During the reign of the Great Liang Dynasty, society had stepped into an age of innovation, with steam-driven machinery powered by a rare energy source known as Violetstream Gold. In a remote village, a quiet youth named Chang Geng lived a humble life, distanced from his emotionally absent mother and often left alone due to his stepfather’s long absences. His small world revolved around a few friends, a kindly local teacher, and his dependable adoptive father—his yi fu. But his ordinary life shattered the day the savage Man tribes launched a brutal attack. What followed was a cascade of revelations that unraveled everything Chang Geng thought he knew. His identity? Fabricated. His family? Not who they claimed to be. Even the man he respected most—his adoptive father—was part of the intricate lie. As the smoke of war cleared, Chang Geng found himself at the heart of a much greater truth, tied to secrets that could shake the very foundation of the empire.

Once hailed as the Medicine God — and scorned just as deeply — Yan Mo found himself exiled to a brutal, uncivilized world after angering the heavens. Awakening in a strange land, he barely had time to process his surroundings before being knocked out cold and dragged off like livestock… to be winter rations. He had landed among a hyper-primitive, survival-obsessed tribe that lived by a singular creed: strength determines worth — in war and in bed. When Yan Mo tried to introduce healing techniques and Chinese medicine, they accused him of sabotaging their warriors. The sentence? Execution. He spoke of agriculture, animal husbandry, and building sustainable food supplies. They heard weakness and slavery. The response? Kill him. He tried to teach hygiene, how to sew, and cook better meals. The tribe saw a threat to their women’s loyalty. The verdict? Eliminate him. He claimed to be a messenger from the gods sent to lead them toward progress. The chieftain smirked. “Good. You have one day to conquer our enemies and bring them back as our slaves. Fail, and you die.” Yan Mo: “…Why didn’t I just stay dead?”

I come from a respected sect that never mocked my lack of talent, never pressured me to train, and even arranged an engagement for me in my youth. My betrothed? A fiery-tempered, well-known beauty—fierce, loyal, and utterly devoted to me. As I set foot onto the chaotic stage of the Jianghu, I leaned on her strength, hiding behind her prowess. Soon, I was known far and wide as the most dashing gentleman of the Immortal World. But then… I found out a devastating truth. That beautiful, fearsome “young miss” I relied on? Was actually a man. A man in disguise! Even worse—he somehow believed that I was a girl pretending to be a man! My voice shook with grief: “Brother, where is my fiancée?!” He looked just as wounded, clutching his chest: “Brother, what did you do to my betrothed?!” Jianghu truly is a turbulent place. The river runs deep and dark. Even if I collapse from hunger, even if I wither away in some forgotten valley… I swear I will never again touch food he prepares. …Yet why does it smell so good?