Chapter 3: Such Grandstanding
Chapter 3: Such Grandstanding
“Brother Tang, you felt it too?”
The woman’s brow furrowed faintly as uncertainty tinged her question.
The man shook his head with a resigned sigh. “Indeed. It’s as though Biao’er has become an entirely different person. Were it not for his soul essence remaining unchanged, I’d almost suspect a Soul Possession.”
A sigh heavy with the weight of untold ages escaped the woman’s lips. “Enough. Perhaps it’s simply… we’ve missed him too much. That Biao’er survived this calamity is already our greatest blessing. Though not our blood, we’ve neglected him all these years. Had this disaster not struck, we might never have realized… chasing the Heavenly Dao, seeking immortality… yet we’re powerless when those closest to us suffer? Perhaps… we’ve been wrong all along. Koff!”
“Heh… perhaps so…”
The middle-aged man offered a bitter, helpless smile.
……
Unnoticed, the night passed. The next day, it was nearly noon before Wang Feng finally opened his eyes. Yet as his gaze took in the surroundings—so utterly alien—the light within them dimmed once more.
“Hah… So it’s really true? I’ve crossed over? Can’t go back?”
Unbidden tears welled in Wang Feng’s eyes, threatening to spill.
“Young Master! You’re finally awake!”
Little Lv spoke softly beside him, a warm smile gracing her face. She had been quietly waiting since sensing movement.
“Hah…”
Seeing the earnest smile, Wang Feng could muster no words. He simply managed a faint, empty smile before pushing himself up and moving to the table.
“Little Lv. Sit. Eat together.”
Wang Feng gestured towards the food, intending to share the meal.
“No! No! Young Master, don’t joke like this!” Little Lv recoiled as if burnt, her face turning ashen. “I’m just a maid! How could I sit and eat with the Young Master? If Master found out… he’d… he’d flay my skin!” Panic laced her stammered words as she edged away.
“Hah!”
Wang Feng let out another hollow laugh. Ignoring further conversation, he mechanically began eating alone.
……
A full quarter-hour later, acceptance seemed to dawn on Wang Feng. This wasn’t a dream. He was truly in another world. A reluctant sigh escaped him: “Alright. If the heavens are giving me this chance… I won’t waste it. I don’t know your purpose… but I know mine: I will leave this world!” He paused, then a surge of bitterness cut through. “No, screw that! Back there? Total loser. The Goddess I chased my whole life? Stolen by some rich prince charming in just days!” His fists tightened on the table. “Why the hell return to that goddamn reality?”
……
Finishing his meal, Wang Feng sat at the writing desk. Staring out at the three suns hanging in the sky, his mind raced.
“Hah… And my luck really sucks, eh?” A wry laugh broke the silence. “Didn’t they say transmigrators inherit memories? Me? I got nothing but darkness.”
He flicked through the texts scattered across the desk, frustration simmering beneath his words.
“Young Master… you truly remember nothing at all?”
Little Lv watched the familiar-yet-strange youth with hesitant eyes. She’d heard of memory loss… just never expected it right beside her.
“Yeah. Nothing. Not even my own name.” Wang Feng turned to face her, spreading his arms in a resigned shrug.
“Ah!”
Upon hearing Wang Feng say this, Little Lv was startled and said, “Young Master, are you joking? How could you possibly forget your own name?”
“Hmm, indeed forgotten.”
Wang Feng had decided: he would integrate into this new world; he would survive in this new world. Therefore, he could only choose to forget everything from his past. Only by forgetting the past could there be a new beginning, only then could there be a future.
He used to often regret not studying hard, failing to get into a decent university, and just wasting his days. He also regretted that if he had been braver back then, the girl he loved might not have inexplicably left, making it nearly impossible to cross paths again in his later life. He had inquired about her news more than once, but it was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Perhaps some people were just missed. Even the so-called “goddesses” that came later were merely strong stimulants for his heart during dull times. Now, since heaven had given him a chance to start over, why not cherish it?
After realizing this, the despondence in Wang Feng’s heart was swept away, replaced by longing and anticipation for his new life and world.
“But then why yesterday, when the Master called you? Oh, right, right! You actually called the Master ‘uncle’ and mentioned something about ‘making a movie’!”
Little Lv froze for a moment but quickly regained her composure, a strange expression flashing across her face—one that seemed like wanting to laugh but not daring to. However, when she mentioned “making a movie,” she looked mildly puzzled, as she had never heard that term before.
“Uh…”
Wang Feng felt helpless.
“Young Master, what is ‘making a movie’? Can you eat it?”
Suddenly discovering this term, Little Lv seemed to doubt Wang Feng’s amnesia and instead asked mischievously.
“I…”
Kreee!
Just as Wang Feng was about to respond, a loud bird cry pierced the air. He saw a distant, blurry black dot appear in his line of sight.
A moment later, a large, dark eagle gradually emerged. Standing atop the eagle was a man over fifty.
This man wore an arrogant expression, his hands clasped behind his back, exuding an imperious aura. Upon seeing the eagle, Wang Feng’s body involuntarily jerked. He mumbled, “Demon beast? Cultivators? Fuck, do those really exist? Fuck your mother!”
“Ah! The Divine Wind Academy’s Instructor!”
In contrast, Little Lv beside him, upon seeing the eagle and the man, showed a look of shock quickly replaced by irrepressible excitement, as if she had spotted some precious treasure.
“Huh? Divine Wind Academy?”
Hearing the name Divine Wind Academy, an odd expression flickered across Wang Feng’s face, though inwardly he thought, “Seems like Chen Dong’s Tomb of Gods had an academy with the same name? Could it be the same one? No way? How could such a coincidence happen? Maybe I’m overthinking it, or maybe it’s just a side effect of having jerked off too much these days?”
“Ah, really? Young Master, you don’t remember anything? You don’t even remember the Divine Wind Academy?”
Seeing that Wang Feng appeared clueless about the Divine Wind Academy, Little Lv finally believed he might genuinely have amnesia.
Before this, Wang Feng’s goal had been to enter the Divine Wind Academy to study. The standing of the Divine Wind Academy across the continent was transcendent; it was the dream destination for countless people. Anyone who could study there for three to five years would emerge as a pillar of society.
However, at that moment, the old man and the eagle had already arrived directly above the large courtyard. The man casually swept his gaze around, radiating an intimidating presence like heavenly authority. Wang Feng felt a violent ringing in his head, as if thousands of thunderclaps were exploding. Then a stern, authoritative voice descended: “Tang Zhantian, Family Head of the Wuzhou Tang Family, come forth to speak.”
“Haha! Predecessor Wang gracing my humble Tang Family truly brings us boundless glory! Boundless glory! Predecessor Wang, please come inside.”
Wang Feng then saw a flash of white light as a man suddenly materialized before the stern man and spoke with a hearty laugh.
“Unnecessary. My visit to Wuzhou is merely happenstance. Those above sent word, having heard that someone from your Tang Family, Tang Jinbiao, was able to kill three Core Formation malefactors while only possessing Foundation Building cultivation. Decent potential, a promising talent. I was dispatched to assess him. If suitable, he may enroll in our Divine Wind Academy. Also, I must inform you: this year, none of the three recommended Tang Family disciples qualify!”
The man surnamed Wang retained his arrogant demeanor and spoke matter-of-factly, as if an emperor addressing a commoner.
“Haha, the one Predecessor Wang mentions is indeed my unworthy son. However, I fear that is not possible now…”
Deep within Tang Zhantian’s eyes lay a flicker of displeasure. Though this man before him possessed lower cultivation than himself, he had to tread carefully in his speech, fearing one wrong word that might provoke dissatisfaction and bring calamity upon himself and his family, due to the immense backing of the Divine Wind Academy behind this man. Of course, there was another layer to his relationship with this “Predecessor Wang.”
“Hmm?”
A trace of displeasure appeared on Wang’s face, seemingly waiting for Tang Zhantian’s explanation.
“In truth, Predecessor Wang, my son did indeed kill the Wuzhou Three Evils several months ago while at the Foundation Building stage. But he also suffered grievous injuries and fell into a coma. Simultaneously, his Spiritual Root inexplicably vanished, and all his cultivation dissipated entirely. He only woke up yesterday. If Predecessor Wang doubts me, I can lead you to see him.” Tang Zhantian hastily explained.
“Oh, unnecessary. If even the Family Head of the Tangs is powerless, then I shall not impose any further. Farewell for now!”
Upon hearing Tang Zhantian’s explanation, the man surnamed Wang seemed to lose all interest. After exchanging a few more perfunctory words, he departed on his eagle.
“Hah! Riding on borrowed authority like a cur!”
Watching the figure of the man surnamed Wang disappear into the distant sky, a cold glint flashed in Tang Zhantian’s eyes, accompanied by a disdainful snort.
“What a pretentious air!”
Wang Feng was also full of scorn, though inwardly he mused, “Tang Jinbiao? Huh, that name sounds way more badass than my original one, I guess.”
Suddenly, Tang Zhantian above seemed to sense Wang Feng’s gaze and looked down. Meeting Wang Feng’s eyes, he gave a gentle smile. Yet, behind that smile, hid a faint, almost imperceptible trace of confusion…