A week had passed.

  The sound of small, hurried footsteps interrupted the quiet. A gentle knock followed, and before I could respond, the door creaked open.

  "Big Brother Bai Jian, are you awake?" Lanyue's voice rang out, a touch of urgency behind it.

  I blinked, my heavy eyelids struggling to stay open. "Lanyue...?" My voice was rough, barely a whisper.

  She entered the room, a bright smile on her face, though it was tinged with concern. "Mother and Father want to speak with you. They said it's important." She tugged gently at my sleeve, her small hand warm against the chill of the early morning.

  I slowly pushed myself up into a sitting position, feeling the weight of my exhaustion. "I... I understand." I muttered, rubbing my temples to clear the fog from my mind.

  Lanyue's eyes sparkled as she bounced on her toes. "Hurry, hurry! They said it's important!"

  I nodded faintly, dragging myself out of bed. Despite the heaviness in my limbs, I followed her out of the room, through the small corridor, and into the sitting area where Jin Shufen and her husband, the man who had brought me here, were waiting.

  The moment I entered, both of their gazes locked on me. Jin Shufen's warm smile softened as she gestured for me to sit. Her husband, a tall, broad shouldered man with a sharp gaze that seemed to see through everything, simply nodded.

  "Sit, Bai Jian." Jin Shufen said gently. "We've been discussing something, and we'd like to know your thoughts."

  I sat down, feeling the weight of their stares. There was an unspoken understanding between the three of us. This was no casual conversation.

  "Before we go on." Jin Shufen began, her voice calm but serious. "We need to know everything about what happened to you. What led to your... condition when we found you?"

  I took a deep breath, the memories of the attack flooding my mind. I had tried to push them down in the days since, but they came rushing back with an intensity that left me reeling.

  I looked at the floor, gathering my thoughts before I spoke. "I... I was attacked by something, something unnatural. It killed the cultivator which ran the carriage I was traveling in. My grandfather, Bai He, and the others... they didn't survive. It was so fast, so powerful. It killed them all without hesitation. The last thing I remember is being struck and the creature fleeing before it had time to finish me off. After that, I woke up here."

  I paused, my throat tightening as I spoke of the horror. Jin Shufen and her husband exchanged a brief glance, their expressions unreadable, but there was something in their eyes, that told me they believed every word.

  "Your grandfather is gone... and you have no other family?" Jin Shufen immediately asked.

  I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I don't... I don't have anyone left." The words felt strange on my tongue, like my body knew I was acting. But they were the truth.

  The silence in the room grew heavy. Lanyue, who had been standing quietly beside me, tugged at her mother's sleeve.

  "Mother." Lanyue said, her voice small but full of certainty. "Can Bai Jian stay with us? Can he be part of our family?" Her big eyes looked up at Jin Shufen, pleading silently.

  I mentally rolled my eyes, I was sure Jin Shufen influenced her in some way or another.

  Jin Shufen looked at her daughter, then at her husband, her gaze softening before it turned back to me. She took a deep breath, then spoke, her voice steady but filled with an undeniable sincerity, as if they repeated this scenario a thousand times.

  "Bai Jian." she said, her eyes meeting mine. "We've discussed it, and we want to offer you a place with us. We want to adopt you, to make you part of our family."

  Jin Shufen's husband finally spoke, his voice deep but warm. "We don't know what happened to you or what the future holds, but you've been through more than anyone should. If you have no one else, we'll be your family. I've always wanted a son." His gaze was firm, unwavering. "We can protect you, help you grow, and give you the care you deserve."

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  I couldn't help but feel like these words were carefully rehearsed. They couldn't be more obvious even if they wanted to. But someone who is twelve will definitely not see through. Her husband was clearly nervous, he kept adjusting his shirt over and over again, why? I don't know.

  "But... why? Why me?" I asked, my voice trembling. "You barely know me. I'm just some... some orphan who came out of nowhere."

  Jin Shufen gave me a gentle smile. "Sometimes, fate brings people together for reasons we don't understand yet. Maybe you were meant to be with us."

  This makes me wanna puke, have these people got no shame? I wanted to scream at their shamelessness but I knew that would be my demise.

  Lanyue beamed at me, her eyes wide with excitement, as if she already considered me part of the family. "Please say yes, Big Brother Bai Jian! We'll be so happy!"

  I couldn't help but feel manipulated, like Lanyue was their ace in the hole, the innocent face that made the offer seem impossible to refuse.

  I looked at their faces, each one filled with warmth and sincerity on the surface. But on the inside, their expression were malevolent, poisonous and untrustworthy.

  "I... I would be honored." I whispered. "Thank you."

  Jin Shufen and her husband exchanged a relieved glance, and Lanyue practically bounced in place, her joy infectious.

  "Welcome to the family, Bai Jian." Jin Shufen said softly, her voice filled with warmth.

  ...

  Two whole months have passed since then.

  Not long after I officially became their 'son' they started to train me. They even took me to see the local master of appraisal, people called him "Mr. Eye." Legend said he'd lost his right eye in a duel but gained uncanny insight into cores and talent. I half expected him to mutter a few words and send me away, but instead he placed a single hand over my stomach, closed his remaining eye, and nodded gravely.

  "Azure core." he declared in a hushed tone. "Grade two. Great potential, but brittle at this stage. Cultivate carefully."

  The Jin household erupted in excitement as if they didn't already know. Jin Shufen's smile lit up like sunrise, and even Jin Fen's stoic features softened. From that day on, their training became almost feral, drills at dawn, theory at dusk, and countless simulations of life threatening duels. The regional academy's recruitment tests were only days away, and the top scorers were almost guaranteed placement.

  I'll admit, the thought of returning to school made my heart twist. The last time I'd formally studied was in my past life, and the memory of being the odd, word shy boy haunted me. But this time felt different. I was older, tempered by loss.

  By the twenty-first dawn of this month, I found myself standing before the academy gates of Feiyun's annex, a sprawling courtyard flanked by weird ancient stone creatures. Dozens of hopeful youths hovered there, each bearing their own aura: some bright and confident, others nervous and fidgeting.

  I was randomly assigned a number, even those foul mouthed nobles were no exception. Feiyun's academy was no joke, it was one of the best in the empire.

  These past two months, I cultivated with all my strength yet I only just broke through the fourth sub realm. I am a bit shy of others, but I know my advantages.

  ...

  Zhang Yu - Carmine Core - Class A

  ...

  He Tao - Brass Core - Class B

  ...

  Dai Wei - Carnelian Core - Class B

  ...

  Xiang Yimu - Ivory Core - Class A

  ...

  Ivory Core?

  Xiang Yimu? Xiang Yimu. The name echoed in my mind, setting my thoughts alight. That Xiang Yimu? The one whose family held power in the capital?

  All types of people went on the stage, some returned with their hopes crushed, while others could barely walk from excitement.

  ...

  Bai Jian - Azure Core - Class A

  Although I had expected it, it still surprised me. When I heard 'Class A' it was like an assurance to me. However, when I looked into the crowd at my adoptive parents although they were happy I couldn't feel anything, it made me expressionless. It was not a good feeling

  I stepped off the stage, my core still humming in my stomach, and felt dozens of gazes resting on me, some curious, others envious. Jin Shufen and Jin Fen pushed through the crowd, their faces alight with pride, but I remained unmoved. My expression stayed flat, as if the roar of congratulations around me belonged to someone else.

  Lanyue bounded up and threw her arms around my waist. "Big Brother, you did it! Class A!" she squealed. I gently patted her head, offering her a small smile. It was the closest I could get to feeling anything.

  Across the courtyard, I caught sight of Xiang Yimu. She stood with perfect posture. Her dark eyes met mine, and for a single heartbeat, I saw something, recognition, or perhaps a challenge, flicker in her gaze before her lips curved into a polite nod.

  Behind her, nobles in fine robes murmured.

  Their words drifted to me, half heard. I let them wash over me, neither deflecting nor welcoming their attention.

  I felt incredibly tired and bored. I didn't like this at all, I would rather train by myself than fake a smile to these people.

  I came into this world excited, although forced. But until now I'd only met setbacks. A slender verse drifted through my mind, as if the dawn itself has woven it...

  At dawn's silent call, I stand alone

  An azure core of fate unknown

  Rivals gather, whispers rise

  Yet only the core's truth never lies

  I began to smile uncontrollably, looking at rising sun.

  I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of dawn wash over me. When I opened them again, the tiredness and boredom were gone, replaced by a steady calm. No more pretending. No more playing the part they wanted. From this moment on, I would let heart speak for me.