Volume One, Chapter Five: Why Endure the Mire with Me?

A faint pressure weighed so heavily on Butler Wu that he dared not lift his head.

Faced with Chu Lingtian’s provocation, he was stunned into silence, unable to retort a single word.

“Master Chu should at least be at the Qi Transformation level,” Butler Wu thought, forming a rough assessment of Chu Lingtian’s abilities.

If the boundary of becoming a sect founder marked a grandmaster’s threshold, there were several tiers before that: Body Refinement, Qi Refinement, Qi Transformation, and Innate.

Although he himself had achieved the pinnacle of Qi Refinement, each stage represented a qualitative leap.

What puzzled him was how such a small place like the East Sea, such a modest Chu family, could harbor such a formidable expert.

“Madam, I think Master Chu is just fiercely protective of his wife; it’s understandable,” Butler Wu said patiently, addressing the stout woman.

“Please don’t stoop to arguing with Master Chu,” he added, unwilling to disgrace himself further when it was clear he stood no chance.

The stout woman was no fool; as a member of the Jiang family, she was well aware of the overwhelming power the young man had just unleashed.

Butler Wu had graciously offered her a way out.

After some thought, she snorted, “That brat, youthful arrogance is forgivable. I won’t lower myself to argue with you.”

With that, she hurried away.

“Fourth brother, you’ve truly found a fine son-in-law. Congratulations.”

“Fourth brother’s wife, congratulations!”

The other women, seeing no advantage to be gained, feigned cordiality before departing as well.

“He really is at the Qi Transformation level, isn’t he?” Jiang Limin’s eyes burned with intensity, a flicker of surprise shining within.

He had never expected the young master of the modest Chu family to possess such strength.

Indeed.

Anyone under thirty with Qi Transformation skills was worthy of focused cultivation in the Jiang family.

“No wonder he behaves so arrogantly,” Jiang Limin mused, understanding why the boy acted with such recklessness.

“But…” he snorted, “There is always someone stronger. The Jiang family, this whole Jiangnan region, isn’t like your small East Sea. If you don’t keep a low profile, you’ll be taken down sooner or later—and that will cause me trouble.”

“Save your fake concern. Even at my worst, I don’t need lectures from you,” Chu Lingtian shot back without sparing him an inch of face.

The Jiang family? Jiangnan? Had they grown so arrogant?

Just a handful of inmates from the Fire Phoenix prison could easily reduce the Jiang family to fools.

“You—!” Jiang Limin was momentarily rendered speechless.

“If you won’t stand up for your daughter, fine, but stop spouting nonsense. If you can’t speak properly, just leave. I told you not to come along,” a woman beside Jiang Limin finally lost her patience and scolded.

Her name was Li Siru, Jiang Wan’s mother.

Earlier, with others present, she had restrained herself, unwilling to upstage her husband.

“Well, well, I won’t say more,” Jiang Limin sighed and swept his sleeve, preparing to leave.

As he turned away, he cast a glance back at Chu Lingtian, a trace of regret in his eyes.

The boy was actually quite promising.

But sadly, in the end, he would not escape the tragic fate of being buried alongside.

“Lingtian, don’t mind him. He’s just worried about Jiang Wan, but in his position, there are too many things beyond his control,” Li Siru said, taking Chu Lingtian’s hand as though they were old friends.

She added warmly, “Good child, thank you for standing up for Jiang Wan just now.”

“No need, ma’am. It’s what I should do,” Chu Lingtian replied politely, though unused to such kindness.

Li Siru wasted no time. From her pocket, she produced a card and pressed it into his palm.

“This card has a credit limit of one hundred million.”

“Spend it however you like.”

“If you can’t use it up, you can transfer it back to the Chu family.”

“Anything goes.”

One hundred million at once? Chu Lingtian was momentarily stunned.

“Keep it,” Jiang Wan, now with reddened eyes, whispered.

“Your grandfather has awakened. This afternoon, you two should prepare to meet him.”

Li Siru lowered her head, unable to meet Jiang Wan’s gaze, muffling her sobs as she left.

As a mother, she could do nothing but watch her daughter be forced into a living burial.

How many nights had she cried herself to sleep—who could understand such pain?

Jiang Wan understood. She understood everything.

She knew her parents’ helplessness, resented her own frail body, and regretted ever being born.

After Li Siru departed, Jiang Wan could no longer hold back.

Her eyes red-rimmed, she explained, “This money is compensation from my mother.”

“You can use it to manage some affairs.”

“Butler Wu recently lost a lot gambling. He badly needs money.”

“If you give him fifty million, he will arrange for you to leave the Jiang family, evade their spies, and escape Jiangnan safely.”

“I suggest you go abroad and never return.”

“Fifty million is equivalent to eight or nine million dollars—enough for you to live well anywhere in the world.”

Finally, Jiang Wan gazed tearfully at Chu Lingtian, forcing a smile.

“Chu Lingtian, thank you for being with me in my final days.”

“If there is a next life, I’ll have a proper romance with you and then marry you.”

…

Knock, knock.

The soft sound of footsteps drifted inside.

Butler Wu entered quietly, alone.

“Master Chu, as the young lady said, the price is as agreed. After I escort you out, please transfer it to my overseas account,” he whispered.

Chu Lingtian shot a surprised glance at Jiang Wan.

When had she contacted Butler Wu to arrange all this?

“You should go now,” Jiang Wan waved him off.

“Master Chu, the old gentleman wants to see you this afternoon. If you want to leave, now’s the time—after that, the chance will be gone,” Butler Wu urged.

“Leave? Leave where?” Chu Lingtian frowned.

“Do you think I’m joking?”

“I promised you.”

“I marry you, I’ll cure your illness. No one will force you to be buried alive.”

“Your fate changed the moment you came to the Jiang family.”

“And as for you, go back wherever you came from. I’m staying in the Jiang family—I’m not going anywhere,” Chu Lingtian said, beckoning to Butler Wu.

“Master Chu, you are something else,” Butler Wu gave a thumbs-up.

Knowing the young lady’s condition and her impending fate, Chu Lingtian still refused to leave. Though he didn’t understand his reasoning, Butler Wu admired him.

“Take care of yourself then, Master Chu.”

With that, Butler Wu disappeared into the villa.

“Hey, are you crazy?” Jiang Wan sighed deeply, her heart stirred.

“My life is already ruined; why must you drag yourself down into the mud with me?”

“Come, take off your clothes,” Chu Lingtian suddenly said.

“Huh?” Jiang Wan blinked, but seeing no hint of jest on his face, her ears flushed with a rosy hue.

“You… what are you going to do?”