When Wei Ran opened his eyes, the familiar scent of incense greeted him. The intricate carvings on the ceiling slowly came into focus as his vision cleared. Although his head still felt heavy, the agonizing pain from the Awakening Ceremony had finally receded.
"He's awake!" a maid whispered in the corner of the room.
A few moments later, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. His mother, Emma Fairy, was the first to enter. Deep lines of worry were etched onto her beautiful face. She rushed to his bedside and placed a gentle hand on his forehead.
"Wei, how are you feeling? You gave us quite a fright," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
"I am fine, Madam. Merely a bit of exhaustion," Wei Ran replied in his usual cold, detached tone. His formal response brought a flicker of sadness to her eyes, but she quickly masked it with a forced smile.
Behind her, his father, Feng Jiu Ge, and his sister, Feng Jin Huang, entered the room. Feng Jiu Ge stood with his usual imposing stature, his sharp gaze immediately falling upon Wei Ran's transformed hair.
"Ninety-two steps..." Feng Jiu Ge spoke in a low, resonant voice. "That is one of the highest results in our clan's history. Your talent has astonished everyone, Wei Ran. However, your health is far more important to the clan than any grade."
"Thank you, Sir," Wei Ran acknowledged with a curt nod. "I will strive to meet the clan's expectations."
Jin Huang sat on the edge of the bed. Her eyes were red and puffy; it was clear she had been crying for a long time.
"What happened to you?" she asked, her voice tinged with both concern and frustration. "Why were you unconscious for so long? We summoned the clan's best healers, but even they couldn't explain why your hair turned these colors."
"It is likely just a minor side effect from the awakening, Sister. There is no need for concern," Wei Ran replied shortly.
A heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the wind rustling the curtains at the window. For a while, his family talked about the details of the ceremony—the excitement of the clan elders, the resources being allocated to him, and his future training schedule.
They discussed how the elders had already set aside top-tier Gu worms and primeval stones for him, along with a private training ground. It was mundane, predictable talk. Although Wei Ran appeared to be listening, his mind was elsewhere. He was focused on feeling the internal changes within his newly opened aperture.
"He needs to rest now," Feng Jiu Ge finally declared, sensing the boy's fatigue. "Let us not burden him with more questions."
One by one, they began to leave. His mother kissed his forehead once more before stepping out. Jin Huang paused at the door, looking back one last time.
"We'll eat together tomorrow, Wei. Don't you dare refuse."
Once the door clicked shut, Wei Ran was left alone in the silence. He stared out the window at the night sky, realizing that he had finally taken the first real step in this new life. From now on, everything would change.