In the most secluded corner of the courtyard, a boy of about ten was gripping a longsword, his gaze resolute as he thrust rapidly again and again. With each thrust, a sizzling sound filled the air, as if sword energy was swirling around him.

The boy’s swordsmanship was impressive, but his lower body remained motionless, almost rigid. Seeing this, William Nash felt a wave of sorrow—not because the boy hadn’t learned footwork, but because when he was three, he’d been bitten on the leg by a venomous snake, causing his meridians to become blocked, his legs petrified, making even walking a struggle!

This was his third uncle’s son, Thomas Nash!

Thomas Nash’s blocked meridians meant he couldn’t cultivate his qi sea, but he never gave up. He began secretly practicing swordsmanship at the age of six, and every move he made just now relied purely on muscle strength! For a child of ten to achieve such skill using only muscle—how much determination did that take?

“Ah, William Nash gege, I was wrong, I won’t practice anymore, I’ll leave right now…”

Apparently hearing movement behind him, Thomas Nash turned and, seeing it was William Nash, his expression changed instantly. He hurriedly hid his sword, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Seeing Thomas Nash act this way, William Nash couldn’t help but feel a sharp pain in his heart.

What he’d done to Thomas Nash was perhaps the most despicable thing in his previous life—calling him useless and forbidding him from cultivating!

In his past life, he’d believed that anyone who couldn’t cultivate their qi sea was of no use to the family, and that practicing would only waste resources. Every time he saw him, he’d scold him harshly, even beat him. As a result, Thomas Nash always practiced in secret, and if discovered, would be terrified, dreading punishment.

This went on until the great calamity of the demon race!

His father was killed, and he, in utter despair, decided to die together with the demons. It was Thomas Nash who saved him!

At that time, Thomas Nash’s legs were stiff, every step was a struggle, yet his sword moved like the wind. With every strike, a demon fell. His eyes were cold and determined, no matter how many enemies came, he never wavered!

All the besieging demons were slain. Just as he was rejoicing, Thomas Nash collapsed heavily to the ground.

Only then did he realize Thomas Nash had suffered a total of 137 sword wounds, his life already gone. The only thing keeping him going to the end was sheer, unyielding willpower!

“Ge, I’m not useless. I think… I’m still a little useful!”

That was the last thing he said, and the only thing he’d said to him in all the years since he began practicing swordsmanship!

After saying that, he left. No matter how he screamed in agony, Thomas Nash never moved again!

He was only fifteen that year!

“Thomas Nash!”

The memories seemed to play out before his eyes, and with a stabbing pain in his heart, William Nash stepped forward, pulled the boy into his arms, and tears streamed down his face. It was him, it was really him!

Though his face was still young, the determination in his eyes was unchanged. He was the very same younger brother who, to save him, had suffered 137 sword wounds among the demon beasts without uttering a single cry of pain!

“William Nash gege, I was wrong, I know I’m useless, I can’t cultivate, I won’t dare again…”

“You’re not useless, it’s my fault!” William Nash felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife!

I really was a bastard, the worst kind in the world!

If not for that incident, he would never have known how much sweat and blood his brother had shed in secret. If not for that incident, he would never have known how much time and effort his brother had spent just because of being called “useless”!

Brother, you’re not useless—it was me who was blind! It was me who was utterly foolish! It was me who didn’t know what was good for me!

“William Nash gege…”

In the past, whenever he saw his brother, he would be scolded. But today, suddenly being pulled into his brother’s arms and hearing him say it was all his fault, Thomas Nash stood there in a daze, unable to react!

“Thomas Nash, from today on, you can cultivate freely. If there’s anything you don’t understand, I can teach you myself!”

Knowing that his two lifetimes of memories had made him lose composure, William Nash let go of the boy and stated his decision.

“I can cultivate freely? Gege won’t scold me anymore?” The boy’s eyes lit up, shining as brightly as they had three hundred years ago in his memory.

“Mm!” William Nash nodded firmly.

“That’s great!” Trembling with excitement, the boy threw his arms around William Nash. “Long live gege, thank you gege!”

“Hehe!” Seeing him so happy, William Nash’s sadness eased a little. That’s right—the past life was over. Since he’d been reborn, he had to live this life to the fullest. His brother had died for him in the previous life; in this one, he would never let him meet the same fate!

Thinking of this, William Nash smiled. “Thomas Nash, I have a cultivation method called [Lingxi Body Refining Technique] that doesn’t require opening the qi sea to practice. I’ll copy it down for you in the next couple of days. As long as you practice diligently, your legs… will definitely regain their freedom!”

“My legs can recover? Gege, are you… sure?”

Thomas Nash felt a buzzing in his mind. His determined eyes shot up to look at his brother, his face full of disbelief.

“I’m sure!” William Nash nodded.