Chen Xing's Fury

West Courtyard.

Chen Xing entered the courtyard with a livid face, striding like a dragon and stalking like a tiger. The maids and servants he passed all lowered their heads and saluted. No one dared speak. Everyone could feel an oppressive atmosphere spreading through the courtyard.

Clang!

Chen Xing shoved open the door to the inner room.

In the inner chamber of the bedroom, Wang Shi was reclining in a lounge chair. On either side of her, maids were cautiously applying ice packs to her face. Both sides of her face were still red and swollen.

Chen Xing suddenly pushed his way inside, startling the two maids so badly that even the ice packs fell to the floor. The two maids hurriedly dropped to their knees and saluted Chen Xing, trembling with fear.

"L-Lord..."

The commotion startled Wang Shi awake as well. When she saw Chen Xing enter, tears immediately welled up in her eyes. She rose and said, "Look at my face! That bastard actually dared to—"

Slap!

Before she could finish, another five-finger mark appeared on her already swollen face.

The slap left Wang Shi stunned. Even her tears stopped at once. She covered her face and stared at Chen Xing in disbelief.

Chen Xing glared at Wang Shi, enraged beyond measure. He raised his hand to strike again, but stopped it in midair and shouted, "Do you even need to tell me? I hadn't even returned yet, and my ears were already practically rubbed raw from hearing about it. Now every servant in the estate knows! Is this how you make me proud?!"

"And besides, no matter how worthless and damnable that boy is, are you in any position to call him a bastard? Those two slaps clearly haven't brought you to your senses!"

Under Chen Xing's furious reprimand, Wang Shi opened and closed her mouth, her momentum instantly weakening. She covered her face and stammered, unable to answer for a moment.

Indeed.

No matter what Chen Mu was like, he was still a blood descendant of the Xuanguo Duke. Even as the least-favored bastard son, he was still the offspring of the late First Lord. If the Old Madam heard what Wang Shi had said, she would have her mouth slapped as well.

Wang Shi no longer dared to speak. She simply listened to Chen Xing panting. Only after his breathing eased somewhat did she cover her face and say, "My lord, I know I was wrong. But that boy didn't just strike me—he also struck at your dignity. This matter..."

Chen Xing let out a cold laugh. "What do you want me to do? Go to his door and beat him for you? If this were any other time, beating him half to death would be nothing. But now your matter is known by every servant in the estate. If I go to his door again, the affair will inevitably grow until it reaches Second Elder Brother and the Old Madam. You may not mind losing face, but I still have to preserve some of mine!"

"B-but..."

Wang Shi gritted her teeth.

Chen Xing waved his hand, cutting her off, and said coldly, "Enough. There's no need to pick up face that's already been lost. Tomorrow, I'll have someone keep an eye on that boy. Once things have cooled down in a few days, I'll find some excuse to deal with him."

Hearing this, a glimmer finally appeared in Wang Shi's eyes, followed by a trace of viciousness. "And there's also that Ning Qiang. She can't even give birth to a child. Keeping her in the estate is an eyesore."

"Can't give birth... Heh."

Chen Xing murmured the words, then suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

Wang Shi froze.

Just as she was wondering about it, Chen Xing said, "This isn't her fault. It's because Chen Wu practiced the Eight Desolations Primordial Essence Art. There's nothing particularly extraordinary about the technique—it only makes one's martial progress slightly faster—but before reaching Sixth Rank, one has to maintain the body of a pure-yang virgin boy... Ning Qiang is rather pitiful."

"So that's how it is."

After her brief surprise, Wang Shi revealed an enlightened expression. "No wonder the Old Madam allowed her to stay... But Chen Wu and she brought this upon themselves. They practiced that lousy technique, and without leaving behind a bloodline, ending up in such a situation is exactly what they deserve."

Chen Xing did not reply.

Chen Wu's talent truly had been extraordinarily high back then. Before the age of twenty, he had already reached the Seventh Rank. Entering the Sixth Rank had practically been a certainty.

If he could reach the Sixth Rank before the age of twenty-five, then he would have had a chance of reaching the Fifth Rank before thirty.

Even Chen Xing could only sigh in admiration at such talent.

But sometimes fate was simply like this. Chen Wu died amid a demonic disturbance, falling halfway along the path of martial arts, while Chen Xing had lived safely until now. At present, he was even the most outstanding martial cultivator among all the bastard sons.

This was the will of Heaven.

Among all the bastard sons of the Xuanguo Estate, he was destined to lead them.

Continuing east from Chen Xing's West Courtyard, after winding through seven turns and eight bends, one came upon a courtyard spanning a full three sections. Every part of it was arranged with extravagant splendor.

This was the courtyard of Chen Yu, the Third Eldest Son of the Xuanguo Estate.

There were no male servants or young attendants in the courtyard, only maids of every size bustling about. Even the youngest little maids were clearly beauties in the making. Once they grew into their features, they might not be beauties capable of making fish sink and geese fall, but they would certainly be comely and charming.

In the innermost bedroom, a brazier spread warmth throughout the entire room.

Chen Yu wore a white brocade robe and reclined in a lounge chair. Beside him sat a beautiful woman, carefully removing cherry pits before feeding the fruit to Chen Yu's lips.

Suddenly.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Chen Yu spoke lazily.

A maid entered and came to Chen Yu's ear, whispering a few words.

After listening, Chen Yu could not help showing some surprise. He smiled and said, "When did that Chen Mu develop such courage? He even dared to beat Chen Xing's wife unconscious. He does have a bit of Chen Wu's style."

The woman beside him asked curiously, "Who is Chen Wu?"

"Someone who has been dead for a long time."

Chen Yu replied casually, "He was full of youthful ambition back then and even wanted to change his fate through martial arts. But how could it be that easy? It was a pity about his wife, though. She was so beautiful and charming, yet she married him and has been keeping vigil alone all these years."

The woman beside him blinked and asked strangely, "Was that Chen Wu unable to perform his husbandly duties?"

As the woman at Chen Yu's side, she could hear the interest in his tone when he spoke of Ning Shi. But Chen Yu had never spared so much as a glance for a faded beauty.

Chen Yu gave a soft laugh. "No. He was simply a little foolish. And that Chen Mu was rather lucky—he didn't even die from it..."

He stopped there.

The woman beside him immediately understood that Chen Yu did not wish to continue the topic. She obediently stopped as well, leaning against Chen Yu and continuing to pit cherries.

Chen Yu closed his eyes and pondered for a while.

Then he said, "Have someone keep a closer eye on that side. Report to me immediately if anything changes."

Chen Xing had suffered such a great loss of face. He certainly would not let the matter go and would take action sooner or later. Given Chen Xing's way of handling things, once he moved, Chen Mu was no Chen Wu and would certainly be unable to withstand it. Even if he did not die, he would be crippled.

None of that mattered much. Chen Yu had no interest in keeping watch over it.

It was only that Ning Qiang might die as well. It would be a pity not to have a taste.

By the way.

He could also use this opportunity to give Chen Xing a warning.

Ever since Chen Xing had become a Battalion Commander, he had grown somewhat giddy with success. He remained respectful enough toward his two elder brothers of the main branch, but his attitude toward him, the Third Young Master, had begun to grow improper.

Chen Xing had to understand that although the Third Young Master could not compare with those two elder brothers, he was still the legitimate eldest son of the Xuanguo Estate. No matter how outstanding a bastard son was, he was still only a bastard son.

"Yes."

The maid kneeling nearby replied softly, then withdrew.