Five kiloters from the West Suburb of Nann City stood an ancient-style estate. It sprawled across thousands of square ters, like a wild beast crouching on the land, exuding supre majesty. This was the Xu Family Ancestral House.
As the sole grain rchant with control over pricing, the Xu family had amassed an astronomical fortune over the decades. Despite this, they were content to remain in this corner, unwilling to leave the small city that many considered a barren wasteland. To the Xu family, this place was a gold mine, and guarding it was the true path to power.
The enormous courtyard was filled with pavilions, towers, artificial mountains, lakes, and bridges, perhaps surpassing even the luxury of an ancient royal palace.
In the back courtyard, a sudden sound broke the silence.
THUMP.
A man in his sixties, clad in black brocade robes and of average height, shattered the solid wood tea table before him with a single palm strike. His deeply sunken eyes blazed with a frigid killing intent. This man was the current Family Head of the Xu Family, Xu Zhenshan.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked at Xu Yuntian, who lay on a stretcher with his right leg wrapped in bandages, his face deathly pale. He turned to the butler beside him and asked, "What did the doctor say?"
"His leg can be saved, but I'm afraid that in the future..." the old butler stamred.
"Speak plainly!!"
The old butler jumped in fright and hurriedly said, "He might be left with a permanent disability. He'll be a cripple."
Xu Zhenshan's expression froze.
As for Xu Yuntian, his eyes widened in horror. He shook his head hysterically, screaming, "No, no..."
To beco a cripple in the pri of his life? It was a fate no one could accept.
"Yuntian, rest assured. I will capture that trash and bring him before you. You can tornt him to your heart's content," Xu Zhenshan said, squatting down to pat Xu Yuntian's shoulder. His promise landed with resounding conviction.
"I want him to wish for death but be unable to die!" Xu Yuntian shrieked with all his might before his eyes rolled back and he fainted.
"Take good care of the Young Master."
Xu Zhenshan ordered for Xu Yuntian to be carried away. Then, he squinted, his voice a low murmur. "Perhaps I, Xu Zhenshan, have been too low-key these past few years. So much so that outsiders think I've grown old and can be pushed around?"
His gaze fell on the paratrooper knife nearby, and the corners of his mouth curled into a cruel smile. "It seems it's ti for another culling."
"Master, our guest has arrived," a servant reported, running in.
Without a word, Xu Zhenshan imdiately walked toward the front courtyard.
"Lord Chu." Xu Zhenshan's previous anger and ferocity had vanished, replaced by a warm, pleasant smile. He greeted the black-clad figure standing in the courtyard with a respectful, cupped-fist salute.
"With , Chu Liang, here, who would dare touch the Xu Family? Not even the Heavenly King himself!" the man in black said as he turned around. His face, scarred as if it had been seared by fire, was a shocking sight.
Xu Zhenshan was overjoyed. He bowed again, his posture even more deferential. "Thank you, Lord Chu! With your words, I, Xu Zhenshan, can finally be at ease."
"After all, you are one of our people," Chu Liang grinned, revealing a set of rotting yellow teeth.
Even though Xu Zhenshan had seen that cratered face before, his heart still lurched at the sight.
"Our King has already promised that if you handle this matter properly, then when the iron hooves of the Barbarians trample Cangyun City, you, Xu Zhenshan, will be the King of Hanyun Valley." Chu Liang gestured to the lands around them. "This entire Hanyun Valley region will be your private domain."
"Thank you, Lord Chu! Thank you, Sovereign Heiqi!" Xu Zhenshan imdiately fell to his knees, kowtowing in gratitude.
A fiefdom of his own! What family in this world wouldn't be tempted by such an offer? Then, he, Xu Zhenshan, would no longer be a re local powerhouse, but the King of Hanyun Valley.
***
「The next day.」
The sun had just crested the horizon, but Chen Yang had already completed ten laps around his temporary residence. When he returned ho, Qin Qiu had prepared breakfast.
Perhaps this was the life the forr Supre Martial Commander had always dread of?
After breakfast, a piece of official news sent shockwaves through the slow-paced border town.
The Barbarians were mobilizing, preparing for war.
A single sentence, just a few words, yet it conveyed the full gravity of the situation.
The Spring Festival was approaching, yet a great war was about to begin.
"I'm going for a walk," Chen Yang said after a period of silence, and then left the house.
The neighborhood was bustling with people coming and going. Who among them could have guessed that the young man brushing past them was the forr Supre Martial Commander, the one who had guarded Hanyun Valley and expanded the nation's borders by one hundred and eighty li?
Quietly, he could chop firewood and cook. Unleashed, he could shake the heavens and shatter the firmant.
"Kid, what's on your mind?" Beside an artificial lake, an old man in gray sat on a small stool, holding a fishing rod. He turned to the preoccupied Chen Yang and smiled. "First ti I've seen you look like this."
Chen Yang had fished with the old man several tis over the past few days, and they had beco familiar.
"Worried about the war beyond the border?" the old man, Sun Ziru, asked with a chuckle. "There's no need to worry. The Barbarians have tried to invade plenty of tis over the years. And what was the result? They never managed to set a single foot on our soil."
That was true enough. But he had overlooked one crucial fact: before, the pass at Hanyun Valley had been guarded by the Forr Chief Military Commander. And now...
Chen Yang changed the subject with a laugh. "Old Sun, didn't you say you had sothing on today? Why are you here again?"
"The Xu Family is holding their clan banquet, but I thought about it and decided not to go," Sun Ziru said. "For one, I don't care for crowds. For another, I don't like that Xu Zhenshan."
"How could that compare to the pleasure of matching wits with the fish in this lake?"
"It's better that you're not going," Chen Yang said with a nod.
Sun Ziru lit a cigarette. "Kid, you're thinking about that business yesterday, aren't you? The one where soone challenged the Xu Family. Look, I don't like Xu Zhenshan, but I have to admit, the Xu Family's authority isn't so easily shaken."
"Soone's going to get themselves killed for nothing."
Sun Ziru sighed. He even found himself hoping the arrogant young man was all talk.
Chen Yang smiled. "That depends on who the person is."
"I'm off. See you tomorrow." Waving, Chen Yang left the artificial lake.
Watching Chen Yang's retreating back, Sun Ziru silently shook his head. Are all young people these days so confident and reckless? That's not necessarily a good thing.
「Half an hour later.」
A black business van slowed to a stop before the main gate of the Xu Family Ancestral House.
The Xu Family estate was ablaze with lanterns and bustling with activity. The annual clan banquet was being held today, just as it was every year. Over thirty tables were set up, filling the entire front courtyard.
"If Yunshan had been here yesterday, that arrogant, ignorant cur would've been slapped to death on the spot!"
"He was just lucky Yunshan wasn't around."
Amid the clinking of glasses, the main topic of discussion was, naturally, the previous day's events: Xu Yuntian being crippled and soone issuing a challenge to the Xu Family.
As they spoke, their gazes drifted in unison toward a young man seated at the head table: Xu Yunshan. He was Xu Yuntian's older brother, one of the foremost Fist Masters in Nann City, and the future heir of the Xu Family.
In response to the chatter, Xu Yunshan slowly rose to his feet, wine glass in hand. A smirk of pure confidence touched his lips. "If he dares to show up today, I will personally teach him his place!"
"He dared to harm my brother! My rage will not be sated until he is dead!"
Nearby, Xu Zhenshan nodded in silent approval. Then, he glanced toward a nearby courtyard.
With Chu Liang standing guard, even if the Heavenly King himself were to arrive today, he would have no choice but to kneel.
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