Clang!
Clang!
Morning sunlight bathed the training courtyard of the City Lord's Mansion. The sound of metal striking metal echoed softly, a familiar melody to anyone passing by.
In the center, beneath a cherry blossom tree, two figures moved with a grace that belied their tender age.
One of them was Ye Chen.
Tall for his age, with handsome features that already promised to break many young maidens' hearts, and a well-toned physique—the result of relentless training. He moved with a confidence and power that shouldn't belong to a thirteen-year-old boy.
His opponent, or rather, his training partner, was the pride of Glory City, Ye Ziyun. Beautiful, with purple hair cascading down her back, she moved with elegance. But at this moment, there was a hint of frustration in her eyes.
"Once again, Ziyun," Ye Chen's voice was calm but firm. "Your thrust is too wide. It leaves you open to a counterattack."
Now in this new world, Ye Chen fully enjoyed his second life.
Dying at the peak of ecstasy in his girlfriend's bed on Earth had been, ironically, the best thing that had ever happened to him. He was reborn in this cultivation world as Ye Ziyun's cousin, the son of Ye Zong's younger, now deceased brother.
An ideal start for a future protagonist.
He retained his memories, along with the mindset of a hot-blooded teenager now inhabiting the body of a genuine genius.
And what a body.
He smiled inwardly, remembering one of his first and most shocking discoveries upon hitting puberty in this life. Let's just say he had been "generously blessed," far more than in his previous life.
But the most important thing was his talent.
Even before any system or outside help, he was a monster.
While all his peers still struggled to feel the power of their souls, Ye Chen had already broken through to the Bronze Rank by the end of age twelve. Even more shocking was his Soul Realm. It was neither red, orange, nor yellow as normally seen in Glory City.
It was a radiant Golden Soul Realm, something the history books of Glory City had never recorded. A unique phenomenon.
Fortunately, only he, Ye Zong, and a few of the most important elders of the Snow Wind Family knew about it.
As for his relationship with Ziyun… they were very close.
Since childhood, she saw him as a pillar of strength and wisdom, affectionately calling him "Brother Chen." He, of course, had always treated her carefully, but now, with the mentality of his past life, his feelings for his beautiful cousin were becoming… complicated.
It was during a moment of meditation in his room, feeling the energy flow into his Golden Soul Realm, that the change that would alter his life happened.
---
Some time ago...
[DING!]
A mechanical, cold, emotionless voice echoed in his mind.
[Harem System activating… Binding to host's soul…]
[Binding successful! Welcome, Host Ye Chen!]
Ye Chen's eyes widened.
What!!
A system? Like the web novels he used to read? A wave of pure, unrestrained euphoria hit him. His life in this world already promised to be fantastic, but now this? This took everything to a divine level!
"System, what are your functions?" he asked as fast as he could in his mind, his heart pounding in his chest.
[The Harem System is designed to help the host become the strongest being in all realms by building a harem of exceptional women.]
[Main Functions:]
[1. Conquest: Receive rewards for each remarkable woman who joins your harem (Requires genuine affection and loyalty).]
[2. Intimacy: Additional rewards are granted for the first kiss and first consummation with a harem member.]
[3. Rewards: Range from ancient pills, divine cultivation techniques, royal lineage demon spirits, lost knowledge, and direct cultivation power boosts for the host.]
[Functions Still Locked: Meet hidden requirements to unlock them.]
Ye Chen almost laughed aloud in his room.
It was perfect. It was as if the gods had looked down on his past life and decided to give him the most hedonistic redemption possible. He, a hot-blooded teenager, had been granted a divine license to pursue the most beautiful and talented women? He didn't just accept his new life; he embraced it with every fiber of his being.
His targets were already clear in his mind, a gallery of beauties soon to fall into his arms: his noble and gentle cousin Ye Ziyun; the deliciously mature director Yang Xin; the cold and fierce beauty Xiao Ning'er; the extravagant and curvy Huyan Lanruo; and even the arrogant and despicable teacher Shen Xiu—conquering her would be a victory on its own.
[Detecting first activation. Granting Beginner's Package…]
[Congratulations, Host! You have received:]
[1. Intermediate Swordsmanship (Knowledge Infusion)]
[2. Celestial Grade Cultivation Technique: Primordial Ice Dragon Ascension]
Instantly, a flood of information overwhelmed Ye Chen's mind.
"Ugh!" He held his head in pain, seeing the scenes like a movie in his mind.
Postures, thrusts, parries, complex and fluid swordsmanship movements became as natural to him as breathing. Along with this came a deep and ancient cultivation technique that seemed to resonate with the cold morning air. The "Primordial Ice Dragon Ascension" was powerful, commanding, and perfect for someone seeking to be at the top.
With a new smile on his face, one tinged with mischief and anticipation, he stood up. It was time for his daily training with Ziyun. But today, it would be different.
---
Present time...
In the courtyard, Ziyun was panting, her sword feeling heavy in her hands. "Brother Chen, I just can't… somehow, I feel like my posture is wrong."
"Hm? Is that so?"
Ye Chen stepped closer behind her, the floral scent of her hair filling his senses. Before, he would have only given verbal instructions. Now, with a new purpose in mind, he became more… hands-on.
"Relax your shoulders," he said, his voice a whisper near her ear. He placed his hands on her shoulders, feeling the delicacy of her frame. Ziyun shivered at the contact.
"B-Brother Chen?"
"You're too tense," he continued, ignoring her hesitant tone. His right hand slid from her shoulder down along her arm to adjust her grip on the sword. His left hand, however, gently rested on her lower back, almost at her waist, to correct her posture. "Lean forward. Keep your legs like that."
He subtly pulled her closer to his own body. Ye Ziyun blushed violently. She could feel the heat of his body through her clothes, the hard outline of his chest against her back. His touch on her waist sent a shiver down her spine.
"Y-Your hand…" she stammered.
"I'm stabilizing your center of gravity," he explained as naturally as possible, though inside his heart he was enjoying her reaction.
He leaned in, his face beside hers, warm breath tickling her ear. "Now, feel the flow of your soul force. Direct the energy from your feet, through your waist, into your hands, and then to the tip of the sword. Try again."
Shy and completely confused by her cousin's "involuntary" touches, Ye Ziyun obeyed. She was incapable of refusal.
Brother Chen was just teaching her, right? He had always been the most dedicated teacher. There was nothing improper about this.
"Alright, Brother Chen. I'll try again."
Swiiish!
She tried the thrust again, the sound of the sword cutting through the wind, and with his physical guidance, it was visibly smoother, faster, and much more stable.
"See? Perfect," Ye Chen praised, his hand squeezing her waist for a fraction of a second before letting go, feeling the faint heat leave his hands, replaced by the cold of the surroundings.
He stepped back, leaving a blushing, heart-racing Ye Ziyun behind. She touched her waist, the ghost heat of his hand still present. She didn't understand why her body was reacting this way, why her cousin's touch suddenly felt so… electric.
Ye Chen watched her, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Before, he would never have dared to do something like this. But the current him, with his system and determination, was destined to take her in his arms.
The first step to conquering Ye Ziyun had been taken, and he had to admit it was much sweeter than he ever imagined.