Chapter Two The Loyal Family Faces Confiscation

Sealed away by his own grandfather for five years! Five years spent as a useless fool! And yet, at this very moment, Chu Tianchen felt not an ounce of hatred toward his grandfather, Chu Qingcang.

Because, upon awakening after those five years of suppression, as he took in the scene before him, everything became clear in his heart.

He slowly unfurled the imperial decree, his eyes passing over the Emperor’s command.

He understood then the painstaking care his grandfather had taken. The reason his spiritual consciousness had been sealed for five years was to protect him!

The First General’s Manor of the Great Qian Dynasty—renowned and revered, striking awe in all directions. Wherever the Chu family stood guard, neither men nor beasts dared trespass.

It was no exaggeration to say they were worshipped by all the people.

Yet now, due to a supposed error in command, they were condemned?

Truly, the Emperor played the game of casting aside the hounds once the hunt was done with the utmost skill.

That night five years ago, Chu Qingcang had told Chu Tianchen that he had committed a fatal error: he had achieved too much, his merits overshadowing the throne.

Since ancient times, that has always spelled disaster for a subject.

But at the time, the Chu family’s power was simply overwhelming.

Of the twelve martial grandmasters in the Great Qian Dynasty, the Chu family alone held six seats.

Chu Qingcang, the grandfather, was a ninth-rank martial grandmaster.

The eldest uncle, Chu Yunhai, sixth rank!
The second uncle, Chu Yunhe, fourth rank!
His father, Chu Yunshan, seventh rank!
His eldest aunt, Chu Yunyan, fourth rank!
His younger aunt, Chu Yunyan, sixth rank!

Such a lineup, such strength—across any of the seven great dynasties, they could walk unchallenged!

It must be noted that even the current Emperor was only an eighth-rank martial grandmaster!

The Chu family was too strong—not only frightening their enemies, but also inciting fear in the Emperor and the entire royal family.

And Chu Tianchen himself was hailed as the greatest prodigy of the Great Qian Dynasty, personally invited by the head of Yunhai Academy with the Yunhai Token to join their ranks.

Moreover, even knowing Chu Tianchen was already betrothed, the academy’s head still offered his own daughter, Liu Qingxin, in marriage to him.

For, according to the joint assessment of the seven great powers, Chu Tianchen had every hope of breaking through the limits of martial mastery and reaching the higher realm of Myriad Phenomena!

This only deepened the royal family's terror.

When Chu Qingcang realized this, his first thought was not rebellion but to remain dutiful and loyal.

And now, after the battle at the Abyss of Demon Burial, the entire family, loyal and true, had perished.

An error in command?

Chu Tianchen laughed.

His grandfather, a veteran of countless battles, leading an elite force of two hundred thousand—let alone just the Chu family—could have fought their way out even if it was only them.

As Chu Tianchen laughed, a middle-aged man’s expression darkened.

“Chu Tianchen, you fool, what are you laughing at? Are you mocking the Emperor’s authority?”

“The Emperor is merciful to spare your family from collective punishment—be grateful, kneel and accept the decree at once!”

Eunuch Wang’s shrill voice cut through the air.

“How truly merciful the Emperor is! Clearly the Chu family is being accused of treason, yet excuses are found about errors in command. If it really were just a mistake, why was even the General’s Manor confiscated?”

“In the end, it’s because the Emperor treasures talent too much—he should have suppressed the Chu family long ago, otherwise they’d forget their place.”

“Luckily, the Emperor is wise and nipped their rebellious hearts in the bud, or our Great Qian would have faced disaster.”

“Long live the Emperor’s wisdom!”

All around, bystanders murmured their opinions.

But what they failed to notice was that Chu Tianchen’s demeanor was completely different from before.

Chu Tianchen looked at the crowd, at every face in the sky above.

The next moment, he stepped forward to speak—but his grandmother pulled him back, shielding him behind her.

Madam Yuan’s gaze was like fire, fixed unflinchingly on Eunuch Wang.

“In the three hundred and twenty-fifth year of the Qian calendar, the former Emperor personally led an expedition and was ambushed by three rival dynasties at the western border, suffering grave injuries. My husband, Chu Qingcang, was then in seclusion, striving for the Myriad Phenomena Realm. On hearing the news, he broke off his breakthrough, suffered backlash, and yet, wounded, personally led three thousand elite troops through death and danger to rescue the Emperor.”

“Afterwards, he led my eldest son Chu Yunhai, my eldest daughter Chu Yunyan, and thirty thousand soldiers to pacify the western rebellion, suppressing the three great dynasties so they dared not offend again!”

“In the year 330, my husband, gravely hurt from backlash, was in seclusion to heal. A strange phenomenon appeared at the imperial tombs—the Dragon Vein emerged, drawing the powerhouses of the seven great dynasties to contend for it. My eldest son and eldest daughter, unable to return from the west in time, left it to my second son Chu Yunhe, my second daughter-in-law, and my youngest daughter Chu Yunyan to lead five thousand imperial guards. They fought fiercely for nine days and nights, swearing to protect the Dragon Vein with their lives.”

“In the year 334, turmoil erupted in the Abyss of Demon Burial—a great beast tide caused by rioting monsters. Then, the former Emperor sent the sixth prince—now the current Emperor—to quell the chaos. Because of his error in command, a hundred thousand troops were trapped in the Abyss, besieged by monsters.”

“It was my third son Chu Yunshan, with his wife Xiao Ziyu, and my fourth and fifth sons, who fought their way through the beasts to rescue the Emperor from the Abyss. That battle nearly cost my three sons their lives; only by seeking rare medicines in the greater world with Chu Qingcang did they survive.”

“These are but a few of the countless deeds…”

“Chu Qingcang always said—our Chu family, loyal to the core, would never become treacherous curs. My two sons-in-law and my five daughters-in-law have all served the dynasty with devotion.”

“Fifteen of us—six martial grandmasters, nine mighty warriors—have defended the Great Qian Dynasty and its people for decades in this era where men devour men, and beasts devour men!”

“And now, with a single phrase, ‘error in command,’ all their merits are wiped away.”

“Error in command? The founder of the Chu family was the founding general of the dynasty; Chu Qingcang, the nation’s guardian general, has endured countless battles and quelled the Abyss of Demon Burial no less than ten times—how could he make such an error?”

“And as for the rumors of rebellion in the General’s Manor—what a laughable accusation.”

“Let me ask: if all six martial grandmasters of the Chu family truly wished to rebel, not to mention just the Great Qian Dynasty, but across all seven dynasties, who could—who would dare—stand in their way?”

Madam Yuan’s fury blazed as she poured out the grievances in her heart.

“Insolence!”

“Madam Yuan, your foolish grandson may not understand, but you do. The Emperor is merciful, leaving a bloodline for your family. If you persist in such reckless words, beware of bringing calamity upon your grandchildren.”

With a cold snort, Eunuch Wang turned and departed.

Madam Yuan clasped Chu Tianchen’s hand tightly; he could feel the depth of her sorrow.

And how could he not feel the same?

Though he had spent five years as a fool, his mind sealed and unable to communicate, he had seen clearly how his family had treated him.

“Grandmother, I’m back.”

Chu Tianchen stood behind his grandmother, his voice deep and steady.

Though she already knew, hearing those words brought tears to Madam Yuan’s eyes.

Now, only this last scion of the Chu family remained—their final hope.

Turning, the old lady embraced Chu Tianchen tightly, her tears soaking his clothes. His two younger cousins also ran over, clinging to their grandmother and brother, sobbing uncontrollably.

“What a loving family you are. But I, the Saintess, have no time to watch your performance. Hand over the marriage contract.”

With a flicker, the Saintess of the Xuantian Sword Sect, Ye Qingyao, descended from the sky before them, her expression cold as ice.

The other six followed close behind.