Mo Ding, a young man barely in his twenties, had once lived a life of quiet luxury. After his parents passed away, he inherited a vast fortune. Yet instead of clinging to wealth for comfort, he split it in two: half he invested into promising businesses, and the other half he gave away to orphans and those struggling to survive. Though young, his heart was steady and compassionate.
Mo Ding now lay in the hospital's operating room, his life hanging by a thread. The surgeons worked tirelessly, their hands moving with urgency and precision as they fought to keep him alive. Earlier that day, he and his butler had walked into the bank, only to be met with gunfire from the robbers inside. Several bullets struck Mo Ding in the chest, and the wounds were severe—severe enough to bring him to this critical moment between life and death.
While the doctors worked desperately to save him, Mo Ding could feel his strength slipping away with every passing second. Deep down, he understood that this was the end for him. A quiet, sorrowful sigh filled his heart.
"So this is it… If I have any regrets, it's that being born crippled kept me from truly living," he thought, a faint sadness flickering in his fading eyes.
Moments later, his breathing slowed… then stopped.
The monitors in the surgery room also fell silent after his breathing stopped.
As Mo Ding passed, his soul quietly left his body. A soft white light descended from above, unseen by any living eyes, and wrapped around him. Slowly, his memories were washed away, leaving his soul empty and weightless. Then, without warning, he disappeared from this world altogether.
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Tian Yuan Continent
Hidden Dragon Kingdom
Azure City
Ye Clan Mansion
The Ye Clan, located in Azure City, was renowned as one of the most prestigious and influential clans in the entire Hidden Dragon Kingdom. Their family estate stood as a symbol of status and grandeur. The Ye Clan mansion was among the most lavish structures in Azure City—its lower walls painted in a deep, elegant green, while the upper levels gleamed with refined gold accents. The contrast of colors gave the estate an air of noble dignity and majestic splendor, making it impossible for anyone to pass by without feeling awe.
Inside the Ye mansion, in one of its most luxurious chambers, the fourth concubine of the Ye clan patriarch was in labor. The room was filled with the sound of her cries, sharp and pained. Her name was Chang Ying. She possessed long, flowing raven-black hair, onyx eyes that shimmered even under strain, and skin as smooth and pale as carved jade. Her beauty was the sort that could stir the hearts of men into madness.
Ying was the most beloved concubine of Ye Guo, the patriarch of the Ye clan. Among all his women, she was the one he cherished the most, the one he doted on with overflowing affection.
Right now, Ye Guo was extremely nervous, pacing back and forth as he worried about his beloved concubine outside the room where she was giving birth. Ye Guo is a man who looks like he's in his 30s. He has long black hair tied in a ponytail and is wearing a luxurious blue robe with golden lines. The Ye clansmen stood side by side, looking at their patriarch and not daring to speak at all. Ye Guo didn't notice the hostile gaze he was receiving from a spikey-haired man who appeared to be in his 40s, but an elderly man standing in the corner did notice. He narrowed his eyes and thought, "Ye Qian, what are you up to this time?"
_______
Outside the luxurious room
Right now, Ye Guo was extremely nervous. He paced back and forth in front of the birthing room, his hands clenched behind his back, unable to calm his heart. His beloved concubine was inside, crying out in pain.
Ye Guo appeared to be in his early thirties. His long, black hair was tied neatly into a ponytail, and he wore a luxurious blue robe embroidered with gold thread. The Ye clan's prestigious bearing was reflected in every detail of his attire.
The Ye clansmen stood lined up along the corridor walls, silent as stone statues. None dared to speak, for the patriarch's anxiety was palpable.
Yet Ye Guo failed to notice one particular gaze among them—a sharp, cold glare filled with hostility. It came from a spiky-haired man in his forties, whose eyes were full of resentment.
However, someone did notice.
An elderly man standing quietly in the corner narrowed his eyes, his expression becoming unreadable.
So you are planning to make your move again, Ye Qian?
He inwardly sighed. What are you planning this time?
______
After couple of hours
A beautiful looking maid stepped out of the room with a bright smile, bowing respectfully to Ye Guo.
"My Lord, the Fourth Lady has given birth to a healthy baby boy. Congratulations."
The moment those words reached his ears, Ye Guo vanished from where he stood like a ghost, appearing inside the room in an instant.
The surrounding Ye clansmen couldn't help but chuckle quietly at their patriarch's eagerness—everyone except Ye Qian, whose expression darkened with a frown when he heard the news.
Soon after, the clansmen began entering into the room one after another, offering their congratulations to both the patriarch and the beloved concubine.
_______
Inside the room
After the midwife finished cleaning the newborn, she gently wrapped him in a soft white cloth.
The baby blinked, his big dark eyes wandering around the room in confusion. Where… is this?
His tiny fingers twitched, and he struggled to move his hands, the motion clumsy and weak. A strange realization dawned on him.
These hands… they're so small. Am I… a baby?
A hollow emptiness filled his mind. No memories. No name. Only a sense of something missing.
'Did I die?' He tried to recall his previous life—but everything was like a blank page, erased clean.
'Why can't I remember? Who was I… before this?'
The baby thought to himself while he was looking around the room with his big dark eyes.
As the patriarch and the Ye clansmen stepped into the room, the housewife's expression shifted. Her brows knit tightly when she saw the newborn lying silently in her arms. "How odd… why this little one is not crying?" she whispered, an uneasy feeling welling in her chest.
"Ying'er, are you alright?" Ye Guo asked, his voice full of worry.
Chang Ying smiled faintly at her husband. "Lord husband, I'm fine… just a little tired."
Ye Guo returned her smile softly, relief evident in his eyes.
The housewife stepped closer, her gaze falling on the baby. Ye Guo followed her line of sight and smiled at his son—but the woman's expression was troubled.
"My Lord, my Lady… I don't understand what's wrong with the young master," she said hesitantly. "I've assisted countless women in childbirth, and… every baby I've delivered cried when they were born. But the young master… he hasn't cried. Not once."
When Ye Guo heard this, he frowned slightly and said, "Give him to me." The housewife carefully handed the fifth young master to Ye Guo, and the baby regarded him with curious eyes.
As Ye Guo's right palm glowed a bright blue upon touching the baby's face, a calm smile spread across his features. "Nothing is wrong with my son. Thank you for your assistance. We will reward you with 200 gold coins."
Hearing this, the housewife bowed deeply, her face beaming with joy. "Thank you, my lord, for your generosity."
Chang Ying then looked at her husband. "Lord husband, according to our agreement, what name will you give our son?"
Ye Gou nodded thoughtfully. "Ye Feng. From now on, his name is Ye Feng."
At once, the Ye clansmen present began offering their congratulations to the patriarch. After paying their respects, they quietly started to leave, giving the couple some peace. Ye Qian cast a brief glance at Ye Feng before following them out.