"The wondrous realm of Chinese poetry—how could a mere brat like you presume to criticize it? You—you will retake this class!"
The weather was beautiful.
—That was Tang Shi's only impression after transmigrating.
He still remembered that when he had just arrived in this world, he was holding a pirated textbook for the classical Chinese poetry appreciation class, lying on a somewhat stiff bed. Sunlight streamed into his small room, t was obvious that this place wasn't very well-off.
As for the so-called "wondrous realm of Chinese poetry," Tang Shi didn't feel anything special.
A class like classical poetry appreciation, for a shut-in like him who didn't study and had no skills, was probably a very painful kind of torment.
But he didn't expect that this nightmare-like thing would actually follow him over.
This was Shuyin Star, on the Lingshu Continent, in the Dongshan Tang Clan—a second-rate cultivation family.
As an ordinary concubine-born son of the Tang Clan, Tang Shi's life had been leisurely and relaxed for the past five years. He had read a lot of Qidian-style web novels that he'd gotten used to situations like this—he had already accepted that he wouldn't become the main character like those protagonists in stories.
First, he wasn't a genius. Unlike a few others in his clan who have outstanding talent and could perform feats like breaking stones on their chest in public using only a basic Qi cultivation technique.
Second, he wasn't a complete good-for-nothing either. When cultivating the Qi technique commonly used across the continent, his progress wasn't particularly fast or slow—it was slightly below average. But compared to those who are truly trash, his level clearly didn't qualify.
Third, he hadn't stumbled upon any fate-changing treasures, nor had he met any particularly powerful grandmaster-level who would take him in as a disciple.
Based on the above, our protagonist Tang Shi made a summary of himself: From a second-rate cultivation clan, with second-rate family status, second-rate cultivation talent, and second-rate character—a second-rate guy.
"Young Master Tang, the Ancestor is returning to the clan today. The Master asked me to remind you to prepare. You'll need to leave the city to greet him in an hour."
"Got it."
Tang Shi suddenly flipped over and sat up from the bed, gave a reply, and looked at the already closed door—the maid had probably already left.
He let out a wail and slapped his forehead. In the center of his left palm was a symbol of an open black book. He caught a glimpse of it from the corner of his eye and couldn't help but instinctively sigh over his miserable fate.
He really didn't get it. Why would a second-rate cultivation clan like the Tang Clan imitate others with all these pretentious formalities? Even going out of the city to greet someone? What nonsense!
He slapped the mark on his palm hard. If it weren't for this thing, he wouldn't have transmigrated in the first place.
He was smacked into another world by his own university professor using a textbook—because he failed his Classical Poetry Appreciation class and even spouted nonsense that insulted those famous poets in history. As a result, he was ordered to retake the class and wasn't even given a chance to take a make-up exam.
So Tang Shi discovered—the only good thing about transmigrating was that he could now be a barely noticed son of a noble family, with no need to take exams.
As for side effects, well, there were some.
For example, this pattern in the center of his left palm—this was clearly the textbook from his Classical Poetry Appreciation class that he had been holding when he transmigrated. The professor had given it a rather refined name: Worm-Two Treasure Compendium (虫二宝鉴).. The two characters "Worm-Two" (虫二) had an interesting origin; they were formed by removing the outer frames of the characters "Wind" (风) and "Moon" (月), turning them into "虫" and "二." Hence, "Worm-Two" implied "boundless wind and moon", a metaphor for infinite elegance and romance. It was said that Emperor Qianlong once used this as a test question.
But to a vulgar person like Tang Shi, this thing was just a pretentious display of elegance and only a waste of money, so he went and bought a pirated copy.
╮(╯\_╰)╭
The pattern in his palm looked like it had transformed from that Classical Poetry Appreciation textbook. He once thought he was the protagonist, so he channeled true energy into the pattern every day. But after over a hundred days with no results, he gave up. Maybe he was just destined to be a good-for-nothing. Tang Shi simply treated it as a mark and didn't bother with it anymore. He obediently meditated for two hours every day to practice the most basic Qi cultivation method, just to live a couple more years and strengthen his body a bit.
"Everyone listen up! The Ancestor is returning to the clan today. Pull yourselves together—the Ancestor is an elder of Tianhai Sect. If you don't serve properly, you'll be whipped to death later!"
"What are you standing around for? Move those flowers, now! Move them!"
"Are the carriages for the young ladies ready? Soon, Miss Wan will be performing a song and dance on the lake for the Ancestor. Go prepare everything. Things like those silk scarves and pleasure boats must all be prepared."
"Miss Wan is very delicate these days. Don't offend her..."
"Aiya, greetings Young Master Xiaoshi. Master is waiting for you over there."
Tang Shi walked through the garden and immediately heard a bunch of voices, which made him feel a bit of a headache.
He glanced at the family steward, Mr. Tang Yu, nodded, and with a fake yet humble smile, said: "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Yu."
Tang Yu also had a smiling expression. He wasn't anyone important. In this half of his life, he had never managed to successfully establish a foundation, he just held the position of a steward. "Young Master Xiaoshi, you're too polite."
What 'Young Master Xiaoshi' this and 'Young Master Xiaoshi' that? How is that anything like a proper title?
Tang Shi is the type with a drifter's style. He doesn't say much on the surface, but has a lot going on in his mind. He had seen through the Tang Clan's situation years ago. He was just a concubine's son. First, no status; second, no talent. As for how he'd live in the future, it was all up to himself.
He only gave a perfunctory response to the steward. It's never good to offend someone.
He followed the small path all the way to the front courtyard and saw that nearly all the members of the Tang Clan had already gathered. The men were on one side, the women on the other. Those of legitimate birth and good talent stood at the front, while those born of concubines and with poor talent were at the back. So someone like Tang Shi, who was both a concubine's child and without talent, could only be pushed all the way to the end.
Standing beside him was Tang Liu, someone from the same generation as him. They were about the same age, and both born of concubines. But Tang Shi was the kind of person who had been ignored since he was little. His mother died early, and his father paid him no attention. So he was considered the most pitiful one in the entire family. Still, since they were after all a cultivation clan, there wasn't much bullying or oppression—at most, just some discrimination. Thick-skinned as he was, Tang Shi easily ignored all the discrimination.
At the very front stood the Tang family's eldest young lady, Tang Wan, dressed in luxurious clothes. This young lady is already at the age of sixteen, and it was said she had once had a chance encounter with a disciple from a prestigious clan, and just a few days ago someone had already come to propose marriage. But it was unclear whether Tang Shi's father had agreed.
The Tang family was a cultivation clan with many generations. In Tang Shi's generation, there were only around ten people, and their talent in cultivation varied. Tang Shi's father stood beside Tang Wan, talking to her. Tang Wan had snow-white skin, an oval face, and a figure with a protruding chest and raised hips—she was indeed a beauty who could make people forget the mundane world at first sight. But Tang Shi had never been interested in beauty, so to him, her looks held no appeal.
As soon as everything was ready, Tang Shi's father led them out of the front courtyard, out of Luoyun City, and to the western lakeside of Xisui Lake outside the city to welcome the ancestor.
This was a scenic place, but it was just a pity that everyone stood there so solemnly, causing the little bit of romantic thoughts Tang Shi had to vanish completely.
"The Ancestor will arrive soon. All of you, stand properly! If anyone angers the Ancestor, I'll immediately remove their root bone and throw them out!"
Up front, his father, Tang Ming, threatened harshly.
Weather like this was perfect for sneaking to the computer to play a couple rounds of online games. Now that would be great!
Tang Shi, completely unconcerned, raised his sleeve and quietly covered his mouth and yawned into his sleeve. Although the people in front couldn't see this kind of action, Tang Liu beside him could definitely see it.
In Tang Shi's eyes, Tang Liu was just a brat. But in Tang Liu's eyes, But in Tang Liu's eyes, Tang Shi was equivalent to a hooligan.
So after seeing this kind of rude behavior from Tang Shi, he turned his gaze away with contempt and a face full of disdain.
Tang Shi could only express that he felt very helpless. The air contained a thin amount of spiritual energy, which flowed through the pores all over his body into his flesh and blood, then gathered into his meridians and quietly began to circulate. This was part of cultivation. Even though he wasn't a genius, and even though his goal was just to muddle through life, he'd still be sad if he died too early. They say cultivation can prolong life and even make you more handsome. Who knows if that's true…
The Tang Clan Ancestor was a cultivator. He usually stayed at his sect and rarely came back. Now that he returned today, the Tang Clan definitely had to take it seriously. The younger generation racked their brains thinking of ways to curry favor with the Ancestor. For example, the eldest daughter, Tang Wan, was already fully prepared.
But things like fawning and flattering had nothing to do with Tang Shi. As an illegitimate child, he couldn't compare to those born of the main wife.
Just as Tang Shi was constantly complaining in his heart, nearly falling asleep while standing, the patriarch finally arrived.
There was nothing particularly special—just an old man with completely white hair and beard, a bit hunched, face full of wrinkles, with five or six young people in Daoist robes following behind. Still, nothing seemed special. But as they approached, Tang Shi's father immediately led everyone to kneel and welcome him.
"Tang Ming leads the clan's juniors to respectfully welcome the patriarch back!"
"Welcome, Patriarch…"
Tang Shi also bent down, but while the others knelt properly, this guy secretly lifted one leg tucked under his robe and shifted into a half-kneeling position. Kneel, kneel, kneel—kneel your damn ass——fine, kneeling to family was one thing, but he had to kneel to this so-called patriarch he didn't even know? A man's knees are worth gold—even if Tang Shi's knees were worth nothing but mud, he still couldn't just kneel like this!
Tianhai Sect, although not considered a powerful sect, could at best be regarded as second-rate. However, in their region, it was somewhat well-known. The Tang clan's patriarch, who was an elder in the sect, was already more than three hundred years old. Seeing so many juniors kneeling, his expression didn't change. Sweeping his gaze over them, he didn't find many with talent for cultivation, and his mood became somewhat gloomy.
He didn't tell them to stand up. Instead, with his hands behind his back, he released his own spiritual pressure. "You're considered quite thoughtful, coming so far out of the city to welcome me. Don't keep kneeling, all of you get up."
As he released his spiritual pressure, Tang Shi, in his heart, cursed this pretentious old fart half to death.
Just now, he had started drawing spiritual energy into his body, and he was still quietly circulating it through his meridians. But the old man's spiritual pressure disrupted everything, causing his qi to deviate—he nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood, but he forced himself to hold it back. That stream of spiritual energy had already reached his arm, but now its forward path was abruptly cut off, sealed within the arm, and it surged through his meridians toward the palm. Tang Shi immediately felt a sharp pain in the center of his left palm. Damn it, is this trying to kill me or what?!
He clenched his fist, a trace of ferocity flashing in his eyes as he suppressed this bone-eroding pain. Only when the ancestor withdrew his spiritual pressure did he stand up.
Right after, Tang Ming led the ancestor to the waterside pavilion on the lake and invited him to sit. Only then did the others have a chance to sit down as well.
Tang Shi's seat was in the very back, barely able to see anyone else—clearly showing his low status in the family. But at this moment, it was just right. As soon as he sat down, Tang Shi hurriedly stretched out his left palm. When he clenched his fist earlier to endure the pain, he used too much force—he was definitely going to bleed!
But he didn't expect to see a scene that left him dumbfounded.
Previously, the center of his left palm had a mark in the shape of an open book. He thought that was a punishment for his transmigration. After all, he had failed his classical poetry appreciation class and used a pirated book. So on this little book-shaped mark, there were also the two characters "虫二". But now, even though Tang Shi's palm was already stained red by the fresh blood he squeezed out himself, he could still feel that the mark had begun to emit a dark red glow and was giving him a burning sensation.