16 years had passed.
The Demonic Cultivator was just as cold and breathtakingly beautiful as she had been then; time seemed to have left no marks on her face.
She still dressed as a man, with a belt loosely tied around her waist, giving her a bit of an unkempt appearance.
“The price — “
Her lips curled into a mysterious smile as she spoke slowly.
“Perhaps it will turn you into a woman.”
Wang Sandong’s pupils contracted.
At first, he wondered if he was hallucinating because he was too weak.
However, he did not ask immediately, choosing silence instead.
He believed the Demonic Cultivator had more to say.
The Demonic Cultivator smiled again.
“*Huitian* was my own creation. Theoretically, upon reaching the Mahayana Stage, one should be able to reverse Yin and Yang. However, despite years of bitter cultivation, I have never been able to reach that stage. Perhaps there is an issue with the cultivation method? Therefore, I have modified the *Huitian* mantra slightly; it might work now.”
These words could be understood simply and crudely: ‘I need a lab rat.’
Wang Sandong looked into the Demonic Cultivator’s captivating eyes and gave a miserable smile.
He sized her up for a moment before asking, “Are you — a man or a woman?”
Her words had planted that doubt in his heart.
The smile on the Demonic Cultivator’s face stiffened.
Her red lips parted slightly, wanting to ask him, “Is that the point?”
Then she reconsidered; the question she wanted to ask was even less relevant.
She huffed coldly.
“Without a Spiritual Root, death is certain! I do not know how you have survived until now, but I know you are merely lingering on your last breath, and your days are numbered! Only by practicing *Huitian* do you have a chance to live.”
‘Perhaps’
Turn into a woman.
‘Possible’
To live…
Whether it was her nature or some other reason, this Demonic Cultivator seemed surprisingly honest.
In contrast, Wang Sandong was not as honest.
At the very least, he would not tell the Demonic Cultivator that he was a transmigrator who had entered the body of a dead infant, which was why he had not followed in the footsteps of Wang Erdong.
Despite the uncertainties of ‘perhaps’ and ‘possible,’ Wang Sandong did not care.
He had waited 16 years for this day.
So what if there were risks and a price?
If he did not want to die and had no other choice, there was no need to hesitate.
Even if he became a demon, or a woman — it was better than being dead.
Wang Sandong’s logic was rigorous and clear.
However…
He felt an inexplicable chill between his legs.
A sensation of weakness in his soles and a tightening in his rear made him very uncomfortable.
Becoming a demon was fine.
But why did he have to become a woman?
Was it impossible to stay as he was?
Because his body was frail, he had never dared to touch a woman.
Now that his body would no longer be weak, would he lose the tool to touch them?
While the meaning of life was not just about that sort of thing, there was a difference between choosing not to do it and being unable to do it!
Wang Sandong’s gaze lingered on the Demonic Cultivator’s chest, trying to see if there was any noticeable protrusion — there did not seem to be.
Maybe she was just flat-chested; many of the Wang Family’s maids were like that.
After binding their chests, they looked as “flat” as men.
Still staring at her chest, Wang Sandong asked unwillingly, “Why must I become a woman? Is it impossible not to?”
Although his gaze was a bit out of control, he clearly knew what he should be concerned about.
The Demonic Cultivator noticed where his eyes were.
Though displeased, she was not surprised.
After 16 years, she knew exactly what kind of person he was.
Ignoring his indecent gaze and his question, she said, “Actually, your lack of a Spiritual Root isn’t natural. It was forcibly stripped away by someone.”
Everyone in the Old Capital believed that the Third Young Master of the Wang Family was a useless trash born without a Spiritual Root.
That was because the Wang Family had announced it as such.
Hearing her words, Wang Sandong finally looked up into her beautiful eyes.
He noticed a hint of pity in them.
Ha!
Even a Demonic Cultivator who viewed human life as grass felt it was tragic to have one’s Spiritual Root forcibly removed by their own parents?
Wang Sandong could not help but laugh out loud.
When a person is too shocked, their reaction becomes strange.
For example, they might laugh when they should be in pain.
That was what the Demonic Cultivator thought as she sighed softly.
Having observed him in the shadows for 16 years, she understood Wang Sandong well.
She believed that no matter the price, he would practice *Huitian* desperately — because he would want to know who ruined his life and then seek revenge!
Also, this lecherous brat actually dreamed of having a strong body so he could indulge in pleasure.
*Huitian* was his straw to clutch, his only one!
She took a small booklet from her robes and handed it to Wang Sandong, promising, “Practice *Huitian* well. On the day you reach the Mahayana Stage, I will tell you who stole your Spiritual Root. Then, you can choose whether or not to take revenge.”
A sinister wind suddenly rose, blowing the carriage curtain open.
The Demonic Cultivator leaped out gracefully and disappeared into the darkness.
The curtain fell back, draping over the face of the unconscious servant.
Wang Sandong looked at the booklet in his hand.
*Huitian*.
The handwriting was elegant, like a woman’s.
‘She’s probably a woman, right?’
But…
Forget it.
It was not important.
After putting *Huitian* away, Wang Sandong woke the servant.
The servant woke up dazed and said quickly, “Please forgive me, Young Master. I don’t know why I fell asleep.”
Wang Sandong waved him off and told him to keep driving home.
He leaned back in the carriage, his hand occasionally pressing the *Huitian* manual hidden in his clothes, fearing that the experience had just been a hallucination.
Only the physical sensation of the booklet eased his anxiety.
Although he was a lab rat for the Demonic Cultivator…
Wang Sandong knew he had no choice.
Perhaps the Demonic Cultivator did not just view him as a lab rat; she might even have some hidden conspiracy.
Those were problems for later.
‘To live!’
That was the most important thing!
Wang Sandong shouted in his heart.
His face had a sickly flush from excitement.
He had to calm down; otherwise, he might die of excitement before he even began practicing *Huitian*.
The carriage moved slowly over the cobblestone streets until it reached the Wang Manor in the southeast of the Old Capital.
In the depths of the manor, a remote and cold place called “Anzhi Courtyard” was where Wang Sandong lived.
“Since you are here, stay and be at ease.”
Different from most people’s understanding, Wang Sandong interpreted that phrase like this: ‘Since disaster has come and there is no way out, just settle down and live like a dog.’
He often told himself this, but it did not help much.
For 16 years, every time he saw his parents and his older brother, a strange sense of sorrow and rage would surge in his heart.
He would never forget the hellish pain of having his Spiritual Root stripped away 16 years ago.
“The Third Young Master is back.”
Hong Xiu, his mother’s personal maid, arrived with a tray full of silver ingots.
“Did you have a good time today?”
She handed the silver to the servant.
“The Madam figured the Third Young Master’s money was running low, so she sent some.”
“Thank you for the trouble, Sister Hong Xiu,” Wang Sandong replied with a smile.
Hong Xiu smiled and took a delicate porcelain bottle from her robes.
“The Eldest Young Master obtained a bottle of Heart-Nourishing Pills in the New Capital yesterday and sent someone overnight. He did not want to disturb your rest, so it was delayed until now.”
She opened the bottle, took out one Heart-Nourishing Pill, and fed it to him personally.
“This pill is priceless; it is very beneficial for your body.”
“Mm,” Wang Sandong grunted.
He felt a wave of warmth in his dantian after the pill entered his stomach.
A sense of comfort spread throughout his body, and his weakness vanished instantly.
“Good stuff.”
It was indeed good stuff.
Wang Sandong had read about the Heart-Nourishing Pill in ancient texts; it was a spiritual medicine that only a Mahayana Stage expert could refine.
It was rare even for great families, let alone ordinary people.
His brother must have gone to great lengths to get this pill.
“It is getting late. The Third Young Master should rest early.”
Hong Xiu handed over the rest of the pills and reminded him, “Resting well will help you absorb the pill.”
Wang Sandong took the pills, but he also grabbed Hong Xiu’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
With a mischievous grin, he said, “Sister Hong Xiu, your hands are getting smoother and smoother. Your cultivation must have improved again, right?”
Hong Xiu smiled, gave her hand a gentle tug, and pulled it back.
“The Madam is waiting for my report. I shall take my leave.”
She gave a slight bow and retreated.
Wang Sandong watched her graceful figure leave, then lifted his hand to his nose to catch her scent, sighing with regret.
If his body were not so weak…
What a shame.
A maid like her would eventually be given to someone else.
Truly a waste.
Sighing again, Wang Sandong went to his bedroom.
“No need to wait on me. You may leave.”
Wang Sandong dismissed the servant and took out *Huitian*.
The simple booklet looked incredibly ordinary.
A demonic art…
Wang Sandong’s heart felt heavy.
Once he entered the path of a demon, there would be no turning back.
However, if there was an abyss behind him, he had to charge forward even if there was a mountain of blades ahead!
No matter what the Demonic Cultivator’s hidden goal was, no matter if he would be hunted by everyone in the world, or if he would eventually turn into a woman…
‘To live!’
— That was Wang Sandong’s greatest dream.
Besides that, what Wang Sandong wanted most was to ask his parents: ‘Was it a bit cruel to use my Spiritual Root to save my big brother?’
Of course, not now.