Summon of the Bloodline

Zhen Chen, Yu Xue Yin, and Xin Lan had known each other for a long time and were quite close.

Yu Xue Yin was the same age as Zhen Chen's eldest brother, Zhen Li Feng. Their families were close, and she got along well with Zhen Li Feng.

Zhen Chen's uncle, Zhen Lao Da, was about ten years older than Yu Xue Yin. While some might say he had a thing for younger women, he wasn't exactly old yet, so there was still some hope. After all, Zhen Lao Da wasn't even forty yet, was he? His fortieth birthday was coming up this autumn, and it seemed like he was preparing for something big before the celebration.

From Yu Xue Yin's perspective, her uncle Zhen Lao Da was quite impressive in terms of looks, wealth, and status. She had known him since she was young, and he had never been involved in any scandals, which made her parents quite fond of him. However, Yu Xue Yin herself saw him more as an older brother figure, which made things a bit awkward for her uncle.

As for Xin Lan, she was the best friend of Zhen Chen's older sister, Zhen Mei Mei. Since high school, Xin Lan had been a frequent visitor to their home, sometimes even staying over to sleep with Zhen Mei Mei.

Xin Lan's parents were government officials stationed abroad, so she lived with her youngest aunt. Her aunt was married to Yu Xue Yin's uncle, and since they had no children of their own, they had formally adopted Xin Lan and doted on her endlessly.

In reality, Xin Lan was a bit of a troublemaker, and Zhen Chen couldn't understand how she had become so close to his well-behaved sister, Zhen Mei Mei.

Zhen Li Feng, Zhen Chen's eldest brother, had been pursuing Xin Lan since they were kids, but he had yet to win her over. Despite being a genius in quantum physics and theoretical sciences, Zhen Li Feng seemed completely clueless when it came to matters of the heart.

Zhen Mei Mei often teased Xin Lan, calling her "sister-in-law," but Xin Lan would just smile and brush it off. Zhen Li Feng, much like his uncle, was stuck in a frustrating romantic limbo.

As for Zhen Chen, he was the least favored in the family. Despite being the youngest, his father doted on his eldest brother, while his mother favored his sister. Zhen Chen wasn't particularly outstanding academically, so his parents' constant scolding didn't make much of a difference to him.

Zhen Chen's fearfulness annoyed his father so much that, at the age of twelve, he was dragged to a martial arts school and forced to train.

"A man shouldn't be so timid. If you know martial arts, you won't have anything to fear," his father had said.

Two years later, at fourteen, Zhen Chen had trained in karate, judo, and various other martial arts, thanks to his father's insistence. He made many friends along the way, but his fearfulness remained. However, Zhen Chen had one other remarkable trait: his strikingly handsome appearance.

Zhen Chen's looks weren't the flashy, movie-star kind. Instead, he had a gentle, approachable charm that made people want to care for him. The more you looked at him, the more you couldn't help but like him. As a result, everyone who met him quickly became his friend.

Some of his female friends even developed crushes on him, going out of their way to win his affection. But Zhen Chen remained oblivious, leaving them disappointed and giving up in the end.

To help him overcome his fear, Zhen Chen's mother enrolled him in painting, crafts, and even cooking classes. He also frequently visited a mountain temple with his grandmother. Despite all these efforts, Zhen Chen's timid nature never changed.

By now, no one even bothered to criticize him for it anymore.

Zhen Chen sighed, feeling exhausted just thinking about it. Right now, he was busy preparing for his upcoming trip.

Was he studying medicinal plants? Not exactly.

He was making a list of all the potential dangers he might encounter in the mountains and forests, preparing accordingly.

"I need to buy the necessary supplies first," Zhen Chen muttered, handing a shopping list to his assistant, Xiao Long.

"Xiao Long, make sure everything on this list is ready by tomorrow. We're heading out on a trip."

"You're coming with me too. We're going into the forest to search for medicinal plants, so make sure you're prepared. Use this card for any expenses."

After giving Xiao Long his instructions, Zhen Chen headed to the mountain temple.

When his grandmother was alive, she often brought him here to pray. The serene mountain surroundings and fresh air always calmed his mind and eased his fatigue. The path was lined with wildflowers and birdsong, making it a truly peaceful place.

"Great and compassionate Buddha, please protect your disciple, Zhen Chen, from all dangers and bless me with safety," Zhen Chen prayed loudly.

The young monk, who had been sitting quietly, glanced at Zhen Chen with curiosity.

Strange shadows flickered across the monk's face as he asked, "What troubles you, young man?"

"Your disciple is going into the forest to search for medicinal plants. I'm just praying for safety. I'm not really in trouble, but I tend to worry a lot, so I'm preparing in advance," Zhen Chen explained.

The young monk nodded gently.

"Young man, you are a chosen one. Do you understand that?"

"Chosen? What do you mean? Could you explain, Master?"

The monk shook his head.

"You don't seem to fully understand. Follow me to the west side of the mountain. It's a long story."

Zhen Chen bowed respectfully and followed the monk to the back of the mountain.

There, he found a small pond and many flowers he had never seen before. The air was filled with the scent of blossoms.

The monk pointed to a stone table and chairs.

"Please, sit," he said.

As Zhen Chen sat down, he suddenly sensed something unusual within his body.

"Is this... spiritual energy?" he thought, astonished.

While Zhen Chen was still in shock, the monk poured him a cup of tea and looked at him with a strange expression.

"Oh? Can you sense it already?"

Zhen Chen nodded, still in awe.

"Spiritual energy... Ha... I can sense it now... It's real... This is amazing!"