"That's a problem for the future; For now, I should first think of a method to make some money," Jian Ren muttered to himself. After switching his clothes, he left his room. At this time, it was already past noon, but there were unexpectedly few people to be seen in his huge noble estate, making it seem like an extremely desolate place.
Jian Ren's father was the Border Suppression Marquis. He was currently gone to the barbarian border. Jian Ren and his mother had had to suffer many condescending gazes from everyone in the imperial capital over the past few years. Although they had the position of a noble family, compared to before, they were completely destitute. In their entire estate, there were only ten or so maids who did some part-time work for them since they couldn't afford to employ more people.
It could be said that in all the aristocracy, they were the family in the worst straits, and Jian Ren himself was the most destitute of the poor.
Dragon Roar Empire was currently in a golden age of martial arts. Basically, everyone practiced martial arts. But as it had turned out, Jian Ren's trash physique meant that he was incapable of practicing martial arts, making him someone that everybody would sneer at.
Opposite to Jian Ren was his father, Jian Tianxiao. He was the strongest of his generation and with him guarding the barbarian border, even if the barbarian tribes were to savagely attack, they would not have the ability to step even half a foot within the Dragon Roar Empire.
Jian Tianxiao was the Dragon Roar Empire's military god of this generation, whereas Jian Ren had been a trash who couldn't even sense qi. It was impossible to prevent people from feeling that this tiger father had had a dog of a son.
Countless people would jeer at him, but Jian Ren wouldn't care. However, that day, the Savage Marquis's son, Zhou Yaoyang, had ridiculed Jian Ren by saying that he wasn't his father's son.
Jian Ren's anger had immediately soared to the heavens. Zhou Yaoyang had obviously been insulting his mother as unfaithful! Jian Ren's anger had even caused him to become muddle-headed, and he had recklessly challenged his opponent to a duel.
However, his opponent was a strong person at the seventh Heavenstage of Body Refinement while he was just an ordinary person incapable of even sensing qi. He had basically been asking to be disgraced.
As a result, he later was beaten to the point of losing consciousness and almost dying. He was sent home and the news caused Jian Ren to be an object of ridicule for quite some time in the imperial capital.
Leaving his noble estate, Jian Ren went directly to the imperial capital's Hundred Herb Market. That was the place where all kinds of precious medicinal ingredients were sold. Right now what he needed to do was to get an understanding of the medicinal herbs' market situation.
Along the road, there were quite a few people and when they recognized Jian Ren, they couldn't help but to point at him behind his back; however, Jian Ren was already used to this.
But at the same time, he smiled bitterly inside. His own father had suppressed the entire barbarian border, which was an amazing, meritorious deed that protected the entire empire.
However, what had he obtained for that? This mother and son duo had been left to suffer from bullying and humiliating stares in the imperial capital, and Jian Ren had almost been beaten to death. How could this be considered repayment? A group of people that were protected by his father had all gave his son condescending gazes. This was his repayment?
Jian Ren quickened his footsteps. Although he wasn't afraid of these kinds of stares, he would always end up a bit gloomy. But at this moment, his path was suddenly blocked by a group of people.
"Aiya, are you actually Jian Ren? I heard you were beaten to the point where you couldn't even recognize your own mom, so how are you so lively that you ran out today?"
In front of Jian Ren was a sixteen-year-old teen wearing gaudy clothes and sneering at him with two guards.
This person was also born as a noble heir in an aristocrat family and was called Li Hao. However, his position within the aristocracy was not high and his status was incomparable to Jian Ren's. After all, in the Dragon Roar Empire, nobility and status were only secondary as strength was still the most important thing.
Li Hao was standing right in the middle of the road and if Jian Ren wanted to go through, he would need to pass through him.
If it was the previous Jian Ren, he would have turned around and walked back, but today's Jian Ren looked at Li Hao, shook his head, and sighed, "People say even well-trained dogs know not to obstruct the road. Looks like you're not even as good as a dog."
"Jian Ren, it seems you didn't remember the lesson that I gave you last time! If you want to be beaten within an inch of your life again, then let's fight in the martial arena." Li Hao's expression changed before taunted him once again.
"That's why I said you were a dog. Just go eat crap with Zhou Yaoyang." Jian Ren shook his head. He didn't want to waste his time on this kind of person. He needed to handle his own affairs, so he started to walk around him.
"Jian Ren, you are asking for it!"
Li Hao's couldn't help but become angry. He was not expecting that the always cowardly Jian Ren would actually act in such an unyielding manner that basically didn't even pay attention to him. He stuck out his arms to bar Jian Ren's path.
Jian Ren frowned slightly, but just as he was about to say more, a person walked over and cursed Li Hao, "Li Hao, you're the one asking for it! Just who do you think you are to dare threaten my brother?"
The person who had come was an extremely tall eighteen-year-old. His height was especially extraordinary at seven feet tall, which was taller than either of them by over a head and very intimidating.
"Shi Feng, this isn't your business! It'd be best if you didn't meddle around."
When Li Hao saw Shi Feng, all he could do was to act tough even though he was weaker. Shi Feng was also a noble heir whose status was about the same as his, but Shi Feng was a strong person who had reached the eighth Heavenstage of Body Refinement while he was only at the third Heavenstage of Body Refinement.
In addition, Shi Feng had an innate strength, which meant that amongst people in the same rank as him, only a few were an equal match for him. Therefore, Li Hao didn't have the guts to challenge Shi Feng.
"Brother Jian Ren, I heard that that bastard Zhou Yaoyang beat you up. How about I go help you vent your anger? " Shi Feng looked at Jian Ren and his expression became indignant.
Jian Ren looked at the huge person in front of him, and his heart felt a bit of warmth. Shi Feng was the only one in the imperial capital who would consider him as his brother.
"No thanks, my enmities are something that I will pay back myself. Just don't worry about it." Jian Ren faintly laughed, patting Shi Feng's shoulder.
When Shi Feng heard Jian Ren say this, he thought that Jian Ren might be worried about his image and so he didn't raise the issue again.
"Let's go, come with me for a stroll," said Jian Ren with a smile, and he brought Shi Feng for a walk.
When Li Hao saw that the two of them considered him as just thin air, he couldn't help but angrily cursing, "Jian Ren, you little bastard, if you have the guts then you'll fight me in a duel!"
They had just walked a couple of steps when Li Hao said this and they paused. From deep within Jian Ren's eyes, a strong murderous intent was radiated as he slowly turned his head.
"You want to have a duel with me?" Jian Ren's voice was extremely cold. Each word he spoke was just like ice shards that caused people to tremble in their bones.
Li Hao couldn't help but shiver. For some reason, he felt that today's Jian Ren was a bit different, but his big words had already been spoken so if at this time he was to act like a coward, then he would become the entire imperial capital's laughingstock.
Moreover, he was already used to bullying Jian Ren over and over, so with those experiences, he ignored the trace of fear that arose in his heart.
"Not bad, you dare to accept the duel?" Li Hao mocked in a loud voice.
"Not a problem, however, I want to add some stakes," said Jian Ren after a moment's thought.
"Adding stakes? Haha, your Jian family is almost unable to feed yourselves, what are you going to take out as stakes? You could use your family's estate, or how about you become my slave?" mocked Li Hao coldly.
However what he didn't notice was that in the corner of Jian Ren's mouth was a callous smile that seemed to have some hidden intentions.
"Brother Shi, can you lend me your martial sword?" Jian Ren asked.
"Take it."
Shi Feng did somewhat hate to part with it, but he still handed his sword over.
Jian Ren nodded, and he quietly recorded this favour into his heart. Towards Li Hao, he said, "This martial sword isn't top quality, but it is still worth eight thousand gold coins. For today I'll just count it as five thousand gold coins. If you win you can take the martial sword, but if you lose, you have to give me five thousand gold coins. How's that sound?"
Li Hao's heart shook: Shi Feng's sword was made from top quality steel and was forged by a master. It was definitely worth at least eight thousand gold coins.
Today, this idiot Jian Ren actually decided to use such a thing as a bet; Li Hao had Jian since started laughing cheerfully inside.
He once again sneered, "I don't know. If someone were to lose, will he renege out of the bet?"
"Don't worry. I, Shi Feng, will guarantee it." Shi Feng coldly smiled.
"Good, then let's go to the martial arena to sign the contract. If today I don't beat the teeth out of you, then in the future I wouldn't be Li Hao." Li Hao couldn't help from being extremely exuberant as he high-spiritedly spoke.
Jian Ren's face was still calm; however, within his eyes appeared some darkness. Li Hao was just one of Zhou Yaoyang's dogs, so Jian Ren never paid any attention to him. But nowadays, they were always plotting against him; just what kind of hidden conspiracy was there?
However, no matter what kind of conspiracy it was, the truth would always come to light one day. Jian Ren walked directly to the martial arena outside the imperial capital.