It's been a couple of days since I figured out the truth about my situation and, honestly?
I feel kind of dumb.
There were so many clues—and yet I remained completely oblivious. I feel like one of those harem protagonists who couldn't catch a hint if it were fired at them from a cannon. I mean, seriously:
Tang Xiao.
Flying Man.
A toy shaped like a wooden hammer.
Not the most obvious hints, sure, but come on, brain! The last day of my past life was spent watching this damn series. I really do embody the saying: "The wheel was spinning, but the hamster's dead."
…That got grim fast.
Anyway, my name is officially Tang Zhenlong, son of one of the twin stars of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Xiao, and Yang Tinglei, daughter of the leader of the Breaking Clan.
That alone raises a flag. When the hell did Tang Xiao get married? I thought he was in love with Ah Yin, whom I've actually met—or more accurately, blabbered at—when she visited with Tang Hao. Or I guess I should be calling him Uncle Hao now.
That led me to two possible explanations:
One — My presence has caused a great disturbance in the Force. The world has changed, It has, hmmm.
Two — This is an alternate universe where a few events played out differently.
I'm leaning toward the second option. I'm not self-centered enough to claim, "The heavens have shifted because of my presence, for I alone am the honored one."
I'm not Gojo. (Though I wish I were—like every otaku who's ever stumbled across JJK.)
Back to the point.
I hope this is an alternate timeline. Maybe in this version, the Clear Sky Sect wasn't hunted down by Spirit Hall and forced into seclusion. Maybe the world's a little more peaceful. Don't get me wrong—this is a martial arts and cultivation world, so of course I want to fight. But I'd rather avoid the whole war and mass murder thing.
At this point, though, it doesn't matter. I'm still just a baby.
So for now, I'll wait and see what the future holds.
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Six Months Later
This world is freaking AWESOME!!!
I'm losing it!
Okay, calm down, Zhenlong. This is your new normal now. You can't geek out every time something cool happens.
But damn, is it cool.
My mother finally freed me from my cage and retired from her duties as a warden. She started taking me outside, and let me tell you—I missed the blue sky, the breeze on my face, the sound of birds chirping. I missed all of it.
This world is beautiful. I loved Montreal and Beirut back on Earth—it had its charm—but this? This place is built different. The air is clear, the sun is warm, and the night sky? I can see stars again. It's magical.
Beyond the aesthetics, I've noticed something else: etiquette within the sect is way more complicated than the show ever made it seem. In the donghua, all you had to do was be good-looking, smile softly, flatter someone, and boom—Ning Fengzhi.
But here? Not even close.
Every time we pass the training grounds while my mother is carrying me, people stop everything. And they don't just bow.
They kneel.
The first time it happened, I was so shocked I nearly had an incident right then and there.
But what surprised me more was the way they reacted to my mother compared to me. Toward her, they just clasp their hands together, kung fu style, and move on. Not even a bow.
That made me realize just how much this world values lineage. As the grandson of the Sect Master, I'm owed respect by default. But my mother? She's considered an outsider. The only reason anyone acknowledges her is because she's married to my father. If she weren't, she'd be the one bowing to them.
Why, you ask?
Simple. She's from the Breaking Clan—a subordinate of the Clear Sky Sect. And that means unless you're someone like Yang Wudi, the clan leader, you're expected to bow to even the weakest Clear Sky disciple.
All because they wield the Clear Sky Hammer.
Honestly? That kind of pisses me off. But as long as no one disrespects my mother directly, I guess I can't do much. Even if I weren't a baby, what could I really say?
Anyway—on to a more upbeat topic.
I saw it.
Like, actually saw it.
The way they released their martial spirits. The introductions. The glowing soul rings that circled around their massive hammers.
It was breathtaking.
There are no words for how mesmerized I was. Those shining rings pulled me in like a trance, and honestly? I didn't want to resist.
They fought fiercely—raw, powerful. It was like watching bulldozers go at it. And I loved every second.
Every time I saw it, I couldn't help but squirm in whoever's arms I was in, just to get a better view.
One time, my father noticed. I still remember the beaming expression on his face, like I was the greatest treasure in the world.
"Hahaha! Are you interested, Xiao Long?" he laughed, pointing toward the two disciples wielding their hammers. "This is our sect's martial spirit—the weapon that built our legacy and made us the strongest sect on the continent."
He held me high, smiling proudly.
"One day, you'll awaken this martial spirit too. And I'm sure you'll shine just as brightly as your father and your uncle."
At the time, I didn't fully understand him. I only caught a couple of words. But his expression?
It told me everything.
He believed in me. He saw something in me. And I sincerely hope I'll prove him right—and make him proud.
As I remembered all those moments, I suddenly felt myself being lifted. I looked up at the smiling face of my mother, who said, "Are you ready, Xiao Long? You're going to meet Grandpa Wudi today."
I responded with one of the few words I knew at the time: "Yeah!!"
She giggled softly and hugged me tightly. "I'm sure your grandpa will love you."
"Lei'er, are you and Xiao Long ready?" I heard my father call as he walked in. "I'll accompany you to visit Father-in-law, but I'll have to leave early. Father needs my assistance on a few matters."
"Don't worry about it, honey. The affairs of the sect are more important than a family visit. I appreciate you coming to greet Father, at least," she replied with a warm smile.
"I'm sorry, Lei'er—and thank you for understanding."
They hugged with me in between, and I couldn't help but think to myself:
They're the perfect couple. I'm lucky to have them.
One trip later, and we were there.
In front of us stood a massive compound. Not as big as the sect grounds, but still majestic.
Before I could take in the sights, I felt a rush of wind through my hair as I was swept up like a leaf in a storm.
"Is this my grandson? Oh, I'm sure you'll grow up to be a powerful spirit master—just like your grandpa!" said the hurricane that had just kidnapped me from my mother's arms.
"Father! Calm down, you'll scare him," my mother scolded.
Her words rebooted my brain, and when I looked up, I saw an old man with a scruffy beard and a twinkle in his eyes—a twinkle that reminded me of a curious child.
"You're too dramatic, Lei'er. This is my grandson we're talking about!"
"Father…" she sighed.
"You're as healthy as ever, aren't you, old goat?" came dad's voice as he walked over.
"Brat! Show some respect to your elders," the old man barked, handing me back to my mother before pulling my father into a quick hug.
"Haha, you're the same as always, old Yang. How've you been? Business going well?"
"You know the reputation of our Breaking Clan—of course it's going well. No one makes medicine like we do."
"It's good to see you too, Father," my mother cut in, her tone edged.
"It's good to see you too, Lei'er," he replied, his voice suddenly softer—though it sounded a little forced.
…Was he sweating?
And that was how I met my grandfather, the most knowledgeable man in medicine and poisons, and the leader of the Breaking Clan—
Yang Wudi.
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Author's Note:
A lot happened in this chapter, so I wanted to explain a few of the choices I made:
The beginning of the chapter further showcases the MC's personality—especially his curiosity. His fascination with everything around him isn't just a cute detail; it's a setup. I want him to be highly adaptable, which helps avoid heavy exposition dumps later. Since it wouldn't make sense for someone from Earth to instantly understand this world, that trait maintains logical consistency without slowing down the pacing.
The interaction with Tang Xiao highlights his deep love for his son and his high expectations. It also reinforces that the MC comes from a strong, harmonious family—something I want to establish clearly and early.
The final part of the chapter, though framed as a meeting with Yang Wudi, is really about showing Tang Xiao's priorities. His casual way of greeting his father-in-law (calling him "old goat") hints that, to Tang Xiao, the sect comes first—even before personal relationships. This will become relevant very soon.
Thanks for reading—see you in the next chapter!