He lay on the bed with a messy, lazy expression. His lips smacked unconsciously as his eyes stared blankly at the straw roof overhead, drifting in and out of random thoughts.
Suddenly, the bamboo door burst open with a loud BANG:"Damn brat! When are you going to drag your useless body out here and help me with the chores? Keep this up and you'll become a complete good-for-nothing!"
Zhang Wei frowned and replied, "I am a good-for-nothing. You don't need to bother yourself with me, old man."
Hearing his son's insolence, the short and sturdily built man stepped forward and kicked Zhang Wei off the bed, sending him crashing painfully to the ground."Watch your mouth! I'm your father. If I don't discipline you, who will? If not for me, you wouldn't even be alive to talk back!"
Zhang Wei groaned in pain as the bamboo bed collapsed under the impact. His body trembled, but he stubbornly argued back:"Who asked you to give birth to me? Do you expect me to feel happy knowing I'm destined to lose to everyone for the rest of my life? Should I be content living as a mortal who can never cultivate?"
The father who had been furious just moments ago suddenly froze. His heavy breathing slowed, softening like a machine losing power. He understood more than anyone—he too had once been a child with unrealistic dreams, but as time passed, he learned to accept reality's cruelty: those born as ants would remain ants for life.
"Fine. Stay there and wait for death for all I care. No one would miss a useless brat like you."With that, he turned away and headed out to continue his daily work—fishing at the sea.
Left alone, Zhang Wei slowly pushed himself off the floor. His father's words echoed painfully in his chest. If he died right here, aside from his parents, who else would care?He sighed and decided to take a walk along the shore to clear his mind.
The sea stretched like a massive mirror reflecting the golden sunset. Seagulls glided gracefully above. Zhang Wei walked on the sand, gazing at the vast sky. Sometimes he wished he were a bird—free to soar wherever he pleased.
Eventually, he noticed a silhouette ahead—a girl of breathtaking beauty. Her long, cloud-soft black hair fluttered in the breeze. Her skin was like fresh snow, her lips red and alluring. Phoenix-shaped eyes and arched brows gave her an air of elegance beyond the mortal world. Her slim waist, curving hips, and youthful body radiated a mysterious charm that drew people in.Yet despite her appearance, she looked only fifteen or sixteen. One couldn't imagine how dazzling she might become once she fully matured.
Though her clothes were cheap pieces of cloth, they failed to hide her innate grace—she was a beauty gifted by heaven.
Zhang Wei stared without blinking. Growing up in a fishing village, he had never seen anyone remotely as beautiful. He stood frozen, mesmerized.
Feeling his gaze, the girl turned sharply."Hey, have you stared enough yet?"
Flustered, Zhang Wei stuttered. It was his first time speaking to a girl—especially one this pretty."I-I… I just… saw… that… your… um… chest… b-b-bounced when you breathed… It… looked nice…"
He answered honestly, eyes subconsciously flicking downward. He didn't know how to speak properly—since childhood, he rarely interacted with others and only learned a few words from his parents.
The girl's face twisted with outrage. She rushed forward and slapped him with a crisp SMACK."You pervert! Filthy! Shameless!"Insults poured out of her cherry-red lips."Look at yourself! Square, crude face, short, dark, smelly, covered in pimples and blotches. Slapping you makes me feel sick. If at least you were a good-looking pervert… but this—ugh, what a waste. Like watching a cow fart."
Zhang Wei's expression darkened, but he didn't dare retaliate. He simply lowered his gaze to his calloused, blistered feet.
She huffed, turned around, and walked away, leaving him alone.
It had been a chaotic evening. Although the girl insulted him harshly, Zhang Wei found himself torn between anger and… attraction. Maybe it was simply because she was too beautiful—so beautiful that others would excuse anything she did.While he, with his ugly appearance, would be hated no matter what he did.
That night, he dragged himself home to find both parents waiting. His stout mother stirred the cooking pot while his father repaired a fishing rod.
"Oh, look who finally decided to show up! You're already fifteen! Do something useful for once. Keep living like this and die however you want—I don't need a useless son!"
He had been yelled at by his father in the afternoon… and now berated by his mother at night. He knew they were harsh only on the outside, but with his still-immature heart, he couldn't help feeling hurt.
"Fine! Starting tomorrow, I'll go fishing with Father! Happy now?!" Zhang Wei shouted.
His mother stomped over, grabbed his ear, and twisted it."OW—OW—HEY! GENTLY! You'll rip it off!"
The next morning, despite his promise, what kind of person was Zhang Wei?A procrastinator. His list of goals was longer than the Yellow River, yet he never accomplished even the first items.
His father tried urging him for a full quarter of an hour with no success. Finally, the man gave up and threw Zhang Wei over his shoulder.The boy jerked awake mid-air, yawning and confused as he was hauled away like a sack of rice.
When they reached the dock, the father tossed him onto the boat with a heavy THUD.Zhang Wei sprawled on the deck like a worm, butt in the air, much to the amusement of nearby fishermen.
"Morning, Old Zhang! Bringing your son to learn the trade today?"Trương Bá—Old Zhang—immediately denied it."No, no. That's not my son. Just a bedbug."
"Hahahaha!"Laughter erupted across the deck.
Moments later, the anchor rattled as the boat drifted from shore. At first, Zhang Wei felt fine… but as they sailed farther, dizziness overwhelmed him. He clung to the rail, vomiting nonstop while the waves rocked the boat violently.
"Old man! Old man, let me go home! I can't take it anymore!"Zhang Wei begged.
But his father pretended not to hear, calmly preparing the nets.
By the time they returned that night, Zhang Wei looked like he had been exiled to some desolate wasteland and barely survived.
Days passed.His father forced him onto the boat again and again. While normal people got used to seasickness in about five days… Zhang Wei took two full weeks.
But once he finally adapted, he found himself mesmerized by the sea's beauty—something he hadn't noticed while suffering.
He stretched his arms and breathed in deeply.It felt like a reward for passing the ocean's trial.
Old Zhang suddenly stood beside him, gazing at the horizon."Beautiful, isn't it?" he asked.
Zhang Wei sensed something unusual in his father's behavior but answered honestly, "Yeah. It is."
His father continued:"See? The sea is vast—far beyond what we humans can reach. The only thing that limits it… is the narrow vision of a person.As long as a man still lives, he will always have hope."