Volume One, Chapter One: Descending the Mountain and Taking a Wife

“Disciple, you have come of age; it is time for you to leave the mountain,” the bald, slender old man with a sly smile said.

“As the saying goes, among the three great unfilial acts, having no descendants is the gravest. You should start a family and settle down.”

“Once you descend, seek out Chu Meng. She is the new generation’s female war deity of Huaguo, a heroine revered by all. If you marry her, having her warm your bed will fill you with a great sense of accomplishment,” he added with a lecherous grin.

“Xiao Fan, don’t listen to Third Master. What’s the point of marrying someone who only knows how to fight? Marry a virtuous wife instead. You should marry Shen Ruyi; she’s the youngest female tycoon to date. Marrying her means you’ll never have to worry about anything for the rest of your life,” another master interjected.

“Fifth Brother, what nonsense are you spouting? Xiao Fan has inherited our lifetime’s ultimate skills. You want him to become a kept man? If he is to marry, it should be…” The masters began to bicker endlessly over Xiao Fan’s matrimonial prospects.

Chen Fan’s head ached as he watched his masters argue about his marriage plans. With a helpless expression, he said, “Second Master, Third Master… Seventh Master, I appreciate your kindness, but I’m not ready to start a family just yet, so…”

Before Chen Fan could finish, all the masters spoke in unison, “No, you must marry, or you shall not leave the mountain.”

Chen Fan raised his eyebrow and replied calmly, “Then whom should I marry?”

This question reignited their quarrel.

At that moment, a faint voice drifted from the back of the mountain: “What’s there to argue about? Let Xiao Fan marry them all!”

Chen Fan’s expression shifted slightly. He didn’t even want to marry one, yet now they wanted him to marry seven. This was a death sentence.

Besides, what era was this to still be playing matchmaker?

“Great Master, I…” Chen Fan tried to plead.

But the Great Master cut him off decisively: “It’s settled. No more discussion!”

Chen Fan fell silent, bowing respectfully to each master. “Great Master, Second Master, Third Master… Seventh Master, I will leave the mountain now. Please take care of yourselves while I am gone.”

He turned away reluctantly, glancing back every few steps.

Once he reached the foot of the mountain, Chen Fan shouted joyfully, “Finally, I’m off the mountain!”

Ten years. He had spent a full decade on this mountain.

He longed to leave.

As for the seven arranged marriages, Chen Fan never gave them a second thought.

The vast sea allows fish to leap freely; the boundless sky lets birds soar without restraint.

Once off the mountain, he could live as he pleased.

Moreover, with his family’s blood feud unresolved, how could he focus on marriage?

Ten years ago, the Chen family was massacred.

Only he survived, taken in by seven masters.

Now, having surpassed them all in skill, he vowed to repay his enemies a hundredfold, a thousandfold.

Blood debts must be repaid in blood.

…

Chen Fan’s masters knew his nature well.

From the moment he left the mountain, the news spread like wildfire.

——

At the remote border of the Great Ten Thousand Mountains, a striking woman clad in red armor and a flowing purple cloak stood vigilantly.

She glanced at an encrypted message and smiled.

“Prepare the plane. I’m returning home!”

Her subordinate was alarmed, “General, the enemy nation is stirring. If you return now, what will we do if they attack?”

“Damn it!” The female general snorted coldly. “If they delay my reunion with my husband, I’ll cripple them.”

——

In the conference room of Junyue Tower, the icy and beautiful CEO Ye Qingcheng was leading a crucial meeting.

A phone ringing interrupted the discussion.

Upon answering, Ye Qingcheng’s face lit up with delight. “The meeting is adjourned. I have to go see someone.”

“Ms. Ye, the negotiations aren’t over yet. This concerns a multi-billion-dollar deal!” the attendees protested, baffled about who could be worth abandoning such a deal.

“My husband,” Ye Qingcheng said calmly.

No amount of billions—even hundreds of billions—mattered more than her husband.

——

On the outskirts of Jincheng, at a cemetery, a young man knelt before the graves, his voice hoarse.

“Mom, Dad, your unfilial son only comes to visit now…”

“The murderers who destroyed our entire family—I will uncover them and make them pay in blood.”

This young man was none other than Chen Fan.

After leaving the mountain, his first destination was the graves of his parents and sister.

He stayed until nightfall before rising to leave.

Ten years had passed; everything in Jincheng had changed beyond recognition.

The chances of uncovering the killers from long ago were slim.

But no matter how difficult, he would never give up.

As Chen Fan exited the cemetery, a sleek black Mercedes approached him, flanked by two black Audis.

The Mercedes stopped firmly in front of him, blocking his path.

The passenger door opened, revealing a tall, delicate-featured woman in her early twenties.

Beside her stood a man in his early forties, dressed in a Zhongshan suit.

The woman began, “Excuse me, are you Chen Fan, Mr. Chen?”

Chen Fan was stunned.

He didn’t recognize the woman, yet how did she know his name?

And why was she blocking his way here?

He nodded slightly. “Who are you? What do you want from me?”

A smile of relief spread across the woman’s face as she hurried to explain, “My grandfather is gravely ill. We hope Mr. Chen can help save him.”

“No time,” Chen Fan said, turning to leave.

He was no saint; why should he save a stranger?

The woman grew anxious and shouted, “It was Senior Guiguzi who sent me to find you!”

“Your grandfather sent you to me?” Chen Fan was incredulous.

He never expected this woman to know his Seventh Master, Guiguzi.

“Saving lives is fine, but it must be compensated. That is my master’s rule,” Chen Fan said.

“No problem!” the woman exclaimed joyfully. “If you agree to save him, we will pay any amount.”

“Money?” Chen Fan smiled coldly. “Seems you don’t know Guiguzi’s rule.”

Seventh Master Guiguzi was enigmatic—neither wholly good nor evil.

He never asked for money when saving lives, but there was only one rule:

A life for a life.

When Chen Fan stated this, the woman’s face turned pale.

The man in the Zhongshan suit cursed loudly, “What kind of ridiculous rule is that? You want to kill someone just to save another?”

Chen Fan sneered dismissively. “The rule stands. Whether to save or not is your choice.”

“Miss, we will find another way to save the master…” the man pleaded.

The woman’s heart ached. She had sought countless healers, but none could cure her grandfather.

The answer was clear: only Guiguzi’s intervention could save him.

With firm resolve, she said, “Fine. I accept your condition.”

Chen Fan gave her a surprised glance, then said coldly, “In front of me, strip off your clothes.”

“What?” The woman was stunned, not expecting such an outrageous demand.

“You’re willing to risk your life. Now you won’t even undress? That makes me doubt your sincerity,” Chen Fan said with a playful smirk.

“If I undress, you’ll come with me to save him?”

Chen Fan nodded. “Of course.”

“Alright, I’ll do it.”