Raed took the Qi Gathering pill and, along with Hassan, left. On the way, Hassan asked,
".... Brother, that guy is at the fifth level of Qi Gathering and might advance within two months. Why are you going to fight him?"
Raed felt warmth seeing Hassan's concern but became serious again as he remembered his mother's words.
"... No matter the difficulties, follow your will and be worthy of your name, Judgement... I am waiting for you..."
Her words echoed in his mind, and his eyes became resolute, his heart clear.
"... No matter what, I won't be afraid. Even if I die, I will stand tall and proud... Haha... Such trash won't defeat me easily. But Brother, don't cause trouble for your family..."
Hassan belonged to another of the top three families in the Falcon State, the Smith family. Although they weren't blacksmiths, their temperament was like that of blacksmiths—direct, straightforward, quick to anger, and they had a good relationship with both the Carpenter and Hijazi families.
".... Humph, don't worry. That old man won't dare to speak nonsense..."
As he spoke, he patted his chest as if to emphasize his point. Raed smiled, but his smile faded when he suddenly saw Hassan's father beside him. Without speaking, the man slapped Hassan on the head, sending him flying into the wall.
".... Damn, who is this illegitimate child daring to push my uncle? Wait, what are you doing here, old man?"
Lines of anger appeared on Lord Smith's forehead as he shouted, ".... Who are you calling old, you little bastard? I'll break that pig's head of yours..."
"..... Ah, sir... I mean, Dad, not in front of my brother... Ahmm..."
Hassan said with some embarrassment, pointing at Raed, who was laughing.
".... Damn you..."
Lord Smith said angrily, then turned to Raed, calming down, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.
"..... Be careful, Raed. Don't imitate this disgraceful bastard..."
"... Haha, don't worry, Uncle."
".... Hmm, also be cautious. This targeting isn't simple and you might be in danger. Let's go, you bastard..."
Lord Smith said and left. Raed fell into deep thought. He was genuinely suspicious. His grandfather had fought on the borders with the barbarian state and was considered the protector of the country. Yet, his grandson was being bullied like this. It was truly ironic. Despite numerous summons, he hadn't responded, and now the Hijazi family was targeting Raed because he was favored by his grandfather.
He suspected they wanted to target him through himself. Strangely, the Hijazi family seemed uninterested in the consequences of war; it appeared they had powerful backing.
".... Anyway, I'm still very weak. I need to train first before investigating this..."
He spoke to himself and finally reached the Carpenter family's residence. It was a grand and majestic house. Raed entered and reached a corner courtyard where he found a wooden house similar to a servant's quarters. He was so marginalized within this family that, if not for his grandfather's influence, he might have been expelled.
"..... Young master, you're back...."
In an instant, a young girl with bright, large eyes, fair skin, and rosy cheeks, dressed in tattered and somewhat shabby clothes from malnutrition, threw herself into his arms.
A loving look appeared on Raed's face as he rubbed the little girl's head, which she enjoyed. The girl was Sara, whom his mother had picked up from somewhere and named Sara Carpenter. She had been raised to serve Raed and was like a sister to him.
".... Little rascal, why haven't you gone to sleep yet..."
"..... Bad young master, I waited for you to eat. I'm starving to death, humph..."
The little girl puffed her cheeks as she complained, looking very cute. Raed pinched her cheeks and then looked at the table, finding some dry bread and soup. He became sad, then a look of determination appeared in his eyes.
"... Yes, power is everything..."
They ate together, and then Sara fell asleep. Raed sat cross-legged in a lotus position, looking at the Qi Gathering pill and said ,
"... I hope you won't disappoint me this time..."
As he swallowed the pill, it dissolved in his mouth and went to his dantian, but then it disappeared.
"... Hmm..."
A question mark appeared, and then he suddenly felt a strange movement. His finger, or rather the ring on his finger, glowed, and mist formed into the shape of a strong, middle-aged man with sharp eyes, dressed in white, carrying a sword on his back, and surrounded by crackling lightning.
"... My son Raed..."