Chapter Six: Stealing My Woman? I'll Beat You Up (Part One)

Old Tor’s house was not far from the city gate, and it seemed he was a figure of great esteem in Homesick City—everyone who saw him approaching would spontaneously make way for him.

His house was enormous, spanning nearly half the street. The main door was carved from a kind of violet crystal, flawless and glowing gently with a purple radiance, exuding an air of extraordinary nobility.

On either side of the door stood ten warriors clad in purple, each with a broadsword at his waist, standing ramrod straight. When they saw Old Tor come near, they merely offered him a respectful but understated salute.

But before the two of them could reach the gate, a mutant burst from within, dispensing with formality and blurting out, “Old Master, you’re back! Miss Anna is in serious trouble!”

Hearing this, Old Tor seemed deeply agitated. He seized the man by the collar, half-lifting him as he growled, “What happened to Anna? Didn’t I tell you before I left—if she so much as loses a hair, I’ll skin you all alive!”

The mutant quickly replied, “Old Master, Miss Anna is unharmed! But she’s gotten herself into a big mess.”

Hearing Anna was safe, Old Tor finally let out a long sigh of relief and released his grip, his tone now gruff with annoyance: “If she’s fine, why say she’s in trouble? Are you senile already, can’t even speak properly?”

The mutant glanced at Kuangchi, then leaned in to whisper something in Old Tor’s ear.

At these words, Old Tor suddenly burst into hearty laughter, chuckling for a long while before exclaiming, “Good, good—she’s truly my granddaughter! Well done, that’s just how it should be!” He laughed again, heartily.

Only then did he bring Kuangchi through the gate, chuckling as he turned to the mutant at his side, “Chief Steward, this is an honored guest of our family. Take him to the Clear Shadows Residence and see he’s treated with care. If anyone neglects him, they’ll answer to me.”

Then, Old Tor said to Kuangchi, “Lad, go with him and rest for a while. If anything displeases you, just tell him. I have some matters to attend to—I’ll show you around the city in a few days.”

Kuangchi smiled and bowed, then followed the Chief Steward away.

The next day, Kuangchi was meditating when he heard footsteps approaching from afar, followed by Old Tor’s booming laughter just outside. Then came his voice, “Lad, what are you up to? Come out quickly, I’m going to take you somewhere interesting!”

After finishing his cultivation, Kuangchi opened his door with a smile. Outside stood three people: Old Tor himself in front, and if Kuangchi wasn’t mistaken, the man at the back was the Chief Steward who had settled him in.

But it was the girl in the middle who made Kuangchi pause—a stunning beauty, half a head shorter than himself, was clinging affectionately to Old Tor’s arm, half hiding behind him, her large violet eyes peeking out at Kuangchi with shy curiosity.

Her face was adorably rosy, making her irresistibly charming. And her waist-length violet hair, paired with those purple eyes, gave her an indescribable allure. Kuangchi stared, transfixed, and she stared right back at him, equally curious.

They gazed at each other for a long time until Old Tor’s laughter finally snapped them out of their reverie.

Noticing Old Tor’s peculiar look, Kuangchi felt his face grow warm. Still, never having met a woman shorter than himself, he couldn’t help but steal another glance at her.

After several hearty laughs, Old Tor said, “Lad, this is my beloved granddaughter, Anna. Isn’t she beautiful? Isn’t she adorable?”

Though his cheeks flushed, Kuangchi nodded earnestly, unable to look away from the curious Anna.

Old Tor laughed again, then pulled Anna out from behind him and said, “Anna, this is the exile from beyond the Forgotten Star Region I told you about—Kuangchi.” He burst out laughing once more.

Anna, mortified, darted back behind Old Tor and refused to show her face. Clearly, the girl was quite shy.

Seeing Anna’s bashful demeanor, Kuangchi couldn’t help but smile.

After a few more laughs, Old Tor said to Kuangchi, “Lad, I’m entrusting Anna to you. Promise me you’ll take good care of her.”

This time Kuangchi did not demur. As a scion of a noble family, he was hardly averse to arranged marriages—in upper human society, especially among the main lineages, marriages were almost always arranged for various reasons.

And Anna’s appearance was beyond reproach. Kuangchi had feared Old Tor’s granddaughter might be unattractive, which was why he’d hesitated to agree, but now, seeing her, he had no such concerns.

He was well aware he’d be spending decades on the Forgotten Star, and naturally, he desired to settle down and find companionship. In recent days, he’d often found his thoughts wandering back to Zixia and Phil.

What pleased him most was Anna’s height, which matched his own perfectly. In today’s human society, finding a woman whose height, appearance, and bearing satisfied him had long been Kuangchi’s dream. Standing beside such a woman, they looked like a perfect pair—unlike when he was with Zixia, where, putting it nicely, they might be mistaken for siblings, and less kindly, in a few years’ time, for mother and son. This had always bothered Kuangchi and was the main reason he disliked attending social events with Zixia.

As he watched the half-hidden Anna, Kuangchi blurted out, “I’ll take good care of Anna, Old Tor, you have my word. If anyone dares upset her, I’ll tear them apart.”

At this, Old Tor laughed heartily again.

Anna, hearing this, poked her head out from behind Old Tor and scolded softly, “Shameless! Who needs you to take care of me?” Then she retreated behind her grandfather once more.

Her adorable antics made Kuangchi laugh along with Old Tor.

Seeing the sparks between the two, Old Tor was overjoyed. For whatever reason, he felt that entrusting Anna to Kuangchi was a deal with nothing to lose.

He quickly pulled Anna out again, saying, “Anna, he’s just arrived in the city. I’m giving you a task: show him around. I have some matters to settle.”

Anna protested, clinging to Old Tor’s arm, unwilling to let go, though she didn’t voice her refusal.

But the old fox saw through it—both agreed, but his granddaughter was simply too shy to let him leave.

With a few more laughs, Old Tor stroked the scraggly hair at his chin and said, “Alright, enough, Anna. Your recent trouble—I have to go resolve it, don’t I? Kuangchi is in your care; don’t neglect our guest, understood?” With that, he strode off with the Chief Steward, casting Kuangchi a meaningful glance as he left.