The Road Cut Short!

"I passed? Hahaha, I passed!"

"Top place in the provincial exam, Provincial Laureate!!"

A fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy stared at the notice announcing the provincial exam results, his heart brimming with joy.

"Three years..."

"I, Qin Yao, have been in this world for three years now."

"Today, I've finally risen to my feet!!"

Three years ago, he had been a recent graduate, a miserable wage slave worked to the bone just to make ends meet.

A mishap had sent him into this world, where martial arts reached the divine, and into the body of a thirteen-year-old boy who shared his name and surname, a collateral member of the Qin Family in Red River County.

When he first arrived, Qin Yao had dreamed of setting foot on the path of mystic cultivation and martial arts.

He had hoped that one day, like the protagonists in the novels he'd read in his previous life, he could suppress mountains and rivers with his fists and tread upon the sun and moon!

Reality, however, had dealt him a crushing blow soon enough—the original owner's body had crippled meridians, making it impossible for him to practice martial arts.

In this world, where martial arts reached the divine and mystic cultivators reigned supreme, being unable to open one's meridians and train meant being inferior to others.

Qin Yao refused to accept it.

He tried every phrase he could think of, from "System bro" to "Deep Blue, add points."

None of them got any response.

The scorn and mockery of his peers in the clan only added to his misery.

In a fit of anger, Qin Yao simply let himself go, giving up completely.

His temper grew stranger and stranger, too!

Even so, Qin Dashan, the grandfather of the original owner, who was well into his sixties, never said much.

The old man remained taciturn, his back bent as he rose early and worked late, laboring without complaint.

At the time, his younger sister Qin Lan was only seven, yet she had already started learning to wash clothes and mend them to help support the family.

Sometimes, Old Master Qin would even comfort Qin Yao instead. "It's no big deal if you can't practice martial arts. Take your time and recover first."

"When your spirits come back, you can figure out what to do."

As an orphan in his previous life, Qin Yao was experiencing the warmth of family for the first time.

He buried that unrealistic dream of martial arts deep in his heart.

"If the path of martial arts is closed to me, then I'll take the path of letters!"

"I still remember some of the poetry and songs I studied before I transmigrated."

"Why not become a 'plagiarist scholar'?"

"If I can earn an official title, I may not bring glory to the family, but at least I can ensure Grandpa and my sister never go hungry or cold!"

Qin Yao got straight to work.

He picked up the classics and histories of this world and threw himself into his studies, relying on a transmigrator's comprehension and the advantage of being able to "copy books."

The third watch's lamp oil burned low; at the fifth watch, the rooster crowed. This was the time for a young man to study...

His performance filled his grandfather, Qin Dashan, with pride.

The old man swallowed his pride and asked the main branch of the family to lend them books. He even spent nine-tenths of his meager earnings from hard labor on paper, brushes, and lamp oil for Yao.

Days passed, one after another.

The little savings left by the original owner's parents before they died had long since run dry.

Even their ancestral home had been mortgaged by Grandpa, all so Qin Yao could continue his studies.

Qin Lan was so young that her fingers were already covered in needle pricks from embroidering.

Yet she was always stopping him from doing chores. "Brother, put down the bowl. I'll wash it."

"Brother, don't touch the broom. I'll sweep."

"Brother, just focus on your studies. If you make something of yourself, Grandpa and I will share in your good fortune!"

Qin Yao felt both heartache and warmth, and silently steeled himself to work harder.

Three years of studying by lamplight had worn his scholar's robe threadbare.

And at last, today, he, Qin Yao, had outshone countless other candidates and become the Provincial Laureate!

At that moment, Qin Yao raised his head.

The sunlight was dazzling.

But warm!

Tears slipped from the corners of his eyes.

Three years of humiliation, three years of hardship!

At this moment, it all seemed worth it.

Provincial Laureate!

It meant he had earned the right to travel to a higher-grade city and take the metropolitan exam!

This was his chance to leap over the dragon gate and change his fate once and for all!

Qin Yao sprinted at full speed, gasping for breath!

He just wanted to hurry home and share the wonderful news with his grandfather and sister.

"Stop!"

Suddenly, a group of people rushed out from the mouth of the alley, blocking his way.

At their head was a gray-haired, white-bearded old man with a potbelly—the clan head of the Qin Clan, Qin Yongnian.

Several clan elders followed behind him.

And with them was a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl in a brand-new silk dress. She was lovely, with pride written across her face: Qin Yuwei.

She was also the clan head's beloved granddaughter. Not only was she beautiful, but her martial talent was exceptional. She was the foremost among the younger generation of the Qin Family!

By seniority, Qin Yuwei was Qin Yao's cousin.

"Qin Yao, do you know what crime you've committed?!"

The clan head, Qin Yongnian, spoke without warning, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority.

Qin Yao was taken aback. "What crime has this junior committed?"

"Hmph!"

The clan head snorted. "The provincial exam's top spot, Jieyuan, should have gone to Yuwei!

"You cheated in the exam and stole her title. Confess!"

"Cheated in the exam? Stole her title?"

Qin Yao froze. "What kind of bullshit is this?!"

He even wondered if his excitement had made him start hallucinating.

It was just like Fan Jin passing the imperial exam...

He pinched his face hard.

It hurt!

"Qin Yao, stop pretending."

At that moment, Qin Yuwei lifted her chin haughtily and looked at him with smug provocation. She spoke with casual disdain. "After I finished writing my exam, I rested my head on the desk and fell asleep. You stole my paper and wrote your own name on it."

"You really deserve to die!"

Seeing the undisguised, venomous amusement in Qin Yuwei's eyes, Qin Yao felt his blood surge. "You're talking out of your ass!"

The immense injustice made his voice tremble. "You want to frame me? Not a chance!

"I earned the top spot in this provincial exam, the Provincial Laureate title, through my own ability!"

"Every word in my essays, policy answers, poems, and verses was written with my blood and sweat!

"I can rewrite my entire paper right now without getting a single word wrong.

"Tell me, Qin Yuwei, can you do that?!"

The clan's senior members were all taken aback.

Clearly, none of them had expected Qin Yao to be so capable that he could reproduce his exam paper word for word!

After all, he was a plagiarist scholar.

But would they ever give Qin Yao the chance to prove his innocence?

"Impudent!"

Before Qin Yuwei could speak, several clan elders chimed in one after another. "Qin Yao, you're defying the natural order!"

"You're a crippled collateral who can't even practice martial arts. What gives you the nerve to speak to a 'main-branch daughter' like that?!"

"Exactly. You cheated in the exam, and the evidence is conclusive. How dare you still make a scene?"

"The clan has already decided to strip you of your title and have Yuwei take your place!"

"What?!"

Qin Yao's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

For someone who couldn't practice martial arts, the title he'd earned was his only chance to turn his life around.

How could he sit by and watch someone else snatch it away?!

"On what grounds? I refuse to accept this!"

The boy thrust out his chin and shouted, "I'm going to the prefectural court to file a complaint! I'll expose this travesty to the whole world!"

"File a complaint?"

Qin Yongnian's eyes turned icy, murder already showing in them!

At that moment, Third Uncle, who had always been fairly close to Qin Yao's family, hurried forward. "Clan head, please calm down. Let me talk some sense into the boy?"

"Hmph!"

Qin Yongnian flicked his sleeve coldly, his gaze murderous. "If I weren't considering that he is, at least, a member of the Qin Family, what he said just now would have earned this little wretch ten deaths!"

Third Uncle bowed and scraped as he led Qin Yao aside, speaking in a low voice. "Qin Yao, I'll be straight with you.

"Letting Yuwei have your Provincial Laureate title was a joint decision made by the clan head and the elders."

"Just because she's the clan head's granddaughter?!"

Qin Yao asked through gritted teeth.

"Not just that. It's also because she's a woman!"

Third Uncle lowered his voice. "Yuwei earned the Provincial Laureate title in the Martial Examination half a month ago.

"Now she's also taken the Provincial Laureate title in the Literary Examination. That makes her accomplished in both letters and arms!"

"A woman as beautiful as she is, accomplished in both letters and arms—Red River County hasn't seen one in a thousand years!

"The clan elders all believe that one day, Yuwei, accomplished in both letters and arms, will lead our clan to new heights.

"So..."

"Then why couldn't you discuss it with me first?"

Qin Yao demanded in outrage, his voice loud. "Why resort to this kind of trick, forcibly rob me of my title, and then accuse me of cheating, ruining my future prospects in the exams?!"

"This..."

Third Uncle was at a loss for words.

At that moment, Qin Yuwei flashed to Qin Yao's side and pointed at his nose, speaking each word distinctly. "Be! Cause! You! Don't! De! Serve!"

"You're a cripple who can't cultivate. Do you really have no self-awareness at all?"

"What status do you have? What makes you think we need to discuss anything with you?"

With no one else around, Qin Yuwei dropped all pretense.

She looked down at him. "Qin Yao, if you give the Provincial Laureate title to me, you'll bring great prestige to Red River County and raise our clan's reputation.

"In time, I'll lead our clan to an unprecedented age of prosperity!

"You're a cripple who can't open your meridians. If there's even one thing about you worth taking that I can make use of, that's already putting you to good use. You should feel honored!"

"Precisely!"

The clan head gestured with affected dignity. "Qin Yao, you're almost sixteen. You should know how to put the greater good first!"

The greater good?

What a fine-sounding excuse for putting the greater good first!

Back when he'd studied for years, poring over his books, had anyone in the clan ever offered him the slightest support?

No!

Not only had they offered none, but people had constantly ridiculed and mocked him, insulting and suppressing him!

And Qin Yuwei had been the worst of them all!

Now that Qin Yao had earned the Provincial Laureate title through his own merits, and was on the verge of pulling his grandfather and sister out of the mire,

those lofty bigwigs of the clan had appeared at just this moment, forcing him to hand over the fruits of all his years of effort!

They didn't care in the slightest whether someone like him, already unable to practice martial arts, would lose his last chance to turn his life around and be doomed to obscurity forever...

I've got an early shift!!

Qin Yao felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head.

"They talk about putting the greater good first, but I'm the only one who has to make sacrifices!"

Qin Yao's voice was hoarse.

He looked at those clan bigwigs who had always acted so respectable, and at the cousin who was about to take his title. Grief and fury flooded him. "To hell with you all!!"

"Stubborn and unrepentant!"

Qin Yongnian had lost his patience. He waved a hand. "Since you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, don't blame the clan rules for being merciless!

"Men, seize Qin Yao!

"Strip him of his title, reclaim his ancestral land, and expel him from the clan!"

Two burly clan guards immediately charged forward.

"No! You can't do this! My grandson has been wronged!"

Grandpa Qin Dashan rushed over after hearing the news, tears streaming down his face. "When the boy's parents gave their lives for the clan, you, the clan head, promised them compensation, but you still haven't paid a single bit of it.

"I, Qin Dashan, have already endured the pain of losing my son and made sacrifices once for the 'greater good' you speak of.

"And now you're going to take away the path my grandson struggled for years to carve out for himself?

"Qin Yongnian, are you even human?!"

Qin Yongnian's eyelid twitched. He flatly denied it. "Nonsense!

"What does the death of your son and daughter-in-law have to do with me? They were fools, plain and simple!

"Get out of my way!"

Qin Yongnian kicked Grandpa aside.

Qin Lan, the little sister following behind Grandpa, was so frightened she burst into tears.

"I didn't cheat!

"The clan is unjust!

"You stole my hard-earned honors!

"I... sob! Sob!"

Qin Yao let out a beastlike howl, but the guards stuffed his mouth tight with a rag and pinned him to the ground.

The certificate of honors he'd barely had time to savor was snatched away just like that.

He looked at Grandpa, who had collapsed on the ground in tears, and at his terrified, helpless little sister; at the sinister, vicious faces of the clan elders, gloating over his misfortune; at the contemptuous, cruel smile tugging at the corner of Qin Yuwei's mouth...

"Pfft!"

Qin Yao spat out a mouthful of blood. Consumed by fury, he passed out.

In a haze, he seemed to hear a voice that sounded utterly mechanical: "Ding! System awakening. Beginning fusion."

"Current fusion progress: 1%... 2%... 3%..."