Su Family
After hours of sorting through his memories, the storm in his mind finally settled, leaving behind clarity and determination.
Memories of two lives intertwined—one as Arya on Earth, the other as Su Kang in this world. The weight of both identities pressed down on him.
"Arya is dead. And I… I am in an altogether different world."
He exhaled slowly.
"If I keep thinking of myself as Arya, I'll only cling to something that no longer exists."
That was the truth, wasn't it? No matter how much he grieved, no matter how desperately he tried to hold onto his past, he could never return to that life.
His gaze shifted to the bronze mirror across the room. The face staring back at him was young and unfamiliar, yet oddly familiar. He closed his eyes, forcing down the ache rising in his chest.
His father on Earth had been a government employee—stable and reliable.
His younger siblings would take care of their parents. They would grieve, but life would move on.
Just as he had to move on.
When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was steadier—less hesitant.
He was Su Kang now.
It still felt foreign, like wearing clothes that didn't quite fit. But in time, he would grow into them.
Su Kang shifted his focus to more pressing matters—his second chance, the fate that had brought him here… and the artifact.
The mysterious object he had stumbled upon in his previous life.
Back then, he hadn't understood its significance—only that it was ancient and otherworldly.
He had dismissed the odd sensation it gave him, assuming it was just some rare treasure.
Now, with the experiences of two lifetimes, he knew better.
That artifact… was the reason he was standing here.
But if he had truly traveled back in time, there was no guarantee it still existed in this era. It was the only clue he had—the only connection between his two lives.
He took a deep breath, and his mind sharpened.
"I'll prepare carefully and wait for the right opportunity," he murmured.
But before planning his next move, he needed to reassess everything he knew about this world—starting with Li Fang.
At first, it had seemed like mere coincidence. But the more he pieced things together, the clearer it became—Li Fang's life followed a pattern he had seen countless times in stories.
The term "child of destiny" suited Li Fang perfectly.
Li Fang hailed from Qin City, where the Li family had once wielded great influence.
His father, Li Xiao, had been a rising genius of his generation, and his mother had been one of the top beauties of her era.
However, fate had other plans.
Twenty years ago, Li Xiao mysteriously disappeared in the Hundred Beast Mountain Range. Without him, the Li family began to decline, suffering setback after setback.
Li Xiao had made many enemies in his prime. When news of his disappearance spread, those enemies wasted no time in pressuring the Li family from all sides.
Tensions rose, resentment brewed, and some members turned their frustrations on Li Fang and his mother.
His childhood was filled with cruelty, discrimination, and hardship. The very people who should have been his family became his tormentors.
Yet, a few sympathized with them and offered support.
Then, at the age of twelve, everything changed.
Li Fang began cultivating earlier than most—an anomaly in itself. The usual starting age for cultivation was around fourteen or fifteen, yet he defied expectations. And not just that—his talent was monstrous.
The moment the world saw his potential, fear spread.
The rival families that had oppressed the Li family began to panic. They saw Li Fang as a threat, someone who could restore his family's former glory. If that happened, their own influence would be at risk.
Thus, they schemed. Assassins were sent, traps were laid, conflicts were instigated.
But Li Fang survived.
No, more than that—he thrived.
Each setback only made him stronger. Each attempt on his life pushed him forward. Bloodshed followed him like a shadow. Even his own family members weren't spared.
By the end, the Li family, once a mid-sized powerhouse, had been reduced to a small yet terrifyingly strong force.
Those who survived the internal strife had no choice but to acknowledge Li Fang as their leader.
And this pattern continued.
Again and again.
Li Fang's life was nothing short of a legend—a tale of struggles, betrayals, and victories.
"I was a complete idiot," Su Kang thought bitterly.
In his previous life as Arya, he had genuinely considered Li Fang a friend—perhaps even a brother.
He had supported him, helped him cultivate, and even convinced his own family to share their resources with him.
And what had Li Fang done?
He had used the Su family's reputation as a shield to start countless conflicts.
The Su family was one of the major powerhouses in Jiang State, second only to the Qingyun Sect.
Their ancestor had reached the peak of the Pill Formation stage, and his father was also a Pill Formation cultivator.
The Qingyun Sect, by comparison, had five Pill Formation cultivators, multiple Foundation Building cultivation families, and thousands of disciples.
The Su family's rise had been steady. They had never actively sought trouble or provoked powerful enemies. Their reputation was one of stability and strength.
And Li Fang had exploited it to the fullest.
Su Kang himself had been a recognized genius. He had begun cultivating at twelve, and by twenty-four, he had already reached the Pill Formation stage.
He was supposed to be the most outstanding talent of Jiang State's younger generation.
Until Li Fang took that title.
At just twenty, Li Fang had also reached the Pill Formation stage.
Su Kang wasn't jealous.
But he was frustrated.
Why?
Because Li Fang got offended over everything.
His hot-blooded mentality, for some reason, had not improved as fast as his cultivation.
Even during their missions together, he would pick fights over the smallest slights. If someone in an inn called him a bastard, he would turn the place upside down.
"Protagonists are always easily offended," Su Kang muttered, shaking his head.
Stepping out of his room, Su Kang took a deep breath. He needed to clear his mind.
The courtyard was spacious and filled with lush greenery. Various trees provided shade, while a large pond—eighty meters long and fifty meters wide—lay at its center.
Fragrant lotuses floated on the water, their petals swaying gently. Small golden and red fish darted through the pond, their movements graceful and serene.
This place was familiar. It was home.
And yet, to Su Kang, it felt like a lifetime since he had last been here.
Clouded memories of two people made everything feel distant. Even though he had seen his family yesterday, he now felt as if he hadn't seen them in years.
He hurried toward his parents' courtyard.
"I wish to see my parents," he informed a servant upon arrival.
"Young master, your father is cultivating, but Madam is free. She has asked you to wait in the tea room," a maid replied after coming back.
"Alright," Su Kang nodded.
He entered the tea room and sat down, observing the surroundings.
Moments later, a graceful woman walked in, two attendants following behind her.
His mother.
Her warm smile melted away the weight in his chest, if only for a moment. But that same expression, he had seen it before, before her death.
To prevent herself from being defiled by demonic cultivators, she had self-destructed her core—choosing death in order to buy his father time to save him.
His heart turned cold at the thought. He would never let that happen again.
She sat beside him, studying his expression.
"What's wrong, my child? You look troubled," she asked gently.
"Nothing, Mother," Su Kang replied. "I was just reflecting on a past discussion."
His mother narrowed her eyes.
"What discussion?"
Taking a deep breath, Su Kang met her gaze.
"Mother… I've thought it over. I no longer wish to leave for the Central Plains."
Her smile froze. Surprise flickered in her eyes, quickly masked by concern.
"You were so determined just yesterday. What made you change your mind so suddenly?"