According to the seized cargo manifest, the Western Fan Fruit wasn't meant to be eaten, it was for ornamental purposes only...
Those barbarians from the Western Regions had apparently tasted it and found it sour, metallic, and blood-tinged, an ominous flavor.
They'd heard red was a symbol of auspiciousness in the former Liang Kingdom, and thought offering this fruit might earn them some reward.
Who could've imagined it could actually be used for cooking?
Chen An felt increasingly suspicious.
These bizarre fruits were discovered in the barbarians' ship hold when the Canal Guild intercepted them on the Eastern Court Lake.
The Westerners hadn't realized the Liang Kingdom had already been conquered by the Zhou, its emperor long dead.
With no emperor to receive the tribute, the Canal Guild deemed the fruit novel and exotic, and decided to confiscate it, along with other spices and goods, under some flimsy pretext.
Though the barbarians had protested furiously, in the end they could only tuck tail and sail back home with their worthless wares.
Eventually, the fruits passed into the hands of Chen Rong, a merchant.
Which meant that, theoretically, no one in the Central Plains should have known what this fruit was, let alone how to eat it.
So how did this sudden "big brother" know?
Chen An narrowed his eyes. His suspicion deepened.
But still, it made no sense for someone to pretend to be a family member just to poison his mother and sister. If the fruit were toxic, and he had tried to serve it to them, that would be obvious and punishable.
No, it couldn't be a careless infiltration plan.
Chen An kept quiet and stepped forward silently, trying to gauge what this man was really up to.
But just as he entered the kitchen..
"Mother," the young man said softly, "is that Chen An?"
Chen An froze mid-step. His fingers tensed around the hilt of his sword.
Gan Tang looked up and, upon seeing him, blinked in surprise. "It really is you! What's gotten into the both of you today?"
"Since you're here, lend a hand. Your elder brother is cooking today, take this opportunity to catch up."
She beamed and turned back to help Chen Kuang crack some eggs, clearly in high spirits.
Chen An slowly relaxed his grip. He glanced over at Chen Ning, and the two exchanged a look of helpless resignation.
Mother, of all people in this house, you're the only one completely free of suspicion right now...
But soon, he noticed something was off about his sister as well.
After exchanging that glance with him, Chen Ning winked and cheerfully resumed assisting Chen Kuang without the slightest trace of wariness.
"??"
Chen An had thought that returning home would mean joining forces with his sister to uncover the truth and fend off a potential infiltrator.
Instead, his sister had apparently... defected.
He grimaced and walked to the other side of the stove, facing this so-called "big brother" and scrutinizing him with a sharp gaze, hoping to find some flaw.
Chen Kuang, for his part, was amused.
Never mind that he had witnessed the apex of battle in this world, he himself had slain disciples of Martial Saints.
That day he cut his way out of the capital, his Song of Weed-Cutting had built up so much killing momentum that he shattered Li Hongling's spine with a single blow.
As General Huo Hengxuan had once said: only after enduring endless trials can one grasp the true essence of martial cultivation.
Chen An's current posturing looked more like the moody rebellion of an adolescent, he was far too green.
Calm and collected, Chen Kuang continued making his signature dish, tomato and fried egg.
He hadn't expected to find tomatoes here of all places.
In the courtyard, the tomato plant had been carefully shaped like an ornamental flower, as if mistaken for a decorative species.
It had even been cultivated to look pristine, no doubt the result of selective breeding.
Compared to the modern thick-skinned tomatoes that had gradually lost their flavor, this one held up well enough.
Chen An stared until his eyes were sore, but couldn't get a reaction out of him.
Then it hit him, the guy was blind..
Maybe he was just hypersensitive to sound?
"..."
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Chen An shifted his stance and coughed lightly. "I heard, Big Brother, that you brought a few companions to stay with you here in the estate. How long are they planning to stay?"
He continued, "I mean, I heard they're all women. If they live here too long, it might affect the household's reputation. If you're to inherit the Chen family estate one day, people are bound to gossip..."
"No need to worry," Chen Kuang replied with a gentle smile. "Once I'm done with some personal matters, I'll be leaving with them."
The cheerful atmosphere suddenly faltered.
Gan Tang paused, visibly stunned. "Kuang'er, you... you're not staying? After all these years, this house has stayed empty waiting for you..."
"You're still the eldest. You're meant to inherit the estate. Your father and I have always said so, he feels the same way. He regrets what happened back then, but everything we've built over the years... it's all meant to be yours!"
Chen Kuang sighed inwardly. But he still felt it best to make things clear.
"I came back to pay respects, not to stay."
"Mother, just leave the household to Chen An. I've been gone for years, he's surely contributed far more than I ever could. It wouldn't be right for me to suddenly take it all. That kind of unfairness should only happen once in a lifetime."
"He's a cultivator now, trusted by the Canal Guild. He's more suited than I am."
He slid the steaming plate of tomato and egg toward her, its aroma rich and savory.
"As for me, I'm just a wandering musician, used to idling about. I'd hate to end up ruining the family wealth. Best I stay free as a cloud."
Gan Tang took the plate with trembling hands, tears brimming in her eyes.
The last time in his past life, he'd only had one wish: that someone might share this dish with him.
She forced a smile and took a bite. It was delicious, but to her, it tasted like nothing.
Mumbling some excuse, she quickly left, likely to find Chen Rong.
Chen Ning, worried, quickly followed after her.
Only Chen An remained, standing silently.
He hadn't expected that answer. Chen Kuang's composure shook his suspicions.
Chen Kuang turned his head toward him, smiling. "Got the answer you wanted?"
Chen An tensed. "You... you said that on purpose, didn't you?"
Chen Kuang nodded. "Mother's desire to make amends is too strong. But Father, well, he's not likely to hand over the family estate to the son he once abandoned, guilt or not."
"To him, the present always outweighs the past."
"I didn't want her to suffer because of me, so better to be clear from the start."
He added coolly, "As for Father, he's probably already sent someone to investigate me. But you don't need to worry, he won't find anything."
Chen Kuang's identity as a palace musician had vanished with the fall of the imperial city. His wanted status was issued by the Martial Saint Pavilion and circulated only among cultivators.
Only someone like Qi Sibai could acquire that kind of intelligence immediately.
Ordinary people? Impossible.
Besides, his appearance had been altered using the Mist-Flower Silk. To those who saw him now, their memories would later shift, making his true face harder to recall.
Chen An was silent for a while, then asked, "You really are my brother?"
Chen Kuang raised a brow. "And what if I'm not?"
Chen An's hand twitched. A sword tip glinted as he drew a few inches of steel. "Then I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life."
"And if I am?"
Chen An sheathed the sword and turned to leave.
"Then I, Chen An, will guarantee you a lifetime of peace."
Chen Kuang watched his brother's retreating figure, speechless for a long time.
Teenage boys these days... so dramatic.
A lifetime of peace?
If only he knew that Chen Kuang was now hunted by two Saints, he might just faint on the spot.
...
Chen An left the estate and boarded a hidden carriage around the corner.
Of course, he would still investigate.
But not through the Canal Guild, their internal politics were far too messy, and Chen Rong's status there was actually higher than his.
If even Chen Rong found nothing, then it was unlikely Chen An would.
So, he'd have to use another channel.
Inside the carriage, Chen An drew a deep breath and pulled out a copper token.
On it was carved a single character:
"Justice".