1 I will avenge my father's suffering

Grey clouds engulfed the horizon, producing a depressing atmosphere. The clouds in the east slowly became crimson red, burning up ferociously like a wild fire. The darkness was eventually broken by a ray of morning light, which swept across the entire earth, flushing the mountains and plains.

Surrounded by mountains, a little town of thirty to forty families tried to make ends meet on the few barren fields between the hills. A young boy in the room opened his eyes as the sun rose and sprinkled the morning radiance. After a brief period of uncertainty, his face took on a tranquil expression that set him apart from his peers.

Shiao Chen hurried out after quickly getting up and cleaning himself. Today was the day to head to town and get the seeds for the year's early spring. He needed to leave early, or he wouldn't be able to return home at night.

However, he was mesmerized by what he saw after exiting his room, so he asked, "Mom, dad, why did you get up so early? Rest assured, I remember that it's time to get the seeds and i won't delay in doing it."

"Change your clothes, I'll go to town with you today," his father, Shiao Wenshan, said, waving his hands and looking at him expectantly.

Shiao Chen was taken aback when he saw his father dressed in the clan's most solemn clothing, which he would only wear on the clan's sacrifice day. Despite his confusion, he agreed and returned to his room, taking out his only worn-out case and wore a green brocade long robe with embroidery.

They ate their meal in silence after that. Shiao's mother's eyes were a little worried, and she sometimes wanted to say something but was held back by his father's solid gaze.

"Let's get going."

Shiao Chen noticed something strange as he exited the yard. He saw a green carriage at the entrance.

"Please proceed, Mr. Shiao. We should depart right away." Old Wu, who lived on the village's west end, struggled to support his entire family with this carriage. Even in his early 40s, he appeared to be a frail old man, subjected to the sun and wind each day.

Shiao Wenshan climbed onto the carriage disregarding his bewildered son.

"Isn't it true that the seed-gathering date has been postponed? Why would they hire Old Wu to drive them to town?"

How would i know? This family always act in secrecy and has had little interaction with us. Look at what they're wearing; perhaps they are heading for a marriage interview."

"With that handsome face, Shiao Chen seem to be a decent lad. He is however in poor health and may not live long, or else I would have betrothed my daughter to him."

The carriage drove through village's only road. Shiao Chen was taken aback when he heard the ambiguous discussions outside and wondered whether he was being brought on a blind date.

"Keep yourself energized and stop thinking too much Today...today you could have an opportunity to be someone significant... Don't put too much pressure on yourself. You'll find out later." Shiao Wenshan waved his hands in the direction of Shiao Chen, a complex look flashed through his face and quickly vanished.

Shiao Chen sighed and closed his eyes, allowing his thoughts to relax.

Shiao Wenshan's eyes glowed with determination as he stared at his son's expressionless face. He then mumbled, "So what if I have to bow before him today? The kid's future cannot be jeopardized as a result of me.

Following a deep sigh, the carriage remained silent.

"We've arrived at Shiao Town, Mr. Shiao." Outside, Old Wu spoke in a courteous and careful tone.

Shiao Chen opened his eyes as soon as he heard the words, only to notice that his father was slightly distracted, which was unusual.

"Oh…really?" Shiao Wenshan mumbled, then drew the curtain aside and exited the carriage, a complicated expression on his face.

"You may go back first, Old Wu. There is no need to wait here "Shiao Wenshan remarked softly.

"That's fine."

Shiao Wenshan waited outside Shiao Town's massive gate, watching Old Wu drive the carriage away. A touch of complexity flashed across his eyes as he stared at the writing "Shiao Town." After a long time, he said, "Follow me," and then walked into the town.

Shiao Chen was still trying to figure out why he had to come here in person, staring at the shadow of his aging father. His suspicion grew as he considered what had transpired today.

After over an hour, they discovered a small inn where they could relax. Shiao Wenshan warned Shiao Chen not to go outdoors alone and then left the inn with a serious expression.

frowning with suspicion, Shiao Chen followed his father swiftly and quietly. His father's behavior was far too strange. He's got to be onto something.

Shiao Chen was separated from his father during the journey, and at the end, he observed his father enter a restaurant.

"Could it be that Father is merely paying a visit to a friend?" Shiao Chen entered the restaurant with a frown. He couldn't see his father in the corridor, so he walked up to the second floor of private rooms. He acted smoothly and imposingly, although seeming skinny and sickly with a pale face. Besides, his dress was out of the ordinary, so the waiter was hesitant to stop him.

It was much quieter on the second floor. Shiao Chen slowed down and trod lightly on the corridor while listening carefully.

"He's here!" Seeing the private room Heaven No. 1, Shiao Chen felt uncertain. Being poor, his father had always been thrift. It was odd enough to hire Old Wu today, and now he met someone in this expensive restaurant. All things just ran counter to his normal behavior.

Standing at the gate and taking a look around the room, Shiao Chen's eyes brightened suddenly. There was an air hole at the wall facing the street, which allowed him to catch a glance of the condition inside the room. Seeing nobody around, Shiao Chen held his breath and trod lightly and then looked inside on tiptoe.

Full of antique beauty, there was a scentedwood round table with four cyan chairs surrounding it. A piece of ink landscape painting was hung on the wall and a fresh and green bonsai sat at the corner, simple with lingering charm.

And now on the chairs, there were three fair and clear middle-aged men in brocade gown with slight coldness on their faces. Without saying anything, the aura they presented awed people. Obviously, they must have been in a high status for a long time.

However, what surprised Shiao Chen most at the moment was his father. He sat right in front of the three men with intricate expression. However, he was not scared at all by their imposing manner, behaving with ease and confidence.

"Hm, Shiao Family have a lot to deal with every day, so let's just get to the point. Why did you send a message to call us here? Tell us now or we'll leave immediately." Seeming to be the head of the three men, one man took a sip of tea and satirized with sardonic expression.

Similar expression was written on the other two men's face although they didn't say anything.

Hearing this, Shiao Chen was in a trance. Shiao family?

In Shiao Town, the first name Shiao belonged to Shiao Clan, so the three men were in charge of Shiao family? No wonder they behaved in such a lofty manner. But then he frowned and came up with another question – when did his father know these people? He didn't even mention it. And judging from their behavior, they seemed not to get along.

Many thoughts flooded into Shiao Chen's mind, but before he could come to himself, what his father said next nearly shocked him to tumble.

" Brother, why are you so ruthless? Although I have left the family, we are still brothers." With complicated expression, Shiao Wenshan took a glance of the three men in front of him and spoke in a low voice.

Hearing this, Shiao Wenting raised his eyebrows and sneered, "Brothers? You were expelled from the family twenty years ago, and now you remember we are brothers?"

"Or maybe you can't survive outside, so you decide to come here and wish we can give you a hand now?" The one who said this in cold voice was full of squib.

"Brother, why are we still talking with him here? The immortals are coming tomorrow. We'd better go home and prepare for that now." The second master of Shiao family, Shiao Wenqian gave a sardonic grin and suggested.

Taking a cold glance at Shiao Wenshan, they were ready to get up and leave.

"Wait!" Shiao Wenshan groaned suddenly and then took out a jade lion seal in thumb size from his chest with trembling hands.

"Brother, although you became the master of Shiao family with the help of our elder mother, this seal, the token of the family, was handed down to me by our father long ago. I wonder you may have worried about it a lot for these years, right?"

"If you promise me one thing, I will hand it to you."

Seeing the seal in Shiao Wenshan's hand, Shiao Wenting stopped. With longing in his eyes, he thought for a while and answered, "What do you want?"

Hearing this, Shiao Wenshan stared at him and shook his head, saying, "Why do you ask while knowing the answer, Brother? Today I come here for earning a chance for my son to attend the test of entering the divine gate."

With dodgy eyes, Shiao Wenting seemed to be thinking about it carefully, weighing the gains and loses.

"Brother, you can't give him that promise. If his son is lucky to be chosen by the immortals, we'll be doomed."

"Right, brother, please think it over."

Shiao Wenting waved his hands to stop their words, and then looked at Shiao Wenshan with sharp eyes, saying coldly, "You abused my mother in those years."

Hearing this, the expression of Shiao Wenshan became more complicated, and then he kneeled down facing the direction of the Shiao's Clan Hall and bowed and kowtowed repeatedly while saying, "Please forgive me, elder mother, for my ignorance and impertinency at young age." Then he seemed to be stripped off the energy, eyes becoming dull suddenly.

Turning a blind eye to it, Shiao Wenting continued, "You disrespected us in those years."

"I was too young and aggressive at that time, please forgive me."

At that moment, the wrinkles on Shiao Wenshan's face became deeper and he looked even older than before.

"You hurt me in those years." With grimmer face, Shiao Wenting pulled uphis left sleeve, showing an ugly scar wriggling from the chest like a huge and deformed scolopendra.

Hearing this, Shiao Wenshan shivered a little and then smashed his left arm ruthlessly and directly.

Crack!

Clear sound of bone fracture echoed in the room while Shiao Wenshan's face turned pale and lips quivered due to the pain.

"Brother, is this enough to make it up to you?"

With a poker face, Shiao Wenting rested his eyes on Shiao Wenshan who was humiliated for a long while, and then said inexorably, "Don't say I haven't given you a chance. Tomorrow you can bring your son to the family." Then he collected the jade lion seal in his chest and left with the other two men.

Seeing they left the room, Shiao Wenshan trembled slightly and fell on the ground. After a while, he burst out weeping.

"Mother, please forgive me, your unfilial son. But I have to do this. Even I'm humiliated, I must earn this chance for my son. Mother, please forgive me."

Tears flowing from his aged eyes, Shiao Wenshan cried out with hoarse voice.

Outside the room, Shiao Chen covered his mouth with hands and fell on the ground involuntarily.

As a son, seeing his father being insulted by others without any solution, Shiao Chen was buried in sorrow. He clasped his hands and roared in the heart madly, "I will avenge my father's suffering. One day, I, Shiao Chen, will make all of you pay for what you have done today!"