Chapter 1: I Want to Get Stronger

  In the third year of Chuping, Ye City.

  In early March, the spring breeze had brought a hint of warmth into Ye City, willow branches were budding, grass was growing, and swallows were flying, with a sense of joy everywhere.

  In the afternoon, a canopy ox cart entered the Zhengyang Alley of Ye City. The alley was home to many of Ye City's powerful and wealthy families, with people coming and going in fine clothes and on horseback, making it exceptionally lively.

  The ox cart stopped in front of a mansion, and the honest-looking man driving it turned around and said, "Young master, we're home."

  "Yuan Gui, help me down." A low and melancholic voice came from the ox cart.

  Yuan Gui jumped down from the horse-drawn carriage, lifted up the curtain, and stretched out his hand to help someone down, but it was a young nobleman.

  The young man looked like he was only in his early twenties, with a dignified appearance, but his eyebrows were deeply furrowed, and in his bright, star-like eyes, there occasionally flashed a hint of maturity that was not suitable for someone so young.

  His name is Yuan Fang, his father is the world-renowned, famous Yuan Shao.

  Unfortunately, he was just a low-born illegitimate child.

  Yuan Fang looked up and saw that the mansion in front of him was majestic, surrounded by high walls. On both sides of the steps were two stone carvings of lions guarding the house, and on the steps, a large vermilion gate faced him directly.

  At the top of the gate, a huge golden plaque hangs high, with five large characters written on it: "General of Cavalry and Chariots' Mansion".

  This mansion exudes an air of grandeur and majesty everywhere.

  Taking a deep breath, Yuan Fang walked up the high steps and limped towards that vermilion gate.

  The guards on both sides of the gate bowed slightly and said in a cold tone, "We've seen the second young master," with little respect in their voices.

  Even in their eyes, a hint of disdain would quietly flash by.

  Yuan Fang remained calm and composed, treating those disdainful glances as if they were invisible.

  It's been a year and he has already gotten used to such gazes.

  His soul was originally from over a thousand years later, he was riding a military plane that crashed in a storm and fell to this era. He died in the crash, but his soul did not disperse and attached itself to this disabled body.

  At the end of Han Dynasty, this was an era with strict hierarchy, and one's birth almost determined everything about his future.

  As the illegitimate son of Yuan Shao and a lowly maidservant, Yuan Fang's status in the Yuan household was even lower than that of a bastard child.

  What's more, he was a useless person who had congenital leg disease since birth.

  The body's original owner was originally a weak and self-abased person who came in reverse order, but the current Yuan Fang is not.

  He could not bear being looked down upon, and even more so, he could not accept that after a few years, Cao Cao's army would attack Hebei, and he would follow the fate of the destruction of the Yuan family.

  So Yuan Fang made up his mind to become stronger and change his own tragic fate. This time he left the mansion for two months, just for this reason.

  He held his head high and stepped into the vermilion gate, Yuan Fang limped one step at a time towards the secluded small courtyard where he lived.

  The maids and servants they met along the way just casually and reluctantly paid their respects to him, some even pretended not to see him.

  What's more, some of the bolder slaves even dared to cast him a look of contempt.

  Only Yuan Gui followed behind him, always respectful and reverent towards Yuan Fang.

  "You can despise me as much as you want, but one day, you will regret it." Yuan Fang secretly vowed in his heart.

  As he turned a corner in the corridor, Yuan Fang ran into two quarreling maids.

  Yuan Fang recognized them, one of whom was Hong Yu, the personal maid of his younger brother Yuan Xi, and the other was Xiao Cha, his own maid.

  "Aren't you blind? This plate has the fresh fruit I just washed for my young master, can you afford to dirty it?" Hong Yu scolded Xiaocha with her hands on her hips and a fierce attitude.

  "Sorry, I didn't know you'd come over suddenly, so I'll just take the fruit to wash it again." Xiaocha apologized with a wronged tone, picking up the fruits from the ground.

  Hong Yu was furious and pointed at Xiao Cha, scolding: "You dare to talk back, you're just a crippled servant girl, how dare you talk back to me!"

  The originally timid and reserved Xiao Cha suddenly stood up with a jolt, and bravely said to Hong Yu: "You can scold me if you want, but how dare you speak disrespectfully to the Second Master? Don't forget your status as a slave!"

  Xiao Cha's sudden rebellion startled Hong Yu, but she immediately became even more arrogant and coldly sneered: "I am a slave, but I am the legitimate son's slave. Compared to your family's crippled master who was born of a lowly origin, I am countless times better."

  "You——"

  "What's wrong with you? You're asking for trouble."

  Hong Yu Meng suddenly stretched out her hand and pushed Xiao Cha's weak body to the ground.

  Yuan Fang was furious at this scene.

  The arrogant red jade in front of him dared to be disrespectful to himself, and even dared to push and maintain his own small tea, how could Yuan Fang tolerate it again.

  "A scoundrel who dares to be insolent!"

  Yuan Fang shouted loudly and emerged from his hiding place, limping as he strode forward.

  Hongyu turned around to see that it was Yuan Fang, a hint of surprise flashing across his arrogant face, but he still stood there with an air of "what can you do to me".

  Bang!

  Yuan Fang took a few steps forward and slapped Hong Yu's face with a loud slap.

  Hong Yu let out a pained cry and stumbled backward three steps, almost falling to the ground.

  When she came to her senses, a fiery palm print had already appeared on her pale face.

  Hong Yu was stunned, so shocked that she forgot about the pain, staring at Yuan Fang in disbelief, as if she didn't dare to believe that Yuan Fang actually dared to lay hands on her.

  Xiao Cha on the ground and Yuan Gui, who followed behind him, were also shocked, seemingly even more unbelievable that the young master, who had endured for twenty years, dared to take action today to discipline the beloved maid of the three princes.

  After a while, Hong Yu Fang came back to her senses, covering her face and shouting at Zhuan Fang: "You dare to hit me, you actually dare to hit me!"

  "So what if I hit you."

  Yuan Fang's expression was calm and collected, but his voice was cold as he said: "You're just a lowly servant girl, how dare you speak to me, your master, in such an impudent manner? I'm being lenient by hitting you. If you don't know what's good for you and leave now, do you believe I'll report this to Father and have you beaten to death with a stick?"

  Yuan Fang's voice and expression were both stern, his demeanor was like two different people.

  Hong Yu's body shook again, and the arrogant words that had reached her lips were suddenly choked back by Yuan Fang.

  She knew that Yuan Fang was not in a position to speak recklessly, and the Yuan family's hierarchy was strict. Even if Yuan Fang was just an illegitimate child who didn't receive much attention from Yuan Shao, if this matter were to be exposed to Yuan Shao, she, as a lowly servant, would definitely be put to death by flogging for her offense, not even Yuan Xi could save her.

  "Hmph." After a brief stalemate, Hongyu still didn't dare to make a move and escaped with a sullen face.

  "Small people are like ghosts, it's indeed true that the more you show your temper, the less they dare to provoke you..."

  Yuan Fang sighed inwardly, reached out and picked up the small tea that had fallen to the ground, and comforted: "Are you okay?"

  Xiao Cha finally came back to her senses and saw the young master's concern, her face involuntarily flushed with a faint red glow, she said softly: "Thank you, young master, I'm fine."

  Xiao Cha suddenly thought of something and worriedly said: "Young Master, although Hong Yu is detestable, she is after all someone from Third Young Master's residence. Just now when you hit her, I'm afraid she'll go find Third Young Master to tattle, and then Third Young Master will..."

  "There's nothing to be afraid of."

  Yuan Fang interrupted Xiao Cha's worries and said calmly, "From now on, I won't hold back my breath or let you guys be bullied again."

  Having said that, Yuan Fang proudly raised his head and chest, walking towards his own side house.

  Although he was still limping, his body exuded an unprecedented air of ease and confidence.

  Xiao Cha and Yuan Gui were both astonished by this change in Yuan Fang.

  Back in the house, Yuan Gui was guarding outside. Xiao Cha helped Yuan Fang sit down and asked eagerly: "Young Master, did you find the divine doctor who treats leg diseases this time?"

  "Of course I found it, and Master Physician even gave me an extra dose of good medicine." Yuan Fang said with a smile.

  Xiao Cha's eyes shone with excitement, her gaze fell on the strange black box in front of her, guessing that the good medicine was definitely inside.

  "Both you and Yuan Gui will stay outside and guard. No one is allowed to disturb."

  "Alright." Xiaocha stood up and was about to leave.

  Crack!

  Just then, the door of the house was kicked open from outside with one foot.

  A majestic young man in Chinese attire pushed aside Yuan Gui's obstruction and strode into the room with his head held high.

  Right behind her, Hongyu also followed in, with her nose up and a smug expression on her face.

  The young man who rushed in was none other than Yuan Shao's third son and Yuan Fang's nominal younger brother, Yuan Xi.

  Look at this momentum, obviously Hongyu has gone back to report, Yuanxi is here to demand an explanation.

  Yuan Fang's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he asked sternly, "Xian Yi, what are you trying to do by bursting in like this?"

  Yuan Xi stood with his hands behind his back, gazing sideways at Yuan Fang, and said angrily: "When beating a dog, one must consider its master. Yuan Fang, you dare to beat my maid? I want to ask what you think you're doing!"

  The red jade beside him raised his head, staring at Yuan Fang with a look of indignation, with an air of arrogance.

  Yuan Fang, however, was not intimidated at all. He pointed at Hong Yu and said: "This lowly maid has no respect for her superiors, daring to speak to me in such a presumptuous manner. I'm just helping Xian Yi teach you a lesson."

  "My maid, even if she needs discipline, it's not your turn. You dare to hit her today, that means you don't put me in your eyes!"

  Yuan Xi's arms hung down, his fists clenched tightly, his face full of anger, as if he was about to use force on Yuan Fang.

  Yuan Fang, however, remained calm and composed, without a hint of fear.

  He is after all Yuan Xi's elder brother, Yuan Xi usually looks down on him, but Yuan Fang doesn't believe that Yuan Xi really has the guts to be rough with himself.

  "What's wrong with this kid? He should have surrendered and begged for mercy long ago. How come he's being so stubborn today?"

  Yuan Xi was secretly amazed, he had originally wanted to intimidate Yuan Fang, but unexpectedly his normally weak brother suddenly became so bold, and didn't take his threats seriously at all.

  For a moment, Yuan Xi was torn about whether or not to take action, and was somewhat at a loss for what to do.

  In the room, swords were drawn and bows were stretched.

  Just then, a servant rushed in, panting: "Third Master, there is an honored guest arriving at the mansion, and the master has ordered all of you young masters to go to the main hall to welcome him."

  Yuan Shao's summons came just in time to relieve Yuan Xi of his embarrassment.

  He let out a breath, loosened his fist and glared at Yuan Fang: "If it weren't for Father's summons today, I wouldn't have let you off so easily. You wait for me."

  Yuan Xi turned around and left with a cold remark, Hong Yu couldn't vent her anger and could only follow her master away in a bad mood.

  "As I expected, this Yuan Xi is indeed a fake and weak person..." Yuan Fang sneered to himself.

  The little tea beside him also let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly said to Yuan Fang, "Young master, since the master has summoned you, young master should hurry up and go."

  "The master only summoned the first son, third son and fourth son, but did not summon the second son to go." The servant of that house sneered and backed out with his hands clasped together.

  Outside the door, Yuan Xi, who had not gone far, heard this and sneered: "Father should pretend that some people do not exist. Some people still dare to show off in front of me, haha, it's really ridiculous!"

  Yuan Xi laughed maniacally and strode away.

  Xiao Cha's face turned red with shame, and she whispered self-reproachfully: "It's all Xiao Cha's fault, I shouldn't have spoken out of turn, causing the young master to be humiliated."

  "It's survival of the fittest, if you don't have the strength, you'll naturally be humiliated by others, it's not your fault."

  Yuan Fang, however, did not think so and calmly said: "Alright, you all retreat now, treating my leg injury is the top priority at the moment."

  Xiao Cha and Yuan Gui did not dare say more, and hastily retreated out.

  The door closed with a bang, and in the dimly lit room, only Yuan Fang was left.

  "I won't let people look down on me again, I want to regain my dignity. In this era of heroes, I will make a name for myself and create my own world. I must become stronger!"

  Taking a deep breath, Yuan Fang opened the black box without hesitation.