Chapter One: Gaining an Inheritance After Betrayal

Jianghai City.

The scorching sun blazed overhead, and the air was thick with sweltering heat. Yet Qin Feng, standing at his own doorstep, felt only a chill that seeped through his bones, an absence of warmth.

“Baby, you’re so soft…”

“Oh, Li, you’re so bad~”

The murmurs of entanglement, mixed with heavy breathing, drifted from within the room and stabbed into Qin Feng’s ears. His eyes turned bloodshot, seething with fury. How could he not recognize those voices? One belonged to Shen Fei, his girlfriend of four years; the other, Li Pengcheng, his close friend from university.

Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that his best friend would betray him with his girlfriend.

Qin Feng worked as a sales assistant in an antique shop. He left early and returned late most days. This morning, in his haste, he’d forgotten his work badge and had doubled back to fetch it. Who could have foreseen that, just as he reached his door, he would overhear the sounds of those two traitors?

He hadn’t even been gone ten minutes.

With a crash, Qin Feng kicked open the door. There, naked and entwined on the sofa, were the two culprits.

“You filthy pair! I’ll kill you!” Qin Feng, consumed by rage, grabbed a shoe rack and hurled it at them, then seized a chair and advanced.

The pair recoiled in terror, scrambling apart.

“Qin... Qin Feng, why are you back?” Shen Fei’s face was ashen, her eyes flickering with panic as she sprawled on the floor.

“Brother Qin, let’s talk this out. I didn’t mean for this to happen. Calm down,” Li Pengcheng stammered, playing the sympathy card even as a flash of malice passed through his eyes. “We can discuss this. I just couldn’t control myself, but I used protection. I swear I maintained the final line. We’ve known each other for over four years—let me off just this once, please!”

Qin Feng’s fury only grew.

“Li Pengcheng, you dare call me brother? Is this how you treat a friend? Did you not know how much I loved her? I treated you as a brother—what am I to you? Today, I swear I’ll kill you!”

He and Shen Fei had dated for four years. In all that time, he cherished her as a treasure, afraid she’d melt if he spoke too gently, afraid she’d break if he held her too tightly. She’d said she wanted to wait until marriage, and he never forced her. Yet this was his reward.

The betrayal was unbearable.

His mind was made up: he would kill these two and then turn himself in.

“Brother, I know I was wrong—please let me go! Didn’t you say your mother needed money for her hospital bills? I can cover it all! Just spare me this once—let your mother get the treatment, isn’t that better?” Li Pengcheng pleaded, terror-stricken. He loved pleasure but had no wish to die for it. The look in Qin Feng’s eyes was enough; he was deadly serious.

“Money? You think you can buy me off now? All I want is your lives!”

Blinded by wrath, Qin Feng brought the chair down upon them, determined to trade his life for theirs.

Bang!

Suddenly, a tremendous blow struck the back of his head. The world spun, and he crashed to the ground, struggling to stay conscious. Through blurred vision, he saw Shen Fei standing over him, gripping the chair, her breath coming in gasps. Drops of fresh blood dripped from the chair’s corner. Her eyes were steely, her face set with resolve.

Why?

He wanted to ask—why betray me? Was he not good enough? Over four years, nearly every penny—save for his mother’s medical bills—had been spent on her. Whatever she wanted, he tried to give. He had treated her like a princess.

But the crushing weight in his head robbed him of speech; his lips moved soundlessly, his eyes filled with agony and disbelief.

“Qin Feng, I know what you want to ask. The answer is simple: the life I want isn’t one you can give me. Li is about your age, but he’s already a general manager at a listed corporation, earning millions a year. And you? Just a measly shop assistant making a few thousand a month, still paying for your mother’s hospital bills. That’s not the life I want. We’re adults—kindness doesn’t put food on the table. I have to think about my future, too. I hope you understand.”

Her voice was cold, devoid of the gentleness he once knew.

Thud, thud, thud!

Li Pengcheng strode over and kicked Qin Feng repeatedly, spitting on him in contempt, as if to vent the fear Qin Feng had just inflicted.

“Damn it, Qin Feng, let me tell you the truth: I’ve been with her for four years—since your first week together. I kept it from you all this time just for the thrill. Surprised? You wanted to kill me? I’m waiting for you to try, you fool.”

He sneered, lashing out with words as sharp as knives.

“Come on, babe, let’s go. This dump isn’t even eight square meters—I never wanted to come here anyway. Shame, though, I’ll miss the excitement.”

He dressed and spoke to Shen Fei.

“Li, will he… will he die?” Shen Fei asked, now faintly afraid as she dressed.

“Don’t worry. That’s not enough to kill him. Even if he dies, I can handle it. He has no connections, just a dying mother. Taking care of him will be simple. Relax, sweetheart.”

“Alright, then I won’t worry.”

Their footsteps faded into the distance.

No one noticed the blood dripping from Qin Feng’s neck onto a green jade pendant he wore. Instantly, the jade was stained crimson, and a barely visible red light flashed, shooting into Qin Feng’s mind.

His consciousness grew heavier, yet he clung to awareness with gritted teeth.

I will kill you both!

Hearing their words, Qin Feng’s heart roared with fury. But his strength ebbed; he felt himself sinking into endless darkness, dissolving into nothingness.

Suddenly, a dazzling stream of light, bright as a meteor, streaked through the blackness, drawing his consciousness in.

“Fortunate youth, I am Master Tongbao. I have walked the path of treasures, mastering the supreme Art of Heavenly Treasures. Today, you have awakened me, and so you shall inherit my legacy, all of it.”

“Accept this inheritance with righteousness—never stray into evil or heresy, and never bring disgrace upon my name!”

A white-bearded elder in Daoist robes appeared before Qin Feng, solemnly imparting these words before fading away.

Qin Feng scarcely had time to react before an excruciating pain split his mind, a torrent of memories flooding in and dragging him into oblivion.