Chapter 3: Please Step Aside and Scram
Translator: Skyfarrow
Editor: Skyfarrow
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The patrolling night watchman struck his wooden clappers in a steady rhythm.
The sound echoed through the tall bamboo houses.
Damien Gray opened his dry eyelids. His heart silently noted:
"It's the hour before dawn."
He had spent most of the night lying awake, planning. He may have only slept a couple of hours. His body, not yet strengthened by cultivation, still felt the weight of exhaustion.
But with 500 years of experience behind him, Damien's willpower was like steel. This kind of sleep deprivation was nothing.
He threw off the thin silk blanket and rose neatly. Opening the window, he saw the spring rain had finally stopped.
The fresh scent of soil, trees, and wildflowers drifted in. His mind cleared. The sky remained a deep blue—neither night nor day.
Outside, the elevated homes built of green bamboo sat nestled against the mountain, forming a sea of pale green.
These houses were built two stories high—the first level supported by wooden stilts to adapt to the uneven mountain terrain. Damien and his younger brother, Zack Gray, lived on the second floor.
"Young master Damien, you're awake. I'll come up to help you wash," a soft voice called from downstairs.
It was Claire, Damien's personal servant.
She was only slightly better than average in appearance, but always kept herself neat. Dressed in a green robe with long sleeves and loose trousers, she wore embroidered shoes and had her black hair pinned with pearls. Her youthful energy glowed.
She smiled warmly, holding a basin of warm water as she came upstairs.
Damien rinsed his mouth and cleaned his teeth with a willow twig and snow salt. Claire stood attentively nearby, her gaze warm and gentle like spring. When she helped him dress, her chest brushed his arm and back several times.
Damien's expression didn't change. His heart was as calm as a frozen lake.
This girl was nothing more than a spy planted by his aunt and uncle. A shallow, two-faced girl. In his previous life, she'd captured his heart. But the moment his status fell after the Awakening Ceremony, she quickly turned away, full of scorn.
As Zack Gray entered the room, he saw Claire smoothing the creases on Damien's chest. His eyes momentarily flashed with jealousy.
Though they lived together, Zack's servant was not a charming young girl, but a wide, older woman.
"I wonder what it'd feel like to have Claire waiting on me like this?" Zack thought to himself. But he didn't dare say it aloud.
Everyone knew their aunt and uncle favored Damien. Zack hadn't even had a servant until Damien personally asked for one on his behalf.
Even with her servant status, Claire wasn't someone Zack dared to disrespect. Her mother—Matron Claire—was the housekeeper trusted completely by their aunt and uncle. She had real power in the household.
"Enough. No need to adjust anything." Damien impatiently brushed Claire's soft hand away.
His clothing was already neat. She was just trying to seduce him.
To Claire, Damien's future looked bright. If he turned out to have A-grade talent, and she could become his concubine, she'd rise from servant to lady of the house.
In his previous life, Damien had fallen for her. But in this life, he saw through her entirely. His heart was cold and clear.
"You may leave," Damien said flatly, without even looking at her.
Claire pouted. His distant behavior confused and upset her. She wanted to whine in a sweet voice, but was silenced by his chilling aura. In the end, she only mumbled "Yes," and quietly left.
"You ready?" Damien asked Zack.
His younger brother stood in the doorway, head down, staring at his toes.
"Yeah," Zack replied softly.
He'd been awake since the fourth watch, too nervous to sleep. He had dressed long ago and now had dark circles under his eyes.
Damien nodded. In his past life, he hadn't understood his brother's inner world. But now, after rebirth, he saw clearly.
"Let's go," Damien said.
The two brothers left the house. Along the way, they passed groups of teens their age, all headed to the Awakening Ceremony.
"Hey, look, those are the Gray brothers."
"The one in front is Damien — the poet."
"So that's him. He really does act like he's above everyone. Just like the rumors."
"Ugh. He looks so full of himself."
"Hmph, if you were as talented as him, maybe you'd act like that too."
Zack kept a blank face. He was used to hearing such gossip. Head bowed, he followed silently behind Damien.
Dawn's light began to stretch over the horizon, casting Damien's shadow across Zack's face.
The sun rose—but Zack felt like he was walking into deeper darkness.
That darkness came from Damien.
"Maybe I'll never escape his shadow."
A heavy pressure settled on Zack's chest. He found it hard to breathe.
"It feels like… suffocating."
"Tch. The saying's true—'Those with great talent always draw jealousy,'" Damien thought, sneering to himself as he listened to the whispers.
No wonder, when it was revealed he only had C-grade talent in his last life, the clan had turned cold. The admiration turned to contempt.
Behind him, Zack's breathing grew shallow as he tried to shut out the voices.
What Damien couldn't see in his last life, he now noticed clearly — this was the sharp perception gained from 500 years of suffering.
He thought of his aunt and uncle again. Their manipulations were obvious now — giving him the seductive Claire while giving Zack an old nanny. Always favoring Damien, sowing envy in Zack's heart.
People don't mind having less.
What they mind is unfairness.
In his previous life, Damien had been too naïve. Zack had been too innocent. Their guardians had succeeded in driving a wedge between them.
Now, even though the Awakening Ceremony would soon unfold again, Damien saw possibilities.
He could manipulate Zack. He could seduce Claire early and toss her aside. He could crush his aunt and uncle. Even outplay the clan elders.
"But… I don't care enough to bother," Damien sighed.
So what if Zack was his brother? Without true loyalty, even blood meant nothing. Damien would discard him without hesitation.
So what if Claire grew prettier? Without love, she was just skin and flesh. Not worth the effort to keep around.
So what if the clan or elders opposed him? They were just background noise in the path of life. Not worth his energy.
"As long as you don't stand in my way—then step aside. Scram. I won't waste a second on you."
Chapter 3 completed with name replacements:
Fang Yuan → Damien Gray
Fang Zheng → Zack Gray
Shen Cui → Claire
Mother Shen → Matron Claire
Qing Mao Mountain → Greenmist Mountain
Gu Yue Village → Graystone Village