A Different Path

Lu Chen walked in silence, his mind still reeling from the unexpected turn of events. The Bai Clan's pavilion loomed ahead, its crimson banners emblazoned with golden sigils that shimmered under the lantern light. The air carried a faint scent of incense, mixing with the dampness of the evening.

He had stepped forward out of desperation, but the full weight of his decision had yet to settle in.

Bai Xue, the woman who had recruited him, led him through the halls with an air of authority. Every step she took was deliberate, her back straight, her movements precise. She wasn't merely walking — she was commanding the space around her.

Lu Chen had seen many noble cultivators, but she carried herself with an ease that unsettled him. He still didn't know if he had secured a future or if he had walked straight into a cage.

'You seem uncertain,' Bai Xue finally said without turning to look at him.

Lu Chen hesitated. 'It is… not what I expected.'

She smirked. 'It never is.'

They passed through a set of intricately carved wooden doors and entered a spacious chamber. Several elders sat within, their robes embroidered with the Bai Clan's insignia. The flickering lanterns cast long shadows across the floor, making the air feel heavier than it should have been.

The elders' gazes fell upon him, silent yet demanding. Bai Xue stepped aside, allowing him to stand alone before them.

One of the elders, a man with a streak of white in his otherwise black hair, spoke first. 'You understand what is being offered to you?'

Lu Chen met his gaze and nodded. 'I am to join the Bai Clan as an in-law and father children with cultivation potential.'

'Correct,' another elder confirmed. 'The future of our clan depends on powerful offspring. Many great lineages have stagnated due to poor pairings. We have studied our bloodlines carefully, and we have found methods to improve our progeny's chances of success.'

Lu Chen clenched his fists. This was not the path he had envisioned, but it was a path nonetheless.

He took a slow breath before asking, 'And what happens to those who fail?'

The white-haired elder's expression did not change. 'Failure is not tolerated. If your children are weak, you will be of no further use to us.'

The words were delivered so calmly that Lu Chen felt a chill crawl down his spine. There was no malice, no cruelty — just simple, undeniable truth.

This was a contract, not a charity.

A low flicker of resentment stirred in his chest, but he forced it down. He had no other options. He had chosen this.

Bai Xue stepped forward. 'Your first match has been chosen. Bai Ling.'

At her words, a young woman entered the chamber.

She moved with quiet grace, her delicate frame draped in flowing white robes. Soft brown eyes, downcast yet composed. She was nothing like Bai Xue — there was no overwhelming presence, no air of authority. Instead, there was silence, as if she had already accepted her role long ago.

Lu Chen studied her carefully. 'She has no cultivation?'

'She does not,' Bai Xue confirmed. 'But her lineage is pure. The right combination with the proper partner can yield extraordinary results.'

A sharp taste of irony filled Lu Chen's mouth. So that was it.

He was not being chosen for his own strength, but for the potential of his descendants.

Bai Ling remained still, offering no words, no opinion. Had she even been given a choice?

Lu Chen exhaled, the weight of reality pressing against him.

There was no turning back now.

'I accept.'

The elders exchanged satisfied nods, their expressions unreadable.

Bai Xue smiled faintly. 'Then it is settled. Your new life begins now.'