“Brother Wentian.” Emily Baker's eyes were red, as if she was about to cry, looking at Ethan Carter: “Brother Wentian, my Bai family has wronged you.”

“I don’t understand.” Ethan Carter said, “Qing’er, I want to see your father. If he’s unwilling, I can have my foster father sit down and discuss with him, tear up this engagement. I, Ethan Carter, and the Qin residence, will not force it.”

“Brother Wentian, my father… the Bai family, they might want to kill you.” Tears streamed down Emily Baker’s face, her voice trembling. Her words struck Ethan Carter like a bolt from the blue, leaving him stunned. Kill him?

“Why?” Ethan Carter was bewildered, confused.

“Don’t ask why, Brother Wentian, you need to leave now.” Emily Baker’s eyes were filled with tears. Ethan Carter was silent for a moment, then said, “I’m already under house arrest, how can I leave?”

“I’ve prepared a fast horse for you at the back gate. Take me as a hostage and go.” Emily Baker took out a dagger and handed it to Ethan Carter, making Ethan Carter freeze.

“Patriarch.” A voice came from outside, followed by the sound of many footsteps, making Emily Baker’s face turn pale. “Brother Wentian, hurry.”

“Qing’er, tell me the reason.” Ethan Carter fixed his gaze on Emily Baker. Emily Baker said anxiously, “After my sister became a genius, the news reached the Chu royal city that very night. The Ye family in the royal city wants to form a marriage alliance.”

“The Ye family of the royal city.” Ethan Carter’s heart grew even colder. “The mortal enemy of the Qin residence. So, the Bai family wants to use my life to show their stance, cut ties with the Qin residence, and ally with the Ye family.”

“Brother Wentian, stop talking.” Qing’er shoved the dagger into Ethan Carter’s hand, but Ethan Carter shook his head, gently touched Qing’er’s cheek, and showed a soft smile: “Even if I, Ethan Carter, am useless, how could I point a dagger at you?”

The door was pushed open, and Emily Baker’s face instantly turned as pale as paper.

“Emily Baker, come here.” A cold shout rang out as Brian Baker spoke icily.

“No, father, it was only because of Brother Wentian that sister was able to connect with the stars of the third heaven and awaken her astral soul. Why repay kindness with ingratitude?” Emily Baker shouted at Brian Baker.

“Your sister is exceptionally talented. She cultivated on her own and connected with the stars of the third heaven in one go. When did she ever need his help?” Brian Baker looked at Emily Baker and said, “Qing’er, you’re still young. Listen to your father and come back.”

“Qing’er, go.” Ethan Carter smiled at Emily Baker, making Emily Baker freeze. “Brother Wentian.”

“Remember what I taught you.” Ethan Carter patted Emily Baker’s head and pushed her back to Brian Baker’s side. Then he looked at Brian Baker and said, “Uncle Bai, what do you intend to do with me?”

“Ethan Carter, not only are you a born good-for-nothing, but your character is also lacking. You even harbored improper thoughts toward my daughter. Tell me, how should I deal with you?”

At this moment, Brian Baker felt utterly unfamiliar to Ethan Carter. He gave a slight smile, his heart completely dead, and looked at Brian Baker, saying, “I want to know, what is Qiuxue’s attitude on this matter?”

“There’s no need for you to know.” Brian Baker replied coldly, a hint of murderous intent flickering on him.

“Today, as long as I die in the Bai family, no matter the reason, I can guarantee that my foster father will surely lead his army to raze the Bai family to the ground.” Ethan Carter suddenly shouted loudly, his gaze unwavering as he stared at Brian Baker. In an instant, the gentle youth’s face was filled with determination.

“Uncle Bai, before your Bai family has the strength to oppose the Qin residence, I advise you, it’s best not to touch me.”

Brian Baker stared into Ethan Carter’s eyes. Clearly, he was also a bit surprised at how quickly this gentle youth had changed. After a long silence, he turned and walked out, saying, “Take the second young lady back. She is not to step outside again. Ethan Carter is not to leave this courtyard.”

Chapter 3: Genius Awakens

Watching Brian Baker and the others leave, Ethan Carter felt as cold as winter. Overnight, everything had changed. The kindly Uncle Bai had actually come with people to kill him.

Even though Ethan Carter had an extraordinary temperament, at this moment he still felt numb inside, unable to calm down for a long time. Finally, Ethan Carter took a deep breath, and that bright smile once again appeared on his young and clean face. So what if people are fickle? He only needed to do his best. Hadn’t his foster father treated him with deep kindness? And there was Qing’er, who risked betraying her father just to warn him of danger.

But right now, Ethan Carter didn’t have time to think about all that. What he needed more was to escape his current predicament. That meant cultivation.

Ethan Carter sat cross-legged, glanced at the stone hanging around his neck, and said, “Old man, Hei Bo said you only left me this lousy stone. Don’t you dare take me away so soon.”

As he spoke, Ethan Carter took out nine silver needles and stuck them into his own head, then closed his eyes, steadied his mind, cast aside everything, and entered a state of emptiness. He imagined himself as a vessel. Soon, he sensed the existence of the world’s vital energy and the power of the stars. This was the effect of meditation. The ability to sense the strength of the world’s vital energy and the astral energy depended on how sensitive they were to these forces.

Ethan Carter’s sensitivity to astral energy was extremely strong. This strength was not only innate, but also the result of Ethan Carter’s relentless daily training. Even during the day, he could quickly enter a meditative state, draw astral energy into his body, and circulate it throughout his system.