Chapter Three: The Mystery of Origins

“Are you surprised? Don’t panic. I know how difficult it is for someone from a humble background like you to compete with the great families. But what if I help you find a teacher?”

“Master Yinshan is unparalleled in talent and wisdom. With his guidance, even a piece of deadwood could bloom. Just take this jade pendant to Master Yinshan, and he will accept you as his disciple.” The woman smiled, unfastened a jade pendant from her waist, and waved it before Yi’an’s eyes as she spoke.

Yi’an was tempted. Here, he had no foundation at all, and who knew when those powerful figures would come looking for him again.

“I can’t tell if I’m asking you for a favor or doing you a great kindness. To study under Master Yinshan is the dream of countless scholars, and yet you’re hesitating. Truly, you don't know how fortunate you are. Still, it’s rare to meet a scholar as clear-headed as you.” The woman mused aloud, surprised by Yi’an’s composure.

But she misunderstood. Yi’an wasn’t calm—he simply didn’t know enough about Master Yinshan, only that he was a great scholar of the age, according to his memories.

That was all.

Master Yinshan’s life was legendary. Gifted from childhood, he won first place in the provincial exams at thirty, and was handpicked as the top scholar in the imperial exams. His knowledge was vast, his character upright and unyielding.

Sadly, the imperial court was plagued by treacherous officials and corruption. An honest man was out of place in such a court. Though Master Yinshan tried to reform the bureaucracy, his strength alone was too meager. He was ostracized at every turn and ultimately dismissed from office.

“Are we leaving now?” Yi’an hesitated, still held back by unfinished business weighing on his heart.

“Of course!” Lin Shiyin nodded. “There’s no time to lose—the next provincial exam is less than two years away. And my name is Lin Shiyin. Stop calling me ‘Miss’ all the time.”

“Miss Shiyin, may I trouble you with one more thing? If you help me with this, I’ll be able to focus on the exams with a clear mind.” Yi’an hesitated, but spoke up.

“Oh, very well, I suppose I’ll see this through to the end. What is it? If it’s too troublesome, I might not be able to help—I must return before dark.” Lin Shiyin glanced up at the sky; her girlish playfulness faded, replaced by a certain authority.

“It’s not troublesome.” Yi’an brightened and recounted the events of the previous night from the memories of the body’s original owner.

—

“That’s outrageous! Those thieves are brazen beyond belief, acting with utter disregard for the law. Are the officials of the Yanbei Dynasty truly so corrupt?” Lin Shiyin was indignant. A gang of criminals openly roamed the city, yet the authorities did nothing. Was it negligence, or was there something more sinister at play?

“Do you know where those thieves came from? That man in the black robe seemed to be targeting you specifically. What were they after, to go to such lengths?” Lin Shiyin was full of questions.

“I don’t know. I was orphaned at a young age and raised by a nursemaid. She risked her life to help me escape and never made it out herself. I don’t know what became of her, but I fear the worst. All she left me was this letter.” Perhaps influenced by the memories of the original owner, Yi’an felt a wave of sadness.

“Open it quickly—perhaps the truth is inside!” urged Lin Shiyin.

Yi’an nodded, hoping the letter held the answers he sought.

He tore open the old envelope to reveal a piece of smooth, delicate silk, on which four large characters were written: “To my beloved son.”

“So this letter was written by the mother I never met.” Yi’an was surprised. The original owner had asked the nursemaid about his parents many times, but she always evaded the question. Was there a hidden story here?

The letter first revealed that Yi’an’s father was the famed Marquis Zhenbei. From his memories, Yi’an knew that this man was one of the most powerful figures in the Yanbei Dynasty, holding both civil and military authority. He could take an enemy general’s head from amidst ten thousand troops, and the northern barbarians trembled at the sound of his name.

Moreover, Marquis Zhenbei was a scholar as well as a warrior, well-versed in literature and military strategy. The late Emperor praised him as “a man who could bring peace with the pen and secure the realm on horseback.”

Yi’an’s mother, Liuxia, was a renowned beauty of Chang’an, gifted in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and especially poetry. She was courted by many, but as the saying goes, “beauties love heroes.” At a poetry gathering, she met the rising Marquis Zhenbei, and the two soon fell in love.

Everything seemed destined for happiness.

But fate took a cruel turn. Marquis Zhenbei discovered he had been betrothed since childhood to a daughter of the noble Jia family. Under great pressure, he had no choice but to take her as a secondary wife, though his heart belonged only to Liuxia.

For several years, things remained calm. Lady Jia showed no signs of ambition and often acted with kindness toward Liuxia, who, unsuspecting, lowered her guard.

—

But then the northern barbarians invaded. Marquis Zhenbei left to lead his troops, and Lady Jia seized the opportunity. Under the pretense of a Mid-Autumn outing, she invited Liuxia, but her true intention was betrayal. She had conspired with outsiders and brought along a powerful cultivator who, like Liuxia, had reached the Foundation Establishment realm.

Liuxia thought she had kept her cultivation a secret, but Lady Jia was prepared. If it had been just the one opponent, Liuxia would have held her ground. But to her shock, Lady Jia herself, so seemingly delicate, was also a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment realm. Outnumbered, Liuxia was defeated and gravely wounded as she fled.

Lady Jia had discovered Liuxia’s superior cultivation techniques and coveted them, plotting to kill her and steal her secrets.

Though Liuxia escaped, her spiritual foundation was damaged and her days were numbered. Her first act upon returning was to instruct her maid to take her three-year-old son and flee.

Lady Jia was ruthless and would stop at nothing. If Liuxia died, her son would be in grave danger. Thus, Liuxia chose to sacrifice herself to give her son a chance to escape.

The story ended abruptly there.

Muttering “Lady Jia” under his breath, Yi’an’s face twisted with hatred.

“I never imagined you were the son of Marquis Yi Jingyun. If he knew you were alive, he would be overjoyed.”

“But Lady Jia has thrived these past years. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to willingly remain a secondary wife—that’s suspicious in itself. Coupled with her cruel methods, she must be plotting something. Don’t worry, I’ll investigate this matter quietly when I return.” Lin Shiyin was astonished to find that the seemingly ordinary scholar she had met by chance had such an extraordinary background.