Han Family

A week later, the national entrance examinations results were announced. Han Chen ranked first in the nation. That was when the chaos began. His montonous life was interrupted by calls from supposed relatives to even the minister.

He really underestimated the response. In previous life academic success was not in his story, but now he achieved that without even trying. It's sort off felt like taking care of minor regrets.

The school made a big deal out of it, presenting him with a special memento, teachers showering him with praise. Even the education minister personally video-called his family to congratulate him. Then came the media—reporters knocking on his door, cameras flashing, people digging into his life, interviewing his friends, posting articles about him online and in newspapers. The buzz went for a week leaving him no time to cultivate.

It was overwhelmingly annoying.

There were moments he just wanted to drop the act, to stop forcing the polite smiles and responses, his parents told him. But dealing with people who wouldn't leave him alone was already exhausting and arguing with them would be even worse. He just created some random troubles for those who want to dig more.

On top of that, universities flooded him with offers, both local and international. Ivy League schools, prestigious institutions in Europe, top-ranked Chinese universities, all reaching out, even though he hadn't applied. The school he had applied to sent him a formal letter, confirming his acceptance with a full scholarship and extra bonuses. Besides them next wave was some modelling companies and idol groups.

While Han Chen remained indifferent, his parents were thrilled and mostly they had more screen time than him. They talked endlessly about the opportunities ahead, what this meant for the family, what a great achievement it was. But it was seriously a challenge for his loner way to dao.

Anyway, a months time passed from invitation and after all this, it was time to visit the ancestral home of Han family. During this time adding with the period he spent in seclusion, he put many efforts into studying and adding contingencies for the safety of his parents which also includes the businesses they were involved in.

He had already planned to advance meeting with his supposed ex wife in this life. The university he has been selected is in her city.

...

Coming to the present, they set off. Family opt to have a train journey instead of flying directly.

The ride was long, stretching past endless fields, rivers, and clusters of small towns before fading into the more rural landscapes of the province where the Han Family's ancestral estate lay. The air here was different less tainted by the steel and glass of the city. But as it nears more human habitation the familiar urban environment returned again.

In his past life, Han Chen had returned here with a servant main family sent. A formality. A forced visit after the parents dead, nothing more. The family had received him with polite indifference. Back then, he had been an orphan.

But this time, things were different.

He sat beside his father, Han Zhong, sleeping without a care in the world. His mother, Lin Qingyu, sat across from them, absently scrolling through her phone. She had always been the type to stay out of family politics, preferring a peaceful life.

Han Chen, hands folded loosely in his lap, gazed out at the passing scenery, thoughts focused. This invitation never happened before.

...Possible changes leading to this are, his mother is now a genuine martial master. Father is transform Jin. He think father posted something online, few months before when mother's realm increased. Or very least, Han Chen's own martial potential in profile was seen by Tang Family, its possible some coincidence lead to Han Family knowing he is also a ming Jin level.

The estrangement with his father about 18 years ago has something to do with marrying a women from commoner families, his mother. But now that everyone has good potential for martial arts, what is there to be harsh about.

Other than that, business has grown big over the couple of years. He has somehow put up some nice ideas for his parents to work on by just randomly placing some never before seen information whenever he visited his company, remotely.

Some of the people working over there taken its credits. But some where honest denying any claim so seeing the situation, they where put on hold for some time based on company ethics until Han Chen added his consent in them using it. So for the last year new products produced had a significant cash splurge and huge profits, may be that is the reason.

The journey was peaceful. Later people came to pick us up in a black sedan and we arrived at the Han Family Estate. The Lianfeng metropolis city is just adjacent to this place a hundred miles away from here, where he would be studying in the future and also the home of Yue Lan's family.

Han Zhong, despite being part of the extended Han lineage, had always kept his distance from the family's power struggles. He was a man who valued stability over ambition, which was why they lived a relatively normal life—far from the suffocating grip of the Han family's main branch.

Vying for status is very common and the basis for that are achievements in bussiness and martial arts.

As they drove through the gates, the Han ancestral estate unfolded before them—an elegant fusion of modern wealth and old-world grandeur. Traditional courtyards blended seamlessly with new constructions, the architecture a statement of legacy and adaptation.

The first to greet them was Han Tianxing, the patriarch himself. Not because he was waiting, he was about to go out for some reason.

Han Chen had met him before. In his last life, the man had barely acknowledged his existence, seeing him as a disposable side-branch orphan, someone whose presence was tolerated rather than welcomed.

But today, with his parents beside him, the reception was different.

"Zhong, Qingyu," Han Tianxing greeted smoothly, offering a handshake to Han Zhong and a nod to Lin Qingyu. Despite his young appearance he is already 76 years old, martial master. His gaze flickered to Han Chen, studying him for a moment before his lips curved into something resembling approval.

"You've raised a fine son."

He knew better than to take them at face value. The banquet & unspoken politics

dinner was a grand affair, as expected. Dozens of Han relatives were present, some offering polite congratulations on Han Chen's academic achievement, others watching in silence or joining his parents in debating national policies and market growth.

He recognized most of them. In his past life, he had learned to read between the lines—to recognize who was loyal to the patriarch, who harbored their own ambitions, who viewed him as a threat, even now.

Cousins he barely remembered toasted to his success. Uncles spoke of "opportunities" that might await him. His aunts praised his mother for raising such an accomplished son for both academics and martial arts achievement too.

Sure enough, parents wondered why they said so, and became curious how they knew, and eventually got to know the insides out of being in state supernatural investigation list suspects. Han Chen did receive glare from both his parents for not telling them such serious cases.

Han Chen remained polite with a smile.

But deep inside, he was looking at the main family heir opposite infront of him. Han Zixuan. He was now 25 years old. Just graduated from foreign bussiness school. He is considered as next executive head of energy group.

Then there is Han Ruojin, 34 years old from Han biotech division. Han Yichen, CTO of digital solutions group. Three others were there in similar age group but not present here. Han Xinyue, Han Jinyao and Han Feng, working in research, media and security military divisions.

Further from them among his parents were the older generation, Han Yuze, Han Ruoxue as CEO and director of industries. Two others are also not here. The discussions never crossed the topics concerning previous eviction from family. Everyone had a smile on the faces. It was late night at the by end of the small party..

The oldest of the family, Han Chen's grandfather is not present. He is patriarchs older brother. Learning that we came, he returned next day. He is 91 years old. There is quite the age difference between the two brothers. They also had a late younger sister.

Han Chen doesn't know the details. Despite the age, sensing his realm as peak martial master he can live upto 50 more years for sure.

If he is a master, then how did he died in last life, there is some information missing to the events leading to that. The room was lined with old books, antique furniture, and a large window that overlooked the gardens. The air smelled of aged wood and ink, a place meant for serious conversations.

While Han Chen was eyeing him, he also was sizing up Han Chen. Last time they met, Han Chen was only one years old. He judged his martial potential back then. Now, his seemingly ordinary grandson has no fluctuations of aura on his own and no discomfort when aura of his qi mechanism was slipped unintentionally.

...

His grandfather wasn't the emotional or lovely type, but he really cared in his heart, otherwise he wouldn't leave a sizeable portion of sum in his name after his unfortunate death in previous life. He was asked about his martial training yesterday by patriarch and now his grandpa. Both answers were same, perfunctory stating he was innately capable of hiding his breath. It was easy to fool a mere masters spiritual qi.

He was naturally excluded from adults talk, he didn't mind since there is nothing hidden in his spirit sense. The cousins and uncles from yesterday went for their bussiness. Leaving behind few youngsters in same age as Han Chen. 14 to 19 years.

They invited him to drive around the city and attend some private gatherings. Having nothing to do he accompanied them.

There were three girls among them and 2 boys other than Han Chen. Among them Han Chen particularly remembers Han Meiling, now 15 years old, daughter of Han Ruojin.

In his past life, she had a sharp tongue. When Han Chen has been in his low, she was extremely sarcastic and hurtful with words, yet showed kindness in the end when he needed urgent money for bone surgery when his vegetative wife somehow fell down. Others didn't bother to pick up a call or even meet. But she was one of the few who did.