After teaching Zhao Kang a lesson, Zhao Letian made his way, familiar as ever, to an elegant courtyard deep within the Zhao Mansion. This was the home he belonged to within the Zhao Family.
"Mother, your son has returned!"
Zhao Letian hesitated for a moment outside the courtyard gate, then took a deep breath, and with an excited smile, pushed the door open and walked in.
In Zhao Letian's memory, his mother was the only kin he had in this world. As for his father, there was no impression at all, because at that time, his mother—who was the young Miss of the Zhao Mansion—had returned alone to Zhao Mansion while pregnant, and had never mentioned his father to anyone.
For this reason, Zhao Letian had been called a fatherless bastard since childhood, subjected to humiliation and disdain. Fortunately, his mother was exceedingly talented with formidable cultivation. In the entire Zhao Mansion, her strength was second only to the current Patriarch Zhao. Therefore, those who insulted Zhao Letian and his mother dared not go too far—most of the time, it was just verbal abuse, particularly when Zhao Letian gradually revealed his amazing talent, becoming the genius that the Zhao Mansion hadn't seen for a hundred years. Those people didn't dare to easily provoke the mother and son, at most speaking ill of them behind their backs.
However, now that news of Zhao Letian's cultivation being crippled had spread back to the Zhao Mansion, he couldn't help but worry whether his mother's situation there might be affected.
"Letian? You... you're still alive?"
The moment the courtyard door opened, Zhao Letian froze; at the same time, so did a beautiful woman inside. She carried a longsword on her back, dressed in a white long dress, floating like a celestial being, her brow carrying a commanding spirit, dignified and majestic.
This beautiful woman was none other than Zhao Letian's mother, Zhao Yixin.
"Mother, of course I'm still alive. Where are you going?" Seeing his mother seemed to be on her way out, Zhao Letian couldn't help but give a wry smile.
"Letian, come here, let mother take a good look at you." Zhao Yixin did not answer but rushed to embrace Zhao Letian's arms, examining him closely, her tearful eyes filled with relief as if having survived a catastrophe. She had just finished her closed-door cultivation today, only to hear that her son's cultivation had been destroyed and that he had been thrown into the lake to feed the fish. She was filled with grief and fury about to seek vengeance, but to her surprise, her son appeared very much alive. For character sheets and glossaries, visit *.
"Mother, don't worry about what you heard. I'm fine," Zhao Letian said, seeing his mother's great concern for him, a warm current surging in his heart, followed by a head shake and a comforting smile.
"Fine? Hmph, Letian, your cultivation level has fallen all the way to the Fifth or Sixth Layer of the Elemental Realm, and you still say you're fine? Do you know that in your situation, even if we exhaust all of the Zhao Mansion's resources, we may not be able to restore you to your peak cultivation!" Zhao Yixin, with her True Martial Realm cultivation, saw her son's current cultivation level at a glance. A sharpness appeared in her eyes as she said, "Tell me, was it really Shentu Yu who did this?"
"Mother, rest assured, I'm really okay. I want to handle this matter myself," Zhao Letian said with a helpless smile, guessing that his mother, who hadn't used the sword in many years, must have been getting ready to go and avenge him after hearing the news about him.
"I understand now, so it was indeed that Shentu Yu's doing." Zhao Yixin's gaze sharpened, "Letian, this matter is not as simple as you think. Apart from Shentu Yu, the Shentu Family behind the City Lord Mansion, and the Liu Family, they are all involved. This is not something you can handle alone. Let mother do this; those who crippled my son's cultivation and ruined his future, I will not spare any of them!"
"It's also connected to the Shentu Family and the Liu Family? Mother, what exactly is going on?" Zhao Letian was astonished and asked in bewilderment.
"Letian, you don't know that the Shentu Family and the Liu Family are secretly joining forces, preparing to ally together and eliminate the Zhao Family and the Sun Family in one fell swoop, to monopolize Qingzhou City. Liu Fei getting involved with Shentu Yu must be orchestrated by their two families from behind, and you were just a stumbling block on their path of joining. Even without the incident that day, they would still look for an opportunity to deal with you," Zhao Yixin said calmly.
"So that's how it is." Zhao Letian pondered, a glint of cold light flickering quietly in his eyes. The City Lord Mansion's Shentu Family and the Liu Family had considered him a sacrifice for their union. He would remember this debt and vowed to settle it should he have the capability in the future.
"Letian, go back to your room and rest. Mother will go to the Galaxy Sect right now, first kill that Shentu Yu, then go to the City Lord Mansion and the Liu Family to seek justice for you!" Zhao Yixin suddenly said with a grave tone. Although her mood had somewhat relaxed after seeing her son safe, the significant drop in her son's cultivation still infuriated her, and she was determined to avenge her son.
Perhaps no one in the entire Qingzhou City dared to provoke the Shentu Family of the City Lord Mansion, but she, Zhao Yixin, was an exception. After all, more than a decade ago, she, as a remarkable woman of the Zhao Family, had the courage to venture out alone and roam through Dajin Country. She was a worldly person, and the Shentu Family in Qingzhou City was not enough to intimidate her.
More importantly, Zhao Yixin always felt guilty for not letting her son meet his biological father since he was born, causing him to grow up amidst others' insults and ridicule. This guilt made her even more eager to protect her son and never allow him to suffer the slightest grievance.
"Mother, don't be rash. The Shentu Family and Liu Family are not to be trifled with, and the Galaxy Sect, as the dominant force in this area, will not allow outsiders to break in and kill their Inner Sect's talented disciples. If you go rashly, chances are you will encounter more danger than good!" Seeing his mother set to leave, Zhao Letian hurriedly stopped her with a serious expression.
"Silly child, what does that amount to? For you, even if it means going through a sea of flames and a mountain of knives, I am willing to brave it," Zhao Yixin caressed Zhao Letian's cheek affectionately and said with a gentle smile.
"Mother, I understand, but this is a matter for your child to handle personally, I want to deal with it myself," Zhao Letian said with a resigned smile, speaking resolutely.
"But Letian, your cultivation..." Zhao Yixin furrowed her brows, distressed. Despite her vast experience, she wasn't absolutely certain she could fully restore Zhao Letian's cultivation. With his current condition, it seemed unlikely he would ever get the chance for revenge in this lifetime.
"Mother, don't worry, my cultivation will be restored before long. Look at what this is." Zhao Letian said with a light smile, full of confidence. With a thought, white Sword Martial Soul and the black Little Snake Martial Soul flew out from his forehead, hovering in front of him.