I'm planning to write this historical danmei next 🫴🏻
Xu Fengzhen wants to restore his family's fortunes and become the greatest sword cultivator under heaven.
But his crowded household wants nothing to do with him. They steal his golden core, cripple his cultivation, and marry him off to a consumptive invalid who can't perform as a husband.
Xu Fengzhen wants to escape the marriage and cultivate the Heartless Dao.
But he's saddled with an exorbitant bride-price, and his sickly husband, Yu Chengzhao, won't let him run away.
Xu Fengzhen signs a loan agreement with the “housebound” invalid. From then on, Yu Chengzhao bankrolls him while Xu Fengzhen nurtures his golden core, builds his cultivation, makes money from money, and pays off the bride-price.
At the same time, he follows in the footsteps of the world's greatest sword cultivator, longing for the Heartless Dao's supreme treasure, the Sword of Heaven and Earth Without Feeling.
With every step he takes in cultivation, he admires the great sword cultivator more. But only the Heartless Dao can fulfill his lifelong wish.
He resolves to sever all ties and desires, never again entertaining inappropriate thoughts... Especially since he has a sickly husband to support.
“Once you've paid off the bride-price, can't you break off the engagement?” The greatest sword cultivator under heaven suddenly appears, leaning against his bedroom door.
Xu Fengzhen covers his ears, certain he must have misheard.
His conscience tells him he can't abandon his frail husband.
But the great sword cultivator argues back: “Everyone says the Sword of Heaven and Earth Without Feeling is the Heartless Dao's supreme treasure. Only I know you can't obtain it without the Hehuan Sect. If you want to forge the greatest sword under heaven, I suggest you cultivate with me through dual cultivation.”
Xu Fengzhen is startled. He refuses to be a heartless ingrate and immediately goes home to find his husband.
But his husband is dead.
Xu Fengzhen never has to repay the loan again. His husband's death sends him fully down the Heartless Dao, and he vows to forge the greatest sword and become the greatest sword cultivator under heaven.
Years later, Xu Fengzhen climbs the highest peak in the immortal realm alone, convinced that he has severed all ties and desires and that no one can move him anymore.
Then a sickly invalid trembles his way up the mountain and suddenly coughs twice, as delicate as a willow in the breeze.
Xu Fengzhen turns in disbelief, tears spilling from his eyes.
The invalid smiles at him, and Xu Fengzhen buries his face in his arms.
“Why did you wait until now to come find me? The bride-price money I saved has all lost its value...”
The invalid says, “You wouldn't cultivate with me back then, so it was incredibly hard to catch up with you.”
PS: Yu Chengzhao's inner thoughts: Are you really that surprised I'm the great sword cultivator?
Theme: Is it better to live on miserably than die? If all else fails, maybe you should just die!
