Volume 1: Kyoto Whirlwind Chapter 1: A Life Not as One Wishes

  Life's troubles are many, and it seems like falling into a sea of bitterness from birth. Take names, for example. Some parents are obviously unrefined, yet they insist on giving their children strange names, making them struggle with their name for life. The most pitiful are those whose parents use rare characters when naming them, making it difficult to even get a bank card because computers can't print out their name.

  Some people look very masculine, but have a feminine-sounding name, which is quite awkward. Like Ji Jue, who is obviously a man, but his parents gave him a girl's name. At the time of his birth, everyone said his mother was carrying a daughter, especially his aunt. His grandfather favored boys over girls and believed the baseless rumors from outsiders, wanting his mother to abort the child.

  Ji Jue's father loved his wife dearly and didn't want her to suffer, so he said that boys and girls are the same. Since everyone said it was a girl, Ji Jue's father gave him a name with the character "Yu", meaning jade.

  Who would have thought that the child was born as a boy, but Ji Jue's father insisted on not changing the name. On the other hand, his aunt, who had insisted that Ji Jue's mother would give birth to a girl, gave birth to three daughters in a row. Ji Jue's uncle couldn't take it anymore, and the family relationship began to tense up. Ji Jue's father was a good man, and he got along well with his sister's husband, so he said to his brother-in-law: "Old Wang, we are originally one family, isn't my son also your son?"

  Ji Jue's uncle was delighted to hear the news and happily accepted Ji Jue as his son. However, Ji Jue was after all the eldest son of the old Ji family, so he couldn't possibly take on his uncle's surname Wang. Even if Ji Jue's father agreed, his grandfather would never agree, so they added a "Wang" to the side of the character for jade, making it "Jue". The character for jade was already quite feminine, and the addition of "Jue" made it even more so, not to mention that it sounded terrible. Nevertheless, Ji Jue had gained an extra father, which should have been a good thing, but unfortunately his uncle Wang passed away after only two years, and his aunt went through five husbands in quick succession, each one either dying unexpectedly or from illness, as if she were a reincarnated broom star. In the end, she even fell out with Ji Jue's father. As a result, it seemed that Uncle Wang had existed solely to cast a shadow over Ji Jue, and Ji Jue's misfortune and legend began with his name.

  A person's name should follow him for his whole life, if nothing unexpected happens. On Ji Jue's first day of school, his bad classmates gave him a nickname "Feng Zhao" (Phoenix Claw), because his name sounded like "Chicken Foot". Angry Ji Jue fought with his classmates, but since he was younger than that classmate, he ended up being bullied instead! To avoid being laughed at and bullied again, Ji Jue joined the school's martial arts team. From that day on, Ji Jue had been planning to change his name, a plan that lasted for ten years. Finally, when he turned 16 and could get an ID card, Ji Jue rushed to change his name. At the Public Security Bureau, after going through a series of procedures, at the last step, Ji Jue didn't know what name to choose! After all, he had been called that name for 16 years, and suddenly changing it made him unsure if he would react when others called him by his new name! In the end, Ji Jue decided to respect his father's original intention and changed his name to Ji Yu. Although "Yu" was a bit feminine, it was still better than "Jue".

  In ancient times, people were very particular about their names, and some even chose them based on the five elements. Perhaps a person's name really can affect their destiny. As soon as Ji Yu changed his name, he was admitted to a provincial key high school with excellent grades. His classmates mostly went to vocational schools. The three years of high school were tough, but Ji Yu not only persevered but also got into the law department of a key university with excellent grades. Originally, Ji Yu loved history and wanted to major in it, but history majors had poor job prospects, and he was lazy. If he had to go on an archaeological dig, he really wouldn't want to suffer that much because he had already suffered enough from studying martial arts and literature! On the other hand, studying law would at least allow him to become a clerk, secretary, or assistant, and if he did well, he could even become a lawyer or judge! What Ji Yu didn't expect was that his height of 1.88 meters and weight of over 200 pounds, combined with the muscles he developed from years of martial arts training, would make it difficult for him to find a job as a clerk or secretary. Probably only a few bosses could withstand the pressure of hiring someone like him. Maybe if he became a bodyguard, more people would hire him. Besides, nowadays bosses all want to hire pretty young girls as secretaries, even if they're not competent, just so they can flirt with them or use them as decorations. A big guy like Ji Yu was destined to be placed on the coffee table and become a mere ornament.

  Everywhere was a dead end, not because Ji Yu didn't have the ability, if his family had money, he could have started his own business. Although some people did start from scratch, but getting the first pot of gold was really not easy. Plus, he didn't like to ask for help and didn't want to owe anyone a favor, so the brothers who had been helped by him before also didn't dare to take the initiative to help him. There was once a friend who wanted to lend money to support Ji Yu's business, but he got angry instead. Ji Yu said: "The value of brotherhood lies in understanding each other's hearts, if I have difficulties, I will speak up myself, are you looking down on me?" That friend didn't get angry with Ji Yu, but after other friends found out, they also didn't dare to touch this sore spot.

  Ji Yu likes to read books, especially history books. Tang Taizong once said that by studying history, one can understand the rise and fall of dynasties, and learn from the wisdom of ancient people. Ji Yu often says that he learns for practical application! This is not just empty talk, as anyone who knows him in school or society can attest that he is a reliable friend who will take care of you meticulously. However, if he were to become an enemy, he would make you lose everything and bring about your downfall! Some friends who are involved in shady dealings have asked him to be their advisor, as Ji Yu is knowledgeable, intelligent, and has a talent for strategy, having studied law professionally. People who operate on the fringes of society often skirt the edges of illegality, and while they may only ask Ji Yu for advice, one piece of advice could lead good people down a dark path. Ji Yu doesn't dare call himself a good person, but he also doesn't want to make money by compromising his values. His ideal job is to be a lawyer, where he can help others and earn a living, sometimes having to bend the rules slightly, but never crossing the line into immorality! Unfortunately, if only things could go as one wishes in life...

  It is often said that when a person is down on their luck, even drinking cold water can get stuck in their teeth! Ji Yu may have been affected by the seven-year bad luck that came with changing his name. After graduating from university, he was always very melancholic. During his university days, he met a beautiful and pure girl, thinking she would be his lifelong partner. However, people are prone to change, and Ji Yu's repeated failures in finding a job made the girl who initially thought him capable gradually look down on him. Because after graduation, the girl easily entered a large company as a secretary for the boss. If she looked down on him and broke up with him, it would only make Ji Yu suffer for a while, but what the girl did next made him furious.

  The girl's boss was a middle-aged man in his 40s, with a wife and children at home. However, the boss's wife had left him long ago and was now an old spinster. The girl was young and beautiful, and although the boss had a family, he also had a lot of money. After entering society, the innocent girl fell into depravity and became the boss's mistress for the sake of money. She thought that after earning enough money with her body and youth, she could continue to be with him. The reason was that the girl knew that Ji Yu would never want a woman who wasn't clean, no matter how beautiful or rich she was! It wasn't until one day when Ji Yu discovered her affair with the boss that he angrily slapped her and declared their relationship over. When Ji Yu said they were breaking up, the girl smiled nonchalantly and said: "I'm so beautiful, you're just a poor boy. If the boss didn't have a wife, I wouldn't even bother with you! After sleeping with the boss, I slept with you just to find an alternative route. Since you want to break up, then let's break up! It's hard to find a three-legged frog, but two-legged men are everywhere! I'm young and beautiful, and I have money, so I can definitely find a good man!"

  In an instant, Ji Yu almost went crazy! Originally, Ji Yu still hoped that the girl was just temporarily confused, but his hopes were shattered. Ji Yu really wanted to hit the girl, but reason told him that he absolutely could not use force. As someone who had practiced martial arts for a long time, one of his punches could exert several hundred kilograms of force. When he first met the girl, she was being harassed by a thug, and Ji Yu had broken three of the thug's ribs with just one punch! With his skills, as soon as he used force, the delicate girl would definitely be seriously injured. As for the girl's boss, Ji Yu had never blamed him before - after all, it was the girl who had fallen and changed her heart. Wasn't there a saying that even if you were given a beautiful woman, you wouldn't want her? But the girl's boss actually helped the girl threaten him! Ji Yu became furious, and after leaving behind a ruthless remark, he left! The boss learned about Ji Yu's situation from the girl's mouth, but he didn't take this poor kid seriously. However, he forgot one phrase: Don't bully young poor people!

  Ji Yu had a bad habit, never asking for help. If there was something he needed to do, he would only give his brothers a heads up, and the people who helped him were considered brothers; those who didn't, he would have nothing to do with them from then on. Of course, if it was something difficult, they could just say so. Ji Yu, who had always been gentle and refined, was truly angry this time. Being dumped by a woman wasn't embarrassing, and being cheated on wasn't a big deal either, after all, they weren't married yet. But for young and hot-headed him to be humiliated by an old man, that was something he couldn't tolerate. Ji Yu found several of his brothers who were doing business and joined their company, with only one condition: to crush the old man's company.

  One year later, Ji Yu used his real skills to expand his brothers' company into an international corporation in just one year, and squeezed out the old man's company. The girl came knocking on his door again, hoping to rekindle their past romance! Looking at his former girlfriend who was dressed sexily and constantly teasing him, Ji Yu smiled. But he smiled so reluctantly, with a heart-wrenching pain! Ji Yu wanted to forgive her, but couldn't tolerate her betrayal!

  Chase away the girl, Ji Yu got drunk for the first time! In school, he was nicknamed "Wine Immortal" by his classmates because he had drunk two and a half jin of Erguotou without getting drunk. But now he actually got drunk, no one knew how much wine he drank! Dizzy and confused, Ji Yu heard a familiar yet stern voice calling his name, he involuntarily walked towards the direction of the sound. Suddenly, a white light flashed before his eyes, Ji Yu lost consciousness!