When night came, Li cheng went back to his mother. She was his only light in this dark world.

He spent the whole day hauling stones for a local stonemason. He came home and found her staring at the leaking roof. Her hands tired from years of sewing, trembled as she worked by candlelight. She smiled when she saw him, even though her eyes were sad.

I'm sorry, Chang'er, she said, her voice full of sorrow as tears streamed down her face..."All the awful things you've been through… it's all my fault. If only I was strong, then...

Li Cheng knelt next to her, gently placed his rough hand over hers. "Mother, don't say that".. he said, shaking his head..."It's not your fault. everyone walk their own path. I guess this is mine".. Li Cheng stood up. "I may not be able to become a cultivator, but I promise you mother, I will never be a useless person, just as Father expected." There was strong resolve in Li Cheng's eyes as he stared at the sky through the hole in the roof.

The Next morning

The sun was high in the sky, shining over the busy streets. Every step kicked up dust as sellers shouted about their stuff—fruits, cloth and herbs.

Zhao Wei held her basket as she walk through the busy street, her last little bit of money wrapped in an old cloth inside her basket.

She was heading home, already thinking about Li Cheng. He hasn't eaten good these last few days, and she really wanted to make something better tonight so he could eat his fill, even if she had to skip her own dinner.

But as she turned the corner, the ground shook as horses ran. A fancy carriage came into sight, pulled by two dark horses. The carriage sparkled with gold, and its silk curtains fluttered in the wind. Three guards on horses rode behind it, looking coldly at everyone.

Zhao Wei almost lost her footing.

The curtain went up.

And there was Yang Xin – the new lady of the Li family.

She looked as classy as usual in a soft lavender silk robe, her hair done up with shiny pins. She was gorgeous, but her face was cold and her eyes showed she thought she was better than everyone else.

As soon as Yang Xin saw her, Zhao Wei knew things would get ugly.

Yang Xin's lips curled up into a fake smile that didn't reach her heart. "Stop the carriage," she suddenly commanded.

The couch man pulled the rope and the horses neighed and finally came to a stop.

People stopped to watch, bowing a little as the carriage slowly came to a stop.

Yang Xin got out of the carriage, moving with pride Her two maids came right after her, holding up her robe like the ground was too dirty for it to touch.

A crowd started to form. Everyone's always curious about rich people, especially when there's drama. They gossiped and pointed, a lot of them knowing who both women were – one now respected, the other not so much.

"Oh, isn't this a surprise"... Yang Xin said with a fake concern on her face. "Isn't this the formal Lady of the Li Family?...The one who gave birth to a... what was it again? Oh yeah... a cripple.

Mock and laughter broke out from the crowd. Some looked away, feeling uncomfortable. Others got closer, wanting to see more embarrassment.

Zhao Wei straighten her back. She didn't say anything at first, she just kept looking at her.

Yang Xin walked closer, raising her chin like she was talking to some peasant.

"My son, Li Yuen, is already of age, you know," she said proudly. "He will be going to the Immortal Peak for the Awakening Ceremony. A true cultivator's path awaits him."

She paused and turn to face the crowd, rasing her voice this time just enough for everyone to hear. "Meanwhile, your useless son will still be hauling stones for people and running around like some stray dog.

The laughter got louder this time.

Zhao Wei gripped her basket tighter. She stayed calm. "What do you want, Yang Xin?".. she asked.

Yang Xin smiled even more..."Oh, nothing really. Just wanted to see if you were still breathing... and to think about how much longer you and your useless son will last.

"Hahahaha!!"

Her laugh was loud and mean. Even the maidservants exchanged smug looks.

Zhao Wei took a deep breath. Her heart hurt whenever Li Cheng's situation is being brought up. "Thank you for your concern, Madam Li. We are still alive, and we will continue to live, no matter how you look down on us. 

But madam Li, don't you have anything to do at home?, aiii....it seems that the Li family is becoming worse everyday, they now accommodate idle people ".... Zhao wei said, and the crowd on the street almost choked on air, no one dared to laugh while some giggled, they were scared of the Li family to begin with and laughing right now will mean offending them.

Zhao Wei shook her head and started to walk away. But Yang Xin's eyes lit up in anger.

How dare you talk to me like that? Yang Xin snapped. She lost it, showing the nasty anger she had been hiding.

It wasn't just what Zhao Wei said, but it was how people reacted that made her even angrier.

"Someone…hold her down!"

Before Zhao Wei could move, two of the guards stepped forward and grabbed her arms. yanked her basket from her hand, sending her to her knees, and the vegetables she bought spilled onto the dirty street.

Stop it! she yelled, fighting back, but she was too weak.

Yang Xin walked up to Zhao Wei slowly, trying to stay calm but her trembling hands betrayed her . She stopped right in front of Zhao Wei.

"Who do you think you are to talk back at me?" she sneered. "Do you think you're still the almighty wife of the Li family?, That time is long gone. You are nothing now than a beggar. A woman no better than the dirt under my feet." she raised her hand and slapped Zhao wei across her face.

"Pah!"

The slap rang out across the place. Zhao Wei's head snapped to the side. Her cheek turned red instantly, and a small gasp escaped her lips. She bit it back, refusing to cry.

Yang Xin gripped her chin, forcing her face upward. "Don't let me see you again. Next time, it won't just end with a slap."

Then she pushed Zhao Wei backward. The older woman tumbled onto the dirt road, her knees scraping against stones.

"Destroy her things," Yang Xin ordered with a wave of her hand.

The guards moved quickly, ripping her small bundle of cloth, scattering her money into the crowd, where greedy hands grabbed it like hungry birds. Her needlework, the ones she spent nights working on , were torn and thrown into the street like garbage.

Yang Xin didn't even glance back. Her servants helped her returned to her carriage with a satisfied smile on her face . As the horses started pulling the carriage, she stuck her head out the window and called out in a sweet voice.

"Enjoy your life, Zhao Wei. The little of it you have left."

And with that, she disappeared around the corner with the sound of the carriage trailing after her voice.