On the other hand, Jiang Chen laughed easily and decided to ignore the matter. Everyone had their own ambitions. Yang Zong had chosen the pursuit of profit and a side that benefited him instead of choosing his brothers. That was his choice.
Except, Jiang Chen naturally struck off Yang Zong’s name from his heart.
Fatty Xuan eased off crucifying Yang Zong upon seeing that Jiang Chen didn’t join in. He changed the topic to the Hidden Dragon Trials.
“Brother Chen, do you actually have any ambitions when it comes to the Trials?” Fatty Xuan had had a bit too much to drink and his tongue had become a bit loose.
“What ambitions?” Jiang Chen smiled.
“Brother Chen, I, fatty Xuan, am a stubborn sort. I don’t think much of any of those premier dukes. I only feel a kinship with Brother Chen, so if Brother Chen soars triumphantly in the sky, then I will smile even in my dreams! Brother Chen, I wish you would aim for those preeminent positions!”
“Indeed Brother Chen, that Bai Zhanyun is just that. You absolutely have the potential to make a play for a position as one of the four great dukes.” Hubing Yue was also extremely fervent as he thought of Jiang Chen’s performance that night.
“Four great dukes?” Jiang Chen murmured lightly and then grinned widely. “The four great dukes are not my end goal.”
“Ah? Brother Chen, then what is your goal? It would also be great if you could vault into the ranks of the top ten.” Hubing Yue said.
“Hubing Yue, are you a silly pig?” Although Fatty Xuan was drunk, his mind wasn’t. With his understanding of Jiang Chen, his tone wasn’t that he couldn’t nab one of the spots as one of the four great dukes, but that he didn’t deign to!
As his thoughts traveled down this path, Fatty Xuan’s immense body shook briefly, his sobriety returning immediately. Looks of unparalleled fervor shot out from his quickly darting eyes beneath his plump eyelids.
“Brother Chen, can it be that your goal is the position of the Eastern royals? Haha, that’s my Brother Chen alright! Great ambitions, damn straight!”
Fatty Xuan was also a slight bit of a bastard. Add to that the influence of alcohol, and that resulted in him completely losing all reservations when talking. He probably hadn’t thought that these words would already clap him as a suspect for rebellion.
“This… Brother Chen, are you for real?” Hubing Yue was gobsmacked and his breathing also grew heavy.
Jiang Chen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry upon seeing how serious these two were. “Fatty Xuan, your imagination is too active. When did I say I wanted to replace the Eastern royals?”
“Then what?” Fatty Xuan scratched his head and wore a perplexed look.
“I am a cultivator. It would be a waste of my life if I pursued momentary weath. I, Jiang Chen, wish to pursue martial dao with my life. All common wealth and riches are but floating clouds to me.”
Fatty Xuan became completely listless upon seeing how serious Jiang Chen was.
“Brother Chen, this doesn’t seem like you. What happened to our previous vows? Didn’t we agree to go crazy together, enjoy everything together, be wild and free together, and weather all storms together?”
Fatty Xuan pouted as he muttered complaints.
“People have to change.” Jiang Chen sighed lightly. “Fatty, since you two are my brothers, I won’t voice false words. Although playing hooky is fun, those days won’t last long. Do you know how many eyes are staring at the dukedom that you hold in your hands, to speak of nothing else? If it wasn’t for the dukedom, on what basis do you have to be a dandy? What ability do you have to be wild and free?”
Fatty Xuan was speechless. How would he not know that to be wild and free together was just a temporary dream.
How could you be wild without strength? Who would allow you to be so haughty?
At the end of the day, they were able to be wild and free together because of a good father and a good reincarnation.
But after their generation had run carefree, what of the next generation?
This resonated deeply with Hubing Yue, “Fatty, Brother Chen is right. I too think that only strength is the true law of this world. Look at Brother Chen’s experiences over the past couple of days, isn’t it a perfect illustration of this rule? People used to challenge us no matter where we went. And now? Everyone who sees Brother Chen dare not even look at us. This is the change brought by strength!”