The Master of the Nine Provinces

Yuyang City, South City, the Yang Family—within a secluded courtyard.

A youth garbed in black sat cross-legged upon a meditation cushion, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. Though his skin was tanned, his lips showed not the slightest trace of blood.

With a long exhale, a thin stream of white mist escaped his mouth, swirling in the air before vanishing without a trace. Had any worldly martial artist witnessed a youth cultivating genuine qi at his age, they would have been shocked beyond words. In this age, such an accomplishment was far beyond the reach of common folk.

As the breath left him, the young man's eyes opened, a glint of keen light flashing within before it faded, replaced briefly by a blankness that vanished in an instant. Indeed, it had been a month since he arrived in this world. At first, he was bewildered and lost, but now, he was finally coming to terms with his new reality.

A month—hardly a long time, yet he had forced himself to blend into this world.

His name was Yang Ze. Now, he resided in a small courtyard within the Yang family estate, bearing the identity of the family's second young master.

The Yang family was no minor household in all Yuyang City. Their wealth need not be mentioned, but the family head, Yang Yuanzhen, was renowned as one of the city's foremost martial experts, with many influential friends in the local government.

At first glance, this seemed an enviable position. With such a formidable father, life as his son should have been easy. Yet, only Yang Ze knew the t