As he followed his father into a dilapidated pavilion, Feng Lin entered a room with a dining table in the middle. He quickly scanned the space.

  It must have had another purpose before but had been repurposed to be used in a part of the building that was still in decent condition.

  Feng Lin sat at the table, calmly observing his "family." Around him, faces displayed various emotions: the patriarch wore a cold expression, the matriarch looked both relieved and cautious, and his sister… ah, his sister. Her slightly arrogant gaze, her straight posture—she was clearly trying to prove she was the natural heir of the clan.

  Pathetic.

  They were so weak, so insignificant. But for now, he had to play along.

  — Feng Lin, I’m glad you’ve finally awakened, his father declared gravely. Your return is a blessing for the clan.

  — Hm? Really? Feng Lin replied with a smirk. And yet, the clan doesn’t seem to have fared any better in my absence.

  A heavy silence fell briefly over the room. The matriarch tried to ease the tension:

  — Let’s eat first. Feng Lin needs to regain his strength.

  The meal was served. Simple food, barely acceptable. Even a servant in a prestigious clan would eat better than this. He absentmindedly picked at his food while studying everyone’s reactions.

  — Father, now that Feng Lin is awake, what about the future leadership of the clan? his sister asked, her voice sweet yet calculated.

  Feng Lin stifled a mocking laugh.

  — Oh? You’re already eager to inherit? With your "impressive speed" in cultivation, I would’ve thought you’d prefer to wait a few more decades before bringing it up.

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  She frowned, clearly irritated.

  — I’ve reached the fifth stage of Body Refinement, she declared proudly.

  — Impressive, truly. Such talent might even intimidate a traveling merchant.

  The patriarch coughed slightly to put an end to the exchange.

  — It’s true that the clan needs a strong leader. My own longevity is nearing its end. Feng Lin, now that you can cultivate, you must catch up.

  — Of course. But I’m curious… how does cultivation work exactly? I only have the knowledge of a five-year-old, after all.

  His father nodded, finding no flaw in his words, and began explaining the cultivation realms, starting with Body Refinement, followed by Meridian Opening, then Qi Condensation—each divided into nine stages.

  Feng Lin listened attentively, but inwardly, he sneered. Pathetic insects… Do they really think these crumbs of knowledge are valuable?

  At the end of the meal, his father looked at him.

  — Feng Lin, now that you’re back, show me what you’re capable of. If you prove your worth, the clan might recognize you as its future leader.

  Feng Lin’s smile was unreadable.

  — Oh, don’t worry. Very soon, no one will have any doubts about my worth.

  The patriarch sighed slightly before speaking in a more serious tone:

  — Perhaps, but you were in a coma for a long time. Even I had given up hope for you… And besides, your body likely has hidden injuries. Your breakthrough will be difficult. You’ve just begun muscle refinement; now, focus on bone refinement. I’ll give you a slightly more advanced manual.

  Feng Lin raised an eyebrow, a mocking smirk appearing on his lips.

  — Father, is this your way of telling me I should be grateful for finally receiving a decent cultivation manual? I’m surprised you still consider me worthy of one.

  The patriarch’s brows furrowed slightly at his son’s arrogant response.

  — This is not the time for insolence, Feng Lin. You’ve made a breakthrough today, but that doesn’t mean you’ll catch up so easily. Your sister is already at the fifth stage of Body Refinement and has been training for years.

  Feng Lin couldn’t help but chuckle coldly, devoid of any joy.

  — The fifth stage in nineteen years… Now that is truly impressive… for a ruined clan.

  — Feng Lin! the matriarch scolded.

  — What? I’m merely stating facts, Mother.

  The patriarch shook his head, choosing to ignore his son’s provocation.

  — Regardless, we will discuss this later. For now, get some rest. We shall see if your newfound strength is merely a fleeting miracle or the beginning of true change.

  Feng Lin gave a slight smile.

  — Don’t worry, Father. Soon, you’ll see that I am much more than a "fleeting miracle."

  They tried to hide their true opinions behind kind words, but Feng Lin wasn’t fooled. Fifteen years of absence had reduced him to a distant memory, a mere shadow in the history of the Feng Clan. And now that he had returned, they expected him to stay in his place—as a weakling, a burden.

  Feng Lin suddenly stood up, his cold gaze sweeping over the table with disdain.

  — I won’t eat this, he declared.

  Silence immediately fell over the room, but he paid no attention to it. He brushed off his sleeve absentmindedly, as if the mere thought of sharing this meal disgusted him, then turned on his heel.

  — I’m going back to cultivate, he added mockingly. After all, my sister is apparently a genius. I must put in some effort.

  Without waiting for a response, he left the room, leaving behind a heavy, awkward atmosphere.