Chapter 2: The Awakening

The night was eerily silent, the world shrouded in darkness save for the faint glimmer of the moon. Ye Tian sat still in the center of his courtyard, his breath shallow yet controlled. Deep within him, the mysterious golden energy pulsed like a sleeping dragon waiting to be awakened.

What is this power?

In his previous life, Luo Chen had mastered countless techniques and studied forbidden arts, but never had he encountered something like this. The energy was raw, ancient, and boundless, yet it seemed dormant, as though it required a key to unlock.

"Come forth," Ye Tian whispered, his tone commanding.

The golden light flared faintly, responding to his will. It surged through his veins, sending searing heat coursing through his weak body. Pain followed, sharp and unrelenting, but Ye Tian welcomed it. Pain was an old companion—a reminder that he was alive and fighting.

Memories of the Past

As the energy coursed through him, memories flashed in his mind. They were fragmented, disjointed—a blend of Luo Chen's past and Ye Tian's own.

The betrayal… the humiliation…

Ye Tian clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. This world values strength above all. Without power, even your kin will stab you in the back.

He would not repeat the mistakes of his past life.

The Cripple's Potential

Hours passed. Beads of sweat drenched Ye Tian's frail body as he concentrated on controlling the energy. Slowly, he began to sense the intricate pathways of the body's meridians.

To his astonishment, the body wasn't entirely crippled as everyone believed. It was flawed, yes—his meridians were blocked, like a dried-up riverbed—but they weren't beyond repair.

"This body… it was sabotaged," Ye Tian muttered, his eyes narrowing. Someone deliberately crippled Ye Tian to ensure he couldn't cultivate.

Rage boiled within him, but he kept it in check. There was no use lashing out without a plan. Whoever had done this would face retribution, but only when Ye Tian had the strength to make them regret their actions.

The golden energy pulsed again, as if sensing his resolve. It surged through his meridians, burning away the blockages. Pain wracked his body, but Ye Tian endured, gritting his teeth.

Finally, with a loud crack, the first meridian burst open. Energy flowed freely for the first time in years.

A New Beginning

Ye Tian opened his eyes, a cold glint in their depths. His body was still weak, but he could feel the change. His cultivation base, which had been nonexistent, now flickered at the first stage of Qi Gathering.

It wasn't much, but it was a start.

He stood, his movements steady despite his fatigue. The golden energy had receded, but he knew it was still there, waiting for him to tap into it again.

"From now on, I am no longer Ye Tian, the useless young master," he murmured. "I am Luo Chen reborn, and I will carve my path to power once more."

His voice was calm, but his words carried the weight of a storm.

The Morning After

The next morning, the Ye family estate was abuzz with activity. Servants scurried about, preparing for the arrival of an important guest—a messenger from the Jade Serpent Sect, one of the region's most powerful factions.

Ye Tian stepped into the courtyard, his calm stride drawing the attention of those gathered. 

Ye Tian spotted Ye Lin and stopped a few paces away, his gaze cold and unflinching. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Well, well, Second Brother. It's a miracle, isn't it? I survive drowning, and suddenly, you've grown quiet. Why? Have you lost your nerve, or do you need help finishing the job?"

Ye Lin's expression darkened. "Don't test me, Ye Tian. You might've crawled out of that lake, but next time, you won't be so lucky."

"Next time?" Ye Tian's tone turned mocking, his words deliberate and sharp. "Ah, I see. You're planning another cowardly ambush. How very… consistent of you."

Gasps rippled through the onlookers, their eyes darting between the two brothers.

Ye Lin's face flushed with anger. "Watch your mouth, cripple. You're still nothing in this family."

Ye Tian chuckled, low and menacing. "Nothing? Interesting. You tried to kill this 'nothing,' and yet here I stand. Meanwhile, you're left trembling at the sight of me. Tell me, Second Brother, who's really the 'nothing' here?"

The words hit Ye Lin like a slap, and his hands clenched into fists. He took a step forward, his anger boiling over. "You—!"

Ye Tian stepped closer, cutting him off with a chilling glare. His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Save your barking, Ye Lin. If you ever dare to try again, make sure you don't leave me alive. Because next time… I won't be so merciful."

For a moment, the courtyard was silent, the weight of Ye Tian's words suffocating.

Ye Lin's lips twitched, but he couldn't muster a response. He turned abruptly, storming away with his lackeys in tow, their gazes filled with unease.

Ye Tian watched him leave, a faint smirk still lingering on his lips. "Coward," he muttered under his breath, before turning and walking calmly toward his quarters.

The Jade Serpent Sect's Demand

The grand hall of the Ye family estate was filled with tension as the elders and the patriarch gathered to receive the Jade Serpent Sect's envoy. The messenger, a stern-looking man clad in jade-green robes, stood at the center of the room, exuding an aura of authority.

"Patriarch Ye," the messenger began, his tone formal but devoid of warmth, "I come bearing a message from the Jade Serpent Sect. Your family owes us a debt, and it is time to repay it."

The patriarch's face grew pale. "May I ask what the sect desires?"

The messenger's gaze swept over the assembly, his expression cold. "A tribute. Your most talented youth will be sent to serve the sect. This is non-negotiable."

The elders murmured anxiously. The Ye family was already struggling to maintain its status, and losing a talented youth would be devastating.

Before anyone could respond, Ye Lin stepped forward, puffing out his chest. "Surely the Jade Serpent Sect would prefer a warrior like me over someone… less capable." His smirk widened as he shot a glance at Ye Tian.

The messenger's gaze shifted toward Ye Tian, who stood calmly at the back of the hall. For a moment, their eyes met, and the air seemed to grow heavier.

"Who is he?" the messenger asked, his tone sharp.

Ye Lin jumped in before anyone else could speak, his voice dripping with contempt. "Just my useless elder brother. Pay him no mind—"

"Silence," the messenger snapped, cutting Ye Lin off with a glare.

Ye Tian stepped forward, his calm footsteps echoing in the hall. The room seemed to hold its breath as he stopped a few paces from the messenger.

"I am Ye Tian," he said evenly, his voice carrying a weight that silenced every whisper. His dark eyes bore into the messenger's. "And I suggest you address me with the respect I am due. Even a servant of the Jade Serpent Sect should know their place."

The room erupted in stunned silence. No one dared to breathe as Ye Tian's words hung in the air like a blade.

The messenger's lips twitched into a cold smile, his calculating gaze fixed on Ye Tian. "Interesting. It seems the Ye family has more to offer than I expected."

Ye Lin's face twisted with rage. "You dare speak like this in front of the Jade Serpent Sect?! Do you have a death wish, you cripple—"

Ye Tian turned sharply, his eyes locking onto Ye Lin with a glare that could freeze fire. "Ye Lin, do you not tire of embarrassing yourself? If you spent half as much time cultivating as you do running your mouth, perhaps you'd be worth mentioning."

"You—!" Ye Lin's face turned red with humiliation, but before he could respond, Ye Tian stepped closer, his voice lowering to a deadly whisper. "Next time you open your mouth, be prepared to back it up. Otherwise, I'll make sure it's the last thing you ever do."

Ye Lin recoiled, his confidence shattered once again.

Ye Tian turned back to the messenger, his expression unchanging. "Now, envoy, let us speak of tribute. Surely the Jade Serpent Sect would prefer quality over quantity."

The messenger chuckled, a hint of genuine amusement in his cold demeanor. "Indeed. You are full of surprises, Ye Tian."