Chapter Eleven: The Vast World

Jiang Fan devoted himself to his cultivation, never letting up for a moment. Nearly every three days, he completed the practice of a new diagram, his progress in power advancing at a breathtaking pace. At the same time, he did not neglect to study the Arrow Step, the Thrusting Fist, and the Mountain-Cleaving Blade techniques. Each day brought noticeable progress, his improvement as swift as a galloping steed. The exhilaration of this feeling surpassed even the bliss of a wedding night, leaving him thoroughly immersed.

Jiang Fan also found time to ask Xiao Qian to brew a pot of tea and Xiao Qing to prepare some fruit. He would then sit beneath the tree in the courtyard, leafing through the family’s collection of books. Life in these days was peaceful and leisurely.

“Master, is there anything you’d like to eat? We can go to the kitchen and procure it for you!”

“Meat, above all else!” Jiang Fan waved them off, and the two maids took their baskets and left. He turned back to his reading.

“This world is named Great Hong!”

“Eight hundred years ago, immortals, demons, monsters, and buddhas plunged the world into chaos. The people suffered, resentment boiled, until Emperor Taizu of Song emerged, suppressing the turmoil and founding the Great Song Dynasty, earning the title Human Sovereign!”

“With the establishment of the Song Dynasty, the Inspectorate was created to oversee the realm. Any defiance was crushed instantly!”

“Even sects of the Immortal Dao must obey the law; monsters and demons dare not act openly!”

Jiang Fan perused the volume. Though its words were vague and lacked detailed accounts, it gave him a general sense of this world.

This was the world of Great Hong.

Song Taizu was revered as the Human Sovereign, ruling all under heaven.

Immortals, demons, monsters, and buddhas all bowed before him, forced to hide their mischief in the shadows.

On the whole, the world was at peace.

Lifting his head, he saw it was nearly midday.

“How come those two girls aren’t back yet?” Jiang Fan muttered to himself. Normally, they returned quickly, but today they were clearly delayed.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Xiao Qian burst into the courtyard, anxiety written on her face. “Master, Xiao Qing has been accosted by Sixth Young Master—he wants to take her as his concubine!”

Tears streamed down Xiao Qian’s cheeks, making her all the more pitiable.

“Sixth Brother?” Jiang Fan’s brow furrowed. He rose, his voice sharp. “Lead the way!”

As they walked, he learned what had happened.

The Jiang family was vast, with many people and strict regulations for all affairs. For example, food was purchased centrally, then distributed to each courtyard according to rank. Naturally, one could also buy things independently.

Today, as usual, Xiao Qian and Xiao Qing had gone to collect their share, only to run into Jiang Hua, the sixth son of the current generation, who harassed them. Xiao Qian barely managed to break free and come to report.

Soon, Jiang Fan heard Xiao Qing’s sobs and desperate pleas ahead, “Sixth Young Master, please, I beg you, let me go!”

“To catch my eye is your good fortune! Keep whining and I’ll have you chopped up and fed to the dogs!” The voice was domineering in the extreme.

Jiang Fan strode forward, blocking their path. He snorted coldly, “Sixth Brother, who do you plan to chop up?”

“Well, if it isn’t Ninth Brother! Just in time. I was going to tell you—Xiao Qing is mine from now on, and that Xiao Qian by your side, I’ll take her too!” Jiang Hua was a slender man with narrow, flirtatious eyes. He waved his hand, utterly unashamed.

Behind him stood two guards, holding Xiao Qing.

At this, Xiao Qing shuddered.

“She is my maid,” Jiang Fan replied, his smile unwavering.

Hearing this, Xiao Qing’s eyes reddened further.

“Sixth Brother has taken a fancy, and you won’t even give me this bit of face?” Jiang Hua remained cheerful. “I have plenty of beauties in my rooms—if you like any, just say the word and I’ll send her to you!”

“I said, she is my maid,” Jiang Fan’s smile vanished.

“You really won’t give me face?” Jiang Hua’s expression darkened. “Let me be clear—Xiao Qing is mine!”

“Your face?” Jiang Fan’s gaze turned icy. “What face do you have to speak of? Don’t mistake courtesy for weakness!”

“Oh, is that so?” Jiang Hua sneered. “You think you can bully me, hiding behind Third Uncle’s name? Think everyone is afraid of you?”

Jiang Fan ignored him, turning instead to the two guards. “Release Xiao Qing.”

Tears glistened on Xiao Qing’s face—she was deeply moved.

The two guards hesitated, glancing at Jiang Hua, but shook their heads slightly.

“I’ll say it one last time: let her go!” Jiang Fan raised his voice.

“Ha!” Jiang Hua curled his lip, raising his arm to point at Jiang Fan. “Ninth Brother, they’re my servants—why should they obey you? If you have the guts, take her back! Oh, and by the way, you and I are both yet to complete the Foundation Building stage, but Chen Wu and Wang Liu here have already crossed that threshold into the Qi Refining realm. Ninth Brother, let’s be clear—if you make the first move and end up hurt, you’ll have only yourself to blame!”

Jiang Fan paid him no heed. He stepped forward, his voice ringing out, “In this courtyard, I am master, and you are servants. For servants to lay hands on their master is insubordination. I am within my rights to kill you on the spot!”

Chen Wu and Wang Liu hesitated, but without Jiang Hua’s command, they did not move.

“Very well!” Jiang Fan said, and closed in. His toes gripped the ground, the tendons in his body twisted, his spine arched like a dragon, and he unleashed a punch.

“Ninth Young Master, must you make this hard on us?” Chen Wu said with a pained look, but raised his arm, palm open, channeling true energy as he reached to seize Jiang Fan’s fist.

Crack!

True energy exploded. Chen Wu screamed as his wrist twisted, his arm snapped, and he was hurled backward.

Jiang Fan spared him not a glance, turning instead to Wang Liu. “Get out!”

Wang Liu instinctively released Xiao Qing’s arm.

“Master is mighty!” Xiao Qing rushed behind Jiang Fan, raising her hands in joy.

Jiang Fan nodded, secretly pleased.

“Ninth Brother, you actually defeated Chen Wu?” Jiang Hua’s face twisted. “No wonder you’re so bold—you’ve made a breakthrough!”

“Bold? Me?” Jiang Fan couldn’t help but laugh. He stepped up to Jiang Hua. “Sixth Brother, mark my words—this is the last time. Hear me clearly: this is the last time!”

“You’re threatening me?” Jiang Hua snorted.

“This is no threat. It’s a warning.”

“Well then, let’s see how things turn out!”

“You’re still thinking of revenge?” Jiang Fan’s face went cold. He raised his fist and aimed straight at Jiang Hua’s face.

“Jiang Fan, you dare!”

Jiang Hua shrieked in terror.

But just then, a figure flashed between them, intercepting Jiang Fan’s fist and knocking him back.

It was a middle-aged man, his aura deep and imposing.

“Liang San, you dare defy me?” Jiang Fan’s expression was calm as still water.

“Ninth Young Master, that punch just now—even if you couldn’t kill Sixth Young Master, you could have crippled him,” Liang San said dispassionately. “Given the situation, I could have seriously injured you.”

Jiang Fan laughed, but his voice was chilling. “Did you see Jiang Hua injured? Did I so much as touch a hair on his head? I was only frightening him. Even if I had struck in earnest, would he have been unable to dodge?”

Jiang Hua was pale, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. He shivered, pointing at Jiang Fan and shouting, “Uncle Liang, kill him for me—no, cripple him!”

Uncle Liang shot him a glance, then said to Jiang Fan, “Ninth Young Master, please leave. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude!”

“Rude to me?” Jiang Fan sneered. “If you dare harm me today, I’ll make sure this day next year is your death anniversary!”