At a mere thirty years of age, Zeng Anmin had already amassed over a hundred million in savings, retired early, and prepared for a life of leisure. He owned a massive two-story villa spanning over three hundred square meters, complete with an enormous crystal chandelier. He also woke up next to a different beautiful girl every single day. As a result, the corners of his mouth were perpetually curled upwards in a smile.
However, after waking up this time, his ready smile completely froze.
Zeng Anmin blinked vigorously, but the scene before him remained unchanged. The scent of sandalwood wafted through the air, accompanied by the chaotic, plucking sounds of traditional string and bamboo instruments. Every single piece of furniture in the room was antique and classically elegant.
"Time travel?" Zeng Anmin muttered to himself, his eyes vacant. "I finally managed to claw my way into the upper class, and I've only enjoyed half my life...
"I haven't even played the new monkey game I just downloaded, and now I have to become a real monkey?!!"
But then, a rush of strange yet familiar memories flooded his mind, instantly shutting him up. He thought, "The Holy Dynasty has stood for six hundred years... There are Body Cultivators, Daoist Cultivators, Confucian Cultivators, and Buddhist Cultivators.
"My father is a big shot Confucian Cultivator in the Firewood Carrying Realm? He's a high-ranking regional official? A legendary frontier minister?
"And I'm a spoiled, trust-fund baby living a life of utter debauchery and hedonism?!"
The corners of Zeng Anmin's mouth slowly curled up into an astonishingly wide grin. "Then it's all good."
As a highly literate and successful man in his past life, he understood one truth perfectly well. Children from wealthy families couldn't always get away with whatever they wanted, but children from powerful families absolutely could! This was especially true in a feudal society like this.
Zeng Anmin marveled at the various luxurious and magnificent ornaments decorating his room. Several idioms instantly popped into his head: living in the lap of luxury, draped in fine silks, and dining off ivory chopsticks and Jade Cups.
He thought, "No, Zeng Anmin, how can you be so degenerate?
"This corrupt feudal society is exactly what you need to critique with your great and noble personality!"
Taking a deep breath, he looked straight at the door with absolute solemnity, fully prepared to go witness the corruption of this feudal society firsthand! Imitating his predecessor's tone, Zeng Anmin spoke in a flamboyant voice, though his gaze remained firm. "I'll start my critique with those scoundrels and strumpets!"
Since it was his first day of time traveling, everything was novel to him. He desperately wanted to go out onto the streets to take a look. Suddenly, the door to his room was violently pushed open with a jarring BAM!
The exquisitely carved fragrant-wood door slammed harshly against its frame. Zeng Anmin winced in heartache. Based on the craftsmanship alone, a wooden door like that would be worth at least two hundred thousand back in his modern era. More importantly, it was a genuine work of art.
A solemn-looking old man rushed into the room. His expression was grave, and his voice was laced with urgency. "Young Master, we must leave quickly! Mr. Zeng has been thrown into prison!"
The old man was dressed in brocade robes and walked with a commanding, vigorous stride. His temples bulged slightly, and a sharp glint flashed within his otherwise cloudy eyes. Memories of this old man instantly surfaced in Zeng Anmin's mind.
This was Mr. Qi. He was his father's personal servant, the Zeng family's most loyal hound, and an Ascended Grade Body Cultivator.
"What did you say?" Zeng Anmin asked, staring at the old man in astonishment.
Mr. Qi instantly flashed forward. His toes merely tapped the ground without making the slightest sound, yet he was already standing right in front of Zeng Anmin. His speed was so fast that Zeng Anmin's eyes couldn't even process the movement. Mr. Qi grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the door. "The people from the Observation Department will be at the mansion any second!
"Mr. Zeng left behind many hidden contingency plans in our hometown of Feng Commandery. We'll disguise ourselves and sneak away!"
Zeng Anmin suddenly felt a massive surge of force, pulling him helplessly behind Mr. Qi. That single, brief sentence struck him like a bolt from the blue.
BOOM!
Zeng Anmin's expression froze as a deafening roar echoed in his ears. His dream of living a carefree, aristocratic life had just been shattered into foam before it even truly began. As they ran, he locked his gaze onto Mr. Qi and asked in bewildered disbelief, "My father is an official of the Court! Without a decree from Your Majesty, who would dare arrest him and throw him into prison?!"
Although he was only a pseudo-history buff, he knew that a prominent regional minister would never be inexplicably thrown into prison without any warning unless it was an absolute catastrophe! Even the lawless Yuan Chonghuan only dared to execute Mao Wenlong after obtaining the Imperial Sword. Not to mention that, apart from his civil governance, his father was also one of the Holy Dynasty's few High Grade Confucian Cultivators!
The very reason the Holy Dynasty had remained standing despite centuries of conflict with the Demon Race was that Confucian Cultivators were extremely effective at countering them. While Confucian Cultivators didn't focus on physical body training, a single, effortless quote from a Saint could rival the power of thousands of troops on the battlefield against the Demon Race!
"The Imperial Censor Envoy entered the mansion and detained Mr. Zeng in prison under the charge of secretly colluding with the Demon Race," Mr. Qi explained.
Secretly colluding with the Demon Race?!
The Great Saint Dynasty had been at war with the southern frontier's Demon Race for hundreds of years. The situation had long been a battle to the bitter end. This single charge was enough to warrant the extermination of their entire extended family!
Without another moment of hesitation, Zeng Anmin scooped up some valuables from the table, stuffed them into his robes, and prepared to pack his bags and flee. "The road ahead will be difficult. Mr. Qi, you should grab some precious items too."
Having already died once, he cherished his life more than anyone else. Besides, the contingency plans set up by a prominent minister should be more than enough to let him live out the rest of his days in comfort and laziness.
Mr. Qi stared at Zeng Anmin's bulging chest, his expression freezing momentarily. Shouldn't the Young Master be more concerned about Mr. Zeng at a time like this?
The two of them moved extremely fast and arrived outside the mansion's gates in no time. Zeng Anmin halted his steps. Looking at the scene before him, the last sliver of hope in his heart completely vanished. Mr. Qi also stopped in his tracks, his tiger-like eyes grim as he stared intently ahead.
"By the order of the Inspector General, we are to apprehend the criminal's family members! Any unrelated personnel who interfere will be struck down, regardless of life or death!"
A robust, loud-voiced man sat atop a tall horse, wielding a wax-white spear as he looked down at them from above. Behind him, a squad of over a hundred men in black robes completely surrounded the entire Zeng Mansion, leaving no gaps whatsoever. The commoners on the streets instantly scattered in all directions.
The muscular man had incredibly sharp eyes, which were made to look even more piercing by his slanted eyebrows. An overwhelming pressure emanated from his body, crashing through the air and landing squarely on Zeng Anmin, who was standing ten paces away.
"Young Master Zeng, where might you be going?" the muscular man asked with a half-smile, his voice booming like a bell.
THUD THUD.
Zeng Anmin's heart sank. Under the crushing weight of that immense pressure, he couldn't move an inch. Fortunately, Mr. Qi's large hand gently pressed against his lower back, saving him from stumbling into a humiliating display.
He recognized this muscular man. It was Wang Daoyuan, a Top Grade Realm Body Cultivator of the Observation Department. In the terms of his previous life, this guy was a diamond-tier player. But in front of his father, he was nothing more than a groveling dog.
CLOP CLOP CLOP.
Every step the warhorse took forward stirred up a suffocating sense of oppression.
"I was just about to head out for some fun. Would Captain Mr. Wang care to join me? Anmin will treat you," Zeng Anmin said, feigning a relaxed tone as he replied to Wang Daolai's words. Anyone would find it hard to accept such a hellish, doomed scenario right after time traveling.
"Heh." Wang Daoyuan tilted his chin with a fake, mirthless smile. "I do not have such leisure time." With that, he waved his hand coldly. "Arrest him!"
Just as two men stepped forward from the squad, Mr. Qi lunged ahead, firmly shielding Zeng Anmin behind him. He looked down his nose at them, his old but powerful voice ringing out, completely disregarding the Wang Daoyuan before him. "Do filthy wretches like you really think you're worthy of laying a hand on the Young Master?!"
Hearing this, Zeng Anmin's eyes lit up. A wave of confidence immediately surged in his heart. A Body Cultivator who had followed his father for so long definitely wouldn't be weak!
"Heh, you reckless old dog," Wang Daoyuan chuckled lightly. He gave his spear a gentle flick, making it look completely devoid of strength, and slowly thrust it toward the two of them.
Mr. Qi's gaze turned exceedingly grim. He lunged forward directly, his toes lightly tapping the ground a few times, and suddenly a long whip appeared in his hand.
CRACK!
As the spear and the short whip clashed, Mr. Qi flew forward quickly, but he was sent flying back even faster. With a heavy BAM, he crashed onto the ground. He twitched a few times before violently coughing out a mouthful of blood with a sickening SPURT, which happened to splatter right onto Zeng Anmin's face. After that, the old man laid completely motionless, his fate unknown...
Zeng Anmin was dumbfounded. He thought, "Wait, you talked such a big game, but you're actually a complete weakling?
"Then why the hell were you acting so arrogant just now?"
Before he could even open his mouth to speak, the two burly men rushed up and surrounded him, tying him up firmly in mere seconds.
CRACK!
The Horse Whip in Wang Daoyuan's hand left a bloody welt on Zeng Anmin's arm. With a gloomy glare, he snapped, "Don't play dumb to stall for time. Move!"
Without allowing any room for argument, two black-robed men stepped forward, grabbing and dragging him away. Behind him, the massive Zeng Mansion finally erupted into total chaos. The vicious and ruthless Red-clothed Guards of the Observation Department stormed the estate, commencing their official duties. Countless panicked screams and agonizing cries echoed endlessly in his ears.
Dragged along the road, Zeng Anmin remained completely silent. He still hadn't recovered from his dizziness over the sight of blood.
CLOP CLOP CLOP. The sound of horse hooves gradually rang out.
Wang Daoyuan's voice condensed into a thin line of sound and drilled directly into Zeng Anmin's ear. "Kid, there were too many people around just now. I had to put on a good show to keep up appearances.
"Official Mr. Zeng was framed by someone and thrown into the Observation Department's Imperial Prison.
"The case files have already been completely written up. They're just waiting to arrest your entire household to seal your family's fate!"
Zeng Anmin abruptly snapped his head up and looked toward Wang Daoyuan. Yet, Wang Daoyuan remained seated on his horse, looking straight ahead with a perfectly normal expression on his face.