The sun hung low over the Valley of Hills, casting long shadows across the jagged rocks and dense undergrowth. The clash of steel and the dull thud of fists echoed in the air as two figures fought with unrestrained ferocity.


    Hae Min, the elder son of the Murim Alliance leader, moved with the precision and grace of an orthodox martial artist. His every strike carried the weight of his training, enhanced by years of tutelage under the finest masters. Opposing him was Hae Jin, his younger half-brother, bloodied and battered but refusing to back down.


    Their battle wasn’t merely a clash of skills. It was the culmination of years of animosity rooted in their shared, yet fractured, lineage.


    Hae Min’s mother, the first wife of the Alliance leader, was the daughter of an esteemed orthodox sect leader. Her marriage to the Alliance leader was a union forged for political strength, uniting two of the most powerful forces in the Murim world. She was a woman of elegance and pride, revered for her strict adherence to orthodox values.


    Hae Jin’s mother, on the other hand, came from a world shrouded in darkness and controversy. She was the daughter of the Demonic Sect leader, a woman whose beauty and boldness were whispered about in both fear and admiration. Against all odds, she had fallen in love with the Alliance leader during a rare moment of peace between the two factions. Their love defied conventions, and she became his second wife despite the scorn of orthodox society.


    For a time, the Alliance leader managed to balance the delicate equilibrium between his wives. But peace was fleeting. When Hae Jin was only a child, his mother was poisoned in a conspiracy. Though whispers pointed to the first wife’s involvement, no one dared to confront her. After all, who would stand against the daughter of an orthodox sect leader to defend a woman of demonic origins?


    Hae Jin grew up under the shadow of his mother’s death, ostracized by the orthodox factions and treated as a stain on his father’s legacy. Hae Min, emboldened by his orthodox upbringing and his mother’s influence, carried that disdain like a banner.


    Despite the scorn, Hae Jin inherited the brilliance of both his parents. Before her death, his mother had secretly taught him the foundational techniques of her sect’s legacy—demonic arts known for their power and unpredictability. From his father’s side, he had learned the orthodox martial arts that valued discipline and control. Hae Jin, a natural prodigy, had managed to adapt both techniques, albeit imperfectly.


    Now, the simmering hatred had boiled over, and the two brothers stood locked in combat, their fists driven by more than just rivalry. They were propelled by a history of blood and betrayal.


    “Hyung, why are you torturing me?” Hae Jin cried, his voice hoarse with desperation. “I am your younger brother. I don’t deserve this!”


    Hae Min sneered, his expression twisted with disdain. “You’re no brother of mine,” he spat, landing a vicious kick to Hae Jin’s side. “You’re the spawn of a demon! It’s our purpose to cleanse the world of your kind.”


    Hae Jin coughed up blood, clutching his ribs as he staggered back. His vision blurred from the pain, yet he refused to yield. He forced himself to stand, his legs trembling under his weight.


    “Hyung,” he gasped, struggling to catch his breath. “Why... Why do you hate me so much? We share the same father. We’re family!”


    “Family?” Hae Min sneered, his voice dripping with venom. “Don’t make me laugh. Do you think we’re equals just because we share some blood? You’re nothing but a stain on our father’s legacy!”This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Hae Jin’s chest tightened at the words, the weight of years of rejection and scorn pressing down on him. “I’ve done nothing to you. I’ve lived quietly, training in the shadow of your brilliance, never daring to challenge you. Why must you torment me?”


    Hae Min’s eyes glinted with cold malice as he stepped forward, his presence imposing. “Because your very existence is an insult to everything I stand for. You’re the spawn of a demon, an unholy mix of heresy and filth. Cleansing you from this world is my duty.”


    The words cut deeper than any blade. Hae Jin clenched his fists, his body trembling—not from fear, but from anger. “My mother was no demon. She was a kind woman who loved this family, who loved Father.”


    “Loved Father?” Hae Min barked out a bitter laugh. “She bewitched him. Manipulated him into thinking she was worthy of his love. She was a vile temptress, a stain on our house. Just like you.”


    Hae Jin froze, the fury in his heart igniting further. “You’re wrong. She—”


    “Wrong?” Hae Min interrupted, his tone sharp and unforgiving. “Do you want to know the truth about your precious mother? About why she died?”


    Hae Jin’s heart stopped for a moment, his breath caught in his throat. “What do you mean?” he whispered, his voice trembling with apprehension.


    Hae Min’s lips curled into a cruel smile, his eyes burning with contempt. “Father might have turned a blind eye, but I always knew. My mother made sure that wretched woman paid for daring to call herself the Alliance leader’s wife. Your mother didn’t die of illness—she was poisoned. Poisoned by my mother.”


    The revelation struck Hae Jin like a thunderbolt, leaving him reeling. His vision blurred as rage and sorrow surged within him. “You’re lying!” he screamed, his voice cracking with emotion.


    “Lying?” Hae Min said mockingly. “Why would I? There’s no one left to protect her honor, no one who even cares. Do you think anyone weeps for a demonic woman’s death? No one but you.”


    Hae Jin’s body trembled uncontrollably, his blood boiling with fury. His mother’s face flashed in his mind—her gentle smile, her warmth, and the love she showered upon him despite the world’s scorn.


    “You’ll pay for this!” Hae Jin roared, his voice shaking with rage.


    Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, Hae Jin drew upon the forbidden techniques his mother had taught him in secret. The demonic energy intertwined with the orthodox techniques he had learned from his father’s side, creating a volatile and unstable force. The opposing energies, when combined, were never meant to coexist—together, they created a devastating storm within his body.


    Hae Min’s eyes widened in shock, the realization dawning too late. “No! Stop!”


    Hae Jin’s voice was cold, yet filled with resolve. “If I must die today, then I’ll take you with me. For my mother’s honor.”


    The explosion tore through the valley, a blinding flash of light followed by a deafening roar. The force of the blast reduced the surrounding area to rubble, leaving no trace of the two brothers.


    Hae Jin’s consciousness drifted in the void, a strange mixture of pain and clarity. When his eyes finally opened, he found himself in an unfamiliar place.


    The sky above was vast and serene, dotted with clouds that seemed to hum with energy. The air was thick with an essence unlike anything he had felt before—dense, vibrant, and alive.


    He sat up, groaning as memories of the explosion flooded his mind. But something was different. His body... it wasn’t his. His hands were thinner, his frame frailer.


    “So, I’ve reincarnated,” he murmured, his voice foreign to his ears. “This body... it’s not Murim. This is the cultivation world.”


    Fragments of the body’s memories flooded his mind. His name was Riu Xian, an outer sect disciple of the Cloudspring Sect. He had been searching for the Scarlet Meridian Herb in the forest to cure his blocked meridians when he was ambushed by Lu Hao, the sect leader’s arrogant son, and his lackeys.


    They had beaten him mercilessly, snatched the herb, and left him bloodied and broken in the forest.


    Riu Xian’s body had been weak—barely 1% of his meridians were unblocked. For most early-stage cultivators, at least 7% of their meridians would be open, providing a foundation for growth. But this body was an anomaly, crippled and cast aside as worthless.


    “Blocked meridians...” Hae Jin muttered, clenching his fists. “What are the reasons behind this? Are there secrets hidden in this body?”


    The memories faded, leaving him with more questions than answers. But one thing was certain—this world was a new stage, a chance to carve out a path for himself. He would rise again, stronger than ever, and uncover the mysteries of this new life.