Hearing Chu Feng ask about these matters again, Chu Jianlan’s expression became exceedingly grave, a thick grief slowly spreading across his face.
"Sigh... Originally, these matters shouldn’t have been revealed to you! But seeing your performance this time, you have indeed grown up!"
"Thus, there’s no need to hide it from you anymore!"
"I believe you can also control your emotions well, and will not recklessly shout about seeking revenge!"
These secrets have been buried deep in Chu Jianlan’s heart for many years, all the pressure borne by him alone.
Now, the time had finally come to spill them.
It also meant another person was there to help him bear this heavy burden, carrying this deep-seated vendetta.
Chu Feng had an expression full of expectation, his sister-in-law also looked curious.
Over the years, even she wasn’t too clear about the affairs of Sword King Mansion at that time. She only knew that overnight, Sword King Mansion nearly got obliterated.
"In the old days, when our father was alive, he led troops to battle in the field and resisted the Three Tribes of Foreign Realm, establishing a tremendous record of military achievements. Unfortunately, his merits overshone his liege, causing envy from the Imperial Family and since he was too loyal to the Imperial Family, it led to the Emperor fatally conspiring against him."
"The terrible news of our father’s sudden death came, plunging the family into heart-breaking sorrow! That very day, it coincidentally was the celebration of your one-month birthday, and this Fire Dragon Jade was a birthday gift specially brought back for you by father in advance!"
"Due to the occasional outbreaks of your fire poison, I was holding onto it for you!"
As he spoke, Chu Jianlan took out an exquisitely wrapped wooden box from his bosom, only opening it when he was far from Chu Feng.
Probably to avoid triggering the fire poison inside Chu Feng’s body.
As the jade appeared, the temperature in the room seemed to rise a few degrees.
The treasured jade was as red as fire, with a Fire Dragon faintly visible inside.
Chu Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly seeing six characters carved on the Fire Dragon Jade. Qilin Sword Son, Chu Feng.
The value of this jade was unimaginable, and it was enough to show the deep affection his father had for Chu Feng.
Father’s love is as heavy as a mountain, truly deserved.
Chu Feng couldn’t help but feel his nose turning sour, having lost his father just after a full month from his birth. And all of this was caused by that naturally suspicious, viciously brutal Emperor.
Jianyun Emperor, you slaughtered loyal officials, killed my father, this enmity is irreconcilable.
Chu Feng clenched his fists in anger and pain.
"Senior brother, my fire poison isn’t innate, right?"
"Otherwise, father wouldn’t have prepared a Fire Dragon Jade for me as a birthday gift!"
Chu Feng had sensed something wrong with this body long ago, and now, it further confirmed his suspicion.
"Junior brother, you’re very smart!"
"That’s right! The fire poison in your body, indeed, isn’t innate! When you were born, a rare phenomenon occurred, nine streaks of red light descended from the sky and entered your body. Your entire body turned bright red, which took three days to fade."
"After examination by the skilled and knowledgeable folks within our mansion, it was found that you were born with the Nine Red Sun Sword Veins, a unique Nine Yang Sword Body found in one out of ten thousand. One with this constitution, when cultivating the Sword Dao, can do so at a speed more than ten times faster than others, and the achievements are limitless. Hence, it’s also known as Qilin Sword Son."
"Reputed alongside the Nine Yin Sword Body as the strongest sword bodies under heaven."
"At that time, it caused a sensation across the entire Royal Capital, countless experts scrambling to take you as their disciple! Many prominent families sought a marital engagement with their daughters!"
At this point, excitement surged on Senior brother’s face.
One could imagine what Sword King Mansion must have looked like back then because of the emergence of Chu Feng, the Qilin Sword Son. Figures from all walks, all eager to make connections and fawn over him.
"Then why don’t I have even a single sword vein in my body? My cultivation speed is not even one-tenth of a normal person, even being called a waste."
Even as the reborn Alchemy Venerate, Chu Feng couldn’t help but feel immensely excited upon hearing his own body had the Nine Yang Sword Veins.
In his previous life, although he had inexhaustible cultivation resources, he was limited by his talent and had only the three worst sword meridians.
Even though he poured endless effort into it, his Sword Dao cultivation was still poor.
"On the very day of your full month birthday, not only did the Emperor kill our father, but he even had the Grandmaster, accompanied by the Crown Prince who is three years older than you, use a secret technique to forcibly take your Nine Yang Sword Veins! Our mother couldn’t withstand such a blow and died instantly by crashing into a pillar! Before she passed away, mother told me to make sure to raise you and second sister!"
"And because you lost your sword meridians, the Yang Fire within your body erupted chaotically, causing you to suffer from a fire poison attack that very day."
"At that time, I was only nine! I had to hold back my tears and swallow all this deep-seated vengeance, and manage mother’s funeral. As for father’s remains, they were never brought back and were buried near the battleground!"
Not even allowing the bones of a meritorious official to be returned, just hastily burying them at the battlefield, one could imagine to what extremes the Emperor’s cruelty reached.
Chu Feng’s fingernails dug into his flesh unnoticed. His sister-in-law held onto senior brother’s hand at his side, comforting him.
"After our family fell into ruin, I truly tasted the bitter hardships of life, experiencing the cold realities of the world!"
"Back then, those families and influential figures who were close to our Sword King Mansion all cut ties with us. They were afraid of becoming implicated. Later, your sister-in-law insisted on honoring the marriage agreement and married me. Her family broke off relations with her..."
Senior brother looked tenderly towards his beautiful and virtuous sister-in-law, their eyes intertwining, the deep love between them more than words could express.
"Little brother, I’m not telling you this to seek immediate revenge! First and foremost, you must survive, only then will there be a chance to avenge our parents, yourself, and Sword King Mansion!"
Senior brother spoke with a very serious expression.
He stared intently at Chu Feng, his greatest worry was that Chu Feng would act impulsively and do something irrational.
"Senior brother, rest assured, I won’t act rashly!"
Impatience breeds chaos, ruining grand schemes—Chu Feng understood this rationale.
Clenching his fists tightly, he vowed quietly, "The Crown Prince of Jianyun Dynasty took away my Nine Yang Sword Veins, I must find a way to get them back! The vendetta of murdering my father and harming my mother, I must also avenge!"
With senior brother and sister-in-law staying behind to look after the second sister, Chu Feng was left with nothing to handle.
The only thing currently causing worry was finding something to suppress the Sword Qi.
It could only wait until tomorrow to figure out.
After leaving his second sister’s room, Chu Feng felt an even greater urge to improve his strength. He walked straight to the house where he resided.
The Sword King Mansion was dilapidated, but very large, with plenty of rooms.
As Chu Feng passed through the dim gallery, he felt someone watching him from the shadows.
He instinctively gripped the Flame Burst Pill, remaining on alert.
A shadow suddenly emerged.
Chu Feng widened his eyes in shock. "How can it be you?" He hadn’t expected the black-clothed woman to follow him into Sword King Mansion.
This was a huge problem.
If discovered, the entire Sword King Mansion could be raided and executed.
The Imperial Family was already looking for an excuse to annihilate Sword King Mansion!
"After leaving the Land God Temple, my injuries hadn’t healed, and I almost got discovered by the Imperial Guard again. Thinking that you are a decent person who wouldn’t turn me in, I came here to stay for a couple of days..."
The black-clothed woman was now sticking to Chu Feng.
Just then, a light brightened in the distance, seemingly someone getting up in the middle of the night to go to the latrine.
Chu Feng jumped in fright. The Sword King Mansion was riddled with spies; it was too dangerous.