"Back then, Xiaojie lost his life trying to save you, and this leg of mine was broken by your fiancée's men!"
Having bottled up his frustration for far too long, An Wenjing finally exploded upon seeing Chu He today, pouring out all of the An Family's grievances over the past few years like beans spilling from a broken jar...
Chapter 6 On the Professional Ethics of a Security Guard
"Uncle An, was the man who broke your leg named Tiger?" Chu He asked, his sword-like brows locked tightly together after An Wenjing finished speaking.
"That's right! Tiger is a heavyweight underworld boss in Jiangzhou's South City. Do you think you can afford to cross him?"
"Old An, stop talking!"
Worried that Chu He might actually go looking for Tiger, Zhou Xiuying hurriedly tried to dissuade him. "Little Chu, what's done is done. You mustn't do anything foolish!"
"Shut your mouth!"
An Wenjing yelled loudly at his wife.
"..."
Zhou Xiuying let out a soft sigh. The An Family had indeed been bullied miserably over the years.
"Uncle An, why don't I take a look at your leg? I've picked up some medical skills over the years..." Seeing the situation, Chu He changed the subject.
"Don't forget I'm a doctor myself. Do you really think a wet-behind-the-ears kid like you can cure my leg?"
The mention of this only agitated An Wenjing further. Besides his anger, he looked at Chu He's words with sheer contempt.
"Old An..."
"Let him leave. The farther away, the better. It's best if he doesn't stay in Jiangzhou, lest he drags the An Family down with him again!" An Wenjing said emotionally.
"Auntie, I'll come back another day!"
Chu He swallowed hard. He wasn't angry at An Wenjing; rather, seeing the An Family in this state made him feel deeply uncomfortable inside.
"I'll walk you out!" An Chuxia hurriedly chased after him.
"Old An, Little Chu just helped us. Aren't you being a bit too harsh treating him like that?" Zhou Xiuying couldn't help complaining to her husband after Chu He left.
"Have you forgotten how my leg was broken, and how Xiaojie died?"
"I told him to leave so our son wouldn't have died in vain. If those people find out Little Chu is back, do you think they'll let him go?"
"I'm sorry, I misunderstood you!"
Zhou Xiuying's face was full of apology, finally realizing that her husband had deliberately acted that way toward Chu He just now...
Outside.
"I'm so sorry!"
An Chuxia looked at Chu He with an apologetic expression. "My dad still can't let go of my brother's death, so..."
"Chuxia, I am the one who should be saying sorry!"
With a solemn expression and a serious tone, Chu He said, "However, the grievances the An Family has suffered all these years, I will collect them back for you with interest!"
"No, don't!"
Hearing Chu He say this, An Chuxia grew even more anxious and quickly urged, "Listen to my advice and just leave. Those people won't let you off!"
"Next time I come over, I'll cure your uncle's leg, don't worry!" Acting as if he hadn't heard a word An Chuxia said, Chu He waved his hand and turned to walk away.
"..."
Watching Chu He's receding figure, An Chuxia quietly teared up. What good was it that he could fight? Two fists are no match for four hands; how many people could one person possibly take on by himself?
At the Shanty Town Entrance.
"Holy Lord!"
A black modified car sprayed with white skull motifs rolled down its window, and Yegui poked his head out from inside.
"Take me to Jade Garden!"
Chu He pulled open the car door, sat in the back row, and rubbed his aching temples. Having not returned to Jiangzhou for many years, countless people and things had changed.
Yegui stepped on the accelerator, and the car shot forward like an arrow...
Jade Garden.
As one of Jiangzhou's most luxurious residential developments—rumored to have been built by a multinational corporation—the people who lived here were either wealthy or noble, making it Jiangzhou's largest upscale neighborhood.
Boom!
With a roar of engines, the screeching black modified car executed a graceful drift and came to a steady halt right at the entrance of the residential complex.
"Holy Lord, we're here!"
Just as Chu He was about to get out, Yegui spoke up again, "The Xu Family has gone to see the King of Jiangzhou. Should your subordinate go kill them all tonight?"
"No need!"
Chu He shook his head and said indifferently, "The Xu family are just grasshoppers after the autumn frost; they won't be jumping around for many more days!"
"You go ahead for now. I'll call you if anything comes up!"
"Understood!"
Yegui nodded. Since the Holy Lord wasn't going to kill the Xu family members, he would let them live for a few more days!
The moment Chu He stepped out of the car and walked up to the entrance of the complex, he was blocked by the security guard on duty.
"Hold it right there. Who are you looking for?"
The security guard had witnessed Chu He step out of a modified car. Used to seeing luxury cars as he was, how could he possibly know that Yegui's modified ride was worth millions?
"I'm the owner of Villa Number One!"
"An owner?"
The security guard froze upon hearing this. He looked Chu He up and down carefully, and seeing that the clothes he wore were hardly designer brands, a sneer crept onto his face.
"Pal, bragging needs to have a limit. Do you even know how much Villa Number One is worth?"
"How much?"
Chu He shrugged. Owen had only given him the key and hadn't bothered to tell him how much the villa was worth.
The security guard wagged a finger in front of Chu He, a slightly provocative tone in his voice:
"To tell you the truth, it's worth *this* much!"
"Ten million?"
"Are you kidding me? Ten million can barely buy a toilet. It's worth a hundred million!" The security guard couldn't help rolling his eyes, his gaze filled with utter contempt.
"That guy Owen sure is generous!" Chu He chuckled, and with that, he made to walk inside.
"Stop right there!"
Seeing this, the security guard hurriedly intercepted Chu He, demanding sternly, "Do you really think you're the owner of Villa Number One, or do you think I look like an idiot who's easily fooled by your lies?"
"An idiot you're not. I think you're dedicated to your duty and a good security guard!"
Chu He smiled with satisfaction. Although this security guard looked down his nose at people, he still had a strong sense of professional ethics.
"Well, of course! I was voted the complex's 'Top Ten Guard'! That's why I can't let you in even more!" The security guard laughed triumphantly.
"In that case, you come with me!"
With no other choice, Chu He fished out the key Owen had given him. To call it a key was a stretch; it was actually an access card encrusted entirely with diamonds, glittering brilliantly under the sunlight.
"Holy shit! Pal, you even DIY'd your key? You're quite the trendsetter, huh?" The security guard still didn't believe it.
"..."
Chu He rolled his eyes. With a flash of motion, he bypassed the security guard and walked straight toward the interior of the villas.
"Hey, stop right there!"
The guard was stunned. By the time he recovered his senses, Chu He was already ten meters away. He immediately broke into a sprint to catch up, but Chu He moved as if walking on wind, and the guard simply couldn't keep pace...
Outside Villa Number One sat a red Ferrari SF90 worth tens of millions.
Chu He glanced at it. This was a European-style villa covering a massive area. He walked up to the entrance and was just about to swipe his card to unlock the door when the security guard jogged up, panting heavily as he blocked his path and lectured him angrily:
"This is outrageous! If you aren't the owner, I'm dragging you straight to the police station to eat 'state-provided meals'!"
"And what if I *am* the owner?" Chu He gave a cold smile.
"If you are... I'll call you Daddy!"
The security guard was a ruthless gambler too. Convinced that Chu He in his street-stall clothes couldn't possibly be the owner, he had raised the stakes quite high!
Without a word, Chu He raised his hand and swiped it lightly across the sensor panel.
Beep! Beep!
"Welcome home!"
"Welcome home!"
The access system was bilingual; even if the security guard didn't understand English, he certainly understood the Chinese!
"Can I go inside now?" Chu He glanced sideways at the security guard and said indifferently.
"Y-Yes... Please go right in, Daddy..."
The security guard's jaw dropped so wide he could swallow an egg. He never imagined someone stepping out of a modified clunker could actually live in a hundred-million-dollar villa. Had the world gone mad?
Chapter 7 Women Are Tigers
Southern Theater Command.
The conference room was hazy with smoke as several high-ranking military officials discussed how to deal with Chu He, who had killed Zhao Bin.
"Outrageous! Chu He is utterly lawless, openly murdering our military instructor. He must be severely punished!"
"General Luo, don't forget that Chu He is that person's disciple. If we make a move against him, won't the old man be displeased?"
"This..."
The major general who had just demanded severe punishment for Chu He was instantly struck speechless.
It was simply because Chu He's master was truly formidable—with just a single word, if the old man stomped his foot, the entire Huaxia military would tremble!
"That's right, and rumor has it that Chu He is also the new Holy Lord of the Dark Palace!"
"..."
The conference hall instantly plunged into silence, with everyone casting their gazes toward the theater commander seated at the head of the table.
"Even the Son of Heaven commits crimes, he is punished the same as a commoner!"
The theater commander set the tone for the matter. Clearing his throat, he said in a deep voice, "However, we cannot push him to annihilation either. Consider it giving Chu He a chance..."
...
Jade Garden.
Chu He walked into the villa.
A glance ahead revealed an ultra-luxurious living room, complete with an imported Italian crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling that probably cost no less than the Ferrari parked outside!
"Master, you're back!"
Suddenly, a woman's voice came from the direction of the second floor.
"Who's there?"
Chu He looked up to see a young woman dressed in a silk purple nightgown walking gracefully down the stairwell with a smile.
She was tall, with a cascade of flowing hair resting on her shoulders. Her features were exquisite and her skin fair, while her oval face bore a light layer of makeup. Her dewy red lips were both sexy and alluring, and her pair of endearing, soulful eyes exuded an indescribable charm.
"Master, my name is Leng Muxue!"
The woman walked right up to Chu He, her attitude utterly flattering. "Mr. Owen asked me to serve you. From now on, I am your person!"
"Wait, wait, wait—what do you mean *my person*?"
Chu He snapped back to reality. No wonder Owen had told him there was a pleasant surprise waiting for him in the villa; it turned out to be a woman!
"You should leave. I'm not used to living under the same roof with a stranger!" Chu He said coldly to the woman.
"Master, did I do something wrong?"
Leng Muxue instantly assumed a pitiful expression, looking deeply aggrieved as she pleaded, "Please don't chase me away, or Mr. Owen will scold me!"
"What the hell?"
"Who on earth are you, and what is your relationship with Owen?" Chu He looked at the woman suspiciously.
"Mr. Owen is my boss. I manage all of the Knight Group's operations in Huaxia on his behalf."
"Master, you can make me do anything, including... asking me to offer you my body!"
With that, Leng Muxue slipped off the outer layer of her robe, leaving only her leopard-print lingerie underneath, instantly exposing her curvaceous, sculpted body to the air.
Gulp!
Seeing the patch of snowy white at the woman's chest and the deep cleavage between them, Chu He froze for a full two seconds.
"Master, the master bedroom on the first floor has a motorized bed. How about I accompany you to try it out?" Leng Muxue actively leaned in close, a faint scent of orchids washing over him.
"No need!"
Hearing Leng Muxue's deeply seductive voice, Chu He felt his old face flush.
To be honest, he was still an inexperienced novice. If he just stumbled into 'testing a bed' with someone like this like a fool, wouldn't he lose out big time?
"Don't call me master anymore in the future. It sounds weird!"
"In the future?"
Hearing this, Leng Muxue's eyes lit up with joyful surprise. "Master, are you not going to chase me away?"
Catching another accidental glimpse of the woman's tender, fair body, Chu He instantly felt a wave of internal heat surge through him and hastily asked:
"I need to take a shower. Where is the bathroom?"
"I'll show you the way!" Leng Muxue offered a charming smile, swaying her wasp-like waist and rounded hips as she took the lead.
What an absolute enchantress!
Chu He took a deep breath and followed her into a spacious bathroom. The setup inside resembled a Japanese hot spring, featuring a large square soaking tub in the center filled with warm water, its surface drifting with faint curls of steam.
"You can head out now. I'm going to take off my clothes!" Chu He waved his hand, signaling Leng Muxue to leave.
"Master... how about I help you bathe and change?" Leng Muxue said softly.
"If you don't get out right now, I really will kick you out!"
They always said women were tigers, and truer words were never spoken—let your guard down for even a second and they'd 'devour' you...
"Then take your time washing up. Just call for me whenever you need anything!"
Seeing Chu He's flustered appearance, Leng Muxue couldn't help wanting to laugh. The 'Holy Lord' whom Mr. Owen held in such deep awe turned out to be a shy big boy!
Emerging from his shower, Chu He twitched his nose, catching the fragrant scent of cooking.
"Master, dinner is ready!"
Standing in the dining area not far away, Leng Muxue beamed at Chu He.
"You can cook?"
Chu He was quite surprised. Among career women like Leng Muxue, how many could actually cook?
"I learned how before. Why don't you taste it and see how it is?"
"Let me try!"
Chu He walked over to the dining table, sat down, picked up some stir-fried tomatoes and eggs with his chopsticks, and popped them into his mouth. The next second, he instinctively gave a thumbs-up:
"Tastes good. You could open a restaurant!"
"As long as Master likes it."
Hearing Chu He praise her made Leng Muxue very happy, though she continued standing there without sitting down.
"Sit down and eat with me. No need to be so formal!" Chu He said.
"Understood!"
"..."
After the meal, Leng Muxue proactively cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks and headed to the kitchen. Seeing this, Chu He couldn't help reflecting that a home really needed a woman around—it saved him from having to handle all the trivial chores himself!
That evening, just as Chu He was preparing to return to his room, Leng Muxue hurried over and asked:
"Master, would you like me to accompany you to sleep?"
"No!"
Chu He rejected her decisively. This vixen always wanted to sleep with him; he better stay far away from her!
Turning back into the master bedroom, Chu He pulled the sandalwood box given to him by the old man out from his robes. Inside were three marriage contracts. Inspecting them one by one, he discovered that apart from one in the Capital, the other two were right here in his home province!
"My apologies, young ladies. I am destined to be a man you can never have!" Chu He's lips curved upward in a smile.
He pulled out the contract bearing the name Zhong Ling'er. Since this young woman was in Jiangzhou, he would break off the engagement with her first...
Early the next morning.
When Chu He woke up, he found that Leng Muxue had already left, leaving milk, eggs, and bread prepared by her on the dining table.
After finishing breakfast, Chu He prepared to head to North City first to cancel his engagement.
Built along the banks of a river, Jiangzhou was divided into North and South cities. Chu He lived in South City, while Zhong Ling'er from the marriage contract lived in North City, the two separated only by the river.
"Morning, Mr. Chu!"
Seeing Chu He, yesterday's security guard immediately piled a flattering smile onto his face.
"What did you call me?" Chu He asked, putting on an irritated expression.
"D-Daddy..."
"Mm, that's more like it."
Chu He nodded with satisfaction, speaking to the guard in all seriousness: "Good son, work hard. Daddy believes in you!"
"..."
The security guard felt like crying without tears. It was all his fault for being too impulsive yesterday; he had dug a hole and buried himself in it...
As Chu He walked down a tree-lined path, he suddenly halted in his steps, glanced sideways at the artificial grove of trees, and said coldly:
"Come on out, no need to hide anymore!"
Chapter 8 Failing to Recognize Mount Tai?
As his voice trailed off, four men dressed in camouflage uniforms emerged from the woods.
An intense killing intent emanated from these men—the kind possessed only by those who had experienced the baptism of life and death on the battlefield.
"Chu He!"
A dark-skinned man stepped forward and said coldly, "You openly murdered Colonel Zhao Bin. Do you know your crime?"
"So it's military personnel!"
Chu He swept his gaze over the four of them and retorted, "The Zhao Bin you speak of—wasn't he an accomplice to evildoers? Didn't he deserve to die?"
"Insolent!"
Another camo-clad man barked angrily, "We'll give you two choices now: either leave Huaxia immediately, or I'll send you down to apologize to Zhao Bin!"
"Threatening me? You're not even worthy!"
Chu He gave a contemptuous smile, casually plucked a leaf from a nearby bush, and flicked it with his finger!
Swish!
The verdant leaf shot forward like a bullet, grazing one of the men's cheeks and leaving behind a thin trace of blood.
When the four of them looked back, they were instantly shocked by the sight before them!
That soft leaf had embedded itself directly into the hard tree trunk, leaving only a tiny fragment visible on the outside.
"True qi projection... You, you're in the Grandmaster Realm?"
The dark-skinned man's eyes widened in horror as he stared at Chu He. To be a grandmaster-tier expert at such a young age?
Martial artists in the land of Huaxia were divided into four realms: Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Yellow. Each realm could be further divided into Initial, Intermediate, and High Tiers. Above the High Tier was the Grandmaster Realm, and anything beyond a grandmaster belonged to an entirely different league!
Only upon reaching the Yellow Realm Grandmaster level could one project true qi externally and pluck leaves to injure people!
Most people spent their entire lives stuck at the Yellow Grade High-Tier. For Chu He to already be a Yellow Realm Grandmaster at such a young age was simply unimaginable!
"If you're not afraid of death, come on then!"
Chu He had no intention of explaining. His sharp gaze swept across the four men one by one, causing them to lower their heads, one after another, unable to meet his eyes.
"You can go. We lost!"
Finally, the dark-faced man gritted his teeth and spoke with undisguised reluctance.
"Remember this: don't come bother me for nothing from now on, or bear the consequences!" Chu He finished speaking and strode away.
"Old Hei, what do we do now?"
"Report the truth. The superiors didn't strictly order us to kill Chu He anyway!"
"That's true. Besides, the four of us combined are no match for him."
"..."
With those words, the men lowered their heads once more as an unprecedented wave of defeat washed over them. They were, after all, the Four Great Battle Kings of the Southern Theater Command, capable of taking a head from among a million enemy soldiers as easily as taking something from their own pockets. Yet today, they had been completely and effortlessly manipulated by Chu He...
Outside the Complex.
Chu He flagged down a taxi by the roadside and, following the address on the marriage contract, quickly arrived at Zhong Ling'er's home.
This was a massive villa that could well be called a manor. Two gleaming golden copper gates looked solemn and majestic, while two black-suited bodyguards wearing sunglasses stood at the entrance, expressionless and giving off a distinct "strangers keep away" vibe.
In addition, an ambulance was parked right outside the villa's entrance, looking utterly out of place with the surrounding high-end environment.
"The old man actually found me a wealthy heiress?" Chu He muttered to himself.
"Pal, the Zhong family is the wealthiest in North City. You know them?" The driver couldn't help his curiosity upon hearing this.
"Of course, this is my fiancée's family!" Chu He said, pushing open the car door, stepping out, and heading straight toward the villa gates.
"Pfft, shameless brat!"
Watching Chu He's retreating figure, the driver couldn't help spitting in disgust...
The moment he reached the entrance, Chu He was intercepted by the bodyguards.
"Are you Professor Zhou's assistant?"
"Professor Zhou?"
Chu He blinked in surprise, but the bodyguard spoke with frantic urgency, "Quick, come inside with us! Young Miss is waiting for you guys to save her life!"
"Is your young miss Zhong Ling'er?"