That family probably no longer mattered to him at this moment. Everything he once possessed had now vanished into thin air, leaving almost nothing behind. From here on out, he would have to walk the road ahead in solitude, relying solely on himself.
Chen Yingjian took a deep breath, securely hoisted the heavy bundle onto his back, and stepped out of the room. With a faint creak, the door closed tightly behind him, and his figure finally vanished into that dilapidated, run-down little courtyard.
"Well, well, isn't this our good-for-nothing cousin? Where are you off to this early in the morning with a pack on your back?" As he passed the training grounds, a mocking voice drifted lazily from afar.
Chen Yingjian acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, maintaining his resolute stride as he kept moving forward.
"I said... are you deaf to my words?" Several youths moved in with the speed of a gust of wind, blocking his path. The leading youth, dressed in blue, glared with wide eyes and stepped forward to bark harshly.
"What is it?" Chen Yingjian merely glanced at him indifferently, his tone entirely flat.
This blue-robed youth was named Yuan Hua, the direct grandson of the First Elder and the third eldest in the family. He had always been an overbearing and arrogant bully, with a thoroughly wretched reputation throughout Fenglin City. This fellow was infatuated with Lin Shanshan, yet Lin Shanshan utterly loathed him. Consequently, Yuan Hua vented all his pent-up frustration entirely on Chen Yingjian. If not for other family members stepping in to stop him, he probably would have made trouble for Chen Yingjian every single day. Because of this, Chen Yingjian despised this nominal cousin of his to the very core!
"Where do you think you're going?" Yuan Hua first locked his gaze onto the bundle on Chen Yingjian's back, then looked him up and down from head to toe before barking coldly.
"Where I go hardly requires your permission, does it?" Chen Yingjian gave Yuan Hua a cold look, his eyes brimming with disdain.
"Where you go is naturally none of my business, but if I find out you're going to see Shanshan, I will never spare you!" Yuan Hua's face twisted into a ferocious expression as he roared furiously at Chen Yingjian.
Chen Yingjian glanced at him coldly, cursing inwardly: Yuan Hua is nothing more.than a brainless fool, a reckless idiot who never considers the consequences of his actions. No wonder so many of the elders despise him to the extreme. With a cold snort, he ignored him entirely and turned to leave.
"What's with that look? What are you sniffing at?" Yuan Hua flew into a rage, grabbing Chen Yingjian by the shoulder and shouting angrily.
"I'm warning you, don't let my words go in one ear and out the other, or else..." Yuan Hua narrowed his eyes, a sinister glint leaking from his gaze.
"What are you boys up to?" An authoritative and stern shout rang out from the distance.
The youths turned their heads to see a middle-aged man striding toward them with powerful, vigorous steps.
"Ah, it's the Eighth Elder!" one of the youths cried out in panic.
Instinctively, the color drained from their faces, and they all stepped back a few paces. Judging by their reactions, these pampered young hooligans had clearly "visited" the disciplinary hall more than a few times.
Yuan Hua's cheek twitched slightly. He turned his head to glare fiercely at Chen Yingjian, then let go of his shoulder with extreme reluctance and snarled, "Consider yourself lucky this time! Don't let me catch you outside again!"
"Let's go!" Yuan Hua barked in a fury and turned to stalk off, his lackeys hurriedly scrambling to keep up.
"Xiaojian, are you alright?" Chen Haotian strode over and asked with deep concern.
Chen Yingjian shook his head with a smile.
For this uncle, Chen Yingjian felt a profound sense of gratitude. Though hot-tempered, at least within this family, he had helped him out on numerous occasions.
"What are you up to?" Chen Haotian's gaze shifted to the bundle on the boy's back, and he raised an eyebrow in question.
"Hehehe, just going to catch some game to snack on." Chen Yingjian licked his lips and flashed a crafty smile.
"Heh, well, watch your step out there." Chen Haotian knew all too well how much of a foodie his nephew was; he had run into similar situations with the boy a few times before. Chuckling softly, he offered a word of caution.
"Mhm." A wave of warmth washed over Chen Yingjian, and he nodded heavily.
"Off you go, then." Chen Haotian waved a hand.
At that, Chen Yingjian turned and headed toward the main gate.
Watching Chen Yingjian's departing back, a flash of melancholy crossed Chen Haotian's eyes. He let out a long sigh, shook his head, and walked toward the training grounds.
Beyond Fenglin City, amidst a sprawling mountain range, deep within a tranquil mountain stream, the young boy crouched by the brook, his hands scrubbing tirelessly in the water as he tried to wash the thick mud off his face. Once finished, he began painstakingly cleaning the black-haired rabbit he had caught. Judging by his thoroughly filthy appearance, he must have put in a great deal of effort just to bag this wild hare.
In the shade of a cool tree, a plump, tender white rabbit was skewered on a small wooden stick, turning constantly over an open flame. Moments later, an enticing aroma drifted into the air as green oil and yellow spices were evenly sprinkled over it, and the rich scent of roasted meat quickly filled the surroundings.
"That smells amazing!" A melodious voice, crisp as a silver bell, reached Chen Yingjian's ears. The words had barely faded when an elegant, graceful figure suddenly appeared before him.
"Ack!" The ghost-like, abrupt appearance of the woman startled the deeply focused Chen Yingjian so badly that he jumped, causing the golden rabbit meat on the spit to wobble and nearly slip from his grip. Fortunately, his heart was reasonably strong, and it was still broad daylight; if this had happened at night, he might well have been frightened half to-death by this abruptly materialized woman!
With the appearance of the woman in green, Chen Yingjian's gaze instantly locked onto her face. He involuntarily swallowed a gulp of saliva, marveling inwardly: She is truly an immortal beauty descended to earth! Her willow-leaf brows were as faint as distant mountains, her eyes as clear and limpid as autumn water, her nose delicate and upturned, her lips like cherries, and her exquisite face was entirely flawless. Her three thousand strands of jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall to her rounded hips, and the slender green ribbon tied around her waist—so narrow it seemed she could be spanned with a single grip—made it impossible for anyone not to steal repeated glances.
Chen Yingjian stared with wide, unblinking eyes; the woman looked precisely like a celestial maiden who had stepped out of the highest heavens.
Noticing the boy staring at her without blinking, a hint of secret delight flitted through the green-robed woman's heart. She thought to herself: It seems Old Huo's youth-preserving pill is truly effective; my appearance still remains just as it was at eighteen.
"It's going to burn!" The crisp voice broke the tranquility of the mountain stream.
"Ah!" The woman's breathtaking beauty had left Chen Yingjian completely dazed. Snapping back to reality at her warning, he turned his head, let out a startled cry at the over-roasted rabbit meat, and flushed crimson. He hurriedly grabbed the meat and frantically fanned it with a tool to bring the temperature down. A moment later, the billowing heat finally subsided. He tore off a large leg and handed the rest to the woman in green.
"For me?" The woman's watery eyes flickered as she pointed to herself with a fair, slender index finger and asked.
"Mm."
"Heh..." Seeing the boy's sincere expression, the green-robed woman accepted it without standing on ceremony. With slender, tapering fingers, she gently plucked off the rabbit's front foot and began to eat with unhurried grace.
Watching her relish the food, Chen Yingjian smiled as well, then dove into his own portion with ravenous speed, finishing it in a flash. He wiped the grease from his lips, stood up to brush off his clothes, and finally sat down on a large boulder, leaning back against a tree and squinting his eyes to enjoy the leisurely afternoon.
After a long while, a cool breeze swept past. Chen Yingjian was drifting off into a comfortable sleep when a remark from the woman startled him awake.
The woman parted her lips slightly, her voice as sweet and melodious as an oriole's: "With such beautiful scenery before us, for the young master to be so drowsy—isn't that a terrible waste?"
Chen Yingjian straightened up and said apologetically, "Please don't blame me, miss; I've simply been exhausted these past few days."
The woman smiled faintly, her eyes seeming to sparkle with a galaxy of stars: "The young master looks weighed down with heavy thoughts. Might I ask if you'd be willing to share them with this humble one?"
Hesitating for a moment, Chen Yingjian finally sighed and said, "Family troubles weigh heavily on my mind. The road ahead is lost in mist, and I know not where I am headed."
The woman nodded slightly, looking thoughtful as she replied, "The path of life is bound to have its twists and turns. The young master should not let himself be overly troubled."
Chen Yingjian smiled bitterly. "Easier said than done. As things stand, I am weak and unsupported, constrained at every turn."
Looking at him with a firm and steady gaze, the woman said, "Since the young master has the heart to change his current circumstances, he should press forward bravely and never fear the hardships and obstacles in his path."
A flicker of light crossed Chen Yingjian's eyes as he asked, "What you say makes complete sense, miss, but I have no idea where I ought to begin."
Tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, the woman replied, "Enhance your own strength, forge broad connections with good people, and once the right opportunity arrives, a breakthrough will naturally follow."
Pondering this for a moment, Chen Yingjian cupped his fists and said, "Thank you for your guidance, miss. May I ask your name?"
With a graceful smile, the woman answered, "You may simply call me Qing Yao."
Nodding, Chen Yingjian said, "Miss Qing Yao, hearing your words today has truly enlightened me."
Qing Yao smiled gently. "I am glad to see the young master find clarity. May you achieve your aspirations soon."
The two exchanged a smile, and the atmosphere in the mountain stream grew all the more harmonious.