Heartache (Part One)

Just as Zhang Hupan was considering whether to secretly release a wisp of spiritual energy to protect his ravaged skin, Zhao Liya suddenly let out a startled cry. The alluring body that had been pressed tightly against him, along with the "claws" that had been causing him immense agony, quickly pulled away from him. Her beautiful eyes gleaming with surprise fixed intensely on the two suited men entering the hall through the doorway.

The man on the left was as imposing as a mountain, with handsome features, flowing long hair, deep and gloomy eyes, and a hooked nose. Although he wore a smile, Zhang Hupan could tell at a glance that he was a deeply calculating, sinister, and vicious man. The man on the right looked slightly older. He was equally handsome, but his complexion was somewhat pale, as though he had just emerged from a place that never saw sunlight. His lips were rather thin, and his eyes deeply sunken. Anyone could see that he was a deeply calculating, narrow-minded villain who took revenge over the slightest grievance. Although both men looked young, Zhang Hupan was astonished to discover that the man on the left was already close to reaching the pinnacle of the Postnatal Realm, just one step away from the Innate Realm. Of course, without a fortuitous opportunity or extraordinary talent, that single step might remain impossible to cross for an entire lifetime. The man on the right, meanwhile, had already reached the pinnacle of the Innate Realm and was likewise only one step away from entering the cultivation world.

They were the most powerful experts Zhang Hupan had encountered since descending from Wudang Mountain—though that naturally applied only to experts of the mundane world. Although the extraordinary cultivation of the two men had secretly shocked Zhang Hupan, leaving him wondering who they were, what shocked him most was the sinister, evil aura radiating from them, which made him deeply uncomfortable. It was an indescribable feeling.

Zhao Liya stared fixedly at the hooked-nosed man on the left. Her beautiful eyes seemed slightly misty as she murmured softly, "Shi Liwei, Brother Shi!"

The excitement on Zhao Liya's face sent wave after wave of stabbing pain through Zhang Hupan's heart. A jealousy he had never experienced before surged into the heart of this "centenarian."

Suddenly, Zhao Liya turned to Zhang Hupan and said, "Whatever you do, don't say that you're my boyfriend later! Make sure you remember!"

Zhang Hupan naturally knew why Zhao Liya had said that. He was not a fool—how could he fail to understand that among the two young men who had entered through the doorway, the hooked-nosed man was very likely the man Zhao Liya liked? Although they had agreed from the start that he was only a fake boyfriend, when he truly realized that the beauty beside him was so nervous over the man in the distance that she was pleading with him in a beseeching gaze and a soft voice to deny being her boyfriend, Zhang Hupan discovered that he could not face the matter with ease at all. The feeling of being abandoned, of being betrayed, surged uncontrollably through him. Naturally, Zhang Hupan still refused to lower himself and beg the beauty beside him to stay. Enduring the indescribable heartache and humiliation in his chest, he forced a smile and said, "Looks like that young man is the man of your dreams. Now that the real one has arrived, this fake boyfriend of yours can retire."

"Thank you!" Zhao Liya was still caught up in the excitement of seeing the dream lover of her youth and failed to notice the pain in Zhang Hupan's eyes. Seeing how tactfully he had responded, she actually thanked him for the first time in a very sincere, grateful tone.

Zhang Hupan would rather have heard Zhao Liya speak arrogantly than hear her humble herself to say thank you solely because of that man. The heart-wrenching pain was utterly incomparable to the physical agony caused by her five fingers moments ago.

Clearly, the arrival of the two young men had caused a major commotion—or more precisely, the hooked-nosed man had caused it. Many young people, especially the wealthy heirs who considered themselves somewhat important, hurried over to greet him. Even the Lin family patriarch, Lin Qiming, extricated himself and went over to say hello.

"Who is he?" Although Zhang Hupan was extremely displeased by the two men, he was still very curious about the hooked-nosed man who had caused such a commotion and, in particular, had won Zhao Liya's favor.

"He's the eldest young master of Jiangsu's Shi family, Shi Liwei, and the next head of the Shi family!" Zhao Liya's eyes remained fixed on her Prince Charming from her youth as he handled himself with ease among the crowd, displaying impeccable manners.

"Oh, so he's just a young master from an influential family." Zhang Hupan's tone could not help but carry an unmistakable sourness and disdain.

Although all of Zhao Liya's attention was focused on Shi Liwei, when Zhang Hupan spoke of her Prince Charming with such disdain, her ears became exceptionally sharp. She immediately defended Shi Liwei: "Brother Shi isn't someone those young masters from influential families can compare with. When he was only eighteen, he already emerged in the martial world and became the leader of its younger generation. He was known alongside Grandmaster Dazhi of Shaolin, Qi Jixiong of Wudang, and He Qian of Hengshan as one of the Four Outstanding Young Men of the martial world! Five years ago, a senior martial artist took notice of him. He withdrew from the martial world to follow that senior in cultivation, and I never expected him to appear here today! His martial arts must be incredibly powerful now!"

The admiration in Zhao Liya's voice and the appreciation in her eyes dealt Zhang Hupan another deep wound. He suddenly regretted coming here, and regretted even more playing such a disgraceful role. A depression he had never felt before, a sense of utter hopelessness, surged uncontrollably through him. The people coming and going at the banquet, the noisy din, and the stale air filled Zhang Hupan with indescribable irritation. He wanted to leave immediately, as though he could not remain there for another moment.

Just as Zhang Hupan was preparing to leave, Zhao Liya took his hand and led him toward Shi Liwei and the other man. Shi Liwei was currently chatting merrily with Wang Hong and Lin Weifeng, while the other man stood beside him expressionlessly, though his eyes occasionally drifted toward some scantily dressed women. Although he inwardly looked down on these two wastrel heirs, Shi Liwei was a deeply calculating man. The two wealthy young masters could not detect the impatience and disdain hidden beneath his courteous tone, and immediately regarded the eldest young master of the Shi family as their lifelong confidant. Unfortunately, the arrival of Zhang Hupan and Zhao Liya reminded them of their earlier embarrassment, so they each made an excuse and left.

As one of the most beautiful women at the entire banquet, Zhao Liya had caught Shi Liwei's attention the moment he saw her at the entrance. As for Zhang Hupan, who looked as though he could not even truss a chicken, Shi Liwei had filtered him out completely. He had actually wanted to approach the beauty and strike up a conversation long ago, but the entanglement with those two playboy heirs had kept him from getting away. When Zhao Liya drew near, Shi Liwei's eyes lit up. Even the gloomy man beside him, who had remained expressionless all this time, could not help twitching his face. She was a rare beauty, absolutely the finest of the finest: a well-proportioned, tall figure, long slender legs, smooth and delicate skin, and a pretty face. How could such a beautiful girl have such an ordinary-looking boyfriend? Only I am worthy of a beauty like her!

As a deeply calculating social expert, Shi Liwei naturally knew how to leave a good impression. Before Zhang Hupan and Zhao Liya had even reached him, he was already walking toward them with a broad smile, raising his wineglass. "This beautiful lady looks very familiar. I wonder where we've met before?" As for Zhang Hupan, who looked ordinary and entirely like a weak scholar, Shi Liwei did not take him seriously at all. In truth, it was no wonder he had not considered that Zhang Hupan might be an expert. Shi Liwei himself was an exceptionally talented martial artist. After receiving guidance from a master and training diligently over the past few years, he had only just reached the stage of concealing his Primordial Spirit and containing his vital essence. He refused to believe that anyone could be more powerful than him, achieving such a state at a young age. Moreover, judging from Zhang Hupan's build, he did not look like someone who practiced external martial arts. Thus, in Shi Liwei's mind, Zhang Hupan was simply a wealthy young master with a bit of money. Since he had taken a fancy to the beauty walking toward him and already formed the intention of stealing her away, and since the adoration in the beauty's gaze made it clear that he had no need to ingratiate himself with such trash, Shi Liwei simply ignored Zhang Hupan and launched his approach toward Zhao Liya. The gloomy man beside him was likewise only one step away from the cultivation world and would not spare Zhang Hupan a proper glance. Although he still appeared cold and gloomy on the surface, his eyes shone with a heated light as he looked at Zhao Liya.