The clan elder held the highest seniority in the Zhang family. Of course, his morality was another matter entirely. Even now, in his seventies or eighties, he still frequented brothels. In his youth, despite having a virtuous wife at home, he was a known philanderer and was often chastised by his own elders for it. But now, with everyone of a higher generation than him long dead, his word in the Zhang family was absolute.
Upon hearing his words, the Second Madam and all of Dao Feng’s cousins found it ridiculous.
At its most glorious, the Zhang family had been a one-star power. But for the last three generations, they hadn’t even met that standard. When Dao Feng’s father was alive, he had been a diligent and earnest man who managed the family’s industries well, allowing the younger generation to live as wealthy young masters. However, after his death, the Second Madam plotted to seize the family assets. She drove out Dao Feng, who was not her biological son, and the family’s fortunes plummeted. In the past, these young masters had enough money for nightly carousing, but now, they couldn’t even afford a single such outing in a whole month. This new life was unbearable for them.
Seeing Dao Feng prospering now, they felt a bitter resentment, like a thorn digging into their hearts.
Why should Dao Feng get to live so well while our lives are so miserable?
..."Isn’t this... wrong? After all, my brother’s achievements are his own. Our family never helped him; in fact, we drove him out! Now that he’s successful, it’s unreasonable for us to demand he contribute," a ten-year-old half-sister of Dao Feng said, her small face troubled as she struggled with the words.
But no one else in the main hall paid her any mind. The Second Madam shot back, "You’re just a child, little girl. You don’t understand these things, so don’t speak out of turn!"
The others quickly chimed in. "He was driven out by us? So what? As long as he still has the Zhang family’s blood in his veins, he has a duty to contribute!"
"That’s right! Now that he’s successful, he mustn’t forget the family. He should be filial and support the family!"
"Indeed, that’s how it should be!"
They were determined to get a piece of the pie from Dao Feng, no matter what. Dao Feng was Queen Xiuyuan’s junior martial brother, a connection the family could use to climb to new heights. Some of his uncles were already dreaming of becoming officials. A few of the younger cousins even hoped Dao Feng would put in a good word for them so they could become disciples of Mr. Wu Tian.
"It’s settled, then!" the clan elder snorted, his gaze sweeping across the hall, as sharp as a wolf’s. The younger family members caught in his stare trembled with fear.
The clan elder had been a rascal in his youth. In his middle age, he often bullied the younger generation, and even in his old age, he lacked all virtue, acting with a shamelessness that betrayed his status as an elder. He would pick on any junior who displeased him. The one he had bullied most severely was Dao Feng, because Dao Feng had once tried to stop him from dishonoring a commoner girl. Consequently, when the Second Madam wanted to drive Dao Feng out and seize the family businesses all those years ago, the clan elder had readily agreed.
Of course, the other family elders had also consented one by one, because the Second Madam had promised to share the assets with them. But they lacked the business acumen of Dao Feng’s father, and their mismanagement led to the family’s decline. Now, the Zhang family couldn’t even qualify as a one-star power.
"Listen up. Tomorrow, we all go to the Xiuyuan Realm to find that brat. He’s a success now, so it’s time he paid his respects to the family." The clan elder grunted before turning to leave, his thoughts already drifting to Xiao Hong and Cui Liu, the top girls at the Brothel.
The Second Madam also nodded, telling everyone to get some rest and prepare for an early departure to Xiuyuan Country the next day. The crowd dispersed in high spirits.
"Oh, I hope they don’t go too far. When they drove Brother out, he had already suffered so much!" Ten-year-old Zhang Xiaochen sighed, shaking her head. She had long noticed how ugly her relatives had become after her father’s death, but she never imagined they could sink to this level. It was truly beyond belief. The Second Madam was her biological mother, but lately, Xiaochen felt like she didn’t know her at all. First, she drove her elder brother away right after their father died. Second, there seemed to be something fishy going on between her and the steward. And third, Xiaochen couldn’t fathom how her mother had raised her other siblings to be so incredibly greedy.
No, I can’t let this happen. I must find my brother and warn him about this! Zhang Xiaochen clenched her teeth. Though only ten, she knew right from wrong.
The night was as black as ink. From the Zhang family estate in the Artifact Domain, a tiny figure slipped out under the cover of darkness. She was young, but she wasn’t naive. She rode the family’s Wind Chasing Horse; otherwise, she would never have dared to leave home alone. Even so, it was already early the next morning by the time she reached the Xiuyuan Realm. If not for the members of the Dog Clan who found her, she might have been eaten by some wild beast. Thanks to the Great Heavenly King of Dogs, the Dog Clan was on peaceful terms with the Human Clan within the realm. Thus, they personally escorted her to the Xiuyuan Royal Palace.
* * *
Dao Feng was overjoyed to see his little sister. Of all his half-siblings, she was the most sincere one, the only one he didn’t dislike. "I didn’t expect you to come! We’ll have breakfast soon. I have some say around this Royal Palace, so just tell your brother what you’d like to eat!"
"Anything is fine," Zhang Xiaochen said, forcing a smile.
She was now following Dao Feng through the palace. But as she walked through the picturesque grounds, Zhang Xiaochen felt no joy, none of the excitement that should come with seeing new things.
"Brother, the family held a meeting today. The clan elder came back. They were talking about you," Zhang Xiaochen said. She couldn’t meet his gaze and spoke with a deep sense of apology. After all, while that woman was a mere stepmother to Dao Feng, she was Zhang Xiaochen’s biological mother.
"What about me? I was kicked out. I’m no longer part of the Zhang family," Dao Feng said, stunned for a moment before his usual cheerful, optimistic demeanor returned.
"They said, ’Born a Zhang, die a Zhang ghost.’ Now that you’re successful, they want a piece of the pie." As she said this, Zhang Xiaochen couldn’t help but get angry. "They claim that the only reason you were noticed by Mr. Wu Tian was because of the family’s efforts in nurturing you when you were young."
"Nurturing?" Dao Feng sneered. "What damned nurturing? When I was little, I wanted to learn martial arts. My father agreed, but my stepmother forbade it. My father was a business genius, but he was completely henpecked. Later, when I went to a private school with her children, I didn’t even have enough Silver for ink and paper. When I tried to complain to my father, she would burst into tears, claiming I’d gambled the money away. She even swore to the heavens that she treated all children, biological or not, exactly the same." Back then, Dao Feng’s muddle-headed father had actually believed her.
"What nurturing? I was driven out of my home. By a stroke of luck, I happened to eat an Elixir and reached the Ninth Grade of Foundation Establishment. Later, my eccentric behavior attracted the Sect Leader, and that’s how I got to where I am today. Every opportunity I’ve had was pure chance. It had nothing to do with the Zhang family," Dao Feng said, his face flush with anger. The actions of the Zhang family now left him completely cold.
He had clawed his way up from nothing, and now the Zhang family wanted a piece of the pie? Their shameless greed was disgusting.
[The author has recently fallen ill. The exact illness is not yet determined and might require transferring hospitals or being admitted. Updates will be scant; I apologize and will compensate later.]