Path to Dual Cultivation

Chapter 1: Su Yang

"Su Yang, can you go out and buy some groceries for me?" A beautiful middle-aged woman asked as she sat on a rocker cradle with a toddler in her arms.

An exceptionally handsome young man turned towards his mother upon hearing her voice and offered a charming smile, saying, "Certainly, Mother."

This young man was Su Yang, a 16-year-old mortal residing in an ordinary family of four, comprising his parents and a recently born younger sister. Although he doesn't have anything going for him at the moment, he started studying in hopes of becoming a Scholar a few years ago.

He was an exceedingly handsome young man with striking features and a charismatic presence. His long, ebony-black hair flowed gracefully down his back, neatly tied behind his head in a sophisticated manner that added an air of refinement to his appearance. The lustrous strands shimmered in the light, framing his face and highlighting the chiseled contours of his jawline.

His deep brown eyes were akin to windows to a soul filled with depth and warmth, drawing others in with their captivating gaze. Sparkling with intelligence and kindness, his eyes are framed by well-defined eyebrows that add a touch of intensity to his overall allure. His skin, smooth and flawless, carried a healthy, pale texture that resembled perfect jade.

Standing tall and confident, Su Yang possessed a lean build that overflowed with grace. His features are harmoniously balanced, and a faint, confident smile plays on his lips, inviting others to share in the magnetic energy he exudes. Even his mother, who had seen his smile countless times, would occasionally blush at it.

In simpler terms, Su Yang's appearance was enough to make even the heavens jealous.

After receiving the grocery list, as he approached the door to leave the house, Su Yang grabbed the mask hanging nearby and wore it, concealing his heaven-defying features.

Normally, one would want to flaunt their superior appearance to as many people as possible, but Su Yang learned from experience that his extraordinary looks would only bring him unwanted trouble, hence why he decided to conceal his appearance as much as possible.

After leaving his humble home, Su Yang went to the stores he'd visited countless times throughout the years and quickly fulfilled the grocery list.

"Su Yang, are you still single?" One of the merchants suddenly inquired as he bagged the groceries.

"You already know the answer." Su Yang calmly nodded, almost as if he was used to such a question.

"You're already an adult. Isn't it about time you find a girlfriend or wife? With your blessed appearance, it wouldn't be hard for you to find one... or a dozen. In fact, my daughter has been talking about you nonstop lately. Why don't you give her a visit?"

The merchant's intention was obvious. He wanted to pair his daughter with Su Yang, who was very famous in their area, as virtually every young lady would often talk about him because of his incredible looks.

"I'm still focused on my studies and don't want any distractions. Perhaps I'll have time to entertain another individual after I pass my entrance exams," Su Yang said, casually rejecting the merchant's offer.

"You are still trying to become a Scholar? I would've stopped after failing for the third time." The merchant sighed.

"Don't you have other aspirations? Most youngsters nowadays are thinking about becoming cultivators."

Su Yang quickly shook his head at the thought of becoming a cultivator and said, "That's too dangerous, and I don't like violence."

"You dislike violence? The boys you beat up last week would disagree if they heard you." The merchant laughed out loud.

"That was only self-defense. I may dislike violence, but I am not a pushover."

"Whatever you say. Here's your groceries." The merchant handed Su Yang his purchase.

"Thank you."

The merchant watched Su Yang leave the store in silence, thinking to himself, 'If I looked even half as handsome as him, I would spend most of my time playing with beauties... what a waste...'

After returning home with the groceries, Su Yang immediately went back to studying.

"Thank you, dear."

His mother began prepping for dinner after receiving the groceries.

Sometime later, Su Yang's mother handed him a wrapped lunch box and said, "Can you bring this to your father?"

Su Yang raised an eyebrow and asked, "Speaking of father, where is he? I haven't seen him all day even though he's supposed to be off work."

"He was called back to work. Something about an important person visiting the city."

"So he's at the Mayor's Estate right now?"

His mother nodded.

Su Yang didn't say anything else and grabbed the wrapped lunch box before making his way to the door again.

After wearing the mask and leaving the house, Su Yang walked straight to the Mayor's Estate, which was located at the heart of their city. His father worked as a low-ranking guard at the city's entrance for the majority of his life and was only recently promoted to be a guard for the Mayor's Estate.

If it weren't for his father's promotion, his family wouldn't have dared to give birth to a second child.

The Mayor's Estate was nearly an hour's walk. When Su Yang arrived, he could see six guards standing by the gate. Normally, there would only be two guards at a time, so this was a new sight for Su Yang.

'Just who is this important person?' Su Yang wondered inwardly as he approached the guards.

Despite Su Yang's suspicious appearance with his mask, none of the guards there stopped him from approaching the gate, as they were all used to his presence.

"Su Qiao, it's your son." One of the guards alerted Su Yang's father after noticing his presence.

"Huh?"

A handsome middle-aged man with short black hair turned to look at Su Yang and immediately showed an apologetic smile, "Sorry for the trouble, son."

Su Yang shook his head and said, "It's fine."

He then looked at the large mansion behind the gates and asked, "Who's this important person?"

"This person is a renowned warrior from Tranquil Bamboo City. She was recently promoted to the rank of General after having her achievements on the battlefield recognized, becoming the youngest General in history." Su Qiao said.

"She's not just any ordinary General, either. She works directly for the Imperial Family of our Qiang Provinence, and she's even a Heavenly Spirit Realm cultivator." Another guard added.

"Look over there. They're coming out of the estate." Someone suddenly said.

Su Yang turned to look at the estate's entrance with curiosity. There, at the threshold, stood the Mayor of their city, engaged in animated conversation with a woman whose beauty seemed to transcend the boundaries of ordinary elegance.

"..."

Upon laying eyes upon her, Su Yang felt the cadence of his heart quicken with each pulsation. He subconsciously grasped his chest and began breathing heavily.

'What... is this feeling?' Su Yang wondered as this foreign feeling consumed him.

The woman was a captivating beauty with a formidable presence that could only be forged through many battles. Her short, black hair framed her small and elegant face like a shadowy crown.

Her facial features were sculpted with an innate coldness, and her gaze, sharp and piercing, reflected the countless battles she had experienced.

However, what attracted Su Yang's attention the most were the scars that covered her arm like a sleeve.

In contrast to numerous men who regard scars as badges of honor, a vast majority of women, if not all, tend to prefer concealing any traces of scars that may adorn their bodies, as they fear that their 'damaged body' would attract disdain and ridicule.

Yet, such conventional reasoning seemed to hold no sway over this woman, who navigated her surroundings with serene composure, her body adorned with scars that failed to impede her beauty.

"Su Yang, you need to leave now." Su Qiao suddenly said to him.

He silently nodded and began to walk away from the gates while the guards moved to stand in an orderly fashion.

However, even as Su Yang distanced himself, an irresistible compulsion tethered his gaze to the woman, as if an unseen force bound him. Only when she vanished from his line of sight did Su Yang reclaim control over his body, yet his thoughts remained ensnared by the lingering allure of her beauty.