Outside the door—
After seeing Second Sister and Third Brother off, Fu Li An stood in the courtyard with Little Fifth, Fu Chen Xing, and waited. Before long, the long-absent percussion concert began inside the main hall, just as expected. Fu Li An immediately seized the opportunity to conduct a live case-study lesson. “When all your friends and relatives are striving to improve themselves, the one person slacking off is not only easy to catch but also likely to inspire resentment for failing to live up to expectations. Therefore, it is better to rely on yourself than on others.”
Fu Chen Xing watched the two shadows chasing each other around the room and nodded with heartfelt agreement. Father had even jumped onto the table. Clearly, he truly did hate iron for failing to become steel.
“Is Eldest Brother beating Little Fourth again?”
Fu Xuan’s voice entered the courtyard before he did.
Immediately afterward, the percussion concert inside came to a halt. Fu Fu put away his saber, straightened his clothes, and opened the door with renewed vigor, leaving the panting Fu Xi Yan behind him to lie flat at last, just as he had wished.
Fu Xuan passed through the hanging-flower gate and approached Fu Li An and Fu Chen Xing. The moment Fu Fu saw him, his brows knitted together. “What happened to your forehead?”
Fu Xuan raised a hand to touch the bandaged wound on his forehead and smiled. “That Chu fellow brought men to block my path today and insisted on challenging me to a duel.”
Fu Fu frowned. “Why would he suddenly challenge you for no reason?”
“He wants to go to Luoyang and planned to use me as his stepping-stone! Unfortunately for him, he tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice he used as bait. He invited people from the Ministry of War to witness the match, yet he was the one who lost, leaving him without even an excuse to deny the result. My years of concealing my abilities and pretending to be weak in public were not wasted.”
It was not that Fu Fu was unaware of the situation in the city over the past several days. He was simply accustomed to acting with extreme caution, so unease remained in his heart. “The Yulin Guard is, after all, a place directly under imperial authority. If your private duel happens to displease His Majesty…”
Fu Xuan sneered. “Isn’t all the conflict filling the city precisely what he wants?”
Had the damned emperor not secretly stirred up trouble over the years, Fu Xuan and Chu Guang would never have become as incompatible as fire and water.
The damned emperor had two guiding principles in life: first, anyone he disliked would be killed sooner or later—the longer he tolerated them, the more people he would eventually kill; second, the more fiercely his subordinates fought among themselves, the more secure the throne beneath him became. Therefore, anyone who wanted to catch his eye had to be combative, rise above the others, and make himself conspicuous.
Although Fu Fu understood this principle, he was conservative by nature and sought stability in everything. Even when competing with others, he preferred to do so from the shadows. However, he had always supported Fu Xuan, so he said, “Very well. I recently acquired a few items. You can deliver them to the appropriate people.”
The Fu family had only fallen into decline over the past two generations.
The late Count Yongfeng had possessed no genuine ability but had been exceptionally skilled at inner-household warfare. His fighting had severely weakened the entire Fu family, leaving the legitimate branch isolated and estranging nearly everyone around them. Fortunately, the family’s military connections and underlying resources remained intact. Now that they had encountered the opportunity presented by the relocation of the capital, careful management might allow them to return to the center of power.
Fu Fu and Fu Xuan exchanged a look, each seeing the fighting spirit in the other’s eyes.
Once the conversation turned to serious business, the younger generation had no place to interject. When Fu Li An withdrew with Fu Chen Xing, the sharp-eyed and quick-footed Fu Xi Yan immediately followed them. After leaving the courtyard, he bade his brothers farewell with a miserable expression, supported his waist with one hand, and trudged slowly toward his room. The instant he passed out of their sight, however, his back straightened and he began humming a little tune.
He had not cultivated all that fat for nothing. As a child, he had often climbed onto rooftops and torn off tiles, yet no matter what saber, spear, staff, or cudgel struck him—and no matter how convincingly the blows were delivered—he always emerged without a scratch. His father’s hard-mouthed but soft-hearted “tickling” was nothing in comparison.
Just as his humming reached “hng-hng-ha-hey,” he faintly heard movement behind him. He had only just bent over again when someone grabbed his shoulder.
Both annoyed and amused, Fu Xuan said, “Stop pretending. Your father has been beating you for so many years. When has he ever truly hurt you?”
Fu Xi Yan helplessly straightened his back. “But there has never been a time when he truly didn’t beat me either.”
“Don’t blame your father for being anxious. You are already sixteen. It is time to start making plans.”
Fu Xi Yan hesitated for a long while before cautiously asking, “You also think I should enter a marriage alliance?”
Fu Xuan looked astonished. “You already have someone in mind?”
Fu Xi Yan was even more astonished. “Wasn’t it supposed to be an arranged marriage?”
After a brief moment of awkwardness, Fu Xuan coughed softly. “A man’s ambitions should extend in every direction. At your age, you should establish a career first.”
Fu Xi Yan: “…”
Do not think that just because you phrased it tactfully, I cannot tell that you and your brother are two brothers breathing through the same nostril!
Fu Xi Yan spread his hands. “But I have accomplished nothing in either scholarship or martial arts.”
The heavens were gloomy, and so was the man beneath them.
What good-for-nothing in a transmigration or reincarnation story did not work hard?
Especially after learning that this was a high-level martial world where people could fly through the heavens and burrow beneath the earth, he had prepared himself for a loser’s triumphant reversal… No, to soar into the heavens in a single bound. While still wearing split-crotch pants, he had begun practicing the horse stance. Not even the draft blowing straight through his exposed bottom could extinguish his passion for martial arts.
When he turned five, the age considered suitable for formally beginning martial training, Fu Xuan gave him a manual called the Heavenly Dipper Primordial Unity Art, which was supposedly capable of placing anyone who mastered it among the ranks of first-rate experts.
The manual’s name might have been somewhat ordinary, but his progress was anything but. In just two short years, he entered the True Origin Stage.
True Origin in this world was much like spiritual roots in a cultivation world: it determined whether someone was capable of practicing martial arts. Only those who possessed it could meditate and cultivate, absorb the essence of heaven and earth, transform it into true qi, cleanse their muscles and marrow, and pursue higher realms.
Members of the Fu family had always possessed mediocre martial talent. Fu Xi Yan entering the True Origin Stage at seven had given the family a genuine and delightful surprise. Unfortunately, the good times did not last. After entering the True Origin Stage, everyone else could immediately sense true qi flowing through their bodies. Fu Xi Yan alone possessed True Origin without any true qi. It felt like finally assembling a computer, only for the machine to freeze!
Fortunately, the Fu family was honorable. They did not flatter those on the rise and trample those who fell. Instead, they comforted him and searched for every possible solution.
Sure enough, Fu Xuan reassured him, “You actually possess exceptional natural talent. Something merely went wrong with your body. The young divine physician may have been unable to cure you, but he still has his master, the old divine physician. Once the time comes, you may yet shed your mortal frame and enter the Way.”
Fu Xi Yan remained silent.
Seeking physicians and taking medicine, strengthening his body, searching for hidden masters among the common people… He had tried every solution he could imagine. The only thing he had not done was jump off a cliff in search of a secret manual. But anyone who had walked the mortal-progression route knew how it went. Without an author handing him a golden finger, transcending mortality was one hell of a difficult problem to solve!
Since a living man could not allow himself to be defeated by the need to urinate, he reasoned that even if he could not sweep across the realm with a sword, wielding supreme political power would be equally acceptable. Thus, at thirteen, he switched tracks. If the martial path was closed, he would pursue scholarship, pass the imperial examinations, become the top-ranked scholar, enter the Grand Secretariat, rise to the position of chief minister, and reach the pinnacle of life all the same!
Unfortunately, his science-focused education in his previous life had already foretold that he would remain incompatible with the humanities across three lives and three worlds. He had never even mastered simplified Chinese properly, much less texts beginning with “Heaven and earth are dark and yellow; the universe is vast and primordial.” Struggling against “alas” and “woe” for two entire years before issuing his salted-fish declaration had already shown his father plenty of respect. Every day, someone pressed his head down and forced him to memorize what whirlwinds, lightning, frost, and moonlight were called, or how clouds, rain, snow, and mist should be paired. The effort left him so muddled that he could no longer even recite the complete periodic table.
Fu Xuan saw Fu Xi Yan staring gloomily at the night sky and felt a pang of sympathy. The Fu family had never reached its current position through the mercy of heaven, but through unity and weathering hardships together. As long as a Fu descendant had not grown rebellious bones, Fu Xuan would plan a place for him—whether he was extraordinarily talented or a prodigy whose promise had faded.
Fu Xuan’s resolve became as firm as a boulder. “Little Fourth.”
Uh. Fu Xi Yan said sincerely, “You should just call me Fourth.”
Fu Xuan readily accepted the suggestion. “Hun Ding.”
Every time Fu Xi Yan heard that name, he felt somewhat frightened and unsettled. Fortunately, last year, through the sheer force of his own depressing nature, he had finally compelled his father to change it. Lowering his expectations, he said, “…Little Fourth is fine too.”
Fu Xuan moved past this topic, which could easily continue forever. “Tomorrow morning, come with me to report for duty at the Yulin Guard.”
Fu Xi Yan froze. “Isn’t the threshold for joining the Yulin Guard extremely high?” He had heard that numerous legitimate sons of noble families were still waiting in line.
“You possess True Origin and were born into Count Yongfeng’s Estate. You qualify with room to spare.” As an Assistant Commander, Fu Xuan could have used the convenience of his position to open the back door long ago. He had previously refrained because he feared Chu Guang would interfere. Now that they had openly torn off all pretenses of civility, he naturally had to accelerate his plans.
Every fiber of Fu Xi Yan’s being resisted the idea. It was not that he had never considered contributing to the family over the years or attempting to socialize. Unfortunately, this appearance-obsessed world made an exception especially for him—whenever he went out, people mocked and ridiculed him before they even saw his face. His figure alone was enough.
Thankfully, he possessed extensive combat experience from his previous life and had often traded insults with fellow useless players in online games. Otherwise, he would have become depressed and withdrawn long ago.
However, Fu Xuan’s sincere enthusiasm made it difficult for Fu Xi Yan to refuse directly. “Being a Yulin Guard won’t be too arduous, will it?”
“Rest assured. I will be there.” Fu Xuan appeared not to notice the reluctance written across his face and asked with a smile, “You won’t disappoint me, will you?”
Fu Xi Yan: “…”
Do not ask. If you ask, the answer is yes.
Fu Xi Yan gazed seriously at his own uncle and took a deep breath… Forget it. He had only just been put through drills by his father today. It would be best not to charge one after another into another beating and schedule them too close together.
He returned to his room weighed down by his thoughts and threw himself face-first onto the couch. After lying there for a while, he suddenly sprang up with the vitality of a dragon and the ferocity of a tiger. He pulled a bamboo basket out from beside the bed, rummaged through it, and summoned a young servant. “We’re out of lard. Go to the kitchen and fetch some fresh lard.”
The young servant looked utterly miserable. “Are you making that soap again? It’s already so late. Why not wait until tomorrow?”
Fu Xi Yan sneered. “‘Tomorrow follows tomorrow—how many tomorrows there are.’ Your young master acts with the speed of thunder and the force of the wind. Naturally, when I decide to do something, I do it immediately.”
After abandoning both martial arts and scholarship, he had begun contemplating how to develop this world’s technology tree. His salted-fish declaration was merely a disguise. Given his father’s enthusiasm for tormenting him, how would he otherwise find time to conduct research? He had already thought everything through. Once the capital moved, he could remain in Haojing, far from the emperor’s reach, and conveniently establish a dedicated laboratory. Soap was only the first step. Cement, glass, and plastic would follow. In any case, he could not allow an inadequate workspace to interfere with his performance!
Exactly. Only inadequate equipment could render his results useless.
He had found the perfect excuse for why he still could not produce the soap he imagined.
Huff, puff…
Huff, puff…
The moon climbed to the center of the sky.
The young servant had already collapsed over the table, sleeping with drool streaming from his mouth.
Fu Xi Yan skillfully tidied away the materials and failed products, then returned the Chemistry notebook in his hand to its chest before finally going to bed.
Unfortunately, once the moment of drowsiness had passed, his mind became excessively alert.
He closed his eyes for a while, but eventually could not resist sitting up to meditate.
He had long since memorized every word of the Heavenly Dipper Primordial Unity Art. The pathways along which true qi was meant to circulate, in particular, had traveled ceaselessly through his mind during those six years of relentless persistence.
Even now, they remained carved into his very bones.
The sky gradually began to brighten.
Futile Devices Scans 
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