"Master, I must take my leave now. Please, take care of yourself."
Within the formidable walls of Longtan Prison, nestled in the heart of Jiangnan Province, stood a young man named Ethan. He bowed deeply and respectfully to a disheveled old man, his eyes clouded with a profound reluctance.
The elder, a figure of serene wisdom despite his unkempt appearance, offered a slight nod. "Do not forget, my son, what your master has taught you," he cautioned, his voice raspy but clear. "Rid yourself of the dragon energy within you as soon as you are free. Should it continue to erode your heart's meridians, disaster will surely befall you."
Ethan's nod was solemn. "Master, I understand."
It had been three years since Ethan, then a mere fifteen-year-old, had stepped into this grim edifice, a sacrifice for his elder brother's transgression. At first, he was just a boy, small and vulnerable, often a target for the prison's brutal hierarchy. Fortune, however, had smiled upon him in the guise of this old man, who had taken him under his wing, imparting a wealth of knowledge and ancient skills.
His master had revealed a startling truth: Ethan carried the blood of a true dragon. Yet, for reasons unknown, the true dragon bones that should have anchored this power had been cruelly extracted from his very being. This sacrilege had birthed a resentful dragon energy within him, a corrosive force that gnawed at his vitality, threatening to claim his life before his eighteenth birthday. It was only through the master's teachings of martial arts, which had bolstered his qi and blood constitution, that Ethan had managed to suppress this insidious energy, though it was but a temporary reprieve.
To truly purge the resentful dragon energy, two paths lay before him. The first was to find a woman of a special physique. Dragons, by their very nature, were creatures of primal desire, and the resentful dragon energy, a corrupted form of this power, could be quelled through dual cultivation. By drawing upon her yin essence, he could reconcile the tumultuous energy within him. Among such women, those possessing the True Phoenix or True Dragon bodies were deemed the most potent. The second path involved recovering his lost true dragon bones. As the very absence of these bones fueled the dragon's resentment, their return would surely dissipate the curse.
The old man, with a gentle wave of his hand, dismissed him. "Go now. And remember, uphold the honor of your master."
Ethan knelt, kowtowing three times in a gesture of profound respect and gratitude, before rising and leaving the confines of the prison. No sooner had he stepped into the light than a ripple of excitement spread through Longtan Prison.
"Hahaha, the King of Chu is finally gone!" "Excellent! Today is a day for celebration. Time to set things right."
Meanwhile, in Jiangdu City, the prestigious Sterling family, one of the four most influential households, was steeped in anxiety.
Within the opulent Sterling villa, Arthur Sterling and his wife, Evelyn, wore expressions of deep worry. "What are we to do? Only three days remain. If I cannot find a solution, my position as head of the family will be forfeit," Arthur fretted, his brow furrowed.
Evelyn's voice was laced with indignation. "It's obvious Father is doing this on purpose."
Arthur sighed, "I know. Father is subtly forcing me to relinquish my position."
A hint of panic crept into Evelyn's tone. "Then what is our recourse?"
Arthur gritted his teeth. "If all else fails, we may have no choice but to sacrifice Amelia."
Evelyn's face paled. "Will Amelia even agree? Miss Davies, the eldest daughter of the Davies family, is in a vegetative state, and I heard her face is disfigured."
More than a year prior, the Davies' eldest daughter had been involved in a tragic car accident, leaving her comatose. After exhausting all avenues of medical treatment, the Davies family had recently decided to seek a son-in-law, hoping to bring good fortune to their ailing daughter. The Sterling family, eager to expand their wealth and influence, had proactively offered their services. Old Master Sterling had swiftly convened a family meeting. After fruitless deliberation, the pressure had fallen squarely upon Arthur, the current family head.
Just as the couple wallowed in their distress, the Sterling family's butler entered the room. "Master, Young Master Ethan has returned."
Evelyn frowned. "Which Young Master Ethan?"
Arthur, too, initially seemed perplexed, then a flicker of recognition crossed his face.
The butler clarified, "Master, it is young Master Ethan, who was imprisoned three years ago."
A sudden realization dawned on both of them. Ethan. He had been absent for over three years, so much so that they had almost forgotten they even had such a son. Their eyes simultaneously lit up, and Evelyn, a smile spreading across her face, exclaimed, "Arthur, we can have Ethan marry into the Davies family!"
Arthur nodded in eager agreement. "Indeed, a perfect match: a former prisoner and a patient in a coma."
A fresh wave of worry washed over Evelyn. "But Ethan is an illegitimate child, and he's been in jail. Will the Davies family object?"
Arthur pondered for a moment. "I'll call and inquire." He immediately retrieved his phone to speak with the Davies family.
After he hung up, Evelyn eagerly asked, "Well, what did they say?"
Arthur replied, "The Davies family said they would consider it."
At that moment, the butler ushered Ethan into the room. Seeing his faded, prison-worn clothes, a fleeting expression of distaste crossed their faces. But the thought of the Davies family alliance forced them to muster a smile.
Arthur quickly approached, taking Ethan's hand and speaking with feigned warmth: "Ethan, my boy, I am so truly sorry for the past three years."
Evelyn chimed in, "Ethan, wait a moment, Mother will go prepare a meal for you." She rose and headed for the kitchen.
Arthur held Ethan's hand, launching into a lengthy inquiry about his well-being. He asked about his three years in prison, explaining how he had been preoccupied with the family corporation's affairs and thus unable to visit. Ethan merely listened quietly, offering no rebuttals. He scoffed inwardly. He was no longer the naive boy he had been three years ago. Even if they spoke flowery words, he wouldn't believe a single one.
In the past, Ethan had been virtually without status in the household, often subjected to beatings and verbal abuse. Three years prior, Arthur had even coerced him into taking the blame for his elder brother, Edward. They had argued that as a minor, Ethan would receive a lighter sentence. They had also promised him a life of wealth and glory upon his release. Yet, from the moment he was imprisoned, the Sterling family had never once visited him. Ethan, young and powerless against the family's might, had had no choice but to comply.
Originally, he had not intended to return to the Sterling family after his release. However, his master had revealed his true dragon bloodline. Since both Arthur and his deceased mother were ordinary people, it was impossible for him to have inherited such a lineage from them. There was only one possibility: either both were not his biological parents, or at least one of them was not. He had returned to uncover the truth of his own heritage.
Though he couldn't quite grasp the reason for Arthur's sudden warmth, Ethan knew that such abnormal behavior signaled ulterior motives. He was eager to see what game they were playing.
Over an hour passed, and Arthur continued to prattle on. Finally, Ethan could tolerate it no longer. He said, his voice cold, "Stop. Just tell me what this is all about."
Arthur was momentarily stunned, then forced a smile. "Ethan, my boy, what are you saying? Can't a father simply care for his son?"
Ethan remained silent, his unwavering gaze fixed on Arthur. The latter grew increasingly uncomfortable. Just then, his phone rang. He answered it, and his face lit up with joy. After a few brief words, he hung up, turning to Ethan with a paternal smile.
"Ethan, this is what happened. To compensate for your sacrifice over the past three years, your father has arranged a marriage for you."
Ethan's heart stirred, knowing the true purpose of this charade had finally arrived.
"The young lady is the eldest daughter of the Davies family. If you marry her, you will never want for anything for the rest of your life."
Ethan scoffed inwardly. Though he had his suspicions, he hadn't anticipated such blatant shamelessness. He had heard about the Davies' eldest daughter from a cellmate. Once the jewel of the Davies family, she had suffered a tragic accident, becoming a comatose invalid. Now, freshly released from prison, he was to be forced into marriage with a vegetable. What a "good father."
Arthur continued to boast, "Ethan, the Davies family is a prominent and wealthy family in Jiangdu, even more powerful than our own. You simply must not miss this opportunity."
Ethan's look was one of pure mockery. "If she is so exceptional, then why don't my elder brothers, Edward or William, marry her instead?"
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