Along the bustling and spacious avenue, several youths dressed in luxurious attire walked leisurely, their endless idle chatter filling the air. Yuan Hua walked at the very forefront. As a direct descendant of the Chen Family's First Elder, his arrogant demeanor made it seem as though he were trampling the entire world beneath his feet.
Yuan Hua held his head high, looking like a proud rooster pumped full of adrenaline and stimulants, with a chin upturned enough to serve as a clothesline. His narrow eyes were slightly squinted, exuding extreme arrogance and disdain, as if everything in the world were as insignificant as dust to him. A wanton smile hung at the corner of his mouth, carrying a touch of wildness and a hint of cunning; every curve of it displayed his inner conceit. The skin on his face twitched slightly with self-satisfaction, its subtle expression changes seeming to proclaim his nobility and extraordinary status to those around him.
"Don't mention it. During this period, my grandfather put me through quite a bit of hardship just to help me improve my Spirit Power as quickly as possible," Yuan Hua said, letting out a seemingly helpless sigh, yet that sigh concealed an undisguised boast. He raised his eyebrows slightly, a gleam in his eyes as if saying, *"See how much importance my grandfather attaches to me!"* "Fortunately, I didn't let him down. Yesterday, I reached the ninth stage of Spirit Power." As soon as his voice fell, Yuan Hua held his head even higher, the bridge of his nose lifting slightly upward like a towering, insurmountable mountain peak. The corners of his mouth curled up sharply, forming a wild and uninhibited smile that revealed a row of neat, white teeth, every single one flashing with the brilliance of victory. That look of unbridled smugness made people yearn to rush up and punch him a few times, just to wipe that arrogant look off his face.
"Hard work pays off. I, your brother, congratulate Brother Yuan here," a rather solidly built youth said, cupping his fists toward Yuan Hua with a smile.
Yuan Hua turned his head slightly, casting a sidelong glance at the youth from the corner of his eye, his gaze filled with a condescending scrutiny. He let out a light snort, the sound from his nasal cavity carrying utter disdain, as though saying, *"Does that even need to be said?"* Then, he lifted his chin a fraction higher, the muscles on his face tightening into an arrogant angle, and spoke in an extremely haughty tone: "Hmph, you at least have some discernment."
"Hehe... congratulations."
"Felicitations, Young Master Yuan."
"Congratulations, congratulations."
The other three also stepped forward one after another to offer their congratulations.
Listening to the flattery of the crowd, the smile on Yuan Hua's face grew even brighter, like flowers blooming in the spring sunshine. He straightened his back, his spine as firm and indestructible as if cast from steel. Slowly lowering his hands from his chest, he casually flicked his sleeves, which swept through the air in a graceful arc, stirring up a gentle breeze. His fingers were slender and fair, and as they danced lightly, it was as if he were conducting an invisible symphony. With his eyes half-closed, he revealed an expression of extreme enjoyment, completely immersed in the praise of the crowd and unable to extricate himself. He said, "Since we're all brothers here, there's no need for formalities. As long as I'm in Fenglin City, I'll make sure you eat and drink to your heart's content... Let's go to the Yichun Brothel! My treat today, brothers, let's have a good time together." With that, he took a large stride forward, every step firm and powerful as if the earth beneath his feet were trembling for him. His pace was bold and confident, filled with an unyielding dominance.
These youths were also pampered scions of minor families in Fenglin City, who usually racked their brains to ingratiate themselves with Yuan Hua in every possible way. Their goal, naturally, was to cozy up to him—after all, his grandfather was the Second-in-Command of the Chen Family, and the Chen Family was an undisputed overlord in Fenglin City.
"Brother Yuan is truly a supreme genius. I imagine it won't be long before you reach the Great Completion of Spirit Power, and then make a direct breakthrough to become a Spirit Disciple," the stout youth flattered. This bit of flattery hit precisely the right note, putting Yuan Hua in a thoroughly delighted mood.
Yuan Hua abruptly came to a halt, standing firm like a sudden mountain peak. He turned his head, his gaze burning like torches as he stared straight at the youth. A flash of surprise first crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by thick complacency. He burst into laughter, a deafening sound that seemed as though it would pierce the clouds. "Naturally! With this young master's talent, breaking through to become a Spirit Disciple is merely a matter of time." His voice was loud and resolute, every single word striking the hearts of everyone present like a heavy hammer. His eyes wide open, they burned with a flame of confidence—a flame so hot and violent it seemed capable of devouring everything.
"Indeed... we ordinary mortals cannot compare to Young Master Yuan."
"In the future, we brothers will have to rely on Young Master Yuan to look after us here in Fenglin City..."
Amidst the overlapping flattery from the group, Yuan Hua's already pleasant mood instantly soared to its peak. The corners of his mouth lifted high, his entire face smiling like blooming fireworks, dazzling and eye-catching. He placed his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest even further, as if trying to embrace the entire sky, and said, "Since we're all brothers here, there's no need for formalities. As long as I'm in Fenglin City, I'll make sure you eat and drink to your heart's content... Let's go to the Yichun Brothel! My treat today, brothers, let's have a good time together."
"Alright... just for Brother Yuan's words... today we brothers won't stop until we're thoroughly drunk!" the stout youth said heartily.
"Alright..."
"Alright."
As the group walked and chatted away, swept along by their high spirits, they strolled toward the busiest area just ahead, right at the entrance of which stood the Yichun Brothel.
These young scions were notorious in Fenglin City, their reputations so foul they could scare away dogs. Along the way, quite a few people in the shadows pointed fingers at them from behind, their cold, gloomy gazes seemingly wishing to tear these fellows apart alive and spit them out. If not for the powerful influences behind them, they probably would have been chased down the street by townsfolk wielding rolling pins, beaten until their bottoms blossomed just to vent the public's spleen. It seemed these fellows had committed no shortage of exasperating, wicked deeds.
The Yichun Brothel was Fenglin City's most famous pleasure house of singing and dancing, boasting hundreds of forms of entertainment. As long as you had Gold Coins, there was no way to play that you couldn't imagine. It was proudly hailed as "A Man's Paradise."
Just as Yuan Hua and his companions were about to reach the main entrance of the Yichun Brothel, a thin youth in blue standing beside Yuan Hua suddenly froze, his expression turning oddly startled. "Hey, isn't that the millennium good-for-nothing?"
This abrupt remark interrupted the group's heated conversation. Yuan Hua was the first to raise his head, his gaze sweeping across the crowd ahead. A moment later, he spotted a slender figure leisurely strolling about a hundred paces away, looking utterly relaxed and carefree. Yet in Yuan Hua's eyes, this appearance became utterly detestable. In Yuan Hua's mind, the other person only ever wore that specific expression when spending time with Lin Shanshan. An anonymous fire raged fiercely within his body, scorching his heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys until they ached. He let out a cold snort. "Hmph... a wild savage's life sure is carefree and happy, but after the coming-of-age ceremony..."
These sarcastic and disdainful words from Yuan Hua left the other three momentarily stunned. Then, exchanging glances, wicked, malicious grins spread across all their mouths. In an instant, the three of them reached an extremely sinister consensus. They chimed in one after another:
"Damn it, a millennium good-for-nothing and ten-thousand-year piece of firewood—by what right does Lady Shaner have her eyes on him?"
"Exactly! Our Young Master Yuan is a hundred times, a thousand times stronger than him!"
"Look at that slovenly appearance of his, he's practically a beggar asking for food, even worse than the tramps on the street."
"If I were him, I'd have no face left to meet people, yet he actually dares to harbor designs on Lady Shaner."
This barrage of slanders against Chen Yingjian put Yuan Hua in a slightly better mood, but it also fueled his urge to cause trouble for the fellow. After all, Lin Shanshan was the goddess in his heart; how could he swallow his anger knowing that Chen Yingjian had stolen Lin Shanshan's heart?
In Fenglin City, Lin Shanshan was a proud daughter of heaven and the goddess in the hearts of numerous youths, including Yuan Hua and the three scions. Yet this goddess in their hearts actually favored a good-for-nothing, shocking all her admirers. Naturally, their hatred was directed straight at Chen Yingjian, making him a common enemy in the eyes of many youths. The enemy of one's enemy was a friend; previously, they had held back out of fear of offending the Chen Family, but now, with Yuan Hua leading the way, as long as he made the first move and covered their backs, they certainly wouldn't fear offending the Chen Family.
With all sorts of plots churning in the three men's minds—and since the seed of wanting to teach Chen Yingjian a lesson had already sprouted in Yuan Hua's heart, now stoked by their fanning of the flames—the outcome could well be imagined.
Having changed into a clean set of clothes, Chen Yingjian emerged from the back mountains and stepped onto the bustling streets. Feeling the lively atmosphere of the mortal world, the loneliness in his heart was instantly washed away. Chen Yingjian felt that bustling crowds were better after all; at least he wouldn't feel too lonely.
Walking on foot through the bustling streets, Chen Yingjian, in a remarkably good mood, let his gaze wander casually over the neat shops on either side of the road, sweeping past a dazzling array of goods. He slowly walked through one lively neighborhood after another, only to find in the end that there was nothing he actually wished to buy. Shrugging his shoulders, he prepared to head home. Just as he lifted his foot to quicken his pace, several figures abruptly materialized to block his path, and a chilling voice rang out in the air:
"Millennium good-for-nothing, let's see if you still have such good luck today..."