Elder Brother

Xu Wenrui, the eldest son of the Marshal’s household in the Tian Kun Dynasty, currently served as the Deputy Commander of the Pacification Guard.

From a young age, he had demonstrated extraordinary talent. Now, as a cultivator at the early stage of the Dao Nourishing Realm, he was rightfully regarded as the number one among the younger generation. His achievements stood in stark contrast to those of his younger brother, Xu Jin, earning the brothers the infamous nickname “Dragon and Dog,” a favorite topic of gossip among the capital’s citizens.

Qin Gou, who had been living under Xu Jin’s identity in the Marshal’s household for some time, only met his so-called elder brother on the day of the grand martial arts marriage contest for the Sword-Wielding Princess.

Xu Wenrui’s appearance was impeccable. His hair was tied into a high crown, and his white robe with gold trim was spotless. His narrow eyes held an unshakable calm, as if he viewed the world with detached indifference, giving him an air of maturity far beyond his years.

“Big Brother,” Qin Gou greeted, dragged forward by Xu Shuangshuang, who insisted he meet Xu Wenrui.

Xu Wenrui glanced at Xu Shuangshuang, nodding slightly. “It’s been a while, Second Sister. You’ve grown more radiant. The Seventh Prince has been asking about you recently. He mentioned wanting to see you again.”

“Big Brother… you know I don’t have any feelings for the Seventh Prince,” Xu Shuangshuang said, lowering her head in displeasure.

Xu Wenrui raised an eyebrow. “I have some matters that require the Seventh Prince’s assistance. Do me this favor. It’s decided.”

Without waiting for her response, Xu Wenrui turned his attention to Qin Gou, his gaze scrutinizing. “Third Brother, you’ve been fortunate to recover from your congenital defect. It’s good to see you finally becoming a proper person. I’m genuinely happy for you. I’ve been busy with work and couldn’t congratulate you earlier. You’re not secretly resenting me for that, are you?”

“I am,” Qin Gou replied casually, shrugging. With his plans already in motion, he had no interest in playing along with Xu Wenrui’s pretense.

“What?” Xu Wenrui was momentarily stunned by the blunt response. He quickly recovered, shaking his head with a faint smile. “I didn’t expect you to have such a temper now…”

But then his tone shifted, his gaze sharp as a blade. “But there’s a limit to throwing tantrums. Why are you participating in this martial arts marriage contest? Do you think this is a place for your antics? Just because you’re no longer a cripple, you think you can embarrass our family in a new way by making a spectacle of yourself in front of everyone?”

“Big Brother, you misunderstand,” Xu Shuangshuang interjected, placing a hand on Qin Gou’s shoulder. Her voice was soft as she explained, “Third Brother isn’t here to compete with anyone. He just wants your approval. He knows you’ve always looked down on him for being unable to cultivate. That’s why, as soon as he recovered, he was eager to prove himself to you. It’s all because of his admiration and respect for you. I understand how he feels.”

“Prove himself to me? For such a foolish reason, you convinced Father to plead with the Emperor for this opportunity? I’m truly disappointed in you both,” Xu Wenrui said coldly. His gaze was sharp enough to cut. “Do you have any idea how precious the Emperor’s favor is? Even someone of Father’s status can’t abuse it. Such requests should be used wisely—like securing my inheritance of Father’s title or ensuring Second Sister becomes the Seventh Prince’s wife. Not wasted on something so meaningless! What realm am I in, and what cultivation level are you at, Xu Jin? You want to prove yourself to me? Can you even withstand a single strike from me? Is this how you plan to prove yourself—by letting the world see how easily I can defeat you?”

“Big Brother, why is everything in your mind always about schemes and calculations? Can’t you be a little more straightforward when it comes to your own family?” Xu Shuangshuang asked, her voice trembling with sadness. She rarely had the chance to speak with her estranged elder brother, and every interaction left her feeling more distant. As someone bold and outgoing, she was used to brushing off insults from strangers, but Xu Wenrui’s harsh words cut her deeply.

“Do you want to know why? Because that’s the difference between me and the two of you!” Xu Wenrui’s tone grew colder, his arrogance palpable. “I have grand ambitions, unstoppable goals. That’s why, when people mention the Marshal’s sons, they think of me—not you two useless fools.”

At that moment, Xu Shuangshuang could no longer hold back her tears. Covering her face, she began to sob silently. Though she was a strong-willed woman, her family was her greatest weakness. A thousand insults from outsiders wouldn’t faze her, but a single harsh word from her brother could shatter her.

“Commander Xu, it’s your turn,” a guard said respectfully, interrupting the tense moment.

Xu Wenrui glanced at his weeping sister, his expression indifferent. Shaking his head in frustration, he turned to leave.

“Xu Wenrui,” Qin Gou called out, gently patting Xu Shuangshuang’s back as he spoke. “You humiliate your own sister to the point of tears, and you think you can just walk away?”

Xu Wenrui turned, his expression one of mild surprise. “Your Second Sister has always been overly sentimental. It’s best to leave her be. You can take her back to the estate. You don’t need to participate in the contest.”

“Who said I’m not participating? I’ve come this far, and you want me to just leave?” Qin Gou asked, his tone icy.

“I said so,” Xu Wenrui replied, his voice cold. “Have I not made myself clear? Are you truly this foolish, or are you deliberately trying to provoke me?”

“You said so?” Qin Gou laughed, his anger evident. “And who do you think you are?”

“Impudent!” Xu Wenrui roared, his voice like thunder. The ground beneath his feet cracked under the force of his rage.

“Second Sister said I came here to prove myself. She misunderstood. That’s not my real reason,” Qin Gou said calmly. He took out a clean handkerchief from his spatial ring and gently wiped Xu Shuangshuang’s tear-streaked face, offering her a warm smile.

“My goal has always been simple: to win, take Mu Man’er, and smash that smug face of yours, Xu Wenrui.”