Chapter 0: Rebirth of the Marshal’s Third Young Master
The Third Young Master of the Marshal’s Mansion, the Tian Kun Dynasty’s infamous number one good-for-nothing, suddenly stood up.
This news swept through the entire Tian Kun Dynasty Imperial City like a hurricane, even startling the current Human Emperor.
Marshal Xu Chengfeng, who always maintained a stern and unsmiling demeanor like a cold-faced Yama, had been beaming with joy during court sessions lately. He even offered a smile to those he had previously disregarded, clearly in high spirits.
Within three days, Qin Gou could walk like a normal person, and soon he was walking with increasing vigor, eventually moving with the speed of a horse.
This was abnormal. Logically, even a baby with strong learning abilities couldn’t learn to walk so quickly. Moreover, Xu Jin had been bedridden for twenty years. If not for the constant consumption of expensive elixirs, his legs would have atrophied long ago.
What was even more abnormal followed. In these three days, Qin Gou not only learned to walk but also leaped from a beginner with only a thread of spiritual power, not much different from an ordinary person, just touching the threshold of the Qi Gathering Realm, to the Artifact Forging Realm.
It seemed to have fulfilled Physician Zheng’s guess: Xu Jin would rise from behind and move forward bravely.
Bedridden for twenty years, yet breaking through three realms in one day.
Upon hearing this news, Xu Chengfeng rushed to his son’s side, laughing heartily as he clapped him on the shoulder. With tearful eyes, he declared, “This is truly the seed of Xu Chengfeng!”
Qin Gou looked at the spiritual power surging around his hands, his voice choked with emotion, “Father, Jin’er guarantees that from now on, no one will dare to mock Jin’er as a disabled person who just eats and waits for death. I want to tell them that rest is for the purpose of going further, and I rested for twenty years, so this first step will be astonishing!”
“Well said! Your father believes you will not disappoint me.” Xu Chengfeng laughed with relief. “Furthermore, your uncle has already heard of this. He said he must help you find a rare ‘Body Refining Pill’ to lend you a helping hand!”
Qin Gou’s expression startled. “Father, what are you talking about? Aren’t you the eldest son of the clan? Jin’er doesn’t have an uncle.”
“Oh, that was a slip of the tongue. It was your third uncle who said that. You see, I’m so happy I’m confused,” Xu Chengfeng said, shaking his head meaningfully.
That evening, the couple had a late-night talk.
“Xu, I heard you’ve been having Xiang’er monitor Jin’er these past few days and have repeatedly spoken nonsense in front of him. What exactly do you mean?” Liu Fuyun said unhappily, sitting on the edge of the bed and grooming her long, smooth hair.
“It’s nothing. Just a precaution,” Xu Chengfeng replied calmly, with his hands behind his back, looking at the bright moon outside the window.
Liu Fuyun said indignantly, “Are you suspecting Jin’er? Are you suspecting my Jin’er has been replaced by a changeling?”
“Yes,” Xu Chengfeng admitted without concealment.
Liu Fuyun frowned slightly. “And what was the result?”
Xu Chengfeng suddenly chuckled, “What do you mean, Madam? Weren’t you just blaming your husband? Why are you suddenly curious yourself?”
“I just feel that happiness has come too suddenly, and everything feels unreal. Jin’er is no longer a cripple with innate disabled meridians, and he has even become a cultivator in the Artifact Forging Realm in such a short time. Such terrifying speed and talent are unheard of. If this were to spread, people would think we of the Tian Kun Dynasty were bragging,” Liu Fuyun retorted, glaring at her husband.
Xu Chengfeng nodded with a smile. “I think the same as you, wife. But this is all fate and destiny. Who made him my son if he wasn’t extraordinary and remarkable!”
“You flatter me!” Liu Fuyun chuckled and gave Xu Chengfeng a charming glare. “So, Jin’er is not showing any abnormalities?”
Xu Chengfeng nodded slightly. “When Xiang’er helped Jin’er bathe, she checked carefully. That birthmark is still there. After my careful observation and testing for the past few days, I found that apart from his astonishing cultivation speed, Jin’er shows absolutely no other abnormalities! He’s still that stubborn, foolish child, but now he truly has the right to be stubborn.”
Hearing this, Liu Fuyun’s eyes reddened. “My poor child, the clouds have finally parted.”
Xu Chengfeng embraced his wife and gently comforted her. “Madam, it’s all in the past. Jin’er is not the same as before. No one in the court or outside will dare to laugh at the Marshal’s Mansion for having a ‘tiger father and canine son’ anymore!”
“But for some reason, even though everything is so wonderful, I’ve been feeling uneasy lately,” Liu Fuyun said, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes. “You know, Jin’er’s relationship with his elder brother…”
Xu Chengfeng smiled nonchalantly. “That’s between the children. We parents should not interfere.”
The next day, a dignified, beautiful, and radiant young lady arrived at the Marshal’s Mansion. The household guards and maids respectfully addressed her as “Second Miss.”
Her name was Xu Shuangshuang, and she was Xu Jin’s second sister. In fact, apart from Xu Jin, Xu Chengfeng’s other two children already held their own official positions and residences, and did not live in the Marshal’s Mansion.
Upon seeing Qin Gou, Xu Shuangshuang was incredibly enthusiastic. She heartily hugged him, pressing her ample bosom firmly against Qin Gou’s chest without any sense of awkwardness. Instead, she said gleefully, “Brother, it’s been so long, have you missed me? As soon as second sister heard the good news about you, I rushed back to the Imperial City from Kezhou without stopping! Come on, tell second sister about your wondrous dream, and if you really broke through to the Artifact Forging Realm in just three days?”
Qin Gou felt very awkward. He finally managed to break free from Xu Shuangshuang’s soft, fragrant embrace. He and the real Xu Jin had already reached an agreement to try their best not to be overly disrespectful to his family by taking advantage of his identity. However, neither Liu Fuyun nor Xu Shuangshuang now had been initiated by Qin Gou.
“Let’s not talk about that yet, Second Sister. It’s funny, you know? You rushed back from Kezhou, so far away, to see me so quickly, but someone who can reach the Marshal’s Mansion from within the Imperial City in less than half an hour seems to be nowhere to be seen,” Qin Gou said with a hint of disappointment in his eyes, speaking in a deep voice.
“Oh, you mean Big Brother,” Xu Shuangshuang shrugged carelessly. “Isn’t he always like this? You know him. Big Brother has suggested to Father and Mother multiple times to directly send you to some remote town to live out your life in a daze. From birth until now, has he ever looked at you properly? Second Sister is different! Second Sister likes you the most, little brother! Come, give second sister a kiss!”
