The morning sun had barely begun its ascent over Heavenly Aerial City when the three Li siblings burst from their residence like startled pheasants, their faces alight with anticipation.
Their expressions, however, transformed from excitement to horror faster than a cultivator could form a hand seal when they beheld the sorry state of Wudi Egun.
"By the Eighteen Hells!" Li Yang exclaimed, his jaw dropping so far it threatened to dislocate. "What manner of calamity befell you?"
Wudi Egun stood—or rather, leaned awkwardly—in the courtyard, his body adorned with arrows like some macabre festival decoration. One protruded from his left shoulder at a jaunty angle, while another had made its home in his posterior, forcing him into a peculiar half-crouch that made him resemble an elderly man searching for dropped coins.
"I've been shot," Egun replied flatly, his voice devoid of emotion in the way that only comes from transcending pain and entering a realm of pure, existential acceptance.
"We can see that," Li Yong said, circling Egun with the cautious curiosity of someone examining a rare and potentially explosive artifact. "The question is why anyone would use you for target practice."
"Ask your sister," Egun muttered through gritted teeth.
"Our sister?" Li Sheng's eyebrows shot up so high they nearly disappeared into his hairline. "Impossible! She's been waiting for you all morning. She wouldn't—"
"Not your sister," Egun clarified, wincing as he shifted his weight. "Young Lady Meng. The archery enthusiast with the aim of a drunken cyclops."
Understanding dawned on the brothers' faces simultaneously, their expressions morphing into a mixture of comprehension and sympathy that suggested this was not the first time Young Lady Meng's "hobbies" had resulted in injury.
"Ah," Li Yang nodded sagely. "You encountered Meng's archery practice."
"'Encountered' implies a chance meeting," Egun growled. "This was more like an assassination attempt disguised as incompetence."
Li Yong clapped his hands together, his face brightening. "No matter! We shall remedy this situation immediately. Brother Yang, the Great Forest Dew!"
Li Yang produced a small jade bottle from within his robes with the flourish of a street performer revealing the finale of a magic trick. The bottle gleamed with an inner light that seemed to pulse in rhythm with the heartbeats of those present.
"This might sting a bit," Li Sheng warned, his tone suggesting that 'a bit' was the understatement of the century.
Before Egun could protest or prepare himself, Li Yong gripped the arrow in his shoulder with one hand and the bottle with the other. With a swift, practiced motion that spoke of either medical training or disturbing experience with removing foreign objects from bodies, he yanked the arrow free.
Egun's scream reached a pitch that caused several nearby birds to drop from the sky in sympathetic solidarity. His vision blurred, stars dancing before his eyes like mischievous sprites.
"One down, one to go!" Li Sheng announced cheerfully, moving behind Egun with alarming enthusiasm.
"Wait—" Egun began, but his plea was cut short as Li Sheng removed the second arrow with the same brutal efficiency as his brother had the first.
This time, Egun's scream was silent, his mouth open in a perfect 'O' of agony as no sound emerged—as if the pain had transcended the realm of audible expression and entered a dimension of pure, distilled suffering.
Li Yang uncorked the jade bottle, releasing a fragrance so heavenly it seemed to momentarily distract Egun from his pain. The scent of mountain springs, ancient forests, and morning dew mingled together in an olfactory symphony that hinted at the medicine's potency.
"Great Forest Dew," Li Yang explained, carefully applying the luminescent liquid to Egun's wounds. "A common remedy among cultivators of our standing, though quite rare for the average practitioner."
The liquid sizzled upon contact with Egun's injuries, emitting a soft green glow that pulsed outward like ripples in a pond. Almost immediately, a cooling sensation spread through his body, numbing the pain and replacing it with a pleasant tingling.
"It feels like... like thousands of tiny ice sprites are dancing on my wounds," Egun murmured, his expression shifting from agony to wonder.
"That's the spiritual essence of the dew activating," Li Yong nodded approvingly. "Harvested from the sacred groves of the Misty Peak Mountains, where the boundary between our realm and the spirit world grows thin during the autumn equinox."
Before Egun's eyes, his flesh knit itself back together, the torn muscle and skin regenerating at a pace visible to the naked eye. Within moments, the only evidence of his injuries was the lingering memory of pain and two perfectly round holes in his clothing.
"Remarkable," Egun breathed, rotating his shoulder experimentally and finding it completely healed.
"How did you manage to become Young Lady Meng's unwilling target?" Li Sheng asked, his eyes twinkling with barely suppressed amusement now that the crisis had passed.
Egun's face darkened like storm clouds gathering over a mountain peak. "I'd rather not discuss the humiliating details. Let's just say that her confidence in her archery skills far exceeds her actual ability, and somehow, I was blamed for standing in the way of arrows that were never going to hit their intended targets in the first place."
The three brothers exchanged knowing glances, a silent conversation passing between them that spoke volumes about their familiarity with Young Lady Meng's particular brand of self-delusion.
"Well, you're healed now," Li Yang declared, clapping Egun on his newly-mended shoulder with enough force to make him stagger. "And more importantly, our sister awaits your presence!"
Egun's expression shifted from relief to wariness faster than a cultivator could form a hand seal. "Your sister?"
"Indeed!" Li Yong beamed, as if delivering the most wonderful news imaginable. "She's been asking for you all morning. Quite insistent, actually."
"Wouldn't stop talking about you," Li Sheng added, his smile taking on a sly quality that made Egun distinctly uncomfortable. "It seems your 'relationship' has made quite an impression."
Before Egun could formulate a response—or more importantly, an escape plan—he found himself being herded toward the inner chambers of the Li Family compound like a reluctant sheep guided by three enthusiastic shepherds.
The corridors they traversed were a testament to the Li Family's wealth and taste, adorned with calligraphy scrolls penned by legendary masters and paintings so lifelike they seemed to move when viewed from the corner of one's eye. Ornate lanterns cast a warm, golden glow over jade statues and ancient artifacts displayed in alcoves along the walls.
"Here we are," Li Yang announced, stopping before an intricately carved door inlaid with mother-of-pearl and precious stones that formed the pattern of a blooming peony. "Our sister's chambers."
Egun swallowed hard, suddenly feeling as if the arrows might have been the preferable option after all. "Perhaps this isn't the best time—"
"Nonsense!" Li Yong interrupted, already sliding the door open. "She specifically requested your presence."
"We'll leave you two alone," Li Sheng added with a wink that contained more innuendo than should be possible in a single facial movement.
Before Egun could protest further, he was gently but firmly pushed into the room, the door sliding shut behind him with a soft but definitive click.
The chamber that greeted him was a study in feminine elegance, a stark contrast to the martial austerity that characterized much of the Li Family compound. Delicate silk hangings in shades of rose and lavender adorned the walls, their subtle patterns catching the light from crystal lamps that floated seemingly unsupported near the ceiling. A faint scent of jasmine and peach blossoms permeated the air, neither overpowering nor too subtle—a perfect balance that spoke of refined taste.
Near the far wall, seated at a low table of polished rosewood, was Young Lady Li herself.
Egun had expected many things—perhaps a stern-faced woman with the hard eyes of a seasoned negotiator, or maybe a shy, retiring flower hiding behind a fan. What he hadn't expected was the vision before him.
Young Lady Li possessed the kind of beauty that poets spent lifetimes trying to capture in verse and invariably failed. Her features were delicate yet strong, with high cheekbones and a jawline that could have been sculpted by the most skilled of artists. Her eyes, however, were what truly captured attention—large and expressive, they contained depths that seemed to shift between colors like the surface of a mountain lake reflecting the changing sky.
She wore her hair in an elaborate style adorned with jade pins and tiny bells that chimed softly with her slightest movement. Her robes, a masterpiece of embroidery depicting celestial phoenixes in flight, complemented her fair complexion perfectly.
When she smiled at him, Egun felt as if someone had just performed an advanced cultivation technique directly on his heart.
"Young Master Egun," she greeted, her voice musical and warm. "Please, join me."
Egun realized he had been standing frozen in place, staring like a country bumpkin seeing a flying sword for the first time. With as much dignity as he could muster, he crossed the room and took a seat on the cushion opposite her.
"Young Lady Li," he replied, inclining his head respectfully. Then, unable to resist, he added with a hint of mischief, "Is this how you normally greet your 'beloved'? No running into my arms? No tears of joy at our reunion?"
A spark of amusement lit her eyes, and her smile widened to reveal teeth as perfect as pearls. "My apologies, 'dearest one.' Would you prefer I swoon dramatically into your arms? Perhaps compose a poem about your manly virtues on the spot?"
"At the very least, a love letter written in your own tears would be appropriate," Egun replied, warming to the game. "I am, after all, your chosen one, selected through a rigorous process that apparently involved no input from me whatsoever."
Young Lady Li laughed, the sound like silver bells in a spring breeze. "You're not what I expected, Wudi Egun."
"I get that a lot," he admitted, relaxing slightly. "Usually right before someone tries to kill me."
"No death threats today," she assured him, reaching for an ornate teapot that rested on a small brazier to the side of the table. "Just tea. Ginseng Essence Tea, to be precise. Brewed from roots that have absorbed spiritual energy for a hundred thousand years."
She poured the liquid into two delicate cups that seemed almost too fine to touch. The tea itself was unlike anything Egun had ever seen—it glowed with a soft amber light, and tiny motes of spiritual energy danced across its surface like fireflies on a summer evening.
"This is..." Egun began, lifting the cup and inhaling the aroma that somehow managed to smell like wisdom itself.
"Rare? Valuable? A sign of my family's obscene wealth and influence?" Young Lady Li suggested, her eyes twinkling. "All true, but more importantly, it's delicious."
Egun took a cautious sip and nearly gasped as the flavor exploded across his palate. It was like drinking liquid enlightenment—sweet yet complex, warming yet refreshing, and with an aftertaste that seemed to reveal new nuances with each passing moment.
"This is incredible," he admitted, taking another sip with more enthusiasm.
They enjoyed the tea in companionable silence for a few moments, but Egun could sense a shift in the atmosphere, a subtle tensing in Young Lady Li's posture that suggested the pleasantries were coming to an end.
Setting his cup down with a soft clink, he met her gaze directly. "Why did you drag me into this charade, Young Lady Li? We were strangers until your brothers announced our 'relationship' to the entire world. What game are you playing?"
The lightness faded from her expression, replaced by something more measured and thoughtful. She took her time answering, sipping her tea with deliberate slowness that would have irritated Egun if he weren't so curious about her response.
Finally, she set her cup down and met his gaze. "First, I must apologize for involving you without your consent. It was... presumptuous of me."
"Presumptuous is putting it mildly," Egun replied, though without real heat. "But I accept your apology. Now, the explanation?"
"There is a special reason I chose you, specifically," she said, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "But before I explain further, tell me—have you heard of the Heaven Eye?"
Egun's heart skipped a beat, though he kept his expression carefully neutral.
"I have," he acknowledged with a nod. "The Eye of Heaven, a legendary ability to perceive Heaven's secrets. Quite rare, if I recall correctly."
What he didn't say was that he knew of it from the novel "Immortal Journey To Myriad Wonders," the very story this world was based on.
In that tale, only the Heavenly Empress had possessed the Heaven Eye, using it to become one of the most formidable powers in the known realms. The secret of his transmigration—of knowing this world had once been merely words on a page in his original world—was one he guarded zealously.
Young Lady Li studied him for a moment, as if trying to read beyond his words.
"I was born with the Heaven Eye," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
Despite having suspected where the conversation was heading, Egun couldn't help the genuine surprise that widened his eyes.
In the novel, the Heaven Eye had been unique to the Heavenly Empress, a plot device to explain her unfathomable power and insight. For Young Lady Li to possess it changed everything he thought he knew about this world.
"That's... unexpected," he managed, his mind racing through the implications.
"You don't seem as shocked as most would be," she observed, her head tilting slightly in curiosity.
Egun shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I've encountered many strange things in my travels. A legendary eye ability isn't even in the top five."
Young Lady Li's lips quirked in a half-smile. "Most people don't truly understand what the Heaven Eye is capable of. At my current level of cultivation, it manifests primarily as enhanced insight and occasional glimpses of possibility. But as I advance..."
"It becomes truly terrifying," Egun finished for her, recalling the details from the novel. "At the Primordial Soul Emerging Realm, the Heaven Eye awakens to a fraction of its true power, granting the ability to perceive all possibilities, potentials, and probabilities across timelines and dimensions."
Young Lady Li's eyebrows rose slightly, clearly impressed by his knowledge. "Exactly. And at the Saint Realm, like the Heavenly Empress of legend, the power extends beyond mere perception. Reality itself becomes... malleable."
"If you deny Reality, it shall be denied," Egun quoted, remembering the passage from the novel. "If you accept Illusion or Fantasy, it shall become Reality."
"You're remarkably well-informed," Young Lady Li said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Few outside the most ancient sects know these details."
Egun realized he might have revealed too much and quickly backpedaled. "I spent some time in the Great Library of the Golden Pagoda Sect. They have scrolls on all manner of legendary abilities, though most dismissed the Heaven Eye as myth."
She seemed to accept this explanation, continuing her own. "What fewer still know is that the Heaven Eye comes with a price. Heaven does not permit such power without balance. Those born with the Eye are marked by fate, surrounded by dangers and calamities that would crush ordinary cultivators."
"A curse from Heaven itself," Egun nodded, remembering how the Heavenly Empress in the novel had faced one catastrophe after another, each more devastating than the last.
"Which brings me to why I involved you in my... situation," Young Lady Li said, leaning forward slightly, her voice dropping even lower. "You, Wudi Egun, are a complete mystery to my Heaven Eye."
Egun blinked, genuinely surprised this time. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that when I look at others, I can see threads of fate, glimpses of potential futures, the general shape of their destinies," she explained, frustration evident in her voice. "But when I look at you... nothing. It's as if you exist outside the tapestry of fate that binds the rest of us. Your secrets, your past, your future—all hidden from me."
A chill ran down Egun's spine. Could it be that his status as a transmigrator—someone who didn't originally belong in this world—somehow shielded him from her sight? Or perhaps...
His hand unconsciously moved to his chest, where the Time-space Sword lay dormant in his dantian. The weapon, which he had acquired through circumstances that still confused him, was rumored to be an Immortal Weapon, just below the rank of a True Immortal Weapon. Its powers over time and space were largely a mystery to him, but perhaps it was interfering with Young Lady Li's abilities.
"If I were stronger, perhaps I could pierce the veil that surrounds you," she continued, unaware of his internal speculation. "But the very fact that you can resist my sight, even passively, proves how special you must be."
Egun chuckled, deliberately casual. "I think you're overestimating me, Young Lady Li. I'm nothing special—just a wandering cultivator with more luck than sense, according to most who know me."
"False modesty doesn't suit you," she replied with a knowing smile. "But keep your secrets for now. The important thing is that you are uniquely positioned to help me."
"Help you how?" Egun asked, genuine confusion in his voice.
"By being the one variable in my life that I cannot predict or control," she said simply. "By being the wild card in a game where I otherwise know all the moves before they're made. By being... unpredictable."
Egun frowned, not following her logic. "And how exactly does that help you?"
"Because the greatest danger to someone who can see all paths is complacency," she explained. "The Heaven Eye shows me the most likely outcomes, but it cannot account for true anomalies—like you. By keeping you close, I introduce an element of chaos into my otherwise predictable existence, forcing me to remain vigilant and adaptable."
"So I'm... what? Your personal training weight? A deliberate handicap?" Egun asked, not sure whether to be offended or amused.
"You're my blind spot," she corrected. "And in a world where I can see too much, a blind spot might be exactly what I need to survive."
Egun considered her words, finding a certain twisted logic in them. "Even if I accepted your explanation, which I'm not saying I do, why the elaborate charade? Why pretend we're... involved?"
Young Lady Li's expression shifted, becoming more calculating. "That brings me to my proposal. Our current situation is already established—everyone believes we are lovers. So why not make it official?"
Egun nearly choked on air. "Official? As in...?"
"Marriage," she confirmed, her tone as casual as if suggesting they go for a walk. "Think about it logically. If I'm right about the Heaven Eye and my potential, I could become one of the most powerful cultivators in the realm. As my husband, you would enjoy all the privileges and protections that position would afford."
"And if you're wrong?" Egun asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Then you're still the son-in-law of the Ancient Li Family, one of the most influential clans in Heavenly Aerial City," she replied with a shrug. "Either way, you benefit. It's a win-win proposition."
Egun sat back, stunned by the sheer audacity of her proposal. "You're suggesting we get married... as a business arrangement?"
"I'm suggesting we formalize a mutually beneficial partnership," she corrected. "One that has already been established in the public eye, thanks to my brothers' enthusiasm."
Egun opened his mouth to refuse outright, but found himself pausing.
Was it really such a terrible idea? As she said, he had nothing to lose. If she was right about her potential, aligning himself with a future powerhouse would certainly improve his own chances of survival in this dangerous world.
And if she was wrong... well, the Li Family's resources and connections were nothing to scoff at.
Plus, a small voice in the back of his mind whispered, she is extraordinarily beautiful.
He silenced that voice immediately. This was about practicality, not attraction.
"You make a compelling argument," he admitted slowly. "But marriage is a significant commitment, even as a business arrangement."
Young Lady Li smiled, sensing his wavering resolve. "Consider it carefully, Wudi Egun. What do you have to lose?"
And that, Egun realized with a sinking feeling, was the crux of the matter. What did he have to lose? He was a transmigrator in a world not his own, navigating dangers he barely understood, with only his wits and a mysterious sword to protect him. An alliance with Young Lady Li and her family would provide security, resources, and information—all things he desperately needed.
"I..." he began, still uncertain.
Young Lady Li waited patiently, her expression revealing nothing of her thoughts.
Finally, Egun nodded, the decision crystallizing in his mind. "You're right. I have nothing to lose. I accept your proposal."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with implication and possibility. Egun had the distinct feeling that he had just altered the course of his fate in this world—for better or worse remained to be seen.
Young Lady Li's smile widened, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. "Excellent. I believe this arrangement will prove beneficial to us both."
As she raised her teacup in a toast to their new partnership, Egun couldn't help but wonder if he had just made the wisest decision of his life in this world—or the most catastrophic mistake.