Chapter 1: The Genius Maid and Her Useless Master

Many years later, when the sounds of older children working and younger children playing could no longer be heard, Ding Nan sat on the living room sofa, tinkering with his Portable Multi-functional All-in-one Communicator.

He caught the scent of several distinct powdery perfumes coming from behind him.

Drenched in sweat, he suddenly recalled the last day of his seventeen-year-old self—the day of the Ding Clan’s internal testing.

It was also a summer day.

“Body Tempering Realm Level 3, Low Grade!” the elder responsible for powering the Testing Stone shouted.

He was a tall, gaunt man with high cheekbones, sunken temples, and a small goatee.

Standing before the Testing Stone, which resembled a black stone monument, Ding Nan lowered his head, his face dark.

Behind him, a crowd of Ding Clan disciples whispered among themselves.

Almost none of their words offered comfort.

Mockery, ridicule, and rustling whispers slithered into Ding Nan’s ears.

However, when he turned his head, the voices vanished instantly, replaced by the expressionless faces of his peers.

This state of affairs had not just lasted a day or two.

“Since the test is over, leave,” the middle-aged man said, lifting his hand.

He didn’t even look at him, waving his palm near his ear as if shooing a fly.

Ding Nan did not say another word.

Out of courtesy, he cupped his hands toward the man and withdrew.

Dejected, he walked toward the grayish-green archway at the side of the courtyard.

Standing before the archway were a young man and a young woman.

They were similar in age to Ding Nan.

The male wore a set of white robes and no crown.

Two dark blue hair ribbons tied his hair back.

He was tall, thin, and had a heroic appearance.

Although he had not yet reached the age of capping, he maintained a serious and mature expression at all times.

The female wore a goose-yellow traditional dress with a sky-blue lady’s belt cinched around her waist.

Her hair was styled in a bun resembling rabbit ears, while the hair draped over the back of her head signaled that she was not yet married.

She was not tall and was quite thin, her limbs resembling bamboo poles.

Despite her scrawny frame, now that she was of age, her chest showed slight curves, looking like small steamed buns.

Ding Nan recognized them.

The male was Ding Sheng, and the female was Ding Xuan.

The former was Ding Nan’s clan brother of the same generation, and the latter was his clan sister, who was one year younger than him.

Ding Sheng glanced at Ding Nan, then frowned and looked toward the horizon, completely ignoring him.

“Trash,” a short insult escaped from a pair of cherry-red lips.

Though she was in the prime of her youth with a lovely face and sparkling eyes, the young girl immediately turned a look of deep disdain toward Ding Nan.

Ding Nan looked into her eyes but found himself unable to say anything.

“Body Tempering Realm Level 9, High Grade!”

Suddenly, a burst of cheering erupted from behind Ding Nan.

Ding Sheng and Ding Xuan looked up, and Ding Nan turned around.

The three of them saw a girl standing before the Testing Stone.

Her beauty was so staggering that she hardly seemed real. She was currently looking back at Ding Nan.

“As expected of Miss Luo Yao!”

“It looks like it won’t be long before Miss Luo Yao enters the Qi Refining Stage!”

—

However, amidst the cheers and praise, her smile gradually faded, replaced by a calm expression.

She locked eyes with Ding Nan.

Her tender, pearl-like eyes reflected her concern for him.

Ding Nan instinctively looked away.

Her long eyelashes drooped over her eyelids, looking somewhat lonely.

“Hmph,” Ding Sheng turned away in displeasure.

He then took large strides and walked outside.

“Brother Ding Sheng, wait for me!”

Ding Xuan called out, jogging to follow behind him.

Ding Nan watched their retreating backs.

Once upon a time, Ding Xuan used to follow behind him just like that, calling him her big brother.

But now, everything had changed.

Ding Nan also walked through the archway, parting ways with Ding Xuan and turning toward another exit.

He returned to his own courtyard and his own bedroom.

Standing inside the room, he clenched his fists, feeling dejected.

No matter what he did, he could not suppress the frustration in his heart.

Finally, he took a deep breath, feeling helpless and drained.

He collapsed onto the bed, covering his forehead with his forearm.

“What on earth is this?”

Ding Nan murmured to himself.

‘I finally transmigrated, living a second life, yet I’m still living so miserably!’

Indeed, Ding Nan was a transmigrator.

Nearly eighteen years ago, he was born into this world with the memories of his previous life.

He was born into a small family in a small town in the southern part of the Tianfeng Empire—the very Ding Clan he was in now.

This world was filled with Spiritual Qi; it was a world where one could cultivate to become an immortal.

Heaven was impartial, and everyone possessed the talent for cultivation.

Therefore, as long as a being possessed intelligence, whether human or beast, they would cultivate.

As a transmigrator, Ding Nan had won at the starting line.

While other children were still learning to babble, he had already begun breathing exercises.

While other children were learning to read, he was already practicing cultivation techniques.

Because of this, he was a genius rarely seen in the Ding Clan in a hundred years.

At only nine years old, he had already reached Body Tempering Realm Level 9.

At ten years old, he reached the perfection of the realm and became a Qi Refining Stage cultivator, shocking the surrounding ten miles and even reaching the ears of those in the Capital City.

Yet, on the very night he became a Qi Refining Stage cultivator, his cultivation suddenly plummeted to Body Tempering Realm Level 3.

His previous fame instantly soured, turning into the fuel for the mockery he now faced.

From that moment on, he experienced the ugliness of human nature and the darkness of the human heart for the first time.

“Young Master, Young Master, are you inside?” a gentle and pleasant voice called from outside the door.

It was Luo Yao’s voice.

Ding Nan quickly performed a carp kick and got off the bed.

In that brief moment, the girl had already pushed the door open and entered.

She stood gracefully at the door.

The light from outside fell upon her, making her delicate, jade-carved face appear somewhat ethereal.

Her pale lips held a faint, jewel-like luster.

She wore no makeup and was entirely a natural beauty.

Not only was she the most beautiful girl in the Ding Clan, but she was also the most exquisite girl in the entire county.

Yet, such a girl wore clothes that were entirely unsuited to her appearance.

She wore a set of forest-green servant’s attire without any intricate patterns.

The fabric was the cheapest type of dyed cloth.

“Are you… alright?” she asked softly as she walked toward Ding Nan.

The large and small hair-rings on her head shook slightly with her footsteps.

Her hair was draped down her back, with one side tied into a hanging ponytail secured by a beautiful, bright red ribbon, which added a touch of maturity to her look.

“As usual,” Ding Nan said, lowering his head helplessly.

“I’m sorry.”

Ding Nan knew why the girl was apologizing.

“No, it is a good thing that you are making progress. My inability to increase my strength is my own problem,” Ding Nan said, shaking his head.

Luo Yao suddenly spread her arms and pulled Ding Nan into a hug.

Ding Nan was startled, but it was too late.

His head was already held in Luo Yao’s embrace, and his cheek felt the girl’s unique, perfect warmth and softness.

“No matter what happens, I will be with you.”

“Yes, thank you, Luo Yao.”

A scent similar to milk drifted into Ding Nan’s nose.

He didn’t know if that was the so-called scent of a young woman, but he was in no mood to enjoy the tenderness she offered.

Over the years, only Luo Yao had stayed by his side.

He felt a sense of peace and closed his eyes.

In the shadows of the room, Ding Nan, whose eyes were obscured, could not perceive the uncontrollable upward curve of the girl’s lips or the deep blush spreading across her cheeks.