Reborn: The First Rank "Madam"

C5 – Cultivate

Nanny Liu delicately wiped away the dirt from Zuo Shaoqing’s forehead using a handkerchief, followed by the application of ointment provided by Zuo Shaoyan. She blew gently on the wound, wincing in sympathy, and said, “Master San, why must you endure such hardship? Whatever you do, Madam will never treat you kindly. Don’t repeat such folly in the future.”

Zuo Shaoqing smiled indifferently, fully aware that he couldn’t expect any benevolence from this situation. His only request was for outsiders to pardon him. He was certain that by tomorrow, the entire town would be buzzing with rumors.

Once word got out about a concubine’s lack of filial piety in the Zuo Family, some would surely come to understand the true circumstances behind it.

The Zuo Family was the most prominent household in town, attracting the attention of everyone in the vicinity. With limited entertainment options, gossip about its members was a favorite pastime.

Nanny Liu gently massaged the bruises on Zuo Shaoqing’s forehead and furrowed her brow as she cautioned him, “You should avoid eating pickled vegetables for a few days. Scars wouldn’t be a good outcome.”

“It doesn’t hurt. As a man, there’s nothing to fear,” Zuo Shaoqing replied. To him, this minor pain was inconsequential compared to the hardships he had endured in his previous life while cultivating.

Regarding the matter of scars, Zuo Shaoqing touched his face, his gaze distant. He had never seen his own face in either of his lifetimes. He believed that a man’s true worth lay in his moral character, allowing him to stand tall in the world. His appearance was nothing more than skin deep.

When Zuo Shaoyan was handed over to Jiang Che by Zuo Shaoyan, he couldn’t help but feel perplexed. He questioned why he, a man, was being entrusted to another man. Additionally, he considered himself quite ordinary, so he wondered why Jiang Che would readily let him go.

In his recollection, that man would frequently stroke his face and whisper tender words that could make anyone blush. Those intimate moments replayed in his mind repeatedly.

To be frank, he didn’t resent Jiang Che; he simply couldn’t bear the humiliation of being treated as a hidden treasure. Moreover, during that period, he had aspirations to participate in the Conference Test and achieve academic success. However, in the blink of an eye, he lost everything and plunged into despair.

After bidding farewell to Nanny Liu, Zuo Shaoqing rose from the bed and walked over to the desk. He retrieved a pen and paper, meticulously reciting the Pure Heart Formula from his previous life.

He had stumbled upon this ancient manuscript in Jiang’s Mansion’s extensive library by chance. At the time, his mind was clouded by hatred, and he had transformed into a bitter soul. When he came across the title of this ancient text, he sensed its uniqueness and dedicated himself to its study.

What he hadn’t anticipated was that the Pure Heart Formula was, in fact, a martial arts mental cultivation technique. Due to the incompleteness of its latter half, it had been disregarded by everyone.

The days of his captivity were unbearable. A few years earlier, Zuo Shaoqing had immersed himself in books and writing, but with the passage of time, he lost all interest in reading. As someone branded as a forbidden asset, even if he were to regain his freedom someday, he pondered whether he could still participate in the Imperial examinations and secure an official position.

Zuo Shaoqing meticulously followed the incantations inscribed in the ancient tome, his remaining vestiges of insanity compelling him. Since his scholarly pursuits had proven fruitless, he resolved to abandon the quill and embrace physical prowess. Perhaps, through sheer might, he could vanquish his adversary.

Regrettably, he possessed no prior martial training, and guidance was a luxury he had never known. He toiled relentlessly, striving through the uncharted territory of martial arts, progressing merely to the third stage.

After a month of despondency, Zuo Shaoqing delved into the extensive collection of medical treatises within the Jiang’s Mansion study. He contemplated augmenting his strength through medicinal means. Ultimately, he chanced upon a prescription in a medical journal, taking a leap of faith by self-administering the elixir.

Alas, his meridians proved incapable of withstanding the torrential surge of inner energy. Chaos overtook his dantian, meridians recoiled, and with one final surge, he propelled himself beyond the confines of Jiang’s Mansion. Revenge accomplished, he met his demise amidst the unforgiving fury of thunder and lightning.

Zuo Shaoqing drew a deep breath, immersing himself in multiple readings of the Heart Cleansing Technique. He then settled into a cross-legged position on his bed, commencing cultivation with an air of familiarity.

In the grand tapestry of his life, Zuo Shaoqing had no aspirations of martial excellence; ascending to the third stage would suffice.

Even if his heart’s yearnings remained unfulfilled in this lifetime, he resolved to shatter the chains that bound him, no longer willing to be treated as mere chattel, condemned to a life of ignominy, veiled in eternal darkness.

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