C426 Beast!

Woo Zhengyang was just marveling at the simplicity of this world when the man in front of him made him feel disgusted. The speaker was a man who appeared to be in his thirties or forties, with naturally charming eyes.

In this world, Woo Zhengyang had plenty of luxurious clothes made of gold and silver threads in his Hidden Heaven Bag, yet he chose to wear the same coarse cloth garments as the people of Great Leaf Village, which they had woven themselves. Most of the people in Sunny Town dressed similarly.

However, the man in front of him was clearly out of place, wearing a tight-fitting outfit made from some unknown beast's skin, topped with a cloak woven from the same material. Such a style was rare, even in the previous world.

What infuriated Woo Zhengyang the most was what the man had just said. The man, in his thirties or forties, had the audacity to show interest in little Rice, who was only five years old, making Woo Zhengyang seethe with anger.

"I don't want to be your wife. When I grow up, I want to be Mr. Zhengyang's wife..." Little Rice said, hiding behind Woo Zhengyang while still trying to sneak bites of cotton candy.

"Little sister, who is Mr. Zhengyang? What's so great about him compared to me? Your brother Spring here is so handsome and charming that countless women have thrown themselves at me. If you join my family, you'd be my sixteenth wife. Just wait until you grow up a bit..." The man said as he tried to approach Little Rice.

Woo Zhengyang's eyes narrowed, a clear sign he was ready to act against such a vile character. "Ye Fengchun, don't push your luck!" A figure stepped in front of Woo Zhengyang, blocking his path.

Hearing Sun Li call out the man's name, Woo Zhengyang was a bit surprised. It seemed the situation was more complicated than he had initially thought. As expected, seeing Sun Li's furious demeanor, the man named Ye Fengchun wiped the lecherous grin off his face, replacing it with a mocking sneer.

"Well, if it isn't the once-famous Sun Li! What happened to you? I bet watching the woman you love marry me left you in this sorry state! Is this your daughter? If she is, and she marries me too, then... then..."

"Ye Fengchun!" Sun Li's voice was hoarse with rage.

From Ye Fengchun's words, Woo Zhengyang began to piece together the story. In Great Leaf Village, it was customary for people to marry at sixteen, and becoming a parent before twenty was quite normal. Sun Li, now in his thirties and still unmarried, clearly had his reasons.

It's said that when Sun Li was young, he participated in a grand martial arts competition and met a woman who caught his eye. Perhaps it was the thrill of youth that drove him to perform exceptionally well, making it into the top hundred—a rare feat for someone from the remote Great Leaf Village.

The beautiful woman was drawn to the heroic and brave Sun Li, and it wasn't long before he won her heart. Coincidentally, the elders from both villages were present, and they even began to discuss the possibility of a union between the two.

This story became a well-known tale during that year's Thousand-village Martial Competition. However, the very tale that spread far and wide turned into a source of trouble, as someone else also took a liking to the woman.

Blue Jewel Village, one of the top villages under the Azure Sun Martial Mansion, consistently ranked in the top ten at every Thousand-village Martial Competition. The person who fancied the woman was the son of the village chief from Blue Jewel Village.

Though both were sons of village chiefs, their statuses were worlds apart. One hailed from a small village that managed to break into the top hundred with an extraordinary performance, while the other came from a top-tier village that was consistently in the top ten. The woman's village was torn.

Their village's ranking was neck and neck with Great Leaf Village, and even if the two families successfully united, it would only be a temporary tale of success. It was a different story with Blue Jewel Village. With Blue Jewel Village's strength, even a little cooperation could significantly boost their village's standing.

The sudden involvement of Blue Jewel Village caused a huge stir, and everyone doubted Sun Li's chances. Yet, Sun Li remained confident that the woman he loved was not someone who would be swayed by such materialistic concerns.

However, the final outcome was that the woman publicly insulted Sun Li, calling him a toad lusting after a swan, and agreed to marry the son of the Blue Jewel Village chief.

Feeling utterly defeated, Sun Li found himself in a random duel where only fifty out of a hundred would advance. Instead of losing his fighting spirit, he grew more determined with each battle, fighting as if he had nothing to lose. His reckless abandon intimidated even those opponents who were usually stronger than him.

Sun Li seemed to have a death wish, hoping to take someone down with him. His opponents weren’t willing to risk their lives alongside his. Surprisingly, Sun Li advanced to the fourth stage of the Thousand-village Martial Competition, earning a chance to compete for a spot among the top twenty-five.

This was the most glorious achievement for Great Leaf Village, yet also its most disgraceful. Despite reaching the fourth stage, Sun Li's engagement was blatantly snatched away by someone from Blue Jewel Village. The harsh reality hit Sun Li hard, teaching him that no matter how hard he fought, he couldn't change the fact that he was a loser.

In the end, he declined the honorary disciple reward from the Martial Mansion and returned to Great Leaf Village in despair. Years passed, and Sun Li appeared to be just like anyone else, but those who knew the story understood that his obsession never faded. The youthful love he once had was unforgettable.

Perhaps that's why Sun Li remained unmarried. Some even speculated that his inability to progress beyond the Peak of Skin Stage to the Inner Stage was linked to this lingering obsession.

Now it seems that this oddly dressed Ye Fengchun is indeed the person from back then. When Woo Zhengyang first heard about this, he was indignant. After seeing Ye Fengchun in person, Woo Zhengyang felt even more that Sun Li deserved better. Sun Li didn't lose because of his talents or looks and personality; he lost because of his lack of background. In this world, that's what matters most. Without strength, everything else is just empty talk.

Woo Zhengyang once faced the same issue, lacking confidence when dealing with others. So, he completely understood Sun Li's feelings. Thanks to the golden vortex, Woo Zhengyang began to rise and found success. But without it, who knows? In the Profound Heaven Sect, he might have perished on the life-and-death stage, and none of what followed would have happened.

Such situations are common. Woo Zhengyang could understand the choices made by that woman and her village. However, Ye Fengchun's shameless teasing of Rice was revolting to Woo Zhengyang. Even if they were once rivals with grudges, involving an innocent child was unacceptable. Often, a seemingly small incident can change a person's life, especially for a child, where the impact can be lifelong.