Zhang Chen casually put away the gold and silver, which greatly surprised the two men. Looking at Zhang Chen’s ordinary attire, he didn’t seem like a young master from a wealthy family, yet he had such boldness; over ten thousand taels of silver were stored away without even a glance. Such boldness is not something ordinary people possess.
His demeanor showed that he was unafraid of the clinic deceiving him, confident in his own power.
"This gentleman must be someone from the Martial World," the old steward said, watching Zhang Chen’s disappearing figure.
"And not just any ordinary person from the Martial World; he must be a top expert," the young steward added.
"Let’s go, deliver this ginseng to the master. If we can please the dean of Chongzheng Academy, our pharmacy will advance further. It’s said that Chongzheng Academy has received orders from the Academy and is preparing to open the Mysterious Inner Courtyard. If we foster good relations now, perhaps during the disciple selection we can maneuver something." The two discussed, carrying gifts away, fading into the house.
Now, Zhang Chen acquired the silver and began spending extravagantly, using thousands of taels on various gifts, sending them to the inn, then had a carriage prepared with all the gifts loaded. The Zhang family then groomed themselves appropriately, changing into new clothes, though still opted for coarse cloth attire, avoiding silk to not draw too much attention, then prepared to visit the Shen Family.
Watching the Demon Horse tied to the back of the carriage, it was lean like a bald donkey, appearing ugly yet amusing, with none of the horse’s majestic presence.
"Big Brother, are you really going to give this horse as a meeting gift to your fiancée?" Zhang Tuowei couldn’t bear to part with it: "This is a fifth-tier Demon Horse, soon to step into the sixth tier, with unlimited potential. It’s so rare, are you willing?"
"After all, she’s my fiancée, being united by parental arrangement and matchmaker’s words. Meeting necessitates a sincere gift," Zhang Chen said.
The little girl was displeased: "But I’ve already bonded with this horse, it’s become my horse brother, part of my family. How can you give it away?"
Zhang Tuowei turned to Zhang Fei: "Little Brother, do you agree with this reasoning?"
"I..." Zhang Fei glanced at Zhang Chen, then at Zhang Tuowei’s threatening expression, feeling very uneasy, replied, "I can’t say."
He didn’t want to offend either his big brother or big sister, nor could he afford to offend them.
Mrs. Zhang in the carriage was concerned: "Chen’Er, is it really alright for me to follow you to the Shen Family? I’m an outsider after all, perhaps you should leave me outside. I can find my own way to survive, it would prevent complications for you."
Zhang Chen understood Mrs. Zhang’s concern, reassuring her with a smile: "Mother, no need to worry. Just come along, I’ll handle everything."
The family hired a driver, weaving through the streets with gifts, soon arriving at the Shen Family Mansion.
Looking at the mansion before him, Zhang Chen couldn’t help but praise quietly: "No wonder it’s the Jinling Shen Family, this mansion is comparable to the Prince’s Mansion."
The Shen Family Mansion occupied an entire street, with terrifying and sinister stone sculptures crouched before the main gate; the name of those sculptures was unknown. Mysterious Power flowed upon them, clearly not ordinary items.
Eight door knockers were embedded on the gate, the entire gate was a bright vermilion color, twenty meters wide, with small doors on both sides.
Nails lined the gate, arranged like constellations, resonating with mysterious Qi Mechanism, clearly not a common residence.
The gate’s steps numbered thirteen, an odd number, which Zhang Chen found astonishing: "No wonder the Shen Family controls seventy percent of the world’s shipping, using Mysterious Power to subdue their gate’s grandeur, unmatched by the Northern Land’s bumpkins."
In front of the mansion, a dozen carriages lined up, with numerous elegantly dressed individuals chatting at the side gates, clearly affluent or noble.
By the main gate stood ten martial artists on guard, Zhang Chen observed their surrounding Qi Mechanism, sensing their Qi Blood; those martial artists had likely refined their Dark Force.
Zhang Chen directed the carriage to stop before the main gate, then stepped to the stairs, heading towards the nearby gatekeeper. Before approaching the main gate, he was intercepted by a guard: "If you wish to conduct business at Shen Mansion, you must first submit a visiting card and then queue up, waiting for the grand elder inside to summon you."
The guard pointed to the elegantly dressed individuals chatting, then looked at Zhang Chen’s coarse cloth attire, noticing it was intact and tidy, indicating wealth, thus asked: "Which steward in the mansion do you wish to meet?"
He concluded Zhang Chen sought to meet the steward, judging by his non-silk attire, as those visiting the principal family must be influential; ordinary folk couldn’t meet aristocrats.
Before Zhang Chen could speak, the guard extended his hand: "If you want us to send a message, it requires five taels of silver."
"Five taels of silver? That’s daylight robbery!" Zhang Chen arched an eyebrow at this, knowing five taels of silver could sustain a common family for several months.
"This is the rule of our Shen Mansion. Whether you want to abide by it or not, if you choose not to, just stay aside and don’t bother me." The guard, hearing Zhang Chen’s words, was immediately displeased. He reprimanded Zhang Chen while driving him aside.
"Hmph, I am from the Zhang Family in Kyoto. My father is Zhang Kecheng, and the old Madam of the Shen Family is my grandmother. I am here to see her, so you should hurry and report. If you delay, you’ll be in trouble." Zhang Chen cast a cold glance at the guard, causing the blood flow in the guard’s body to halt for three breaths, making his face turn red. Only when Zhang Chen lifted the control did the guard gasp for air like a fish out of water, looking at Zhang Chen with horror. He didn’t realize Zhang Chen had controlled his blood; he merely thought Zhang Chen’s gaze was terrifying, which made him stop breathing with just a glance.
"You said the old Madam is your grandmother?" The guard, now regaining his senses, looked at Zhang Chen with shock, examining his clothing up and down; no matter how, he didn’t seem like someone who could be related to the Shen Mansion.
"Nonsense! Quickly report, so you don’t delay matters." Zhang Chen reprimanded.
The guard, standing by the main gate, wasn’t lacking in discernment either. Seeing Zhang Chen’s steady demeanor, he didn’t look like someone who came to freeload, so he couldn’t help but pay more attention. He bowed to Zhang Chen: "Please wait here. I shall call the Steward over."
At this moment, someone happened to walk over from the gate—a young man from the Zhang Family in Kyoto, who had previously flirted with Shen Ling. Seeing the young man, the guard quickly called out: "Young Master Zhang Gaoqiu, this person claims to be from the Zhang Family in Kyoto, here to acknowledge kinship with our Shen Mansion. Could I trouble you to take a look if he is an old acquaintance?"
Zhang Chen looked at the young man in white attire, thinking to himself, "So this person is named Zhang Gaoqiu."
Hearing this, Zhang Gaoqiu halted his steps, showing curiosity on his face: "A relative of mine? Someone from the Zhang Family in Kyoto?"
He then sized up Zhang Chen: "Looks unfamiliar."
Seeing Zhang Chen dressed in coarse linen, Zhang Gaoqiu assumed he was from some peripheral branch of the Zhang Family who came to the Shen Mansion in Kyoto to freeload. After all, the Zhang Family in Kyoto was vast, with thousands of members. As the legitimate second son, he paid attention to very few people.
However, encountering a relative in the distant land of Jinling wasn’t something he minded helping with.
"Which branch of the Zhang Family in Kyoto are you from?" Zhang Gaoqiu asked.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen replied, "My father is Zhang Kecheng."
Hearing this, Zhang Gaoqiu’s expression changed, and he scanned Zhang Chen up and down coldly: "Never heard of him! Probably a fraud trying to use our family name for a free meal. You should drive him away to keep our family’s reputation clean."
Zhang Chen listened, staring at Zhang Gaoqiu, not believing he hadn’t heard his father’s name. It was obvious that something was amiss if he was pretending not to know.
The guard, hearing Zhang Gaoqiu’s words, suddenly stood straighter, mocking Zhang Chen: "Kid, do you know who this young master is?"
Zhang Chen shook his head: "I don’t know!"
"This is the legitimate second son of the Zhang Family in Kyoto. If you claim to be part of the Zhang Family, how could you not know this True Dragon?" The guard looked at Zhang Chen with ridicule: "Kid, trying to pull tricks at our Shen Mansion, you’re mistaken about where you can act like a fool! Men, break his leg to teach him a lesson."
The guard shouted, and two more guards rolled up their sleeves, rushing over with vicious grins: "Kid, thinking of freeloading at our Zhang Family, you’re making a mistake! Today we’re breaking your leg to give you some memory!"
Looking at the wolf-like guards, Zhang Chen remained calm, turning his head to Zhang Gaoqiu: "Do you truly not recognize me? When the matter reaches the Zhang Family in Kyoto, you know the consequences."
Hearing this, Zhang Gaoqiu hesitated, then turned away, waving his sleeve as he walked inside the gate: "This fraud dares threaten me—how arrogant! Deal with him for me and vent my anger."
Zhang Gaoqiu quickly walked away, giving Zhang Chen no more chances to speak.
He knew well that many old members of the Zhang Family in Kyoto still held these large family connections in their hearts. If today’s events reached the family, he might face punishment and would do well to evade such a situation!
Just contemplating Zhang Chen’s arrival, he felt a sense of foreboding: "This guy’s presence will definitely ruin my plans. I must find a way to dismiss him."
"Perhaps secretly informing the Jinling Yamen, letting them intervene and detain him," Zhang Gaoqiu thought as he quickened his pace.
Zhang Chen watched Zhang Gaoqiu’s departure, a cold light in his eyes, but said nothing, turning to the rushing guards. As they approached Zhang Chen, a drop of blood suddenly flew from his sleeve, possessing the leading guard, instantly taking full control over his body.