The Shu Empire

The Shu Empire had always held narcotic and spiritual healing in high regard, ever since it was recognized thousands of years ago.

Spiritual healing encouraged altruism and cultivation. The Shu Empire was known for its talents. Due to the fact, spiritual healing was very crucial in the Shu empire many people cultivated and ambitioned to engrave a name for themselves in the Shu kingdom.

They deemed anyone who had at least a level two in spiritual healing as acceptable but for the poor people in the country they didn't acquire the resources to cultivate, even if they were naturally talented the grisly truth was that they were too poor to cultivate.

Wasn't this preposterous?

Whether or not it was preposterous, the Shu Emperor was a kind-hearted and skillful man but his skin was too thin. The rich officials and nobles would always find ways to suppress their Emperor, even the Empress was involved in these techniques.

A thin-skinned Emperor, a wicked Empress and thick-skinned nobles. Just like that, a whole empire fell into a state of depression.

The Emperor of the Shu Kingdom was too kindhearted. If only he was thick-skinned but kindhearted at the same time.

Most Emperors pursued the saying 'A circling dragon divulges its dragon claws from time to time, infusing terror that was hard to forget' but the Shu Emperor was a diverse case.

The strange thing was that, a couple of years ago, Dute Zhill healing from the western provinces started thriving in the Shu Empire. The Empress became one of the enthusiastic converts. She even tried to influence the Emperor, telling him that Dute Zhill focused on healing, and doing good.

As the soft-hearted Emperor he was, he foolishly believed her and acclaimed Dute Zhill. Just like that the Shu Kingdom fell into another state of depression, this is because the Empress announced Dute Zhill as the new form of spiritual healing and that every foundation should follow the way of Dute Zhill. The Empress heightened the costs of the learning materials for Dute Zhill every month, giving her more and more revenue.

Since Dute Zhill seemed more prominent, the netizens didn't use the former way to cultivate.

From then onwards the Great Shu nation came to be rubbish!

It had been six years since then and the Shu kingdom grew unstable and weaker by the day, allowing bandits passage to free money!

Even though the Shu kingdom was now considered as rubbish Li Jiao Lei knew it was the best place to find talents.

…

The Shu Kingdom.

Marjing city;

"The ancestors are watching, the Pengs have no talent or virtue… The six of you are just a waste of resources. Pht! Get out of Marjing city."

An old man in a black robe spat.

Not far behind the old fellow stood a seventeen-year-old boy with a slight smile hanging on his mouth. He was Ye Lang, General Ye's eldest son.

Next to the youthful master was a young, glamorous lady, about fifteen to sixteen years of age. She seemed innocent and was silently apologizing to the six siblings.

"Why!"

Just then, a firm voice rose from one of the six.

Following the voice, every one a tall but thin boy standing next to the form of his sisters and brothers. This boy was about fifteen or sixteen years old, and his two hands were clasped into fists. His face was a little pale and morbid. He appeared tall and strong but was also fragile. He was inches shorter than Ye Lang.

This boy's name was Peng Deng.

The old man in a black robe frowned and said, "Peng Deng, can't you see yourself. You're a poor mendicant trying to impress a noble girl. Qing Wu is a respectful girl who is in the age of marrying. She already had her hairpin ceremony!"

Qing Wu who was just mentioned hid behind Ye Lang. Peng Deng saw her actions and felt his heart break even more.

His sister named Peng Leng said apologetically, "Elder, my brother Peng Deng will stay away from Qing Wu from now on. Please let us leave in peace."

Peng Leng was the youngest and only girl between the siblings.

The great elder glanced at Peng Leng coldly. "You better keep your word. Now screw off and get out of our sight!"

And just like that the six siblings left, but Peng Deng glimpsed at Qing Wu and Ye Lang before he turned his back and walked away with a shattered heart.

…

Not far from the event stood a masked individual in the shadows.

Li Jiao Lei had watched this scene for quite some time. The six siblings possessed potential, and she wanted their allegiance. A smile formed on her lips.

One elder brother two pairs of twins and a young girl. What a family.

…

"Peng Deng! It's already difficult for us to survive, must you add to our burden!"

"Peng Deng! She's a noblewoman, she'll never be with you!"

"Peng Deng! She's fiddling with you. She just wants attention! She'll never love you. You've given her all you can, yet she runs to that Ye Lang after you have nothing to give her!"

"Look at you! How many times have we slept hungry because you just craved to gift your darling Wu?!?! Huh? Answer me?! Do you even care for us anymore?!? I can't with you?!?!"

"She probably likes Ye Lang's gifts better than your inexpensive ones."

Peng Deng was standing at the edge of a hill. He was ready to jump. He was ready to end his misery. He was ready to end his love for Qing Wu.

He seemed to forget that he was poor, an orphan, a good-for-nothing.

"I'm so silly…hehe… I completely thought she cared for me. I actually thought I could marry her someday… HahahHa."