Chapter 141: Yun Chen

At that moment, a bamboo basket turned upside down suddenly flipped open.

A little girl, no more than five or six years old, dressed in simple hemp clothing, groped her way out. Her skin was as lustrous and white as mutton-fat jade, and her features were as exquisite as if carved by the heavens themselves. She looked incredibly adorable.

However, the girl’s expression was frantic, her steps were weak, and her eyes remained tightly shut. It was clear she was blind.

"Don't be afraid... Big Brother is back..."
"Come, eat..."
"Big Brother found plenty of food... Tingting won't go hungry anymore..."

The young man struggled to walk over and sat down beside the little girl, pulling her close. With great care, he took a steaming bun from a cloth bundle and placed it in her hands. He looked down at the remaining two buns in his lap, a flash of hesitation crossing his eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

After a long while, the young man’s gaze dimmed. He wrapped the buns back up and tucked them into his clothes with the utmost care.

"Regarding the earlier matter, Yun Chen is here to thank you both."

After a brief pause, the young man looked toward Li Changsheng and his companion with gratitude. He struggled to clasp his hands in a salute, his voice thin and weak.

Yun Chen?
The name was not simple.

"Open the attribute panel and inspect the person before me," Li Changsheng thought silently, his expression remaining perfectly composed.

This person’s destiny was peculiar, with only a few dozen threads of causality. Yet, he carried a strange power, unlike anything in the mortal realm...

Three hundred thousand???

Li Changsheng was taken aback upon noticing Yun Chen’s Destiny Value. Three hundred thousand points of Destiny, and he was being beaten like a dog??? Was this really a Son of Destiny?

"River of Lethe."

With a thought, Li Changsheng’s eyes were suffused with a purple hue, and the scene before him began to shift. Above the young man’s head, dozens of causal threads appeared, most of them already dim. As for the little girl, her threads of causality were even scarcer, with only the one connecting her to Yun Chen appearing relatively bright.

Noticing this, Li Changsheng felt a sense of clarity.

"Young Master..." Sensing a shift in Li Changsheng’s expression, Zhao Wan'er nodded slightly, whispering softly.

"It is nothing," Li Changsheng replied, shaking his head slowly. He turned his gaze to Yun Chen and said indifferently, "Are you willing to follow me and cultivate?"

The two had suffered much and were truly pitiful. It wasn't that Li Changsheng had suddenly developed a surge of kindness; rather, he had no grievances with them. If he were to harm them without cause, he would feel a twinge of guilt. If he could subdue this person, he might spare himself some unnecessary karmic debt. As for whether the boy would harbor ulterior motives or betray him in the future, Li Changsheng did not know.

In this world, the existence of a Son of Destiny was a variable. And where there is a variable, there is unpredictability. Everything would have to be tested to be known.

"You... want to take me as a disciple... but..."

Yun Chen trembled, his initial look of gratitude replaced by endless hesitation. "I carry a curse of misfortune; I fear I will bring disaster upon you, Immortal Master..."

"I am deeply grateful for your mercy and will never forget your kindness in helping us... but..." Yun Chen’s face grew somber, his eyes filled with bitterness.

Over the years, the misfortune he carried had harmed too many people. Not only had his village been destroyed by natural disasters, but his parents had also fallen ill and passed away. Even his sister had gone blind because of him. He was cursed; he shouldn't be alive. How could he dare to drag a benefactor into his misery?

"I can rid you of that misfortune," Li Changsheng said, his expression calm and his gaze profound. He could see through the boy's worries at a glance.

"I will never forget your willingness to help, even in death," Yun Chen said, his body trembling with gratitude. But when he looked at the little girl behind him, a deep tenderness flashed in his eyes. He bowed again and spoke respectfully.

"Bring her along as well. The girl has good talent; I can impart teachings to her," Zhao Wan'er interjected calmly. She didn't know why her young master wanted to recruit these people, but she trusted he had his reasons. She simply needed to carry them out. Besides, the girl’s background was tragic, and Zhao Wan'er felt a sliver of pity for her. Taking her as a disciple would not be a bad thing.

"Become my disciple," Li Changsheng said with a faint smile, shaking his head.

"Master is above! Disciple Yun Chen pays his respects!"
"With the heavens as my witness and the sun and moon as my proof, from this day forth, I will follow my Master with total devotion and keep to my place! If I harbor any other thoughts, may I be struck by lightning and suffer ten thousand deaths!" Yun Chen’s voice was firm and resolute.

Li Changsheng was quite satisfied. To subdue a Son of Destiny and raise him as a henchman—while he sipped tea and watched the boy fight his battles—that was true contentment.

However, in the next second, a flash of surprise crossed Li Changsheng’s eyes.

*Ding! The host has successfully subdued the Son of Destiny, Yun Chen.*

???
That was it???

Li Changsheng was stunned. A Son of Destiny with three hundred thousand points, and after he had gone through all that trouble to take him as a disciple, the system gave him nothing???

Huh???
Useless system??? Come out and take a beating!!

Li Changsheng was very unhappy; he even considered shattering the River of Lethe and walking away. It was too stingy; he couldn't stand it.

*Ding! Subduing a Son of Destiny is not within the system’s reward rules. Furthermore, the Son of Destiny is a variable of the stars; even if subdued, the host should remain cautious.*

The system’s voice rang out at the right moment, and after two beeps, it fell silent again.

Li Changsheng’s gaze deepened, and he fell into thought. A Son of Destiny is a variable of the stars. The ancient gods are a secret of the stars. He wondered if the two were related... Could it be that the one who annihilated the ancient gods was a Son of Destiny with heaven-defying luck?

Speculation remained speculation. Li Changsheng calmed his mind quickly.

"Get up," he said, his expression calm as he waved his hand, sending out a stream of spiritual energy to lift Yun Chen. "From today on, you are a disciple of Li Changsheng."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the little girl. From the beginning, she had been obediently eating the meat bun. Even when Yun Chen became a disciple and secured one for her, she remained in a state of letting her brother decide everything. She was quite sensible and rather endearing.

"Open the attribute panel and inspect the person before me," he thought. A panel appeared in his mind. One thousand Destiny points—a very impressive amount of luck for a mortal.

"Wan'er, bring these two. We are going to the Zhao family," Li Changsheng instructed without delay.

The four of them flew directly toward the Zhao family estate. Before long, a vast and glorious palace complex appeared before them! Countless pavilions and towers stood tall, with magnificent halls arranged in perfect order. It was the very model of an immortal cultivation clan!

This was the Zhao family of the Immortal Tombs, the family that had once taken in Zhao Wan'er. At this moment, the entire Zhao clan stood respectfully outside their gates, waiting quietly.

Leading them was a middle-aged man who looked to be about forty. He wore brocade robes and had a haggard expression. This was the head of the Zhao family, Zhao Hao. When he had received Zhao Wan'er’s message earlier, he had trembled, scared out of his wits. Regardless of his internal anxiety, he had hurriedly led the entire clan to wait outside.

It was no joke; Li Changsheng was the only direct heir of the Li family! Others might not know the extent of Li Changsheng’s power, but Zhao Hao understood it profoundly. He had even experienced it firsthand!

The Immortal Tombs had once been home to three great families: the Zhao, the Wang, and the Sun. The Sun family had been the strongest. That year, when Li Changsheng arrived, a disciple of the Sun family had spoken arrogantly. Li Changsheng, hearing it unintentionally, had stepped to their door to demand an accounting. Just because of a single sentence from the head of the Sun family—"I hope the Great One will show leniency"—Li Changsheng had leveled the entire Sun family into ruins with one strike of his sword before the eyes of every cultivator in the Immortal Tombs...

He was a man who acted the moment he decided to. He was ruthless. Those who had harbored resentment were slaughtered to the last person. Blood had flowed through half the Immortal Tombs. Even now, the mere mention of Li Changsheng’s name filled Zhao Hao with terror. The intimidation he had felt back then was too horrifying!

"This aura..."

Suddenly, Zhao Hao’s eyes narrowed, and a wave of intense panic rose in his heart. His gaze fell upon the noble youth in black and gold embroidered robes approaching from the horizon!

Li Changsheng!!!

"Great Master Li!!!"
"Great Master Li, you have finally come!"
"This humble one has waited for you so bitterly!"

Zhao Hao hurriedly put on an expression of a man who had lost his parents, his eyes shimmering with tears.

"Young Master Li!! My longing for you is like the surging river, endless and continuous. It has been several years since you left. During these years, I have not had an appetite for food or tea; I could not sleep at night. Every day has been a torture for me! I thought of nothing but when I could see your noble face again!"

Zhao Hao’s face was flushed with excitement, his eyes filled with endless bliss, as if meeting Li Changsheng was the most glorious event of his life.

"Master!! Little Zhao’s heart is full of sorrow! These years, I have missed you so much!!!"

Zhao Hao ran toward Li Changsheng as he spoke, his excitement reaching an unbearable peak. He looked truly pathetic. For a grown man to show such an expression, he must be completely sincere.

Just as Zhao Hao drew near and was about to say more, "Hypocrite," Li Changsheng remarked with disdain, and with a cold snort, he kicked Zhao Hao back into the crowd of the Zhao family.

Li Changsheng knew exactly what kind of person Zhao Hao was. Back then, with one strike of his sword, he had scared both Zhao Hao and that old man from the Wang family into wetting themselves. This fellow was probably praying that Li Changsheng would never return to this place in his life. Every word he said was ten-parts fake!

Missed me?
Tsk... sickening.

"Master, I have already prepared a feast of spirit beasts in the great hall; I beg you to honor us with your presence!" Zhao Hao scrambled up, his expression still filled with excitement. His voice was devout, as if being kicked by Li Changsheng was a great honor.

Zhao Wan'er looked at Zhao Hao, who had changed so drastically, with a sense of bewilderment. In her memory, Zhao Hao had always been the type to be meticulous and composed. But this time... it was all too much.

As for Yun Chen, he stared at the scene in disbelief. Though he didn't know who Zhao Hao was, he could tell at a glance that the man held an incredibly high status! Yet, even a man of such standing was so respectful to his Master!

Yun Jue, meanwhile, kept tugging at Yun Chen’s sleeve, looking nervous. This place was too strange. The little girl was afraid.

"Lead the way," Li Changsheng said coldly, stepping toward the Zhao estate. Zhao Wan'er followed closely behind him. Yun Chen, pulling Yun Jue, followed as well.

"Welcome, Young Master Li!!!" Zhao Hao’s voice rang out with great respect.
"Welcome, Young Master Li!!" the entire Zhao family shouted in unison.

A direct path to the main hall of the Zhao family opened up immediately. Li Changsheng, his expression calm, walked leisurely in front of everyone. Zhao Wan'er ignored everything around her. Yun Chen, however, timidly observed the people around him, his pace slow as he held Yun Jue’s hand.

What surprised Yun Chen was that without exception, everyone who met his gaze lowered their heads in respect a second later. Yun Chen was not a fool. These people were so respectful only because of his Master. If it were before, how could he have ever enjoyed such treatment? Following by his Master’s side, enjoying such glory—from now on, he would strive to cultivate and serve his Master with his life...

*Ding! Yun Chen’s sense of belonging has reached 20. Rewarding the host with an additional 60,000 Destiny Points.*

Huh???
It could work like that?

Li Changsheng gave Yun Chen a meaningful glance, deep in thought. Noticing that the boy was walking slowly with his sister, Li Changsheng decided to slow his own pace, allowing the two of them to follow at their own speed.

"Who is that person? Why does Great Master Li treat him so well?!" The crowd noticed the anomaly and felt a surge of envy.

"Master..." Sensing Li Changsheng slowing down and seeing the envy in the eyes of the crowd, a warmth grew in Yun Chen’s heart. His Master was looking after them in every way; no one had ever treated him like this before...

*Ding! Yun Chen’s sense of belonging has reached 40. Rewarding the host with an additional 60,000 Destiny Points.*

Tsk... worth it, absolutely worth it!

As the system’s voice echoed in his mind, Li Changsheng looked at Yun Chen with growing satisfaction. The boy was quite likable. Perhaps later, his sense of belonging would increase even further.

Before long, led by Zhao Hao, the four arrived at a magnificent, gold-adorned hall. Inside, a long stone table was set with hundreds of different exotic delicacies! The only thing they had in common was that every dish was infused with endless spiritual energy!! The aroma was incredibly appetizing.

"Not bad," Li Changsheng praised. Zhao Hao might be long-winded, but these preparations were, at the very least, not offensive.

"Master, please take the head seat!" Zhao Hao, noticing the subtle change in Li Changsheng’s expression, was overjoyed and hurried to invite him. To receive even a sliver of praise from Young Master Li was like ascending to immortality!

Thinking of this, Zhao Hao’s gaze toward Li Changsheng became scorching...

Tsk... noticing Zhao Hao’s gaze, Li Changsheng felt a sudden chill. He raised an eyebrow in disgust, kicked him out of the hall once more, and walked toward the head seat.