"That's right. When I lost my memories, I was only six years old. I can't remember anything that happened before I was six. All I know is that I found myself in a strange land, and it was only later that I learned the land was called Qingzhou."
"At the time, I had nothing to my name. Besides the clothes on my body, I only had two things — this jade pendant, and him." As Zhang Tianyi spoke, he produced a book from within his robes. Written on its cover in four large characters was: Forbidden Mystic Art.
"Senior Brother Zhang, you…" At that moment, even Chu Feng was stunned, because he seemed to grasp something.
So the Forbidden Mystic Art that Zhang Tianyi cultivated had not been obtained through some fortuitous encounter — it had been with him all along. More importantly, this jade pendant and the Mystic Art together proved something: that Zhang Tianyi's origins were likely quite extraordinary as well.
"I don't know why I lost my memories, but I believe I don't belong to Qingzhou, nor do I belong to the Nine Provinces Continent. Perhaps this jade pendant can unlock the mystery of my origins, and maybe it can help me recover the memories I lost before the age of six."
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, you don't need to go out of your way to search for anything on my behalf. This kind of thing depends on luck. You just need to keep an eye out for me. Even I can't be certain whether they're actually in the Eastern Sea Region or not." Zhang Tianyi wore a smile on his face, but Chu Feng could sense the sorrow hidden beneath it.
A six-year-old child, with no father or mother, completely alone — the hardship of that was something Chu Feng could well imagine.
Although his own youth in the Chu Family had been far from pleasant, at least he had someone looking after him. But Zhang Tianyi had clearly had it even rougher in his younger years.
More than anything, Chu Feng himself now desperately wished to learn the truth of his own origins, so he could deeply sympathize with how Zhang Tianyi felt at this moment.
"Senior Brother Zhang, rest easy. I'll definitely keep my eyes open."
"But you should keep this jade pendant with you. I can remember what it looks like." Chu Feng made his promise with absolute conviction, and as he spoke, he handed the jade pendant back to Zhang Tianyi, knowing full well how important it was to him.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Junior Brother Chu Feng." After Chu Feng agreed, Zhang Tianyi broke into a genuinely happy smile.
Afterward, Chu Feng and Zhang Tianyi headed back toward the inn, but before they even got close, their expressions changed drastically.
They were shocked to discover that thick plumes of smoke were already rising from the inn — clearly, someone was fighting inside. And with Jiang Wushang, Su Rou, and Su Mei still inside, their hearts naturally clenched with anxiety.
In truth, at that very moment, the private room reserved by Chu Feng's group within the inn had already been reduced to flat ground. Many of the surrounding structures had likewise been reduced to rubble. The entire area had become a ruin.
Su Rou and Su Mei stood in the center of the devastation, faces flushed with fury, together supporting one person — and that person was none other than Jiang Wushang.
"I'm fine. Just a few superficial wounds, that's all." At this moment, a radiant golden character for "emperor" gleamed on Jiang Wushang's forehead, proof that he had activated the power of his imperial bloodline. Yet even so, his body bore several visible injuries, and a thin trail of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Standing opposite Jiang Wushang was a group of Shentu Imperial Clan members. It was evident that they were the ones who had beaten him.
"Hmph. So arrogant — I thought you might actually be someone impressive, but you're nothing but a waste. Your surname is Jiang, right?" That prince named Shentu Lang asked with undisguised contempt.
"That's right. What of it?" Jiang Wushang stubbornly wiped the blood from his mouth and shot back loudly.
"What of it? Hmph." Shentu Lang let out a cold laugh, then turned to the guards beside him and said: "Remember this — his surname is Jiang. His imperial clan should be the Jiang Imperial Clan. To produce such a worthless piece of trash, the Jiang Imperial Clan has no right to exist."