If one’s ‘Spiritual Root’ is forcibly extracted at birth, they should die instantly.
If they survive, it must be a stroke of divine luck — or there is some special reason behind it.
That was how Wang Erdong died.
Compared to his second brother, Wang Erdong, Wang Sandong was fortunate.
At least he did not die immediately, though by now, he did not have many days left to live.
Wang Sandong often pondered a question: On the day he died, how many people would truly be sad?
The old physician who came every morning to check his pulse would likely be genuinely grieved.
After all, the fact that he had lived to the age of 16 was clear evidence of the old man’s extraordinary medical skills.
Today, after the old physician checked Wang Sandong’s pulse, his expression was grim.
Wang Sandong knew this meant his end was near.
He had already thought of his epitaph.
It would read: “I came, I saw, I left.”
But he was unwilling to go.
He had come all this way to another world; it was one thing to fail at living a grand life with three wives and four concubines, but he had not even touched the soft, warm skin of a woman.
It was truly a wasted trip.
He possessed the heart of a tiger but the body of a fading candle.
This sickly form could not withstand even the slightest vigorous movement.
Forget seeking pleasure; even walking two steps too quickly would leave him gasping for breath.
Any emotional upheaval could potentially kill him.
Wang Sandong was afraid of death, so he lived with extreme caution.
Others were also afraid of him dying.
Rumors circulated that when street vendors passed the Wang family estate, they did not even dare to cry out their wares — fearing their voices might scare the sickly Third Young Master to death.
This was sheer nonsense.
The area around a prestigious family like the Wangs was naturally quiet and serene; what vendor would dare to approach and make a racket?
However, the Madam of Fengyue Pavilion on West Street was truly afraid of him.
Every time Wang Sandong forced his sickly body to the brothel with the help of a servant, the Madam would break into a cold sweat.
She would stay by his side throughout his visit, fearing that some excitement might cause him to drop dead right there.
If that happened, not only would Fengyue Pavilion be finished, but her own life would likely be forfeit.
Whenever Wang Sandong arrived, the Madam would personally serve tea with a trembling heart — none of the other girls dared to.
It was said that once, a girl who accompanied Wang Sandong for a single cup of tea was so terrified that her menses arrived early.
After all, if one caused the death of the Wang family’s Third Young Master, they would surely pay with their life.
Many people were curious.
How could a sickly person like Wang Sandong, who was likely incapable of performing, enjoy visiting brothels so much?
Furthermore, there were 13 brothels of various sizes in the Old Capital, yet Wang Sandong was devoted only to Fengyue Pavilion and never went anywhere else.
Some suspected he had fallen for the pavilion’s top courtesan.
Many men were obsessed with such an peerless beauty, so it would not be strange if Wang Sandong had been captivated as well.
Others speculated he was interested in the Madam.
After all, some young masters had unique tastes, and the 27-year-old Madam, who called herself Lady Yue, still possessed quite a bit of charm.
Lady Yue held the pot and poured tea, a hint of worry creasing her brow.
“Third Young Master, do not take those idle rumors to heart. A person of your stature is far above a faded blossom like me.”
She paused and whispered, “I only fear it will stain your noble reputation…”
Wang Sandong took a sip of tea with a smile, finding it somewhat bland.
He really wanted to drink wine, but his body would not permit it.
Glancing at the still-charming Lady Yue, he nodded.
“You are right. I should come here less often in the future — or perhaps not at all. If the esteemed Third Young Master of the Wang family were to die in a brothel, it would certainly implicate some poor souls.”
“Hehe… I certainly wish you could visit often, but for the sake of your health and the Wang family’s reputation, there is no other way. Here, let me finish this; please, drink as you like.”
Lady Yue gave him a flirtatious look and drained her wine glass in one go.
Setting down the glass, she found Wang Sandong smiling at her with his half-full teacup.
She immediately covered her face in a display of shyness, her voice soft and sweet.
“Oh, Third Young Master, please do not look at me like that. I am becoming quite embarrassed.”
“Madam Yue must be joking,” Wang Sandong teased.
“You have seen ‘everything.’ How could you be so easily embarrassed?”
Hearing the sarcasm, Lady Yue did not dare to get angry.
She simply continued to smile and flatter him.
“Whenever I see your extraordinary face, my heart is filled with joy, so of course I get shy. Alas, heaven is jealous of genius. For such a wonderful person like the Young Master to be born without a ‘Spiritual Root’… Sigh.”
Those two consecutive sighs seemed to contain a trace of genuine emotion.
“If not for that, I would be more than willing to serve you with this withered body.”
Wang Sandong smiled, still looking at Lady Yue.
“This morning, after the physician checked my pulse, his expression was quite poor. I estimate I do not have much time left.”
Noticing Lady Yue’s pupils contract as she put on a mournful look, he continued before she could speak.
“I was thinking, before I die, shouldn’t I indulge myself? Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a huge loss?”
As he spoke, he suddenly reached out and squeezed her chin, gently lifting it.
“Compared to an inexperienced girl, you are surely seasoned and skillful. You wouldn’t let me die from overexertion tonight, right?”
The pity on Lady Yue’s face vanished instantly, replaced by shock and resistance.
The Third Young Master of the Wang family had a body like a glass cup — and an ultra-thin one at that.
One wrong move, and he would shatter.
Although he looked as graceful and elegant as jade, even surpassing many women in beauty, the thought of…
Exerting him?
Even if she was indeed seasoned and skillful, she did not dare.
If she accidentally worked this sickly young master to death, the Wang family would surely skin her alive.
“Oh, this… this…”
Lady Yue skillfully turned her head to avoid his hand and looked down in shame.
“The Third Young Master is of noble status. I am of humble appearance and have a tainted body; I wouldn’t dare defile your purity.”
As she spoke, beads of nervous sweat appeared on her nose.
“Hahaha!”
Wang Sandong laughed.
However, he laughed too loudly, and the emotional surge made his breathing labored.
He hurried to stop and steadied himself.
Looking at the terrified Lady Yue, whose eyes were wide with worry, he sighed self-deprecatingly.
“Do not panic. It is fine.”
He placed his hands on the table, trying to stand, but after two attempts, he failed.
‘What a useless body!’
Glancing again at the snow-white skin visible at Lady Yue’s chest, Wang Sandong felt a wave of sorrow.
‘The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!’
Wang Sandong sighed dejectedly.
“The hour is late. I am leaving.”
The servant standing nearby immediately stepped forward to support him.
After leaving Fengyue Pavilion and boarding the carriage, Wang Sandong leaned back and caught his breath.
Then, he pulled back the curtain and glanced seemingly by chance at the window in the southeast corner of the third floor.
The window was tightly shut.
The room was pitch black.
He did not know if that person was watching him from the shadows, or if they had already left the area.
Wang Sandong dropped the curtain, leaned back weakly in the carriage, and gently closed his eyes.
16 years ago, the voice that had whispered by his bed echoed in his mind again: “To still be alive after having their Spiritual Root forcibly extracted? Simply inconceivable! Hmm… without a Spiritual Root, would he be more suited to practice ‘Huitian’?”
Those words were like a final straw for a drowning man.
Wang Sandong desperately wanted to grab onto it.
Perhaps, if he practiced that *Huitian*, he could survive.
However, back then, his body was so weak that he could not even speak.
He could only watch as that beautiful woman dressed in men’s clothing, her voice a bit raspy, turned and left.
She did not teach him *Huitian*, and she disappeared for 15 years.
The Wang family carriage moved slowly through the streets.
The servant driving was very cautious, fearing any bump might cost Wang Sandong his life.
At this time last year, on this very road, the horse had been mysteriously spooked and bolted.
The jolting had left Wang Sandong on the brink of death.
It was also then that he had once again seen that exquisite, peerless face — at the southeast window of the third floor of Fengyue Pavilion, looking down at him coldly.
Unfortunately, his condition had been so dire that he only had the strength to open his eyes.
Once again, he could only watch, unable even to call out to her.
“Young Master, did you enjoy yourself today?”
The servant asked, trying to strike up a conversation.
Wang Sandong knew the servant was worried he might have quietly died in the carriage.
With his eyes half-closed and leaning weakly against the seat, he felt the feebleness of his heartbeat and listened to the crisp ringing of the carriage bells.
He did not answer the question, but instead said, “You are 12 years old now, aren’t you? Wait two more years. If I am still alive, I will take you to Fengyue Pavilion to get a taste of life.”
He waited for a moment, but the servant did not respond.
The carriage also came to a stop.
Wang Sandong sensed something was wrong and frowned as he opened his eyes.
In the dim carriage, there was suddenly another person.
Wang Sandong was startled.
His heart began to beat rapidly, and his pale face instantly flushed red.
He stared wide-eyed at the peerless face before him.
It was her!
That final straw!
“You…”
Wang Sandong opened his mouth to speak, but he could not catch his breath.
It felt as if something was blocking his windpipe, making it impossible to breathe.
It was as if something had suddenly gripped his racing heart, threatening to make it stop.
Just this level of “fright” was enough to take Wang Sandong’s life.
“Don’t get excited.”
The person’s lips curled slightly as she grabbed Wang Sandong’s wrist.
Wang Sandong immediately felt a chilly aura rise from his pulse point, spreading through his entire body in an instant.
Simultaneously, he noticed a flicker of demonic energy in those deep, soulful eyes.
Wang Sandong had read many ancient records and knew what that demonic energy represented.
This savior of his was actually a Demonic Cultivator!
Therefore, the *Huitian* she mentioned years ago was likely a demonic technique!
If he practiced a demonic art, he would become a pariah…
No matter!
When one is about to starve to death, who would care if a found bun is stale?
As long as it allowed him to live!
Survival came first!
“You do not need to know who I am. You only need to answer one question.”
The Demonic Cultivator, possessing a peerless face, gave Wang Sandong a cold, sinister smile, revealing a row of pearly white teeth.
“Do you — want to live?”
‘What a pointless question!’
Was there any rich young master who did not want to live?
Perhaps there were, but Wang Sandong was definitely not one of them.
‘No, I want to die.’
Wang Sandong almost blurted out the retort, but he feared she might actually grant his wish.
Looking at the familiar yet strange face of his “savior,” he thought he would weep with joy, but instead, he felt a surge of anger.
‘Sixteen years!’
‘I have waited for you for 16 years!’
‘If you hadn’t come, I would be dead already!’
‘When that happened, where would you have found another waste without a Spiritual Root to practice your Huitian?’
Inside his body, the cold, icy aura gradually dissipated.
Wang Sandong’s heart finally resumed its slow rhythm, and his breathing became clear.
He slumped in the carriage as if exhausted, looking into the Demonic Cultivator’s beautiful eyes, and asked cautiously, “Can I?”
“You can,” the Demonic Cultivator laughed, “but you must pay a small price.”
There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
Wang Sandong was not surprised by this, and he was mentally prepared to pay a price.
He took a breath and asked, “What is the cost?”