The Cooper Family's Eric Cooper is very good at doing business, having opened a large number of rice shops, cloth stores, and restaurants. He is wealthy but not greedy, often giving alms to poor families struggling in the small town. The Cooper Family has become known as a great benefactor in the eyes of the townspeople.

The most famous person in the small town is not Jason Carter, nor Eric Cooper, but rather Eric Cooper's only eight-year-old son, Ryan Cooper.

Although Ryan Cooper does not like practicing martial arts, he especially loves to fight. Almost all the children of his age in the town have been beaten by him, and even the young masters of the The Carter Family who have just started learning martial arts are not spared.

Every day, when the children of the town gather together, the first thing they say to each other is, "Did you get beaten by him today?"

The parents who come to Ryan Cooper's house to complain have almost worn out his doorstep. Because of this, Eric Cooper is constantly apologizing and making amends to others, and he both tries to reason with Ryan Cooper and disciplines him with a firm hand.

But he still does as he pleases. At this point, even the usually doting Ethan Cooper has to step in, blowing his beard and glaring at him.

In response, Ryan Cooper said, "Grandpa, your beard can actually move without wind, and your eyes are so big and bright when your beard moves—so cute."

Ethan Cooper was so angry that his beard almost stood up to his forehead, but since he only had this one grandson, he couldn't bear to hit him. Helpless, he could only say, "If you bully the other children again, I'll lock you in the house and not let you go out."

From then on, Ryan Cooper really stopped picking on kids his own age. He set his sights on the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old hooligans.

Although he was only eight, this boy was born extraordinary. The first time he fought with a hooligan, he beat the guy until his head was bleeding. From then on, he always carried the family's black jade at his waist and specifically sought out the local hooligans to fight. The hooligans in the area would avoid him if they could, and if they couldn't, they would run away.

After that, Ryan Cooper couldn't find any opponents to fight in the town, so he once sneaked out alone into the forest outside the town to pick a fight with wild beasts. That day, everyone living in the town heard the furious roars of wild animals, scaring the hunters so much that none of them dared to go hunting. At dusk, Ryan Cooper came back to town, covered in blood, dragging a dead tiger behind him. His mother and grandmother were terrified, and in the days that followed, they had people watch him at all times, afraid that one day he would get the urge to go after wild boars or lions.

For a time, the name of Ryan Cooper spread throughout the small town.

The head of the The Carter Family, Jason Carter, became very interested in him, believing he was a martial arts prodigy and wanting to take him as a disciple.

To this, Ryan Cooper shook his little head like a rattle-drum, "I won't learn, too lazy to learn."

Jason Carter could only sigh, "The head of the The Carter Family personally offering to take on a disciple, and actually being refused. If this gets out in the martial world, it will be big news."

Loving to fight but not to practice martial arts, Ryan Cooper truly became the king of the children in Changfeng Town. Wherever he went, there was always a large group of kids following him. Even a few of Jason Carter's sons became his followers, and Jason Carter's six-year-old daughter, Emily Carter, stuck to him even more, becoming his most loyal little shadow.

Six-year-old Emily Carter was as delicate as a porcelain doll, smart and adorable. Her bright, big eyes were full of admiration for Ryan Cooper, and all day long she would say, "Brother Baitian, when I grow up, I want to marry you."

"Alright, when you grow up, I'll marry you. You can't go back on your word." This was Ryan Cooper's reply to Emily Carter.

Innocent childhood friends, growing up together.

From then on, wherever Ryan Cooper went, Emily Carter would follow.

Time flew by, and eight years passed in the blink of an eye.

Chapter Three: Blossoming Years

Time flows like water, and like water, the years slip by. Eight short years passed in a flash.

This year, Ryan Cooper was sixteen. The once genius brawler and king of hooligans had become a spirited young man. With sword-like brows and tiger eyes, a straight nose and square mouth, especially those eyes—bright as cold stars in the night. His tall and sturdy figure was half a head taller than most, making it hard to believe he was only sixteen.

Ryan Cooper stood by the forest outside the town, waiting for a girl—a girl he loved deeply, the girl who, as a child, always said she would marry him—Emily Carter.

Before long, a green cloud floated over from the distance, and a graceful figure in green appeared before his eyes in the blink of an eye.

"Brother Baitian."

A stunningly beautiful young woman leapt into Ryan Cooper's arms.

The little girl who was once as delicate as a porcelain doll had now grown into a graceful, flower-like maiden. Her bright eyes and white teeth, skin as smooth as jade, she was as beautiful as a fairy.

"Brother Baitian, I missed you so much, but Father wouldn't let me out. He insisted I had to practice the 'Mingyue Heart Sutra' to the seventh level. After a whole month, I finally did it. Did you miss me?"

Ryan Cooper smiled and said, "I did. If you didn't come out soon, I was going to go fight your old man."

Emily Carter pouted, "Don't say bad things about my father. He's only doing it for my own good."

"How would I dare say anything bad about my future father-in-law? If he finds out, hides his precious daughter away, who will I marry?" Ryan Cooper said with a laugh.

Emily Carter's face was full of happiness. She slipped out of Ryan Cooper's arms and said, "Brother Baitian, let's take a walk in the forest."

"Alright."