Volume One, Chapter One: The Ancestor Has Been Reborn

Knock, knock, knock...

“Are you ready? It’s getting late—we need to set out as soon as possible.”

Butler Li looked up at the gloomy sky and sighed.

He had served as the Li family’s butler for nearly ten years. Only recently had he learned that Mr. Li’s niece, who had gone missing many years ago, was still alive.

Speaking of this niece, both Mr. and Mrs. Li wore expressions of disdain, yet they had no choice but to bring the girl home.

For this, Butler Li had endured a two-hour flight, followed by another five or six hours on a long-distance bus. His aging back ached terribly by the time he finally arrived.

Inside the house, Xingwan Li gazed impassively at the King of the Underworld.

“The original owner of this body shares both your name and your fate,” the Underworld King explained. “I searched for a long time to find such a match, then went to great lengths to preserve her body after death.”

“And it comes with a complicated family background as well. Isn’t that convenient?”

The Underworld King let out a sly chuckle. “There’s nothing to be done about that. With your power and the weight of your baleful aura, no ordinary body could withstand your soul.”

Xingwan Li looked at him with a half-smile, half-smirk.

“Take it back and start over? I’m afraid it can’t be helped—your soul is simply too strong for a typical vessel.”

Knock, knock, knock...

The sound of someone rapping at the door came again.

At last, Xingwan Li released him. “Fine, you can go. If I need anything, I’ll call for you.”

The Underworld King vanished in a flash, fleeing as quickly as he could.

Xingwan Li picked up the backpack at her feet—one of the few belongings left behind by the body’s original owner.

She yanked open the door. Butler Li, who had been leaning against the frame, nearly lost his balance and tumbled over, his irritation instantly flaring.

“Dragging your feet as if you’re some kind of young lady—let me tell you—”

“Tell me what?” Xingwan Li’s voice was cold as ice.

There was no emotion in her eyes, yet Butler Li couldn’t suppress a sudden chill crawling up his spine.

He coughed awkwardly. “I just meant we need to hurry, or we’ll miss our flight.”

Xingwan Li withdrew her gaze, her voice still frosty. “Let’s go.”

---

The next day at noon, Xingwan Li and Butler Li arrived in Yanjing.

The Li family lived in a single-family villa inside a prestigious neighborhood. Because Xingwan was coming home today, the entire family was, for once, present.

As she entered, everyone sat on the sofas, staring at her. Not a soul rose in greeting.

She swept her gaze across the room and could more or less guess who they were—Butler Li had briefed her during the journey.

Her parents were gone. The family was now headed by her uncle, Zhenghua Li. His wife, Jing Yang, had given him a pair of twins—a boy, Baiyu, and a girl, Qianyu.

Then there was Yueyao Li, a girl Zhenghua had adopted as the child of his deceased brother and sister-in-law—Xingwan’s own parents.

No one stood to welcome her, and Xingwan Li made no effort to greet them. Both sides remained locked in this standoff.

At last, Zhenghua Li rose, a false smile plastered on his face.

“Xingwan, we’ve searched for you for over a decade. It’s truly wonderful to see you safely returned.”

Jing Yang stood as well, dabbing away imaginary tears.

“Yes, you’re finally home. Your parents can rest in peace now, knowing you’re safe.”

Xingwan Li glanced at the pair, then turned her attention to the villa itself—a house brimming with resentment.

A derisive laugh rang out. “What a country bumpkin. I bet you’ve never seen a house this grand, have you? I heard you used to live in some run-down shack in the mountains. Don’t get the wrong idea—this isn’t your home. You’re just a guest here.”

Xingwan looked over and saw a girl about her age.

Jing Yang feigned anger. “Qianyu, don’t be so rude to your cousin.”

Qianyu bristled. “I have only one cousin, and that’s Yueyao. I won’t accept any random stray as family.”

Yueyao Li masked the joy in her eyes with a troubled look, gently pulling Qianyu’s hand.

“Qianyu, I know you’re only thinking of my feelings, but facts are facts—Xingwan is your real cousin.”

“I don’t care. I don’t want that country bumpkin as my cousin. I only want you, Yueyao.”

Qianyu’s agitation was clear. Ever since she learned her second uncle’s biological daughter had survived—and was nothing but a hillbilly—she hadn’t been happy for a single day.

The atmosphere grew tense, and finally Baiyu, who had been silent, spoke up.

“Mom, Dad, let’s just let her stay for now and teach her the rules. The engagement banquet is only a few days away.”

---

Xingwan Li arched an eyebrow. “What engagement banquet?”

Zhenghua Li explained, “Before your parents passed, they arranged a betrothal for you when you were children. You were meant to be engaged at eighteen, but it was delayed a year. Now that you’re home, it’s just in time.”

Jing Yang smiled. “It’s a good match. The other party is the heir to the Xiao Group. You may never have heard of them, growing up in the mountains, but they’re the top corporation in the country, and among the world’s most powerful.”

As Jing Yang spoke, Xingwan caught a flash of schadenfreude on Qianyu’s face.

Unable to contain herself, Qianyu sneered, “The Xiao heir is rich and handsome, but there’s one little flaw—two years ago, he fell ill with a strange disease and became an idiot.”

Zhenghua Li shot Qianyu a warning look, but she just smirked and pressed on.

“For someone like you—a country bumpkin—even marrying a rich and handsome fool is a stroke of luck.”

Xingwan Li smiled coldly. “So that’s why you ‘just happened’ to find me now—to use me as a pawn in your marriage alliance.”

Her gaze landed on Yueyao. “If the Xiao heir hadn’t turned into a fool, your so-called adopted daughter would be the one getting engaged, wouldn’t she?”

The Li family’s expressions froze. Though everyone understood the truth, it was still embarrassing to be exposed so directly.

Zhenghua Li’s face darkened. “Xingwan, the engagement was arranged by your parents. You’re the one who ought to fulfill it—not Yueyao. We would never presume to have her take your place.”

Xingwan sneered. “Yet you had no problem presuming to adopt a daughter in my parents’ name.”

Yueyao bit her lip, her eyes brimming with grievance. “Xingwan, it’s my fault. Please don’t blame Uncle and Aunt. If you don’t like me, I can leave.”

Qianyu immediately jumped up. “No, Yueyao! You’re the one who’s been my sister for all these years. If anyone has to leave, it’s her.”

Jing Yang slid over to Yueyao’s side, squeezing her hand consolingly.

“Yueyao, though you’re not our biological daughter, you’ve been like a true child to me all these years. Don’t say such things anymore.”

Zhenghua Li was clearly irritated, his voice tight with suppressed anger. “Xingwan, apologize to Yueyao. We’ll pretend we never heard what you just said.”

All eyes turned to Xingwan.

She looked at Yueyao, then smiled.

“In that case, you’d better leave this house right away.”