Waking with a sharp, painful jolt from a dream once more, Ji Changkong sat up in the wooden ** and glanced toward the window; the sky was only just beginning to lighten. Quickly pulling on his cyan robes, he cupped both hands, splashed cold water on his face, and scrubbed it carelessly before rushing outside, unable to wait a moment longer.

While the adage claims the whole year’s success rests on the spring, and a day’s success on the morning, for Ji Changkong, the early hours were rarely a good time.

He hurried to the cookhouse, rolled up his sleeves, and immediately plunged into work. Tending the fuel, starting the fire, adding water, kneading the dough—his sequence of actions was fluid and practiced, clearly not his first time performing such tasks.

Boom! Crash!

Violent noises erupted from outside—the sound of fists splitting bluestone and feet shattering hard timber. The sons of the Ji clan were all taking advantage of the early morning to temper their flesh and bones, striving to advance further on the arduous path of Celestial Scholar cultivation.

Ji Changkong, who was stir-frying lettuce in the cookhouse, paused when he heard the sound of green rock being violently pulverized outside. A touch of melancholy suddenly shaded his features. With a soft sigh, he refocused on the lettuce in the wok, only to inwardly curse himself—he had overcooked the greens.

“Changkong, is breakfast ready yet? The City Lord is coming today, and the triennial Ji Clan Celestial Assessment starts at the Chen hour. We must hurry!” A pleasant female voice drifted from the doorway. Barely a moment later, Ji Wanyun entered the cookhouse.

“Aunt, it will be ready in a moment,” Ji Changkong turned, flashing a grin that revealed teeth that seemed especially bright against his small face, sooty from the ashes.

Seeing that brilliant smile bloom on his soot-darkened face, Ji Wanyun felt an inexplicable pang of sorrow in her heart. With a sigh, she stepped forward and extended her delicate, jade-like hand to gently wipe the dust from his face.

Ji Changkong immediately dropped his spatula, hurriedly stepping back two paces. He turned, presenting his back to Ji Wanyun, and began arranging the steamed buns one by one onto the rack before speaking softly, “Aunt, my face is dirty; I’ll wash it later. Don’t dirty your hands.”

“What are you saying, child!” Ji Wanyun suddenly sounded annoyed. Her body swayed gracefully as she moved swiftly in front of Ji Changkong. Her left hand shot out like lightning, gripping his shoulder to prevent his retreat, while her right hand continued the task she had just begun—wiping the black grime from his face.

However, Ji Wanyun’s dry right hand, smearing back and forth across his cheek, did nothing to remove the soot. Instead, it made his face look utterly grotesque, like a poorly drawn talisman.

“Aunt, I told you not to wipe it. Look, you’ve gotten your hand dirty now,” Ji Changkong murmured, deeply touched, knowing who cared for him.

“If it gets dirty, you wash it!” Ji Wanyun sharply rebuked, her expression instantly serious. “Changkong, no matter what others say or how they view you, in your Aunt’s eyes, you will always be the best child of the Ji clan!”

“I know you love me, Aunt,” Ji Changkong smiled faintly. He carefully lifted his hand to brush aside the long strand of hair covering Ji Wanyun’s left cheek. Looking at the four hideous scars marring her smooth cheek, extending from her temple down to her pale neck, Ji Changkong’s eyes grew resolute. “Aunt, I may never have the power to avenge you, but I swear I will find a way to erase these four scars from your face!”

The four scars on Ji Wanyun’s face lay like four ugly little snakes coiled upon her skin, utterly ruining the beauty of her otherwise handsome features. The markings clearly showed they had been gouged by fingernails, sharp and vicious!

The scars were so deep, one could imagine how deeply the assailant’s nails must have dug into her flesh; the accompanying agony must have been unimaginable...

Physical suffering was one thing, but the torment of the spirit was even more crushing! For a woman, especially one who had once been beautiful, there could be no more cruel or vicious form of retaliation.

“Stop talking nonsense. Knowing you have this intention is enough for your Aunt,” Ji Wanyun’s eyes darted, a flicker of panic crossing her face. She quickly used her long hair to conceal the four grotesque scars on her left cheek again, then helped Ji Changkong arrange the steamed buns and the few small side dishes. “Let’s go. Those Ji clan men, young and old, have no patience. They must be waiting anxiously.”

Ji Changkong clenched his fists tighter and tighter, until the nails dug painfully into his flesh. Only then did he loosen his grip. Taking a deep breath to settle his agitated heart, Ji Changkong picked up the remaining bowls of thin congee and silently followed Ji Wanyun out of the cookhouse.

The Dining Hall.

Several small plates of side dishes and two large baskets of white steamed buns sat on the long table, with a bowl of thin congee presented before each person.

The two elders, Ji Yuxing and Ji Yusheng, occupied the seats of honor. To the left sat Ji Yuxing’s two sons, Ji Haohong and Ji Haoguang, and his grandsons, Ji Changxiao, Ji Changsheng, and Ji Changle. To the right, the first seat belonged to Ji Yusheng’s daughter, Ji Wanyun, followed by Ji Haoguang’s eldest daughter, Ji Yueqing, Ji Haohong’s youngest daughter, Ji Xiaolian. Ji Changkong was last.

At the Ji family table, aside from the honored seats, the men sat to the left and the women to the right. Ji Changkong should have been seated on the left, but the large table wasn't long enough, forcing him to shift to the right, among the Ji women.

There was also a smaller table where Ji Haohong and Ji Haoguang’s wives, Madam Luo and Madam Zhao, sat, their heads bowed in waiting. Anyone not born into the Ji family, once entering their gates, was not qualified to sit at the main table. Only those named Ji ever sat there.

With Ji Yuxing and Ji Yusheng present, the dining table was usually quiet. If these two did not speak, the descendants remained silent; this was the rule.

Ji Yuxing cleared his throat lightly. “Eat.”

With that, Ji Yuxing took a tiny piece of lettuce, chewed it, and frowned slightly, though he said nothing. Once Ji Yuxing moved his chopsticks, everyone followed suit, the bamboo utensils clattering over the small dishes.

Ji Changkong’s heart tightened. He suddenly remembered, in his distraction speaking with Ji Wanyun, he had inadvertently served the overcooked lettuce. He stole a glance at Ji Yuxing, and seeing no sign of impending accusation, Ji Changkong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Ptoo! Ji Changle spat a piece of lettuce onto the table in front of him, his face contorted, and he glared fiercely at Ji Changkong across the table. Then, Ji Changle quickly lowered his head and began slurping his congee loudly.

“Uh... the lettuce was overcooked, but Little Le, you really shouldn't have done that,” Ji Haoguang, Changle’s father, smiled, trying to make excuses for his son. The Ji family rules were strict; Changle’s behavior at the table was already improper. Ji Haoguang feared his father, Ji Yuxing, would reprimand his grandson, so he feigned indifference and shifted the blame onto Ji Changkong.

“It was overcooked,” Ji Haohong nodded, glancing at Ji Changkong, who kept his head lowered. “Changkong, you must be more careful next time,” he said lightly.

“I understand, Eldest Uncle. Tomorrow, I will cook the meal properly, ensuring you won't find it inedible,” Ji Changkong replied softly, his head still bowed, though a flicker of resentment crossed his eyes.

Clang!

Ji Changkong’s biological grandfather, Ji Yusheng, slammed his porcelain bowl down heavily. He suddenly roared, “Cooking! Always cooking! A dignified son of the Ji clan wastes his effort on such lowly chores. What achievements can you possibly have?”

He paused, then seeing Ji Changkong remain silent with his head down, he slapped the table again and berated him once more, “Knowing we have an honored guest arriving today, yet you’re covered in filth, not even changing into clean clothes—utterly lacking propriety!” As soon as the words left his mouth, Ji Yusheng threw down his chopsticks, snorted coldly, and stood up.

Ji Yusheng’s explosion seemed quite abrupt, with no prior warning. Everyone exchanged startled glances, momentarily setting down their bowls and chopsticks, staring blankly at him.

Ji Changle, who had just glared viciously at Ji Changkong, now looked openly gleeful. Ji Changxiao, Ji Changsheng, and Ji Yueqing acted as if nothing concerned them, not even glancing at Ji Changkong, but looked curiously at Ji Yusheng, puzzled why he was throwing such a fit over such a trivial matter.

Ji Haohong and Ji Haoguang sat rigidly upright, their expressions stern. Their wives, Madam Luo and Madam Zhao, sitting at the side table, kept their heads slightly lowered, subtle, cold smiles playing on their faces.

Only Ji Xiaolian, sitting beside Ji Changkong, timidly tugged his sleeve, sympathy shining in her bright eyes and round little face.

“Father!” Ji Wanyun stood up, facing Ji Yusheng without fear, and retorted angrily, “If Changkong hadn't been unable to gather primal energy his whole life, he wouldn't be inferior to anyone! Changkong, as a direct descendant of the Ji clan, it is already exhausting enough for him to manage the daily meals for everyone. A momentary lapse is inevitable. Must you still be angry with him?!”

“Ahem…” Ji Yuxing, who had continued drinking his congee with his head bowed, finally looked up, setting down his bowl and chopsticks, though he made no move to stand. He looked at Ji Yusheng and frowned. “Third Brother, it is precisely because Changkong cannot gather primal energy to become a Celestial Scholar that I appointed him to manage the daily food, seeing his exceptional culinary skills. I was just trying to find something for him to do, since he can’t cultivate, to keep him from being idle. If you dislike it, I will find someone else to replace him; why get so angry?”

“He’s clumsy and awkward, and frankly, I don’t like the food he cooks anyway!” Ji Yusheng glared fiercely at Ji Changkong, then waved his hand and walked away. As he reached the doorway, he muttered under his breath, “Xiao Zhou’s cooking is good; I prefer him!”

“Haohong, starting tomorrow, let Xiao Zhou resume responsibility for the daily meals,” before Ji Yusheng’s figure had completely vanished, Ji Yuxing sharply instructed his eldest son, Ji Haohong.

“Understood, Father,” Ji Haohong acknowledged, glancing unconsciously at the silent, downcast Ji Changkong, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

“The City Lord should be here soon. Finish eating quickly and head to Green Rock Mountain to prepare for the assessment. Any brat who arrives late will be locked in the Cold Ice Cave for three days!” Ji Yusheng rose, about to leave, but his gaze swept over Ji Changkong by chance. He paused, frowned, and then decided, “Changkong, you stay behind to clear the table. Since you can’t gather primal energy anyway, whether you attend the assessment or not is irrelevant.” With that, Ji Yuxing’s figure flickered, and the expert of the Six Harmonies Heaven realm vanished instantly.

Once Ji Yuxing left, Ji Haohong and Ji Haoguang didn't spare Ji Changkong a glance. They merely nodded to Ji Wanyun, wiped their mouths with a damp cloth, and departed, their wives, Madam Luo and Madam Zhao, following closely behind.

“Wait until the assessment is over, and I’ll deal with you, hmph!” Ji Changle gave Ji Changkong a final vicious glare. He ignored the rest of his food, and as he passed Ji Changkong, he muttered under his breath so only they could hear. Then, he hurried toward Green Rock Mountain with Ji Changxiao and Ji Changsheng, afraid of being locked in the Cold Ice Cave for three days if they were late.

“Brother Changkong, it’s all because Brother Changle spat out his food that Third Grandfather got angry. Don’t be sad,” Ji Xiaolian tugged Ji Changkong’s sleeve, her bright eyes and round little face pouting slightly as she whispered comfort.

“Let’s go, Xiaolian. You don’t want to be locked in the Cold Ice Cave, do you?” Ji Yueqing frowned. Without waiting for Ji Changkong to reply, she sharply called out. She clearly disliked Ji Xiaolian associating too closely with Ji Changkong. She grabbed Xiaolian’s arm and yanked her along before the younger girl could finish speaking.

Ji Xiaolian stuck out her tongue, waved at Ji Changkong, and rushed out with Ji Yueqing.

When only he and Ji Wanyun remained in the dining hall, Ji Changkong, who had kept his head lowered, finished the last drop of his congee. He then looked up, a faint smile still lingering on his face, as if completely unaffected by Ji Yusheng’s harsh scolding—unruffled by praise or disgrace.

“Changkong, don’t blame your grandfather. In the entire Ji clan, the one who dotes on you most is not your Aunt, but your grandfather!” Once everyone had left, Ji Wanyun let out a soft sigh and murmured wistfully.

“Aunt, I naturally know Grandfather acts this way because he worries for me. Alas, it is I who am disappointing, making it difficult for Grandfather; he even has to go to such lengths just to save me some effort,” Ji Changkong sighed.

Hearing this, Ji Wanyun smiled softly, patted Ji Changkong’s head, and said with relief, “You child, you are much smarter and more sensible than those little brutes. You always put my mind at ease. If one day you manage to gather primal energy and cultivate into a Celestial Scholar, I swear none of those scoundrels like Changle will compare to you!”

:The new book by Xiao Ni is uploaded. Brothers, please save it and throw some recommendation tickets my way. Thank you (^__^)……