Immortality Starts With Generosity

The Golden Lily Association supervisor. Song Yuelin. The monster bear. They were all far more powerful than Chen Haoran and made him feel small in various ways. None however were able to force his head down with their presence alone.

He attempted to copy Song Yuelin and show his respect. It felt like his hands were moving through molasses when he tried moving them and he was forced to cycle his qi to prevent his bow from turning into a fall. He did not bother trying to sense the City Lord’s cultivation, he knew the answer.

Crystal Transformation realm.

“I’m curious as to what you mean by ‘that’ City Lord.” Song Yuelin, bless his soul, still looked unruffled in front of the stronger cultivator.

“You know what I mean.”

“I do not.” Song Yuelin’s smile was like a razor. “You couldn’t have possibly referred to the Young Master of the Chen family so rudely after all.”

The City Lord raised an eyebrow. “Will Chen Qitao come himself to strike me down for the offense?”

“If he believes you’re becoming uppity, then perhaps.”

The air froze. Chen Haoran couldn’t breathe. He had mouthed off to stronger cultivators before but he had never so blatantly threatened one.

“What is your name, dog of the Chen family?” It sounded like a final courtesy.

Chen Haoran braced for violence. He could only hope wherever Song Yuelin got his confidence from was enough to save their lives.

“This one is known as Song Yuelin. I have met the City Lord before.”

The City Lord stopped. “I remember you now.” He clicked his tongue and Chen Haoran could breathe again. “Six years ago. You’re one of Chen Qitao’s hunting dogs,” he said, annoyance flashing on his face.

Song Yuelin didn’t react to the insult. He bowed again. “It’s truly an honor to be recognized by the City Lord.”

Song Yuelin used reputation. It was super effective. Chen Haoran breathed a sigh of relief. He’d suspected Song Yuelin was important in the Chen family, and this Chen Qitao he served was probably either the leader or someone else high up. He was definitely a Crystal Transformation realm at least.

“That only raises even more questions.” The City Lord crossed his arms. “Why is Chen Qitao’s dog here with his son? And why was I not informed of this?”

What?

“I came on my own accord.” Song Yuelin lost his smile. “It wasn’t a matter worth informing the City Lord about.”

“You expect me to believe such a blatant lie?”

“It is the truth.”

“Does the Chen family take me for a fool!” The City Lord exploded with anger. His Qi rose and Chen Haoran felt like a mountain fell atop him.

Song Yuelin grabbed him before he could be crushed by the pressure and wrapped him in liquid shadow. It helped him stand at least but nothing else, he watched as the Dragonfly beast descended lower. Song Yuelin’s shoulders started to quiver with strain.

“Calm yourself, City Lord.” Song Yuelin warned him.

“First this marriage to Lan Fen,” shouted the City Lord. “Then the sudden acquisition of funds.” The air began to distort. “And now a Chen family cleaner, do you think I can’t see you Chen family plotting in my city!” Qi carried his voice and raised it to a level that would have ruptured Chen Haoran’s ear drums had Song Yuelin’s qi not protected him.

Song Yuelin spoke over the still echoing accusation.“I assure the City Lord that the Chen family has no intention to renege on our deal.”

Deal. The word rang in Chen Haoran’s skull. Deal. Six years ago Chen Qitao and Song Yuelin met the Clearsprings City Lord. Deal. Six years ago Young Master Chen came to live in Clearsprings City. Deal. The City Lord monitored Chen Haoran and was aware of his affairs. Deal. The City Lord and the Chen family made a deal.

Chen Haoran was a hostage.

Song Yuelin narrowed his eyes. His face was deadly serious. “If the City Lord wishes for it then I’m sure Lord Chen will be happy to explain.” It sounded like an offer but Song Yuelin spoke as if it was a threat.

The City Lord treated it like one. He froze, his qi froze, the distortions in the air froze. Even the mountain on Chen Haoran’s back paused weighing him down. Slowly the City Lord’s face became neutral and with it, the pressure he exuded was lifted.

“As if that man would explain anything to me,” he huffed.

“Lord Chen considers the City Lord to be a valuable ally to the Chen family,” Song Yuelin replied.

“Out of consideration for Chen Qitao’s face, I will drop this matter.” The Dragonfly beast rose into the air. “Know this, the Palace exams are to be held in Clearsprings City soon. I will not tolerate any interruption to it.” The City Lord glared at them. “Not even from the Chen family.” His gaze slid to Chen Haoran. “You have been quiet for once. Keep it that way.” With that final order, the City Lord left.

“Pompous bastard,” muttered Song Yuelin. The liquid shadow covering them receded.

Chen Haoran sat heavily on the ground, his legs shaking. “Fuck.” He buried his face in his hands. The Young Master wasn’t exiled he was used as a guarantee for the Chen family. Which meant if the Chen family didn’t uphold whatever their end of the deal was his life was forfeit. If Chen Qitao’s reputation hadn’t been enough to ward off the City Lord he really might have died just now.

That was another issue. Chen Qitao was the Young Master’s father and was scary enough that his name alone was a threat to a Crystal Transformation realm. He glanced at Song Yuelin, Chen Qitao’s hunting dog, the man the father sent to investigate the son. A cleaner, the City Lord had called him. An assassin. Chen Haoran felt cold.

Song Yuelin smiled softly.“Don’t worry about him, Young Master Chen. He’s too cowardly to actually do anything.”

“Could have fooled me,” he muttered.

“It’s true! He’s weak and he knows it, so he pretends to be tough. If it wasn’t for luck he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up in front of the Chen family at all with his Profound-rank cultivation.”

“Profound rank? Can’t he just get a better technique?” Unless Earth rank techniques were rarer than he thought. Still, it was good to know that the higher realms could be reached even with a lower-quality cultivation method.

Song Yuelin shook his head. “You can’t change your cultivation method once you reach Crystal Transformation. The fact that he couldn’t get a better technique in the Palace School proves the extent of his abilities.”

Chen Haoran processed that. Palace School and Palace Exam. A school in the Empire where government officials were trained and could receive Earth-rank techniques. The Palace Exam was probably hosted for admittance to the school. Did Lan Fen know about this? The City Lord warned them not to cause trouble. What would he think about Lan Fen’s plans to destroy the Lan family?

Chen Haoran’s thoughts ground to a halt. The City Lord called Lan Fen by name. Chen Haoran’s marriage to her in particular was worthy of accusation. He didn’t mention the Lan family at all. Was he aware of Lan Yao’s conspiracy? Why didn’t he mention it then? Why didn’t he accuse them of trying to form an alliance with the Lan family? Did he not consider it a problem? Did he know it wasn’t? Did he know Lan Fen? Did she tell him?

Chen Haoran rubbed his forehead. He had learned too much today. He’d get a headache at this rate.

“Young Master Chen?”

There was also Song Yuelin to worry about.

“If the City Lord had really tried to kill us would you have been able to stop him?”

Song Yuelin gave him a thumbs up. “Of course not!”

“Of course not,” he tiredly echoed him. “And here I was hoping you had something to back up that big mouth of yours.”

“I apologize for making you worry Young Master Chen. However, the City Lord had to be reminded that even the dogs of the Chen family can’t be insulted by the likes of him.”

“You did that for me?”

“You are the Young Master of the Chen family. It is only natural that I defend your honor.” Song Yuelin looked serious, his eyes sincere.

Chen Haoran couldn’t help but respond to that sincerity. “Song Yuelin, you truly are a loyal servant.”

“Thank you Young Mas-”

“Is what I would say if you didn’t just call me a dog,” Chen Haoran cut him off.

“How could Young Master Chen be a dog,” Song Yuelin asked with a straight face. “People like dogs after all.”

Chen Haoran huffed a laugh. It sounded hollow to his ears.

“Let’s get out of these damn mountains.”