Repaying Karma

Upcoming stories: "The Young Marquis Chases His Brother (Crossed Out) His Husband" and "Sorry, I Thought You Were My Daoist Partner"

Set in the same world as my old novel "Xi Chen". "Xi Chen" has been reposted in full and is free to read.

Updates at 8 p.m. After signing, daily updates may continue until completion.

Blurb:

Seven years ago, Luo Bei went down the mountain in search of his family. Having just entered the mortal world, he didn't know how to behave and often crossed the line when interacting with others, offending everyone. The only person he treated with particular closeness was Qi Qingye. Later, the two had a sudden falling-out. After slapping Qi Qingye across the face, Luo Bei left in a fit of anger.

Now the old acquaintances have met again. Luo Bei can control wind and fire, and is incredibly powerful. Qi Qingye has had both eyes gouged out by his enemies and is now destitute and down on his luck.

Luo Bei: "Are you really blind? They took your eyeballs out?"

Qi Qingye: "..."

Luo Bei: "Did I say something wrong? Should I not have said you were blind? Or should I not have brought it up? Sorry, I thought that compared to your being blind, you'd care more about your cultivation being crippled. You used to be so powerful, and you even taught me how to cultivate and how to handle people. Even though we parted on terrible terms back then, and I hated you and slapped you and said I'd never see you again, we were still once close and familiar with each other. Seeing you like this still makes me pretty sad... Oh, and I already know about manners. I'm really good at dealing with people now!"

Qi Qingye: "..."

* Luo Bei isn't being sarcastic. He genuinely means it.

* This isn't a traditional xianxia cultivation world; it has other worldbuilding elements and uses the setting of my old novel, "Xi Chen."

* A collection of episodic stories.

* The timeline later shifts around, with the gong and shou meeting at different points in time. The couple only love each other.

Pre-Release Blurb:

The young Marquis Pei learned that he wasn't the biological son of the Marquis and his wife. He had been an infant the Marquis rescued by chance while traveling south to oversee flood control.

That was also the year the young son of the Duke's household was kidnapped, and the Imperial Guards turned the capital upside down searching for him.

The Marquis said, "I was so focused on my duties when I went south that year, and I was far from the capital. It wasn't until my colleagues mentioned it in conversation recently that I realized the dates coincided... The ages and the route both match. That Lord Lu at court may well be your biological elder brother."

The young Marquis felt as if he'd fallen into an abyss, drenched in cold sweat. W-what?! That iron-faced Lord Lu, the scourge of the court?!

The Marquis told the young Marquis to associate with the Duke's family casually for now. If fate proved they were blood relatives, he could be recognized as family. If not, there was no need to force it.

The young Marquis was handsome and exceptionally good at acting cute and playing the fool. He charmed everyone in the Duke's household, except for its eldest son, Lord Lu, who called him a spoiled, useless, uneducated wastrel who was too foolish to bear any responsibility.

The young Marquis was angry. The young Marquis was indignant. The young Marquis refused to believe he couldn't win him over.

When Lord Lu was sent on a mission, the young Marquis followed. When Lord Lu encountered bandits on the road, the young Marquis took a blade for him.

When the young Marquis first took up an official post, Lord Lu patiently taught him. When the young Marquis fell gravely ill, Lord Lu stayed by his bedside day and night.

They shared life and death, never left each other's side, rode the same horse, and slept with their feet touching.

Everyone said they were as close as brothers.

The young Marquis put his hands on his hips and crowed, "What do you mean, as close as brothers? We are brothers!"

At the family recognition banquet, the Duchess's eyes filled with tears, and the Duke was overwhelmed with joy. Taking the young Marquis's hand, he said in a trembling voice that his younger son had finally returned.

The young Marquis looked nervously and expectantly at his elder brother, only to see his expression turn dark. His gaze was as cold as needles. "No. You aren't."

The young Marquis turned deathly pale.

He still hadn't won him over.

Later...

The young Marquis cried and cursed, "So you wanted to get into my pants!"

* The gong and shou have no blood relation whatsoever.

* At first, the gong is cold and impatient, and treats the shou badly. Later, he'll come around.

* The characters' values do not represent the author's values.

Theme: Strive to improve and never give up