Chapter 49: Lady Xing— The Backstory!
"Useless"
"Pathetic"
"Such a waste"
The words rang in her mind, as they had rung for most of her life. She was the smallest, the weakest, and the most worthless member of the Xing clan.
Xing Clan — A minor cultivation family, but a cultivation family nonetheless.
And as the knowledge would go; in the world of cultivation, the strong were praised, and the weak were despised.
But what if one was born with a keen mind?
What if one had a passion that rivaled that of any cultivator?
What if, despite the limitations of one's body, one had an unrelenting drive to succeed?
No one in the Xing household knew the answers to those questions. To them, Liyang Xing was nothing but a burden.
A mouth to feed, a waste of resources.
Her father, Lord Xing, had all but given up on her ever making a decent contribution to the family. She was too weak, too slow, too everything.
Which was why he had decided to marry her off to some minor noble family in need of connections when she turned around the age of 17.
Liyang Xing steeled herself, determination burning in her eyes.
She would prove her worth to her family, no matter the cost.
She had already formed a plan; Tonight, she would sneak into the family vault and steal a handful of spirit stones, enough to start her own business venture.
Marry a noble son? Fuck that shit.
Liyang Xing couldn't take it anymore. She had tried so hard to fit in, to prove herself worthy of her family's name, but it seemed like no matter how hard she tried, she was never good enough, she was never loved by her father, nor mothers.
With tears streaming down her face, she packed a small bag and slipped out of the manor, determined to make a new life for herself, free from the expectations and criticisms of her family.
Live life in constant family bullying? Nah! Spare me a trouble — Lady Xing.
Liyang Xing clenched her fists, anger, and frustration coursing through her veins.
How dare her father try to sell her off like a piece of meat! She was a member of the Xing clan, just like him, and she deserved better.
But did she truly deserve better? That question remains unanswered.
She still recalls the moment she had this afternoon,
———
Afternoon — Flashback!
Taking a deep breath, she marched towards her father's study, ready to confront him once and for all.
Meanwhile,
The Father would have sent her years ago, but he had needed her around until her older sisters came of age.
Now that they were both happily married, cultivating the Dao with their Dao companion, there was no reason to keep the little girl around, was there?
She could do no more than bring shame to the family name, it was also time to send her away and let her live a life of cultivator with her Dao Companion.
Despite having no upfront visual love for her, like dotting her, he was reasonable despite her uselessness.
And so, he sent word to every minor noble family in the region, because, he still wished good for her.
He wanted her to set on a good family, where she would fed and provided with resources. And that was already the best he could do.
It didn't matter who responded; anyone would be better for his young daughter.
It wasn't long before someone replied.
In fact, the very next day, Lord Xing received a letter from a man named Lord Wei.
He claimed to be interested in marrying Liyang Xing, and requested that she come visit him immediately.
———
***Liyang Xing enters the room and the father tells her everything he encountered about her marriage including lord Wei***
'I don't understand,' Liyang Xing thought, frowning.
'Why does he want me? I won't go!" Liyang Xing made her mind, standing tall despite her trembling knees.
However, she couldn't speak her mind out.
"If it pleases Father, then I shall do my best to honor our family," Liyang Xing said demurely, lowering her gaze, knowing she was helpless.
But there was a dark feeling in her heart... She didn't want it, she didn't know what sparkled in her heart at that moment, but she managed to speak up, gathering that faint confidence... Desperate time speaks for desperate measures.
"However, I need some time... I want to know why he wants me..."
"It doesn't matter why he wants you," Lord Xing snapped.
Father gets angry, his face boiling like a teapot.
"You're lucky he's even willing to look at you," he adds, his voice full of might.
"But… but what if I don't like him?"
"You'll do as you're told," Lord Xing said, his voice remaining cold.
She doesn't like him? Lord Xing missed the part where that's his problem.
She should feel honored at least he was sending her to a well-off family.
"You're not worthy of choosing your own Dao Companion," he adds.
"But Father -" she quivered.
"Enough!" Lord Xing roared, slamming his fist against the table.
"I won't hear any more of your insolence! You'll go to Lord Wei and you'll marry him!... No further discussion,"
"Y-Yes, Father," Liyang Xing whispered, bowing her head.
—Flashback ends—
...
Later at night,
As the night deepened, the Xing manor fell silent.
Liyang Xing stood in her small room, the weight of her decision pressing heavily upon her.
She could hear the faint sounds of her family settling into their beds, father and mother playing house-house, the bed shaky, unaware of her plan.
She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves.
Tonight was the night she would take her fate into her own hands.
'Yosh!... I am ready,'
She slipped out of her room, her movements silent and deliberate.
The manor was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls.
Dhup! Dup!
Liyang made her way to the family vault, her heart pounding in her chest.
Reaching the heavy wooden door of the vault, she paused, listening for any signs of movement.
Satisfied that she was alone, she took out a small, slender tool she had hidden away—a tool that could pick the lock.
With trembling hands, she worked the lock, every click of the mechanism echoing in her ears.
After what felt like an eternity, the lock gave way, and the door creaked open.
Inside, the vault was a treasure trove of cultivation resources—elixirs, ancient scrolls, and spirit stones.
Her eyes locked onto the gleaming pile of spirit stones, the very essence of her escape plan.
Money! Money! Money! ( I love money 🤑)
She quickly filled her bag with as many as she could carry, careful not to overload herself.
Eight hundred spirit stones should be enough to start a new life.
As she turned to leave, a noise startled her.
Her heart leapt into her throat as she pressed herself against the wall, straining to hear.
It was just a guard, passing by on his patrol.
She held her breath until the sound of his footsteps faded into the distance.
With her path clear, she moved swiftly through the manor, avoiding the creaky floorboards and staying in the shadows.
The cool night air hit her face as she slipped out through a side entrance, the weight of the spirit stones a comforting reminder of her resolve.
Liyang Xing didn't look back. She couldn't afford to.
Her future lay ahead, shrouded in uncertainty but filled with the promise of freedom.
After that, she went to the next town, five months away, and started a small business that was successful.
She soon sat on the throne made out of fortune due to her business talent, everywhere she looked, and saw nothing but business and money.
However, the cultivation world remains cruel.
she was soon robbed by a group of powerful bandits out of her fortune and she was sold as a slave.
During this phase, she met the sect master, who saved him.
After that, she was together with him walking in the path of Dao.
He was a great husband, she was grateful for him... But! He wasn't absolute.
He was good but Xian Tian was better, as a business minded person, she cares less about feeling and more about profit and accessibility.
Xian Tian was simply better in every way possible not to mention, with him, she wasn't restricted by Dao too.
———
A/N;
Sorry if the backstory was shit.
W Lady Xing or L?
Wanna donate castle? well, you can do it, nothing stopping you. 🙏🙏
Please tell me if you like to see more backstory.