Wang Family Residence, Nanjing.
The Wang Estate was a grand structure, a testament to the family's wealth and prestige. Its towering walls and intricate carvings reflected generations of prosperity. Inside the main hall, the soft glow of lanterns illuminated a space adorned with fine tapestries and exquisite artifacts.
In one of the luxurious courtyards Wang Xiuying sat across from her husband, Wang Zeming, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken thoughts. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the room, mirroring the doubts that clouded her mind.
She spoke first, her voice laced with uncertainty. "Zeming, I spoke with one of my students today. Yang Chen. He... he claimed to have a solution for infertility. He said his master taught him ancient methods, ones that could guarantee conception."
Wang Zeming, a stern man in his early thirties, furrowed his brows. His sharp features and commanding presence gave him an air of authority a reflection of his standing as a 2-star alchemist of Nanjing's Alchemist Association within the Wang Family. He set aside the jade mortar he had been grinding herbs in, focusing solely on his wife.
"Yang Chen?" he repeated, his tone skeptical. "Isn't he the orphan you talked about whose parents were mere mercenaries? And now you're telling me he claims to possess knowledge lost even to renowned alchemists?"
"He said his master was the one researching these methods," Xiuying replied. "And apparently, she predicted his martial spirit would hold the key to unlocking them."
A scoff escaped Wang Zeming. "Predicting a martial spirit before awakening? Even the grand elders wouldn't dare to make such bold claims. Whoever this so-called master is, she must be an extraordinary cultivator… or a complete charlatan."
"But what if he's telling the truth?" Xiuying's voice softened, the faint hope that had ignited within her refusing to be extinguished. "We have tried for years, Zeming. Even when you took a concubine, thinking it would ensure an heir, no child came."
Zeming's jaw clenched, the reminder striking a painful chord. The Wang Family's expectation of producing a strong successor weighed heavily on his shoulders. Without a child, his position within the family remained fragile.
"I won't deny the frustration," he said, his voice low. "Father's patience is wearing thin. Another year without an heir, and the elders may pressure me to take yet another concubine."
"Your first sister is unmarried and has become a senior member of the Wang family with Golden Core Realm cultivation and Alchemist of Alchemist Association's of Nanjing city."
"Your second brother having married to a 1-star Alchemist and other three concubines still with no offsprings" he said.
Xiuying lowered her gaze, the bitterness of their circumstances evident. "That's why I'm asking you, what if Yang Chen truly holds the solution? Even if the chances are slim, isn't it worth considering?"
Zeming remained silent, the tension lingering between them. He wasn't a man prone to believing outlandish claims, but the desperation in his wife's voice struck something within him. He could see it, the yearning, the fragile hope that perhaps this time, fate would favor them.
"Tell me everything he said," Zeming finally spoke. "Every detail. If he truly believes his martial spirit can achieve such a feat, I want to understand how."
"He claimed his martial spirit awakened the knowledge within him," Xiuying explained. "He said that with the assistance of an alchemist, the method could be applied. A 99 percent success rate... those were his words."
"A 99 percent success rate?" Zeming shook his head incredulously. "That's beyond what even the most potent elixirs can guarantee."
"But if it's true..." Xiuying's voice trembled. "We could have a child, Zeming. A child of our own. The family would no longer be troubled. Your father... he would be proud."
Zeming's eyes darkened with contemplation. "I won't place blind faith in the boy's words. But as an alchemist, I cannot deny the allure of lost knowledge. If his martial spirit truly holds secrets unknown to us, it warrants investigation."
He reached out, his calloused hand gently clasping Xiuying's. "I'll meet him. I'll see for myself whether his claims hold any merit. But be cautious, Xiuying. If this is some elaborate scheme, the consequences will be severe."
Xiuying nodded, though a flicker of hope shone in her gaze. "Thank you, Zeming. I only wish to know if it is possible."
Zeming's expression remained stoic, but within him, a storm of thoughts brewed.
"Yang Chen," he murmured. "Let's see if you truly possess the knowledge you claim."
The weight of expectation had shifted. And soon, the young cultivator would face the judgment of the Wang Family.
The tension lingered even as Wang Zeming's decision was made. His wife, Wang Xiuying, held onto the delicate hope that Yang Chen's words might hold truth, but doubt remained etched across her husband's face.
Zeming rose from his seat, his tall frame casting a shadow over the intricate wooden table. The air was thick with unspoken thoughts as the flickering lanterns illuminated his hardened features.
"Where is this Yang Chen staying?" he asked, his voice steady, yet tinged with curiosity. "If he truly believes his martial spirit holds the answer, I will meet him myself."
Xiuying's heart fluttered with a mix of relief and apprehension. "He's still at the academy. After his awakening caused that phenomenon, the principal had him moved to the dormitory for observation."
Zeming nodded. "I'll go to the academy first thing in the morning. But I need you to arrange a meeting. It would be improper to approach him without a formal invitation."
"I understand," Xiuying replied, lowering her gaze. "I'll speak to the principal before your arrival. He'll make the necessary arrangements."
Despite the growing weight of expectation, a flicker of gratitude stirred within her. Zeming, despite his stern nature, had always treated her with respect. That alone gave her the strength to push through her lingering uncertainty.
"There's something else," she added, hesitantly. "The phenomenon during his awakening... The rumors are already spreading."
Zeming's eyes narrowed. "Rumors?"
She nodded. "Some say the heavens reacted to his unknown martial spirit. Others believe it was a sign of calamity. And then there are those who whisper it might be... something forbidden."
"A forbidden spirit?" Zeming's voice was grim. "That would explain why the principal chose to keep him under supervision. If he possesses a forbidden martial spirit, it may be dangerous."
forbidden martial spirit is type of powerful martial spirit outlawed, sealed, or heavily restricted due to its destructive nature, ominous origins, or corrupting influence. Possessing such a spirit often results in severe consequences to the user, like corruption, possession, or even death.
It may sometimes grant unnatural power, resonates with demonic techniques or sometimes may even corrupt it's users.
"But it could also mean the knowledge he claims to hold could be real," Xiuying pointed out softly. "After all, only spirits of great power can awaken ancient memories."
"Perhaps." Zeming's tone was noncommittal. "But until I see it for myself, I will not allow false hope to cloud my judgment."
He stepped forward, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Get some rest, Xiuying. I'll handle this tomorrow."
She nodded, the shadows of uncertainty still clung to her thoughts with a little hope.