually, food was served to the workers at the compound, but his aunt and uncle had forbidden him from eating there. Ding Wei had watched as the other servants ate their lunch, bitterness filling him. Only a few years previous many of them had called him master and served his every wish.

A few still held great affection for him, but the fear of his uncle made them keep their distance.

Once, a chef had taken pity on him and fed him in secret. It had not been much. Just some bread and vegetables. Someone had observed them and told his uncle, and the man was roughly beaten in the garden and fired. There had been no help from the other workers since.

Ding Wei bit his lip in thought. "How am I going to get food now?"

"Little Wei, why are you lying there?" A slightly raspy yet warm voice called out to him.

A short woman wearing a purple gown and wooden sandals stepped near, bending to look at him. Her hair was done in a bun, and there was still a hint of her past beauty in her wrinkled features.

"Granny Wu..."