Chapter 2002: Pear

Martial Arts Fantasy

The sun set, casting a boundless glow across the sky.

Outside Windfire City, on Cuiyun Peak, there was a stone table with stone stools. A young man and woman sat close together.

The young man was thin, with a slightly pale face and delicate features.

The young woman wore a snow-white long dress; her skin was like jade, and her beauty was exquisite.

The young woman rested her head on the young man's shoulder, bathed in the sunset's light, appearing like a divine couple.

"Yao'er, I truly wish we could be like this forever!" the young man said softly, his face filled with a blissful smile.

"Ming Gege, of course we can. We promised to be together for all eternity."

A happy smile appeared on the young woman's face.

The young man was named Lu Ming, and the young woman was Lu Yao.

Seeing the smile on Lu Yao's face, Lu Ming's eyes grew even softer. He held Lu Yao's soft, boneless jade hand and said, "Yao'er, although my meridians are blocked and I can't condense true qi, as long as I can awaken my bloodline, the Elder Council will buy spiritual medicine to clear my meridians, and then I can cultivate."

"I will definitely become a powerful martial artist and protect you for the rest of our lives."

"Thank you, Ming Gege."

Lu Yao's eyes showed a hint of emotion, and she continued, "Ming Gege, did a meridian tester really confirm that you inherited your father's bloodline?"

"Yes, Yao'er, so your man will definitely be a powerful one in the future," Lu Ming said with a confident smile.

Lu Yao smiled faintly, picked up the wine glass from the stone table. Inside was the famous Blood Tongue Orchid Wine, emitting a faint, clear fragrance.

Lu Yao swiftly pecked Lu Ming's cheek, her face flushing, and then raised her glass, saying, "Ming Gege, here, Yao'er's treat for you."

Lu Ming took the wine glass and said, "Yao'er, you invite me to drink a glass of Blood Tongue Orchid Wine every day. I'm truly grateful to have you by my side."

After speaking, he raised the glass and drank it in one gulp.

The wine lingered on his tongue, and Lu Ming's heart felt as sweet as the wine's aroma. But the next moment, he felt a bit dizzy and disoriented.

"Yao'er, why do I feel a little dizzy? Your wine..."

Lu Ming steadied himself against the stone table and looked at Lu Yao, but at that moment, he noticed Lu Yao's expression was somewhat cold.

"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yao'er has been with you for three years, nothing more than to nourish your meridians. The time has come, so contribute your bloodline, won't you?"

At this moment, a middle-aged man appeared from the side. It was Lu Yao's father.

Boom!

Like a bolt from the blue, a thunderous sound exploded in Lu Ming's mind.

"Yao'er!"

Lu Ming looked at Lu Yao in disbelief, but her eyes held only indifference.

"Why? I loved you so much!"

Lu Yao's indifferent gaze was like sharp knives piercing Lu Ming's heart. He roared and lunged at Lu Yao.

But Lu Yao merely stepped back slightly, and he stumbled to the ground.

"Duanmu Lin of the Profound Origin Sword Sect, began cultivating at age six, cleared two divine meridians within half a year, entering the Martial Warrior realm. At nine, he entered the Martial Master realm. Now, at sixteen, he is one of the four great geniuses of the Profound Origin Sword Sect. And you? You are sickly, with blocked meridians. Frankly, you're just a good-for-nothing. Even if you awaken your bloodline, you'll still be a good-for-nothing. Can you compare to Duanmu Lin?"

"Such a genius is a fitting match for me, Lu Yao. To form a marriage alliance with him, I must awaken a powerful bloodline. Since you love me so much, why not fulfill my wish? Use your bloodline to help me awaken an even stronger one."

Lu Yao's voice was cold.

At this moment, the middle-aged man stepped on Lu Ming's back. A sharp knife appeared in his hand, and he yelled, "Lu Ming, offer your bloodline!"

A piercing pain from his spine instantly overwhelmed Lu Ming. He screamed, his voice filled with loneliness, helplessness, and despair.

Gradually, Lu Ming sank into boundless darkness.

"Lu Yao, Lu Yunxiong, why did you take my bloodline!"

Lu Ming roared, suddenly sitting up in bed, causing the nanmu bed to creak.

Lu Ming was covered in sweat, his face pale. At first, he thought it was a nightmare, but he quickly realized this wasn't a dream, but a fact that had already occurred.

The events of a few days ago resurfaced in his mind.

Lu Ming was the direct descendant of the Lu family in Windfire City, and his father was the family patriarch. Lu Yao was the daughter of the Great Elder of the Lu family's first branch.

Though they shared the same clan, they came from different branches. They grew up together, childhood sweethearts, practically inseparable. Privately, they had even sworn eternal vows and decided to spend their lives together.

Lu Ming never imagined that Lu Yao and the Great Elder would attack him and seize his bloodline.

"Strength, it's all because I lack strength. If I had extraordinary talent and great power, how would they dare treat me this way?"

Lu Ming clenched his fists, trembling all over, his eyes bloodshot.

Good-for-nothing!

That's what Lu Yao called him. Lu Yao's words from three days ago still echoed in his ears.

Creak!

Just then, the door opened, and a frail middle-aged woman walked in. Seeing Lu Ming on the bed, she asked with concern, "Ming'er, did you have another nightmare?"

This beautiful woman was Lu Ming's mother, Li Ping.

Three days ago, it was Li Ping, worried about Lu Ming's safety, who went searching and rescued him; otherwise, Lu Ming would have died.

Ever since the rumor six years ago that Lu Ming's father was killed while traveling, he and Li Ping had relied on each other.

Lu Ming looked at Li Ping, his gaze softening. He said, "Mother, I'm fine, it was just a dream."

Seeing Lu Ming's pale face, Li Ping sat by his bed, stroking his forehead, and said heartbrokenly, "It's been three days, and every time you shout that Lu Yao harmed you. Ming'er, what exactly happened? Is your injury because of Lu Yao..."

Lu Ming said, "Mother, it's nothing, you misheard."

Lu Ming did not tell Li Ping that Lu Yao and the Great Elder were responsible, because Li Ping did not cultivate martial arts, and telling her would only endanger her.

Li Ping hesitated, then said, "Ming'er, you must not call Lu Yao by her name in front of others anymore. Two days ago, Lu Yao awakened a fifth-level bloodline and also cleared a divine meridian. She has now gained the recognition of the Elder Council. At the family meeting two months from now, she will take charge of the Lu family and become its patriarch. Calling the patriarch by name might be considered disrespectful."

"What? Lu Yao wants to take charge of the Lu family? She wishes!"

Lu Ming let out a low roar, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth clenching audibly, as if they would shatter, and blood seeped out.

After the rumor of Lu Ming's father's death six years ago, the Lu family had been managed by the Elder Council and had not appointed a new patriarch.

Seeing Lu Ming like this, Li Ping was terrified and beside herself. She just held Lu Ming's head, tears streaming down her face, saying, "Ming'er, don't scare your mother. I've already lost your father; I can't lose you too."

"Father... where are you? Ming'er believes you're not dead. Now, Ming'er is powerless, and even the position of patriarch can't be held."

Lu Ming tightly gripped a pendant around his neck. He squeezed so hard that his fingernails dug into his flesh, and blood continued to seep out.

The pendant, cast from bronze and the size of a broad bean, was sent back by his father through someone else before his accident. Lu Ming had worn it for the past six years.

Blood seeped from his palm, flowing onto the bronze pendant.

Suddenly, the bronze pendant vibrated slightly and became scorching hot.

Before Lu Ming could react, the bronze pendant shuddered, turning into specks of dust that burrowed into his palm and vanished.

Then, Lu Ming felt a burning energy rise from his palm, up his arm, and after a moment, it settled in the Yintang acupoint between his eyebrows.

"Nine Dragons Undying, Bloodline Rebirth!"

Suddenly, a massive roar echoed in Lu Ming's mind, making it hum.

"Nine Dragons Undying, Bloodline Rebirth!"

"Nine Dragons Undying, Bloodline Rebirth!"

The continuous roars resonated repeatedly in Lu Ming's mind. Subsequently, a scorching sensation emanated from his glabella, surging towards his spine.

The next moment, the roaring stopped, but a tingling itch spread from his spine, and his entire body became scalding hot.

"What's going on?"

Lu Ming was completely bewildered.

At this moment, the tingling itch on his spine grew more intense, as if something was slowly growing.

"Ming'er, what's wrong? Don't scare your mother."

Sensing Lu Ming's abnormality, Li Ping became even more frightened and somewhat flustered.

"Bloodline rebirth? Can I really have a bloodline rebirth?" Lu Ming wondered.

Ancient texts recorded that only a very few individuals, whose bloodlines were stripped or damaged for other reasons, could undergo bloodline rebirth, growing a new bloodline.

However, most reborn bloodlines were of very low grade and of little use.

But there were extremely rare individuals who could break through adversity, undergo a metamorphosis, rise from destruction, transcend their past, and awaken an ultimate powerful bloodline.

Yet, this probability was so small as to be negligible. Ancient texts recorded only a few such cases throughout history.

Transcending the past and awakening an ultimate bloodline, Lu Ming didn't dare to contemplate, as the probability was too low. He would be thrilled if he could just awaken a bloodline.

With a bloodline, he could cultivate martial arts and change his fate.

At this point, the strange sensations on his body slowly disappeared. Lu Ming smiled and said, "Mother, I'm fine!"

"Young Master, it's wonderful that you're well. You've scared us to death these past few days!"

Just then, a young woman walked over and said this.

The young woman was around Lu Ming's age and extremely beautiful.

Lu Ming naturally recognized her. Her name was Qiu Yue, Li Ping's personal maidservant, and she had grown up with him.

"Qiu Yue, I'm fine, don't worry!"

Lu Ming smiled faintly.

Then, Lu Ming glanced around, his expression suddenly changing. He said, "Mother, where is this? This isn't the Lu family's main residence!"

Lu Ming's father was once the Lu family patriarch, and they used to live in the main residence, but this was not it.

"Ming'er, just focus on recovering; don't worry too much!" Li Ping said, but Lu Ming caught the fleeting sadness and tears in her eyes.

"Mother, what exactly happened?" Lu Ming asked.

"Young Master, let me tell you. We were driven out. Lu Yao said she was about to become the patriarch and should rightfully move into the main residence, and that we had no right to continue living there, so she made us move out."

Beside him, Qiu Yue clenched her teeth and explained the situation, her pretty face filled with anger.

"What? Lu Yao, you're going too far!" Lu Ming roared.

"You good-for-nothing, why are you yelling? It's already a blessing that you have a place to live. Aren't you grateful?"

Just then, a voice came from outside the door, which then opened, revealing a young man.

"Lu Chuan, it's you!"

Lu Ming angrily shouted. This person was Lu Chuan, Lu Yao's older brother, and slightly older than Lu Ming.

"Lu Chuan, we've already left the main residence. What are you doing here?"

Li Ping said, instinctively stepping in front of Lu Ming, seemingly afraid that Lu Chuan would harm him.

"I came for the sword!"

With that, Lu Chuan's eyes scanned the room. When he saw a treasured sword beside the bed, his eyes lit up, and he immediately walked over, reaching out to grasp the sword.

"Lu Chuan, this sword is the only memento Lu Ming's father left behind. It's meant for Ming'er in the future; you can't take it."

Li Ping quickly reached out to snatch it.

"Get lost!"

Lu Chuan exerted force, shaking the scabbard, and a surge of power erupted. Li Ping was not a cultivator; she couldn't resist, stumbling backward, almost falling to the ground.

"Mother!" Lu Ming roared.