As for the side branches, they existed within the main branches. They had no fancy manors of their own, but only little courtyards on the side.

In truth, the side branches couldn't really be considered as real parts of the Hua Clan. They were more like the servants that did all the dirty, day-to-day work for the clan, such as cleaning, cooking, managing clan-owned establishments, hunting, running errands, and so on.

They were the descendants of the servants that once used to work for the clan in its glory days.

They were given the right to use the Hua Clan surname given their long years of service as a token of grat.i.tude by the clan.

But Hua Yan knew better.

Neither the main branches nor the central branch cared a bit for the side branches. The Hua family surname was actually like a chain that held him and the rest of the side branch members down, marking them as the eternal slaves to the clan.

As things stood now, there was no way out of this. He was destined to serve his entire life in obeisance to the clan, just like his father and his ancestors before him had.

He didn't want this. He didn't want to die a useless death as well.

He wanted to live.

Not to be wise. Not to be strong. Not to be rich.

He just wanted to be free.

He wanted a carefree life.

But at that point he still hadn't realized it yet.

In Lang Du continent, only those with intelligence, influence and strength could have what they wanted.

A person like him could only leave his fate in someone else's hands.

A carefree life was too much of a pipe dream.

But he didn't want to accept this. He wanted to try. He wanted to see what would happen if he were to work towards his dream.

When the guard at the gate of the manor saw Hua Yan, he let out a snort.

"You, what are you doing out so late? You know you can be punished for breaking curfew right?"

Hua Yan's brows creased in irritation when he heard the guard's words.

What curfew! Curfew your sister!

Hua Yan knew that there was no such thing as a curfew. So did the guard. The whole clan knew it! But he had no power to point this out.

This was because the guard was not asking to be contradicted. He was asking for his palms to be greased, and he knew that Hua Yan was in no situation to refuse.

Hua Yan could only curse his luck and hand over some coins.

The guard looked at him in dissatisfaction after seeing the paltry amount that Hua Yan had offered, but didn't press the issue too much.

He let him in with parting words: "Even beggar trash like you is part of the Hua Clan, ah… how the standards have fallen."

Hua Yan ignored the man's words and strode further into the manor.

If he were to get angry at every idiot that got in his way, he'd spend the rest of his life being mad.

"Hmm, that would be pretty unhealthy," he muttered to himself.

Soon, Hua Yan spotted the clerk who he regularly saw to exchange his Truewood Essence jars for money. The man seemed to be in a hurry, and he was quite annoyed with Hua Yan for showing up so late.

"You d.a.m.ned thing! Hurry and hand over the jars, fool!"

Seeing the clerk so mad, Hua Yan did not retort. He had no power to do such a bold thing.

After all, even though he couldn't be held responsible for his lateness since it was all that bandit's fault, the fact of the matter was that he was still late. In this world, where people only valued results, Hua Yan would gain no one's true sympathy.

As such, he kept his mouth shut and accepted his wage. The minute Hua Yan felt the lighter than usual coin purse, his expression showed a bit of displeasure momentarily.

Even though he was quick to erase it, his actions did not escape the clerk's eyes.

The clerk looked at him in disdain.

"Boy, wipe that look off your face. Not only do you show up late, but you also dare to dream for more money? Scram!"

And that's exactly what Hua Yan did.

He counted exactly how much he'd made. It was a measly 150 coppers, which wasn't really a lot. His pay was ruthlessly cut in half. It would be too hard to live off this small amount of money…

With slightly drooped shoulders, he headed home. He really felt ashamed of himself. How was he supposed to leave his lowly life if he kept being looked down on like this.

He really needed something to threaten them all with.

The guards at the town gate were threatened by his ident.i.ty as a member of the Hua Clan.

But the guard at the Hua Ding Manor gate? The clerk? They didn't give him the slightest bit of acknowledgement.

Why? Was it because they were incapable of such a thing?

No. Definitely not.

It was simply because he lacked the qualifications to garner their respect.

If he wanted to escape, he needed to become better. He needed to be feared. He needed such an ident.i.ty…

By the time he was snapped out of his thoughts, he was finally home.

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It was located in a little corner of the 24th side courtyard.

There were 52 side courtyards in total in the Hua Ding Manor. Hua Yan and his sister lived in one such courtyard. As for his mother… well she was another story.

As soon as he entered his dingy place, a pair of fierce, inquisitive eyes latched onto him, making him feel a headache coming on.