On his way back, Nie Li was surprised to see Ye Ziyun and Yang Xin chatting together. Out of curiosity, he snuck behind them and accidentally overheard their conversation. Both of them had stars in their eyes. Ziyun said, "I totally agree. He was so cool back there with his sword in hand."
Nie Li cleared his throat, startling them.
Ziyun, with an embarrassed face, said, "Nie Li! You shouldn't sneak around and listen to girls' conversations!"
Nie Li, in a teasing tone, responded, "So, who's this 'Mr. Cool' that even the youngest genius of the Snow Wind Family is impressed with?"
Ziyun was so embarrassed she wished she could disappear. Yang Xin quickly intervened, "Alright, Nie Li, stop teasing the poor girl before she dies of embarrassment."
Scene Change
In the Sacred Family mansion, Elder Shen Ming knelt before Shen Hong, trembling in fear. "Patriarch, please punish me. I lost 5 million to that brat! But you must send someone to deal with him quickly. Otherwise, he'll become an unstoppable problem for us."
Shen Hong glared at him. "You lost 5 million to an unknown kid, and now you want me to help clean up your mess?"
Shen Ming stammered, "Patriarch, I know I've made a mistake, but this kid harbors a deep grudge against our family. He's already had conflicts with Shen Xiu, Shen Ye, and Shen Fei, and... he's a monster! I don't think anyone at the Gold Rank could defeat him one-on-one."
Shen Hong considered this. "Alright, Shen Ming. I'll give you three Black Gold Rank powerhouses, along with 50 peak Gold Rank fighters. Deal with this boy immediately. But remember, don't let this come back to the Sacred Family. Those masters aren't officially part of our family."
Scene Change
At the City Lord's Villa, Ye Xiu said, "Ye Zong, there's quite a monster in the younger generation. His name is Nie Li—he's 13 years old and already at peak Silver Rank."
Ye Zong dismissed this. "A strong genius, but that's not enough to make him a monster."
Ye Xiu smirked. "Oh, but that's not all. Yesterday, he fought two of the strongest youths from the Sacred Family—Shen Xiao and Shen Ning. He defeated them both with a single sword strike, without even using his demon spirit. Some people say he's undefeated below Black Gold Rank."
Now intrigued, Ye Zong said, "Ho ho, now you're talking. This boy is worth nurturing. Bring him to the villa as soon as possible. I'm sure the Sacred Family will be after him, and we need to protect him. He may even become the next Ye Mo."
Back to Nie Li, he was currently on a mountain, training under a gravity field. He was doing handstands under 50 times the normal gravity, his body drenched in sweat, but the training was effective. Nearby, his friends were also practicing under various levels of gravity. The most diligent, Du Ze, was wielding a 100-kilogram spear under 10 times gravity. Nie Li watched him with a satisfied expression. If Du Ze can master the spear, he'll surpass even the heights of my previous life, Nie Li thought.
He encouraged his friends to also choose weapons, demonstrating his sword techniques to inspire them. By the end of the day, Nie Li was pleased with their progress. Most of his friends had reached peak Gold Rank, and some were on the verge of a breakthrough, with Ye Ziyun and Ning'er being the closest.
The next day, Nie Li packed his belongings, preparing to leave for the City Lord's Villa. He had received an invitation and had much to discuss with Ye Zong, the City Lord. He also planned to challenge Ye Zong directly without holding back.
During one of his recent hunts, Nie Li had defeated a Snow Wind Ape, a Legend Rank demon beast with intelligence. After a fierce battle, he retrieved its demon spirit. Though it didn't have any special abilities, Nie Li believed it would suit Ye Zong well, helping him grow stronger and potentially avert future disasters.
As Nie Li entered the villa, he sensed two strong presences—Ye Zong and Ye Xiu. He greeted them respectfully, "I greet the City Lord and Protector Ye Xiu."
He had planned to meet with Ziyun, but now wasn't the right time.
Ye Zong, observing him with interest, said, "So, this is the young genius I've heard so much about. You certainly seem to live up to your reputation."
Nie Li, embarrassed by the compliment, replied, "Thank you, Lord Ye Zong. I don't deserve such praise."
Nie Li's appearance had undergone a transformation due to the Dragon Transformation technique. His features were more defined, his body tall and muscular for his age. At just 13, he already stood at 1.75 meters, with an aura of confidence that made him stand out from the so-called geniuses of the large families.
Since Ye Zong seemed to hold him in such high regard, Nie Li decided not to beat around the bush. "City Lord, since you think so highly of me, I won't deceive you. Your daughter and I share a close relationship, and I would like your blessing to marry her."
Ye Zong was momentarily shocked, but anger quickly took over. "What did you say? My daughter?! Is that why you've come here, with ulterior motives?"
Ye Xiu quickly intervened, "City Lord, please calm down. There must be more to the story. Let's hear him out before judging."
Nie Li calmly continued, "There's nothing more. I like her, and she likes me. What more do you want? Our relationship is pure, and I would never take advantage of her. She's the first woman I've ever loved."
Behind the door, Ye Ziyun overheard the conversation. Shocked and afraid at first, her expression softened as she listened to Nie Li's words. She gathered her courage and entered the room.
"Father, it's true. I care for him deeply. Please give him a chance to prove himself."
Ye Zong, still fuming, said, "Ziyun, did you hear him? He said you were the first woman he loved, implying there are others. How can you want to be with someone like that?"
Ziyun, resolute, responded, "Father, I know he also has feelings for Ning'er and Director Yang Xin. But that's alright. We're like sisters, and we've already agreed that someone as outstanding as Nie Li is bound to be loved by many. I won't be selfish and demand all of him for myself."
Ye Zong was momentarily speechless, struggling to process his daughter's words. He couldn't believe that Ziyun had already come to terms with Nie Li's complicated relationships. His protective instincts as a father screamed against it.
"I'm sorry, Ziyun," Ye Zong said with a deep frown. "But I can't accept this. I won't allow you to be with a womanizer like him. I refuse to send you into what I see as a fire pit."
Nie Li's expression hardened, his anger rising. "A fire pit, you say? Our love transcended time and reincarnation! If you stand in our way, City Lord, I will move you by force. It's only out of respect for Ziyun that I still speak to you with courtesy. But how dare you, the man who neglected his daughter all these years, now act self-righteous? You even considered giving your position to an outsider while pretending to be the perfect father. Ye Zong, you're a hypocrite!"
Suddenly, a sharp slap echoed through the room. Ye Ziyun, tears in her eyes, had struck Nie Li across the face.
"Nie Li! Apologize to my father," she said through gritted teeth, her voice trembling with emotion. "He has his reasons. Don't push him like this."
Nie Li, taken aback, calmed down slightly, but the tension in the room was still thick.
Ye Zong, though internally shaken by Nie Li's words, refused to show it. The guilt he harbored for neglecting Ziyun gnawed at him, but his pride wouldn't allow him to admit it. His anger, now redirected, needed an outlet.
"Brat!" Ye Zong's voice boomed. "You dare speak such insolence in my home? Today, I'll teach you a lesson about respecting your elders!"
Ye Zong released his immense pressure, attempting to bring Nie Li to his knees. His aura as a peak Black Gold Rank fighter filled the room. This level of pressure was more than enough to crush ordinary Gold Rank fighters, but Nie Li stood tall, unfazed.
Nie Li met his gaze with disdain. "Did you just try something?"
Ye Zong couldn't believe what he was seeing. No ordinary person could withstand his aura, yet Nie Li stood there, completely unaffected. It was clear that this boy was far from ordinary.
Growing frustrated, Ye Zong attacked directly. His fist flew toward Nie Li with the intent to subdue, though he held back enough to avoid serious injury.
Nie Li, however, remained calm, catching the fist head-on. "City Lord, if you don't go all out, you'll never know how you lost."
Ye Zong's eyes widened in surprise. This kid... he thought. He instantly increased the power behind his attacks, this time using his full strength. The two exchanged a hundred blows in the blink of an eye. Though evenly matched, Nie Li slowly began to gain the upper hand.
Despite his advantage, Nie Li knew better than to humiliate Ye Zong, especially in front of Ziyun. With a well-timed move, Nie Li pretended to cough up blood and retreated.
"Alright, City Lord. You've proven yourself. I apologize for going too far," Nie Li said, wiping the fake blood from his lips.
Ye Zong, quick to realize that Nie Li had let him win, softened his stance. He couldn't help but respect the boy's strength. "You little brat," he muttered with a begrudging smile. "You're stronger than you look. Since you were injured in my home, you can stay here to recover. But don't misunderstand—I still don't approve of you being with my daughter. If you don't stay away from her, next time I won't hold back."
Nie Li, ever the cheeky one, smiled. "I'll accept your hospitality, City Lord."
Though Ye Zong hadn't explicitly admitted it, Nie Li could tell that the City Lord had begun to warm to him. Ye Zong appreciated strength and fearlessness, traits Nie Li had displayed in abundance. Deep down, Ye Zong knew he couldn't force matters of the heart. His daughter's happiness was important, and he realized that no matter what he said, her feelings for Nie Li were resolute. The problem was that Nie Li's many relationships troubled him. How he wished Ye Mo, his father, were here to teach this brat a lesson.
With a sigh, Ye Zong thought to himself, I'll just have to see how things unfold. Perhaps fate will work things out in time.
Meanwhile, Nie Li had finally caught up with Ye Ziyun. He rubbed the spot on his face where she had slapped him, feeling slightly guilty. "Ziyun, I'm sorry for fighting your father like that... and for betraying your trust earlier. But now, let me be honest with you."
Ziyun, still upset, crossed her arms. "Go on, then."
Nie Li took a deep breath and looked at her sincerely. "Ziyun, I love you. I want you to be mine forever and spend eternity with me. But… you're not the only one I love. I have feelings for three others. You've already guessed two of them—Ning'er and Director Yang Xin. The last one… well, you'll meet her later. I promise you, though, there won't be any more beyond them."
Ziyun stared at him, taking it all in. She had known about Ning'er and Yang Xin, and she had already come to terms with it. But hearing Nie Li confess so openly stirred mixed emotions within her. Finally, she spoke.
"I know I can't keep you all to myself," Ziyun said quietly. "But I want you to love me forever. I want a part of your heart that belongs only to me. Can you promise me that?"
Without hesitation, Nie Li embraced her tightly, tears welling up in his eyes. "Ziyun, I swear to you, you'll always have a special place in my heart. You've always been the one, and you always will be."
Ziyun felt the sincerity in his words, and her heart softened. She embraced him back, her worries beginning to fade. This was the man she loved, the man who had gone through unimaginable trials for her sake. She could feel the weight of his words, the truth behind them.
After calming down, Nie Li whispered, "I need to tell you something important."
Ziyun looked at him curiously.
"I'm not who you think I am," Nie Li began, his voice low. "I've been hiding something from you all this time. I was reincarnated. In my past life, you and I were together, but I failed to protect you. That's why I'm here now—to change the future, to protect you and everyone else. I need you to keep this secret and tell no one."
Ziyun was stunned, unable to comprehend what she had just heard. But slowly, it all began to make sense—Nie Li's incredible knowledge, his sudden appearance as if he already knew everyone, his strength that far surpassed anyone his age. Everything clicked into place.
Though astonished, Ziyun finally understood what Nie Li meant when he spoke of their love transcending time and reincarnation. Tears welled up in her eyes, not from sadness, but from the overwhelming emotions of it all. She gently cupped Nie Li's face.
"You've gone through so much, haven't you?" she whispered, her heart aching for him. "This time, I'll protect you too, with everything I have."