Swallows Return to the City: The Chen Family

Great Zhou Kingdom

Beiyuan Prefecture

Swallow Return City, Chen Family

"Patriarch Chen, our Liu Family’s visit today is already an immense honor for your household."

"I advise you to know your place—do you truly believe your Chen Family is still what it once was?"

The words of the Liu Family envoys ignited a storm of fury among the Chen Family members.

Truly, a fallen tiger is bullied by dogs!

The Chen Family was not originally from the Great Zhou Kingdom. They had migrated here years ago.

Once, the Chen Family had been the undisputed foremost noble house of the Great Zhou, while the Liu Family? Merely their vassals!

With the Chen Family’s support, the Liu Family rose swiftly, and in gratitude, they established a rule:

Every generation of the Liu Family’s patriarch must wed his daughter into the Chen Family.

This was meant as a gesture of loyalty. Yet who could have foreseen that the Chen Family would one day decline?

Once the leading family of Beiyuan Prefecture, over the past century, they had dwindled to barely holding their ground in Swallow Return City.

While the Chen Family still held prominence, the Liu Family maintained some ties. But the moment the Liu Family secured their place among the Great Zhou’s three great noble houses, all contact ceased.

No one expected the Liu Family to visit now. The Chen Family was caught off guard.

They had prepared to receive their guests warmly, but the Liu Family’s attitude was nothing short of insulting.

"Liu Chengfeng, our families have had no dealings for a century."

"There was no need for you to make this trip. Did you come solely to humiliate my Chen Family?"

"As for the rule your Liu Family once established, you’ve long been free to disregard it."

"Why come here to provoke us?"

Chen Zhengyuan, the Chen Family’s patriarch, refused to swallow his pride despite the vast disparity in their current statuses.

Liu Chengfeng was surprised. Even in their decline, the Chen Family still had fire in them?

But in his eyes, such defiance without strength was nothing but a joke.

"Hmph, our eldest young lady has caught the eye of the Supreme Purity Sect and shares a mutual affection with the Fifth Prince of the Great Zhou royal family. You people—"

"Uncle."

Before Liu Chengfeng could finish, a young woman beside him interrupted.

"Let me speak."

Liu Mengyan was the current patriarch’s daughter of the Liu Family. By their ancestral rule, she should have been wed into the Chen Family.

But to the Chen Family, that rule had long been void—after all, the Liu Family had severed ties years ago.

Their sudden visit was baffling.

Clearly, Liu Mengyan held high status in the Liu Family. With a single word, her uncle Liu Chengfeng stepped aside and fell silent.

Liu Mengyan turned to Chen Zhengyuan with a faint smile. "Patriarch Chen, our Liu Family once received many favors from yours."

"Of course, when the Chen Family first began to decline, we did not stand idly by."

"Though our standings now differ greatly, the Liu Family still values old ties."

"The rules established in the past no longer suit the present."

"That is why I’ve come personally—to bring this matter to a close once and for all. What do you say?"

"Rest assured, the Liu Family is not stingy."

"Here are ten thousand low-grade spirit stones and five Condensed Essence Pills as compensation for your family."

Ten thousand low-grade spirit stones? And five Condensed Essence Pills?

In the past, the Chen Family might have scoffed at such offerings. But now, resources were precisely what they lacked.

Though tempted, not a single member showed it. After all… the price for accepting was their family’s dignity!

"Hahaha!"

"The Liu Family’s generosity is truly grand!"

"But the Chen Family has never accepted charity!"

"Young Lady Liu, we appreciate the gesture, but we must decline."

Chen Zhengyuan refused outright, without hesitation.

Liu Mengyan appeared courteous, but her eyes brimmed with arrogance, never truly acknowledging anyone in the Chen Family.

To her, her presence alone was a tremendous honor, and her compensation should have been met with gratitude.

Chen Zhengyuan’s rejection made her frown, displeasure flashing across her face.

"What? The Chen Family refuses?"

"Don’t tell me you still hope to cling to our Liu Family? Do you actually expect me to marry into your household?" Her voice dripped with scorn and irritation.

"Cling to your Liu Family?"

"Young Lady Liu, you overestimate yourself."

"Do you truly think I don’t understand your purpose here?"

"Few may remember the old ties between our families, but they are not entirely forgotten."

"You and the Fifth Prince are enamored, and naturally, you will marry into the royal family."

"You’re here to erase any potential stain on your reputation before that happens."

"Otherwise, why would you bother with the Chen Family today?"

Chen Zhengyuan was no fool. A single exchange had revealed their true motives.

A blemish—the rule the Liu Family once established to curry favor with the Chen Family—was now a stain Liu Mengyan sought to wipe away.

"Chen Zhengyuan, I advise you to think carefully."

"If not for old sentiments, do you truly believe your Chen Family in its current state could withstand the wrath of the Liu Family and the Fifth Prince?"

Liu Chengfeng was baffled. Why was the Chen Family being so difficult? A simple nod would have secured them compensation. What were they clinging to?

Did they actually hope to latch onto the Liu Family? Had they no regard for the consequences?

"Hahaha!"

"The men of the Chen Family fear no death!"

"What you seek is the contract your family once delivered to ours, isn’t it?"

At these words, Liu Chengfeng and Liu Mengyan both stiffened, their eyes snapping toward the speaker—a young man holding the very document in question.

"Who are you?" Liu Mengyan demanded.

"Chen Yunxuan, son of the Chen Family’s patriarch," the youth replied coldly.

The Chen Family’s young master of this generation?

He carried himself with noble bearing and striking features. A pity his cultivation fell far short of the Fifth Prince’s.

"By the old rule, you would have been the one I married?" Liu Mengyan said, her brow furrowing.

"Young Lady Liu, you jest."

"Since when were the women of the Liu Family worthy of marrying the Chen Family’s young master?"

"You think too highly of yourself." Chen Yunxuan’s retort was merciless.

"You—!"

"Insolent!"

Chen Yunxuan’s words turned Liu Mengyan’s face ashen, while Liu Chengfeng erupted in rage.

But Chen Yunxuan spoke no lie. In the past, while the Liu Family’s daughters married into the Chen Family’s main line, none had ever wed the young master.

Yet the truth often cuts deepest.

This was nothing less than humiliation for the Liu Family.

"Hmph, all your Chen Family has left now is empty bluster."

"Hand over the item. As for the compensation from our Liu Family, take it or leave it—it makes no difference to us."

"From this moment onward, our two families shall have no further ties." Liu Mengyan declared coldly.

"The Chen Family will not accept any compensation, and the item can be returned to you."

"But..."

"Your Liu Family has betrayed its oath. Since you are the eldest daughter of the Liu Family, it falls upon you to apologize—to the Chen Family!"

At the first words, Liu Mengyan seemed pleased, but as the demand followed, her expression darkened drastically.

Apologize to the Chen Family?

"Audacious!"

"Does your Chen Family even have the right?"

"Do you dare?"

"It seems you have a death wish!"