Chu Yanran handed a crimson-gold token to Chu Chen.
Holding the token and with a sword box on her back, she turned and left with a heroic bearing.
"I have to go too. Mom and Dad said they're taking me to a banquet tonight, probably organized by some elder in the Chu family.
Brother, you need to behave while I'm away. Don't cause trouble, and don't pick fights with outer disciples. Otherwise, you'll be in big trouble!"
With that, Chu Yanran departed.
"Heh heh..."
Chu Chen smiled faintly.
A banquet hosted by the Chu family, huh?
He wondered who would be invited.
As a thought flickered through Chu Chen's mind, he suddenly sensed something.
"This little girl actually left a trace of spiritual imprint behind to monitor me! Hmph, a mere little lass, she really needs a lesson."
Chu Chen shook his head and flicked his hand, erasing Chu Yanran's spiritual imprint.
Chu Yanran was his sister, and he wouldn't hide anything from her just because of a trace of spiritual imprint.
As for whether Chu Yanran would want to know his secrets in the future, he didn't really care.
After all, it wouldn't harm her.
However, he had too many secrets.
"My cultivation is still a bit short of the sixth level of Body Tempering! I must seize this time to cultivate!
Someone like Chu Haoran isn't worthy of my time!"
...
A month later.
"Chu Chen, get out here, you scoundrel!"
A roar echoed from the depths of the Chu family mansion!
"It's this idiot again!"
Chu Haoran walked out of the house.
During this period, every time Chu Haoran came to provoke him, the outcome was almost always Chu Chen beating him soundly and then throwing him out!
He had developed a habit of waiting for Chu Haoran to provoke him daily, only to be thrashed like a dog!
"Chu Haoran, I've told you, no matter how many helpers you bring, it won't be enough!
You'd better obediently kneel and beg for forgiveness, and perhaps I'll consider letting you off!" Chu Chen said indifferently.
"Nonsense! Am I afraid of you?!"
Chu Haoran roared in fury, glaring at Chu Chen with gritted teeth, wishing he could devour his flesh and drink his blood!
"Chu Chen, I will definitely break all your limbs today, and then force you to kneel before me and kowtow!"
As the words fell, Chu Haoran, like a madman, swung his iron hammer and charged at Chu Chen.
Their strength was evenly matched. After a fierce battle, Chu Haoran was covered in wounds, but Chu Chen was equally disheveled.
"Chu Haoran, if we keep fighting like this, you won't last much longer. I advise you to surrender quickly. I don't want to kill you, or you'll definitely regret it."
Chu Chen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and warned coldly.
"Hahahaha! Do you think I'm stupid enough to keep fighting you?"
Chu Haoran laughed ferociously, a cruel glint in his eyes. "You killed my parents! I must use your life to pay respects to my parents in heaven!"
His father was Chu Kuangren's personal guard.
Therefore, he had a very close relationship with Chu Kuangren!
But it was because of Chu Chen that Chu Haoran's parents died!
Although Chu Haoran was still young, he already understood what revenge meant!
He wanted to use Chu Chen's blood and life to pay respects to his parents in heaven!
"Chu Chen! Die!"
Chu Haoran roared and lunged at Chu Chen again.
His speed was incredibly fast, like a leopard. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Chu Chen. The iron hammer, imbued with powerful aura, smashed onto Chu Chen's shoulder!
"Crack!"
The sound of bone-shattering echoed!
Chu Chen's figure was instantly sent flying, crashing heavily onto the ground. He spat out a mouthful of blood mist, and it was likely that two of his ribs were directly broken by Chu Haoran's iron hammer!
Chu Yanran, watching from a distance, saw this scene. Her pretty face turned pale, her eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face!
"No! Don't!"
Her delicate body trembled, tears flowing freely, and she cried out in grief.
However, at this moment.
A cold gleam flashed!
With a crisp "clang,"
A silver dagger was drawn, instantly slicing through the air, emitting a sharp, piercing whistle.
Pfft!
A head flew into the air, spinning, and plunged into the river!
Blood stained the clear water!
It was a headless corpse, staggering and falling to the ground.
"Thump, thump, thump..."
The corpse twitched a few times and then lay still.
"What... what happened! Who ambushed me just now?" "Who killed my son!"
From the depths of the Chu family mansion, powerful and imposing auras erupted into the sky!
Immediately after, several figures rapidly approached. There were men and women among them, all exuding fierce auras and palpable killing intent!
"Haochen is dead!"
A young man in white was filled with extreme anger!
This youth was none other than the eldest son of the Chu family patriarch, Chu Tianxiong, Chu Haochen's elder brother, Chu Haoxuan!
"Bastard! You dare to kill my son, you deserve to die!"
Another young man in black robes berated sternly!
"The one who killed Haochen must be that trash Chu Chen!
This bastard has killed three generations of direct descendants of our Chu family, and he must pay a terrible price!"
Chu Haochen was a direct descendant of the third generation of the Chu family, possessing outstanding talent and a martial spirit at the peak of the ninth level of the Martial Apprentice realm!
Such a prodigy was rare even within the entire Chu family, with immense potential, and he was destined to reach the Martial Master realm in the future.
Moreover, it was rumored that he cultivated a special technique that allowed him to defeat martial artists a level higher than himself.
"You killed my brother, you must pay with your life!"
"Not only will you die, but everyone around you will die too!"
"Arrest them all! Hand them over to the authorities for judgment!"
"..."
A group of people surrounded Chu Chen, glaring menacingly, their killing intent sharp!
"What are you doing?!"
Just then, a flustered voice rang out.
A beautiful girl in a pink dress ran in from the courtyard gate, blocking Chu Chen's path!
She saw the corpse on the ground, her face turning deathly pale.
"Brother! You... you don't kill him!
This has nothing to do with Brother Chen. If you want to punish someone, punish me!" the girl pleaded anxiously.
She was none other than Chu Yanran.
"Hmph, it has nothing to do with him?"
A young master stepped forward, pointing at the headless corpse on the ground. "This is the evidence! He killed Haochen, are we still wronging him?"
These people were all core descendants of the Chu family. Apart from some wastrels who couldn't cultivate, the rest were martial artists!
"I said, I will resolve this matter!"
At this moment, a calm yet deep voice echoed in the courtyard!
Swish!
Instantly, a vast aura surged, sweeping like a hurricane and enveloping the surroundings!
Everyone present changed color, their eyes wide with disbelief!
"Sixth level of Body Tempering..."
"Hiss! How is this possible? He was just a good-for-nothing!"
"I remember when we saw him at the martial arts practice field, he hadn't even awakened his qi sense!
And now, after only a few months, he has broken through a realm!"
Everyone was utterly shocked!
Even some veteran elders in the Martial Master realm looked solemn, their eyes filled with astonishment.
Seventh level of Body Tempering, eighth level...
Fifth level of Qi Sea!