Ma Shaokang, Ma Ruzhen's only son, was only sixteen this year. Yet he had begun cultivating at the age of six, laying an exceptionally solid martial foundation. Later, with an uninterrupted supply of resources, his cultivation had surpassed Ma Ruzhen's at the same age. The entire Ma Family Manor regarded him as its future lord.
Thus, Ma Ruzhen could be said to have an heir. Even if something truly happened to him, as twenty years ago, father could die and son succeed him, preserving the vast Ma family estate.
"Still, A Kang is young. These past few years, several of my sworn brothers have harbored ulterior intentions. He may not be able to suppress them. It seems I must find an opportunity to test them and clear away the obstacles for A Kang!"
Back then, Old Master Ma had twelve sworn brothers, and together they built the enormous Ma Family Manor, vividly proving that a good man needed three helpers.
Ma Ruzhen was the same. He did not have quite so many sworn brothers, but he still had six. The seven of them were known as the Seven Heroes, every one a Connate-level expert. Over the past several decades, they had commanded wind and rain, though changing times had left them showing signs of decline in recent years.
Among those six sworn brothers, four had careers of their own and had carved out their own domains. The other two were closest to him, remaining within Ma Family Manor to help him handle its affairs. They had worked diligently, and their brotherly bond had been quite good.
However, in recent years, Ma Ruzhen had diverted some of Ma Family Manor's money to subsidize the Moon Guards with the manor's assets. This had stiffened the relationship between the brothers, even leading to