The Nangoum Clan Leader's chamber radiated power.
Ancient artefacts lined polished wooden shelves. Lanterns flickered gently, casting long shadows across the lacquered walls. At the centre stood a grand jade table—smooth, cool, and luminous beneath the golden glow.
At the head of the room sat Nangoum Arion—clan leader, master strategist, and revered cultivator. His sharp eyes stared at the empty seat before him, fingers interlocked in deep contemplation.
A knock echoed.
"Come in," Arion said, not lifting his gaze.
The heavy doors creaked open. An elderly man entered, his presence as commanding as the chamber itself. His long black robes bore dust from travel, and his eyes, sharp and weathered, revealed decades of wisdom.
Xing Tian, Jin's grandfather, strode in without hesitation.
"You summoned me. Speak."
Arion gestured to the seat opposite him. "Sit. We have matters to discuss."
Xing Tian raised an eyebrow but took the seat.
"What matter draws such gravity from the great Nangoum Arion?"
Arion leaned forward, tone steady and deliberate.
"I propose a union. Between your grandson Jin and my granddaughter Nyra."
Xing Tian blinked once. "Come again?"
"Marriage. Between two prodigies."
He paused.
"Nyra reached the fifth level of Qi Refinement by eight. She's already mastered three forms of the Butterfly Sword Dance."
Xing Tian stroked his beard, nodding. "Impressive."
Arion's voice dropped a note.
"Jin reached the Golden Core Realm at five. No child in the Central Dynasty has matched such brilliance. Together, they would reshape the power dynamic of our generation."
Xing Tian's eyes narrowed. "And what of Nyra's engagement to Xiao Yan of the Yan Clan?"
"I intend to break it," Arion said flatly. "Xiao Yan's promise faded. He was a prodigy, yes—but at thirteen, he remains stagnant."
Xing Tian considered this, expression unreadable.
"You do realise this will spark conflict with the Yan Clan."
"I do. But this isn't politics—it's legacy. Nyra deserves better. Jin is better."
"I have a long-standing grudge with Xiao Yan's grandfather," Xing Tian muttered. "History runs deep."
Arion offered a faint smile. "Then let our children bury the hatchets we could not."
A long silence stretched between them. Then, Xing Tian nodded.
"Very well. You will handle the cancellation. I will attend the ceremony."
Two Days Later – Nyra's Ninth Birthday
The main hall of the Nangoum Clan thrummed with celebration.
Golden lanterns swayed above. Tables overflowed with delicacies—roasted spirit beast meat, shimmering rice pearls, lotus pastries. Laughter and chatter rose beneath the music of flutes.
At the centre stood Nyra—the pride of the clan.
She wore a silver-blue dress, silk threads glimmering like starlight. Her long violet hair was adorned with a butterfly ornament, delicate yet regal. She stood poised, composed, and radiant.
Whispers rippled.
"She's breathtaking."
"So that's the genius of the Nangoum Clan."
Nyra's eyes scanned the crowd, subtle and searching.
Her mother leaned in with a knowing smile. "Looking for someone, dear?"
"No," Nyra replied quickly. "Just observing."
Her mother chuckled. "You're hoping Jin shows up, aren't you?"
Nyra flushed. "Absolutely not."
Just then, murmurs swept through the hall.
Jin entered, walking beside Xing Tian.
He wore a sleek black suit—modern, minimal, shimmering faintly under the lantern light. No robes, no armour. It looked… foreign.
"That outfit… what realm is it from?"
"He looks like a figure from a dream."
Young girls blushed. Older disciples watched with awe—or envy.
Nyra's heart skipped.
That suit… it looks like something from Earth.
Flashback – Nyra's Past Life
Before she was the Nangoum Clan's gem, Nyra lived in South Korea. An overworked, underpaid office worker, she escaped her mundane life through web novels. Cultivation epics, system stories, reincarnation fantasies—she devoured them all.
One of her favourites was Protagonist Wars—a chaotic, trope-filled masterpiece. She was nearing its climax when she stepped into the street…
And never saw the truck.
Instead of dying, she woke in a world of qi, beasts, and clans.
At first, she was terrified. But her memories remained. Using her knowledge, she accelerated her training, mastering techniques far beyond her years.
At five, she heard of her engagement to Xiao Yan.
She had never met him. Yet the thought of being bound to a stranger in a patriarchal world stung deeply.
Even if I'm a genius… I still can't escape clan politics.
The Hunt in the Forest
A year later, while visiting her maternal grandfather's estate, Nyra went hunting in the forest with her cousin, Bai Chen—a talented boy of eight who had already reached the fifth level of Qi Refinement. Bai Chen was known for his calm demeanour and sharp instincts.
They had entered the dense forest under the supervision of a distant elder, tracking low-level spirit beasts—such as Ember Foxes and Shadow Rabbits—to gain hands-on combat experience. The goal was to sharpen their reflexes, test their techniques, and build real-world confidence.
But suddenly, a Tier-2 spirit beast emerged from the shadows.
Massive and snarling, it lunged at them with terrifying speed. Bai Chen and Nyra reacted quickly, drawing their weapons and bracing for battle.
They fought back with practised strikes, but the beast was too powerful. Its strength far outmatched what they had trained for.
Bai Chen was the first to falter—a heavy claw struck him across the side, sending him tumbling through the underbrush, blood splattering the ferns.
The beast turned its attention to Nyra.
Eyes gleaming, fangs bared—it charged, aiming to kill.
The beast lunged at Nyra, claws raised and jaws wide.
But before it could reach her, a blur of movement intercepted the charge.
Wang Ling.
He crashed into the beast with a roar, forcing it back with a heavy strike. Weapon in hand, his aura flared as he engaged the creature in fierce combat.
Their clash shook the forest floor—steel against claw, fury against instinct.
After a grueling battle, Wang Ling finally drove his blade into the beast's core, ending its rampage with a final, decisive blow.
Nyra watched in awe, genuinely impressed by Wang Ling's strength and courage.
As the dust settled, he turned to her. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, cheeks slightly flushed. "I'm fine. Thank you."
Just then, they sensed the presence of someone approaching—the elder from the Bai family.
Wang Ling's expression hardened. He glanced at Nyra and spoke quickly. "Don't mention me to anyone. I was never here."
Wait, at last, tell me your name.
My name is Wang Ling What Yours.
Nyra
Before she could respond, he vanished into the trees.
Moments later, the elder emerged, eyes scanning the scene. "Are you two alright?"
Nyra nodded. "We're okay."
He noticed Bai Chen lying unconscious nearby, and his gaze shifted to the slain Tier-2 beast. His eyes widened. "You… you defeated this thing?"
Nyra hesitated for only a second, then nodded. "Yes."
The elder said nothing, but his face betrayed both shock and admiration.
Together, they returned to the clan.
Nyra's mind swirled with questions as she walked behind the elder.
Who was that boy?
His face, his presence—it was unlike anything she had seen.
A part of her knew: this wouldn't be their last meeting.
I have to find him again.