Unboxing the Gifts
It was a damn shame that his live stream account was still so small.
Otherwise, this would’ve been the perfect moment for an unboxing stream.
Chen Huaian rubbed his hands together like a giddy kid on Christmas morning, then pulled the curtains shut, turned off the main lights, and left only the bedside lamp on.
Then, he plopped down on the bed, ready to unwrap his loot.
“Alright! First up, my cute little Qingran’s gift!”
With the precision of a bomb squad technician, he cut the tape open with a nail clipper, then slowly peeled back the box’s flaps—
Then—
His face darkened.
Inside the box was a sealed plastic bag containing a bracelet of beads.
They were perfectly round, with a glassy, almost plastic-like appearance.
“…Emmm… perfunctory as hell.“
He took out the bracelet and rolled the beads between his fingers.
The moment he did—
The air seemed… fresher.
His morning fatigue vanished, replaced by an odd sense of clarity.
Chen Huaian frowned, flipping the bracelet over.
A single word was crudely carved onto one of the beads—
Blessing.
It was so crooked that it looked like a three-year-old’s handwriting.
“Ugh… this engraving is hideous.”
But—
Just as he was about to roast it some more—
He caught himself smiling.
“But… since it’s Qingran’s handmade gift, I guess I feel a little… energized?”
He slipped it onto his wrist, admiring it under the light.
Not because it was expensive or luxurious.
But because it was from her.
The Black Scale Sword
With that sentimental moment out of the way, Chen Huaian shifted gears.
“Alright, now for the big one!”
This time, his unboxing speed doubled—
RIP! TEAR!
Within seconds, the long box was completely open.
Inside—
A majestic sword rested within a bed of black silk.
It was long—at least 1.5 meters from tip to hilt.
The blade was bronze-colored, but the edge shimmered under the light with an unearthly sheen.
Black fish-scale patterns ran along the sword’s length, giving it a serpentine elegance.
The hilt was engraved with ancient, traditional characters—so archaic that Chen Huaian could barely recognize them.
But one thing was clear—
This was no ordinary sword.
“Black Scale… Yeah, this name fits.“
He raised the Black Scale Sword toward the ceiling light.
The way the blade caught and bent the light—
The way its presence seemed… slightly out of sync with reality—
It was almost like it belonged to another world.
No—
Not just any world.
It belonged to Li Qingran’s world.
For the first time, a chill ran down Chen Huaian’s spine.
“…Tsk, I must be sleep-deprived. My brain’s making up stories.“
He shook off the thought and examined the blade.
Testing the Edge
Chen Huaian hesitated.
Was the blade sharp?
His rational brain told him:
“Don’t be an idiot. Don’t test it with your hand.”
So instead—
He picked up a stray hair from the floor.
Holding it just above the blade—
He let it fall.
Then—
Yin——!
A faint hum resonated in the air.
Chen Huaian’s eyes widened.
The hair split in two before it even touched the blade’s surface.
“…WHAT. THE. HELL?!“
This was real.
This was insanely sharp.
And—
It was definitely illegal.
“…Shit, is this thing even legal to own?!”
His heart pounded.
What if he got caught with this? Would he get arrested?!
Panic mode activated.
Chen Huaian rushed to sheath the sword, then quickly hung it on the wall—right on a nail meant for paintings.
There. A decorative piece. Totally normal. Nothing illegal here.
He stepped back and admired it.
And, strangely enough—
It fit perfectly.
This ancient, ominous blade somehow blended seamlessly into the modern decor.
He smirked.
“Alright, Black Scale. You’re getting cremated with me when I die.”
Black Scale Sword: “…”
Black Cat in the Shoebox: “…”
The Black Cat’s Doubts
Inside the shoebox, the black cat’s ears twitched.
It had been awakened by the faint spiritual energy emitted from the bracelet’s spirit stone beads.
Now, its golden eyes gleamed in the darkness.
This human…
First, he had the Secret Golden Needle Technique.
Then, he was protected by an Ancestral Dragon.
Now, he had spiritual stones and even a flying sword?!
This—
This didn’t make sense.
By all logic, spiritual energy should have long disappeared from this world.
But this human—
He had everything.
This defied metaphysics!
But for now—
The first priority was recovery.
The Ancestral Dragon’s protection was problematic, but as long as it didn’t attack the human, it should be fine.
The black cat was about to fake weakness and meow pitifully to get Chen Huaian’s attention—
But then—
It looked up.
The room was empty.
Chen Huaian was gone.
Where Did He Go?
The black cat staggered to the windowsill.
There—
Across the street—
A young man in pajamas stood in the middle of the public square, holding a clothesline like a sword, practicing awkward movements.
The black cat: “…?”
An Old Master’s Guidance
Old Man Li had been practicing Tai Chi in this square for twenty years.
Among all the elderly martial artists in the surrounding seven or eight neighborhoods, he was second to none.
This morning, as he strolled toward his usual practice spot—
He noticed a young man.
A young man in pajamas.
Holding a clothesline.
Sweating profusely.
And—
Assuming the strangest, most ridiculous martial stance Old Man Li had ever seen.
But—
There was something different about this kid.
Unlike most young people these days, he was putting in effort.
There was a spark in his movements, a sense of determination that resonated with Old Man Li.
This young man…
Had potential.
With a wise smile, Old Man Li stepped forward.
“You’re standing wrong, kid.“
Before Chen Huaian could react—
A strong hand pressed down on his shoulders.
A foot slid between his legs, adjusting his stance.
At that moment—
Chen Huaian felt a shock run through his body.
His training progress bar—
Shot from 2% to 13% instantly.
Chen Huaian: “…What the f*?!**”
