Chapter 2

Chen Hao looked at his brother Chen Xi with trepidation, not daring to breathe heavily.

Since he was young, his brother had taken care of his meals, sleep, and sent him to the best martial arts hall in Songyan City for cultivation. The essence stones he had worked hard to earn were all spent on him, while his brother never used a single bit of essence stone for himself.

Chen Hao knew that although his brother seemed cold and distant, he had a very kind heart and was extremely attentive to him and their grandfather. However, why did everyone mock him?

Face Paralysis Chen, Broom Star...

Thinking of these malicious nicknames, Chen Hao was filled with rage, wishing to tear the mouths of those who mocked his brother.

"Hmph, if they dare to insult my brother again, I'll beat them up!"

Chen Hao clenched his small fists and made a silent vow in his heart.

"Let's go home and have dinner first."

Chen Xi came out of his silence, took a deep breath, patted Chen Hao's shoulder, and pushed open the old door, walking into the house.

"Brother, you're not mad at me?"

Chen Hao was taken aback, then grinned happily, "Alright, brother, my stomach is almost flat from hunger."

...

In the room, the dim pine oil lamp flickered, casting a faint light on the narrow and shabby wooden house.

An old man with sparse hair sat quietly at the dining table. He was emaciated, with a face full of wrinkles, and his cloudy eyes exuded a sense of decay.

The old man was named Chen Tianli. In the past, he was a prominent figure in Songyan City, but after the Chen family was destroyed, he suffered a relapse of his old illness, and his cultivation was completely ruined, turning him into an ordinary old man.

"Grandfather."

Chen Xi sat silently at the table, looking at a dish of pickled vegetables and three bowls of white rice. He sighed inwardly, feeling that he was still too foolish. If he could earn more essence stones every day, his grandfather and younger brother wouldn't have to suffer.

"Eat." Chen Tianli's voice was hoarse and low, "After the meal, I have something to say."

Chen Xi was taken aback and nodded, "Okay."

The three of them eating together was quite interesting. Chen Xi and his grandfather only ate white rice, giving the small dish of pickled vegetables to Chen Hao. The little guy knew that refusing would be futile, so he just focused on eating, repeating a vow he had made long ago in his heart: "Grandfather, brother, when I become strong, I will give you all the delicious food in the world, and we won't eat these damned pickled vegetables anymore!"

After the meal, Chen Hao obediently cleaned up the dishes and, carrying a wooden sword, walked out of the house. He wanted to practice swordsmanship and seize every minute to become stronger!

"How many levels of the 'Purple Dawn Technique' have you cultivated?" Chen Tianli, hearing the sound of sword practice from outside the window, showed a hint of satisfaction on his aged face.

The 'Purple Dawn Technique' was a family-inherited cultivation method, with a total of eighteen levels, detailing the cultivation techniques from the nine levels of the acquired realm to the nine levels of the innate realm.

"Still the thirteenth level." Even when speaking to his grandfather, Chen Xi's face remained as cold as ever, exuding a steady and taciturn aura that seemed unchangeable.

"Ah."

Chen Tianli nodded, not commenting, but a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

He loved and hated this grandson. Since Chen Xi was born, the Chen family had been plagued by misfortune—family destruction, Chen Xi's mother leaving the family, and Chen Xi's father dying of grief...

What was even more infuriating was that the Su family of Longyuan City publicly tore up the marriage contract in front of everyone in Songyan City, thoroughly disgracing Chen Tianli. If it weren't for the two young grandsons who needed care, he would have ended his life by suicide!

Sometimes he also doubted whether his grandson was truly a broom star, bringing bad luck. However, he quickly dismissed this thought. The Chen family was now down to just the three of them, and with his health deteriorating, they could only barely make ends meet with Chen Xi's work as a talisman maker.

In other words, because of Chen Xi, they hadn't fallen to the level of beggars. Chen Hao, thanks to Chen Xi's hard work, had even entered the famous Tianxing Martial Hall in Songyan City for cultivation.

Thinking of this, a warm feeling welled up in Chen Tianli's heart. No matter how unlucky, Chen Xi was still his grandson, still the flesh and blood of the Chen family!

"These years, you've suffered a lot."

Chen Tianli sighed, "I let Chen Hao eat well, wear well, and enter the martial hall for training, but you had to work hard to make a living, without any reward. Grandfather... I'm sorry to you."

Chen Xi's body stiffened, and the long-suppressed bitterness in his heart began to stir. He quickly took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness, and shook his head, "You're old and frail, and Chen Hao is still young and naive. These things naturally fall to me."

Chen Tianli smiled and waved, "Let's not talk about this."

Chen Xi nodded and remained silent.

He was naturally introverted and taciturn, not good with words. Over the years, he had often been mocked and ridiculed by those around him, making him even more reserved. He preferred to act silently rather than say a single unnecessary word.

"The Thousand Sword Sect of Longyuan City will open its gates in half a month to recruit disciples. I plan to take Chen Hao to try his luck." After much thought, Chen Tianli suddenly spoke.

Chen Xi was taken aback and said, "That's good. Leaving Songyan City will be more beneficial for Chen Hao's growth."

Chen Tianli couldn't help but ask, "You... won't blame me for favoring Chen Hao?"

Chen Xi shook his head, "I will follow whatever Grandfather decides."

Chen Tianli carefully examined his grandson's face, as if trying to see something. To his disappointment, Chen Xi's expression remained unchanged, like a piece of hard wood.

"Remaining silent among the crowd, speaking even less, such a stubborn and resilient character, I don't know if it's good or bad. Sigh."

Chen Tianli sighed deeply and got up to go back to the room.

...

The next morning.

When Chen Xi woke up, it was just dawn. After washing his face with cold water, he walked out of the house and saw his younger brother Chen Hao practicing swordsmanship.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The wooden sword swung, creating a series of sharp sounds. Chen Hao, holding the sword in his right hand, his thin body moved nimbly, performing cuts, slashes, thrusts, and stabs with great precision.

His small face was covered in sweat, but his young brows were set in determination. The wooden sword in his hand did not tremble, showing a steady and skilled demeanor.

Chen Xi watched for a moment without disturbing his brother. After quickly making breakfast, he did not make talismans as usual but rushed to the Zhang family's general store.

"Ah, Face Paralysis Chen is here again!"

"Ah, I thought I wouldn't run into him this morning, but I still did. What bad luck."

In the Zhang family's general store, the new talisman apprentices saw Chen Xi enter and quickly avoided him, as if afraid of catching bad luck.

"Uncle Zhang, I want to borrow a hundred essence stones. Is that possible?" Chen Xi, ignoring the cold remarks, went straight to the counter and made his request to Zhang Dayong.

Zhang Dayong was puzzled, "Chen Xi, is something wrong? Tell me, maybe I can help."

Chen Xi had been making talismans for his store for over five years and had never borrowed money before. Today, he suddenly wanted to borrow a hundred essence stones, which naturally made him curious. He planned to help the young man if he could.

Chen Xi felt a warmth in his heart at Zhang Dayong's concern and shook his head, "I'm not in trouble, I just want to buy something."

Zhang Dayong understood and took out a spirit jade, saying, "Here, is this enough? If not, I can lend you more."

"It's enough, thank you, Uncle Zhang. I'll pay you back soon."

A spirit jade was roughly equivalent to a hundred essence stones, and sometimes even more. Chen Xi took the spirit jade and left, walking quickly.

"Strange, this boy is usually very frugal, never spending money recklessly. What's going on today?"

Zhang Dayong watched Chen Xi's back disappear through the door, feeling very puzzled.

...

The Hundred Refinements Hall, located in the bustling center of Songyan City, specialized in selling weapons and equipment needed by cultivators. It was large in scale and well-known in Songyan City.

Chen Xi spent a spirit jade in less than a quarter of an hour, feeling not a bit of pain but rather a sense of satisfaction.

When he returned home, it was almost noon. Chen Tianli was packing, and Chen Hao was sitting at the door, hands on his face, lost in thought.

"Brother, you're back." Chen Hao jumped up, his face full of joy.

Chen Xi patted Chen Hao's head, "Are we leaving soon?"

Chen Hao nodded, his expression turning somber. He was reluctant to leave his brother. The thought of not seeing him often after going to Longyuan City made him very sad.

Chen Xi took out a long jade box and handed it to him, "I bought this for you. You must work hard."

"Really? For me?"

Chen Hao was stunned, looking at the exquisite jade box, unable to believe his eyes.

From a young age, whenever he saw other children showing off various gifts, he envied them but never dared to hope for such things. He knew that the three of them had to rely on his brother's hard work to survive, so he never dared to ask for anything.

Now, on the eve of his departure, his brother had quietly bought him a gift, which moved him deeply.

"Brother..."

Chen Hao's voice was choked with emotion. He lowered his head, trying not to cry, but his eyes were already red.

Chen Xi patted his brother's shoulder, "Take care of Grandfather and yourself."

"Okay!" Chen Hao nodded firmly.

"I'll go see Grandfather. I'll send you out of the city later." Chen Xi's face, rarely showing any emotion, revealed a hint of a smile as he turned and walked into the house.

Chen Hao took a deep breath, slowly opened the jade box, and saw a long sword with a cold, sharp glow lying inside.

Buzz!

Picking up the sword, his true essence flowed, and the sword emitted a clear hum, a sharp and piercing aura surging out.

"Brother, rest assured, I won't let you down!"

Chen Hao looked at the sword in his hand, his eyes determined, as if he had grown up overnight, no longer the naive child he once was.

...

At noon, the sun was high in the sky.

At the city gate.

A carriage carrying the grandfather and grandson slowly drove away.

Chen Xi stood on the city wall, his eyes fixed on the distance, his heart surging with emotion.

——

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