Far to the west, crossing across the vast oceans, hidden in the desolate ridges of the Mountains, the air shimmered with an unnatural stillness. Clouds gathered low, circling like wary beasts, and the faint hum of spiritual energy, a resonance from a place not of this world, lingered in every rock and tree. The very ground seemed to vibrate with a latent power, waiting for an awakening.
Su Liana's robes of white and silver fluttered in the mountain winds as she descended with her master, Elder Yuan. Her eyes sharpened, catching the faint glow ahead.
There—nestled within a hollow of stone, lying as though in slumber—was a young man.
Her heart lurched. Brother.
"Su Chen…" she whispered, a wave of relief washing over her as she rushed forward.
He was not injured. His robes were unblemished, his breathing steady, and his face held a serene, almost detached expression. Yet clutched in his palm was a cracked jade slip, its faint silver light pulsing rhythmically, like a heartbeat—a beacon of ancient power in this desolate land. Around him, the ground was scarred by strange patterns—half-formed runes that shimmered faintly before dissolving into nothingness, as if the raw power of the inheritance was too much for this barren world to contain.
"An inheritance site," Elder Yuan said gravely, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. "A profound one, by the looks of it. The boy has stumbled into fortune that few would ever dare to dream of." His voice held a note of both reverence and caution.
Su Liana knelt beside her brother, hands trembling as she brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. A subtle, powerful aura, a mix of ancient light and cosmic destiny, emanated from him. "Master, he won't wake."
"Patience," Yuan said, extending two fingers. A ripple of energy flowed from his hand, a gentle, probing force that threaded into Su Chen's chest like a stream of light. It was a delicate balance of awakening and restraint. The jade slip in his palm flickered violently, its silver light flaring for a moment, then stilled, its core essence now absorbed.
Su Chen's eyelids fluttered open.
"…Sister?" His voice was soft, but his gaze was clear, no longer lost in the haze of slumber.
Su Liana's relief burst forth in tears she quickly wiped away. "Yes, it's me. We thought you were lost. Do not do something so reckless ever again." Her voice was a mixture of scolding and profound love, her hands tightening on his shoulders.
Elder Yuan's gaze stayed fixed on the boy, his expression unreadable. "Tell me, child—what happened to you after you entered this mortal world?"
Su Chen got confused and said," Senior I am not sure about this mortal world you speak of" and as he sat up slowly, the jade slip now dull and opaque in his hand. His voice was low, almost reverent, as if he were recalling a sacred dream. "After I activated the stone in the desolate region, I was blinded by a searing light and got thrown here in these mountains, a place where there is no spiritual energy, only this strange, heavy air. I was wandering for days, my spiritual core draining, when suddenly the air tore apart. A gate… no, a test. I stepped inside, and the world was different. It was a realm of vast palaces, rivers of stars, and an old man cloaked in thunder. He said… he said I carry great fortune and my path was marked before I was even born. After that I felt sleepy and woke up just now."
The words hung heavy in the mountain air, each a confirmation of an immense destiny.
Grand Elder Yuan's pupils contracted, a spark of recognition flickering in their depths. Slowly, he inclined his head, his voice carrying the weight of ages."The jade slip is genuine. The fortune undeniable. Su Chen… you are Heaven's Favored. The threads of fate will bend to your steps, and the very laws of this universe will seek to serve your rise."
Su Liana's breath caught. "A Heavenly Son? Master… are you certain?" Her words trembled with both reverence and dread. A title spoken only in the oldest legends now lived in her brother.
"There is no mistake," Yuan replied, his tone like iron. "The jade inheritance does not lie. Such beings are rarer than phoenix feathers—when one appears, the heavens tilt. Fortunes will gather to you, calamities will hunt you, but your destiny will only ascend. The world itself will turn in your favor."
Su Chen clenched his fists, his voice unsteady. "Sister… what does this mean for me?"
Su Liana steadied him with her hands, though her heart raced. "It means you are no longer only my brother. You are one chosen by the heavens themselves, destined to walk a path beyond imagination. Your fate is no longer yours alone—it belongs to the cosmos."
Elder Yuan's tone turned colder, though not without care. "But do not mistake fortune for safety. Great luck is a beacon—and beacons attract envy. Not only outsiders will covet you. Even within your clan, many will see you as a threat. You must be ready, for fortune always carries a shadow."
Su Chen turned toward his sister, brows furrowed. "By the way, sister… where are we? Is this not the Astral Vein World?"
Her lips tightened. "No. The stone you touched was a teleportation formation. It dragged you into a mortal world—Earth. We came here to find you."
He exhaled heavily, shoulders slumping. "Then let's leave quickly. This world is suffocating. Without spiritual energy, I am nearly drained."
When her brother wanted to go back, she thought of Karma—of his quiet determination, his desperate plea for his sister, his steady eyes when all else faltered. A promise, not just to a person, but to a part of this strange new reality. "I still have a promise to keep," she murmured.
The trio made their way back to the William's residence.
When they returned to the William estate, the entire atmosphere shifted. Servants bowed lower, guards straightened with unease, and whispers raced like wildfire. The boy at Su Liana's side radiated a pressure they couldn't name.
Inside, William welcomed them with his well-practiced smile, though his eyes flickered with unease under Su Chen's gaze. Another young lord? Just how many of them are there?
Su Liana wasted no time. Her voice was calm, but her words cut cleanly through the air. "Where is Karma?"
William blinked, the smile on his face faltering slightly. "Young Lord Karma? He… he is not here. He's taken residence at the Ritz-Carlton in the city. Said he would remain there until departure."
Her chest tightened, a flicker of relief and frustration intertwining. So… he still hasn't left this mortal world behind.
Standing at her side, Su Chen tilted his head, his gaze narrowing. The name was foreign on his tongue. "Karma? Sister… who is this man you seek in a world with no spirit qi?" To him, his sister was untouchable, beyond the reach of men. That she would bend her will for a mortal was unthinkable—yet the look in her eyes was undeniable. He had to meet this Karma and judge for himself the hold he had over her.
Sensing his thoughts, Su Liana hesitated. "It is… a promise," she said quietly. "One I cannot break."
This let Su Chen's thoughts go even wild and came to his own conclusion that his sister is in some romantic relationship.
William's thoughts churned like a storm. Sister? That boy calls her sister? Then who was Karma—the one I nearly swore my allegiance to, the one I paraded before my allies? He never once called her kin… So who is he, truly? And what game have I stumbled into?The fragile map of alliances William had been drawing shattered in an instant. He needed to move carefully now, hedge his bets.
Now not to rely on Karma whom he is not sure about anymore he decided to again favor from this young lady again. He will still support Karma, but wont be as dedicated as before. He would hedge his bets, placing his allegiance in a place where it seemed most certain to pay off.
Seeking to regain ground, William forced a smooth smile. "If you are searching for someone, Young Lady, tell me the name. My influence here runs deep. Consider it already in motion."
Her eyes sharpened, her tone clipped. "Then find a woman." She handed him the details Karma had given her about his sister. "This task is yours."
William bowed immediately. "Consider it done."
Su Chen's eyes lingered on his sister, curiosity tightening into something sharper. "Karma… his sister? Sister, who is this man, that you would go so far for his sake?"
Su Liana did not answer. She turned toward the window, her white robes stirring like clouds in the faint breeze. Her gaze burned with quiet fire. She had found her brother—the one fate itself had crowned. Yet her path was no longer bound to him alone.
Somewhere in that city, Karma was waiting. And when she faced him again, she would bring more than promises. She would bring answers—about this world, about his heart, and about her own place between two realms.