4: Chapter 4 The Storm Begins

Footsteps from the Marquis's Mansion echoed from all directions, quickly surrounding the side courtyard like a rising tide.

Chen Yuanji stood before his door, hands behind his back, his expression calm. His coarse cloth robes were slightly damp from practice, and beads of sweat hung from his brow, making him look like any ordinary youth practicing martial arts. But those eyes, as still as a deep pool, held no trace of panic, let alone the shrinking timidity the original owner should have possessed.

"Out of the way! Out of the way!"

A majestic voice rang out, and the crowd automatically parted to create a path. A middle-aged man in his fifties strode forward, his tiger-like eyes radiating authority. He emitted the Qi fluctuations of the Ningyuan Realm Peak—the master of the Marquis's Mansion, Marquis of the State, Chen Tianxiong. Behind him followed a woman in her forties with a beautiful face and luxurious clothing; she was Chen Yuanlang's biological mother, Lady Zhao. Seeing Chen Yuanlang collapsed on the ground, Lady Zhao's face changed drastically, and she lunged forward with a scream.

"Lang'er! Lang'er, what happened to you!"

Chen Yuanlang lay on the ground, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth and his face pale, though he remained conscious. He struggled to sit up, but a sharp pain in his chest forced a muffled groan from him.

"Mother... I'm fine..." he said through gritted teeth, his eyes fixed on Chen Yuanji, filled with disbelief and humiliation.

Lady Zhao looked up, her gaze shooting toward Chen Yuanji like a blade. "You wretched creature! What have you done to your elder brother?"

Chen Yuanji did not answer, merely looking at Chen Tianxiong calmly. Chen Tianxiong's brow furrowed as he sized up Chen Yuanji. He had barely paid attention to this concubine-born son, remembering him only as a taciturn waste with stagnant Aptitude. But the youth standing before him now, though simply dressed, possessed an aura as steady as a mountain, a far cry from his former self.

"Yuanji, what is going on?" Chen Tianxiong asked in a heavy voice.

"Does Father even need to ask?" Chen Yuanji said indifferently. "Brother came to my courtyard, said I was an eyesore, and told me to get out of the Marquis's Mansion. When I refused, he attacked. I was merely defending myself."

"Defending yourself?" Lady Zhao shrieked. "A waste at the first level of the Kaiyuan Realm like you could hurt Lang'er, who is in the Zhenwu Realm? What despicable means did you use! It must have been hidden weapons or poison!"

Chen Yuanji glanced at her. That gaze was so calm it was almost cold, causing Lady Zhao to feel an inexplicable chill in her heart.

"Inside the Marquis's Mansion, under the watchful eyes of many, one can easily check whether I used any tricks," Chen Yuanji said. "On the other hand, Brother's punch punched right through the wall of the side courtyard. Father can go see for himself."

Chen Tianxiong glanced at the large hole in the wall. Rubble was scattered across the ground, and the traces of Fist-aura were clearly visible. It was indeed the power of the Zhenwu Realm; there was no faking that.

"Lang'er, did you strike first?" Chen Tianxiong turned and asked.

Chen Yuanlang's face turned shades of blue and white. In front of so many people, he could not deny it. "Yes... but I..."

"Enough." Chen Tianxiong interrupted him, giving Chen Yuanji a complex look. "This matter ends here. Everyone, disperse."

"Marquis!" Lady Zhao was unwilling. "Lang'er was beaten like this by him, and we're just letting it go?"

"I said, it ends here." Chen Tianxiong's tone brooked no argument, and he gave Lady Zhao a warning look.

Though unwilling, Lady Zhao did not dare say more. She simply glared viciously at Chen Yuanji before helping Chen Yuanlang away.

The crowd gradually dispersed, but everyone couldn't help but steal a few more glances at Chen Yuanji as they left. This waste of a concubine-born son had actually injured the eldest legitimate son? This news would likely spread through the entire Marquis's Mansion, and even all of Qingzhou City, within half a day.

Chen Tianxiong did not leave. He stood there, watching Chen Yuanji, seemingly re-evaluating this son.

"Your power... where did it come from?" he asked.

Chen Yuanji knew he couldn't hide it entirely, but he didn't plan to reveal everything. "I've been figuring things out on my own in the back mountains all these years. Since I couldn't Cultivate Qi, I looked for ways to strengthen my body. I didn't expect them to be somewhat useful."

Chen Tianxiong stared at him for a long time before finally nodding. "Very well. Since you have this Heart-Nature, starting tomorrow, go to the mansion's Martial Hall to train. Although your yuan pulse is stagnant, learning some martial arts for self-defense is still good."

With that, he turned and left, his back appearing somewhat lonely.

Chen Yuanji watched his departing figure without much emotion. In the original owner's memory, this father had rarely even looked him in the eye. A concubine-born son was an expendable existence in a large Family.

However, go to the Martial Hall? A slight smile touched the corner of Chen Yuanji's mouth. This was actually a good opportunity to observe the martial arts system of this other world up close. To know one's enemy and oneself is to be ever-victorious.

He turned back into the room, closed the door, and resumed his cross-legged meditation. For that punch earlier, he had only used thirty percent of his strength. If he had fully unleashed the power of the Bright Force Peak, Chen Yuanlang's injury would have been much more than just spitting blood; a shattered sternum would have been the least of it. It wasn't out of mercy, but because it wasn't yet time for a full confrontation. The Marquis's Mansion might be small, but it was still a local power. Before he grew stronger, he still needed this sanctuary.

Furthermore, he vaguely felt that the "stagnant yuan pulse" of this body was not simple. The original owner had been diagnosed with naturally blocked yuan pulses, making it impossible to Cultivate Qi, but during his internal inspection, he discovered that those blocked Meridians seemed to seal some kind of power he could not yet decipher.

The ancient jade in his bosom grew slightly warm, as if responding to his thoughts.

Chen Yuanji took a deep breath and sank into his cultivation.