C1 A Drowning Person

As the sun rose, the still-misty sky stretched over a vast expanse of blue sea. A gentle sea breeze, tinged with the distinct scent of salt, swept over the land, invigorating the senses.

There's an old adage: "Live off the land if you're by the mountains, live off the water if you're by the sea." In the southern reaches of the Aetheria Continent lies a small city known as Oceanwatch. The majority of its residents are impoverished folks making their living from the sea. As the first rays of sunlight broke the horizon, the seaside buzzed with activity. Fishermen bustled around their boats amidst a cacophony of voices, while the waves lapped softly at the shore, as if in harmony. The sun's reflection danced on the water, shattering into a spray of glittering gold.

"Did you hear about that big fool from the Ning family? He took a boat out to sea for fun yesterday and ended up capsizing, nearly drowned. I saw him being carried back to the Ning household, but it's unclear if he survived."

"That news is old by now. I heard he's dead. That guy was always out of it. Frankly, it's probably for the best. What's the point in living a life of insanity?"

A group of fishermen huddled together, gossiping about the town's latest happenings.

"You lot are quite daring, gossiping about the Ning family. Are you looking for trouble?"

A bare-chested man who had just arrived overheard their conversation and scoffed.

"What's there to fear? Do you still think the Ning family holds the same power as before? Don't you know who calls the shots in Oceanwatch these days?"

The others, taken aback by his uninvited sarcasm, bristled at the interruption.

"The Hai family? There's some truth to that. I heard that Hai Long, the head of the Hai family, has recently ascended to the Nine-star Soul Weaver rank. The Ning family, already on shaky ground, is indeed vulnerable."

The man pondered for a moment before reluctantly nodding in agreement. "Ning Chaoping of the Ning family was once a Nine-star Soul Weaver himself, just a step away from the Soul Marshal tier. If it weren't for his son's injury by a Soul Marshal level Sea Beast, which weakened him, the Hai family wouldn't have a say in Oceanwatch. I'd advise us all to watch our words. As common folk, we're better off minding our own business. Imagine the consequences if Ning Chaoping heard what was said earlier."

Upon hearing these words, a shiver ran through the group, and they fell silent.

Ning Chaoping, the head of the Ning family, was a figure of considerable stature in Oceanwatch. Tragically, his late-life son turned out to be intellectually disabled. After fruitlessly seeking remedies far and wide, Ning Chaoping's despair morphed into fierce protectiveness. A Soul Warrior from the Hai family once publicly ridiculed his son, prompting Ning Chaoping to end the man's life with a single palm strike. This incident sowed the seeds of a deep-seated feud between the two families, escalating to outright hostility.

The Ning family's current mood was a stark contrast to the vibrant sunrise over the sea. A heavy gloom hung in the air, especially in the meeting hall behind the mansion, where a crowd stood in silence. All eyes were fixed on a middle-aged man seated at the head of the hall, displaying a mix of solemn and indifferent expressions.

"Patriarch, Elders, everyone has arrived," a servant announced, approaching the group.

The middle-aged man, Ning Chaoping, furrowed his brow and scanned the room with a commanding gaze that stifled any urge to breathe too loudly.

"Big brother, it can't be that serious, can it? Calling us together so urgently, one might think we're on the brink of war with the Hai family," remarked a man seated below Ning Chaoping, his casual tone belied by the scorn in his eyes that did not go unnoticed.

"I've called you all here today because of my son, Ning Que's, near-drowning incident yesterday. I instructed you to investigate whether someone had intentionally orchestrated the attack on him. Have we come to any conclusions?" Ning Chaoping inquired, his voice steady despite the anger he was holding back.

"Patriarch, we've brought in all the townsfolk who witnessed the young master's fall into the water for questioning. They've all stated that the young master was unaccompanied at the time and had no contact with anyone along the way, except for..." An elderly man with white hair and beard stepped forward, bowing slightly, then hesitated.

"Please, Elder Wu Cong, speak freely," Ning Chaoping encouraged.

The elder continued, "The only person known to have interacted with the young master before his fall was Miss Xian'er."

"Oh, it turns out we're all family here. Tsk tsk, Xian'er, the head of the Ning family never said you'd definitely have to marry his son. What's got you so worried? You certainly didn't hold back."

Ning Chaoping's man at the head of the table scoffed and couldn't help but call out.

At his words, the once quiet council hall burst into life, with many beginning to whisper among themselves.

Miss Xian'er, as it turned out, was not of Ning blood but an orphan the Patriarch had taken in over a decade ago. She had grown into a striking beauty, and rumors abounded that she was being groomed as a bride for the Patriarch's simple-minded son.

"Ning Jingtao, shut your mouth! You're not a mute, so don't act like one!"

In a fit of rage, Ning Chaoping's hefty palm slammed down, releasing a burst of invisible energy. With a resounding crash, the table before him was reduced to splinters, scattering across the floor.

"Hmph."

Ning Jingtao let out a cold huff but chose not to provoke further trouble. He and Ning Chaoping might be brothers, but he had long resented Ning Chaoping's position as head of the family. His disdain only grew after Ning Chaoping suffered a severe injury years ago, which significantly weakened him.

"Xian'er, please recount what happened."

Ning Chaoping, holding back his fury, spoke softly to the assembly below.

A slender figure rose, her visage as delicate as jade. Her clear, bright eyes were soft yet resolute. With furrowed brows, she calmly met the gaze of the elders at the head of the hall. Turning to the younger members, she found their intense stares fixed on her.

"Indeed, I was the last to see Brother Ning Que before his mishap yesterday," her voice was as cool as her demeanor. "He seemed troubled, muttering to himself and wandering closer to the shore. I attempted to bring him back, but Ning Wushuang and others intervened. By the time I looked again, Brother Ning Que had vanished."

"I didn't intentionally block your way. It was merely a coincidence that I ran into you and wanted to have a word," said a young man standing beside Ning Jingtao, slowly lifting his head with a slight smile on his lips.

"Whether it was intentional or not, you know the truth in your heart," Ning Xian'er countered, stepping forward with a challenging gaze that carried a trace of hostility.

"Hehe, our Wushuang is part of the Ning family, after all. He would never harm his own brother. But there are some who, despite bearing the Ning name, are essentially outsiders. Who knows what other motives they might harbor?" Ning Jingtao interjected, stopping Ning Wushuang from arguing further. He casually brushed the dust from his clothing and added in a sardonic tone, "Master Ning Chaoping, it's up to you to decide whom to trust. I'm sure the elders here are capable of discerning the truth."

The elders seated at the front of the hall remained silent, as if they hadn't heard a word.

"These old fools are quick to take my favors but silent now," Ning Jingtao grumbled to himself.

"I have only this one son. His mother passed away early, and he's been aimless since childhood. Many say that my misdeeds have brought this retribution upon me, but I know I've lived honorably. The heavens wouldn't be so cruel. There will come a day when my son turns his life around," Ning Chaoping said, ignoring Ning Jingtao and speaking with a calm that belied the tension in the room. Everyone understood that this was merely the quiet before the storm.

"But now, even that last hope has been taken from me." His fists clenched tightly, trembling with barely controlled emotion, his veins standing out starkly. The hall fell silent, filled only with the sound of anxious breaths.

"If he wandered off on his own, then no one else is to blame. But if someone has deliberately sought to harm him, I will root out the culprit and grind their bones to dust!" Ning Chaoping declared, his fierce glare directed at Ning Jingtao and his son, who both flinched before regaining their composure, though they dared not speak further.

"Let's disperse. Xian'er, you stay behind," Ning Chaoping finally said. The hall remained quiet as the others slowly left, and he gestured for Ning Xian'er to remain with a low whisper.

In the tranquil chamber, a handsome young man lay on the bed, his upper body bare and his eyes closed. His lips were deathly pale, and only the faint rise and fall of his chest indicated the fragile thread of life within him.

"Patriarch, what exactly is happening with Brother Ning Que? Why can't he wake up?"

Ning Chaoping and Ning Xian'er stood beside the bed, watching over the young man in silence.

"All the renowned physicians from the city have examined him, but none can offer a definitive cure. If I hadn't expended my wakan to shield his heart, he might not have made it this far."

Ning Chaoping shook his head, his heart heavy with despair. He gazed at his son, reflecting on his life's journey. He had been a hero, leading the Ning family to prominence in Oceanwatch, eventually establishing them as the city's most influential clan. The sorrow of his late-in-life son's plight was unimaginable.

"Brother Ning Que will surely awaken. There has to be a way," Ning Xian'er murmured, her lips quivering, her gaze resolute.

"Let's hope so. Just because no one in Oceanwatch can heal him doesn't mean there isn't a cure elsewhere. I may need to travel afar in the coming days. You must be cautious while I'm away."

Ning Chaoping looked at Ning Xian'er and continued, "You may not be my flesh and blood, but I've always considered you my daughter. My son has faced many hardships, and in this mansion, only you and Elder Wu have shown him true kindness. I entrust his care to you in my absence."

Ning Xian'er nodded gently, and with a heavy sigh, Ning Chaoping departed.

Now alone with the comatose Ning Que, Ning Xian'er took a seat by the bed. She extended her delicate wrist and tenderly placed her hand upon his chest.

Three alarming scars marred Ning Que's left rib, the legacy of a brutal beast's attack. As Ning Xian'er's fingers traced the scars, her thoughts wandered, and she found herself lost in contemplation.

In another part of Ning Mansion, Ning Jingtao and his son were seated in the pavilion of a courtyard.

"Wushuang, you didn't have anything to do with that idiot's misfortune, did you?"

Ning Jingtao raised his hand to his beard, contemplating. He was well aware of his brother Ning Chaoping's protective nature. There had been a hint of suspicion from Ning Chaoping during the council meeting. If his family was uninvolved, it would be fine, but if they were and Ning Chaoping found evidence, they would be in deep trouble.

"Dad, what are you worried about? With my skills, if I truly wanted to target that fool, would I need to stoop to such tactics? Moreover, with my abilities, who in the Ning family can match me? The head of the family role is destined to be ours."

Ning Wushuang's lips turned up in a confident smile as he shared his news, "I've got something to tell you. Just yesterday, I reached the rank of One-star Soul Apprentice."

"Really! Hahaha, that's fantastic!"

Ning Jingtao embraced his son's shoulders, beaming with pride. "This is cause for celebration! Ning Chaoping has tried to hold me down all his life, but to what end? His son is a simpleton, while mine is a prodigy. Let him strut around for a few more years; the Ning family will surely be ours."

As evening fell, lights twinkled on throughout Ning Mansion. In Ning Que's room, Ning Xian'er finally stood to leave. But as she did, Ning Que, who had been still, suddenly furrowed his brow. Ning Xian'er clutched her mouth in shock, too excited to even think of notifying Ning Chaoping.

Over time, Ning Que's movements on the bed grew more frequent: his brow furrowed, his fingers quivered, and his chest heaved violently.

Ning Xian'er leaned in, eager to sense his condition with her wakan. To her surprise, Ning Que suddenly sat up, his eyes snapping open.

The two were mere inches apart, staring at each other, frozen in place.

'Finally awake,' Ning Que silently cursed to himself. His prolonged unconsciousness wasn't due to any physical ailment; it was his soul that was the issue.

Indeed, he wasn't entirely the Ning Que of before. He had crossed over from another world. His extended period of unconsciousness was due to the integration of the memories from his current body. Fortunately, the former Ning Que was somewhat simple-minded, with memories as straightforward as a child's. Otherwise, he might have remained in a comatose state for at least another half-month.