Unbound by the Net

When a person's spirit—or rather, their will—was strong enough, a single gaze could break a person's mind, or even scare them to death on the spot! Yet those capable of possessing such immense will were almost always formidable martial experts endowed with unshakeable resolve. *The unfilial brat is only an eighth-rank martial artist, so how can his will be this terrifying?!* Huang Xunjiu was alarmed and suspicious inside, yet furious on the surface. His wife's shrill screams rang ceaselessly in his ears, grating on his nerves. With a cold snort, he surged to his feet, leaped to He Yunrou's side in a single bound, and struck the back of her head with a light palm. Her cries cut off instantly, and she collapsed in a limp heap, motionless. "What are you all standing around for? Take the Madam back to rest at once!" Seeing the servants still dazed, Huang Xunjiu snapped with a wave of his sleeve. "Yes, yes!" The older matrons who had come with He Yunrou hastily propped her up and hurried her out of the courtyard. However arrogant they had been upon their arrival, their retreat was just as panicked. The courtyard soon settled into quiet once more. Anger burned in Huang Xunjiu's chest. Just as he was about to scold or even strike, his gaze suddenly fell upon a piece of white jade hanging from Huang Tian's waist. It was carved with intricate patterns, looking exceptionally mellow and fine. *That jade... why does it look familiar?* Huang Xunjiu wondered, a faint sense of unease creeping over him. For a middle-three-ranks martial artist like him, memory was sharp. While he could not claim to have total recall, he rarely forgot anything of genuine significance—and that white jade felt remarkably familiar... "Your jade... belongs to Pacification Commissioner Bai?!" Racking his brains, Huang Xunjiu finally remembered where he had seen that jade before. Six years ago, Bai Yuanfu, who had been serving as a Battalion Commander in the provincial Martial Restraint Guard, broke through to the fourth rank and was transferred to Kunyun Commandery as a Pacification Commissioner. Countless people across the commandery seat had scrambled to send congratulatory gifts in hopes of currying favor, Huang Xunjiu among them. Yet none of their gifts could even pass through the doors; every single one was rejected. Even so, on that occasion, Huang Xunjiu had seen Bai Yuanfu in person—clad in a scarlet brocade robe with white jade hanging from his waist. And the white jade Bai Yuanfu had worn that day was unmistakably the very piece at Huang Tian's waist! Huang Tian had no intention of keeping him guessing. Changing into his official uniform and donning the white jade had been precisely so he would not have to bother playing the pig to eat the tiger. "It was indeed gifted by the Pacification Commissioner." Huang Xunjiu was instantly stunned. It required no second thought: what did it mean when a jade pendant that Bai Yuanfu wore at all times and cherished deeply was gifted to Huang Tian? It signified absolute admiration, and conveyed an unmistakable message: *Huang Tian is a talent under my personal favor. Let no one dare lay a hand on him, or I will show no mercy!* A mere jade pendant left Huang Xunjiu completely disoriented. He drew a deep breath, and as he looked upon Huang Tian's serene expression, the regret in his heart deepened even further. If only he had treated Old Fourth better back then, treated his birth mother better, or let him practice martial arts earlier so his talent could have shone through—things might have been completely different. With a genius son like this, why would the Huang family ever worry about prospering? One day, rising from a prominent local clan in the commandery seat to a grand Grandmaster clan was entirely within reach! A Grandmaster had a lifespan of three sixty-year cycles, more than enough to shelter a family for over a century! Enough to make the Huang family a renowned clan across all of vast Qin Province! To have missed an opportunity for a century of prosperity all because of a single mistaken thought—it felt as though a piece of flesh had been carved from Huang Xunjiu's chest, leaving him in agonizing pain! Yet no matter how agonizing, it was a predicament of his own making, and he had to swallow the bitter fruit himself. *No! Even if he is a genius, who can guarantee he will definitely become a Grandmaster? In these turbulent times, he might get gravely injured or even killed by some sect before he ever matures. I have no need to regret so much; a genius is not the same as a true powerhouse.* *Besides, I still have my eldest! He is already a seventh-rank martial artist at such a young age. Even if his talent falls short of this unfilial brat, he still has a chance of reaching the fourth rank!* Intense regret drove him to instinctively imagine the worst for Huang Tian's future, as if doing so could ease the heavy pressure and remorse weighing on his heart. *Furthermore, with this brat's arrogant, defiant nature and sharp edge, his future path in martial arts will never be smooth. Getting too close to him might only drag us into disaster...* Thinking along these lines, he felt much better. *Tap, tap...* Hurried footsteps sounded as the steward who had left earlier ran back into the courtyard holding two employment contracts. Upon entering, he found the atmosphere strangely tense. He stole a glance at Huang Xunjiu, who waved his hand with a cold face. Steeling himself, the steward stepped up to the stone table and set the employment contracts down. "Fourth Young Master, these are their employment contracts," the steward said in a hushed voice. Huang Tian asked, "How much silver is needed for early termination?" The steward froze, hesitating. "Speak." "It... it comes to eighteen taels and seven qian," he blurted in a panic. Huang Tian withdrew two ten-tael banknotes from his sleeve. "Keep the change." The steward took the banknotes blankly, struck by the absurdity of it all. Huang Xunjiu's expression darkened even further; Huang Tian's stance made it plain that he wanted nothing more to do with the Huang family. Taking the employment contracts from the stone table, Huang Tian turned toward the main room. "Have you finished packing?" "All finished!" Half-hidden behind the door, Aunt Qin's voice carried a hint of nervousness. They had actually packed everything long ago, but the terrifying atmosphere in the courtyard had kept them inside to watch from safety, terrified of becoming a burden to Huang Tian if they stepped out. "Come out then. It's time for us to leave." "All right, all right." Aunt Qin and Heng'er emerged, each carrying a bundle wrapped in printed cloth on their backs. In their hands, they carried small wooden basins containing needlework, bowls, and chopsticks, looking quite rustic. Huang Tian chuckled softly, knowing they were simply accustomed to frugality. Without another word, he stood up and said, "Let's go, then." With that, he took the lead, and Aunt Qin and Heng'er followed closely behind him, matching his every step. "Master?" Watching the three figures walk away, the steward drew near and whispered. Huang Xunjiu knew full well what he meant, and snarled coldly, "He is the one who refuses to have anything to do with us! Am I supposed to grovel and see them off in person?!" Furious, his blood surged. His right palm abruptly flipped, whipping his qi into a vortex, and slammed down with a resounding boom upon the stone table. The cold, hard stone shattered into a dozen pieces, flying fragments shooting out like bullets with sharp whistling sounds. Huang Tian and the two women naturally did not see the master of the Huang Manor throwing a tantrum of impotent rage. Bathed in the envious and fearful gazes of the servants, they walked out of the Huang Manor at an unhurried pace. Boarding the carriage waiting by the entrance, Huang Tian looked back at the grand, glittering Huang Manor with a deep, inscrutable gaze. This time, he had come to take Aunt Qin and Heng'er away to protect them from underhanded schemes. Next time... Inside the carriage, Heng'er and Aunt Qin were both excited and uneasy, feeling nervous about the life they were leaving behind yet full of longing for the new one ahead. *Crack!* The whip cracked crisply outside. The carriage wheels turned with a rumble, rolling across the afternoon sunlight and slowly heading toward Baoqing Ward.