Commotion that start it all

After Xu An a distance away. One of the guards finally noticed something and turned silent. He turned his head towards Xu An and saw his back.

"Say, did someone just pass us?" One of the guards asked suspiciously, and his companion replied as he shrugged his shoulders, "probably not. Not even a Fifth Cores of Sky could escape from our detection. Unless they learned a technique that hides their presence completely, but I doubt someone is dumb enough to enter the capital city illegally."

Jade City was the capital city of the current empire. There were many experts in it, and one didn't dare to cause a disturbance.

"True, perhaps it is just my feeling." The guard decided to let the strangeness in his heart go and continued talking.

In the distance, Xu An didn't realize all of this and indifferently continued his pace. He swept the area over with his gaze as he looked for a carriage.n

The capital city was bustling with crowds; many carriages went by as soon as he entered the gate.

The road was filled with them and had different styles and shapes. The creature which carried it wasn't only horses.

There was a strange creature with two legs and two small hands. It had a long neck as it carried the carriage. 

The animal reminded Xu An of the raptor from his world.

Noticing there were no idle carriages around this busy hour, he walked to the nearest pub where carriage drivers hang out and rest.

Explorers and adventurers often came to take a rest in the city. A pub near the gate was a perfect location. 

After he arrived, Xu An could hear muffled crowd noises coming from the pub. He didn't enter, but. He swept his gaze over the pub and stopped as he saw an old man sitting on top of his horse with eyes closed and arms crossed. Making him like an expert. 

Xu An recognized who this old man was. He was his regular customer.

"Good evening, old Zhan," Xu An greeted him politely, and sensing someone disturbing his rest, the old man, old Zhan, opened his eyes.

He found the voice familiar, and he turned his head to Xu An.

"What is it, brat? Just to let you know. I will never give you my daughter!" Old Zhan said in disdain.

Xu An was confused when he heard this but soon understood. The original Xu An told the old man about the situation of his childhood friend. This happened the day after Xu An woke up in the forest.

The first thing he did was visit the pub to ease his sorrow with alcohol. Xu An blabbered many things, and the old man silently listened to it until the original Xu An said that if the old man's daughter was still single. Xu An wanted to marry her, and the old man was enraged.

"That's just a word from a drunk man, don't take it seriously, old Zhan." Xu An spoke apologetically and tried to brush it off with an awkward smile.

Old Zhan found his words made sense and said, "if not for the fact you're from the Xu descendant, I wouldn't bother to talk with you!" He coldly snorted and continued, "Make it quick. Where do you want to go? Just to let you know. Since you disturb my rest, I will extra charge you."

Xu An understood old Zhan's temperament quite well. Therefore, he said with a troubling look, "Don't be like that, old Zhan. You know my financial state is bad. This is bullying the young!" 

"Then why did you approach me? Shoo, shoo!" Old Zhan waved his hand as he hushed Xu An as though he was a cat.

Xu An sighed helplessly. Shaking his head when he said, "A pity. I'm about to go to my little brother's engagement party. 

"With many nobles around, I hope I could introduce them to you. Oh well," said Xu An with regret as he walked off.

"Don't fool me, brat. You got kicked out of your clan's household. What can you do?"

"Although that was the case, it can't be denied that my relationship with most nobles and clan members is good." He replied calmly.

The original Xu An was no fool and not narrow-minded. Even though his aspects were normal and always beneath his little brother. He frequently increased his connections with the nobles and regularly maintained a good relationship.

He was liked among the nobles. Two reasons. His kind and chill side; they relied on him many times.

The original Xu An also pursued knowledge to cover his weaknesses. It paid off.

This kid is a genius in his way; he didn't let other people's opinions get the better of him, Xu An praised silently.

His words let Old Zhan's eyes light up as he remembered something, "I heard you made a wood statue of high quality for a noble family, is that true?"

Xu An nodded and replied with a smile, "yes, although the client's request is a bit tricky. I managed to complete it."

The original Xu An was a carver as his part-time and really liked anything to do with arts.

"How much did you?" Old Zhan probed further as he whispered into Xu An's right ear. When he did this, Xu An had to be closer to him. Old Zhan simultaneously rubbed his index finger with his thumb as he asked the question.

Xu An formed a mysterious smile as he looked at Old Zhan and the latter only sighed when seeing that smile.

It was obvious Xu An wanted to keep it a secret. Old Zhan didn't probe further.

Without waiting for Xu An to say anything, he said, "Although you're constantly being out shadowed by your little brother, you're still from the Xu bloodline. I heard that the statue you created was a breakthrough for all woodcarvers in the empire, probably the world. Some even said you made history."

The Xu descendants were notable, famous figures, and none shall be underestimated. Even the members with low status in the clan were terrifying in their own way.

Xu An's heart was in a good mood as soon as he heard Old Zhan's compliment.

Xu An still had his smile; I guess not everything in this world is about cultivation. He silently commented upon the thought about how much he earned from selling that statue.

With that kind of money, he could live peacefully as an ordinary mortal. However, the original Xu An had the determination to become a cultivator. Therefore most of the money he earned was saved in a bank to buy resources and his buried dream.

He wanted to prove to his clan that their words were wrong. No matter how I fall, I won't give up and rise! The original Xu An probably thought.

In this aspect, Xu An thought silently, I take it back, this child is still narrow-minded and has many things to learn.

Xu An didn't blame the original Xu An as the latter was still a kid. Reckless and still in an adventure to find his worth in this world.

"Only hard work beats talent," Xu An said with wisdom.

"Yeah, right. Why don't you work hard to beat your little brother?" Old Zhan found Xu An's words a bit ridiculous and couldn't help but mock him.

Xu An didn't find this insulting, "why do I have to beat him whereas I could defeat yesterday me?" He said unhurriedly, and his eyes contained profound meanings.

These words left Old Zhan speechless for a short moment. He then said, "who are you to lecture, brat? What are you waiting for? Come in," old Zhan said as he urged Xu An to enter his black carriage.

Xu An entered and told old Zhan his destination. 

"Xu clan's manor."

But before the carriage advanced, Xu An heard a commotion from inside the pub. It was a scream of a man, seemingly irritated by something.

The original Xu An would check it out, but the current Xu An was reluctant to do so. However, if he didn't. Old Zhan would question Xu An's character.

Left with no choice, Xu An jumped off the carriage and entered the pub.

Old Zhan said with body language, "brat! What are you doing? You shouldn't put your nose into something where it doesn't belong!"

But Xu An ignored his warning, and old Zhan's expression was that of worry. He then sighed and followed behind Xu An.

He entered unnoticeably and quickly noticed four men, one woman sitting in the middle of the pub.

One man was wearing a luxurious white robe and sat there with arrogance in his eyes. He was looking down at everything. Perhaps in his viewpoint, humans were insects.

Another man was someone in his forties. He had white hair combed neatly to the back with a sidecut hairstyle.

In his mouth was a cigar, and he sat there silently, but the aura he had wasn't. It constantly let out a terrifying and intimidating vibe.

Before this man, all the people here were like ants. Powerless and could be crushed with a flick of a finger. 

None of the spectators dared to disturb them. They could only stare at them foolishly yet worriedly.

The old man was dressed in a unique, white military uniform. If not for the medals on his left chest and rank insignia on his right sleeve, one couldn't tell he was from the military. The uniform was casual and stylish.

It didn't have that certain charm of a military uniform.

Next to this man was a woman who wore a flat expression. Her eyes were blank and dead as though barren lands with no life at all. 

Her skin was deadly pale, and she sat there motionlessly. If not for the fact there was fluctuation around her, people would have thought she was a doll!

Her long silver hair cascaded down, and she was dressed in a red robe with long sleeves covering her arms and a blue belt around her slender waist.

Her facial features were incredibly grand; her face made other people think she was a fairy.

Especially with that strange symbol on her forehead, her beauty wasn't decreased at all. It simply made her more mysterious and added that with her eyes. She was like a broken-hearted fairy that had seen true despair and was incapable of feeling emotions.

Those who saw this couldn't help but want to help her. They might do everything they could just to see her smile. 

The remaining of the group were two men dressed like any commoners except the gold accessories they wore. Golden necklace, golden rings in all, ten fingers.

"All of you! Give your money and treasures!" One of the men roared. He had a thick, black beard. His voice was hoarse and a bit deep. But most importantly, killing intent was spread throughout the pub.

Because of his somewhat deep voice, his words were like rumbling thunder. The ground shook, and the air vibrated. Following that was intense killing intent. It drilled fear into some people here; their bodies were quivering.

They were ordinary people who lived peacefully inside the capital and never saw blood.

While those who were relatively calm were all people who had already seen the cruelty of the outside world. Those who had seen blood despite living their entire lives in the capital.e

Although that was the case, they were still worried that the man would snatch their money.

They also knew the killing intent this man just sent was simply a threat. With a military soldier around him, who dare to start a slaughter?

But, this bearded man could beat them a few times, and as long as they were not dead, he could do whatever he wished.

"Are you all deaf? My boss, Chin Sha, orders you to take out all your treasures! Is this how the Jade Empire's people treat their guests? A Grand Noble?!" One of the men said. He was skinny and tall. As he uttered this with a smile of ridicule on his face, all the people here were furious!

Not only did this skinny man say so arrogantly, but he was also by far the weakest guy in the group!

If not for the fact that there was a military soldier, the mysterious lady, and the Grand Noble. All of them would already beat this guy so hard that his mother couldn't recognize him!

The spectators stared daggers at him, yet no one dared to say a word. The skinny man was satisfied with their reactions.

At this point, flowers were blooming in his heart.