"Why? Why, even when I don't dispute anything with you, do you seek to put me to death?" Amid the howling mountain wind, a figure sprinted forward, shouting at the person trailing behind him in fury.
However, his angry roar was shattered by the mountain wind, sounding somewhat feeble. And the figure following him, grinning at the corners of his mouth, coldly sneered. He did not answer the man’s words, but simply followed him, much like a cat toying with a mouse, clearly taking pleasure in the situation.
The figure in the front staggered, breathing heavily, his face flush with exertion. His frail body couldn’t hold up against such violent exercise. Still, he relentlessly ran toward the top of the mountain for his survival.
Finally reaching the top, the figure collapsed, clearly unable to bear the relentless strain. Despite his fall, he struggled to stand again, revealing a look of despair as he realized there was nowhere left to run. He was dripping in sweat, a grim expression on his face clear to see under the midday sun.
He was a handsome youth, about fifteen years old and around 160 centimeters tall. His physique, while small, was frail due to a lack of strength, and his delicate appearance only emphasized his vulnerability. The youth wore a white robe, exuding a scholar-like aura even under such distressing circumstances. Yet his ragged breathing and dire situation betrayed his circumstances.
The youth’s name was Qin Shaofeng, the legitimate eldest son of Qin Zhan, a vassal king who ruled over three northern provinces in the Ancient Chinese Empire. The Qin family's ancestor, Qin Hu, had been named the King of the North for his remarkable contributions in battle. Under his command, a regiment of a million elite soldiers was formed, making the Qin family the most powerful force outside of the royal family itself.
Qin Shaofeng, born into such a family, should have been a celestial child, greatly loved. Indeed, that was the reality, until an aptitude test at the age of three revealed that he had no talent for spiritual cultivation. From then on, Qin Shaofeng's standing within the family underwent a drastic decline.
Even though his father Qin Zhan didn’t outright disregard Qin Shaofeng, his attention toward him faded over time.
Four years later, Qin Zhan remarried, taking the daughter of the Prince of Peace, Wu Yue, as his wife. Together, they bore a second son, Qin Shaoyang. At the age of three, Qin Shaoyang displayed excellent spiritual cultivation aptitude.
As such, Qin Shaoyang naturally became Qin Zhan's favored son, while Qin Shaofeng was virtually forgotten and overlooked, while his father focused on nurturing Qin Shaoyang.
Qin Shaofeng might have lost the decadence of his privileges but not the luxury. Although he showed no aptitude in martial arts, he had an almost monstrous talent in scholarly pursuits—possessing an eidetic memory and an ability to grasp the essence of any text he read, making an extensive knowledge his arsenal.
Yet, as for his younger brother Qin Shaoyang, who showed an exceptional aptitude for cultivation, Young Master Shaofeng showed nothing but tolerance. He never contested what Shaoyang wanted, and even intended to concede his place as the family's future leader to him. However, Qin Shaoyang seemed inexplicably to harbor a growing dislike for Qin Shaofeng.
Qin Shaofeng was now fifteen, and Qin Shaoyang eleven. The events that happened today were a surprise. Shaoyang suddenly suggested that they play together in Tianshan, the most famous area in Shanxing. Shaofeng was delighted, thinking that Qin Shaoyang had finally begun to see him as a brother and happily agreed to come to Tianshan.
However, to his surprise, Qin Shaoyang, under the shaded foot of Tianshan, suddenly attacked Qin Shaofeng. Initially, Qin Shaofeng thought it was a joke, but when he perceived the murderous intention radiating from Shaoyang's body, he realized it was real!
Despite the shocking reality, Shaofeng still couldn't believe that his younger brother was trying to kill him. It should be noted that for many years, he had never quarreled with his brother over anything. However, the sharp pain in his ribcage painfully reminded him that this was actually happening: his little brother wanted him dead.