Changlong Country, Tian Yong City, Liu Family.
The Liu Family was one of the three major Families in Tian Yong City. When Changlong Country was founded, the Liu Family’s ancestor had served as a founding general. Although the Family was now in decline, it still held significant influence in Tian Yong City, capable of making the ground tremble with a stomp.
Early in the morning, as a hint of red light just rose in the east, a slender young man was stopped outside the imposing gates of the Liu Family by two guards.
“You two dog servants, how dare you stop this Young Master? I’m telling you, this Young Master is the Liu Family’s son-in-law. If you don’t make way, be careful, I’ll break your dog legs.”
“If you’re the Liu Family’s son-in-law, then I’m the princess’s consort! I’m telling you, today is the day our Liu Family welcomes distinguished guests. We don’t have time to waste words with you, so get lost!”
Chu Yan, the young man, was unfazed by the guards’ mockery. Instead, he grinned mischievously, “Look, you said it yourselves, today you’re welcoming distinguished guests. The distinguished guest you spoke of is me. I have a marriage contract with your Young Miss, making me a noble guest in your manor. If you delay the auspicious day because of this, can you bear the responsibility?”
“Nonsense! Our Young Miss is a proud daughter of heaven; would she have a marriage contract with a beggar like you?”
“Then I ask you, is your Family head named Liu Tianfeng? Does he have a daughter named Liu Qingcheng?”
“Nonsense, who in Tian Yong City doesn’t know the names of the Master and Young Miss! What does that prove?”
“Oh, so you know? Then you must also know that your Young Miss has a red mole on her foot, right? Actually, I also have one on the sole of my foot. This is proof of my marriage contract with her. How about I take off my shoes and show you now?”
As Chu Yan spoke, he took off the cloth shoes that covered his toes. On the sole of his foot, there was indeed a red mole.
The key was that the two guards didn't know their Young Miss had a red mole on her foot, so they still believed Chu Yan was lying.
“I see you won’t shed tears until you see the coffin. What kind of nonsense red mole? It sounds like a lie you made up!”
As the two guards spoke, they directly swung their fists at Chu Yan, preparing to smash them down on Chu Yan’s head.
“Damn it, this is bad. I ran into two ignorant idiots who don’t know about the red mole!”
Chu Yan was speechless. He didn’t resist the two guards’ fists because he had no ability to resist at all.
But just as Chu Yan thought he was definitely going to take a beating, a deep voice suddenly rang out.
“Stop!”
The voice was very effective; the two guards’ movements stopped instantly.
Chu Yan then slightly opened one eye, looking at the fist only a few inches from him, and breathed a sigh of relief: “You scared this Young Master to death. This Young Master came to get married and still has to take a beating. Is it easy for me?!”
The two guards looked back and saw a Middle-aged man inside the Liu Family manor. They were startled and immediately knelt on the ground.
“Greetings, Zhao Steward!”
This Middle-aged man was Zhao Tu, the Liu Family’s Steward. His position in the Liu Family was neither high nor low, but coincidentally, he knew that Liu Qingcheng had a red mole on her foot, and he also knew that this red mole was related to the marriage contract.
Zhao Tu ignored the two guards and walked directly in front of Chu Yan: “Show me the red mole on your foot!”
“Oh, someone who knows the truth has arrived?” Chu Yan was delighted and showed the red mole again.
“It’s actually the Heavenly King Mole!”
Staring at the red mole on Chu Yan’s foot, Zhao Tu muttered to himself thoughtfully, then he looked at Chu Yan: “What’s your name?”
“Chu Yan!”
“You two, keep an eye on him. I’m going to inform the Family head now!”
Zhao Tu became very nervous and hurried into the Liu Family manor.
Seeing Zhao Tu’s nervous appearance, the two guards immediately deflated.
Could this beggar boy really be a distinguished guest of the Liu Family? Is he the Liu Family’s son-in-law?
“How about it? Do you believe me now?” Chu Yan looked at the two guards’ discomfiture and smiled triumphantly.
“Boy, don’t get cocky! We still don’t know what exactly is going on. Maybe Zhao Steward will come out later and expose your lies. Then, we won’t beat you to death!”
“Stubborn as a dead duck, aren’t you? If I were you two, I’d be kneeling and begging for mercy right now. That way, maybe this Young Master will be in a good mood and can promote you two when I become the Liu Family’s son-in-law later. Otherwise, be careful, I’ll make sure to finish you off then.” Chu Yan sneered.
Although the two guards were unwilling, what if Chu Yan was telling the truth? Then Chu Yan would be the future consort.
“You’re not lying to me, are you?”
“Nonsense, didn’t you see how nervous that Steward was just now? But it’s still not too late for you to kneel now. If this Young Master becomes the son-in-law later, I’ll say a few good words for you two. If you don’t kneel, this Young Master will definitely kick you out.” Chu Yan smiled confidently.
The two guards gritted their teeth, but still knelt on the ground.
“Greetings, Son-in-law!”
“No problem, no problem!”
Chu Yan laughed heartily, then he looked through the imposing main gate of the Liu Family, a glint flashing in his eyes.
“Liu Qingcheng! Ten years unseen, how have you been?”
In Chu Yan’s mind, he couldn’t help but recall a scene from ten years ago: a little girl surrounded by countless Yao Beasts, revealing a gentle smile.
—
Inside the Liu Family manor, it was resplendent and magnificent, with a large reception hall in the center, specially used by the Liu Family to welcome distinguished guests.
In the meeting hall, Liu Tianfeng, the Liu Family’s Family head, had been seated there since early morning. Beside him was a graceful and rather cold and beautiful woman.
“Father, I won’t marry!”
“Shut up! This is not up to you. No matter what, you must obey this marriage! This is an order!” Liu Tianfeng glared at Liu Qingcheng.
“Why? I haven’t even met Chu Yan! Why should I marry him?”
“Qingcheng, listen to your father. Chu Yan is the son of our Liu Family’s benefactor. This marriage of yours was decided long ago. If you don’t marry, you’ll be embarrassing your father.”
“Yes, Qingcheng, this Chu Yan is a proud son of heaven. He is that person’s son, and he will surely be a Dragon among men in the future! To be able to marry him is your honor, and also the pride of our Liu Family.” Several Liu Family Elders persuaded from the side.
A cold light flickered in Liu Qingcheng’s autumn eyes, but before she could speak again, Zhao Tu rushed into the reception hall.
“Master, he’s here!”
Liu Tianfeng immediately stood up excitedly: “Where is he? Why haven’t you invited him in?”
However, Zhao Tu was a little awkward at this moment. He swallowed and looked at Liu Tianfeng: “Master, before that, there’s something I want to confirm with you first.”
“What is it?” Liu Tianfeng said impatiently.
“Master, are you sure… Young Miss’s fiancé is named Chu Yan?”
“Nonsense, how could I, this old man, forget the name of the benefactor’s son?”
“But… but!”
“What’s going on? Speak!”
Zhao Tu sighed: “The one at the gate is indeed named Chu Yan, but he… he’s a beggar.”
“A beggar?”
Everyone in the meeting hall was greatly surprised. Chu Yan was a beggar?
How could this be? With that person’s ability, shouldn’t Chu Yan be a proud son of heaven? How could he be a beggar?
“A beggar, is he the Dragon among men you speak of?” Liu Qingcheng sneered.
“Presumptuous!” Liu Tianfeng glared at Liu Qingcheng. At this moment, his brows were also tightly furrowed.
“Tianfeng, no matter what, let Zhao Steward bring him in first. If he really is the benefactor’s son, don’t neglect him.”
“Yes, yes, Zhao Tu, quickly send someone to bring Chu Gongzi in!” Liu Tianfeng said.
Not long after, Chu Yan was led into the Liu manor. Many Liu Family Elders in the meeting hall couldn’t help but frown when they saw Chu Yan.
Just as Zhao Tu said, Chu Yan looked like a beggar no matter how one looked at him now. The most crucial thing was that he probably hadn’t bathed for at least a month. As soon as he entered the meeting hall, a disgusting stench emanated from him.
Liu Tianfeng stared at Chu Yan for a long time.
“Boy, are you really Chu Yan? You need to think carefully; daring to deceive my Liu Family is a capital offense!”
Facing Liu Tianfeng’s pressure, Chu Yan was neither humble nor arrogant, and he smiled calmly: “You must be Uncle Liu Tianfeng, right? Of course, I am Chu Yan. I know you might not believe me, but it doesn’t matter. I have my own way to prove it to you.”
“Tell me!”
“The Liu Family, one of the eight founding Families of Changlong Country, the former City Lord of Tian Yong City. Eighteen years ago, the Liu Family provoked a certain power and nearly faced annihilation. Since then, it fell into decline, and the position of City Lord was also stripped away. If it weren’t for Chu Yan’s Mother intervening to save you, this Liu residence would now be a desolate land, Uncle Liu, am I correct?”
Liu Qingcheng turned to look at Liu Tianfeng. She didn’t know about the events from eighteen years ago, as she was just born then. However, seeing Liu Tianfeng’s grave expression and silence, she knew that what Chu Yan said was very likely true.
“When Chu Yan’s Mother intervened to save you, all of you in the Liu Family owed Chu Yan’s Mother. At that time, Old Master Liu should still have been alive and decided to repay the kindness by having the Liu Family serve my Chu Family as subordinate slaves for life. However, Chu Yan’s Mother was kind and only had me and your Liu Family make a marriage contract. It was also this marriage contract that preserved your Liu Family for these past eighteen years, am I right?”
Liu Tianfeng’s sword-like brows were tightly furrowed. Chu Yan’s words were harsh, but every single one was true.
Liu Tianfeng still felt lingering fear when he recalled the night eighteen years ago; a super power almost wiped out the Liu Family overnight. It was Chu Yan’s Mother who intervened and saved the Liu Family.
For the past eighteen years, although the Liu Family had declined, it possessed vast resources, controlling many gold mines and market places in Tian Yong City. Countless powers coveted the Liu Family, but due to this marriage contract, they had not dared to make a move.
“Master, he really is the benefactor’s son; otherwise, he couldn’t possibly know about the old Family head’s affairs back then.”
“Master, one cannot judge a book by its cover. Perhaps Young Master Chu just dresses shabbily, but actually has great talent.”
“Right, one cannot judge by appearance!” Liu Tianfeng nodded, looking at Chu Yan: “Chu Yan Xian Nephew, may I ask… what is your current Cultivation level?”
“Cultivation level, ah, Fan Chen Realm Layer 1, I suppose! There should be one layer.”
Liu Tianfeng’s old face immediately darkened. Fan Chen Realm? The lowest level of the Cultivation path? And only Layer 1?
Liu Tianfeng forced himself to remain calm and said: “It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter. There are those who Cultivate earlier and those who Cultivate later, but often the later ones surpass the former. Then, Chu Yan Xian Nephew, what about your Life Body? How many stars?”
Life Bodies are divided into nine stars, from lowest to highest, representing a person’s talent. Life Bodies are generally innate, but they can also be changed through Acquired means, though the cost is very high, requiring a large accumulation of rare treasures to achieve. Therefore, Families generally only Cultivate Disciples with three-star Life Bodies or higher. Those below three stars are called Mortal Dust Bodies and mostly have no future.
“Life Body, you ask? One star.”
“One star?” Liu Tianfeng could no longer hold back and started coughing: “Then what about your Physical Body?”
“Mortal Body!”
Fan Chen Realm Layer 1, a one-star Life Body, and even a Mortal Body.
Liu Tianfeng only felt his vision go black. This was completely a piece of trash!
And a rare piece of trash at that, seen only once in a hundred years!