“Creak...”
The door opened, and his mother walked in, carrying ginseng soup. Her complexion was much better than in the morning.
“Mother, you’re here!”
With his wounds healed and having achieved a Breakthrough to Acquired Second Layer, his face had a healthy, rosy glow.
“You child, your body isn’t fully recovered yet. Lie down quickly; you need more rest!”
Her concern was evident!
She placed the ginseng soup in front of Chen Zheng: “Zheng’er, quickly drink this ginseng soup while it’s hot to recuperate.”
The Chen Family was not wealthy, barely surviving on their meager annual stipend. They must have spent their entire savings to buy a stalk of mountain ginseng.
“Mother, I’m fine. You should drink this bowl of ginseng soup.”
Seeing the white hairs at his mother’s temples, a pang of pain inexplicably struck his heart. For years, his mother had toiled day and night. His father was missing, and several people in the Family depended on her for food. All the burdens had accumulated, making her body weaker by the day.
He had been naive before, but after this ordeal, he had matured greatly.
“You foolish child, hurry and drink it while it’s hot. As long as you are well, your mother fears nothing.”
His mother forcefully brought the ginseng soup to Chen Zheng’s lips… The next morning, Chen Zheng woke up early.
There were only a few people in the Chen Family: his mother, Ling’er, a few servants, and a strange second uncle whom Chen Zheng had seen no more than three times since childhood.
His mother was not present, so Chen Zheng greeted Ling’er, left the Chen Family, and headed out of Yan City. He habitually exercised every morning, and today was no exception.
“Young Master, your injuries aren’t… healed…”
Chen Zheng had already vanished into the streets like a wisp of smoke, showing no signs of injury, full of Life Qi.
The Chaos Divine Sky Art had helped Chen Zheng establish his Foundation, and the mysterious liquid had surged through an entire martial meridian. Other martial meridians were stirring, showing signs of activating.
It wasn't until late morning that Chen Zheng, dragging his tired body, re-entered Yan City.
Just as he turned a street corner, he saw a familiar back.
A large ‘pawn’ character appeared before Chen Zheng, and his mother had just emerged from inside.
“Shopkeeper, did that lady just pawn something?”
These past few years, the Chen Family’s life had been tight. Many times, his mother had to pawn some jewelry to make ends meet.
The shopkeeper, clacking his abacus, glanced at Chen Zheng standing outside the counter. He didn’t lift his head or open his eyes, clearly seeing him as the type of scoundrel who wouldn’t earn money if the pawnshop owner wasn’t ruthless. He wasn't going to be soft-hearted.
“Shopkeeper, please be accommodating. This is a small token of my appreciation.”
Money makes the world go round, a truth that applied everywhere. The shopkeeper weighed the silver fragments in his hand, then took a silver hairpin from behind the counter and tossed it in front of Chen Zheng.
It was a familiar hairpin, and Chen Zheng’s nose tingled with emotion. This was the token of love his father had given his mother.
“Is it a dead pawn or a live pawn?”
Putting down the hairpin, Chen Zheng composed his expression. A dead pawn meant a one-time payment, settling all debts. A live pawn had a time limit, allowing the owner of the hairpin to redeem it within a specified period, though certainly at a higher price than initially received.
“A live pawn, with a ten-day limit!”
The shopkeeper put away the hairpin and no longer paid attention to Chen Zheng.
He returned home in a daze. Along the way, Chen Zheng made many plans, only to find them all appear futile.
Before he even reached home, he saw a carriage parked outside the main gate from afar. Four magnificent steeds snorted, clearly thoroughbreds capable of covering a thousand li.
The carriage was exquisitely carved with intricate patterns, indicating it belonged to no ordinary Family. Only the prominent Families of Yan City could enjoy such luxury.
After circling the carriage, Chen Zheng’s brows furrowed.
“The Peng Family’s carriage. What are they doing here?”
The Da Yuan Kingdom was composed of thirty-six cities, with Yan City ranking last. Within the city, besides the Chen Family, there were also the Tian Family, the Peng Family, and the Shi Family, all somewhat connected to the Imperial City.
From the markings on the carriage, Chen Zheng recognized it as belonging to the Peng Family of Yan City. Why was it at his doorstep?
Turning, he entered the Chen Family, finding no servants present. He headed straight for the Chen Family’s main hall, a bad premonition gripping Chen Zheng.
He could guess why the Peng Family had come.
Speaking of which, the Chen Family and the Peng Family had some ties. One of Chen Zheng’s maternal aunts, also his mother’s cousin, had married the Peng Family’s Clan Chief, making the two Families somewhat related.
If Chen Zheng was willing to give up his hereditary title, he could write a letter, inform the world, and declare his willingness to relinquish the hereditary title, allowing the Peng Family’s Young Master to inherit his position.
Chen Family’s Main Hall!
“Madam Chen, I don’t need to elaborate on the state of your Chen Family. If your Chen Family is willing to cede the title, our Peng Family is willing to offer one hundred gold coins, ten bolts of brocade, and ten mu of fertile land as compensation.”
Butler Cao’s condescending demeanor made Yang Su’s delicate body tremble with anger. Although the Chen Family was poor, they could never rely on selling their title to survive.
This concerned the future fate of the Chen Family. Without a title, Chen Zheng would forever remain an ordinary person, unable to enter the Imperial City’s Xuanlin Academy for study, unable to enjoy imperial treatment, and could only live under the residual prestige of his father.
“Butler Cao, the peerage is rightfully ours. There’s no need to discuss it further. We will not give it up.”
Yang Su refused on the spot. If the title were lost, how could she explain it to her husband if he returned? This was a position her husband had earned through military merits.
“Has Madam Chen considered that your son was born with blocked meridians? The Autumn Hunt is in another month. To obtain the hereditary title, he must first pass the Autumn Hunt. With your son’s natural talent, I’m afraid…”
Thinking of her son’s inability to Cultivate, Yang Su clenched her delicate fists.
“I know what Madam Chen is worried about. Losing the title would mean no successor for the Chen Family. As long as you agree to give the title to our Peng Family, we are willing to form a marriage alliance with the Chen Family. Under the protection of our Peng Family, we can absolutely guarantee the safety of you and your son.”
Yang Su’s tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed, and Butler Cao revealed a cunning look.
“Which Young Miss of your Peng Family is willing to marry into our Chen Family?”
Yang Su’s heart stirred. If exchanging a title could ensure Chen Zheng’s lifelong safety, she believed it was worth it.
“The Third Young Miss!”
The cold voice came from Butler Cao’s mouth. Her previously relaxed delicate fists now clenched even tighter, her nails digging into her flesh, yet Yang Su felt no pain.
The Peng Family’s Third Young Miss was born mentally challenged, with a head as large as a bucket. At over twenty years old, she couldn’t even dress or feed herself, and required special attendants for her bodily needs. Everyone in Yan City knew this.
This wasn’t a negotiation; it was trampling on the Chen Family’s dignity. Even if the Chen Family was in decline, they would not tolerate repeated mockery.
Marrying a fool into the Chen Family would ruin Marquis Chiye’s lifelong reputation. No wonder Yang Su was so angry.
“Butler Cao, you are going too far!” Yang Su’s delicate fists unclenched, blood dripping from her fingertips.
“Although the Third Young Miss has some intellectual problems, she is more than enough for your Family’s useless Young Master. Does he really think he can inherit a hereditary title? If we make a move, whether he can even survive the Autumn Hunt is unknown!”
What was initially mockery had now escalated into a blatant threat. Agree or not, she had to agree. Otherwise, Chen Zheng would die in the hunting competition.
“Madam Chen, Butler Cao’s words are crude but true. To obtain the title, you must first rank in the top five of the Autumn Hunt. If you don’t want your son to die in the Autumn Hunt, you have no other choice!”
A sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth sat to the side, having remained silent until now.
He lazily interrupted them. This was Peng Yu, a young Genius from the Peng Family. At only seventeen, he had reached Acquired Eighth Grade, possessing formidable strength.
In Yan City, his fame was soaring. It was rumored that he had already secured a spot in the Imperial City’s Xuanlin Academy, allowing him to join directly without examination.
Xuanlin Academy gathered all the young talents of the Great Yuan Kingdom. Anyone who reached Acquired Seventh Grade before the age of seventeen was eligible to join.
It not only had a complete Cultivation System but also specialized mentors to guide them. Entering Xuanlin Academy to Cultivate could be described as a rapid ascent to prominence.
From the moment he stepped into the Chen Family, he wore an arrogant expression, as if he already considered himself the master of the place.