The doctors acted instantly, rushing into the room without hesitation. Inside, chaos unfolded. Three maids fought to hold down a boy convulsing on the bed, his thin arms flailing, sweat-drenched sheets twisted beneath him. The boy looked no older than twelve, his face contorted with pain as raw screams tore from his throat, tears streaming down his cheeks.
At the foot of the bed stood a woman, her posture crumbling under the weight of her grief. Her voice, choked with sobs, repeated the same desperate words over and over, "My child... my child... my child..."
Lei Wen moved like a shadow, suddenly appearing at the side of the bed with swift, practiced ease. His fingers pressed several precise acupoints along the boy's body. The effect was immediate—the boy stopped thrashing, though tremors of pain still wracked his frame, his breaths coming in short, shallow gasps.
Without wasting a second, Lei Wen reached for the boy's wrist, his expression sharpening as he checked the pulse. His gaze flicked to Lin Qian, disbelief flashing across his face. Words unsaid hung heavily between them, the weight of what he discovered evident in his furrowed brow.
He continued his examination, fingers moving with careful urgency across the boy's meridians and chest. Time stretched taut—every second felt like an eternity as the boy whimpered softly, the previous screams fading to weak, pitiful sobs.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Lei Wen pulled back. The woman immediately took his place, cradling her son's face with trembling hands. Her sobs deepened as she whispered, "My child... my child..."
Lin Qian moved to her husband's side, concern etched across her face, the unspoken question clear in her eyes. Lei Wen, still crouched beside the boy, met her gaze. His expression was grim. Slowly, he mouthed, no innate talent, had anImmortal Core.
Lin Qian's eyes widened in disbelief. Her gaze darted back to the boy, struggling to reconcile what she had just heard.
An Immortal Core—formed only when a human successfully cultivated—was the defining mark of ascension into immortality. For those who achieved it, the rewards were extraordinary: god-like power, freedom from aging, and reverence from mortals. But cultivation was a path fraught with hardship—long, brutal, and filled with tribulations that many failed to overcome.
More importantly, not everyone could cultivate. It required innate talent—something one had to be born with. Without it, no amount of effort or shortcuts could ever lead to forming an Immortal Core. Those without the gift often turned to martial arts, becoming Warriors—respected in their own right, but still mortal.
Immortal Cores cannot form on their own. They must be triggered through cultivation—a deliberate process that requires guidance. No human could cultivate without a teacher. In all recorded history, there had never been a case of an Immortal Core forming spontaneously.
Lin Qian stepped closer to the distraught mother, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. She infused the touch with a hint of Spirit Energy, allowing a wave of calm to ease the woman's frayed nerves. "Furen, let him rest," she said softly. "You need to take care of yourself, so you can take care of him."
The woman blinked, as if waking from a long nightmare. Her tear-streaked face softened as she gave a small, grateful nod. "Thank you, doctor," she whispered. "He has been screaming since daybreak. I invited many doctors, but you're the first who managed to calm him."
Gathering herself, she stood, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. With a polite gesture, she led her guests to the table in the center of the room. "Please, have a seat."
Seated at the table, Lei Wen's tone was gentle but firm. "Furen, please tell us everything. Even the details you think are insignificant—they might be important."
The woman, still visibly shaken but more composed, nodded. "There's nothing out of the ordinary, doctor. This morning, at daybreak, he suddenly woke up screaming... and he hasn't stopped since. This is the first time he's been quiet." Her voice wavered with lingering fear and exhaustion.
Lin Qian reached out and gently took the woman's hand, infusing it with a soothing touch of Spirit Energy. "What about yesterday, or the day before?" she asked softly. "Was there anything unusual? Anything that stood out?"
The woman gripped Lin Qian's hand like a lifeline. Her lips trembled as she turned to the maid. "Xiao Ning, please answer the doctors' questions."
Xiao Ning stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Furen, the past three days, Young Master has remained in the residence. He hasn't left, not even once. The last time he went out was four nights ago, when he dined out with Master."
A heavy silence settled over the room as Lei Wen and Lin Qian exchanged a glance, pieces of the puzzle beginning to form, even if the picture was far from clear.
Lei Wen's gaze sharpened. "Where did they dine?"
Xiao Ning glanced at the woman for a moment, hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Xue Qin Lou," she whispered.
Lin Qian felt the woman's hand tense beneath hers. The mother's face twisted with a mixture of shock and fury. Pulling her hand away, her voice rose with disbelief, forgetting her son rested nearby. "What?! Xue Qin Lou?! Bringing a child there? Shameless!"
Without waiting for a response, she shot to her feet, chair scraping against the floor, and stormed out, her indignation echoing down the hallway.
Lei Wen didn't hesitate. He jumped to his feet and followed immediately, Xiao Ning trailing closely behind. Lin Qian stood as well but turned to one of the remaining maids, her tone calm yet firm. "Please watch over the young master. Let us know the moment he wakes up." With that, she hurried after the others, her mind already bracing for whatever chaos awaited beyond the room.
Ahead of them, Madam Luo moved with surprising speed, practically flying through the corridors toward the main residence. Her anger radiated through the hallways, and it wasn't long before they reached the spacious main hall.
Inside, a man in his mid-thirties sat at a polished table, leisurely sipping tea. This was Luo Zhang—the current Patriarch of the Luo Family, a mid-level merchant household in Baishan City. His demeanor was calm, composed... until the peace shattered.