Era of War Beasts: The Eternal Overlord

Chapter 2: Complex Aristocracy

On the Eternal Continent, people begin absorbing primal spirit energy into their bodies at the age of ten. After five years of gathering spirit, at the age of fifteen, they undergo the Awakening Ceremony. Success in this ceremony determines one's primal spirit profession. Failure means another five years of gathering spirit, with a final chance at the Awakening Ceremony at the age of twenty.

If they fail again, they are deemed unfit for any of the three prestigious professions, leaving them to pursue more mundane careers. Those who pass the Awakening Ceremony at twenty are considered inferior in talent, lagging in their cultivation. However, having a profession is better than having none.

A sudden knock on the door interrupted Fang Tianyun's thoughts. He opened it to find a sprightly old man standing outside, holding a food box in his left hand and a bottle of wine in his right, smiling warmly.

"Old man, why aren't you at the banquet? What brings you here?" Fang Tianyun asked, amused by the elder's disheveled appearance.

The old man walked in casually, setting up the food and wine as he said, "I’m not fond of that scene. I'd rather share a quiet drink with my grandson."

Seeing the elder’s cheerful demeanor, Fang Tianyun felt a rare warmth in his heart. The old man was Fang Yingjie, his real grandfather in this world and the only family member who truly cared for him.

Fang Tianyun's upbringing had indeed been complex. His grandparents had an arranged marriage between two wealthy and influential families who had a long-standing relationship. Unfortunately, during Fang Yingjie's generation, the Fang family encountered a sudden misfortune, leading to their decline.

As the saying goes, "When you're rich, even distant relatives come to visit; when you're poor, not even your neighbors ask about you." When the Fang family fell on hard times, the flourishing Wilson family tried to renege on their marriage alliance.

But to everyone's surprise, his grandmother, Laura Wilson, insisted on honoring the marriage agreement.

After they married, Laura brought significant resources, pulling the Fang family back from the brink of ruin. However, accepting help always comes at a price. With Laura being the stronger partner, Fang Yingjie's status in the family was akin to that of a live-in son-in-law.

Laura was the undisputed leader of the family. Together, the couple had two sons. The elder son, Fang Zhongxing, had been transferred to a distant location for years. The younger son, Amos Wilson, took his mother's surname.

Amos, Fang Tianyun's father, met a woman during his studies. However, their relationship was deemed unsuitable due to differences in social standing, and Laura disapproved of the match. Since Amos’s line carried the prestigious Wilson name, Laura had high expectations for his marriage prospects.

Amos, unwilling to defy his mother, ended the relationship, even though the woman was pregnant. As a result, on a snowy day, an infant was left at the Wilson family doorstep. Laura, deeming the situation disgraceful, ordered the baby to be sent to an orphanage or abandoned out of sight.

However, the kind-hearted Fang Yingjie couldn't bear the thought of abandoning his grandson. After repeatedly pleading with his wife, she reluctantly agreed to let the baby stay, on the condition that he wouldn't bear the Wilson name. Thus, the boy was named Fang Tianyun, a name chosen by his grandfather.

"Yun" means "fortune" in Chinese, while "Tian" suggests foundational virtue, indicating Fang Yingjie’s deep affection for his grandson. After this incident, Amos was swiftly married off to a noblewoman named Lisa, within six months of his graduation. She belonged to a prominent family, and within a year of their marriage, she bore twins: Arthur and Eva.

Fang Tianyun's half-siblings, Arthur and Eva, shared the same father but different mothers.

Due to the awkwardness of his background, Fang Tianyun was never well-regarded within the family. However, he remained unfazed, as within this young body resided the seasoned soul of a man from Earth.

After several rounds of drinks, Fang Yingjie's speech began to slur, while Fang Tianyun appeared unaffected, as if he were drinking water. With enough alcohol, men tend to become more talkative. Fang Yingjie, his face flushed, began reminiscing and sharing stories. Fang Tianyun patiently listened, occasionally refilling his grandfather's glass.

When Fang Yingjie had said all he wanted, Fang Tianyun smiled and said, "Grandfather, I'm planning to leave here."

The room fell silent as the old man stared, his drunken haze giving way to shock. The glass in his hand slipped and shattered on the floor, but he barely noticed. "What... did you say?"

"I said I'm planning to leave here and go to another city to study," Fang Tianyun repeated calmly, bending down to pick up the fallen glass.

"Oh..." Fang Yingjie's spirit seemed to deflate instantly. The room was enveloped in a brief, heavy silence.

"Leaving here might be for the best..." The old man forced a smile, but the sorrow in his eyes was unmistakable. He understood all too well the difficulties his grandson faced within the family.

Despite the heaviness in the room, Fang Tianyun remained resolute. He had decided it was time to forge his own path, away from the complexities and hostilities of the family.

But he was powerless.

When his eldest son was sent away by his wife, far from the family's core of power, he was equally powerless.

"Fang Yingjie, you're anything but heroic," he muttered, not caring that his grandson was right beside him. The old man let out a sigh of helpless self-mockery. Fang Tianyun, seeing his despondent grandfather, found himself at a loss for words of comfort. His grandfather was another awkward figure within the family.

As an in-law, Fang Yingjie never held any real authority. Even his younger daughter-in-law and grandchildren sometimes treated him with indifference. On the surface, the family name was Fang, but in essence, it was Wilson.

Fang Tianyun understood his grandfather's silent anguish. Otherwise, the old man wouldn't seek him out for a drink and to vent his frustrations. From Tianyun’s perspective, despite his limited abilities, his grandfather was a kind-hearted and genuinely good person. In this cold-hearted family, such a person should be cherished, as they bring virtue to the household.

"Have you decided when you’ll leave? Make sure to say goodbye to your father and grandmother. Despite their biases against you, the formalities must be observed."

"Don't worry, Grandpa, I know. I plan to bid them farewell tomorrow and then leave."

"If the outside world is better, don't come back."

His grandfather's words were sincere. Though deeply attached to the grandson he had watched grow up, he knew that leaving might be the best option for him. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow, knowing that there would no longer be someone to share a secret drink with in this family.