Zhuo Riyan's mother, Su Jing was the eldest daughter of the Su Manor. As for Zhuo Riyan's father—there was no trace of him in this world. His mother had never spoken of that man, not even once.
For years, mother and son had lived in the Rain Appreciating Pavilion. Once, it had been the most luxurious residence in the entire Su Manor—a symbol of the Oldest Lady's prestige and authority.
Through rumors whispered in shadows, Zhuo Riyan had learned of his mother's past. In her youth, Su Jing had possessed both shocking talent and country-toppling beauty. She had been dazzling beyond compare… until she became pregnant by an unknown man.
That one mistake had enraged her father, Su Hangan. In his fury, he had ordered Su Jing to be locked inside the Rain Appreciating Pavilion, cutting her off from the outside world.
After giving birth to Zhuo Riyan, she contracted a strange illness—one that accelerated the aging of both her and her lifebound beast. Though she was only forty years old, her hair had long since turned white, and her body looked like it was already standing with one foot in the grave. Only the faint outline of her face hinted at the breathtaking beauty she once had.
Just like Zhuo Riyan, her lifebound beast was a Razor Golden Eagle. But now it lay sprawled weakly on the ground, nearly all of its feathers fallen, its movements sluggish and painful to watch. It was extremely rare for a master and beast to fall ill together. She had searched far and wide for a cure—yet found nothing. At this rate, she wouldn't survive another half a year.
Outside the pavilion stood two figures.
One was a woman wrapped in a red dress, elegant and dignified in appearance. Yet her long, narrow eyes betrayed a hidden venom beneath that refined exterior.
Beside her stood a young boy dressed in martial attire. His body was well-built, his features handsome, his aura proud and spirited. It was obvious he had grown up in a powerful family.
From behind Zhuo Riyan, Su Jing suddenly spoke with a warm smile,
"Sister-in-law Qingqing… what brings you here?"
That woman was the wife of Su Luoling—Su Jing's second brother.
The young boy beside her was Su Luejiao, her son.
Zhuo Riyan's cousin.
His talent was not bad at all. At such a young age, he had already reached the fifth level of the Beast Vein stage.
And just like that—
The people who never brought blessings… had arrived with a fucking "news."
"Sister-in-law, are you well." Su Qingqing said with sinister smile.
"How well could she be with one foot in the grave?" Su Luejiao eyes lit up with amusement as he could resist mumbling.
"That's impolite." Su Qingqing gave a stern glare, but didn't scold him. Instead, she continues to smile, "I have big news for you sister-in-law."
Su Luejiao stepped forward, a sinister smile curling on his lips as he looked down at Zhuo Riyan with naked contempt.
Zhuo Riyan smiled as well—but his was cold and vicious.
So they're here with news… and to spit on my mother's dignity. Fine. Then I won't be polite at all.
"What is it?" Su Jing asked softly, confusion in her weak voice.
"See for yourself, hehe." Su Qingqing flicked her wrist and hurled a scroll forward, beast qi surging through it as she held back her snickers.
If that scroll struck Su Jing directly, it would definitely injure her. She no longer had any cultivation to protect herself.
But before it could touch her—
Zhuo Riyan stepped in front of her and caught the scroll barehanded.
His body shielded his mother completely.
Darkness surged through his eyes as he felt the violent beast qi sealed inside the scroll. He slowly lifted his head and stared straight at Su Qingqing, murderous anger rolling through his gaze.
At that moment, Su Luejiao walked forward arrogantly and stood in front of his mother. He looked at Zhuo Riyan with pure disdain.
"Cousin Brother Riyan, don't strain yourself. You're just a loser now—so behave like one."
Zhuo Riyan didn't even bother looking at him. He turned and gently placed the scroll into his mother's trembling hands.
Su Jing unfolded it.
At a single glance, she recognized the bold, vigorous calligraphy. It was written by Su Hangan himself.
Her face instantly drained of color.
Her eyes turned red.
Her legs gave out.
If not for Zhuo Riyan holding her, she would have collapsed to the ground right there.
Zhuo Riyan took the scroll and read it himself.
The tone was polite on the surface—but every word pierced like a blade.
The meaning was crystal clear.
This was a competition for the right to live in the Rain Appreciating Pavilion.
It accused Su Jing of being ungrateful for everything the Su Manor had given her. If she wished to continue living here, she would have to fight for it with her own strength.
If she failed—
She would be expelled from the Rain Appreciating Pavilion and forced to live in one of the guest pavilions.
In other words—
She was being kicked out.
Then came the part about Zhuo Riyan.
The words were brief and ruthless. He was to be taken along with her.
His status as the Young Master of the Su Manor was officially stripped away.
Once upon a time, Zhuo Riyan had been destined to become the future Lord of the Su Manor—solely because of his mother's position.
Now?
With a single fucking letter, they had erased them from the core family like dirt.
Zhuo Riyan slowly tightened his grip on the scroll.
The paper crumpled.
His eyes turned ice-cold.
"This is how you want to play it… grandfather"
Su Luejiao scoffed arrogantly.
"In two days, you two pieces of trash will crawl out of the Su Manor after the competition."
The next second—
Zhuo Riyan vanished.
A blur of purple flashed through the air.
Before either Su Qingqing or Su Luejiao could even react, Zhuo Riyan appeared right in front of Su Xuejiao. His face was cold like a devil's, his left eye crackling with violent purple thunder.
A single punch landed.
Boom.
Su Luejiao was blasted straight into a tree, his body slamming into it before dropping unconscious to the ground. He didn't even get the chance to summon his lifebound beast.
Su Qingqing screamed and rushed over, cradling her son's head in her lap.
"Xuejiao! Wake up! Wake the fuck up!"
Zhuo Riyan didn't even look at her again. He walked back to Su Jing and said coldly,
"You can leave now. The competition is in two days. Until then, this place is still my mother's."
Su Jing, instead of being shocked, only asked worriedly,
"Did you get hurt, Riyan'er?"
"I'm fine." Zhuo Riyan supported her gently. "Let's go inside."
Mother and son walked back into the pavilion.
The door shut.
Outside, Su Qingqing knelt in the dust, shaking with rage and terror—while her son lay unconscious at her feet.