Leaving Home

Chen Yuan's hand tightened slightly around his chopsticks. His pupils contracted as he shot Li a cold glance.

Then he set the chopsticks on the table without a word and walked to his small room.

The quilt on the bed was somewhat disheveled, bearing obvious signs of having been rummaged through.

He crouched down, lifted a broken stone slab beneath the bed, and uncovered an old money pouch buried below.

When he pulled it open, the two taels and four mace of silver he had painstakingly saved had vanished without a trace.

He could currently earn around six hundred copper coins a month. After all expenses, he could save a full three mace of silver.

Even the worst Martial Hall charged one tael and five mace each month for apprenticeship fees. In other words, if he saved another two taels of silver and spent nearly half a year, he could study martial arts at a Martial Hall.

But now that his long-saved silver had been stolen, everything had turned to froth and bubbles. A heavy, stifled indignation rose in Chen Yuan's heart.

This matter could not end like this!

He returned to the dining table, his gaze fixed on Li, who was smiling fondly as she placed meat into Chen Kai's bowl.

"Stepmother, give my money back. That was money I saved to practice martial arts."

Li snorted coldly, her tone sharp and cutting. "What do you mean, give it back? Was that even your money? I raised you through blood, sweat, and tears. Now Kai needs money to practice martial arts, so what's wrong with taking a little of yours?"

She was deeply dissatisfied with Chen Yuan's current attitude.

Especially over the past three months. Though Chen Yuan had said nothing, she could sense the distance he had put between them.

Chen Yuan frowned and demanded, "Stepmother, ever since I began working at the docks at fifteen, I've given the household two mace of silver every month. I also pay my own taxes and residence fees. Isn't that enough?"

Seeing Chen Yuan pressing her so fiercely, anger entered Li's voice as well.

"Chen Yuan, you ungrateful wretch! Have I ever denied you food or drink? Kai has a chance to become a martial master now, yet as his older brother, not only do you refuse to support him, you even dare push your luck just because we took a few of your lousy coins? If I don't give them back, are you going to hit me too?"

As she spoke, she turned to the silent Chen Dashan with an aggrieved expression.

Chen Dashan glared at his eldest son, Chen Yuan, and said in a deep voice, "Stop making trouble. You're already seventeen; you won't amount to anything in martial arts. Putting all our strength into supporting Kai is what matters now. Once Kai becomes a martial master, you, as his elder brother, will have glory on your face too."

Chen Kai had long been displeased with Chen Yuan's tone. Seeing his parents back him up, he immediately mocked him in secret.

"Exactly, Chen Yuan. More than a dozen people had their bones tested that day, and I was the only one found to have D-Grade Bone Structure. Stop daydreaming. Support me properly now, and I won't forget you, my elder brother."

Yet inwardly, he thought, If I didn't need Chen Yuan's money right now, I would've jumped up and cursed him out long ago.

Chen Yuan's heart went ice-cold. He understood that none of them cared in the slightest about his future. Their minds were entirely on Chen Kai.

Finally, his gaze fell upon his silent grandfather, Chen Dahai. He asked in a muffled voice, "Grandfather, am I simply destined to toil like an ox and horse?"

Chen Dahai knew this was unfair to Chen Yuan. He also knew that his eldest grandson had been holding a fire in his heart, yearning to practice martial arts.

But given the family's circumstances, supporting even one person in martial arts was already their limit. He sighed.

"Eldest Grandson, you know the family's situation. We can only wrong you for now. If Kai can become a martial master, he certainly won't forget you, his elder brother."

He could only wait for an opportunity in the future to make it up to his eldest grandson.

Chen Yuan fell silent and spoke no more. He lowered his head and sat down to eat, piling several large chunks of meat into his bowl and wolfing down rough rice with them.

Normally, Li would certainly have lectured him, but after Chen Yuan's outburst today, she held herself back.

After all, she still needed to squeeze silver out of him.

This was the most satisfying meal Chen Yuan had ever eaten. Once he finished, he set down his bowl and headed into his room.

Li's nagging voice followed close behind. "Don't forget, you'll hand over another two mace of silver every month from now on."

Chen Yuan ignored her completely.

They wanted him to hand over four mace of silver every month? What a pipe dream.

Since you are heartless, do not blame me for being ruthless.

He silently packed his belongings. Before the sun had fully set, he strode out of the house.

Seeing Chen Yuan's appearance, all four of them were startled and uncertain.

Chen Yuan looked at Chen Dashan, his voice icy and resolute.

"Today, I, Chen Yuan, sever all ties of gratitude and righteousness with the Chen Family. From this day forth, we will have nothing more to do with one another."

What had happened at the dinner table had allowed him to see this family clearly at last. They were no different from that gang; all of them wanted to suck him dry.

If he did not leave early, he would have no hope of practicing martial arts in this lifetime.

Chen Dashan was instantly so furious that his beard bristled and his eyes bulged. He roared in uncontrollable rage.

"Chen Yuan, you beast! How dare you sever ties with your old man? Are you even human?"

Li was likewise shocked and enraged. This little thief wanted to run after eating the meat. With her hands on her hips, she looked like a shrew.

"You damned ungrateful wretch! We raised you all these years, and you don't have a shred of conscience! You... you... may you die a horrible death!"

Chen Yuan's tone remained calm. "Consider those two taels and four mace repayment to you. From now on, we owe each other nothing. Whether I live or die has nothing to do with you."

Only when he looked at his grandfather, whose figure had grown somewhat hunched, did reluctance appear in his eyes.

Yet he still left without looking back.

Not far from the door, he saw Qian Bao of the Black Dragon Gang emerging from the Liu Family's doorway with two local thugs. He was tossing a money pouch in his hand; it was heavy with coins, clearly collected from the Liu Family.

Perhaps Chen Yuan's pack made him too conspicuous. Qian Bao narrowed his eyes and walked straight toward him.

Knowing he could not avoid him, Chen Yuan forced out a smile and said respectfully, "Master Qian, what wind has blown you here?"

Qian Bao's triangular eyes swept up and down Chen Yuan's body. In a careless tone, he said, "So it's the Chen Family's eldest boy. It's getting dark, and you're carrying a pack. Where are you off to?"

As he spoke, he stepped closer, his voice turning colder. "Don't tell me you're planning to flee the Black Dragon Gang's 'protection' territory without even paying your residence fee?"

Chen Yuan knew Master Qian was cruel and vicious, prone to injuring people at the drop of a hat. He quickly explained, "Master Qian, you misunderstand. I had a conflict with my family and severed ties with them, so I had no choice but to leave home. I intend to seek refuge with my aunt. Please see the truth of it."

Qian Bao grew somewhat interested. He felt Chen Yuan's shoulders, waist, and abdomen, clicking his tongue.

"Kid, you've got a sturdy frame. And the way you handle matters has quite the Black Dragon Gang flavor. Interested in joining the Black Dragon Gang?"

Severing ties with one's parents—such an ungrateful person had already met the threshold for joining a gang.

Chen Yuan froze for a moment before politely declining. "Thank you for your kind offer, Master Qian, but I'm not skilled at fighting. I only wish to live a steady, peaceful life."

Gangs were filled with scheming and intrigue, and they often clashed bloodily with other gangs. A newcomer like him would only be cannon fodder.

Master Qian's gaze cooled slightly, and he lost interest in this cowardly boy.

"If that's the case, pay this month's residence fee first. Fifteen copper coins."

Chen Yuan was grateful that he still had the twenty-four copper coins he had earned today, or this would have become troublesome.

Still, he put on an embarrassed expression and pleaded softly, "Master Qian, my family stole all my money, which is why I left home in anger. My purse is empty right now. Could you perhaps reduce it by a little?"

Master Qian snorted coldly and said impatiently, "Get lost. I don't care how you left home. If you can't produce the money now, don't blame me for getting rough."

The two thugs stepped forward as well, cracking their knuckles. Their intention to use force could not have been clearer.

Seeing that the act had gone far enough, Chen Yuan finally pulled fifteen copper coins from the money pouch in his clothes with a pained expression and offered them up with both hands.

Qian Bao accepted them, then glanced at the shriveled money pouch. Knowing there was no more oil to squeeze from it, he said nothing further and headed to the next household.

Chen Yuan watched the three men depart and let out a breath of relief.

He was not yet qualified to offend Qian Bao. He could only be a soft persimmon for others to knead as they pleased.

Unless... he practiced martial arts.

Only martial arts could change this precarious situation, where he walked as though treading on thin ice!

But his savings were gone. If he tried to save money again, he would completely miss the best age for practicing martial arts.

Chen Yuan sighed.

His aunt had always treated him well. Choosing to seek refuge with her now was also because he hoped, shameless as it might be, to find a sliver of opportunity.