"Young Master, where are you heading?"
Outside the gates of War King Manor, seeing Qin Haotian strutting out, several guards on duty immediately stepped forward to block his path.
Because Qin Haotian had previously spent his days acting dissolutely with a long record of misbehavior, he had never won the favor of the prince and princess. Even the princess, two years younger than him, looked down upon him. The servants who had worked in the manor for years naturally learned to judge people by their status, and they inevitably failed to take this "adopted" young master seriously.
Today, this good-for-nothing young master had once again caused massive trouble outside, bringing shame, humiliation, and utter disgrace to the entire manor.
According to the guards' guesswork, Qin Haotian was bound to face the prince's reprimand and severe punishment yet again.
And yet here he was, leaving as if nothing had happened. As the loyal watchdogs of the estate, they could not resist interrogating him and mocking him along the way.
"Where I go is none of your concern."
Having already severed ties with the manor and drawn a definitive line, Qin Haotian's heart had grown cold.
"Young Master, the Prince is in a fit of rage. Without his permission, we cannot let you leave!"
Seeing that Qin Haotian refused to listen to reason and did not stop in his tracks, the guards at the gates exchanged glances. After all, he was just an unliked piece of trash whom they didn't hold in any regard.
Enduring their incessant babbling, Qin Haotian cast a cold glance back. His gaze was sharp, piercing, and bone-chilling.
"Get lost!"
"Good dogs don't block the path!"
At the same time, an ethereal and formless sword intent emanated from his body. The guards' hearts trembled violently, as if a hand had seized them by the throat, instantly rendering them speechless.
That inexplicable sense of oppression, laced with chilling ruthlessness, filled them with terror and even awe. They involuntarily took several steps back, consciously making way for him.
As Qin Haotian walked past them, the guards lowered their heads, wiping away their previous expressions of mockery and disdain. Their hearts leaped into their throats as they stood frozen in a respectful farewell salute.
"Is this the Ruthless Sword Dao heart?"
"Only by severing all emotion and becoming cold and ruthless can one truly possess it!"
"The more cold-blooded and merciless one is, brimming with killing intent and casting aside all frivolous desires, the further the Ruthless Sword Dao heart can be pushed to its absolute limit!"
"Just as I imagined, exactly as expected!"
Feeling the surging sword intent within his body and a powerful, extraordinary self-confidence, Qin Haotian quickly comprehended the profound mystery of it! Immediately afterward, he strode forward with firm steps, wearing an expression as cold as frost, leaving behind not a single shred of lingering attachment for the manor.
Until he completely departed, his figure vanishing into the end of the street, no one dared to utter another word, nor did anyone dare to chase after him to block his way...
Meanwhile, because of Qin Haotian's public departure, Qin Langtian and his wife had fallen into a fierce dispute, arguing with one another.
"Qin Langtian, why haven't you sent people to bring Haotian back yet!"
"Do you truly have the heart to watch our son roam the streets and become homeless?"
"We have owed him far too much over the years. We cannot keep making mistake after mistake!"
As she spoke, Lin Suxi wept bitterly, sobbing uncontrollably.
Upon learning that Qin Haotian had never taken a single coin from the manor, and that his daily expenses over the past three years had been entirely self-sufficient, she was instantly consumed by deep remorse, feeling that she had truly failed in her duties as a mother.
To make up for her lapse in judgment, she urged her husband relentlessly to change his mind and go bring their son back.
Yet what kind of man was Qin Langtian?
Holding a position of supreme honor at court and wielding military authority for many years, he had always been a man of absolute authority and a hard-hearted master.
Now that this rebellious and unfilial son had just left—having even dropped harsh words declaring that Qin Haotian was never permitted to set foot in the manor again—how could he possibly eat his own words and break his promise?
Once he went back on his word, wouldn't that be equivalent to slapping his own face?
"Enough!"
Pestered beyond endurance, Qin Langtian slammed his hand heavily down, causing the teacups on the table to rattle as flames surged in his pupils. "What does a woman like you know?"
"That unfilial wretch is utterly audacious! Today he dares to talk back to his parents and run away from home, and who knows what monstrous things he might do in the future!"
"If we let him back now, wouldn't that prove we were in the wrong?"
"Throughout my life, this prince has been upright and honorable. Yet you want me to bow my head to a rebellious wretch? That is utterly impossible!"
"If he wants to leave, let him leave!"
"It would be best if he dies out there, out of sight and out of mind, saving me the irritation!"
At that moment, although he realized he was somewhat in the wrong, constrained by the pride of being the head of the household, he still refused to admit defeat verbally, using a near-roar to mask his inner guilt.
"Qin Langtian, do you hear yourself? Are those even human words?"
"Haotian is our own flesh and blood! If you won't cherish him, fine, but you're actually wishing for his death?"
"Even a fierce tiger will not eat its own cubs! Such cruelty makes you entirely unworthy of being a father!"
Seeing that her husband showed not the slightest hint of remorse, Lin Suxi widened her eyes in fury, her anger flaring up to the point where she was ready to pick up a weapon and fight him.
Yet Qin Langtian remained completely unmoved, his gaze cold and stern as he calmly laid out his plans.
"My wife, you needn't worry overly much."
"That cursed child hasn't a penny to his name; he won't make it very far."
"Once he tastes the bitterness and hardship of the outside world and is driven to a desperate impasse, he will naturally come crawling back obediently."
"At that time, will you still worry that he won't reform his ways and kneel before us to beg for forgiveness?"
"If we don't let him suffer a little now to grind away his arrogance and rashness, and instead let him run wild, won't he turn the world upside down in the future?"
Even so, Lin Suxi refused to let the matter rest, two large teardrops hanging from her face.
"Qin Langtian, you have your plans, and I won't interfere!"
"But let's make this crystal clear in advance: if any harm comes to Haotian, don't blame this old lady for turning hostile and not recognizing you!"
In the east of the city, the Earth God Temple.
After leaving the manor, Qin Haotian walked slowly all the way until he finally found this place.
The temple's roof tiles were shattered, cobwebs covered every corner, and the ground was overgrown with withered, yellow hay—a scene of utter desolation and ruin. Clearly, no one had visited in a long time.
According to the memories of the body's original owner, whenever the old Qin Haotian felt depressed, he would come here to drink away his sorrows and stay out all night.
And now, having left War King Manor with nowhere else to go, Qin Haotian had come to this dilapidated temple to use it as a temporary shelter.
As soon as he stepped inside, he instantly felt an incomparable sense of tranquility and ease. Refreshed and relaxed, he involuntarily stretched and yawned.
At the same time, he did not forget that he had important business to attend to, and hurriedly summoned the system to check the long-awaited beginner's gift package.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for acquiring the Ruthless Sword Dao mental cultivation method: Supreme Emotion-Severing Slash!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for acquiring the Devouring Demon Gourd!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for acquiring the Netherworld Demonic Sword!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for acquiring the Hunyuan Heaven-Repairing Pill!]
As the continuous prompts echoed in his mind, Qin Haotian was overjoyed and couldn't wait to inspect their uses.