C42 Uncle Fu

Woo Zhengyang practiced late into the night when a slightly hunched figure finally pushed the door open and came in. It was an elderly man with white hair and a beard, dressed in somewhat shabby gray clothes.

“Uncle Fu!” Woo Zhengyang exclaimed with delight, standing up as he saw the old man.

“Young Master, you’ve finally come back!” Uncle Fu’s eyes, which were a bit cloudy, suddenly brightened, and a smile spread across his face, making his wrinkles seem to fade a little.

“Yes, I’ve come to take you with me!” Woo Zhengyang said, pouring a cup of tea for Uncle Fu.

Uncle Fu took the tea but didn’t drink it. He just looked at Woo Zhengyang for a long moment before sighing, “Young Master, where have you been this past year? I was worried sick. I wanted to go out and look for you, but I was afraid you’d come back and not find me.”

“Hehe, didn’t I leave a note saying I was going to apprentice at the Four Great Sects and would be back in a year?” No matter how confident he was outside, in front of Uncle Fu, Woo Zhengyang seemed like a child again.

“Sigh... The Four Great Sects... Those aren’t places for someone like you! But it’s good you’re back...”

“Who says? I’ve become an outer disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect!” Woo Zhengyang said, pulling out the Profound Heaven Sect badge and showing it to Uncle Fu.

“What...” Uncle Fu didn’t reach for the badge; instead, he looked at Woo Zhengyang in shock, as if trying to see through him. Woo Zhengyang had never seen such a complex expression on the old man’s face before.

"What's going on?" Woo Zhengyang was a bit surprised. It was normal for Uncle Fu to be shocked about his joining the Profound Heaven Sect, but this expression seemed more than just surprise.

"It's nothing..." Uncle Fu seemed incredulous. "Come on, tell me what you've been through this past year..."

If there was anyone in the world Woo Zhengyang could still trust, it was Uncle Fu. So, he recounted the entire story of how he joined the sect, including the mysterious vortex that appeared out of nowhere and how his character changed after experiencing despair.

Uncle Fu listened intently, pleased with Woo Zhengyang's achievements, yet Woo Zhengyang felt something was different about Uncle Fu. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Woo Zhengyang didn't press further. He knew that if Uncle Fu wanted to say something, he would. If not, he must have his reasons.

That night, neither of them rested. They sat across from each other, talking until the sky began to lighten. Only then did Woo Zhengyang suggest Uncle Fu take a break while he put away the night pearl and continued his training.

"Bang..."

The door suddenly burst open, and a figure stormed in, cursing.

"Old man, get out here and get to work! Have you forgotten today is the big day for the Lau mansion?"

The newcomer was Lau mansion's steward, Lau Yijin.

Woo Zhengyang had absolutely no fondness for Lau Yijin, who often made life difficult for both Uncle Fu and him.

"Hey..." Lau Yijin paused for a moment upon seeing someone else in the room. Recognizing Woo Zhengyang, he sneered, "You're back again, kid... Perfect timing. Get to work, or you won't even have dog food today."

"Get lost..." Interrupted during his training and hearing Lau Yijin's rude words, Woo Zhengyang wasn't about to be polite.

Stunned by Woo Zhengyang's retort, Lau Yijin quickly became furious. "You little brat, you've been away for a year and now you've got an attitude? If I don't beat you so bad you can't get out of bed for three days, I'll change my last name to yours!"

With that, Lau Yijin rolled up his sleeves and lunged at Woo Zhengyang.

"You don't deserve my name!" Woo Zhengyang shot to his feet and kicked him straight out the door.

In this world that revered martial prowess, everyone, young or old, knew some form of combat. Even without special fruits to aid them, people had the chance to awaken their Origin Genuine Qi, although it usually happened later in life. If one couldn't awaken it before turning sixteen, their martial skills would likely remain at the Martial Disciple level.

As the manager of the Lau mansion, Lau Yijin was a Four-star Martial Disciple. Unfortunately for him, he was up against Woo Zhengyang, whose strength alone, nearly 1,500 pounds of force, was more than Lau Yijin could handle. With a grunt, Lau Yijin was sent flying out the door.

“Ah... you little brat, just you wait... someone will take care of you.” Lau Yijin shouted from outside the door, then took off running.

“Ah...” Uncle Fu sat up behind him, not blaming Woo Zhengyang for his impulsiveness, just letting out a sigh.

“Uncle Fu, pack up a few things. I’m taking you away from the Lau family today. We don’t have to put up with them anymore,” Woo Zhengyang explained.

After hitting Lau Yijin, Woo Zhengyang wasn’t too worried. Even though Uncle Fu didn’t hold much status in the Lau mansion, Woo Zhengyang had some ties to the Lau family.

Technically, Woo Zhengyang was a distant cousin of the Lau family. His maternal grandfather was the previous head of the Lau family, and his mother, Lau Feixu, was a cousin of the current head, Lau Qingfeng, though a bit distantly related.

In that generation, Lau Feixu was exceptionally talented, the undisputed darling of Bright Sun City. Suitors lined up at their door, and even the royal family from the capital came to propose.

In Bright Sun City, the Lau family was one of the three major families. However, in the larger Dongjue Country, they were considered a second or third-tier family. A marriage alliance with the royal family would have significantly elevated their status, so the Lau family had no reason to refuse.

But no one expected Lau Feixu to refuse to let others dictate her fate. She left Dongjue Country entirely...

A few years later, Uncle Fu returned, bringing Woo Zhengyang with him.

The Lau mansion was bustling with descendants, not to mention distant relatives; there were over a dozen direct heirs alone. Naturally, Woo Zhengyang, being an in-law, wasn't exactly welcomed. Moreover, the actions of Lau Feixu back in the day had cost the Lau family a golden opportunity, leaving many with lingering resentment.

Thankfully, the old patriarch was still alive at the time and couldn't bear to see his grandson left to fend for himself on the streets, allowing Woo Zhengyang and Uncle Fu to remain at the Lau mansion. However, once the new head, Lau Qingfeng, took over, life became increasingly difficult for Woo Zhengyang and Uncle Fu. Even if they weren't outright expelled, their status was pitifully low, evident from how even Lau Yijin dared to bully them.

Back then, Woo Zhengyang adhered to the principle of kindness above all, but that didn't mean he was oblivious to humiliation. This understanding prompted him to leave without a word, seeking acceptance into the Profound Heaven Sect on his own. His sole conviction was to become a true disciple of the sect and then leave with Uncle Fu.

It was this determination that made him so despondent when he was tricked into acquiring a defective Crimson Wood Fruit. Yet, fortune smiled upon him in misfortune; a mysterious vortex transformed his body, and the overwhelming despair reshaped his mindset.

Though his demeanor grew more arrogant, Woo Zhengyang's humanity remained intact. Uncle Fu had been by his mother's side for half a lifetime and had painstakingly raised him. The humiliations suffered at the Lau mansion were etched in Woo Zhengyang's memory, and this debt of gratitude was something he would never forget.

Before leaving the Profound Heaven Sect, Woo Zhengyang exchanged his sect contribution points for a thousand gold coins. His plan was to take Uncle Fu with him, find a house in the nearby town at the base of the sect's mountain, and ensure Uncle Fu could enjoy his retirement comfortably.