Chapter 1295 - 924: Family Summons

Facing the smiling faces of her sisters, Jiang Nan forced out a smile, feeling dazed and her mind buzzing. She wasn’t sure how she made it back to her own pavilion.

Upon returning to the pavilion, she lit the lamp in the secret chamber. Looking at the narrow and oppressive chamber, an indescribable sense of oppression weighed on her heart. Loneliness surged over her like a tide, drowning her. In this vast world, she had no relatives, leaving her all alone. What a tragedy it was!

Jiang Nan slowly closed her eyes, recalling the scene of Zhang Chen questioning her in the pavilion that day. A feeling of regret surged up, as if it would swallow her whole.

After an unknown period, Jiang Nan’s gaze gradually firmed, "I, Jiang Nan, have no family to rely on, and my great family revenge is yet to be paid. The person I marry must be a great hero, a great figure with great abilities, definitely not someone like Zhang Chen—a poor guy with no power or influence. Zhang Chen might be a good person, but his family situation is too poor, making it impossible to help me achieve my revenge! Father, little brother, just wait—I will avenge you!"

Not far from Jiang Nan’s secret chamber, Shen Ling was also sitting in her secret chamber. She stared at the faint light in front of her, suddenly drawing the sword from her waist and slashing down at the cushion in front of her. In an instant, the cushion was shredded, and countless straws flew around the chamber.

"Zhang Gaoqiu, you ruined me! I will not rest until you die!" Shen Ling’s voice was filled with despair, echoing in the chamber like a blood-calling cuckoo.

Zhang Chen was originally her fiancé. She only needed to nod, and without doing anything, Zhang Chen would belong to her. But everything was ruined by Zhang Gaoqiu.

Hatred spread like a venomous snake in Shen Ling’s heart.

Of course, she knew that Zhang Chen, a decent young man, would never marry someone like her, who was disgraced and defeated. To her, marrying Zhang Chen was an unattainable luxury.

"Zhang Gaoqiu! I want you dead! I want you dead!" Shen Ling’s voice was filled with anger. She harbored no resentment towards Zhang Chen; instead, she vented all her fury on Zhang Gaoqiu.

The news of the engagement between Zhang Chen and Zhong Xiang swept through the whole of Kyoto, causing waves. Meanwhile, Zhang Chen and Zhong Xiang seemed unaffected, sitting in a pavilion, sipping tea.

Zhong Xiang had changed into women’s clothing. It was the first time Zhang Chen had seen Zhong Xiang dressed as a woman, and he was truly captivated. In terms of looks, she’s no less beautiful than Xie Lingyun, especially since Zhang Chen seemed to see a shadow of Lady Biyun in Zhong Xiang.

"What? Don’t recognize me?" Seeing Zhang Chen staring dumbfoundedly at her, Zhong Xiang took small steps forward, teasingly remarking as a fragrant breeze surrounded them.

"I was indeed stunned. People say women change at eighteen, and it’s been five or six years since we’ve seen each other—your change is quite significant." Zhang Chen raised his cup of tea, taking a sip, feeling his throat dry:

"Do you really want to marry me?"

"Women always have to marry someone. You did a favor for the Zhong Family; marrying you is within reason." Zhong Xiang picked up the teapot, refilling Zhang Chen’s tea.

Upon hearing that, Zhang Chen remained silent for a long time before sighing, "I thought someone like you, a prodigy, would definitely look down on someone like me, a nobody."

"So, you should secretly rejoice," Zhong Xiang cheerfully replied.

Having known each other for a long time, there was no awkwardness between them.

"I just feel like I’m dreaming, about to get married and take a wife." Zhang Chen, having wandered in the martial world for over ten years, felt a strange, indescribable sensation rising in his heart.

"Women, throughout their lives, always have to marry. It’s the greatest success to choose someone suitable while still young." Zhong Xiang said this while looking at Zhang Chen with her eyes:

"In my generation, I’ve reached the pinnacle. Throughout the world, you’re the only one worthy of me marrying. As for those princes and aristocrats, I don’t even consider them. I only care about their innate talent."

"Just because of this?" Zhang Chen was stunned: "Just because I’m better than you?"

"Of course not! There are plenty of old men stronger than me; otherwise, I could just marry one and be done with it." Zhong Xiang rolled her eyes, exasperated:

"Firstly, you did a favor for me. Secondly, after what you did to me, who else could I marry besides you?" Zhong Xiang said this and then hurled a cup of tea at Zhang Chen:

"You jerk, how dare you pull my pants down and stab my butt with an ice knife back then? I’m not done with you!"

Zhong Xiang lifted her foot directly and lunged towards Zhang Chen, a delicate fist aiming at Zhang Chen’s cheek. Her punch carried a fierce wind, clearly showing no mercy.

Zhang Chen watched the incoming fist from Zhong Xiang, not daring to be careless at all. Not only did Zhong Xiang possess the bloodline talent, but her Martial Dao power was also rare. Zhang Chen directly engaged in a fierce fight with Zhong Xiang inside the pavilion, exchanging dozens of moves in the blink of an eye. Eventually, Zhang Chen pinned Zhong Xiang to the ground, her face pressed firmly against the floor, unable to move an inch.

"Zhang Chen! I’m your wife, not a fat pig pinned to the ground!" Zhong Xiang’s voice was filled with anger; any woman being pinned to the ground with her face covered in dust would be furious.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen quickly released his grip, helping Zhong Xiang up from the ground as if he had pinned a fat pig. Apologetically, he began to wipe the dust from Zhong Xiang’s face, but Zhong Xiang suddenly swung her fist, striking Zhang Chen’s eye socket. In the next moment, a cracking sound was heard—not a single damage to Zhang Chen’s eye socket, but instead, Zhong Xiang’s wrist broke into an odd angle.

"How can your skin be so thick? How is your body so abnormal?" Zhong Xiang cried from the pain, with red eyes, covering her wrist as she disappeared from Zhang Chen’s sight.

"Women are indeed strange creatures. You broke your wrist hitting me, yet you blame me." Zhang Chen watched Zhong Xiang’s departing figure, shaking his head and muttering.

At this moment, Chengyu sneaked out from behind a pillar. The little girl was only eight years old, adorably fair and tender, like the cute ’Youmei’ on the internet.

"Senior sister, what are you doing? Why are you sneaking around?" Zhang Chen asked.

Chengyu moved closer to Zhang Chen, glancing at Zhong Xiang’s departing figure before muttering, "That woman is so fierce, Zhang Chen. We can’t want a woman like her. Listen to your senior sister: you can’t handle this type of woman. Bringing her home would be pure misery. Wait for me for a few years, and when I grow up, I’ll marry you!"

Chengyu gazed eagerly at Zhang Chen, "Just wait for four or five years! By then, I’ll rescue you from the sea of fire. You can’t fall into this woman’s hands."

Zhang Chen rubbed Chengyu’s little head, "You’re still so young, and you’re already talking about marriage."

"Zhang Chen, I’m your senior sister. You can’t rub my head like this; it will stunt my growth. That woman is too fierce, and I fear you’ll end up marrying a shrew! The big lady said you should marry a virtuous wife. If she’s not virtuous, you can’t have her." Chengyu knocked Zhang Chen’s hand away.

Zhang Chen smiled at her words; the big lady she mentioned was his second lady.

Zhang Chen touched Chengyu’s head, paying no mind to the little girl’s childish words, and instead focused on sensing that Celestial Palace within her Spiritual World. As the power of the Six-Word True Mantra Seal grew stronger, the power of incense it absorbed became more massive, finally allowing the world within his mind to be restrained.

Over the years, Yellow Heaven Dao had consolidated the entire Yangtze River region, gathering an unknown amount of Power of Faith, which had all contributed to Zhang Chen’s Six-Word True Mantra Seal, elevating it to an unbelievable level.

"The crisis seems restrained, but to completely resolve it, Yellow Heaven Dao must be destroyed." Zhang Chen stroked Chengyu’s head, holding her close like a cherished daughter.

In the evening, Zhang Chen’s family was discussing cultivation matters in the pavilion, with Zhang Chen mainly guiding the family’s cultivation. A servant from the Zhong Mansion reported that someone from the Zhang Family had come with a message. Zhang Chen instructed the servant to bring the messenger in; it was a servant Zhang Chen had never seen before. Upon arriving at the Zhong Mansion, he respectfully saluted Zhang Chen, "Greetings, young master."

"What is it?" Zhang Chen asked the servant.

"The old master of the Zhang Family has opened the ancestral hall and requested your presence for a conversation," the servant replied respectfully.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen waved his hand to signal the servant to step back, then sat in the courtyard, a thoughtful look in his eyes, "Why has the Zhang Family opened the ancestral hall again?"

"To go or not to go?" Mrs. Zhang asked anxiously, looking at Zhang Chen, "The unexpected opening of the ancestral hall by the Zhang Clan could bode ill."

"Of course, I’ll go. Since they invited me, how can I not go?" Zhang Chen said with a smile, standing up, "If I want to make a mark in the Zhang Family in the future, I can’t refuse to go. Besides, if they intend to act against me in Kyoto, it won’t be that easy."

After speaking, Zhang Chen glanced at the sky, carrying a lantern as he walked slowly out of the Zhong Mansion, making his way to the Zhang Family.

As he walked, Zhang Chen noticed something unusual. Along the way, he saw only unfamiliar faces, none of the familiar ones who had presided over his return to the family last time. Zhang Chen realized that this time, the Zhang Shenqi faction had gathered the clan, while his father’s faction likely hadn’t been notified.

"They seem to harbor ill intentions. But I’m not easy to deal with either. Whatever these old guys plan, it depends on whether I agree." Zhang Chen wasn’t concerned, walking leisurely into the ancestral hall, scanning the faces inside. Hundreds of elderly figures stood there, all with white hair, but not one familiar face among them—just the elders he had never seen before.