Fate's voice echoed in his mind.
"The artifacts in my possession are unsuitable for your current situation. Besides, you lack the necessary destiny to exchange for any artifact."
He had expected as much, but it was still frustrating to hear.
"Then what can I do?"
"You can share your cultivation techniques with your family and hope they grow stronger quickly," Fate advised.
Su Kang tapped his fingers against the wooden table, considering the suggestion.
His Star-Forged Physique technique was out of the question. It was simply impossible for his family members to cultivate it without having the proper physique.
However, the Soul Cultivation Technique and the Dual Cultivation Technique were viable options.
There were different paths such as alchemy, talisman creation, or artifact refinement where soul power proved beneficial. Moreover, his soul technique could improve one's willpower and provide resistance against illusions or mind-control abilities.
Dual cultivation, in particular, had even greater potential. If both partners practiced the same technique, their mutual comprehension and cultivation speed would improve dramatically. It was an excellent method for quick growth—especially for a family trying to gain a foothold in the cultivation world.
At the very least, it was a start.
He exhaled slowly before shifting his thoughts to a more personal matter.
"What about my own qi cultivation technique? Have you decided on one yet?" he asked.
Fate's response came without delay.
"Yes. I have selected a technique for you. It was originally incompatible with your current cultivation realm, but I have modified it to suit your present condition."
Su Kang raised an eyebrow. "You can modify cultivation techniques?"
"It is not difficult," Fate replied calmly. "I merely adjusted the technique to align more closely with this world's laws and ensured that none of its aspects would prove too overwhelming for you at your current level."
Su Kang was genuinely impressed.
"That's… actually quite useful."
For Fate to be able to alter an advanced cultivation technique and tailor it specifically for him suggested it possessed more capabilities than he had previously thought.
He leaned back in his chair, a determined glint in his eyes.
The Su family might not have the resources of the powerful clans in the Central Plains, but that didn't mean they would remain weak forever.
Just then, Bai Yunxi stirred beneath the sheets, her brows twitching slightly as she began to wake. Her lashes fluttered open, and she sat up slowly, instinctively drawing the covers closer to her chest.
Soft light streamed through the window, casting a gentle glow across the room.
She turned her head and saw Su Kang sitting on a chair nearby, watching her quietly.
"Why didn't you wake me up sooner?" she asked, her voice still thick with drowsiness.
Su Kang walked over to the bed. "I didn't want to disturb your rest," he replied gently. "You were exhausted. I thought it would be better to let you sleep a little longer."
He climbed onto the bed beside her and reached into his sleeve, retrieving a storage ring.
Bai Yunxi blinked, puzzled. "What is it?"
"I got it after breakfast. My parents gave it to me—no, they gave it to you," he said, placing it carefully into her palm. "A gift from them to their daughter-in-law."
His smile was light, but his eyes lingered on her, watching her reaction.
Her breath caught. For a moment, she didn't speak, simply staring at the ring.
Then, without a word, she lunged forward and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.
Su Kang gently embraced her, his hand caressing the smooth skin of her back as she trembled slightly in his arms.
She had braced herself for polite distance from his family. But this... this was different. This gift wasn't about the items inside—it was a gesture.
A quiet welcome into the family.
"I thought... I thought they saw me as a shame, something to be hidden," she whispered.
Her voice cracked. "Even if they can't show it openly… they still gave me something, recognizing me as their daughter-in-law..."
Her fingers clutched at the fabric of his robe.
"Husband… thank you. Now I finally feel like I have a home."
Su Kang kissed the crown of her head. "You don't need to thank me, Yunxi. This is your home now—our home."
After a while, her emotions calmed. She wiped her eyes, cheeks flushed from the sudden outburst, and offered him a gentle smile.
Together, they poured the contents of the space ring onto the bed.
"Let's see what's inside."
A luxurious red robe emerged first, woven with intricate blue patterns. The embroidery shimmered faintly in the light, revealing the forms of a phoenix and qilin dancing gracefully across the fabric.
The craftsmanship was exquisite, far beyond what one would find in a common market.
Next came a blue jade pendant—cool to the touch and pulsing gently with spiritual energy. Delicate inscriptions lined its edges, forming protective seals.
There was also a slender jade hairpin, its tip shaped like a blooming lotus. Then came a green bangle, carved from pure spiritual jade, its surface smooth and gleaming with elegance.
The meaning behind the lotus hairpin was unmistakable—she was no longer a widow.
Su Kang smiled softly and reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"They're yours now," he said. "My mother must have chosen them herself."
Bai Yunxi held the robe in her lap, her fingers lightly brushing over the embroidered qilin.
She swallowed softly.
A phoenix—for grace, for rebirth.
A qilin—for legacy, and the promise of future children.
It meant her children with Su Kang would be accepted. They would carry the Su family's name, not as a stain from her past, but with pride and honor.
She had long decided not to bear any more children—at least, not for now. But whenever that day came, they would be loved here.
This quiet gesture from her in-laws meant more than a thousand words.
And in that silent moment, surrounded by gifts of affection and acknowledgment, Bai Yunxi felt the last remnants of her fear finally melt away.
...
Later that afternoon, Su Kang was informed—Tonight would be a family banquet.
Evening had fallen by the time he finished cultivating.
He stepped out of his room and changed into a lavish navy-blue robe embroidered with golden patterns.
The fabric shimmered faintly under the lantern light, and on his chest was a small golden lion emblem—the Su family's insignia.
Tonight marked the return of many Su family members. They had been away on missions or personal matters, but now, for the first time in a long while, the clan would gather in full.
It was the family banquet.
Guests were not allowed, so Su Kang didn't bring Bai Yunxi. His First Uncle—the family head—might not approve of their relationship if he discovered her identity.
He made his way toward the main clan hall.
Light spilled from the tall windows, and the sound of voices and laughter drifted through the evening air. The Su Manor, once quiet, now pulsed with life.
Inside the banquet hall, long tables were arranged according to age and status.
The main seats for the elders were still empty, but the tables reserved for the younger generation were already bustling with familiar faces.
Su Kang walked toward the designated area.
A man in his early thirties looked up and spotted him first.
Dressed in elegant white and blue robes adorned with the golden lion emblem, his shoulder-length hair was neatly tied back.
"Su Kang! Finally, we're seeing you again after such a long time," the man called out with a grin.
It was Su Liang—the family head's eldest son and elder brother to Su Lang and Su Ruyi. The next in line for family head.
Several others turned to look as well. Among them was Su Feng, dressed in a lavish white robe laced with intricate golden patterns.
His short hair framed a handsome, composed face. He was the elder brother of Su Cheng and Su Ying.
Su Kang smiled as he approached. "I've been at the manor for months. You all were the ones missing—don't blame me for not showing up sooner."
Su Feng chuckled. "Father took me to the Cangwu Region for business. We only just returned."
Nearby, Su Wei let out an exaggerated sigh.
A sharp-eyed, lean youth with a calm demeanor, he was always dressed neatly, radiating the aura of a merchant more than a cultivator.
"While you were off with Fifth Elder, I was left handling the family's business matters. Aunt Dong Yue left too, and everything fell on me."
Su Jiao burst out laughing.
Playful and carefree, with windblown hair and a mischievous grin plastered on his face.
"No wonder you've lost weight! I thought you found a girl and were working day and night to give the Su family some new blood!"
Laughter erupted around the table.
Su Kang took his seat, then glanced toward Su Liang. "By the way, where were you? I didn't see Sister-in-law or Su Ren either."
Su Liang adjusted his sleeve, his tone calm.
"I was asked to personally visit several clans for negotiations and formal talks. My wife wanted to visit her maternal family, so I brought her and Su Ren to the Lin Clan as well."