Another Home

The door opened, revealing Shen Yue, whose eyes were swollen from crying.

The girl threw herself against Chen Han's chest and burst into tears again, as if she wanted to pour out all the grievances she had suffered during this time.

Chen Han said nothing. He smiled faintly and gently patted Shen Yue's head.

He had already changed into clean clothes, and most of the bloody smell had been washed off him. Otherwise, he would have scared his family half to death.

Shen Yue cried for a while before finally calming down a little. Only then did Chen Han cup her face. He furrowed his brow and, with a faintly disgusted look, used his clothes to wipe the tears and snot from her face.

"Don't cry, don't cry. You're a grown young lady now, but you're still acting like a child."

Chen Han smiled.

Chen Yue shot Chen Han a reproachful look, then bumped her head against his chest. "Big brother... can you stop scolding me? That fat bastard came looking for trouble so many times. I was scared to death."

"Don't worry. Big brother promises no one will ever come looking for trouble again."

"Husband, this..."

Shen Wan'er had been beaming with joy, looking at Chen Han with warmth in her eyes. But then she noticed the fat man lying dead on the ground, and worry crept onto her face.

"Just a beast that died. It's nothing."

Chen Han didn't care in the least. He had nearly slaughtered all the Black Mountain Gang's martial artists and thugs. What did one beast with no backing amount to?

He gently pushed Shen Yue aside, then looked at her with a smile as warm as a spring breeze. "How about Big Brother takes you all to my home?"

"Big Brother's home? Isn't this Big Brother's home already?"

Shen Yue looked confused, her pretty little face full of questions.

"Yes, this is Big Brother's home, but he has another home too..."

Chen Han had grown stronger at an astonishing pace, but compared with the Black Mountain Gang and the various forces in the city, he was still far too weak.

Though he was reluctant, he had to admit that only by leaning on a great tree could he survive better in these troubled times.

And when all was said and done, Chen Han merely wanted to use the Chen Family's resources. He treated the family entirely as a stepping stone and, when necessary, would flee without the slightest mercy, abandon it, or even seize control of it for himself!

Let others call him heartless or cold-blooded...

Chen Mansion.

The six guards at the gate stood on high alert. The world was in turmoil, and they had to stay vigilant at all times.

Though no force in Black Lion City would dare cause trouble for the Chen Family.

Just then, they saw four figures slowly approaching in the distance. They recognized one of them: Chen Han, who had once been greatly valued by the family and possessed exceptional talent for martial arts.

Behind him were two sisters with similar features, both beautiful in face and figure. The last was an ordinary-looking woman, her skin still taut, with traces of the beauty she must once have had.

"Hold it! What are you here for?"

They evidently took Chen Han for a weakling who couldn't survive in these troubled times and had come crawling back to the family for shelter.

Family members like him were looked down on by the family.

The family had an explicit rule: any member cast out of the family had to fend for themselves and could no longer rely on the family or consume its resources unnecessarily.

The family wasn't a fallback, much less a shelter!

"I want to see the Old Steward."

"For what?"

Shen Yue and the others waited for Chen Han's reply, their heads lowered, not daring to relax. As commoners, they could only steal occasional glances at this powerful, wealthy household.

Their hearts were full of longing, but also of an indescribable fear.

It was the greatest failing of commoners.

Having reached the peak of Dark Force, Chen Han now carried himself with confidence. His back was straight, and he no longer fidgeted with his hands or looked like a cowering weakling.

But this only angered the six Mingjin Martial Artist guards. They were all in their forties, their bodies already stiff and their martial paths at a dead end. That was why the family had assigned them to guard the gate.

Still, they had the backing of one of Black Lion City's three great powers, and they were Mingjin Martial Artist guards. That made them rather arrogant.

Ordinary people had to treat them with the utmost respect, bowing and scraping whenever they saw them.

But Chen Han, an ordinary man who had long since lost the ability to practice martial arts, now carried himself as if he were their equal. It thoroughly annoyed them, and their voices grew sterner.

"The times are chaotic. I plan to have my wife stay in the family."

Chen Han spoke naturally, as if he were discussing the most ordinary thing in the world. That only annoyed them further.

"Ridiculous!"

One of them immediately barked, "What do you think this family is? Can't you survive without it? How did the family end up with a useless piece of trash like you?"

Shen Yue visibly jumped in fright. Shen Wan'er tugged at Chen Han's sleeve and silently urged him to let it go if things wouldn't work out.

Another guard spoke sternly. "Chen Han, you know the clan rules. The family isn't here to bail you out."

"Of course I know the clan rules. Just inform the Old Steward."

Chen Han didn't back down. He folded his arms across his chest, looking impatient.

"Chen Han! We already told you the answer. If you weren't once the Old Steward's favorite, this wouldn't have ended so easily. Hurry up and take your whole family of country bumpkins and get lost!"

"Who are you calling country bumpkins..."

Chen Han let his hands fall to his sides, his gaze turning a little colder.

Before he had enough strength, he could play the obedient grandson, toil like an ox and a horse, and keep his tail between his legs. But now his wings had grown, and he had the strength to back himself up. Why would he keep swallowing such indignities?

"Looks like you've come here to make a scene today. Don't blame your uncle, then."

As he spoke, the man strode forward.

Chen Han wasn't the least bit afraid. He raised a hand, signaling the three women to move farther away.

"Kid, your uncle's going to teach you a proper lesson on the Old Steward's behalf."

The guard reached out, intending to grab Chen Han by the collar, throw him to the ground, and kick him a few times, leaving this ignorant brat with a lesson he'd never forget.

Who could have guessed that Chen Han would seize his outstretched hand the next instant, squeezing his wrist until it hurt.

Before the man could react, Chen Han kicked him in the knee. The guard lost his balance and dropped to one knee.

"Outrageous!"

The others stared in shock for a moment. Then they came to their senses, shouted, and rushed at him together.

Chen Han had challenged their authority as the family's gatekeepers. Whether or not he was a member of the family, they couldn't swallow their anger without beating him half to death.

"Good. You're all coming at once, so I won't have to waste my time..."

A short while later, at the Chen Family head's residence.

Chen Feng, the family head, was sipping tea. A large stack of papers lay on the table before him. They were the family affairs he had to handle every day, and nothing was more pleasant to him than enjoying a cup of fine tea after finishing them.

Fine crow's-feet creased the corners of his eyes, showing that he had reached middle age. His beard stood bristling, yet his whole bearing was kindly and affable, putting people at ease in his company.

"Family Head, something's wrong! Someone... someone's causing trouble!"

Just then, one of the gate guards came rushing in to report.

"Causing trouble? You should be able to handle such a small matter yourselves. Why come to me?"

His tone grew sterner, tinged with displeasure.

"This person, this person..."

The guard looked as if he wanted to speak but couldn't. Only then did Chen Feng turn to look at him, his brows drawing tightly together. The guard's face was bruised black and blue, and it seemed one of his legs had been crippled.

"Six Mingjin Martial Artists couldn't handle him? There aren't many people like that in Black Lion City. Who is it?"

Chen Feng's eyes narrowed, his gaze growing darker by the moment.

"It... it's..."

Chen Feng asked impatiently, "Who is it?"

"It's Chen Han!"