Chapter 2: The Mysterious Tripod

“You…”

Jiang Xuehan’s face flushed deeply. Recalling all the whispered secrets she had shared with Qin Liang over the years, she felt utterly ashamed, wishing she could vanish into the ground.

“Why do you pretend to be deaf and mute when there’s nothing wrong?” Jiang Xuehan chided gently.

This side of her made her even more captivating, stirring a pang of tenderness in Qin Liang’s heart.

Just as he reached to take her hand and soothe her, a sudden grunt escaped him, and his face paled slightly.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Xuehan panicked and hurried to check his pulse. Unfortunately, her limited skill could not discern anything unusual.

Worried, she asked, “Does this happen every time you speak?”

Qin Liang nodded, his pale face softening into a gentle smile that tugged at her heartstrings.

Within him resided a mysterious divine furnace, forcibly implanted by his father before his departure. It was said that upon reaching adulthood, the furnace’s contents would be fully refined, nurturing and empowering him.

Then, he would be reborn and undergo a profound transformation, able to cultivate normally.

The condition was that he must feign deafness and muteness, speaking as little as possible. Otherwise, the secret within the divine furnace would be exposed, and any slight misstep could backfire, even causing his body to explode.

For over a decade, he had obediently followed his father’s instructions, living as a simpleton.

Today would be the last day.

“Forget it, I won’t ask anymore. Just don’t speak right now; your health comes first.”

Seeing Qin Liang about to speak again, Jiang Xuehan hurriedly covered his mouth with her hand, but realizing the impropriety, she pulled back.

“You look so frail, yet you talk about protecting me. You should take better care of yourself first!” she scolded.

Qin Liang paid no mind, but felt a warmth in his heart.

He dipped a finger into the tea and wrote on the table: “Trust me.”

The three characters gradually cooled on the surface, but the warmth of the tea seemed to seep into her heart, filling it with comfort.

Having lost her mother early, she had received little care from the Jiang family over the years.

Whenever she had something on her mind, she could only confide in Qin Liang, treating him as her trusted confidant.

“By the way, Li Hongcai should be coming out of seclusion in the next few days. If you’re fine, stay indoors and avoid being seen by him.”

Jiang Xuehan suddenly remembered something, her expression turning grave as she warned him.

At the mention of that name, a flicker of coldness flashed in Qin Liang’s eyes as he clenched his fist.

Over the years, Qin Liang had heard from Jiang Xuehan about this man, who was no good.

Li Hongcai possessed a fifth-grade Dao root and often harassed Jiang Xuehan, causing her endless distress.

If it weren’t for his current seclusion and the clan meeting underway, the event might not end smoothly. If he learned that Jiang Xuehan had been promised to Qin Liang, the simpleton, he might stir up trouble.

“Mm.”

Qin Liang nodded, pulling Jiang Xuehan into his embrace and kissing her gently on the lips.

Years of shared understanding had taught them to communicate without words, sensing each other’s feelings effortlessly.

“Once my rebirth is complete tomorrow, no one will be able to stop me from marrying you,” Qin Liang vowed silently.

“I should go now.”

After lingering together for a long time, they reluctantly parted. Jiang Xuehan left under Qin Liang’s watchful gaze.

“Father, Mother, your child is about to marry. Where are you?”

Qin Liang looked up at the deep night sky outside the window, whispering softly, revealing his longing.

“Hmmph!”

He emitted a muffled grunt, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, yet this was all too familiar, almost stirring a sense of melancholy.

Because in just one more night, the strange affliction that had plagued his body for over ten years would finally end.

…

In the courtyard of the Jiang family’s elder couple.

“I refuse. Xuehan must never marry that fool!”

Li Hongcai arrived hurriedly, so flustered he hadn’t even touched his tea. “Auntie, you know how I feel about cousin Xuehan. How can you make such a rash decision?”

“Please, Auntie and Uncle, revoke your decree and give cousin to me,” Li Hongcai pleaded, then knelt directly before the elder couple, making their expressions grow even more displeased.

“Stand up first; let’s talk this through,” Jiang Qiumei said sternly.

“Please, Auntie, revoke your decree,” Li Hongcai insisted, resolute and unmoved.

Jiang Hai and Jiang Qiumei exchanged helpless glances and sighed. “The marriage date was set in front of so many clan elders at the council. Your uncle is the clan head; he cannot go back on his word.”

“But…” Li Hongcai was frantic.

“That’s enough. This matter is settled. Don’t bring it up again,” Jiang Qiumei scolded firmly.

They had just set the date during the day; changing it again at night would damage the clan head’s reputation if the elders found out.

Li Hongcai had grown up as a ward in the Jiang family, but he represented his maternal family’s interests.

Over the years, he had repeatedly defied the clan head, much to Auntie Jiang Qiumei’s frustration.

“If you won’t retract your decree, then I’ll make that useless Qin Liang cancel the engagement himself. When that happens, don’t expect any of you to stop me from marrying cousin Xuehan,” Li Hongcai snarled, gritting his teeth, then decisively stood and left.

“Li Hongcai, stop right there!” Jiang Qiumei roared, but her nephew paid no heed, not even pausing as he strode out of the courtyard.

…

“Rebellious!” Jiang Qiumei’s chest heaved with anger. “How could I have raised such a nephew?”

“Calm down first,” Jiang Hai handed her a cup of tea, soothing her. “He wants Qin Liang to cancel the engagement willingly. It won’t be that easy. Don’t let this little matter harm your health.”

“I’m worried he’ll do something foolish and I won’t be able to explain to the ancestor,” Jiang Qiumei sighed deeply. “It’s my fault for spoiling him since he was young.”

Just outside the courtyard gate, Li Hongcai’s face darkened, the air around him chilling noticeably.

“The years of accumulation hidden within cousin Xuehan’s body must not be wasted. I have to reclaim it. Once I marry her virgin self, my cultivation will soar exponentially.”

“Qin Liang, that’s not yours to touch. You’d better stay away, or I’ll make sure you’re not even fit to be a waste.”

…

At dawn, the sun struggled over the horizon.

In Qin Liang’s room at the Jiang family’s side estate.

Anxious yet excited, Qin Liang awoke early, ate two steamed buns from the kitchen, drank a bowl of thin porridge, then sat cross-legged on the bed, quietly feeling his body’s transformation.

The mysterious divine furnace had been implanted within him for exactly fifteen years.

Amid his anxiety was overwhelming excitement—a fierce yearning to embark on the path of cultivation.

He took several deep breaths, gradually calming, adjusting himself to his best state.

“Cultivation, here I come!”

Qin Liang focused inwardly, feeling as if he had fully merged with his surroundings.

Every cell in his body seemed awakened, filled with unprecedented joy and anticipation.

As the first ray of sunlight streamed through the window, warming him, a subtle heat blossomed in his chest and spread outward.

At the same time, a humming sound—audible only to him—resounded inside.

Like an ancient great bell ringing with mystical Dao tones, it traversed distant time and space, finally reaching the depths of his soul, causing his body and spirit to tremble in resonance with the Dao.

Immediately, countless transparent roots began to sprout vigorously within the mysterious divine furnace, wildly extending in all directions like endless vines dancing.

Staring at the tangled roots, Qin Liang felt dazed.

“My Dao roots… are there really this many?”