All is lost

Seven years later, within a secluded villa of the Yan family.

A strikingly handsome youth was immersed naked in a large vat.

The vat overflowed with a purple medicinal liquid, which, having been boiled at high temperatures, exuded a rich, herbal aroma.

This youth was none other than the twelve-year-old Yan Yun.

He bore a striking resemblance to Su Muyu, with crimson lips, pearly white teeth, and delicate features, making him appear almost girlish.

Today marked a profoundly significant day for him.

Hadn’t he, at the tender age of five, discovered a mysterious booklet within the family’s scripture pavilion?

The very fact that this booklet had been hidden away suggested it was far from ordinary.

It detailed a poisonous cultivation technique, a rare art that could be practiced without the need for a spiritual root.

However, its cultivation carried immense risks and unforeseen costs.

Adhering to the poisonous technique’s requirements, he had spent these past years secretly gathering the necessary materials for its practice.

Three days prior, all preparations had been completed.

Thus, seizing the opportunity while Su Muyu was away, he procured a large vat, boiled the medicinal liquid, and prepared to commence his training.

The sensation was far from pleasant; as the medicinal liquid’s temperature steadily rose, Yan Yun felt as though his skin was being pricked by countless needles, a searing pain engulfing his entire body.

This was his body’s reaction to absorbing the liquid.

The liquid’s color alone betrayed its true nature: this was no gentle herbal decoction, but a potent poison.

The essence of this poisonous technique was to fuse toxins with the physical body, a process fraught with agonizing pain.

Yan Yun had steeled himself for the worst, knowing he had to persevere, even if it meant death, and not leave the vat.

Whether he would be reborn anew depended entirely on this day.

As the temperature continued its ascent, his skin began to flush crimson, and as the toxins permeated his meridians through his skin, the superficial meridians on his body started to glow with a vivid purple hue.

This was the visible sign of the poison spreading throughout his entire being.

Yan Yun’s expression grew increasingly tormented, and he couldn’t help but let out whimpers, yet he stubbornly persisted.

It was only when the poison reached his face that his endurance snapped, and he let out a low, guttural roar.

‘Damn it, why is it so excruciatingly painful? The person who invented this poisonous technique must have been a perverted lunatic,’ Yan Yun cursed silently in his mind.

The absorption of the poison was merely the first step; the true ordeal would begin once the toxins had spread through his meridians to every corner of his body.

The purple medicinal liquid in the vat began to thin, and Yan Yun’s fair skin started to be corroded by the violet poison.

By this point, Yan Yun no longer registered pain; his entire body was numb, feeling as though it no longer belonged to him.

He even felt his consciousness on the verge of fading, but he absolutely could not lose awareness, for to faint would mean certain death.

‘No, Yan Yun, you must hold on! You’ve prepared for nearly seven years; you cannot give up now,’ Yan Yun screamed within his own mind.

This was a battle between willpower and agony.

After another moment, the violet toxins finally enveloped Yan Yun’s face, consuming him entirely, and at that instant, his raven black hair transformed into a shimmering silver-white.

His body, ravaged by the toxins, pulsed with an eerie violet glow.

The purple medicinal liquid in the vat had now completely turned into clear water.

Yan Yun painstakingly opened his eyes, revealing pupils like twin amethyst gems.

After glancing at the liquid, now entirely clear water, he finally exhaled in relief, completely relaxing.

“It’s finally over.”

With those words, Yan Yun promptly lost consciousness.

****

Meanwhile, Yan Yun’s mother, Su Muyu, was conversing with Third Madam Xia Yu of the Jiang family in their inner courtyard.

Su Muyu wasn’t merely paying a social call today; the Jiang family had a matter requiring the Yan family’s assistance, and had specifically invited Yan Long and Su Muyu as guests.

“Sister Muyu, have you made up your mind? After all, your son is an ordinary person incapable of cultivation; he won’t receive much preferential treatment remaining with the Yan family.

However, coming to my Jiang family would be an entirely different matter,” Xia Yu said with a faint smile.

Su Muyu was already twenty-eight this year, yet she still appeared to be in her early twenties; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she looked like Yan Yun’s elder sister.

“Sister Xia Yu, forgive my bluntness, but your Jiang family intends for my son to act as a shield for your daughter, don’t you?” Su Muyu asked, her brow furrowed.

These words caused Xia Yu’s expression to become slightly awkward.

“This? While it might seem a little unfair to your esteemed son, I assure you, should you agree, my Jiang family will certainly arrange for several more concubines for him in the future.”

Upon hearing this, Su Muyu fell into a momentary contemplation.

What was truly behind all this? In essence, it was all due to the Jiang family’s proud daughter of heaven, Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao, born with a pure Ice Spiritual Root, had been accepted as a disciple by Yunhua Sect, the foremost sect in Jiang Kingdom, at the age of five.

Such innate talent and status naturally made her a coveted prize among the various major powers of Jiang Kingdom.

Over the years, numerous influential factions had privately approached the Jiang family, seeking a marital alliance.

Initially, the Jiang family had politely declined, citing Jiang Yao’s tender age.

However, as Jiang Yao gradually matured, this excuse became less viable.

Moreover, having finally produced such a genius, the Jiang family was reluctant to marry her off to an outside family.

Consequently, the Jiang family devised a plan: instead of marrying Jiang Yao out, they would have the groom marry into their family.

As soon as this news spread, influential factions naturally ceased their persistent overtures.

In this world, marrying into another family was an extremely humiliating affair, and it was highly improbable that they would allow their own outstanding progeny to become another’s son.

The Jiang family’s reasoning was sound, as they had few male descendants: the Jiang family head had one wife and three concubines, totaling one son and five daughters.

Although their only son possessed cultivation aptitude, his talent was mediocre, making it difficult for him to achieve greatness; thus, all their hopes rested on Jiang Yao.

Yet, they could not allow other powers to perceive the Jiang family as being perfunctory.

Even the royal family of Jiang Kingdom had sent envoys.

Unable to prolong the matter, the Jiang family had to make plans swiftly.

They thus publicly announced that once Jiang Yao turned sixteen, they would seek a live-in son-in-law for her.

This live-in son-in-law had to be obedient and controllable by the Jiang family; they merely desired a figurehead.

After much deliberation, they selected the third son of the long-standing allied Yan family, Yan Yun.

Once the choice was made, Yan Long and Su Muyu were invited to discuss the matter.

The two families had been allies for generations, and the Jiang family had offered ample benefits and promises, leaving Yan Long with no reason to refuse.

“Oh, just give me a little more time.

Aren’t there still a few years?

I need to go back and ask Yun’er’s opinion first,” Su Muyu said, not immediately agreeing.

Xia Yu smiled faintly, not appearing to be in a hurry.

“Very well, then I shall await your good news, Sister.”

Su Muyu nodded, then turned and departed.

****

On their way back to the Yan family estate, Su Muyu and Yan Long sat together in a carriage, an awkward silence hanging between them.

Su Muyu remained silent, while Yan Long, having had little contact with her over the years, maintained a rather distant demeanor.

“Xiao Qi (TL Note: A common familial address meaning ‘little seven,’ often used for the seventh child or a younger female relative, or as an affectionate nickname), though this marriage alliance might be somewhat unfair to Yun’er, you must clearly understand that this is the best possible choice,” Yan Long stated blandly after glancing at Su Muyu.

Upon hearing this, Su Muyu let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

“Heh heh, my son and I are truly ill-fated individuals, destined to sacrifice everything for the family’s interests.

Since the Family Head has already made a decision, this concubine has nothing more to say.

However, I hope the Family Head can grant this concubine a little time, allowing me to speak properly with Yun’er, so at least he won’t be too resistant.”

Yan Long did not grow angry at Su Muyu’s distant attitude; on the contrary, he offered her a nod of approval.

“Thank you for considering the greater good of the family.

Rest assured, your husband will absolutely not treat you and your son unfairly.”

Turning back to Yan Yun.

The one who had been unconscious slowly opened his eyes; the water in the vat had now lost its warmth.

The first thing he did upon opening his eyes was to examine his body.

When he discovered his skin had returned to its normal color, he let out an excited cheer.

“This is wonderful! I succeeded!”

Yet, Yan Yun’s voice was surprisingly clear and sweet, entirely like that of a young girl.

He quickly realized something was amiss.

“What’s going on?

*Cough, cough!* Why does my voice sound so strange?” Yan Yun cleared his throat repeatedly.

He could confirm that his voice was distinctly different from before.

Not only that, but he immediately noticed another peculiar aspect of his body.

“Eh…?” Yan Yun lowered his head, peering through the clear water at his lower body, and finally reached his hand into the water to feel around.

“Ah!”

Immediately, Yan Yun recoiled his hand as if he had touched something utterly unbelievable.

‘No way?’

His expression grew increasingly aghast.

He then hastily clambered out of the water vat, and upon looking down again, he was utterly stunned.

There, between his legs, where a boy’s anatomy should be, was nothing but emptiness.

His eyes glazed over, as if he could see a bird, once in the vat, now flying off into the distant sky.

After a moment of stunned silence, he let out an incredulous question.

“What the f*ck, where’s my manhood?”

It seemed the side effects of cultivating this poisonous technique had indeed manifested.

It had been mentioned before that this technique could cause physical anomalies.

He simply hadn’t anticipated that Yan Yun’s particular side effect would be ‘chickens flying and eggs scattering’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘ji fei dan da,’ literally meaning ‘chickens flying and eggs scattering,’ used here as a euphemism for the complete loss of male genitalia, signifying utter ruination or failure in this specific context).