Jiang Chen walked a long way from the compound where he was trapped. Deserted place, a musty smell, ruined houses, and dirt roads.
Abandoned and rusty, the view in front of Jiang Chen was filled with a serenity unexplainable in words. As he took steps out of the abandoned place, he felt more comfortable with his surroundings and accepted the new world.
He gazed into the horizon, marvelling at the setting sun.
'The past is gone,
The present sings of the pleasant future.
The man dreams of a beautiful wonderland,
Standing over a heap of bones.'
Jiang Chen's thoughts wandered from the beauty of this world to the slaughter he was destined for. The serene beauty of this world hid the greatest killing intent in its depths.
When Jiang Chen arrived at the main road, he was quickly spotted by the patrol guards of The Mayor's Mansion and brought back.
Jiang Chen was the only son of the Mayor of Fragrant Sky City, Jiang Zhenhai. A spoilt arrogant rich brat, with no mother, an adopted older brother and a caring but out-of-reach father. A perfect setting for a betrayal plot.
But unlike other regular Chinese novel troupes where an engagement with a beautiful girl started the story, Dragon Marked War God started uniquely with Jiang Chen pushing the adopted Jiang Rulong to the engagement to a very unpleasant-looking girl.
The story began with a very different troupe which was not repeated, hence it remained afresh in Jiang Chen's memories.
Onroad, Jiang Chen was in a very jolly mood as he saw a very ancient but marvellously beautiful world with only one worry looming over his head.
How to face Jiang Zhenhai?
How to tell a father that his son's body is occupied by another in a cultivation world?
The mere thought of addressing some stranger as father sent shivers down Jiang Chen's spine.
In the main hall of the mansion, A middle-aged man paced back and forth with anxiousness. He was dressed impeccably as someone in a position of power.
Mayor of Fragrant Sky City, Jiang Zhen Hai!
"Don't worry, Dad. Everything will be fine. Guards will soon be back with brother."
Besides the mayor stood a good-looking young man in white clothes. It looked like he was 17-18 years old, and at first glance, anyone would know he was no ordinary person. One could see that the smile on his face was perfunctory. His face hid the anger in his heart.
"This brat will never let me have peace of mind. If he had half of your ability, I would be laughing in my dreams."
Jiang Zhen Hai said helplessly. Jiang Ru Long replied with a smile, inwardly cursing the old man. He was just a foster son accepted by Jiang Zhen Hai to babysit his incompetent son.
When Jiang Chen arrived in the hall, he was greeted by a fuming Jiang Zhen Hai.
"Jiang Chen, you dare sneak out. Don't you understand the current situation?"
"Dad, Don't be angry with Chen'er. He understands tomorrow's importance. Isn't he back now."
Jiang Ru Long played a mediator to curb his foster father's anger. This facade has been staged countless times, and he was very proficient in it.
"Ru Long, don't always side with him. This little bastard has become more and more disobedient." Jiang Zhen Hai snarled.
"Don't get mad, Dad. Chen'er, don't just stand there mum." Jiang Ru Long acted well while inciting a quarrel between father and son.
As a man of modern times, Jiang Chen had seen far better actors and backstabbers in his personal and professional life. He had no intention to keep up with the fiasco.
Seeing Jiang Zhenhai and the stupid 2-chapter mob actor before him, Jiang Chen came to a decision.
"Umm~, I think we need to talk." Jiang Chen leisurely walked in front of Jiang Zhenhai and looked straight into Jiang Zhenhai's eye while speaking.
The atmosphere suddenly changed. The tension in the air was palpable. The guards around the room retreated. Jiang Rulong took a step back as a suffocating pressure enveloped the room.
Jiang Zhenhai's Final Stage Qi-Sea's pressure began to clash with Jiang Chen's First Stage Qi. Aided by the Nandi Astra, Jiang Chen's body was filled with the strength of a Thousand Bulls which boosted enough confidence in him to stand firm before Jiang Zhenhai.
As the power coursed through his veins, Jiang Chen's pupils lit up in blue with golden tinges, same as the bangle on his wrist.
"Who are you?" Jiang Zhenhai questioned as he took a step forward. With his years of experience, he could tell that the one in front was someone very green but powerful.
"Jiang Chen."
"In flesh."
The pause between the words conveyed everything.
Jiang Chen was mentally stretched in this confrontation but the words that squeezed out of his mouth were enough.
Jiang Zhenhai's presence deflated as he unsteadily fell to his seat.
Jiang Rulong was a newbie to the wonders of the cultivation world, but he understood that something beyond his comprehension just happened.
The ones talking were not some father and son with whom he was playing house but two monsters who could crush him like an ant at any moment.
He silently retreated a few steps.
Jiang Chen also cooled down. He surprised himself. He just winged it and the result was not bad. He did not know what the future held for him but he completely let go of the weight on his shoulders.
The guilt of living in someone else's skin, the burden of relations that come along, and his place in someone else's family.
Jiang Chen leisurely took his seat, waiting for Jiang Zhenhai to speak up.
Jiang Zhenhai was in shock. He did not know how to react.
His son stood before him while every bit of reason told him his son was dead.
The only way out was to keep his heart out of this matter. As a father, he had lost his son but he was also the Mayor of Fragrance Sky City. For he understood that any small event in the cultivation world could decimate countries.
Jiang Zhenhai held back his emotions and asked Jiang Chen, "What's next?"
"Two options," Jiang Chen replied, "Peace or War?"
"How long will the peace last?" Jiang Zhenhai enquired back.
"Till the jungle has enough prey for us to hunt."
...
Each word spoken by the two hammered fear in Jiang Rulong's body. He didn't even dare to lift his head. His breath was stuck in his throat. The conversation in short sentences taught him the true cruelty of the cultivation world.
In this world, everyone thinks that he is a player. But every player is someone's pawn. And every pawn is just another worthless sacrifice.