Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Shen Wang sneered lightly, “Why should I stay in the Tang family? To be a thorn in your side?”

Even without knowing the original plot, being so blatantly rejected and scorned by his newfound biological parents was reason enough for Shen Wang to plan his escape; knowing the actual story, any hesitation would be disrespecting his own life.

Shen Wang feared death; he wasn’t ready to die.

“Five million, I’ll give it to you!” A myriad of thoughts flashed through Tang's mother’s mind, one prevailing decisively. She suddenly spoke up, “Once you leave the Tang family, you mustn’t tell anyone about your relation to us, nor use the Tang name for your own benefit.”

Just five million for peace of mind. Tang's mother preferred her meticulously raised child, who was perfect in every way, over this so-called biological son.

As long as Shen Wang was sent away, everything could return to normal, the Tang family peaceful and harmonious, not the chaos it had become.

At this moment, in Tang's mother’s eyes, Shen Wang was no longer her son, but a poor relative showing up for handouts, one she could easily dismiss with money and regain her tranquility.

It was a deal too good to be true.

The amount Shen Wang casually mentioned turned out to be something Tang's mother could easily afford, without even trying to negotiate. Shen Wang suddenly felt he had seriously undersold himself.

"What I meant was, each of you gives me five million," Shen Wang quickly corrected himself, feigning surprise, showing no shame in his backpedaling, "Madam Tang, you don't really think five million is enough to send me away, do you? This is the Tang family we're talking about, with assets over a billion!"

"Five million might be enough for a beggar, but I am your flesh and blood, your own child!"

Shen Wang deeply reflected on himself; he had been too poor before and underestimated the wealth of the rich. He resolved to broaden his horizons to avoid being shortchanged in the future.

Tang's father and mother simultaneously frowned, angered by Shen Wang's shameless greed: "You want one and a half million?"

"Just one and a half million. The Tang family can afford that, right?" Shen Wang sneered dismissively, "I thought the Tang family was wealthy. Can't even cough up one and a half million... Turns out it's just a facade of a rich family."

"Shut your mouth! Who do you think you are!" Tang's father slammed his hand on the table, "One and a half million? The Tang family can afford it, but do you deserve it?"

"As long as you can afford it, that's all that matters," Shen Wang said, looking at Tang's father with a mocking smile, "One and a half million, and I'll leave the Tang family for good, severing all ties; if you don't pay... "

Shen Wang pondered, "What if I go to a TV station and expose the story of the true and fake young masters? Wouldn't that be sensational? Cause a social uproar?"

Both Tang's father and mother were extremely image-conscious, always maintaining the facade of a wealthy family. After discovering the truth about the real and fake young masters, they never publicized it and quietly brought Shen Wang back.

After bringing Shen Wang back to the Tang family, they didn’t even give him the status of an illegitimate child, merely saying he was an orphan kindly sponsored and adopted by Tang's father years ago.

Even the servants of the Tang family, except for the butler who knew the truth, all thought Shen Wang was a poor orphan brought back by Tang's father, and they took good care of him... Nobody knew that Shen Wang, living in the servant's quarters and sharing their life, was the true young master of the Tang family.

The previous Shen Wang didn't care about these things. He returned to the Tang family not for its wealth, but simply to see his parents.

The current Shen Wang thought: To hell with parental affection.

Some people are better not met, as it at least preserves a beautiful illusion.

Hearing Shen Wang's unabashed threat, both Tang's father and mother were infuriated and breathless, while Tang Jiu, listening to their conversation, subtly lowered his head, hiding the schadenfreude in his eyes.

Regardless of whether Shen Wang was useless or despicable, he always posed a hidden threat to Tang Jiu. Now, Shen Wang has sealed his own fate... whether Shen Wang stays or leaves, Tang's father and mother won't show him any more kindness.

Tang Jiu was acutely aware that his parents, Tang's father and mother, valued the family's reputation above all and detested being threatened.

Shen Wang managed to step on both these landmines, and Tang Jiu had no doubt that, if possible, Tang's parents would wish they could shove this person back into the womb.

After a long standoff with Shen Wang, Tang's father seemed to lose the imposing aura he honed in the business world, as Shen Wang remained carefree and mocking, as if he was the one in control.

Finally, Tang's father relented, "One and a half million. Get out of the Tang family."

Rather than spending time and energy reshaping an adult's character, it was easier to just pay him off, even though it was a considerable sum.

Tang's father and mother acted quickly, and within minutes, a bank card containing one and a half million was handed to Shen Wang.

Shen Wang twirled the bank card between his fingers and then smiled radiantly, "Mr. and Mrs. Tang, I'll donate this money to the orphanage, doing a good deed on your behalf."

Tang's father's pupils contracted, "What do you mean?"

While one and a half million wasn't much for the Tang family, it wasn't easy to withdraw such a large sum in cash quickly. He never expected Shen Wang, who he thought was greedily seeking more, to suddenly decide to donate the money.

"Do you need to lie to us?" Tang's mother scoffed, not believing Shen Wang would actually donate the money.

Shen Wang's demeanor shifted from casual to serious, looking at Tang's father and mother as if they were strangers, "You gave birth to me but never raised me. I've never benefitted from you or owed you anything... We're square, and I have no filial obligations towards you."

"As witnessed by heaven, our blood ties and familial bonds are hereby severed, with no further entanglements."

As the last word fell, thunder suddenly roared in the clear sky, echoing continuously.

During his time in the Tang family, Shen Wang had always appeared nonchalant and indifferent, but no one expected his first serious and solemn act to be severing ties with his own parents.

Tang's father and mother felt a pang in their hearts as they watched Shen Wang, as if they had lost something significant.

As the thunder continued to rumble outside, Shen Wang remained indifferent. He politely bid farewell to Tang's father and mother, "Mr. Tang, Mrs. Tang, goodbye."

Leaving the Tang residence, Shen Wang's only regret was that he couldn't take the family's chef with him, reminiscing about the delicious lobster.

Watching Shen Wang's retreating figure, Tang's father and mother realized something intangible had broken; from now on, they were truly strangers to Shen Wang.

"How could he sever the blood ties?" Tang's father murmured. Blood ties are unbreakable bonds, only severable by powerful mystics at a great cost.

Shen Wang was just an ordinary man unable to cultivate; how could he sever these ties without any side effects? Tang's father began to doubt the accuracy of the test that had measured Shen Wang's talents.

If the test was falsified... how high could Shen Wang's potential be? Higher than Tang Jiu's?

Tang's father felt conflicted. Regardless of Shen Wang's future, they could no longer benefit from him. He consoled himself: the talent test was never wrong; Shen Wang couldn't cultivate, and Tang Jiu was the family's hope.

Tang's mother felt an inexplicable pang of regret, recalling that Shen Wang was the child she bore and raised for a short time, who lived outside for over twenty years, only to leave again soon after returning home.

She regretted not keeping Shen Wang at home, where they could easily support him, even if he achieved nothing.

How did things end up like this?

Tang's mother looked towards her remaining son, hoping to find solace in him.

Tang Jiu, however, missed her glance, immersed in his life of ease. Yet, he suddenly sensed a derailment in his smooth-sailing life.

It felt as if his untroubled life was ending, leading to a completely different path.

"How could it be?" Tang Jiu reassured himself, dismissing his unease about Shen Wang, a mere ordinary person, and smiled at his mother, "Mother, don't be upset over someone unworthy. I will always honor you."

The three Tang family members forced smiles, each lost in their own thoughts.

Shen Wang left the Tang family, holding the bank card with one and a half million in it, feeling a heart-wrenching pain.

One and a half million! The amount weighed heavily on his mind.

In both the cultivation world and the modern world, the ties of blood and karmic debts are the hardest to sever. Shen Wang had never interacted with Tang's parents. He owed them for giving him life, and they owed him for not raising him. Thus, they were even, owing nothing to each other.

Casually tucking the bank card into his pocket, he had brought nothing to the Tang household and left with nothing, ending things cleanly.

Just as he was about to leave the villa's small garden, Shen Wang stopped in his tracks.

His nose twitched slightly, detecting a faint bloody sweetness in the air, mixed with a strange and unique fragrance.

Pondering over this scent, a hand suddenly pulled him behind a rockery. A slightly deep and hoarse voice whispered in his ear, "Don't shout, or I'll slit your throat."

The voice wasn't particularly fierce, but it sent a chill through Shen Wang. He involuntarily shrank his neck, but it was futile; the cold blade pressed against his neck tightened with his movement.

Shen Wang's gaze darkened, feeling a line of blood seeping from his neck, "Big brother, your dagger seems a bit too sharp. How about moving it away a bit?"