Chapter 1: Unyielding in Heart, Yet Silent in Defiance

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Country M, Nameless Domain, Arena

Thud—a heavy sound echoed as someone hit the ground...

Lin Zhiwei was thrown down yet again, for the N+1th time, and this time the fall was so hard she couldn’t get up. Though she managed to land on her backside in a split second, the impact was too much; she felt as if her waist might snap.

She vaguely remembered that she had just followed the correct tactical approach, attacking the lower center, but before she could react, she was lifted into the air and slammed down mercilessly.

Like a grasshopper about to be crushed, she didn’t even have time to struggle before she was gasping for air.

Not a moment’s pause, not a second of sympathy.

She thought to herself, Maybe I should just play dead. Would that end today's training instantly? What a brilliant idea.

She shut her eyes immediately, though her lashes couldn't help but tremble.

“Lin Zhiwei, you’d better stand up.”

A low, chilling masculine voice pierced the air. Lin Zhiwei cracked her eyes open just a sliver and caught a glimpse of the man not far away, his whole body emanating icy resolve. His tall figure was closing in on her step by step.

Her survival instinct prompted her to scramble upright in a heartbeat. “Brother, can’t you let me off just this once...?”

His black eyes were deep and unfathomable. Dressed in black athletic wear, his sculpted features exuded an authority that brooked no dissent; his lips were pressed tight, a sharp aura radiating from him—a clear sign he was about to explode.

Lin Zhiwei couldn’t help but shiver.

“Brother, I really can’t do it. I don’t know if you were blind six years ago, deciding to hand over the Nameless Domain to me.” She dared not look at him directly, muttering under her breath.

The man before her was none other than the current master of the Nameless Domain, Lin Qiongjiu—her cousin.

“No one is born a leader,” Lin Qiongjiu said, arms crossed, his tone resolute.

Seeing his attitude soften just a little, Lin Zhiwei pressed on, “Brother, look at me—I radiate the aura of a loser from head to toe. I’m nothing like you.”

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Lin Qiongjiu arched an eyebrow and replied, “That’s because you’ve given up on yourself.”

Lin Zhiwei thought rebelliously, I don’t agree, but I dare not say it.

Six years ago, she was as beautiful as snow—a budding beauty. Several young men from small clans secretly slipped her love letters or invited her out to discuss life and dreams.

She lived lightly and happily, almost like a deity. She wasn’t the center of attention, but she could indulge in food and fun without any restriction.

Her future might not have promised great achievement, but it would have been easy enough to stay a pampered clan lady and live comfortably.

Until one day, Lin Qiongjiu descended in a blaze of glory, chatted nonsense with her father, and declared she would inherit his title.

He made her drink a potion specially brewed by Elder Sui of the Nameless Domain, and from then on, she grew uglier year by year.

Now, with messy hair fit for nesting chicks, eyes mismatched in size and shape, thick lips, dull skin, and enlarged pores—only the outline of her face barely retained its former shape.

In essence, she was ruined, barely passable among the ordinary.

After that, as she grew, not only did the boys stop sending her letters, they even stopped talking to her.

Rumors spread everywhere about the Lin family’s young lady’s transformation. They said girls change as they grow, but no one had ever seen such a change. Other clan ladies only grew more beautiful, spending lavishly on their appearance.

Her father, meanwhile, not only confiscated her cards and crushed her hopes, but sent her straight to the training arena.

Lin Zhiwei looked down at herself—flat figure, calloused hands, like a mercenary weathered by years outdoors, and ugly to boot...

Except when she went out with her best friend Xue Yuan, and happened to witness her being approached by guys, Lin Zhiwei barely saw a single male face. Her romantic prospects were nonexistent, her life bleak.

After pondering a moment, Lin Zhiwei spoke, “Brother, you gave me that potion, and now I look like this... Who would accept me?”

“Being a master isn’t about looks,” Lin Qiongjiu replied sternly.

“You...” Lin Zhiwei nearly blurted out an expletive, but she quickly swallowed it and answered meekly, “But with your unbeatable looks, why not drink something to cover up a bit?”

“To win your sister-in-law,” Lin Qiongjiu mused aloud, admitting the rationale.

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Damn... Could you at least consider my happiness? Lin Zhiwei cursed him in her heart.

Now, with zero romantic prospects, every guy shied away from her.

She silently cursed Lin Qiongjiu over a hundred times—pervert, demon—and vowed to complain to her future sister-in-law when she returned.

Lin Qiongjiu raised his sword-like brows and said calmly, “You’d better not try anything funny.”

“Who would dare, haha...” Lin Zhiwei replied with a guilty laugh.

“I can promise you this: I’ll give you a year to prepare. If you can establish yourself in the clan, I’ll restore your appearance,” Lin Qiongjiu said expressionlessly. “But if you plan to waste time and do nothing, that’s your choice.”

The words “restore your appearance” made Lin Zhiwei nod like an eager puppy. Brother, this is an era obsessed with looks; it’s hard to get anything done without a good face.

Seeing her thoughts, Lin Qiongjiu said no more and turned to leave the arena.

He hoped the girl truly understood now. He hadn’t wasted these years training her; she was actually quite talented, full of clever ideas, but always too carefree. In a word: lazy.

She always kept her distance from trouble, but in the Nameless Domain and the Lin family, merely living quietly wasn’t enough.

Once Lin Zhiwei saw Lin Qiongjiu leave, she stretched her stiff limbs and felt the path ahead suddenly bright.

Though he had set a new challenge, it was still the kind of stand-out task she always tried to avoid, so contrary to her ideal life—eating, sleeping, enjoying herself, preferably unnoticed, with a crowd of handsome men around.

But now that all other paths were blocked, she might as well face it. She’d suffered enough over the years.

A sly gleam flashed in her eyes as she began to plot her next move.