I Start with a Mysterious Island

"How terrifying!"

"That man in the black hood was so vicious. He beat that rich young master black and blue in just a few moves. It’s not clear if he’s dead or alive."

"That young master must have really offended someone. Otherwise, who would dare to attack him so brazenly in the middle of the city, in broad daylight?"

The crowd of onlookers pointed at the distant Zhou Tianci and Wang Xiaoliu, gossiping amongst themselves.

Before long, a squad of Guards who had received the report arrived on Guangqi Road. They took away the unconscious Zhou Tianci and Wang Xiaoliu, who was sobbing his heart out.

The man in the black hood walked into a small alley and pulled it off.

"Phew... Wearing a black hood on such a hot day is suffocating."

After Lin Li took off the black hood, a thought crossed his mind, and he stored it away on the Mysterious Small Island. Then, he took out his black bamboo hat.

"This lesson should stop that Zhou fellow from bothering me again... But if he remains obstinate, I won’t let him off next time."

As he spoke, Lin Li put on his bamboo hat. From what he knew of Dongwu City, the Guards who maintained public order would be arriving on Guangqi Road soon.

So, he left the alley, moving far away from the scene of the fight. After crossing two streets, he hailed a carriage by the roadside.

"Sir, where to?"

"To Willow Lane."

"Right then, hold on tight... Giddy-up!"

Having taught Zhou Tianci a lesson, Lin Li was now headed to Wang Gui’s restaurant to pick up the pearls he had ordered.

The Zhu Mansion.

In a garden filled with birdsong and the scent of flowers, colorful butterflies danced among the flowerbeds.

Zhu Xinru, the young miss of the Zhu Family, held a round silk fan embroidered with a pattern of birds. She swayed it gently as she watched the butterflies fluttering in the distant flowerbeds.

TAP, TAP, TAP...

The sound of somewhat hurried footsteps came from a distant corridor. A young woman dressed as a maid, carrying a tray of tea and pastries, entered the garden pavilion.

Placing the tea and pastries on the stone table, the maid turned to Zhu Xinru, who was sitting on a bench, with a gossipy look on her face.

"Miss."

Hearing her personal maid, Chunxiang, call her name, Zhu Xinru stopped swaying her fan and turned to look at her.

"Miss, I just overheard the steward talking to Guard Liu. They said that Zhou Tianci from the Zhou Family was attacked on the street by a mysterious person in a black hood."

"Hm?!" At these words, a look of surprise crossed Zhu Xinru’s pretty face. "Zhou Tianci was attacked? When did this happen?"

"This morning. It was only a few hours ago," said Chunxiang.

"Is he alright?" Zhu Xinru asked.

"According to what the steward told Guard Liu, Zhou Tianci was seriously injured. The attacker beat his face until it was swollen like a pig’s head and broke several of his bones... But luckily, his life isn’t in danger," Chunxiang said.

"It’s good that he’s still alive. To be attacked on the street in broad daylight, and inside the city no less... It seems his attacker must really hate him," Zhu Xinru commented.

"I know! Attacking Zhou Tianci in broad daylight... The person who did it wasn’t afraid of being caught by the patrolling Guards. They’re certainly bold..." Chunxiang agreed.

"Still, Zhou Tianci is a Cultivator at the Second Rank Initial Stage. For his attacker to injure him so severely, their strength must not be underestimated. I imagine the attacker is likely at least at the Second Order Middle Stage," Zhu Xinru speculated.

Chunxiang poured a cup of tea for Zhu Xinru, then said with a smile.

"Miss, that Zhou Tianci is always using his cultivation and family background to bully people. He’s so obnoxious. Now that he’s been attacked and badly hurt, you could say he deserved it. Besides, he visits you every other day. Anyone who isn’t blind can see what he’s after. This is great. After being attacked by a ruffian and injured so badly, he won’t be able to leave his house for a while. Even after he recovers, he’ll probably be too afraid of being attacked again to go out much... This way, you can finally have some peace and quiet, Miss. You won’t have to deal with his annoying visits."

Zhu Xinru said, "I hope that after this attack, he’ll rein in his violent temper and stop trying to pick fights with people all the time..."

With that, she picked up the tea Chunxiang had poured for her and took a small sip before turning her gaze back to the beautiful, fluttering butterflies in the distant flowerbeds.

The Zhou Mansion.

In Zhou Tianci’s bedroom, a noblewoman wearing a golden hairpin and magnificent clothes sat by the bed, weeping as she looked at the figure on the bed, who was wrapped head to toe in white gauze.

"That’s enough. His life isn’t in danger, so stop crying," said a middle-aged man with a square-jawed face, a small mustache, and a medium build, dressed in a brocade robe. He frowned deeply at the noblewoman slumped by the bedside.

"SOB... My son is hurt this badly, and you tell me to stop crying? Do you even care about him at all... SOB, SOB..." Hearing her husband’s words, the noblewoman turned and roared at him with a furious expression.

"How could I not care about our son? Has he caused a small amount of trouble? If I didn’t care about him, he would have been done for long ago," the middle-aged man said in a low voice.

"SOB, SOB... Tian Ci, my poor, ill-fated son!" the noblewoman wailed at her unconscious child.

TAP, TAP, TAP...

Footsteps sounded from outside the door. A moment later, Wang Xiaoliu walked into Zhou Tianci’s bedroom, leading an elderly man with white hair.

"Master, Doctor Wang is here," Wang Xiaoliu said to the grim-faced middle-aged man.

"Greetings, Master Zhou," the white-haired Doctor Wang said, clasping his hands in a fist-and-palm salute to the master of the Zhou Family, Zhou Qiqiang.

"Doctor Wang, I must trouble you to treat my son," Zhou Qiqiang said to the doctor, forcing a smile.

Doctor Wang nodded and walked over to Zhou Tianci on the bed.

When the weeping noblewoman saw the doctor arrive, she quickly stopped her crying. With the help of a nearby maid, she stood up and moved aside.

The white-haired Doctor Wang came to Zhou Tianci’s side. Looking at the young man, who was wrapped from head to toe in white gauze, he placed a hand on his wrist.

His Superpower activated.

A faint golden Spiritual Light bloomed from the white-haired doctor’s hand, and a Second Rank Initial Stage Spiritual Energy Wave emanated from his body.

Unexpectedly, this white-haired doctor was actually a Cultivator at the Second Rank Initial Stage.

As Doctor Wang used his Healing Superpower, the gravely injured Zhou Tianci’s wounds quickly began to heal.

After nearly an hour and a half of continuous treatment, the white-haired doctor removed his hand from Zhou Tianci’s wrist and spoke to his parents.

"Young Master Zhou is no longer in critical danger, but he will need a period of quiet rest. During his recovery, do not let him engage in any strenuous activity."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tianci’s parents hurriedly thanked the doctor.

They then had a servant bring the prepared medical fee, gave it to Doctor Wang, and personally saw him to the door.

When the couple returned to Zhou Tianci’s bedroom, the once-unconscious young man had already awoken, thanks to Doctor Wang’s Superpower treatment.

"My son! You’re finally awake! The state you were in... you scared your mother to death... SOB, SOB..." Seeing Zhou Tianci awake, the noblewoman immediately started crying again.