Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Fiancée’s Betrayal
CLANG!
Qin Tuo dragged his heavy shackles, stepping out of the prison gates one foot at a time.
Behind him, a prison guard walked over and unlocked the restraints.
"Be a good man now that you’re out, young fella!"
The guard patted Qin Tuo’s shoulder.
Expressionless, Qin Tuo turned to look back at the place he had spent the last two years.
And at the end of that long corridor, the old madman who would have his sudden fits...
’Old madman, I’m leaving. I’ll visit again if I ever get the chance.’
Qin Tuo subconsciously lowered his head, rubbing the ring on his left index finger.
The dark gold ring was mottled with what looked like rust, and he couldn’t tell if it was just some cheap knock-off from a street stall.
According to the old madman’s ramblings, the ring had a name: the Celestial King Order.
It was the only thing the old madman had ever given him.
If it weren’t for the peerless martial arts and medical skills the old madman had taught him over the past two years, Qin Tuo would still be just an ordinary man.
After one last subconscious glance, Qin Tuo finally turned and walked toward the outside world he had long been separated from.
The closer he got to home, the faster he felt his heart beat.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
As he knocked on the door, Qin Tuo felt a pang of nervousness.
CREAK...
An elderly woman’s face appeared, her eyes widening in astonishment!
"Son, you’re out?!"
His mother, Luo Xianglan, was only in her forties, yet she looked as if she were in her sixties.
Her once-straight back was now deeply hunched, bent by the torment of illness.
"Mom, what happened to you?"
It felt like something exploded in Qin Tuo’s mind. His voice hoarse, he rushed over and helped Luo Xianglan up.
"Where’s Dad? Why don’t I see him?"
"Son, your father is out collecting scrap... he hasn’t come back yet."
As Luo Xianglan spoke, she seemed afraid to meet her son’s eyes.
Qin Tuo’s heart was instantly in turmoil, his eyes filled with anguish.
’What in the world happened to my family during the two years I was in prison?!’
"Where’s Xu Min? What’s she doing?"
Qin Tuo demanded, almost frantically.
He had been an ordinary office worker in Ming City, with a beloved fiancée. They had a wonderful relationship and were already planning to get married.
But all of that suddenly changed.
Two years ago to the day, Xu Min had come to him in tears, saying her father had died in an accident at a construction site, and the contractor refused to pay compensation.
Qin Tuo had exploded with anger!
Without a second thought, he had stormed over to the construction site to demand justice for his fiancée.
The contractor’s son, a notorious local wealthy heir named Zhao Peng, threw his weight around, making things difficult for Qin Tuo and relentlessly taunting him.
In a fit of rage, Qin Tuo lost control and injured Zhao Peng, landing him in prison...
Today, he was finally out.
Who would have thought this would be the news that greeted him!
Only after talking with his mother did Qin Tuo learn the truth.
After he injured Zhao Peng, the Zhao Family had come to their home and forcefully demanded compensation.
His family had been comfortably well-off, but his parents had spent all their savings trying to get him out of prison. They were even forced to sell their house under duress.
Now, they were left with nothing, and his father had to resort to scavenging to survive.
As for his mother, her chronic illness had flared up, and combined with the constant worry over Qin Tuo, she had fallen ill and never recovered.
They didn’t even have money for a doctor now.
Qin Tuo slowly tilted his head back as useless tears streamed from his eyes, no matter how hard he tried to hold them back.
"I had 300,000 in savings that I left with Xu Min. She didn’t give it to you?"
Luo Xianglan looked startled when she heard this.
"Son, ever since you went to prison, that girl Xu Min hasn’t visited us once in these two years. And... the neighbors say... that girl is getting engaged to that Zhao Peng."
As she said this, Luo Xianglan seemed to become extremely agitated and started coughing violently again.
"What?!"
BOOM...
It was like a bolt from the blue. Qin Tuo stood frozen on the spot.
In just two short years, it was as if fate had played a cruel joke on him!
Just then, a series of violent kicks suddenly slammed against the door.
"Open up! When are you going to pay the rent you owe? If you don’t pay up, get out!"
The voice from outside was clearly hostile.
Qin Tuo furrowed his brow.
"Mom, what’s going on?"
Luo Xianglan shook her head and gave a bitter smile.
"Son, the court awarded our house to Zhao Peng. We’re just renting it temporarily now, and today... today’s the day rent is due."
Hearing this, Qin Tuo couldn’t hold back his anger.
"Son, go hide in the room. If Zhao Peng finds out you’re out of prison, he’ll definitely cause more trouble for us. No matter what, you have to think about your father!"
At this, Qin Tuo could only relent, his heart filled with resentment. He reluctantly hid in the other room but pricked up his ears to listen carefully.
Luo Xianglan dragged her ailing body to the door and slowly opened it.
A lanky young man, Huang Mao, stood there with his mouth twisted in a vicious sneer, flanked by several thugs.
"Well, well! I thought you would’ve croaked in here by now!"
"Young Master Zhao sent us to collect the rent. Hand over the money, now!"
’Zhao Peng...’
Qin Tuo gritted his teeth.
He swore that one day, he would make them pay for everything!
Luo Xianglan took out a woven plastic bag, poured out a large handful of small change, and counted it carefully.
"This is last month’s rent. It’s all we could save by scrimping and saving. Please, take a look."
Hmph!
But who would have guessed, Huang Mao didn’t even glance at it. He simply kicked the pile of change aside with his pointy leather shoe.
Luo Xianglan’s face instantly turned pale with fear.
"Heh, sorry, but the rent went up this month. This little bit of money definitely isn’t enough. Hurry up and get the rest, or get the hell out!"
Huang Mao was aggressive, looking like he was ready to eat someone alive.
Luo Xianglan, on the verge of tears, grabbed Huang Mao’s hand and shook it desperately.
"Please, just talk to Young Master Zhao. Ask him to be lenient..."
But despite her pleas, Huang Mao was relentless!
He impatiently flung his arm out, nearly knocking Luo Xianglan to the ground.
Luo Xianglan coughed violently, unable to speak a complete sentence.
Huang Mao let out a vicious laugh.
"Brothers, smash all their furniture and appliances! Throw everything out!"
"I’d like to see you try!"
With a furious shout, Qin Tuo walked out of the room, his face cold as ice.
Huang Mao and his thugs were startled for a moment. They took a closer look, then started to laugh.
"Well, if it isn’t the good-for-nothing himself. You must have just gotten out, right? Seeing your home like this... does it make you sad? Does it hurt?!"
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