Chapter 14: Malice in the World

Yi Chenlan lowered his head to look at her delicate, white fingers, which softly pinched his sleeve, like a lily bud that had fallen by his side.

His heart stirred suddenly: she knelt beside him, dealing with Shu Qi, just to spare him some suffering…

His fingers slightly curled, and without leaving a trace, he moved his hand away and slowly stood up.

Shu Wan also quickly stood up.

Shu Qi glanced at them, then turned to Jiang Yang with a gentle smile, patting his shoulder. “Ah Yang, go offer incense to your father. You’ve grown up safely to the age of eighteen, becoming such an outstanding talent. You have upheld your father’s legacy. His spirit in the heavens will surely be greatly comforted.”

Jiang Yang replied respectfully and stepped forward, bowing in reverence. Shu Qi stared thoughtfully at the memorial tablet before him, a smile gradually spreading across his face.

“Today is Ah Yang’s birthday.” he said with a smile. “I’ve set up a banquet ahead. Ah Lan, you should join us as well. The Master has also prepared a gift for you.”

---

Shu Qi walked ahead, with Jiang Yang following him. Shu Qi glanced back and asked: “Ah Yang, when did Wan Wan become so close with Ah Lan?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yang was also puzzled. “Not for long, probably just recently. It started when Ah Lan began practicing the Blazing Sun Manual.”

“Mm, how is his Blazing Sun True Qi coming along?”

Jiang Yang smiled. “Master, you know the Dao. Ah Lan’s talent is mediocre, and the Blazing Sun Manual is profound and obscure. He hasn’t even entered the basics yet.”

Shu Qi smiled knowingly and didn’t speak further.

Yi Chenlan walked slowly, creating some distance between them. Shu Wan also slowed her pace and moved closer to him, asking: “Senior Brother Ah Lan, what’s wrong? Is your leg hurting?”

Yi Chenlan seemed a bit distracted, occasionally glancing at his right hand as he walked, sometimes gently clenching it, appearing somewhat nervous. Shu Wan didn’t know what was on his mind and called out to him again: “Senior Brother Ah Lan?”

“Mm? What is it?”

Yi Chenlan finally heard her. He met Shu Wan’s clear, discerning gaze for a moment, then quickly shifted his eyes away.

“Is your leg hurting?” Shu Wan asked with concern: “Did you properly adjust your breathing this morning? It’s best to balance the meridians both morning and night…”

“Wan Wan, you…” Yi Chenlan suddenly interrupted her. He hesitated for a moment before speaking in a soft voice: “Master will give you the best martial arts in the world. In his heart, you are always the most important.”

I won’t compete with you…

Don’t take everything back so quickly…

These words seemed incomplete, leaving Shu Wan confused.

She couldn’t understand why Yi Chenlan suddenly said such a thing. Was he jealous that her resources were good?

That couldn’t be, as Yi Chenlan would never think like that, it would ruin his character. Was he trying to remind her to be filial to her father? But that didn’t seem quite right either.

What did it mean…

“I understand.” unable to figure it out, Shu Wan just replied vaguely and continued to remind him: “Then don’t ignore my advice. Remember to rest properly, and I’ll help you in the evening.”

Yi Chenlan pressed his lips together, his voice growing even softer: “Mm.”

---

Their group arrived at the banquet hall, where several of the senior uncles and aunts had already gathered.

As soon as Song Anzhi saw them, he came forward to greet them. However, after taking a few steps, he noticed that Yi Chenlan was also following behind.

Shu Wan and the others saluted Song Anzhi. He furrowed his brow as he accepted their greetings and then asked Shu Qi: “Second Senior Brother, today is Ah Yang’s birthday. Why is he here? Isn’t this just adding to Ah Yang’s troubles?”

Jiang Yang smiled generously. “Third Uncle, it’s fine. Ah Lan has been very kind to me, and I haven’t reached the point where just seeing him would cause me distress.”

Song Anzhi smiled, his expression filled with tenderness. “You have a broad heart, just like your father.”

Jiang Yang glanced at Shu Qi. “It’s all thanks to Master’s teachings.”

Shu Wan lowered her head and pursed her lips. She couldn’t help it. Song Anzhi was a good person at heart, but his temper was sharp and volatile, and his emotional intelligence was quite low. Saying such things in front of Yi Chenlan was really hurtful.

Sigh, but the current Song Anzhi wouldn’t care whether his words would hurt Yi Chenlan.

Shu Wan secretly poked Yi Chenlan’s hand to offer some comfort, or at least to distract him a little.

Yi Chenlan stiffened for a moment, then subtly moved his sleeve to cover Shu Wan’s small gesture.

Her fingers were warm and soft, each touch feeling like a feather falling in her heart, gently brushing against the softest part of her soul.

Yi Chenlan sensed Shu Wan’s thoughts and sighed lightly in his heart. In truth, he didn’t feel that it mattered much. Song Anzhi had never done anything to him, and he had never hated him. In his past life, he had seen Song Anzhi’s eyes bloodshot, crying desperately and begging for forgiveness. He, like himself, was just a poor soul who had been deceived for over a decade.

“Time really flies. Ah Yang is already eighteen, and Eldest Senior Brother has been gone for over ten years. This kid is already taller than I am.” Song Anzhi patted Jiang Yang’s shoulder, his expression tinged with nostalgia. “Back when Wan Wan wasn’t born yet, Junior Brother Zhou predicted she would be a boy. At the time, I had already decided that I would have a pair of daughters and make you two Senior Brothers my sons-in-law.”

He glanced at Shu Qi with a smile. “Who would have thought Wan Wan was so particular, that she turned out to be a girl. She snatched the son-in-law I had my eye on, and Eldest Senior Brother has always favored you the most. You two became in-laws, leaving me on the sidelines.”

Shu Qi laughed heartily. “Anzhi, you’re too greedy. When Wan Wan was born, you hadn’t even married yet. Now, you’re the first to have both a son and a daughter. I envy you greatly.”

As they chatted about this, Shu Wan felt a bit awkward. Yes, she was the female antagonist, of course, she had been betrothed to the male lead since childhood.

Then, when the male lead grew up, he realized, ah! There were other girls in the world, girls like the female lead, kind, gentle, beautiful, and adorable!

And so, he affectionately and firmly broke off the engagement. The female antagonist would then go on a melodramatic path, shamelessly chasing after him, doing many foolish things that would get her cursed by others.

Shu Wan quietly thought to herself: Fortunately, I wrote that Jiang Yang didn’t like “Shu Wan” at all, and that he fought tooth and nail to cancel the engagement for the sake of the female lead.

After spending some time with him, I don’t really like Jiang Yang either. It’s just as well; I don’t even have to bother with the engagement cancellation—it’s much more convenient.

She was feeling quite pleased with herself when suddenly Yi Chenlan withdrew the hand she had been poking.

Hmm?

Shu Wan secretly glanced at Yi Chenlan. His beautiful phoenix eyes were dark, and his brow was slightly furrowed, as if he had remembered something unpleasant.

Could it be that Third Uncle’s words just now were unpleasant, and she kept poking at him, which irritated him? Maybe he didn’t pick up on her signals and thought she was deliberately teasing him?

It seemed possible. Shu Wan was about to quietly speak to Yi Chenlan when she heard Shu Qi clear his throat, step forward, and raise his voice:

“Today is the birthday of my beloved disciple Jiang Yang. I, Shu Qi, thank everyone for coming. Ah Yang, come here.” His smile was especially kind.

Jiang Yang walked over, and Shu Qi smiled, waving at two disciples. The two of them immediately brought forward a long box covered with black cloth.

Shu Qi patted Jiang Yang’s hand, slowly lifted the cloth, and gently caressed the intricate patterns on the wooden box. His smile grew even wider. “Ah Yang, this is your father’s sword. Now that you are eighteen, it’s time to pass it on to you. Go ahead, open it and take a look.”

Yi Chenlan watched as Jiang Yang cheerfully lifted the lid of the wooden box. Instinctively, he placed his hand on his chest. This sword was incredibly sharp—it was a legendary treasure, something he was very familiar with.

Shu Wan stared without blinking as the sword was pulled out. The blade was long and heavy, faintly gleaming with the sharpness of its edge. So this was the famous sword, the Zhi Tian Sword, that had gained fame throughout Jianghu. Jiang Yang had carried it across Jianghu, becoming renowned as a great hero.

In the end, he had used this very sword to kill Yi Chenlan.

Shu Wan furrowed her brows. That was from the book. She was here now, and there was no way she would let such a thing happen.

“Ah Lan, come here, Master has prepared a gift for you as well.” Shu Qi suddenly turned his gaze toward Yi Chenlan.

As soon as his words fell, various voices immediately filled the hall.

“Senior Brother Shu, aren’t you being too kind? Raising Yi Chenlan is already a huge favor; why bother showing so much concern for him?”

“If it weren’t for Senior Brother Shu’s protection, Yi Chenlan would have been torn to pieces when we attacked Snowy Night Mountain. How would he be treated so well now, being fed and taken care of?”

“Shu Shidi is incredibly righteous, a man of great ideals. He treats the orphan of the great Jiang Hero as his own child. I, for one, am deeply moved. But why treat Yi Chenlan so well? He is the son of an enemy. His very existence is a form of atonement.”

“Yi Chenlan doesn’t even deserve to be a disciple of the Great Hero. He has climbed so high, and now he dares to accept the Great Hero’s things?”

---

One cruel remark after another pierced through the air like knives.

Shu Wan bit her lip, listening, and felt a pain in her heart like never before.

This was no longer the scripted drama from the book, no longer the twists and turns of plot within Xiao Fang’s words.

This was real—real pain, real cruelty.

This was a real, dangerous world.

Yi Chenlan was a living, breathing person beside her, and his pain, struggles, and despair became something tangible and full of life.

She wanted to rush up and shout: Yi Chenlan is the true son of Jiang Xuanfeng! Stop treating him like this! If this continues, it will destroy him!

But would anyone believe her? Shu Qi was meticulous in his actions, leaving no room for error. She had no proof, and instead, it would only bring trouble to Yi Chenlan.

Shu Wan gazed at the tall, upright figure ahead, her heart aching unbearably. She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of torment he was enduring right now.

Shu Qi extended his hands to signal for everyone to quiet down. His smile remained warm and inviting, and his words were soothing, like a spring breeze: “Please, everyone, calm down. I took in Yi Chenlan all those years ago, with the intention of guiding him onto the right path, so that he would not be influenced by his father and would become a truly noble man.”

He glanced at Yi Chenlan. “My little disciple does have some wildness in his nature, and needs strict guidance and careful molding. Today, on his birthday, I hope he will walk the righteous path and not disappoint my expectations.”

“Ah Lan, this Eternal Slash scroll is for you alone. Take your time to study it.” Shu Qi took out a thick, ancient scroll from his robes and handed it to Yi Chenlan, casting a glance at Shu Wan, one that was barely noticeable.

It had happened again. Yi Chenlan looked at the Eternal Slash placed before him once more. After a brief moment of contemplation, he repeated the answer from his past life: “Master, Disciple’s martial skills are lacking. I find it difficult to grasp such an exceptional sword technique. Please, Master, pass it on to other senior brothers instead.”

“Eternal Slash is a gentle technique, and your physique is a perfect match. You will be able to bring out its full potential.” Shu Qi said with a generous smile. “This sword technique is not suitable for Wan Wan or Ah Yang, and I don’t intend to pass it to them. It is my great hope for you. Will you still refuse?”

As soon as those words left his mouth, discontent erupted in the hall, louder and more intense than before. Yi Chenlan met Shu Qi’s earnest gaze and, in a move completely opposite to his past life, made a decision.

He declined once again: “Master, Disciple is foolish. I am truly unworthy of such a sophisticated sword technique.”

Song Anzhi had already furrowed his brow. Hearing Yi Chenlan refuse once more, he could no longer hold back. “Yi Chenlan, don’t be ungrateful! Are you looking down on our Zhongshan Sect’s sword techniques? How dare you keep rejecting this so blatantly!”

Shu Wan’s brows furrowed as she listened, and she quickly strode forward.