Chapter 105: Qian Jin’s Family Affairs

No need to consider cultivation manuals; no matter what martial skills Brother Fan possesses, gifting the Red-Clothed Sister anything pales in comparison to his teachings. Besides, he can't just present her with the raw flesh and blood of a fierce beast.

As for money, giving too little looks stingy, but giving too much is beyond his means.

Besides, didn’t Qian Jin already give away the Purple Gold Card his father gave him? Who could surpass this God of Wealth when it comes to money?

Regarding weapons, everything feels light to him. The weapons in his storage ring are either spiked clubs, giant iron hammers, or massive axes.

These weapons weigh several thousand jin each, far too heavy for the Red-Clothed Sister to wield. Fortunately, he had kept a spiked club weighing only about eight to nine hundred jin from the first Qi Vein Realm expert he killed.

Though light for him, it was a keepsake from his first kill at that level. Once Red-Clothed Sister reaches the peak of Body Refinement, she will naturally be able to swing such a heavy spiked club!

“I truly worry about your Ou family. If the line continues only through you, I fear it might end with your generation!”

Li Ji covered his face with one hand. With Ou Hu’s emotional intelligence, he genuinely feared Ou Hu would remain a lifelong bachelor.

“All right, I’ll keep the spiked club. Red-Clothed Sister, you take the rest!”

Lin Fan took the spiked club and placed it back into the storage ring, then turned to Lin Hongyi, who obediently nodded and stored all the gifts inside her own storage ring.

“Thank you!” Lin Hongyi said, but her face showed no gratitude—just calmness, eerily so.

Seeing this, Xiao Shuihan and the others exchanged glances. Lin Hongyi seemed different from an ordinary little girl.

A normal child, faced with so many gifts, would have been all smiles and perhaps called them brothers sweetly, maybe even coaxed for more presents. That’s a child’s mindset!

But Lin Hongyi was indifferent to the gifts, as if they meant nothing. If Brother Fan hadn’t spoken, she might not have accepted them at all!

This surprised them. Even adults would be tempted by such treasures.

A treasured dagger, a pendant, silver-threaded gloves, a spirit jade hairpin, a VIP card for the Four Seas Restaurant loaded with one million taels of silver, and a rather ugly but treasured smoke signal club.

The combined value was staggering!

If not for their life-and-death ordeals, slaying many fierce beasts and humans alike, they wouldn’t have accumulated such wealth.

Even so, giving away treasured weapons still hurt deeply. But for Brother Fan’s sister, they were willing without hesitation.

“Perhaps Hongyi is still young and doesn’t understand the value of these items,” they comforted themselves quietly.

But Lin Fan knew better. Raised in a mercenary guild, how could she not grasp their worth?

It was just that after the tragedy she endured, her once mature nature changed drastically. She no longer trusted others, her heart somewhat closed off, filled with deep hatred and darkness.

Only when alone might she show a hint of a smile.

“All right, you haven’t invited me to eat yet. Is there a Four Seas Restaurant in the imperial city?” Lin Fan asked, interrupting their thoughts.

Qian Jin laughed, “The Four Seas Restaurant headquarters is in the imperial city. The one here is the most luxurious. Let’s go—today, I’m the host. I’ll treat everyone to a feast!”

“Haha! You’ve got your father’s recognition now, huh? Big spender! Today, we’re going to feast at your expense!” Xiao Shuihan laughed heartily, slapping Qian Jin on the back. Li Ji and the others all laughed and agreed.

Soon, they hailed a carriage and set off with Lin Fan and Hongyi towards the Four Seas Restaurant in the southern district.

Of course, the carriage was pulled by a unicorn. An ordinary horse wouldn’t have made it to the southern district in a day.

As Lin Fan and Hongyi boarded the carriage, they discovered it was spacious inside—like a large room, enough for seven or eight people to move comfortably.

Curious, Lin Fan asked about Qian Jin’s earlier mention of receiving his father’s recognition.

“It’s like this,” Qian Jin began, “I was an outcast. My mother died young, so in my family, I was neither loved by my grandmother nor my uncle.

“I’m the seventh son in the family, but there are six older brothers above me and five younger brothers below. All those aunts, from the second to the ninth, are alive and each schemes for their own children.

“Plus, my cousins from my uncles’ side are numerous. Just in my generation of the Qian family, there are dozens of offspring.

“As an outcast with a powerless mother, I was naturally kicked out of the family’s core circle at an early age.

“But I was lucky because of that. Even managing a small territory like Qingxue County would be a fortune beyond most imaginations. Had I stayed inside the family circle, by now, I might have become a thorn in someone’s side—destined to be eliminated.

“Being kicked out made me realize the importance of strength. I trained relentlessly, reaching perfect Body Refinement and then breaking through to the Qi Vein Realm. Now, I’m enrolled in the Tian Shu Academy, midway through the Qi Vein Realm, with my martial skills nearing completion at the peak level.

“This information was inevitably reported to my father by the family’s secret agents. He’s very pleased with me. Compared to my eldest and third brothers, I’m far stronger than the other four spoiled brothers.

“Even though my eldest and third brothers are only at the peak Qi Vein Realm, they have far more resources than I do.

“So my father summoned me back to the main family, acknowledging me and granting me the rights befitting the seventh young master of the Qian family!”

Qian Jin smiled and shrugged as if casually indifferent, but Lin Fan knew he had waited many years for this moment and had sacrificed much to get here.

Lin Fan pondered for a moment and said, “Though you’ve truly returned to the Qian family, the dangers you face have also increased greatly.”

“I know, but I don’t care. I want to fight for my deceased mother’s honor. Now that I’ve enrolled in Tian Shu Academy, those women won’t dare mess with me for the time being!

“When I graduate, I believe some uncles and elders in the family will treat me differently!”

Qian Jin’s eyes shone with confidence. He was making a bold move—if he lost, there would be no place to bury him; if he won, the debts owed to him and his mother by the Qian family would be repaid!

“Most importantly, I have Brother Fan!”

He added silently to himself. At first, he wasn’t so sure, but ever since Brother Fan taught him the Wind and Thunder Technique and refined his martial skills, his confidence had greatly increased.

“Good, I support you. If you need anything, just tell Brother Fan!” Lin Fan smiled and extended his hand to Qian Jin. It was the first time he had seen Qian Jin so earnest and determined.

Qian Jin had always been slick and talkative. Though young, he seemed destined to become a cunning businessman...

But now, his soaring confidence and rebellious spirit made him seem like a completely different person.

“We are with you too!” Hearing Qian Jin’s words, Xiao Shuihan and the others revealed a side of Qian Jin they had never seen before. They had always thought Qian Jin was just an optimistic, clever, and cheerful guy without many worries.

But now they realized he had always wanted to return to the Qian family openly, to clear his mother’s name, and to claim the power that was rightfully his.

As brothers, they would support him without hesitation.

Immediately, Xiao Shuihan and the others placed their palms over Brother Fan’s hand, looking toward Qian Jin.

“Hahaha, good brothers!” Qian Jin’s eyes moistened. He pressed his palm firmly onto theirs.

At that moment, a small, snow-white hand rested atop his chubby palm. When he looked up, he saw the calm eyes of the little girl.

His eyes welled up, tears threatening to spill, but he held them back and gave Lin Hongyi a smile.

At that moment, he swore to himself: from now on, this sister would be like his own. He would protect her with his life.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Four Seas Restaurant has arrived!” The driver’s voice came from outside, prompting smiles all around. Lin Fan led Hongyi down from the carriage first.

“Oh? Who’s this? Isn’t this the seventh young master of the Qian family who just returned?!” Before they could enter the restaurant, several men came out. One of them spotted Qian Jin and mockingly called out.

His voice was harsh and grating, like a quacking duck, extremely unpleasant.

“Qian Tao, get lost. I’m not in the mood for you today!” Qian Jin stepped forward, eyes flashing with sharp light as he stared at Qian Tao.

Qian Tao was his fifth brother, who had mocked and looked down on him incessantly since his return to the family.

Though newly back, Qian Jin had great ambitions. Before entering Tian Shu Academy, he preferred to avoid trouble, so he had endured it all silently.

But now, inviting Brother Fan to a meal, this untimely appearance of Qian Tao was unacceptable. If Qian Tao embarrassed him in front of Brother Fan, Qian Jin would not hesitate to be ruthless.

“Get lost? Haha, Qian Jin, since enrolling in Tian Shu Academy, you’ve gotten bold! Is it your dead mother giving you courage?” Qian Tao sneered, expecting Qian Jin to ignore him as usual.

But to his surprise, Qian Jin actually dared to talk back and told him to leave, which made Qian Tao laugh bitterly out of anger.

“You’re asking for death—!”

Qian Jin’s eyes turned fierce, radiating killing intent. He had endured enough. Qian Tao’s constant taunts had pushed him to the limit.

For the sake of peace, he had held back, but to be insulted like this in front of the one he respected most—Brother Fan—and to have his mother’s name dragged into this, he could no longer tolerate it!

He had reached his breaking point.