Chapter 223 - 221: I Don’t Choose Friends Based on Status

Chapter 223: Chapter 221: I Don’t Choose Friends Based on Status

Ouyang Yi was from the fourth branch and was ostracized within the Ouyang Family.

Furthermore, the surrounding Jianghu Forces were all aware of the Ouyang Family’s internal situation, so few of the younger Martial Artists from these factions were willing to associate with Ouyang Yi.

Consequently, he had been a loner with no friends since childhood. The fact that Chen Yuan had stood up for him today and was willing to call him a brother, without a hint of scorn, filled Ouyang Yi’s heart with immense gratitude.

"Master Chen, you didn’t even get to eat properly after standing up for me. I’ll have the shopkeeper prepare another spread."

Ouyang Yi quickly called the shopkeeper over and asked him to prepare a table of Qingyue Building’s signature dishes.

This time, Chen Yuan did not refuse and took a seat with Ouyang Yi.

"Just the other day, I saw Brother Chen’s impressive accomplishments on the Hidden Dragon Rankings. I never expected to meet you in person today."

Ouyang Yi poured Chen Yuan a cup of wine and asked curiously, "Brother Chen, where are you headed after leaving Qin Province? Are you going back to Ning Province?"

In truth, Ouyang Yi’s personality wasn’t particularly withdrawn. He spoke quite appropriately now that he was with Chen Yuan.

It was just that within the Ouyang Family, he had to live cautiously and couldn’t speak freely, lest the first branch find an excuse to reprimand him. That was why he appeared somewhat introverted and quiet.

"I am planning to return to Ning Province, but since it was such a hassle to get out, I’m not in any hurry to go back. I happened to be passing through Ji Province and thought I would travel around for a while.

By the way, Brother Ouyang, you’re a local. Do you know if there are any places in Ji Province worth visiting?"

Ouyang Yi gave an awkward smile. "I’ve rarely even left Purple Peak City. My knowledge of Ji Province is probably less than yours, Brother Chen."

After a pause, Ouyang Yi said, "My Ouyang Family will be holding our ancestor worship ceremony soon. It’s always a grand and lively affair. Would Brother Chen be interested in seeing it?"

"Since Brother Ouyang has invited me, I’ll have to impose on you for a few days." Chen Yuan immediately nodded in agreement.

Ouyang Yi was taken aback. He had assumed Chen Yuan would decline, as he had only been making a polite offer.

After all, the Ouyang Family was merely a local power, not a particularly formidable one.

But since Chen Yuan didn’t seem to mind, he was more than happy to host him.

He had never had many friends, so he was overjoyed that a prodigy ranked thirteenth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings was willing to get to know him.

After their meal, Ouyang Yi led Chen Yuan back to the Ouyang Family estate.

The Ouyang estate was quite large; their manor covered half of Purple Peak Mountain.

The Ouyang Family had, after all, seen better days. Their ancestor was a disciple from the Valley God Palace. For years, the family had been trying to restore their forebear’s glory.

This was the purpose of the annual ancestor worship ceremony: to ensure the clansmen never forgot their roots.

The center of the Ouyang estate was occupied by the first branch, while the fourth branch was relegated to the most remote area at the very back.

"Dad! I’m back!"

Ouyang Yi shouted as he entered the courtyard. A handsome and refined-looking man in his early forties came out.

This was Ouyang Yi’s father, Ouyang Mingcheng. In the original story, he was the member of the Ouyang Family’s Direct Lineage who chose to open the Daoist Palace without demanding any conditions.

"I heard Ouyang Cheng and his cronies were bullying you again. Are you hurt?"

Ouyang Mingcheng asked, his face etched with worry.

Ouyang Yi shook his head and gestured to Chen Yuan. "Dad, this is Brother Chen Jiutian from Zhenwu Hall, the prodigy ranked thirteenth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings. He’s the one who helped me today."

With that, Ouyang Yi recounted the entire incident to Ouyang Mingcheng in detail.

After hearing the story, Ouyang Mingcheng bowed gratefully to Chen Yuan. "Thank you for your help, Master Chen. If you don’t mind, please stay with the Ouyang Family for some time. I will be sure to extend my best hospitality."

"Then I will be in your care, Elder Ouyang," Chen Yuan said with a smile, cupping his hands.

Seeing that Chen Yuan put on no airs, Ouyang Mingcheng’s impression of him immediately improved.

He had met prodigies from the Hidden Dragon Rankings who hailed from Ji Province’s top factions, and every single one of them was insufferably arrogant.

Chen Yuan’s ranking was higher than theirs, yet his attitude was mild and humble, which was quite at odds with his fierce reputation on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

Still, it was rare for his son to make a friend, especially one with such an extraordinary background.

So Ouyang Mingcheng did his utmost to be a good host, telling the kitchen to prepare a variety of Ji Province’s local delicacies for Chen Yuan well in advance.

However, just as dinner was being served, several members of the Ouyang Family barged into the fourth branch’s courtyard.

The man in the lead was in his fifties, sported a goatee, and possessed a solid aura, his Cultivation at the Half-Step Primordial Pill Realm.

Seeing this, Ouyang Mingcheng quickly rose and cupped his hands. "Eldest Brother, what brings you here?"

This was the head of the Ouyang Family’s first branch, Ouyang Mingli. Though his name, Mingli, meant ’understands courtesy,’ his attitude was anything but.

"What, I can’t come to your fourth branch unless I have business? Is the fourth branch trying to secede from our Ouyang Family?"

"Eldest Brother, please don’t misunderstand. That’s not what I meant," Ouyang Mingcheng hastily explained.

"Good that you didn’t."

Ouyang Mingli snorted, then turned to Chen Yuan with a smile. "Master Chen of Zhenwu Hall has honored us with your presence. I apologize for not coming to greet you sooner.

My son had a conflict with you earlier today, Master Chen. That was due to my own failure in raising him.

But as they say, sometimes it takes a fight to make a friend. They’re all young men; it’s only right they get to know one another.

Furthermore, since you have come to our Ouyang Family, Master Chen, I must show you proper hospitality.

I have a banquet prepared at my residence, and I’ve invited some prominent figures from the Martial World forces around Purple Peak City to join us. I invite you to come, Master Chen, and I will have my son formally apologize to you there."

At this, Ouyang Mingcheng’s expression turned extremely grim.

He knew exactly what Ouyang Mingli was implying.

This was a blatant attempt to poach his guest!

A prodigy like Master Chen, ranked thirteenth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, was someone any faction would treat as an honored guest. Hosting him would bring great prestige to their family.

Ouyang Mingli wanted to build connections for his son. He had deliberately invited numerous Jianghu People to this banquet, all in an attempt to lure Master Chen over to the first branch.

But Master Chen was a connection established by *his* fourth branch. For Ouyang Mingli to openly try to steal him away was a slap in the face to the fourth branch.

Yet even so, Ouyang Mingcheng dared not say a word. The look he cast toward Chen Yuan was tinged with despair.

’Master Chen just arrived; he probably doesn’t know about the Ouyang Family’s internal politics.’

’Once he finds out, he’ll surely only want to associate with the first branch. He’ll look down on us in the fourth branch, who are practically no different from a Side Branch.’

Chen Yuan said coolly, "You’re right, you have failed to raise your son. With an attitude like his, if he ever runs into someone with a short temper, he won’t even know what killed him.

As for dinner, there’s no need. Elder Ouyang has already prepared a meal, and I can’t be bothered to move."

Both Ouyang Mingcheng and Ouyang Mingli were stunned. Neither had expected Chen Yuan to refuse.

Ouyang Mingli’s expression soured. He lowered his voice and said, "Master Chen, perhaps you don’t fully understand our Ouyang Family.

Our family is divided into five branches. As of now, my first branch is the most powerful. Even our Old Ancestor, Ouyang Xun, hails from my branch."

"So? What does that have to do with me?"

Chen Yuan looked at Ouyang Mingli as if he were an idiot. "If I chose my friends based on status, do you really think that moron of a son you have would be qualified to associate with me?

Cui Xuanye, the heir to the Cui Family of Celestial Official City, is a good friend of mine. So is Lu Chuanshan, the personal disciple of Alliance Leader Chen Longbi of the Jianghai Alliance.

Gu Lichuan, number twenty-three on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, and Qin Suguang, number twenty-four, are also my friends.

Which of them can the scion of your Ouyang Family’s first branch possibly compare to? And you think he is worthy of my friendship? Don’t be ridiculous!

I, Chen Jiutian, have never chosen my friends based on their status. If I did, how many people in this younger generation of the Jianghu would even be qualified to associate with me?"

Chen Yuan’s words left Ouyang Mingli speechless, his face flushing red then turning pale. He wanted to erupt in anger but didn’t dare.

After all, Chen Yuan had a powerful background and was technically an invited guest for the ancestor worship ceremony.

If he were to clash with Chen Yuan, it would be the entire Ouyang Family that lost face.

"Let’s go!"

Ouyang Mingli snorted, turned, and left with his entourage, his expression grim.

After Ouyang Mingli and his men were gone, both Ouyang Mingcheng and his son Ouyang Yi looked at Chen Yuan with gratitude.

If Chen Yuan had left with Ouyang Mingli today, the first branch would have trampled all over the fourth branch’s dignity once again.

"Thank you for preserving the dignity of our fourth branch today, Master Chen," Ouyang Mingcheng said gratefully.

"Brother Ouyang invited me. I didn’t come here seeking out one branch of your family or another. What would it look like if I just left with him?"

Chen Yuan waved his hand dismissively, retook his seat, and began to eat.

Currently, Ouyang Mingcheng’s immediate family was all that was left of the Ouyang Family’s fourth branch. During the meal, Ouyang Mingcheng also called for his wife to join them.

Chen Yuan found Ouyang Mingcheng’s wife to be quite stunning. Though nearly forty, she was gentle and beautiful, with a tall, curvaceous figure and a quiet, sweet-tempered personality. What’s more, her Cultivation was also extraordinary—like Ouyang Mingcheng, she was at the Peak of Condensing Truth Realm.

In comparison, Ouyang Yi seemed rather plain.

His mother was so stunning and his father so handsome and refined—he must have been exceptionally dashing in his youth—yet Ouyang Yi was quite average-looking. One could only say he wasn’t ugly.

During the meal, Chen Yuan asked, "Elder Ouyang, forgive me for being nosy, but you’re part of the Ouyang Family’s Direct Lineage. Why is there such a huge gap between the branches? It’s gotten to the point where you’re worse off than even a Side Branch."

Ouyang Mingcheng gave a bitter smile. "The Ouyang Family was divided into five branches because of a sudden decline and crisis in our past. The idea was that if one branch were to be annihilated, the others could carry on and rebuild the family’s legacy.

So, in the beginning, there weren’t just five branches, but nine. Four of those branches, however, have since died out completely.

Back then, the ancestor of the fourth branch contributed the most to fending off our enemies, but this also meant our ancestors suffered the most casualties in battle.

So, when the remaining five branches later regrouped, the fourth branch had the fewest members. Our strength was only slightly greater than that of the fifth branch.

The first branch had the most members, so they naturally became the main branch. Over the following centuries, the strong grew stronger, and the weak grew weaker.

The fifth branch attached itself to the first, and is now destined to become little more than a side branch to them.

Only my lineage remains in the fourth branch, and we are unwilling to be relegated to a Side Branch. So we’ve held on, but it has meant years of oppression from the first branch. I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you, Master Chen."