Followed by a heavy cough, I wiped the blood from my mouth.
I suddenly heard noise from outside.
Then the gate to my courtyard flung open, and I felt a hand grab my body.
“Uncle Baiyu,” I said quietly.
Then I lost consciousness.
After some time, my consciousness gradually returned.
I slowly opened my eyes and saw a blurred image of my uncle standing before me.
As my vision cleared, his concerned expression became visible.
“Zaitian,” Uncle Baiyu said softly.
“Why did you force your body to break through?
Your internal body is currently a mess.”
I coughed, then gave him a harmless smile.
“I don’t want to be protected anymore.”
“I want to be in charge of my own life.”
He gave me a light pat on the head.
“Okay.
But get some rest.
Looks like your bloodline has partially awakened.”
“Hmm.”
“After you recover, go to the Spine of the Dead God and use the pressure there to temper your body.”
He stood up and, with a stiff smile, added, “Zaitian, I’ll leave you for now.
I have a mission in the Western Domain.”
“Okay, Uncle.
Don’t worry about me.”
After resting, I made my way to the Spine.
At the base of the Spine of the Dead God, which belonged to an ancestor of the Long Clan, I glanced into the distance when I caught the sound of laughter.
Irritating, honestly.
Ten fellow clan members had gathered together, discussing something among themselves.
I ignored them and headed toward the foot of the Spine.
The massive staircase was wide enough for hundreds of people to climb at once.
I stepped onto it cautiously.
I felt no pressure yet.
So I continued climbing.
“Hey, Zaitian.
Can’t you walk any faster?” one of them called out with a playful smirk.
I ignored him.
I don’t have time for arrogant brats.
All ten of them started climbing not long after me.
Every one of them was faster than I was, but I didn’t care.
Four of them eventually slowed down to match my pace, while the others sped ahead, apparently because of some kind of bet among themselves.
“Zaitian.
You must be wondering who we are,” one of the remaining four asked.
It was a girl.
I glanced at her briefly.
Coquettish.
Innocent-looking.
Looks are deceiving.
“No,” I said coldly.
“Ouch.
That hurts.”
She pretended to pout while the others listened to our conversation.
“Well, I’m Long Ria.
Good name, right?” She pointed toward the others cheerfully.
“The one with dark red hair is Meng, the one with white hair is Chen, and the big guy is Mo.”
“Hmm.”
That was all I gave them.
I kept to myself, bearing the pressure of the Spine as it gradually increased with every step.
“You’re really…”
Before Ria could finish, the hundredth step cracked beneath our feet.
Crack!
The entire stair suddenly gave way.
Ria, Meng, and Chen were standing directly over the center of the collapse.
They fell.
The distance between the broken stair and the ground below was enormous.
The moment they disappeared with the collapsing stone, I lunged forward and caught Ria and Chen.
At the same time, Mo caught Meng.
The three of them narrowly avoided crashing into the ground.
During the process, however, a jagged piece of stone caught my wrist.
A sharp pain flashed through my arm.
I barely noticed it.
The cut had exposed something beneath my skin.
Golden veins.
Right in front of Ria and Chen.
“Zaitian…”
Ria’s playful expression vanished.
She stared at my wrist with a serious gaze.
“What exactly am I looking at?”
Her question immediately drew the attention of the others.
Chen stared as well.
The expressions around us changed one after another.
Surprise.
Suspicion.
Shock.
I pulled my hand away, straightened my clothes, and looked at them.
“Later.”
I turned and started walking away.
“Zaitian, wait.”
Meng’s voice stopped me.
I paused, raised an eyebrow, and turned toward him.
He scratched his head nervously.
“I already told an Elder about this.”
I stared at him.
“You gossip.”
Yuan smacked Meng on the head, clearly annoyed.
The others fell silent.
I gave Meng a long look before sweeping my gaze over the rest of them.
Then I walked away.
“Let’s hope our paths don’t cross again.”
I headed back toward my courtyard, intending to sit down and think about everything that had just happened.
And whatever came next.
The moment I stepped inside, I shut the gate behind me.
“Young Master Zaitian.”
I froze.
A mature, striking woman dressed in black silk sat on a stool nearby, her legs crossed as she calmly watched me.
“I don’t believe you’re trying to hide something from us elders.”
Zaitian life really isn’t easy