Unrestricted Dao Lord

In the Prefecture City of Qingquan Prefecture, Zhang Su ambled through the streets on his Little Red Horse.

Familiar scenes from his memories flooded his mind.

After all, the Prefecture City was where he had grown up.

Of course, most of those days had been filled with hardship.

But there were some happy memories, too.

As he spent more time in the Prefecture City, Zhang Su’s memories gradually returned, and the sense of unfamiliarity he’d felt upon arrival naturally faded.

Zhang Su came to a fork in the road.

He stopped.

He had been so focused on traveling that now, having actually arrived in the Prefecture City, he had no idea where to go.

’The old house... The Zhang Family relatives seized it as clan property.’

More images surfaced in Zhang Su’s memory.

After his mother’s death, his Zhang Family relatives had kicked them while they were down, using various excuses to take away everything their branch of the family owned.

Including the house.

Otherwise, his older brother wouldn’t have been forced to marry into the Su Family.

’So, my little sister, Elder Guan... they must all be living with my brother at the Su Family residence...’

Zhang Su still knew where the Su Family residence was.

After all, the Su Family was known as "Su Half-City"; they were famous throughout the Prefecture City.

Zhang Su immediately headed left.

Soon, he saw a massive, classical-style architectural complex.

Many people were coming and going.

Outside the main gate, numerous servants stood guard.

That was the Su Family residence!

Zhang Su immediately rode up to the main gate of the Su Family estate.

Seeing Zhang Su on his Little Red Horse and noting his uncommon bearing, the servants politely approached him. "And who might you be, young master?"

Zhang Su said calmly, "I am Zhang Su."

"Zhang Su?"

The gatekeeper looked bewildered.

He had never heard the name.

This was understandable, really.

The relationship between Zhang Su and his older brother had been extremely strained.

He hadn’t even returned for his brother’s wedding.

And he had never visited the Su Family estate before.

So naturally, the Su Family servants didn’t know who he was.

Zhang Su frowned.

"My older brother is Zhang Chen," Zhang Su stated bluntly.

"Ah? Our master-in-law’s brother..."

The servant seemed to recall something and quickly bowed respectfully. "So you are Second Master Zhang. This servant has never had the pleasure of meeting you before. Please, forgive my ignorance, Second Master Zhang."

The servant bowed hastily to Zhang Su.

His tone had become much more respectful.

Although they had never met Zhang Su, they vaguely knew that their master-in-law had a biological younger brother.

Just then, a carriage pulled up to the gate.

Zhang Su glanced over his shoulder.

It was the carriage of the Second Miss of the Su Family’s Third Branch, the same one he had seen earlier at the city gate.

She had entered the city long before him.

He had no idea where she had gone, but she was only now returning to the Su estate.

Seeing the carriage, the servants’ expressions became even more reverent.

A young woman in a green dress slowly descended from the carriage.

She was carefully supported by a handmaid.

She was quite pretty, with a delicate air about her.

"The Second Miss is back! Quickly, open the gates!"

The servants quickly threw open the main gates.

The Second Miss, of course, noticed Zhang Su as well.

After all, mounted on his Little Red Horse and possessing an aura far from ordinary, he was difficult to ignore.

The Second Miss paused and, with a smile, asked Zhang Su, "And how should I address you, good sir?"

"Zhang Su."

Upon hearing his name, the smile on the face of the previously pleasant and well-mannered Second Miss instantly froze.

"Hmph."

"So it’s a relative of the First Branch’s master-in-law, here to freeload. What an ill omen. Let’s go!"

Without another glance at Zhang Su, looking utterly disgusted, the Second Miss led her handmaid straight into the Su estate.

Zhang Su frowned.

’Why does this Second Miss of the Third Branch have such animosity toward me?’

He had never been to the Su Family estate before, so he certainly hadn’t met the Second Miss of the Third Branch.

There was only one other possibility.

Her loathing wasn’t for him, but for his older brother, Zhang Chen.

’Judging by the attitude of the Third Branch, my brother’s life in the Su Family is probably not as easy as I thought.’

The servant looked embarrassed.

Nevertheless, he said cautiously, "Second Master Zhang, the master-in-law gave instructions long ago that if you came to the Su estate, I was to bring you to the First Branch’s courtyard at once. Please, follow me, Second Master."

Zhang Su nodded.

He dismounted, tossed the reins to the servant, and ordered, "See that he gets the best feed."

"Of course, Second Master Zhang."

Zhang Su then walked through the main gate.

The Su Family estate was immense.

A sprawling complex of interconnected buildings.

It was filled with all manner of pavilions and storied buildings, utterly extravagant.

Worthy of the family known as "Su Half-City."

Truly opulent!

The Su Family was divided into three branches: the First, Second, and Third.

Each branch occupied a different courtyard within the estate.

The First Branch currently managed the Su Family’s businesses and held the most power.

However, the Second and Third Branches weren’t just idly waiting to die; they also managed some of the family’s businesses, though the First Branch still had the final say.

Zhang Su had gleaned these simple facts from the servant who led the way.

Of course, the servant hadn’t been so direct, but by reading between the lines, Zhang Su had basically figured it out.

To understand the specific dynamics between the three branches, he would have to ask his brother.

Soon, the servant led Zhang Su to a courtyard.

"Second Young Master! You’re really back?"

The aged voice of Elder Guan reached his ears.

Zhang Su saw Elder Guan.

The old man was directing a few servants as they did chores.

"Yes, I’m back. Where’s my brother?"

Zhang Su asked.

Elder Guan was so moved that his eyes instantly reddened.

He wiped his eyes and said, "Second Young Master, someone from the Third Branch came by just now. They said it was urgent and asked the Eldest Young Master to go discuss something. He hasn’t returned yet."

"But the Third Young Miss and the Young Mistress are inside. I’ll go inform them right away."

You could tell Elder Guan was genuinely happy as he scurried into the house.

Zhang Su glanced around.

There were quite a few servants in the courtyard.

All of them were curiously sizing him up.

But with Zhang Su right there, they didn’t dare to gossip, their eyes merely betraying their curiosity.

Soon, a young woman with delicate features came dashing out, holding up her skirts.

Upon seeing Zhang Su, she couldn’t help but exclaim with a laugh, "Second Brother, you’re finally back! It’s been a whole year..."

Memories of the past surfaced in Zhang Su’s mind.

This was his younger sister, Zhang Lingyi.

She must be fourteen this year, of marriageable age.

"Lingyi..."

Zhang Su studied his younger sister carefully.

She seemed to have blossomed even more than last year.

’Looks like she’s been living well in the Su Family home.’

"Second Young Master, the Young Mistress gave birth recently and is still a bit weak. Please come to the main hall,"

Elder Guan whispered.

His expression was tinged with apprehension.

Even his younger sister, Zhang Lingyi, who had been so jubilant just a moment ago, suddenly fell silent.

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

After all, they all knew that the source of the original conflict between Zhang Su and Zhang Chen had been Su Zhenzhen.

And now, Zhang Su was about to meet her.

No one knew what would happen.

But Zhang Su didn’t overthink it.

He simply nodded and said, "Alright. It is proper for me to go and pay my respects to my sister-in-law."

With that, Zhang Su walked straight into the main hall.

As soon as he entered the main hall, Zhang Su saw a young woman with a slightly pale complexion.

She was beautiful and bore a slight resemblance to the Second Miss of the Su Family’s Third Branch.

But her eyes were softer, her demeanor gentler and more graceful.

Zhang Su knew this young woman must be Su Zhenzhen.

"Greetings, Sister-in-law."

Zhang Su said.

The moment he spoke, Su Zhenzhen smiled.

"Second Brother, you’ve finally returned. My husband will be overjoyed when he finds out. He’s been talking about you for a whole year..."

Su Zhenzhen didn’t seem to mind their past "dispute of pride" in the slightest.

She carried herself with natural grace.

Outside the main hall, Elder Guan and Zhang Lingyi exchanged a glance, a hint of joy in their eyes.

Elder Guan, in particular, couldn’t help but wipe his eyes.

He was an old servant of the Zhang Family.

He deeply hoped for harmony between Zhang Chen and Zhang Su.

As the saying goes, a harmonious family prospers.

Now that Zhang Su and Su Zhenzhen were on good terms,

the biggest knot in the two brothers’ hearts would naturally be untied.

It was a joyous occasion for everyone.

"Xiaocui, bring Hutou out for Second Brother to see."

"Yes, Young Mistress."

Soon, Xiaocui came out holding a robust-looking baby boy.

This was his brother and Su Zhenzhen’s son.

His formal name was Su Mao, and his nickname was Hutou.

He had just turned one month old.

They would be holding a banquet tomorrow and inviting many guests to celebrate.

Zhang Su took Hutou and played with him for a moment.

Perhaps because Zhang Su was a Martial Artist with overwhelmingly strong Qi Blood, Hutou got scared and started bawling.

Zhang Su was flustered, which made Su Zhenzhen, his sister, and Elder Guan all laugh out loud.

In an instant, the somewhat tense atmosphere in the main hall vanished, replaced by a warm, familial air.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps rang out.

A servant, drenched in sweat, ran into the main hall, fell to his knees before Su Zhenzhen with a THUD, and cried out, "Young Mistress, you must go and see! The master-in-law is fighting with Young Master Qianhe from the Third Branch!"

At these words, the color drained from Su Zhenzhen’s face.

"Second Brother, I must go and see, lest my husband get the worst of it!"

With that, Su Zhenzhen hurriedly left the courtyard with her handmaids and servants in tow.

Zhang Su could see how anxious Su Zhenzhen was to protect her husband; she had even brought along some brawny and powerful Nursing Homes.

In the blink of an eye, only Zhang Su, his younger sister, and Elder Guan remained in the vast courtyard.

Zhang Su frowned. "Is my brother’s situation in the Su Family really this difficult?"

And this was happening inside the Su Family estate.

’Are relations between the First and Third Branches really so strained that they’ve come to blows?’