In the forbidden grounds of the Wuji Sect, the agonizing screams of Xuan Wudao echoed incessantly.
"Hit him harder!"
"That little brat deserves a good beating."
"This rascal disappeared for years without a word, only to return and cause trouble. Who knows what he’s been up to or what kind of friends he’s made out there."
"Ah, bad influences, no doubt. Xuan Wudao was always a good kid at heart."
"Exactly! He used to be such a fine boy. He must’ve fallen in with the wrong crowd."
"What a shame… what a terrible shame!"
Within the Wuji Sect, Xuan Wudao had always enjoyed a solid reputation and was well-liked by the elders.
After vanishing for so many years, the sect had searched high and low for him, but no one expected he’d run so far out of shame—almost to the edge of the Central Heaven Domain.
Everyone assumed he’d met with misfortune during his travels.
His return brought immense relief, but it was quickly overshadowed by an unavoidable disaster.
"You little brat, have you learned your lesson yet?"
Though Xuan Tianyu’s beating was fierce, Xuan Wudao’s thick skin spared him any real injury.
To save his father’s face, Xuan Wudao obediently muttered, "I’ve learned my lesson," while silently adding, "But I don’t plan to change."
"Dad, what do we do now?"
"Is the Luo Shen Palace really going to kill me?"
Despite his carefree nature, Xuan Wudao wasn’t entirely fearless when faced with mortal danger.
After finally shedding his beggar’s identity, was he really going to die like this?
"Whether they’ll kill you or not, I don’t know. But they’ll definitely demand your surrender."
"However, judging by the Luo Shen Palace’s usual methods, you’ll wish you were dead." Xuan Tianyu sighed helplessly.
Worse than death?
Could it be…?
Xuan Wudao’s eyes suddenly lit up. The Luo Shen Palace was an all-female sect—were they planning some special form of torture?
"What the hell is wrong with your brain?!"
"You weren’t like this before! What kind of friends have you been keeping?!"
One look at Xuan Wudao’s expression told Xuan Tianyu exactly what the brat was thinking, and he nearly lunged at him again in fury.
"Ahem, nothing! My friends are all…"
"Wait—Dad! I’m saved! I have a friend, a really powerful one!" Xuan Wudao suddenly remembered Chen Chang'an.
With Chen Chang'an around, he’d be safe and sound.
"Your friend? A powerful one?"
"What kind of ‘powerful’ friend could you possibly have?" Xuan Tianyu scoffed.
"Dad, I’m serious this time."
"My sworn brother is your big brother!"
Your sworn brother is my big brother?
Xuan Tianyu stared at Xuan Wudao, then suddenly burst into laughter—bright and mocking.
"Dad, what are you—?"
"I’m telling the truth! I—"
"AHHH!"
"Dad, why are you hitting me for real this time?!"
The screams erupted once more from the Wuji Sect’s forbidden grounds, this time loud enough to shake the entire sect.
"Oh no, the Grand Elder’s going all out!"
"Is he… disowning his own son?!"
"Ah, the Grand Elder is sacrificing everything for the sect’s sake."
"Such a noble elder… why did he have to raise such a disgraceful son?"
"Those screams… they sound brutal."
Just hearing them sent chills down everyone’s spines. Though curiosity burned, no one dared approach the forbidden grounds.
"St-stop… no more!"
"You’ll really kill me this time!"
"I’m not lying! My sworn brother is your big brother!"
"You were the one begging to call him ‘big brother’!"
The more Xuan Wudao protested, the harder Xuan Tianyu hit.
I begged to call someone ‘big brother’?
I couldn’t even get him to acknowledge me, but you became his friend?
Have you no shame?!
Who the hell do you think you are?!
Do you even compare to me?!
Xuan Tianyu’s fists rained down like a storm, leaving Xuan Wudao no room to dodge—not that he dared.
"Pwease… no mowe! I’m weally not wying!"
"Speak properly!"
"If you hit me… I can’t tawk!"
Xuan Tianyu glared at his son, now sporting a swollen face, and coldly ordered, "Fix yourself."
Once the beating stopped, Xuan Wudao nodded and quickly healed his battered face.
As an Immortal Realm cultivator, recovery was swift.
"Dad, I swear I’m not lying."
"Chen Chang'an—you do know him, right?"
A flicker of doubt crossed Xuan Wudao’s mind. Had Chen Chang'an tricked him?
"Know who?"
"Chen Chang'an?"
"I…"
"I think I do know him!"
"Chen as in ‘Chen,’ Chang as in ‘Chang,’ An as in ‘An’?" Xuan Tianyu stared intently.
"Dad, that’s just stating the obvious! ‘Chen’ as in the surname, ‘Chang’ as in ‘long,’ ‘An’ as in… wait, no, ‘An’ as in ‘safe.’"
"Is it the same guy? The one with the big yellow dog?" Xuan Wudao asked.
SLAP!
Xuan Tianyu’s palm struck the table with a thunderous crack, his excitement palpable.
"It’s him! It’s really him!"
"Chen Chang'an is your friend?!"
"The Chen Chang'an with the big yellow dog?!" His voice trembled as if his son had just died.
"You—why hit me when you’re excited?!"
Xuan Wudao clutched his stinging cheek, glaring at his father.
"You deserve it!"
Xuan Tianyu shot him a disdainful look, then scrutinized him from head to toe.
"Look at you—mediocre looks, average talent."
"Useless at everything, but a master at causing trouble. A complete waste."
"How the hell did Chen Chang'an end up being your friend?"
"What part of you is worthy of him?!"
"I just…"
It made no sense! No sense at all!
Xuan Tianyu considered himself far superior to his son. Back then, he’d begged Chen Chang'an to take him as a lackey, to no avail.
Yet this brat somehow became his friend?
What kind of absurd luck was this?!
"Dad, am I even your real son?"
"I’m not that worthless!" Xuan Wudao grumbled.
"On the ‘real son’ part, I can confirm."
"But if Chen Chang'an is involved, maybe our sect can survive this crisis."
"Quick—go find him!" Xuan Tianyu urged excitedly.
Find Chen Chang'an?
Where the hell was he supposed to look?
"Ahem, I do know him… but I have no idea where he is now." Xuan Wudao coughed awkwardly.
"Useless fool!"
"Watch me!" Xuan Tianyu declared coldly.
"Dad, you can find Chen Chang'an?"
"No!"
"Then why say it like it’s a sure thing?!"
"I’ll try my hardest!"
"…Impressive."