Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, six and a half years had flown by like a shuttle weaving through silk. Gu Yecheng had grown up. At thirteen, not a trace of childishness remained on his face—only a hint of quiet determination.
After being labeled a child with no potential, Gu Yecheng lost the eligibility to attend the Primary Soul Master Academy. He had no choice but to enroll in an ordinary school.
There, nothing related to Soul Masters was taught—only basic literacy and general knowledge.
After nearly seven years, Gu Yecheng had already completed his studies. Now, he could only follow in his mother's footsteps and work. Fortunately, he didn't have to rise at dawn or toil deep into the night.
His mother worked as a housekeeper and cook in a noble's private villa, while Gu Yecheng himself served as the villa's gardener. His main job was trimming and caring for the flowers and plants, though he also handled other chores, like delivering letters and moving supplies.
"Sigh… This kind of life is really so dull."
After finishing the lawn trimming, Gu Yecheng lay flat on his back, staring up at the sky.
He raised his hand, gazing at the brilliant sunlight streaming through his fingers—the very light that breathed life into the earth. It was something he longed for deeply, yet felt utterly helpless before.
Indeed, the Soul Master profession was lofty and powerful. Without talent, one would spend their entire life at the very bottom of society. Every noble he'd seen had a powerful Martial Soul and overwhelming strength.
Once a Soul Master reached a certain level, they could even be granted the title of baron by the empire.
Gu Yecheng murmured to himself, "If I were a Soul Master… I'd become the strongest one out there. I'd buy a villa like this and gift it to my mother."
But thoughts like that were nothing more than extravagant fantasies—ones he'd indulged in a thousand times.
"You? A Soul Master? That's not a path just anyone can walk. First, you need a Martial Soul with soul power. Then you need soul rings."
As Gu Yecheng pondered, a sweet, gentle voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
He looked up and saw a girl with a delicate, beautiful face. Her long lashes framed her enchanting eyes, sparkling like they carried electricity.
Her finely shaped nose and cherry-red lips made her look like a masterpiece sculpted by the finest artisans—so beautiful, it was hard not to be drawn to her.
She was none other than the daughter of the villa's owner.
Gu Yecheng quickly stood up from the lawn and respectfully said, "Miss, you're back."
"Hehe, caught you slacking off, didn't I?"
She grinned and glanced at Gu Yecheng, clearly trying to catch a hint of panic or fear on his face.
But to her disappointment, there was none.
In Gu Yecheng's world, "fear" wasn't even a word he understood. Perhaps it was because he lacked a formal education—he hadn't even attended the Primary Soul Master Academy.
His expression remained calm and emotionless. What he had said just now was pure courtesy—devoid of any feeling.
"I'm sorry, but I've finished my work for the day. I wasn't slacking. If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back."
"Hey! What kind of attitude is that?"
The girl put her hands on her hips. As the only daughter of the household, she was effectively half the mistress of the villa—and would inherit everything one day.
She had the looks, the figure, and countless admirers lining up for a chance to get close to her.
And yet this mere gardener ignored her?
Unbelievable.
And it wasn't the first time either. Truly infuriating.
"You're a noble Soul Master, Miss," Gu Yecheng said calmly. "I'm just a commoner. I'm not qualified to be your friend. This isn't meant to offend you—it's just that I know my place."
He spoke plainly, without emotion.
The girl frowned. "If I say you're qualified to be my friend, then you are."
Gu Yecheng shook his head lightly. "I'm not worth that. You're destined to walk the path of a powerful Soul Master. I'm just an ordinary person. Even if we became friends, how often would we see each other? Would a relationship in name only really matter?"
The girl pressed further: "Do you really not like me? If not, why did you save me that time?"
Gu Yecheng paused in thought before replying, "Because I didn't want my mother to lose her job. That was the only reason. Saving you was just a coincidence."
She furrowed her brows. "I don't believe you."
Gu Yecheng said nothing more, even avoiding her gaze. Because… he had lied.
From the moment he first saw her, Gu Yecheng had fallen for her. She was stunning—so beautiful he wanted to protect her from the world.
But in this society, status always mattered. No matter how well two people got along, they would eventually be torn apart by class differences.
Her name was Ye Lingling. Her Martial Soul was Nine-Heart Begonia, and she had innate level-nine soul power. A few months ago, she was accepted into Heaven Dou Imperial Academy as Nuoding City's top student—with a full scholarship and permission for occasional home visits.
Between nobility and commoners, Soul Masters and ordinary folk, the line was painfully clear.
As Gu Yecheng turned to leave, Ye Lingling suddenly wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"I know you like me," she whispered. "I like you too. But why are you pushing me away? So what if you're not a Soul Master? So what if I am? Does that really matter? I just want to follow my heart. Once I graduate, we'll be together. You won't have to wait long."
Three months ago, Gu Yecheng had followed his mother to this job after being referred by the villa's steward.
At the time, Ye Lingling had just graduated from Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy. On her way home, she passed by Gu Yecheng working in the yard. She was immediately drawn to his quiet, composed aura. She wanted to speak with him—but felt shy and hesitant.
So, she asked him to help organize the villa's storage room—moving large items into a second warehouse. That way, she had an excuse to talk to him.
As they spoke, they discovered they had something in common: both were from single-parent homes.
Gu Yecheng's father had once been a Soul Master, but hadn't returned in years. He was presumed either killed by soul beasts or lost in battle.
Ye Lingling's parents were divorced. Her father served the Heaven Dou Empire, while her mother lived quietly in the villa—wealthy enough to never need to work or concern herself with the outside world.
One day, Ye Lingling collapsed in the warehouse. With no one else around and no Soul Masters nearby, Gu Yecheng had no choice but to try primitive first aid: pressing acupuncture points, stimulating her chest, even performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Ye Lingling was a support-type Soul Master. Her only ability was wide-area healing—but that only worked on external injuries. It couldn't cure internal damage.
Despite having the legendary Nine-Heart Begonia, her Martial Soul had a fatal flaw: she could heal others, but not herself. If she was injured, recovery would be long and arduous.
She had likely been poisoned while acquiring her soul ring—a slow-acting toxin that still hadn't left her system.
When she woke, the first thing she saw was Gu Yecheng… kissing her. She knew it was artificial respiration, but it was still her first kiss.
Seeing her awake, Gu Yecheng asked how she felt, then carried her to her mother. Unfortunately, her mother wasn't home.
Feeling her forehead, he realized she had a fever. He laid her in a clean room, brought a basin of cold water, added ice, soaked a towel, and gently wiped her forehead and face.
He tended to her with such quiet care that she was completely moved.
Children who grow up lacking love often mature early—and crave affection more deeply.
Ye Lingling was no exception. At her young age, she had already fallen for Gu Yecheng.
Since that day, it had always been Ye Lingling who sought him out. Even when there was nothing to say, she'd find an excuse to bother him—because seeing his emotionless expression made her heart ache.
(End of Chapter)
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