Cultivation is Creation

The Han family compound looked exactly like you'd expect for a once-prosperous merchant clan trying desperately to maintain appearances.

The main courtyard was still meticulously swept, but I could see patches where expensive stone tiles had been replaced with cheaper alternatives. The decorative plants were well-tended but sparse, probably sold off one by one as finances dwindled. Even the wooden pillars supporting the entrance showed signs of careful repair rather than proper replacement.

It was like looking at a proud old warrior trying to maintain his dignity while wearing increasingly patched armor. You had to admire the effort, even if the results were a bit depressing.

"Young Master!" A servant hurried toward us through the rain, his expression a mix of relief and concern. "We were so worried when—" He broke off, eyes widening as he took in Han Zhongwei's disheveled state. "Master Han! Are you...?"

"I'm fine," Han Zhongwei waved off the concern, though I could feel Han Renyi's worry at how his father was favoring his left side. Those roots hadn't been gentle. "Please gather the family in the main hall. And send someone to fetch Qingyi from her hiding place."

The servant hesitated for just a moment, glancing between father and son, probably trying to piece together what had happened. Han family's situation wasn't exactly a secret – everyone knew Zhou had been pressuring them. Seeing the patriarch return in such a state, accompanied by his son who looked... well, I probably should have done something about the blood spatter on our robes before walking in. Finally, he bowed and hurried off to carry out his instructions.

I took the opportunity to really study our surroundings through Han Renyi's eyes. The compound's layout was actually quite clever from a defensive standpoint – multiple courtyards connected by covered walkways, with clear sightlines to all the major approaches. In its prime, with proper guards and maybe some defensive formations, it would have been a respectable stronghold.

Now though... I counted exactly three guards trying to look like they were casually patrolling rather than huddling under the eaves to stay dry. Their weapons were well-maintained but dated, and their stances showed basic training but nothing special. Not that I could blame them – proper combat training required resources the family clearly didn't have anymore.

"A merchant family shouldn't need this kind of defensive architecture," I thought to Han Renyi. "Unless..."

Interesting. I filed that bit of history away for later consideration. This world's declining energy situation clearly had deep roots, and understanding how society had adapted might prove useful.

I noticed Han Zhongwei shooting us another worried glance. The man was trying to be subtle about it, but his concern was obvious. Fair enough – his son had just demonstrated abilities that, by all rights, should have been impossible at his cultivation level. If I were in his position, I'd have questions too.

Which reminded me...

"We need to get our story straight," I told Han Renyi. "Before your family starts asking too many questions."

"Story? But I know what you are!" His voice sounded excited now, maybe even a little maniac. "You're fr—"

"Later," I interrupted. "Right now, we need to focus on not terrifying your family into thinking some ancient monster has possessed their son."

There was a moment of mental silence before he replied, "...is that far from the truth?"

"You wound me," I responded dryly. "Here I am, a perfectly reasonable body-sharing entity, and you're comparing me to some second-rate possession spirit. I'll have you know I haven't demanded a single sacrifice or attempted to corrupt your soul even once."

I felt his mixture of amusement and uncertainty at my attempt at humor. Good – a little levity might help him process everything that had happened. And there had been... a lot. 𝙍𝘈Νỗ฿Ě𝘚

"So, what's the plan?" he asked finally.

"We're going with the classic – the mysterious secret master excuse. It's a popular tr—explanation for this sort of stuff for a reason, and people tend to accept what they think they already understand."

"And what exactly am I supposed to tell them about this 'secret master'?"

"Keep it vague but plausible. You met them while searching for ways to help your family. They recognized your potential but prefer to remain anonymous. The techniques they taught you are... unique."

"That's... actually not far from the truth.”

"The best lies are mostly truth with just enough misdirection to—" I broke off as I sensed someone approaching. Female, young, moving quickly despite the rain. Through Han Renyi's memories, I recognized her even before she came into view – Qingyi, his sister.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

She looked remarkably like her brother – same jet-black hair, same green eyes, though hers were currently brimming with tears.

"Perfect timing for a field test," I said quickly. "You're up."

"Wait, what do you mean I'm—"

I released control of his body back to him mid-sentence. The sensation was... odd. Like stepping back from a puppet's controls while remaining aware of every string. I could still feel everything – the rain on our skin, the wood of the walkway under our feet, the surge of his emotions as his sister came into view – but experiencing it all from one step removed.

Qingyi hit him like a small missile, nearly knocking us over as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Brother! They said... they said you were..." She broke off, sobbing into his chest.

I felt Han Renyi's surge of protective instinct, his arms wrapping around his sister automatically. "I'm fine, Qingyi. Everything's fine now."

"But the guards said you were attacked! And then Father was taken, and..." She pulled back slightly, tears streaming down her face as she looked up at him. "I thought... I thought..."

"Shhhh." He stroked her hair, a gesture that felt familiar through his muscle memory. "It's all handled now. No one's going to hurt you or Father, I promise."

I watched silently as he comforted his sister, noting how naturally he fell into the role of protective older brother. It was fascinating, really – seeing how someone else's body responded to emotional stimuli, how ingrained certain responses were. The way his hand automatically moved to pat her head, how his voice softened to just the right tone, even the slight shift in posture to make himself seem more reassuring... all of it happened without conscious thought.

I didn’t have enough confidence in my acting skills in replicating any of that…

More guards and servants had gathered now, drawn by Qingyi's emotional reunion with her brother. I could see the relief on their faces, though many still looked uncertain.

Han Zhongwei cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should continue this inside? The rain..."

Good call. The last thing we needed was an audience for what was bound to be an... interesting family discussion.

The furniture in the main hall of the Han compound was high quality but sparse. What remained was arranged to make the room seem fuller than it was, a merchant's trick that Wei Lin would have been proud of.@@novelbin@@

As everyone settled in, I noticed how the servants arranged themselves – older ones closer to the family, the few newer hires keeping to the edges of the room. There was history there, loyalty built over generations. It would be worth remembering which servants could be trusted if things got complicated later.

"Young Master," one of the older servants stepped forward, bowing deeply. "We... heard things. About Elder Zhou Shentong..."

I felt Han Renyi's spike of panic and quickly supplied, "Tell them it's been handled. Be confident but not arrogant."

"Zhou Shentong will no longer be a concern," Han Renyi replied slowly. "Neither will his sect, if they're wise."

The servant's eyes widened slightly at this declaration, but he merely bowed again and stepped back.

I watched through Han Renyi's eyes as his father settled into what was clearly his usual seat, wincing slightly at what had to be some impressive bruising from those roots. Qingyi sat close to her brother, still occasionally shooting him worried glances as if afraid he might disappear.

What followed was almost peaceful – servants brought tea, people spoke in quiet voices about mundane things, and for a while, it was possible to pretend this was just a normal family gathering. I could feel Han Renyi slowly relaxing as the familiar routine worked its magic.

But it couldn't last forever.

"Son," Han Zhongwei finally spoke up, his voice careful. "About what happened at Elder Zhou Shentong's compound..."

I felt Han Renyi tense slightly. Here we go.

"I've made more progress in my cultivation than I let anyone know," he said, trying to sound casual about it. The slight tremor in his teacup betrayed his nerves.

His father's expression showed hurt. "You didn't trust me enough to tell me?"

"Tell him about the master," I prompted. "Remember, vague but plausible."

"It... wasn't my secret to tell," Han Renyi said quickly. "I have a master who prefers to remain anonymous. They've been teaching me... unique techniques."

Han Zhongwei's expression cleared somewhat. "Ah, I see." He nodded slowly. "Yes, that makes sense. Some of the higher-tier Rouqin can be... eccentric about their privacy."

I felt Han Renyi's relief at his father's acceptance of the explanation. "You have no idea," he muttered, and I had to suppress a laugh at the irony.

"But the Three-Leaf Clover Sect..." His father's voice turned worried again. "They won't let this go easily. Zhou Shentong was one of their elders, and their reputation..."

"Tell him your master will handle it," I instructed. "We will, by the way. I have some ideas about that."

"My master has assured me they'll handle any retaliation," Han Renyi relayed, and I was impressed by how confident he managed to sound about something he clearly had no idea about.

The relief on Han Zhongwei's face was painful to see. The man had probably been carrying the weight of his family's decline for years, watching helplessly as their options dwindled. Now, suddenly, there was hope.

"The Celestial Sovereign truly watches over us," he murmured, closing his eyes briefly. "To send such a master to guide you..."

I felt Han Renyi's guilt spike at the deception. "It's better than the truth," I assured him. "Trust me, 'mysterious master' is much easier for everyone to accept than ‘I’m currently sharing my body with a spirit’.”

"I suppose," he thought back, though I could tell he was still uncomfortable with lying to his father.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of servants bringing food, family members catching up, and carefully navigated conversations. I stayed quiet, observing how Han Renyi handled himself. He was doing well, all things considered – keeping his answers vague when asked about his training, deflecting questions about his master with appropriate humility, and generally maintaining the image of a young cultivator who had been blessed with powerful but discrete patronage.

Finally, he excused himself, his reason being that he was exhausted from the day's events. No one questioned it – they'd all heard enough rumors about what had happened at Zhou Shentong's compound to imagine how tiring it must have been.

When we arrived at Han Renyi’s room, I found that the furniture was simple but well-made – a bed, a desk, some shelves filled with books and cultivation manuals.

Once we were alone, I took control again, settling into a cross-legged position and drawing the Qi Gathering Circle. We'd need to be at full strength before dealing with the Three-Leaf Clover Sect.

"So," Han Renyi's mental voice broke into my meditation. "Are we going to talk about it?"

"About what?"

"About the fact that you're from another world."