Life as a Servant

Ember awoke early, as was his usual routine, his body was stiff and sore from the uncomfortable pallet he slept on in the servants' quarters. The past few days had felt like a never-ending nightmare for him. He had gone from being a promising cultivation talent nurtured by the clan to a lowly servant, condemned to perform menial chores and endure the relentless ridicule of others.

The servants' quarters were modest at best, and Ember shared a room with several others. It was a stark contrast to the life he had imagined for himself when he first arrived at the clan as a potential genius.

Seated in the uncomfortable confines of the servants' quarters, he attempted to cultivate, but no matter how diligently he tried, even with the clan's core cultivation technique, he could not make any progress. And now as a servant, he no longer possessed access to cultivation resources. All his efforts seem to be futile!

He let out a heavy sigh and hastily got up, freshening himself and exchanging his worn attire for clean servant's clothes. Like before he no longer has time to cultivate all day and he has to complete his daily duty as a servant.

He was assigned to serve the clan's army quarters. Surrounded by formidable individuals who had embarked on the path of cultivation, Ember has to be very careful to not offend anyone.

Moreover, most of the youths who had cultivated alongside him had now been absorbed into the clan's cultivation army. He was supposed to be one of them, but instead, he found himself a mere servant, working for them day and night. His days were now filled with scrubbing floors, washing clothes, and running errands for the clan's army.

As he began his routine chores, Ember couldn't help but notice the curious glances and mocking whispers from both clan members and fellow servants alike. This was the inevitable fate of someone who had fallen from grace! To everyone's eyes, he had become a failure, someone who had been handed opportunities but had failed to seize them.

After completing all the assigned chores, Ember was finally ready to leave and have some food as his frail body without any cultivation was exhausted to its limit. However, before he could leave, a young man with an imposing presence walked in. He was surrounded by a group of men, walking a step behind him.

The young man slowly approached Ember with a warm grin on his face, but to Ember, that smile felt more akin to a devil's grin. Ember stood at his place and his body was slightly shivering as he was aware of what would come next!

The imposing young man approaching Ember was Kai Ke he was one of the other talents nurtured by the clan. Despite having less innate talent than Ember and with no core cultivation technique from the clan he solidified his path to cultivation and now he was one of the emerging talents of the clan's army.

As everyone nurtured by the clan was immensely talented they soon became rising stars in whichever faction they joined. Kai Ke was not an exception! He soon became an important figure in the clan's army as one of the rising stars with high potential. He also gained many followers who were always ready to act on his behalf.

Before Kai Ke was a poor commoner but now he is an important member of the clan's army with many followers following him. He became the center of attention and he reveled in it.

Seeing Ember's frail appearance, dressed in servant's attire, Kai Ke couldn't help but grin widely. Taking each step slowly he approached Ember with a bunch of followers following him a step behind.

Kai Ke, with his commanding presence, stood before Ember. He could see Ember's frail body shivering with fear and he felt an insensible thrill from it.

Among all the talents nurtured by the clan Ember had the highest potential. He had been granted the best resources and the clan's core cultivation technique, many others were jealous of Ember before. 

And today seeing Ember who was supposed to be elite among all, now standing before Kai Ke in servant clothes without any power, Kai Ke felt an immeasurable surge of relief and satisfaction.

"Ember, it seems you've been adjusting well to your new role these past few days. If you encounter any difficulties, do let me know. After all, we were once fellow cultivators, I will surely help you to the utmost" Kai Ke remarked slowly, his face twisted in a mocking grin.

Ember, his voice quivering with fear, like a timid cat replied, "Thank you, Master Kai Ke. I am managing just fine."

"Excellent. Since you're doing so well, you'll only have to clean all the baths for today and ensure they are spotless," Kai Ke said and with each word he uttered his grin grew wide.

The clan's army quarters had many servants and each servant was assigned to a different task each day. Ember was already done doing his daily chores, and he was exhausted and now Kai Ke giving him yet another task to clean baths did not sit well with Ember.

Clenching his feast and gathering all the courage with a timid voice Ember retorted, "Master Kai Ke, I will not do any other chore as I am already done with all my assigned chores for today..."

Before Ember could finish his sentence, one of the burly followers of Kai Ke sprang into action with astonishing speed. In a swift motion, before Ember could even react he lightly flicked his hand across Ember's face.

Even though he flicked his hand lightly for Ember who had not stepped on the path of cultivation with his frail body that light flick felt like being struck by a boulder. He felt his vision spinning as he fell down to the ground with a thud.

As Ember struggled to regain his senses and focus on his surroundings, he found himself lying on the floor, his face burning with pain. He touched his nose and mouth, discovering blood trickling from both.

Suddenly, a heavy weight pressed down on his head. Ember felt a crushing sense of humiliation as he looked up and saw the same muscular man who had struck him now standing on him as if he were nothing more than a lowly ant. And the fact was that he was truly a lowly ant, and as an ant, he will get stepped upon by everyone.

The muscular man grinned down at him, taunting, "A lowly servant like yourself, how dare you defy Young Master Kai Ke?"

"Step aside," Kai Ke ordered the burly man, who promptly lifted his foot from Ember's head and retreated silently to Kai Ke's side.

Kai Ke gazed down at Ember, who lay on the floor, a few drops of blood dripping out of his nose and mouth, With a righteous tone he said, "The servant originally assigned to clean the baths fell ill today. As a fellow servant, it's your duty to step in and ensure the baths are cleaned. Consider it an honor, as you will be helpful to someone for the first time. And if you failed to do so then prepare to face consequences."

With those words, Kai Ke turned and departed, his followers trailing behind him, leaving behind the echoing sound of their laughter.

Ember, his eyes burning with a mixture of emotions and rage, watched Kai Ke's departing silhouette. This was not the first time he had been humiliated, and he knew it wouldn't be the last. However, a flicker of hope still burned within him—a hope to reclaim his honor, a hope to prove to everyone and to himself—a hope like boiling blood that helps to forge forward — a hope of Revenge!