Greenstone City, on the streets.
A young man with tattered clothes carried a medicine basket. His white robes were stained crimson with blood, and his legs were caked in mud, drawing the attention of passersby.
"Isn't that Lin Kai from the Lin Clan?"
"I heard he joined the City Lord's Manor's Escort Bureau half a year ago to transport supplies to Great Dragon Mountain. He must have just returned from his mission."
"Great Dragon Mountain? That's a barren wasteland! Why would anyone transport supplies to such a place? Is he crazy?"
"It's all for money, isn't it? That kid's famous for being a devoted family man. He dotes on his woman and takes on dangerous missions to earn money for her comfort."
"Look at all the spirit medicine in his basket. It's probably for nourishing his fiancée."
"Tsk, those Blood Spirit Mushrooms only grow on sheer cliffs. It seems he's been enduring quite a bit for his woman."
"..."
Hearing the neighbors' murmurs, Lin Kai's lips curved into a contented smile.
"It's been a year and a half since I last left home. I wonder if Xue has missed me..."
Three years ago, Lin Kai and Lu Xue fell in love at first sight, their hearts entwining as they pledged to marry.
Though their wedding was yet to take place, Lin Kai already cherished Lu Xue as his wife, showering her with tender care and everything she desired.
To provide Lu Xue with a better life, Lin Kai ventured alone to distant lands, working tirelessly abroad from battlefield to foraging wilderness.
He could only return home once every six months to a year.
Each journey was fraught with desperateness to return alivel, requiring him to traverse dangerous mountains. At times, he barely escaped with his life, crawling out from piles of corpses.
Most men would have crumbled under such hardship.
But Lin Kai, driven by his desire for his woman's happiness, never complained, enduring any hardship without a word of resentment.
Yet, the moment Lin Kai returned to the Lin Clan, he was confronted with a scene that made his blood boil and head throb with anger:
Under the flickering candlelight, he saw a man and a woman locked in a tight embrace, their hurried breaths and suggestive whispers filling the room:
"Brother Long, you're finally here! You haven't shown me any affection for days~ I've been so eager for your attention~"
The brazenly suggestive tone sent a shiver down Lin Kai's spine, yet the voice was so familiar that it made his heart tremble with anger.
Was that the voice of his fiancée, Lu Xue?
Who was she talking to?
A man's voice answered:
"You little hussy, getting impatient again? Aren't you afraid your fiancé will find out if you keep calling me over like this?"
"I heard the Escort Bureau's mission is complete. That guy will be back soon. How will you explain your pregnancy then?"
Lin Kai's heart trembled again at the sound of that voice. It was Lin Long, the young master of the Lin Clan!
Lin Long's father was also the Great Elder of the Lin Clan, wielding immense power.
But what was Lin Long doing in his home?
Pregnancy?
Who was pregnant? Lu Xue?
He'd been away for nearly a year. How could she be pregnant?
Could it be...? A sense of realisation washed over Lin Kai.
"We'll just sleep together a few times when he gets back and pretend it was an accident," Lu Xue's voice rang out again, laced with mockery and disdain. "That clueless blockhead wouldn't suspect the child isn't his."
"Besides, it's perfect timing. You mentioned your energy was depleted recently, right? He'll definitely bring back some tonics for me, which I can share with you."
Lin Long's laughter carried a hint of smugness. "If that loser knew that the goddess he cherished so carefully was being easily toyed with by me, and that the medicinal pills and herbs he risked his life to bring back were being used as kidney tonics for another man... I wonder how he'd react?"
Lu Xue giggled coquettishly. "That's what makes it so thrilling! You're enjoying my company while consuming the tonics he brought back! Once I bear you a few more children, we'll let that loser raise them for us, our children can suck his blood!"
"Lu Xue! Lin Long! You pair of fu*cking bitches! This is too much!"
Outside, Lin Kai's heart churned as he overheard the explicit conversation. A violent aura erupted from his body, as if he could tear the heavens themselves apart with his bare hand.
He never imagined that while he was risking his life in battle, his fiancée, Lu Xue, was sleeping with another man at his own house.
And using the medicinal pills he had risked his life to obtain as tonics?
To boost the kidney function of her lover?
Bang!
The force of his rage shattered the door.
"Who's there?"
Lu Xue and Lin Long, nearly entwined, startled at the sudden commotion. When they saw Lin Kai's unexpected return, Lu Xue's eyes widened in disbelief, her fear of getting caught red-handed palpable.
"Lin Kai... why are you back so soon? What's going on?"
"How dare you ask me what's going on here?" Lin Kai's eyes burned crimson as he glared at the disheveled Lin Long, his voice trembling slightly.
"Brother Lin Long was just helping me learn cultivation," Lu Xue said, her gaze darting away. "He's worried about my safety. You're always away, and I'm alone at home with no cultivation, so I might get bullied."
"Since when does cultivation involve stripping naked in bed?" Lin Kai demanded.
"It's because you're never home! Brother Lin Long was helping us loosen the soil. He got his clothes dirty, so I was helping him change. If you were here more often, why would I, a young woman, have to do such hard labor?" Lu Xue retorted, her voice laced with resentment.
In the past, when he was still naive, Lin Kai would have blindly believed Lu Xue's lies. But now, with his eyes bloodshot, he let out a bitter laugh.
"Hahaha... Lu Xue you wench, do you really think I'm such a fool that you can deceive me so easily? I've even heard about your pregnancy. Yet you still try to deny it?"
Realizing her act was up, Lu Xue dropped her pretense and sneered coldly:
"That's right, I betrayed you! But how can you blame me? You're such a blockhead, completely clueless about what a girl wants or how to please her."
"Look at Young Master Lin Long—so handsome and impeccably clean. Unlike you, covered in blood and filth like a barbarian. Do you really think you deserve a beautiful girl like me?"
Lin Kai's heart trembled at her words, and he let out a bitter laugh.
"Hahaha... I lack romance? I don't know how to take care of myself?"
"If I hadn't been risking my life in battle, enduring hardship and sleeping under the stars, where would your luxurious life be? How could you able stay so beautiful? Now you're disgusted by the blood on my clothes?"
If he hadn't toiled tirelessly, ignoring the dirt and exhaustion, Lu Xue would still be eating coarse grains in the Lu family!
Had Lu Xue forgotten who had created her current life?
Her expression froze for a moment before she snapped back, her voice sharp with anger, "I don't care! All I know is you never had time for me, while Brother Long is always there! He entertains me! He knows how to pamper me!"
"Xue, don't waste your breath on him!" Lin Long sneered from the side.
"Lin Kai, I've had my fun with your woman. What can you do about it? I'm the son of the Lin Clan's Great Elder, and my brother is the Lin Clan's Top Genius. What makes you think a mere branch family disciple like you could ever challenge me?!"
"And another thing—she's pregnant now. You're forbidden from going on missions during this time. Stay home and take good care of her! If even a single hair on her head is harmed, I'll hold you responsible! From now on, all the money you earn will go towards raising the child! If you dare spend even half a copper secretly... Hmph! I'll kill you"
Lin Long's tone was domineering, as if he were a master commanding a servant. He even dictated how Lin Kai's personal finances should be managed.
"You're going too far!"
Lin Kai's fingernails dug so deeply into his palms that blood dripped onto his tattered clothes. His eyes burned crimson as he glared at Lin Long. He doesn't know how can someone be so entitled and obnoxious.
This man had slept his fiancée, and now that she was pregnant, he expected himi to pay for the child's upbringing?
"I'm bullying you, so what? You lowly scum! Do you think you can resist? Look at your status! Your background! Even your own woman despises you!" Lin Long sneered.
Lu Xue added fuel to the fire with a cold laugh. "Lin Kai, I never loved you. To me, you were just a tool to be used. If you don't want to die, you'll obey Young Master Lin Long's orders like a good dog!"
"If that's how it is, then don't blame me for showing no mercy!" Lin Kai roared, his killing intent erupting like a volcano.
He would kill!
He would slaughter this pair of adulterers!
"You ignorant fool! How dare you act so insolent before me! I'll break your legs first and see how tough you still are!"
Lin Long snorted coldly, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. He swung his fist, and smashed it down toward Lin Kai's head.
A piece of trash like you dares to challenge me, the Lin Clan's young master?
You're courting death!
He would make Lin Kai understand the consequences of defying him!
"Brother Lin Long, don't hold back!"
Seeing Lin Long attack, Lu Xue didn't defend Lin Kai. Instead, she wore a cold smile.
She had betrayed Lin Kai, betraying his heart and soul. But so what? Lu Xue would never lower herself to a cripple!
A wretch like Lin Kai was only fit to be her tool, a stepping stone!
And any tool that dared to rebel would pay the price!
"Heh, just a piece of trash. I can crush him with a flick of my wrist!" Lin Long sneered arrogantly.
The path of cultivation was divided into the Qi Nurturing Realm, Qi Sea Realm, Spirit Sea Realm, Spirit Profound Realm, Earth Profound Realm, and Heaven Profound Realm.
Each realm was further divided into nine minor stages.
Though Lin Long was an idle, uncultured young master, he was still the son of the Lin Clan's Great Elder. His strength was not to be underestimated. At his young age, he had already reached the fifth stage of the Qi Nurturing Realm!
Lin Kai, lacking such backing and sending most of his money home, had few resources for cultivation. He had only reached the third stage of the Qi Nurturing Realm.
A full two realms separated them!
What could Lin Kai, that useless trash, possibly compare to him?
"Kill!"
A terrifying wave of qi and blood surged forth, yet Lin Kai didn't flinch. With a furious roar, he lunged forward.
In terms of cultivation realm, Lin Kai was indeed at a disadvantage due to his lack of resources compared to Lin Long.
But every realm he had achieved had been forged through countless life-or-death battles, allowing him to unleash several times the power from each unit of strength.
Fueled by fury and the primal instincts of a man pushed to his limits, Lin Kai's power surged exponentially in that instant.
Boom! With a single punch, Lin Kai shattered Lin Long's fist. The terrifying force sent Lin Long flying backward, coughing up blood.
Lin Long, the favored son of the clan, was utterly no match for Lin Kai! He had been instantly crushed!