Chapter 2 – When Before Dawn There Are Signs of the Unexpected
From Zhuge Su Yeon's Perspective
After yet another defeat, Zhuge Liang Shan could no longer endure the board. The old man rose, adjusted the sleeves of his robe, and left silently for his own courtyard, not sparing Yeon a single word—resigned under the weight of knowing he could not beat his grandson at this game.
Yeon remained alone before the empty board, the black and white stones still scattered like witnesses to a battle lost long before it began, a faint smile lingering on his lips.
Well, he wasn't entirely alone.
He had the company of his new "ally."
The system.
The truth was that Yeon wasn't entirely unfamiliar with such absurd cheats. In his past life, confined to a hospital bed, unable to leave or even plan for tomorrow, he had sought refuge in the pages of countless books and webnovels.
And among all genres, there was one that repeated itself with almost comical frequency: cultivation stories.
Vast worlds, hot-blooded youths, unbearable arrogance, secret techniques appearing from nowhere… and, of course, the most ridiculous golden fingers of all: systems.
He had followed countless protagonists using such tools to fight against their fates. One day, mere mortals; the next, cultivators defying the heavens.
So when a glowing screen appeared before his eyes, Yeon wasn't exactly shocked.
Just suspicious.
Because this system in particular… was strange.
Very strange.
Its name was straightforward: "Family Investment System."
And honestly, it looked nothing like the cultivation systems he had read about in stories.
There was no instant power-up, no supreme techniques, no absurd shortcuts.
What he saw resembled far more the strategy and empire-building games he had once tried in his youth on Earth. High-difficulty games, designed not to ease the way but to punish every careless decision.
It seemed this system wasn't made to turn him into an invincible cultivator.
But to force him to manage, invest… and shoulder the burden of an entire clan.
Honestly, Yeon doubted if he would even use it.
Of course, it wasn't entirely useless. It did present him with a series of details about his clan right on its interface.
[General Summary of the Zhuge Clan]
Registered Members: 137
Highest Active Cultivation: Golden Core – Level 9
Highest Recorded Potential: White
Political Connections: Weak
Resources in Stock: Scarce
Internal Morale: Stable
Regional Influence: Low
External Risk Alert: Moderate
Beyond the general summary, there were also three main tabs.
The first was the members tab.
It offered him the option to view the profile of each clan member. However, nearly all information about them was locked, requiring system points to be unlocked.
The only profile immediately and fully accessible was his own:
Zhuge Su Yeon
— 28 years old
Cultivation: Golden Core – Level 9
Potential: White – Divine Potential
Physical Condition: Perfect
Mental State: Stable
Martial Physique: Supreme Jade Body (Mutant)
Even that brief profile revealed details he had never fully grasped before. Organized, precise, undeniable information.
For the first time, he could truly understand the extent of his own talent.
Honestly, this alone was enough to satisfy him—he could see the system as a true gift just for this part.
As for the rest of the clan… patience. He could unlock them little by little once he had enough points.
That led him to the second tab: missions.
So far, it was the only way to earn system points.
They were divided into three categories:
Individual Missions: assigned to a single member.
Branch Missions: assigned to small groups, leaders, or sectors of the clan.
Clan Missions: required the collective effort of all active members.
None offered immediate treasures or miraculous shortcuts. All rewarded only with system points.
And, of course, there was also the third tab.
A shop.
A staple of any system worth its name.
And its primary way of completely bending the world's laws.
He had only skimmed it, but that was enough to confirm his suspicions:
everything was for sale.
Honestly, Yeon should have felt happy about receiving such a system.
Who would complain about a powerful system, even if it was complex and demanding?
But that wasn't how Yeon felt.
He felt used.
When he had reincarnated into this world and discovered his absurd talent, Yeon had believed—if only for a fleeting moment—that fate had finally decided to compensate him for the suffering of his past life.
Now, with the system's arrival, that illusion shattered.
Things were clear.
Fate always had the last laugh. There was no reward—only more work.
But that wasn't the system's fault, not directly.
If it had been just the system… everything would have been fine.
The real problem lay in what had arrived with it that morning.
With slow movements, Yeon pulled a letter from the inner pocket of his robe.
The seals were already broken, but still bore the unmistakable marks of those who had sent it.
What came to mind wasn't the symbols on the letter, but the worried face of Mei Lin—his diligent cousin, who had bowed discreetly as she handed him the envelope.
On the seal, three distinct crests revealed the gravity of its contents:
A dragon wrapped in lightning: the Celestial Thunder Sect.
A black plum blossom: the influential Wu Family.
A sun with eight golden rays, surrounded by crimson clouds: the Imperial Feng Family.
Names of weight. Powers that could make the entire empire tremble by mere mention.
But to Yeon, the seals were just the surface.
What truly mattered wasn't the origin.
It was the content.
Imperial Decree of Marriage Dissolution
To the Esteemed Members of the Honorable Zhuge Clan,
By this letter, Her Majesty Feng Yue, the White Flame Empress, hereby proclaims the following decree, issued after careful deliberation and consideration of the circumstances presented.
On the Parties Involved:
Wu Qing Xue, eldest daughter of the noble Wu family, has in recent years demonstrated extraordinary progress in her cultivation journey. Her exceptional talent drew the attention of the venerable Elder Tian Lei, Grand Elder of the prestigious Celestial Thunder Sect, one of the empire's oldest and most revered institutions. Recognizing her unprecedented potential, Elder Tian Lei accepted her as his chief disciple—a position that demands absolute dedication and withdrawal from worldly matters.
Zhuge Yu Jin, heir of the honorable Zhuge Clan, is known for his exemplary conduct and noble character. However, his cultivation progress has proven more modest, following a slower, more contemplative rhythm in keeping with his family's traditions.
On the Circumstances:
The Wu family, recognizing that the cultivation paths of the two youths have diverged significantly, and considering the sacred obligations demanded by Qing Xue's new position, respectfully appealed to Her Majesty for imperial intervention in the harmonious dissolution of the betrothal previously established between the two esteemed families.
After thorough evaluation of the circumstances, and considering that their cultivation paths now follow distinct trajectories incompatible with a harmonious union, Her Majesty decrees:
Decree:
The engagement between Wu Qing Xue and Yu Jin of the Zhuge Clan is hereby officially dissolved, without prejudice to the honor of either family. This decision aims to preserve the promising future of Qing Xue's cultivation while allowing Yu Jin the opportunity to seek a partner more suited to his spiritual path.
May both families find prosperity and harmony in their respective journeys.
Sealed by Imperial Authority
Empress Feng Yue
Golden Thunder Palace
It was a polite letter, full of pretty words, respectful titles, and gestures of courtesy.
But if Yeon were to translate it honestly, he would summarize it like this:
The girl is talented and destined for greatness. You, your brother, and your clan are worthless nobodies. Don't even dream of eating swan meat.
Signed politely… by the Empress.
In the end, it was just a blow wrapped in formality.
Honestly, Yeon didn't care.
Having a Wu girl within his peaceful clan would have been like opening the doors to chaos. If he had known about this arranged marriage earlier, he might have canceled it himself.
What troubled him wasn't the letter itself, but the memories it stirred.
He recalled a specific genre of novels he had read in his past life. Stories where the transmigrator wasn't the protagonist, but rather a hidden character, while a brother—or someone close—took on the role of the destined hero.
And there was always the cliché of the canceled engagement.
At first, it had a certain charm. But after dozens of poorly written copies, the trope became irritating.
Unfortunately, now Yeon feared he had stepped into one of those stories.
As if fate itself were a lazy author—incapable of crafting anything truly original.
Of course, he wouldn't just sit in suspicion. Not now that he held an omniscient system in his hands.
If there was a way to confirm his doubts, it was simple: check his brother's profile.
And that was exactly what he did.
Spiritual Profile: Yu Jin
Age: 17 Cultivation: Body Refinement – Level 1
▸ Spiritual Potential – Cost: 50,000 points
▸ Martial Physique – Cost: 100,000 points
▸ Martial Souls – Cost: 25,000 points
▸ Mental State – Cost: 3,000 points
▸ Spiritual Profession – Cost: 5,000 points
Unfortunately, what Yeon discovered when trying to open his brother's profile was an inconvenient truth: Yu Jin's information was absurdly more expensive than that of every other clan member.
His brother basically came with DLC.
Even compared to his grandfather, the former patriarch—who had reached the fourth level of Spiritual Refinement—the cost wasn't remotely proportional.
Coincidence? Maybe.
But Yeon wasn't naive enough to believe that. Not when so many clichés were already repeating themselves.
Unwilling to sit back and wait to see how things unfolded, he made the most logical decision as Patriarch: he summoned his brother.
Orders were given. Servants dispatched. Messages sent.
But the entire day passed, and the boy was nowhere to be found.
And so, another innate trait of protagonists was added to his little brother's résumé… mysterious disappearances.
In the end, Zhuge Su Yeon finished his birthday alone, sitting in the same minimalist courtyard, the Go board still before him, while doubts and speculations consumed his mind in silence.
If his brother truly were some kind of protagonist…
Perhaps the best decision would be to banish him from the clan.
Even if it seemed extreme, Yeon couldn't entirely dismiss the thought.
After all, if he was honest with himself, Yeon knew—protagonists were nothing but magnets for trouble.
And trouble was the one thing he could not allow.
His plan for quiet cultivation would not survive someone who drew chaos wherever they went.
But in the end, that was not a decision he needed to make today.
Tomorrow, maybe.
Making decisions with a clouded mind had always been the fastest path to failure.
For now, he was left only with the bitter realization that even when he wished for peace, fate insisted on toying with him.