BTTH: At the beginning of BTTH, I received my suicide note

The allure of an alchemist was undeniable in the Dou Qi Continent, a profession so revered it bordered on absurdity.

A high-ranking alchemist possessed an unrivaled allure, making them esteemed guests in any faction. Take the example of the Pill King Gu He within the Jia Ma Empire; even at the sixth tier, he was greatly valued by the Misty Cloud Sect. His standing was such that even the Grand Elder Yun Leng and the Dou Emperor Yun Yun treated him with marked respect.

Or consider Xiao Yan, the so-called child of destiny. If not for apprenticing under Yao Chen and his meteoric rise in alchemy, his rapid growth would have been far less certain.

To say the least, Chen Guan was thoroughly tempted.

Having more skills was never a burden, especially one as prestigious as alchemy. But while tempted, Chen Guan couldn't ignore the obstacles. He wasn't even sure if he possessed wood-affinity or if his soul strength met the necessary threshold.

There was also the issue of resources. Alchemy was a notoriously resource-intensive pursuit, especially in its early stages. Although he had a good rapport with Yao Ye and might garner royal support, relying too heavily on them would incur a debt too great to ignore.

Deep down, Chen Guan preferred to remain independent, free from being tightly bound to any faction, be it the royal family or others.

Having clarified his thoughts, Chen Guan decided to temporarily set aside the idea of pursuing alchemy. There would be opportunities in the future, but for now, his priority was clear: cultivating strength. His exceptional talent was an advantage he couldn't afford to squander. Without sufficient power, competing with Xiao Yan in the future would be impossible, and the foresight of various opportunities would remain unrealized.

After all, who would willingly become another person's backdrop?

"Hey! Why are you spacing out? Are you even listening to me?"

Yao Yue's voice interrupted his musings. She didn't realize that ever since she began sharing her grievances, the gloom in her heart had gradually dissipated.

Chen Guan snapped back to reality.

"Of course, I'm listening. Actually, I think your situation isn't that complicated. You didn't fail today because of a lack of skill. On the contrary, I believe you're a natural talent in alchemy here in the Jia Ma Empire. You just had an off day. Maybe you were nervous during the assessment?"

"If you don't know how to face your sister and grandpa, why not just hold off on saying anything for now? Your sister's so busy she might not even notice. Then, when you pass the next assessment in a few days, it'll all be fine, won't it?"

It felt a little like he was leading a child astray, but Yao Yue believed him wholeheartedly. She knew better than anyone how busy her elder sister Yao Ye was. Despite being only a few years older, Yao Ye always carried herself like an adult.

If she didn't mention it, her sister might truly forget.

Chen Guan chuckled inwardly at her naïveté. In the capital, news traveled fast. The moment Yao Yue walked out of the Alchemist Guild, Yao Ye likely already knew what had happened. But he didn't burst her bubble.

"Still...do you think I can pass the next assessment?" she asked, uncertain.

"You can definitely do it. You need to believe in yourself. You're the little princess of the royal family, after all. Confidence is key. A failure or two isn't a big deal. In fact, it's not even shameful. What's truly shameful is being afraid to face failure or letting it stop you from trying."

"I heard a saying once that I really like. Let me share it with you: Life is like a Jackfruit. It's full of sharp angles, but you shouldn't focus only on its imperfections. Change your perspective, and you'll see it for the Fruit that it is. Got it?"

Though only a few years older, Chen Guan felt it was his responsibility to guide the "little pufferfish" before him toward a better mindset. He generously poured two bowls of chicken soup for the soul.

The effect was immediate. Yao Yue no longer looked dejected. Her eyes sparkled with determination, and she clenched her small fists as if ready to work tirelessly in a factory for 24 hours straight.

"I get it now! Thank you, Chu Yuxin! I'm off to practice alchemy again. I'll come find you next time."

Beaming with newfound energy, Yao Yue dashed off toward the gates with unbridled enthusiasm.

Chen Guan watched her leave, amused. As he was about to turn and head back, Yao Yue's head suddenly popped back through the doorway.

"One more question!" she called.

"Oh?" Chen Guan raised an eyebrow.

"What's a Jackfruit?"

"..."

.........

The next morning, Chen Guan exited his cultivation state early and made his way toward the training area gates. Presenting a token from his storage ring, he headed toward Yao Ye's palace.

Being someone privileged enough to address Yao Ye as "sister," Chen Guan enjoyed certain special rights.

In fact, Yao Ye had once offered to arrange a separate residence for him, complete with an eight-star Dou Master captain to guide his cultivation and answer his questions.

Chen Guan had politely declined. He preferred to stay out of the spotlight. For any minor issues, Yan Hongtao, a 6-star Dou Master himself, was sufficient. For anything beyond that, even an eight-star Dou Master might not be much help. It simply wasn't necessary.

He had also asked Yao Ye to keep his achievements low-profile, avoiding unnecessary attention and complications.

Yao Ye had happily agreed, even exempting him from the upcoming assessment. Chen Guan's modesty suited the royal family just fine; it made him less susceptible to being poached by rival factions, allowing them more time to solidify their relationship with him.

Upon reaching Yao Ye's palace, the guards recognized him immediately.

"There's no need for formalities, Young Master Chen. Her Highness has instructed that you may enter freely. Consider this your home. We'll inform the princess of your arrival."

My home, huh?

Chen Guan smiled wryly at the irony. When he first arrived in the Dou Qi Continent, he didn't even have a roof over his head. Now, he could supposedly treat the royal palace as his own.

Reborn as the Freeloader Supreme on the Dou Qi Continent?

"Thank you." He nodded politely and entered the grand palace.

...........

Admiring the scenery around a rock garden, Chen Guan soon heard approaching footsteps. Yao Ye arrived, her expression playful.

"Tsk, tsk. I haven't seen a certain brat in forever. I thought he'd forgotten about this sister of his."

Chen Guan felt a bit sheepish. "Sister Yao Ye, don't tease me. I've been focused on cultivating. I just broke through to Dou Practitioner last night and couldn't wait to share the news with you."

"Oh, really? Who knows if that's true... Wait. Did you say you've already broken through?"

Yao Ye's teasing halted abruptly as her eyes widened in shock.

Chen Guan nodded and released his Dou Qi to prove his point. "Of course, I wouldn't lie to Sister Yao Ye."

The undeniable evidence left Yao Ye speechless. She took a deep breath to calm herself, then muttered, "You're really a little monster, aren't you? You nearly scared me to death."

At nine years old, Chen Guan had become a Dou Practitioner. Her astonishment was genuine. Few could claim such a feat.

Grateful for the royal family's investment in him, Yao Ye quickly led him on a walk around the palace, her mind racing. After some thought, she made up her mind.

"You've reached Dou Practitioner, which means it's time for you to start practicing Dou Techniques and methods properly. The path to strength truly begins now. With your talent, continuing to practice the Dou Ling Art would be an insult. If word got out, people might think I'm holding you back on purpose."

"You have a fire attribute, and the royal family has plenty of fire-based techniques in its collection. Wait here for a moment, and I'll prepare a gift for you."

Leaving Chen Guan in a pavilion, Yao Ye quickly returned with three thin books.

"These contain almost all of the royal family's best fire-based techniques. Each has a brief introduction. One is a Dou Method, one is a Dou Technique, and the last is a Movement Technique. You can pick one from each category."

"It's not that I'm being stingy," she added, "but mastering a Dou Technique takes significant time and effort. If you spread yourself too thin, you'll end up mediocre at everything. Once you've fully mastered these, I'll give you more."

Though the books were light, Chen Guan felt their weight.

"Sister Yao Ye," he said, his voice tinged with emotion.

"Hmm?"

"Should I just start calling you Mother?"

"..."