Chapter 1: Split Open

Eastern City, outside the Luo Residence.

Yang Shifei took a deep breath, feeling somewhat nervous.

He set down the luggage on his shoulder, straightened his still fairly clean robe, then touched his face.

Good. Not ugly, and clean too.

He then pulled out a stack of red papers from his bag and repeatedly confirmed that the recorded address was correct.

Between the layers of red paper, the words “marriage contract” could vaguely be seen.

Yang Shifei looked up at the plaque hanging outside the grand estate gates bearing the words “Luo Residence,” and sighed inwardly.

“I never thought that after transmigrating, I’d actually get a chance to become a live-in son-in-law.”

His thoughts drifted back to half a year ago.

At the time, he had still been an utterly ordinary graduate, worrying about what kind of job could support him, where he should settle down, and how he should plan for future daily expenses—rent, utilities, insurance…

After leaving campus, the pressure of life had seemed to clock in for work right on time.

But just as he had finally gathered himself and prepared to head to the second interview at a company he had already contacted—

While looking at his phone without paying attention, he stepped into empty air and fell into a pit.

The good news was that the pit wasn’t deep.

It was probably dug up for roadwork to repair some underground pipes, and there had even been a maintenance worker crouching inside. Even if he fell in headfirst, at worst he’d just end up with a mouthful of dirt.

The bad news was that this was exactly when he transmigrated.

Yang Shifei still vividly remembered losing his balance at the time, instinctively protecting his phone and head with both hands while staring in horror at the maintenance guy in the pit.

And the worker had just happened to turn around, looking up at him with equal shock.

“Holy shit!”
“What the fuck?!”

The two of them had only managed to exchange hurried greetings before that became his final farewell to modern society.

The next moment, he appeared high above an unfamiliar field and crashed straight down.

He ended up bruised black and blue with all kinds of sprains and injuries, groaning in pain for ages without being able to get up, nearly convinced he was going to die there.

Only later did a passing farm woman happen upon him and kindly help him back to her home.

At the time, Yang Shifei’s mind had been in complete chaos. It took countless confirmations with the farm woman’s family before he finally accepted that he had truly transmigrated.

There had been plenty of misunderstandings and awkward moments during that period. Because of his “strange clothing” and all his “crazy talk,” he had nearly been dragged to the authorities. Only after exhausting himself explaining things did they reluctantly agree to take him in.

After many twists and turns, he was finally able to recover peacefully in the remote mountain village.

During that time, he thought about his parents, about how he could return home, and even wondered whether he had simply hit his head and hallucinated all of this. Maybe if he closed his eyes and opened them again, he’d wake up in a hospital room wrapped in bandages.

His mother would sit beside him as usual, scolding him for walking while staring at his phone, then gritting her teeth while pointing at the various hanging bottles and tubes beside the bed. She’d say he still needed more rest before he could eat properly, and that afterward they could make him whatever he wanted at home. Even if the feeding tube was removed, he still wouldn’t be allowed to eat takeout.

Meanwhile, his father would remain silent, scrolling on his phone before glancing up at him and shaking his head helplessly with a sigh.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t dreaming.

Yang Shifei lay in bed blankly for two days and wallowed in despair for another three.

He truly couldn’t understand how those other transmigrators could so heartlessly abandon everything behind.

But humans are creatures with remarkably strong adaptability.

After his injuries improved somewhat, he silently gathered himself together, endured the pain as he got out of bed, and walked into the fields to help with the farm work, beginning to adapt to life in this world.

He wasn’t a child anymore. He had to learn to accept reality.

The world had changed drastically, but he still had to keep moving forward.

And the slightly worn marriage contract in his hands now was the “reward” he had earned after persistently helping with farm work over the past month.

“…How exactly did Auntie Niu’s family get involved with such a wealthy household?”

Yang Shifei stood motionless before the Luo Residence gates for a long while, his handsome face filled with complicated emotions.

During the half month he spent recovering in Niu Village, he had roughly come to understand how this world worked.

Though this country was called the “Liang Kingdom,” its history was completely different from any dynasty he remembered. There were even martial artists, jianghu wanderers, divine weapons, and the like. Clearly, this world had some wuxia elements mixed in.

If it had been another transmigrator, they might have long since started wandering the jianghu and making a name for themselves.

Unfortunately, he was just a graduate with one foot already stepping into the 996 corporate grind. He couldn’t exactly sing and dance, but he might as well have been half crippled. Even physical fitness tests left him vomiting everywhere from exhaustion.

Especially after trying to swing the ancestral weapon in Auntie Niu’s house—nearly breaking his wrist in the process—he temporarily gave up on enjoying the romantic life of the martial world.

Besides, after recovering, he first needed to help Auntie Niu’s family farm more land and earn some silver in order to repay their life-saving kindness.

Yet before he could repay much of that debt, Auntie Niu suddenly stuffed this marriage contract into his hands one day, grinning ear to ear.

“Boy Yang, our family doesn’t have any sons. Why don’t you go fulfill the agreement for us?”

“How could that work?! The Luo family wants to marry into your Niu family. I’m an outsider—”

“Hey now, don’t say that. We’re Niu, you’re Yang—we’re all one family!”

“…”

Although he hadn’t expected Auntie Niu to crack a dad joke, Yang Shifei thought it over and ultimately half-reluctantly agreed.

He felt this was an opportunity.

After all, he had transmigrated. Even if he couldn’t learn peerless martial arts and dominate the jianghu, he should at least make use of his modern knowledge and try to carve out a place for himself in this world.

At the very least, he couldn’t live off others.

Not even farm families.

Even if he failed to make a name for himself in the martial world and even if the Luo family didn’t acknowledge the marriage contract, he could still use this as a stepping stone to settle down in a county town and find work doing bookkeeping or clerical tasks.

He thought that maybe all those years spent learning “useless” mathematics would finally shine at this moment… at least his college entrance exam scores hadn’t been bad.

Though he had basically forgotten all of it by now.

Still, as long as he could earn more silver and support himself, he could also help take care of Auntie Niu’s family so they wouldn’t have to keep suffering through harsh days under the scorching sun and wind.

That’s right. No living off others.

But if he failed in the jianghu, in business, and in officialdom, and couldn’t even find a job…

Cough. That could wait.

Yang Shifei had always been a man of action.

So after making up his mind, he immediately used the money he had saved doing odd jobs around the village to buy himself two sets of “new clothes.” After bidding farewell to Auntie Niu’s family, he rode a passing carriage for dozens of miles through the mountain roads until he arrived in Eastern City and stood here now.

Knock knock knock—

After pondering for a long while, Yang Shifei finally gathered his courage and knocked on the Luo Residence gates.

He had been single since birth. Forget dating—he had never even held a girl’s hand once.

And now he was carrying someone else’s marriage contract, impersonating another person, and traveling all this way alone to become a “live-in son-in-law.” It was honestly quite embarrassing.

But considering he had no power, no influence, no money, and no house…

He endured it.

Right now, all he could do was repeatedly rehearse the local manner of speech and silently review the prepared lines in his head, hoping to leave a good first impression on the people of the Luo Residence.

Although he had never met the Luo family’s eldest daughter and had no idea what kind of personality she possessed, since he had accepted the marriage contract out of respect for Auntie Niu’s kindness, he had to at least behave properly on the surface.

“This junior, Yang Shifei, has come in response to the marriage contract to pay a visit. Might I… hm?”

Yang Shifei paused mid-knock as the estate gates slowly creaked open with a groan, leaving him stunned.

The gates weren’t locked.

Yang Shifei looked up at the sky with a strange expression.

Dark clouds were gradually gathering, obscuring the moonlight. He had rushed all the way to Eastern City today and barely arrived in time, not even managing to eat dinner before hurrying here to pay his respects.

In this world, many thieves practiced martial arts. He had heard they could run across rooftops and leap over walls, and masters with profound cultivation could even shatter gold and split stone barehanded. Compared to that, a mere wall really was little more than decoration. Still, it was at least part of the household’s image.

Yet at eight or nine in the evening, not only was the gate unlocked, there wasn’t even a door bar in place. Were the Luo family servants seriously this negligent?

Forget it. It had nothing to do with him.

Yang Shifei braced himself and pushed the gates open wider, peering inside the Luo Residence.

Sparse moonlight revealed a garden blooming with flowers, artificial hills, and ponds. It was clearly the grand estate of a wealthy household—perhaps even nobility.

It matched perfectly with the information he had gathered along the way.

The Luo Residence seemed to belong to a prestigious family from the capital with considerable status.

As for the Luo family’s eldest daughter, she was apparently a young noblewoman who had “run away from home” and settled down in Eastern City on her own.

At first, many locals had assumed she would quickly be dragged back home, but unexpectedly, she had lived here peacefully for two or three years without any incident. People would occasionally see maids from the Luo Residence shopping outside, as though they truly intended to stay here long term. Gradually, the people of Eastern City stopped paying much attention to it.

Still, the Luo family’s eldest daughter rarely went out, and very few had seen her appearance. According to street gossip, however, she was said to be a stunning beauty capable of toppling kingdoms.

“…Where is everyone?”

Yang Shifei leaned forward and peeked into the courtyard. He could vaguely see a faint light coming from the rear courtyard, but there was no sign of anyone in the front.

Did they really forget to lock the gate?

Standing in place, he cleared his throat and raised his voice to call out again.

“…”

Still no response came from the rear courtyard of the Luo Residence.

Yang Shifei tightened his robe, suddenly feeling a little cold.

Looking at the vast, empty courtyard, he sighed inwardly and prepared to find an inn for the night, intending to return properly the next morning.

After all, he had only accepted the marriage contract; he wasn’t actually married yet. Entering someone’s estate without permission, even as a prospective groom, would inevitably invite criticism.

Yang Shifei slowly pulled the heavy gates shut, preparing to turn and leave.

But at that moment, a slender jade-white hand suddenly emerged from inside the gate and pressed itself between the two doors.

Yang Shifei jumped in shock and hurriedly stopped the gate before he accidentally crushed the hand.

“Miss?”

He pushed the gate open again and saw a young girl standing prettily behind it.

She wore a celadon-colored long dress over a snow-white blouse. Her figure was petite and delicate, and a string of silver bells hanging from the sash around her waist chimed softly in the wind like a gentle melody. Her youthful face was as flawless as white jade, cold and expressionless, though her lively eyes blinked playfully now and then.

Judging by her appearance, she was probably around fourteen or fifteen.

She was rather short, though—not even reaching his chest.

Yang Shifei guessed she was likely a maid of the Luo family. Composing himself, he quickly explained his purpose.

“So it’s you.”

The girl gave a slight nod, her voice crisp and melodious.

Yang Shifei relaxed in relief. No misunderstanding, then.

“Since it’s already late, I can return tomorrow and—”

“You’re not coming in?”

The girl raised a hand to interrupt him, then stepped aside and pointed toward the inner courtyard with a smiling expression.

“They’re all inside.”

Yang Shifei hesitated. “Wouldn’t I be disturbing everyone in the residence?”

“It’s not late.” The girl smiled faintly. “The timing is perfect.”

“…Very well.”

After thinking it over, Yang Shifei slung his luggage back over his shoulder. “I’ll first pay my respects to Miss Luo.”

The girl merely chuckled softly and pushed the gate wider open to make room for him.

Yang Shifei stepped into the courtyard. He had intended to ask more questions, but she simply pointed toward the inner residence.

“Go straight ahead.”

“Alright.”

Having received the maid’s permission, Yang Shifei stopped hesitating and followed behind her along the winding stone paths through the courtyard.

“…”

The two walked in silence, so quiet that even a falling pin could have been heard.

As Yang Shifei watched the maid’s slender figure swaying gently ahead of him, he couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

Whether she practiced martial arts or not, she truly made no sound at all while walking.

After passing through several twisting pathways, they soon arrived before a boudoir illuminated by flickering lamplight.

Seeing no one else nearby and no lights in the surrounding rooms, he guessed the Luo family’s eldest daughter was probably inside this chamber.

Yang Shifei looked toward the girl, who had stopped walking, and pointed at the door.

“Miss, could you introduce me?”

“She knows you’re coming.”

The girl smiled in a way that made him uneasy.

“You only need to open the door.”

Yang Shifei frowned slightly, sensing something strange.

He wasn’t sure whether it was because the maid was unbelievably beautiful or because her words and attitude felt subtly off.

But standing foolishly outside a woman’s private chamber wasn’t exactly appropriate either. After a moment of silence, he stepped onto the stone stairs before the door and prepared to knock.

Yet through the narrow crack in the door, he vaguely saw the silhouette of a woman inside standing with her back toward the entrance. Under the flickering lamplight, her figure appeared enchanting and seductive. Her long black hair swayed down to her waist, yet still failed to conceal her astonishing curves.

Two graceful maids stood at either side of her, seemingly combing her hair.

Yang Shifei paused awkwardly.

Hadn’t they said she was expecting him? Why did it look like she was still in the middle of getting dressed up?

He had never been in a relationship before, nor did he understand the habits or taboos of noblewomen in this era. He only knew some basic etiquette and customs, leaving him uncertain whether he should announce himself to the woman inside.

Just as he hesitated over whether to wait until she finished grooming before speaking, he noticed the two maids’ actions becoming increasingly strange.

Yang Shifei’s brows twitched slightly. A sense of unease rose in his chest, and he instinctively narrowed his eyes to get a clearer look.

The two maids were gradually tightening their grip on the woman’s long hair with all ten fingers, slowly pulling it apart to either side.

“!”

Yang Shifei froze, nearly thinking he had stumbled into some scene of maids bullying a fallen noble lady… so this was what people meant by hair-pulling?

What exactly was going on in the Luo Residence?

But before he could even finish marveling in disbelief, he witnessed an even more horrifying scene.

The woman whose hair was being pulled apart remained completely silent, sitting there calmly as though she felt no pain whatsoever. As the maids continued pulling, her waterfall-like hair split almost entirely into left and right halves. Then the top of her head separated like interlocking gears being pried apart, revealing jagged seams that had originally meshed together. Like a melon splitting open—or more like a blossoming flower of flesh—her entire head slowly unfurled.

“…”

Yang Shifei’s face stiffened completely as he stumbled back a step, his heartbeat racing wildly.

What melon? What flower?

Her entire head had split open.

[End of Chapter]