At the doorway, two figures – one tall, one short – stood at an impasse.
"I'm a stranger?" Jiang Chaoyang's face turned from pale to flush as he said coldly, "I'm your father! I'm your legal guardian!"
"Partly right, partly wrong."
"Biologically you're my father, that's correct."
Jiang Ding replied indifferently, "As for the legal guardian, according to the court's decision, my guardian is only Lin Wanqiu, my mother."
"No matter what..."
"There is no 'no matter what'!" Jiang Ding interrupted him, frowning and saying, "I've vaguely heard that you married a rich widow in the Qi Practicing Realm and have new children and a new family, and they are almost my age."
"Happy and harmonious, with a peaceful family life, so what brings you here out of the blue?"
Jiang Chaoyang's voice faltered.
Indeed, he had been dishonorable back then, having an affair during marriage and even fathering a child.
"Married is an exaggeration. In modern society, there's gender equality; there's no such thing as marrying into a family." Jiang Chaoyang said with a smirk, "But this heartless manner of yours is somewhat similar to mine."
"The aptitude's not bad either, already in the Internal Qi Realm, stronger than I was at your age."
Jiang Ding rubbed his temples, "Leave, or I'll call the police, and they won't care about your so-called 'ultimately'."
"Impossible."
Jiang Chaoyang laughed, "I'm just standing in the doorway. That doesn't break any laws."
Jiang Ding sheathed his sword and closed his eyes, saying nothing.
There was no point in arguing with someone who was beyond reasoning, no need for further communication.
Jiang Chaoyang's gaze sharpened.
Over the years, he had developed a bit of insight, and this swordsmanship was far superior to his, even surpassing most of the Xianmen Sect's Inner Qi Realm Martial Artists who primarily used firearms.
It was a pity indeed, the aptitudes of the Jiang and Lin families...
He no longer spoke, crossed his arms, and leaned against the wall.
Time passed, indeterminately.
"Brother, Dad!"
The voice of Jiang Yuan came from the elevator entrance, her hands each carrying a tray of eggs and leeks, along with eggplants and red peppers, she looked at the two men at the doorway with surprise and delight.
"Ah! Xiaoyuan, long time no see!"
Jiang Chaoyang immediately perked up, went over to the young girl, affectionately called her Xiaoyuan while taking the two bags of vegetables and asked what had happened at school today.
He made the young girl beam with happiness.
Then, he followed her into the main entrance, showing no fear.
Jiang Ding touched the hilt of his sword and turned to leave.
He did not cook as usual, nor did he go to his room; he just sat on the sofa, closed his eyes to restore his spirit, manipulating the Inner Qi in his Lung Channel of Taiyin to refine and nurture his meridians.
Jiang Yuan urged, "Bro, go cook! There's leftover corn and tofu in the fridge from yesterday, you can make enough for one more person."
"I won't go."
Jiang Ding coldly responded.
Out of a protective love, Lin Wanqiu and he hadn't told his sister about the things Jiang Chaoyang had done, allowing her to maintain a basic image of a father.
Plus, with his high emotional intelligence, it was easy for him to win over the young girl's affection.
This was a situation he couldn't handle, he'd wait for his mom to come home.
Jiang Yuan angrily called him, "You lazybones!"
But there was nothing she could do; Jiang Ding never listened to her, and she never learned how to cook; she only knew how to do the shopping.
Jiang Chaoyang just smiled, not saying a word.
He somehow found a little princess dress for Feifei and played house with Jiang Yuan, eliciting endless laughter from her, so much so that she even forgot her usual punctual cartoon-watching session in front of the television.
Jiang Ding glanced at the frolicking pair and sighed inwardly.
His sister was not of his silent and serene disposition; she needed companionship.
But their mother had to work late every day and had no free time; he was busy cultivating and likewise had none.
He managed to see that she ate and kept the house clean, but beyond that, he was helpless.
At eight o'clock in the evening, Lin Wanqiu got off work and came home to a surprise.
Instead of the usual cacophony of cartoons, there were Jiang Yuan's screams and laughter filling the whole room, with her pitter-pattering footsteps running around barefoot.
Upon entering the living room, her face turned cold, a chill spread throughout the room.
"Wanqiu, you're back?"
Jiang Chaoyang said tenderly while playing hide-and-seek, as if it was some normal afternoon from years ago.
Clang!
The sound of a sword resonated on one side, and Jiang Ding, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, now stood up, saying calmly, "Sir, please mind your words."
"What a joke..."
Jiang Chaoyang was all smiles, then suddenly tensed within.
He saw the madness brewing in Jiang Ding's eyes, a kind of extreme danger that should not belong to a youth.
"Lin Wanqiu, long time no see," Jiang Chaoyang's smiling face fell.
Jiang Yuan clumsily held his toy while looking at the others.
Ignoring him, Lin Wanqiu sat down next to Jiang Ding, "Spill it, what scent have you picked up on? What sort of benefit are you hoping to gain from me?"
She knew this person too well.
If it wasn't for her youth, judging only by his face, none of what followed would have happened.
But, all things considered, she was okay with it.
Lin Wanqiu looked at her son and daughter in front of her without much regret for the past.
"What are you talking about? There's nothing..." Jiang Chaoyang awkwardly chuckled.
"If there's nothing, then leave."
"Lin Wanqiu..."
"Get out."
Lin Wanqiu's face was expressionless.
Jiang Ding's gaze began to grow dangerous.
"There is a little matter," Jiang Chaoyang said calmly, "I heard that you've reserved a Qinghua Yunji Elixir at Qianling University's Cultivation Department..."
Lin Wanqiu snorted, "Just as I thought, people like you don't get up early unless there's a profit to be made, completely without scruples. What's wrong, didn't your rich Qi cultivating girlfriend buy it for you?"
"Hongli is just a loose cultivator and doesn't have the channels of Qianling University," Jiang Chaoyang said seriously. "And it's not for me, it's for Jiang Jinxian. His martial Dao aptitude is excellent, and he is now at the peak of the Internal Qi Realm. If he could get this Qinghua Yunji Elixir, he'll definitely achieve Eaglet Innate! He could get into the Cultivation Department!"
"Ha!"
Lin Wanqiu no longer wanted to talk, looking at him as if he was a fool or a madman.
Jiang Yuan's little face changed as well as she turned to look at Jiang Chaoyang, anger gradually appearing on her face.
She was, of course, very clear about the importance of the Qinghua Yunji Elixir to her brother and the sacrifices her family made for it. Now, just a playmate wanted to take it away?
The little girl's face looked very displeased as she snorted coldly and walked away.
"Ten times the price," Jiang Chaoyang proposed earnestly, "We are willing to pay two million mortal coins and five hundred spirit coins."
"Moreover, on Jinxian's behalf, I promise if he gets into the Cultivation Department, within a year he will exchange another Qinghua Yunji Elixir for Dingding. We can sign a legally binding contract, in my name, Hongli's, and Jinxian's."
"That damned bastard..."
Anger surged in Lin Wanqiu's heart, but she hesitated.
This was a large sum of money, which could certainly accelerate her son's cultivation progress.
And to be honest, she knew her own son well. Despite his extreme efforts, his potential limitations meant that his chances of getting into a university's Cultivation Department through the College Entrance Exam were not great...
And he was stubborn, absolutely refusing to give up.
This large sum of money would make his future path in cultivation much smoother.
Finally, promising to return the same Qinghua Yunji Elixir in a year, it seemed like a no-loss deal, no matter what.
"Dingding..."
Lin Wanqiu looked at Jiang Ding, "Don't act rashly on impulse, think carefully. From the perspective of your cultivation, answer me, should we sell it or not?"
In her youth, she had switched to studying after failing to break through the Internal Qi Realm and eventually attended an ordinary key university, not understanding much about "Eagle Taking Off Technique."
Jiang Ding nodded.
"Lin Wanqiu, this isn't right," Jiang Chaoyang frowned, "We've both been through this age, when is a youth not full of spirit?"
"As a parent, you must think far for your children, instead of being impulsive on the spur of the moment."
"Shut your dog mouth!"
Lin Wanqiu spoke calmly, "I trust my son."
Jiang Chaoyang was speechless, unable to understand.
"Mom, I've decided to refuse."
After several minutes of thought, Jiang Ding spoke seriously, "Purely from the perspective of the cultivation path, getting the Qinghua Yunji Elixir now is the best for me, and the benefits far exceed the mere tenfold price."
"Bullshit! Where's your confidence coming from?" Jiang Chaoyang was furious, "You're only at the Initial Achievement of Internal Qi, with poor aptitude and academic results, and an ordinary family background, unable to afford expensive elixirs. How can you be so confident to break through to Eaglet Innate in less than a year?"
He implored earnestly.
"You're still young, not realizing the value of opportunity, and you might never encounter such a chance again in the future..."
"Get out."
Without a hint of courtesy, Lin Wanqiu pulled out her phone and pointed at the emergency number 110, "If you don't want to spend the next few days in a cell, you'd better get out of my house now!"
Jiang Ding made a dismissive gesture.
"Well then," Jiang Chaoyang looked at her deeply, "let it be this way for now. If you regret it within three months, the offer stands."