Chapter 1: Raising You for Twenty Years, and You View Me as Your Mortal Enemy?

Dongzhou, Wanren City, Lu Family.

"Let us leave! Otherwise, I will fight you to the death!"

A cry of grief and indignation, like the weeping of an oriole, pulled Lu Ren's thoughts back.

His gaze was like the sea, shrouded in mist, watching with icy silence the woman before him who was threatening him with a dagger pressed against her own throat.

Lu Ren spoke slowly: "Do you know what you are doing?"

For a fleeting moment, Yu Ruowei felt guilty and ashamed, but it was quickly replaced by dissatisfaction and anger.

Her eyes were red, filled with accusations and hatred toward Lu Ren.

"Of course I know, Family Head... no, Lu Ren, isn't it the Immortal Bone in my body that you want? Let Qin Yuan and me leave, or you will get nothing!"

Lu Ren looked at her deeply, then raised his hand to suppress the indignation of the Lu Family members behind him.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, feeling only absurdity.

Half a month ago, he had transmigrated to the Tianxuan Continent and became Lu Ren, the Family Head of the Lu Family in Wanren City, and the actual power-holder of Wanren City.

After merging with the original body's memories, he was Lu Ren, and Lu Ren was him.

Twelve years ago, while Lu Ren was traveling the world, the Yu Family of Fuhai City was wiped out by unknown assailants, leaving only a pair of fraternal twins; Lu Ren, acting out of kindness, brought them back to the Lu Family to raise them to adulthood.

The younger sister was Yu Ruowei, whom he raised as a direct descendant of the Lu Family until she was fourteen, at which point Lu Ren discovered she possessed an Immortal Bone, but it had been improperly formed and had hardened into a Ferocious Bone.

He was deeply worried and spent several years searching, until half a year ago he found a solution; he went alone to retrieve the medicinal catalyst and suffered heavy injuries, and before he could tell Yu Ruowei this good news, he was met with her betrayal alongside an outsider.

She actually claimed he had only adopted her for the sake of the Immortal Bone! He, Lu Ren, had never wronged Yu Ruowei, cultivating her with the resources of a direct Lu Family descendant without ever requiring her to fulfill the obligations of a Lu Family member.

Whatever Yu Ruowei wanted, Lu Ren would immediately retrieve for her, ensuring it appeared by her bedside within three days.

Cultivation techniques, medicinal pills, and protective Spirit Treasures were never in short supply for her.

When she was rescued, she was still young, terrified and anxious, washing her face with tears every day; Lu Ren taught and raised her personally, and he did not even force her to change her surname because Yu Ruowei missed her mother.

When he learned that the Immortal Bone in Yu Ruowei's body was problematic—likely because someone had used her as a vessel to cultivate it—Lu Ren immediately hid the news, fearing that if it leaked, it would put Yu Ruowei in the center of a storm.

Since then, he had spared no expense, exhausting many treasures and risking his own life, all to save Yu Ruowei, whom he had raised as his own daughter.

Yet look at what Yu Ruowei had done! Her eyes were filled with tears, she was in great pain, and the way she looked at Lu Ren was as if she were looking at the man who killed her father.

The dagger she held to threaten him was the very birthday gift Lu Ren had given her on her sixteenth birthday.

The Mirage Crystal embedded in it could protect the wielder from being disturbed by Heart Demons.

This was nothing short of ingratitude!

"Family Head Lu, Weiwei was never a member of your Lu Family. I have come today to take her away. I implore Family Head Lu to grant this, otherwise, I, Qin Yuan, do not mind fighting until the blood flows like a river; I must return Weiwei to her freedom!"

Qin Yuan spoke with righteous indignation, earning a look of love and gratitude from Yu Ruowei.

Dressed in simple cloth, he stood with righteous aura, staring straight at Lu Ren without a shred of respect, causing the Lu Family members behind Lu Ren to stir restlessly.

But because Lu Ren had not spoken, no one dared to step out of line, only glaring angrily at the pair.

【Ding! Detected the Child of Luck, Qin Yuan, acting arrogant; Qi Luck has increased, system activated.】

【The Villain System is at your service.】

【Mission issued: Interrupt Qin Yuan's arrogance and stop the growth of the Child of Luck.】

【Mission reward: Full recovery of injuries, one bottle of top-grade Yang Spirit Pill.】

Lu Ren had intended to finish the two of them off, but he paused his steps due to the system notification, deeply astonished.

A system?

And it was a Villain System at that!

Lu Ren's heart was in turmoil, but on the surface, he appeared even colder and more unfathomable.

Seeing that Lu Ren remained silent, Yu Ruowei became even more anxious.

She had met Qin Yuan in the last Secret Realm and they had developed feelings for each other; the old man by his side had a discerning eye and pointed out that she possessed an Immortal Bone.

He even said the scent of medicinal herbs on her was the catalyst to extract the Immortal Bone! Yu Ruowei understood instantly and was overcome with grief; so it turned out Lu Ren had adopted her and been so doting only for the sake of the Immortal Bone—no wonder he had been so good to her!

After she returned home and tested Lu Ren, saying she wanted to leave and travel the continent with Qin Yuan, only to be stopped, the last shred of doubt in Yu Ruowei's heart vanished.

Lu Ren really did intend to imprison her just to take the Immortal Bone!

Since he was so heartless, she would not blame herself! Knowing the Lu Family valued strength and had cold hearts, she feared Lu Ren was already thinking of killing Qin Yuan, so she immediately pressed the dagger hard against her own neck, a drop of blood instantly flowing down, scarlet and stinging to the eyes.

"My brother has risked his life for you all these years; the debt of you saving us has long been repaid. Do not force me; if I die, the Immortal Bone will be tainted with bad luck, and you will never get a perfect Immortal Bone."

"Enough talk. Family Head Lu, if you still have the demeanor of a family head, let us go free. Besides, you are heavily injured now and cannot stop us!"

Lu Ren felt a chill in his heart. Not for himself, but for the former Lu Ren.

"Freedom, what a fine 'freedom'!"

He said slowly, his gaze sweeping past Yu Ruowei and landing on Qin Yuan.

The system said Qin Yuan was the Child of Luck and he was the villain; according to his intuition from his past life, baptized by countless web novels, he figured his adopted daughter Yu Ruowei must be Qin Yuan's harem member.

And he, this "ungrateful Family Head," was the cannon-fodder villain blocking their love.

Perhaps he was even an experience pack meant to deliver experience to Qin Yuan! A cold glint flashed through Lu Ren's eyes.

Did they really think he was the same cold-faced but warm-hearted Lu Ren as before? "I never expected that even with the Lu Family united, I would one day raise an ingrate."

"You want to leave? Fine." A cold glint flashed in Lu Ren's eyes, and he was blunt.

"Once you step out of this door, you are no longer a member of the Lu Family. Since you are now an outsider, you shall return every bit of the resources the Lu Family has invested in you over the years."

"You were raised by me, and the Lu Family has invested an immeasurable amount in you; return the Lu Family's cultivation techniques!"

Lu Ren's voice was indifferent, and Yu Ruowei was stunned upon hearing this.

"How am I to return them?"

She had already memorized them; did he expect her to lose her memory! Thinking of this, Yu Ruowei felt annoyed, suspecting that Lu Ren was deliberately making things difficult for her.

Lu Ren: "How? Naturally, by crippling your cultivation!"

The "Jiemai Wushuang Sword Chart" that Yu Ruowei practiced was passed down by Lu Ren, and it was a work into which he had poured his heart and blood, even using up a favor from a Legendary Sword God for it.

There were also forty-nine experts in total, constantly practicing and refining it, tailoring it specifically for Yu Ruowei, making it not only a powerful cultivation method unique in this world, but also the one most suited to Yu Ruowei.

It was precisely because of this cultivation method that Yu Ruowei was able to hold on until Lu Ren found a solution for the Ferocious Bone.

They say a father's love is like a mountain; Lu Ren had no children of his own, and his entire heart of paternal love was undoubtedly given entirely to Yu Ruowei.

Hearing what Lu Ren said, Yu Ruowei's heart trembled.

Her lips turned pale, and she could not believe it.

Lu Ren... how could he be so heartless! He keeps saying he is her father, yet he cannot tolerate even the slightest defiance! It's all fake! It's all a lie to her! Why, why can't he just grant her wish! Qin Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

He stepped forward, frowning: "Family Head Lu! Your actions are somewhat too inhumane; even if the cultivation method belongs to the Lu Family, all those years of hard practice were Weiwei's own. Moreover, you are a Clan Head; to press so tightly and be so unrelenting is truly lacking in magnanimity!"

Lu Ren shifted his gaze toward Qin Yuan and spoke coldly: "And what are you, that you are worthy of questioning me?"

Facing Qin Yuan, Lu Ren was not so easy to talk to; the pressure belonging solely to a Saint Realm expert erupted in that instant, and Qin Yuan, caught completely off guard, spat out a mouthful of blood!

He looked at Lu Ren in terror; this was the terrifying aspect of a Saint Realm expert—even just the release of his aura almost crushed him to death! Yu Ruowei was even more terrified.

Lu Ren actually intended to kill Qin Yuan! She instantly dropped the dagger in her hand and knelt down with a thud.

"No! Don't you touch him! I don't want the cultivation method anymore, I'll return it to you!"

Having said that, she steeled her heart and struck her own heart meridian with a fierce palm! "Pfft!"

Specks of blood sprayed out, and Yu Ruowei's cultivation was completely destroyed inch by inch.

Her lips parted slightly, revealing a desolate and resentful sneer: "Is it enough? Are you satisfied? Family! Head! Lu! I have returned the cultivation to you!"

Yu Ruowei thought to herself that she did not lose; today she would make everyone see Lu Ren's true face! Little did she know, everyone in the Lu Family looked at her as if she were an idiot, their gazes filled with nothing but shock and disgust.

They did not understand, nor did they want to understand, that she would actually destroy her cultivation for an outsider, sparing no cost, and even go so far as to betray the family!

Qin Yuan could not hide his surprise and being moved.

He did not expect that Yu Ruowei would go to such lengths for him.

Only Lu Ren, looking at Yu Ruowei's disheveled appearance, felt a flash of disappointment.

He had given her a chance.

Lu Ren stopped thinking about it and lowered his eyes coldly.

"Good! Very good! A fine 'returning the cultivation to me'!"

"The family has raised you for so many years; can you repay the resources consumed?"

"The family gave you glory, countless people honored you as their young lady, allowing you to be arrogant and domineering in this world; can you repay the favors spent?"

"The family bestowed treasures upon you, which are depleted year after year; can you repay those supreme treasures?"

"Everything you have was bestowed upon you by me; what right do you have to tell me you are 'returning' it?"

"If you want to leave today, you may!"

"I will reclaim all the resources on your person, strip you of your status as the Lu Family Goddess, announce it to the world, and you shall gouge out your own eyes and break your own legs; only then, having severed all ties with the Lu Family today and becoming a commoner, may you leave."

(End of chapter)