"Hush... Let's just discuss these things in private. Absolutely do not speak of them in front of Chu Haoyu, or your troubles will only grow greater. You might even end up in legal trouble."
...
On the street, Chu Chen spoke word by word, his expression as calm as ever, without a ripple, as if he were recounting an insignificant story.
But those around him, upon hearing his words, all nodded in agreement.
Chu Haoyu, a direct descendant of the Chu family's second generation, possessed monstrous talent.
Not only was his martial arts talent exceptionally strong, but his temperament was also arrogant and overbearing. He frequently bullied his kin, and even dared to flirt with Chu Xuerou, the clan leader's daughter. He was utterly despicable.
Chu Chen, on the other hand, was different.
Although Chu Chen was a good-for-nothing, he never became arrogant due to favor. He didn't abuse his status to throw his weight around; instead, he was humble and low-key, never showing off.
In comparison, the two presented a stark contrast.
This made all the Chu clan members like him, especially those who had played with him in their youth.
Such character made many Chu clan members feel ashamed of themselves.
However, this was of no use.
Chu Chen was, after all, just an abandoned son of the Chu family. Even if he had a good impression among the clan, what of it?
This world was one where strength of fist determined victory. Whoever had the harder fist was the one who was powerful!
"You injured our Chu clan member?
Good, you have quite the nerve. Do you know that if this incident spreads today, you will be hunted by the entire Chu clan!"
Granny Wang glared coldly at Chu Chen, "You brat, if you have any sense, you'll scram right now, or I won't show any mercy!"
"Haha, Granny Wang, don't you look down on me too much?"
Chu Chen shook his head and said with a faint smile, "I don't know who this 'Chu clan member' you speak of is?
But since you dare to impersonate a member of the Chu family, you must be some minor character from the Chu family."
"You!" The old woman was instantly enraged upon hearing this.
Chu Chen calmly and slowly continued, "I recall the clan rules stating that anyone who trespasses into the Chu family or impersonates one shall be dealt with according to the clan rules."
"I am real, why do you say I am impersonating?"
"And I have not made any mistakes, why should I be dealt with by the clan rules?"
"You!" The old woman pointed at Chu Chen, gritting her teeth, "You little bastard, stop spewing your glib tongue!
If you know what's good for you, surrender obediently and save yourself from physical pain."
"Surrender obediently?" Chu Chen's smile grew more pronounced, "Old hag, what are you? Do you deserve for me to surrender?"
"You!"
The old woman's lungs nearly burst with anger, and she roared, "You damned beast, I am an old servant of the Chu family, an elder among the Chu clan!"
"What the hell is an 'old servant' to me?"
Chu Chen sneered, "You're merely a servant, yet you dare to be presumptuous in front of this young master. Believe it or not, I'll have your skin peeled off!"
"Bah!"
The old woman slapped out, cursing,
"I am an old wet nurse of the Chu family, an elder of the Chu clan. You little beast dare to insult me, I'll take your life!"
"Slap!"
However, in the next second, a crisp sound of a slap echoed.
"Crack!"
Accompanied by the sound of bone cracking.
The old woman was sent flying several meters, falling to the ground, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, her hair disheveled, looking quite pathetic.
The surrounding onlookers were stunned.
"Brat, you dare to sneak attack me?" The old woman stood up, glaring fiercely at Chu Chen.
"Sneak attack you?"
Chu Chen sneered, his face full of disdain, "Are you, this old hag, worthy of being called an elder of the Chu clan? Where is your face?"
"If I am not an elder of the Chu clan, are you?"
The old woman raged, "You're just a wild child with no parents to love you, no one to dote on you. I'm teaching you a lesson because I think highly of you!"
Chu Chen's eyebrows shot up, his eyes icy cold.
The suppressed anger in his heart erupted at this moment, like a volcanic eruption!
"Having no parents to love me, no one to dote on me, this is an eternal pain in my heart!"
"You dare to mock me with this matter?"
Chu Chen slowly walked towards the old woman.
The surrounding people, seeing this, felt a sense of dread.
"Run!"
Seeing the spectacle, everyone quickly moved aside, creating a space for Chu Chen.
"You... what do you want to do? I warn you, the Chu clan is a noble and prestigious family. Fighting and brawling within the clan is forbidden, or you'll be expelled from the Chu clan. You must think twice!"
The old woman began to panic. Chu Chen was clearly enraged.
She felt a great sense of crisis.
"Heh heh, a noble Chu family?"
Chu Chen shook his head, his face full of cold laughter, "Then I'll tear it down first before I leave."
Saying this, he kicked towards the wall of the house. With a rumble, stone bricks and tiles scattered everywhere, wooden boards flew, and a large hole instantly appeared!
"Hiss!"
Everyone gasped.
"You're crazy! You actually destroyed the Chu ancestral hall, the clan leader will never forgive you!"
The old woman trembled all over with fear, her face full of terror.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Chu Chen raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly unsurprised.
A moment later, he turned and left.
If the Chu ancestral hall was destroyed, it was destroyed. It had nothing to do with him, and he couldn't be bothered to care.
"Wait, you... why are you leaving?"
Seeing that Chu Chen was not afraid at all, the old woman stomped her feet anxiously, "Are you really going to destroy the ancestral hall and anger the Chu clan? Aren't you afraid of being expelled from the clan?"
"I'm not afraid, because the Chu family means nothing to me."
Chu Chen's tone was calm, "What I want to do is not for the Chu family to dictate!"
"You..."
The old woman was stunned.
She suddenly realized that she couldn't stop Chu Chen at all.
Chu Chen left, his back disappearing into the dark night.
"I am not reconciled!"
Looking in the direction Chu Chen had left, the old woman's wrinkled face showed a venomous and ferocious expression.
"Chu Chen, you little brat, you destroyed the ancestral hall, destroyed the Chu family. When I report back to the family head and the higher-ups, let's see how you deal with it!"
"And you lot, you scoundrels. This old woman will go tell the Chu clan leader and the others right away that you are harboring Chu Chen, this unfilial and rebellious descendant. You just wait to be punished!"
With that, the old woman turned and hurried away to fetch reinforcements.
Chu Chen left the village and headed straight for the Chu family mansion in the north of the city.
The Chu family mansion was built on Cloud Dragon Mountain, covering an area of hundreds of mu. Its luxury was comparable to a mansion, making it the premier super-rich household in Nanyang County City, on par with the Qin family.
The Chu family's ancestral land was located halfway up the mountain, majestic and magnificent.
Pavilions and towers, carved beams and painted rafters, it was as brilliant as a palace.
Chu Chen arrived at the foot of the mountain and looked up.
"Hmm? Isn't that Chu Chen? Why is he here again, and he looks quite defiant!"
"Is this kid looking for trouble?"
"He shouldn't be foolish enough to cause trouble at the Chu clan's headquarters, unless he's tired of living."