Great Yan Dynasty, City of Flaming Fire, Jiang Family.
In the early morning, with the sky just lighting up, in the most secluded courtyard of the Jiang family, the big door was gently pushed open, and a youth dressed in plain cloth walked out.
The youth's name was Jiang Dust, sixteen years old. He had a somewhat thin stature, a fair and handsome face. Though not particularly attractive, he was pleasing to the eye, especially his pair of eyes, clear and spirited, brimming with infinite fighting spirit.
At this moment, Jiang Dust looked towards the dilapidated courtyard, a touch of worry surfacing on his face, "Xiaoshi
a pet name
, the other day while picking herbs at the Flaming Fire Mountain range, I accidentally found a common second-grade medicinal herb named Flaming Heart Lotus. As long as you ingest it, we can suppress that damned Cold Poison effect! Hold on for a bit longer, I'll go pick it now!"
Having locked the courtyard's door, Jiang Dust, taking advantage of the dawn's light, quickly left the Jiang family.
Just as he had left, two figures emerged stealthily. They were dressed in the attire of the Jiang family's servants, with deceit and cunning plastered on their faces.
One of Jiang family's servants, watching Jiang Dust's retreating figure, smirked lewdly, "The steward was right, Jiang Dust has been acting mysteriously these days. He must have found some treasure in the Flaming Fire Mountain range. If we follow him, seize that treasure, and please our master, he might even give us Jiang Dust's cute little sister as a reward."
"Hehe, we two brothers are both two-star fighters, Jiang Dust has no real strength. To seize something from him is easy as pie. Not only will we take his treasure today, but we'll also taste his little sister,” Another servant also showed greed in his eyes, staring at the dilapidated courtyard the boy had just left, as if harboring a long-desired beauty.
"Let's go, follow him quickly!"
Afterward, these two servants quickly followed Jiang Dust, heading towards the Flaming Fire Mountain range.
...
The Flaming Fire Mountain range stretched endlessly, the roars of fighting beasts echoing amid the mountains, resounding like continuous thunder.
A common youth, upon hearing the roars of beasts, would probably have been scared off already, let alone risking their life to venture in.
However, the thought of his pitiful sister, curled up in bed, suffering the torment of a mysterious cold poison, flooded Jiang Dust's heart with infinite fighting spirit.
Even if facing a man-eating terrifying beast today, he was determined to possess that extraordinary second-class medicinal herb, the Fire Heart Lotus!
The moment he entered the Flame Mountain Range, a wave of scorching heat rushed towards him, causing Jiang Chen to feel a burning pain on the surface of his skin, turning his fair face crimson.
The Flame Mountain Range was filled with an abundance of flame energy. To fighters who could practice qi, it posed no issue at all. But Jiang Chen, unable to cultivate qi, found it tormenting each time he ventured into the Flame Mountain Range for herbs.
However, in order to alleviate Xiao Shi's suffering from the strange cold poison, even if he had to endure great pain, Jiang Chen wouldn't flinch!
Taking a deep breath, he psyched himself up: "Jiang Chen, as long as you can seize that extraordinary second-class Fire Heart Lotus today, Xiao Shi's internal cold poison can be suppressed!"
His face was filled with a touch of resolute determination. Gritting his teeth, he ran swiftly through the Flame Mountain Range.
After a few moments of running, Jiang Chen was drenched in sweat, his whole body soaked. Under the baking of flame energy, steam wafted from his body. But, the moment a cave came into his sight, a surge of exuberance burst forth from his eyes.
"The Fire Heart Lotus is in that cave!"
His vigor was rekindled, as if a rush of power gushed forth, propelling him into the cave. Immediately, a fiery-red medicinal herb caught his attention.
There stood the Fire Lotus, fully bloomed, its nine petals resembling dancing flames. It had a heart-shaped center and was engulfed in a red blaze, exuding a strong power of flames.
This was the valuable herb, the Fire Heart Lotus, which Jiang Chen accidentally discovered a few days ago when he was collecting herbs for his little sister, Jiang Xiao Shi.
His sister Jiang Xiao Shi had an extremely bizarre physique. Every few days, a cold poison would erupt. Each time this happened, Jiang Xiao Shi's entire body would be covered in frost, suffering agony from the poison.
The only method to suppress the cold poison was either to use a powerful fighter who could manipulate flame energy or through ingestion of flame-attributed medicinal herbs.
However, Jiang Chen could not cultivate qi and held a very low status within the Jiang family. How could there possibly be a powerful flame warrior to suppress the cold poison for his sister?
Thus, Jiang Chen had no choice but to venture into the Flame Mountain Range, risking dangers to collect flame-attributed herbs to suppress the cold poison for his sister.
Who would have thought, just a few days ago, he accidentally discovered a Fireheart Lotus, a mortal Grade 2 medicinal herb, growing inside this cave!
Seeing the very herb that could set his younger sister free from the torments of her cold poison, Jiang Chen's face lit up with ecstasy.
He meticulously plucked the Fireheart Lotus and treasured it like a precious jewel, a satisfied smile also spreading across his resolute face.
"Well, well, Jiang Chen! So that's why you've been sneaking around these past few days. You were planning to claim this mortal Grade 2 medicinal herb, the Fireheart Lotus, for yourself!
Suddenly, an unseemly voice rang out, and two figures dressed as Jiang household servants slipped into the cave.
Jiang Chen's expression changed instantly. He tightly clenched the Fireheart Lotus and quickly hid it inside his chest. He turned around and upon seeing who had arrived, flames of anger were ignited in his eyes.
"Jiang Xiong! Jiang Bao! How dare you two dog servants follow me?!"
"So what if we followed you? Do not think that just because you came from the Jiang family of the Great Yan Imperial City, we brothers would be afraid of you. Don’t forget, your parents committed a monstrous crime and are imprisoned in the sky-prison of the city Jiang's house. You and that sickly sister of yours were just expelled and sent to the Jiang family of Fire City as criminals!"
Jiang Xiong and Jiang Bao knew very well about Jiang Chen’s background and, without hesitating, revealed it cruelly.
"You two dog servants!"
Upon being touched at his pain point, Jiang Chen clenched his fists tightly. His sharp nails sank deep into his flesh, but he didn't feel any pain at all. He stared angrily at Jiang Xiong and Jiang Bao.
The Great Yan Empire, home to nine Dou Qi families, among which the Jiang family stands prominently.
Jiang Chen hails from the Jiang family of the Imperial City.
Unfortunately, ten years ago, Jiang Chen's parents committed a monstrous crime and breached Jiang family rules, leading them to be imprisoned forever in the sky-prison of Jiang family. Jiang Chen himself and his little sister Jiang Xiaoshi were not spared either, and were sent to the Jiang family branch in Fire City.
Although everyone knew that Jiang Chen and Jiang Xiaoshi were from the Jiang family of the Imperial City, no one ever took them seriously. Even more so, given that Jiang Chen was incapable of cultivating Dou Qi, even the servants of the Jiang family dared bully them.
On a regular basis, Jiang Xiong and Jiang Bao loved to bully their siblings.
Jiang Chen's speed in retrieving the Fire Heart Lotus did not escape the eyes of Jiang Xiong and Jiang Bao. They all licked their lips in greed and paced towards Jiang Chen step by step.
"Jiang Chen, if you obediently hand over the Fire Heart Lotus to us, we can talk things over, but if you dare to resist, don't blame us brothers for not being courteous!"
Jiang Xiong, broad-shouldered and stout, clenched his massive fists with a cracking sound.
"Anyhow, we are currently in the middle of the Lava Mountain Range, even if we kill you, no one would know that we did it. However, if you die, your cute little sister... she will be ours..."
Jiang Bao said with a lewd grin on his face.
Jiang Chen seethed with anger, his sister and he depended on each other for survival, and these two despicable lackeys dared to have illicit thoughts about his sister!
He knew that even if he handed over the Fire Heart Lotus to them today, they'd still kill him and wipe out his existence.
Jiang Chen couldn't even bear to imagine what these scummy lackeys would do to his sister, Xiao Shi, if he were to get killed.
"You two despicable lackeys, I will fight you to the death!"
To protect Jiang Xiao Shi, Jiang Chen had been tolerating for many years. Today, he could not stand it any longer!
Regardless, he was facing death. Jiang Chen would never allow anyone to harm his sister!
