5: Background

Chen Cheng stayed in the small town for some time longer, and he also learned some information about the Jia Ma Empire from passersby.

The two great empires bordered each other, and some gossip-loving people knew a few things about the neighboring countries.

At this time, the sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect was still Yun Yun, and there had been no news of the Heavenly Poison Woman within the Izumo Empire.

Based on these two important pieces of information, Chen Cheng could determine that the timeline was even earlier. As for whether it was before or after Nalan Yanran broke off the engagement, Chen Cheng had no way of knowing.

Although Nalan Yanran's broken engagement was a major matter to the people of the Jia Ma Empire, it was not particularly noteworthy to those of the Izumo Empire.

After all, Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan were merely juniors. They could not draw much attention from others.

The people of the Izumo Empire could not even fully grasp the news within their own country, so how could they spare the effort to investigate such trivial matters in another nation?

After a while, I should go to Wutan City and confirm the timeline as soon as possible. That will also make it easier to plan my next moves, Chen Cheng thought.

There were many treasures on the Dou Qi Continent that tempted Chen Cheng, but only by determining the correct timeline could he know in what order to make his plans for them.

Chen Cheng sat by the window, watching people come and go.

Suddenly, several powerful auras approached from afar. Chen Cheng was startled and looked toward the sky. Several black dots rapidly drew near in the distant heavens, growing larger until he gradually realized they were people.

There were three of them in total, flying toward the small town. Only when they came closer did Chen Cheng see them clearly.

All three had manifested Dou Qi Transformation Wings, indicating that they were at least Dou Wang-level experts.

The leader's Dou Qi Wings were black—pure black, without the slightest trace of another color. They looked exceptionally eerie.

The remaining two flew somewhat slower than the man in front. One had brown Dou Qi Wings, while the other had golden wings.

If they had not cultivated any other Flight Fighting Skills, the colors displayed by their Dou Qi Wings represented their attributes. It could roughly be determined that one possessed the Earth Attribute, while the other possessed the Metal Attribute.

As for the leader, with those black wings, he either possessed the rare Dark Attribute or the Poison Attribute.

Through the Copy System, Chen Cheng obtained their information.

The man with black wings—

Name: Chen Yuan
Cultivation: Three Star Dou Huang

The man with brown wings—

Name: Chen Yang
Cultivation: Seven Star Dou Wang

The man with golden wings—

Name: Chen Ming
Cultivation: Five-Star Dou Wang

What a powerful lineup. It seems this Dou Huang is Marquis Anyang, Murong Zhi's teacher. Two Dou Wangs and one Dou Huang—such a force truly could kill a Magical Beast that had just advanced to the sixth tier, Chen Cheng pondered as he watched the three land somewhere in the town.

A faction capable of fielding such a lineup cannot be weaker than the Misty Cloud Sect of the Jia Ma Empire. They should not be unknown. Yet I never heard of such a family in the original novel. They must have been one of the factions wiped out by Xiao Yi Xian after she arrived in the Izumo Empire, Chen Cheng guessed.

Chen Cheng remained in his room and did not go out. After some time had passed, Huang Yaoshi knocked on his door.

"Young Master, Murong Zhi has come to visit with his teacher," Huang Yaoshi said.

"What?" Chen Cheng was greatly startled upon hearing this.

A Dou Huang expert had come to visit him in person. That was truly unexpected.

Although Murong Zhi had mentioned that he would introduce Chen Cheng to his teacher, Marquis Anyang, Chen Cheng, as the junior, should have been the one to pay a visit—not for a Dou Huang expert like Marquis Anyang to come to his door.

"Come with me to greet them," Chen Cheng said to Red Serpent and Huang Yaoshi.

A Dou Huang expert was still extremely powerful to Chen Cheng at this time, and he did not dare neglect him. He immediately called for Red Serpent and Huang Yaoshi and headed outside.

In the hall, three people sat at a prominent table, while Murong Zhi stood behind one of them in attendance.

Chen Cheng walked down the stairs. That slight movement immediately caught the attention of a stern, authoritative middle-aged man among the three.

The man suddenly raised his gaze and looked at Chen Cheng descending from upstairs. Then his eyes froze.

His expression was filled with excitement and delight.

He abruptly rose to his feet, and with a flicker, appeared directly before Chen Cheng. He was so fast that no one could react.

"Cheng'er, is it really you?"

His hands gripped Chen Cheng's shoulders, his face full of agitation.

When Red Serpent and Huang Yaoshi noticed Chen Yuan suddenly appear before Chen Cheng, their faces tightened with alarm as well. Red Serpent drew the Red Serpent Soft Sword tied around her waist, while Huang Yaoshi gripped his jade flute.

"Release my master at once." Red Serpent's face was frosty as she brought her soft sword together, gathering strength and pointing it warily at Chen Yuan.

There was far too great a gap between her cultivation and Chen Yuan's. Yet with Chen Cheng being restrained, she still dared face him head-on.

But as Chen Cheng observed Chen Yuan at close range, he found not the slightest hostility on his face—only excitement.

Seeing this, Chen Cheng finally relaxed the bit of tension in his heart. Otherwise, in his current state, how could he deal with a Dou Huang?

After a while, Chen Yuan also realized that his actions had been improper. He released Chen Cheng and said, "My apologies. I was discourteous."

Chen Yuan's voice was calm, carrying none of the arrogance of a Dou Emperor. His gaze remained fixed on Chen Cheng's face, and a trace of nostalgia showed in his expression.

After Murong Zhi came to his senses in the inn's main hall, he hurried over as well and tried to persuade Chen Yuan. "Teacher, they are my friends. Please don't hurt them."

Murong Zhi quickly reached the stairs and said to Chen Yuan, "Teacher, this is the young friend Chen Cheng I mentioned to you."

"Young Friend Chen, this is my master, Marquis Anyang," Murong Zhi then introduced Chen Yuan to Chen Cheng.

After Murong Zhi came up, Chen Yuan made no further inappropriate moves. His gaze remained focused on Chen Cheng as he waited for Murong Zhi's introduction.

"Greetings, Marquis." Once Murong Zhi had finished the introductions, Chen Cheng slightly bent forward and cupped his hands in salute, showing his respect for Chen Yuan, the Marquis Anyang of the Izumo Empire.

Chen Yuan calmly accepted Chen Cheng's salute, then reached out with both hands to support Chen Cheng by the arms and help him straighten up.

Chen Yuan's action greatly startled Murong Zhi.

As the Empire's Marquis Anyang, Chen Yuan had countless lives on his hands. He was cold-blooded and ruthless, a genuine fiend. Yet what he did today was simply too strange.

Earlier, after Murong Zhi told Chen Yuan that he had made several good friends in this small town, Chen Yuan had immediately asked Murong Zhi to lead the way upon learning Chen Cheng's name.

And now, Chen Yuan had actually taken the initiative to help up someone he had never met before.

After helping Chen Cheng up, Chen Yuan spoke. "Marquis? No, you should call me Father."

Chen Yuan did not speak loudly, but his words left everyone dumbfounded.

Murong Zhi and the two Dou Wangs who had followed behind seemed to turn to stone upon hearing Chen Yuan's words.

Chen Cheng was also stunned for a moment upon hearing Chen Yuan, but he soon returned to normal. With an awkward laugh, he said, "Heh, heh, Marquis, you must be joking. How could you possibly be my father?"

Chen Cheng absolutely could not believe it. He had only come to the Dou Qi Continent less than half a month ago, and he had not been reincarnated through possession. How could he suddenly have an extra father?

If Chen Yuan had mistaken him for someone else because they looked alike, that would have made more sense.

"You are my son. How could I mistake you? You disappeared when you were six. Eleven years have passed. Though you look different now, you still bear the outline of your younger self. How could I mistake you?" Chen Yuan said with absolute certainty.

"I searched for you for eleven whole years and never received any news, but I never gave up. When I heard from Zhi'er that your name was Chen Cheng, I only thought it was a coincidence of identical names. Yet I still held onto a sliver of hope, so I had Zhi'er bring me to find you. Only after seeing your face was I certain—you are my son. You are the Chen Family's only heir." If Chen Yuan was not making up a story, then he truly was a father desperate to find his son.

"Marquis, I can assure you that you have mistaken me for someone else. I absolutely cannot be your son. As for the identical name and similar appearance, those should merely be coincidences," Chen Cheng explained.

He had no desire to casually acknowledge a father in this foreign world, even if the man before him was far too powerful for Chen Cheng to contend with.

Chen Yuan fell silent for a while, seemingly deep in thought, while Chen Cheng stood waiting in the stairwell. He only hoped Chen Yuan would figure it out himself and not remain so stubborn.

"Hey! Take your conversation somewhere else! Why are you blocking the stairway? Are you going to let anyone pass or not?" At that moment, an angry voice rang out.

Chen Cheng had been halfway down the stairs when Chen Yuan appeared in front of him. At this point, the group really was blocking the stairway completely, leaving no room for anyone else to pass.