Chapter 1: A Person Who Should Not Have Appeared

In the first year of the Hongwu era, the realm was newly unified.

Prince Wu, Zhu Yuanzhang, ascended the throne in Yingtian Prefecture, proclaiming the founding of the Great Ming Dynasty.

One day,

The new emperor was working in the Eastern Cabinet when a man presented him with a confidential memorial. He opened it casually, and the first line boldly read: “Mount Longhu.”

Zhu Yuanzhang proceeded to read the contents, his mind deep in thought.

…

A few days earlier,

On Mount Longhu in Jiangxi,

The Zhang family, heirs of several centuries of tradition, bustled about, preparing to journey to the capital for an imperial audience.

“Be careful with that! It's the gift we're presenting to His Majesty!”

“Master, I stayed up all night sewing this robe for you—be sure to wear it!”

“We're about to depart. Where has that rascal Zhang Yi gone?”

While the Zhang household was in an uproar, a young boy lay sprawled atop the roof, watching the commotion below.

He appeared to be seven or eight years old, adorably sculpted like a porcelain doll, yet his eyes bore a maturity that belied his age.

“I wonder what scheme my elder brother is plotting. As the eldest son, he should be accompanying Father, yet he insisted I, the family’s black sheep, go to the capital in his stead. Does he wish Father a short life, hoping to anger him to death and inherit the Celestial Master’s position early?”

As Zhang Yi muttered ill of his brother, retribution was swift.

He received a sharp slap from behind.

“Brother?”

Clutching his head, Zhang Yi turned to see a boy only slightly older than himself standing there.

Unlike Zhang Yi, the boy wore a Daoist robe and looked every bit the little immortal.

But at this moment, the little immortal, thoroughly irritated, jabbed a finger at Zhang Yi and scolded,

“You ungrateful brat! I saw you didn’t get along with Father, so I specifically asked Mother to suggest he take you to the capital!”

“This trip is to meet the emperor of the new dynasty and petition him for recognition of our Celestial Master’s Residence. You hardly spend time with Father—while he’s in good spirits, you should take this chance to mend your relationship!”

Zhang Yi pouted at these words,

“As if that old curmudgeon would ever see me differently! He’s convinced I’m a jinx reborn. Just look at our names—he’s Zhang Zhengchang, I’m Zhang Yi. Even the names show we don’t get along!”

“Brother, you’re not like me. They say auspicious omens marked your birth, and Father believes you’ll revitalize the Celestial Master’s Residence. But when I was born, dark clouds shrouded Mount Longhu for hundreds of miles, the crops failed that year, and Father instantly branded me a jinx—my name says as much!”

“Your name is Zhang Yuchu, but I’m just Zhang Yi. Honestly, he only barely acknowledges me as a member of the Zhang family, convinced I never should have existed!”

Despite Zhang Yi’s complaints, he understood well that he truly was someone who shouldn’t have existed.

In the annals of the Zhang family, he had appeared out of thin air. The forty-second Celestial Master of Mount Longhu, Zhang Zhengchang, was supposed to have two sons: the eldest, Zhang Yuchu, the forty-third Celestial Master, and the younger, Zhang Yuqing, the forty-fourth. Nowhere in the records was there a second son as himself; he seemed to have materialized from nowhere.

The only reason Zhang Yi knew this history was because the soul residing in him hailed from a later age—a soul that had traversed time.

To be reborn into the illustrious Zhang family of Celestial Masters at the twilight of the Yuan and dawn of the Ming was, in theory, an excellent start.

It was often said that China had only two great lineages: the Kong family of Qufu and the Zhang family of Mount Longhu. Since the founding of Orthodox Daoism by their forebear Zhang Daoling, the Zhangs had enjoyed imperial favor and patronage across dynasties. In the previous reign, their influence had reached unprecedented heights.

Born into such a family, others would envy Zhang Yi’s golden cradle. He might even be expected to inherit the Celestial Master’s title in time.

But who could understand the suffering of a transmigrant like him? From birth, he was branded a jinx by Zhang Zhengchang, all because of a supposed ill omen.

Superstition was a curse. Though Zhang Zhengchang hadn’t deprived him of food or clothing, he’d shown him little warmth.

Zhang Yi was no ordinary child; within his young body lived an adult soul, one with a stubborn temper. Isolated and wronged, he was not about to suffer in silence.

Unsurprisingly, relations between father and son soured further.

The Celestial Master’s wayward son—so Zhang Yi’s reputation spread throughout Mount Longhu.

A poor relationship with one’s father in the Zhang family was tantamount to the end of one’s prospects. Otherwise, he might have vied for the Celestial Master’s mantle.

But Zhang Yi knew the truth: the future belonged to his elder brother Zhang Yuchu and his younger brother Zhang Yuqing. There would be no place for him.

Fortunately, despite the coldness between father and son, Zhang Yi got along well with his mother and siblings.

Now, with the new dynasty established and Zhang Zhengchang heading to the capital to seek imperial favor, his good mood prompted the rest of the family to encourage reconciliation. Thus, Zhang Yuchu strongly recommended that Zhang Zhengchang take Zhang Yi with him.

Initially unwilling, Zhang Zhengchang eventually relented under his beloved eldest son’s persuasion, grumbling that perhaps a trip to Nanjing would broaden Zhang Yi’s horizons and dispel his ill fortune.

Zhang Yi had no desire to go.

He knew full well that his father’s audience with the emperor would not end well.

But as soon as he voiced his concerns to his brother, Zhang Yuchu glared him into silence.

“You jinx! No wonder Father calls you that. Remember this: keep such words to yourself, or you’ll earn another beating!”

So Zhang Yi said no more. Zhang Yuchu, still a child at heart, soon let the matter drop.

On the day of departure, hearing his younger brother utter such a heartbreaking remark, he couldn’t help but pat Zhang Yi on the shoulder.

“Brother, you are an important part of our Celestial Master’s Residence.”

“Hmph, being comforted by a little brat—how thrilling.”

“Shut up, I’m your elder brother!” Zhang Yuchu gritted his teeth. “By the Lord Lao above, never mind Father—I want to give you a thrashing myself!”

Their bickering soon alerted the family searching for Zhang Yi. Celestial Master Zhang Zhengchang looked up to see his two sons atop the roof, scuffling.

He flew into a rage, his beard bristling.

“Zhang Yi, are you corrupting your brother again?”

“Get down here, both of you!”

The two boys hurriedly leapt from the roof, landing on a lower one and then climbing down a tree.

No sooner had their feet touched the ground than Zhang Zhengchang barked, “Kneel!”

The boys exchanged a look, then dropped to their knees with a thud.

Zhang Zhengchang glanced from Zhang Yuchu to Zhang Yi, finally fixing his gaze on the latter.

“You jinx! You never do anything proper. Aside from corrupting your brother, what else are you good for?”

“After your mother and brother begged me to take you to the capital, I relented—but now, forget it!”

Zhang Zhengchang’s double standards made Zhang Yi’s temper flare.

He couldn’t help but retort,

“I wouldn’t go to that wretched capital even if you begged me! It’s only to see Zhu Yuanzhang—what’s the big deal? You might even return with your tail between your legs!”

The moment the words left his mouth, silence fell all around.

Zhang Yi looked up just in time to see Zhang Zhengchang’s face turn the color of pig’s liver.