Chapter 27: Small Deviations

Shu Wan’s thoughts were focused on Shu Qi’s birthday, which would take place ten days later.

In the original story, on Shu Qi’s birthday, nearly the entire Wulin came to celebrate, creating a lively scene. They even began encouraging the younger generation to spar as entertainment, and the feast lasted well into the night.

Naturally, Yi Chenlan was not allowed to participate, and no one knew where he had been locked away in some remote corner.

The focus of the defense on that day would certainly be on the grand banquet, and the guards in places like the water prison were lax due to their isolated nature. Moreover, with so many people around, it was a perfect time for someone to take advantage of the chaos.

Shu Wan shared her plan with Yi Chenlan. He was silent for a long time before he finally looked at her and said: “Wan Wan, you don’t need to do this for me. You’ve been so good to me, I… I don’t deserve it.”

“How can you not deserve it?” Shu Wan quickly retorted. “You’re so wonderful. You deserve all the best things this world has to offer.”

“Really?” Yi Chenlan asked softly in return. He gazed into Shu Wan’s clear eyes, and his phoenix-shaped eyes took on a faint, blurry glow. “Have you truly made up your mind? You won’t regret it?”

Shu Wan vaguely sensed that Yi Chenlan seemed to be taking this matter too seriously. Perhaps he lacked a sense of security. She immediately made a promise: “I’ve definitely made up my mind. Senior Brother Ah Lan, you don’t need to worry about anything. I’m willing to do this.”

Yi Chenlan looked at her for a long time. Finally, he sighed. “When the time comes, Master will have a hard time.”

“He’s not a good person.” Shu Wan suddenly said.

Yi Chenlan looked at her in surprise, arching his eyebrows slightly before softening his expression and speaking gently. “Why do you suddenly say that? Isn’t it true that Wan Wan… admires Master?”

He knew what kind of person Shu Qi was, but every time he saw Shu Wan, she would foolishly say that her father was a gentleman, a Great Hero. Though he was helpless at her naivety, he silently protected her innocence.

He never expected that the one to shatter everything would be Shu Qi.

Yi Chenlan’s expression darkened. He lowered his face slightly to ensure Shu Wan couldn’t see it.

Shu Wan didn’t notice Yi Chenlan’s expression. She softly said: “Anyway, he’s not good. I know it. Senior Brother Ah Lan, don’t worry about anything else. On my father’s birthday, I’ll come find you, and you just need to come with me.”

She stared into Yi Chenlan’s beautiful eyes and earnestly repeated: “Will you come with me?”

Yi Chenlan moved his lips. Finally, he spoke a promise in a low voice, one that Shu Wan didn’t fully understand at that moment.

“I will only go with you.”

Shu Qi’s birthday soon arrived, but he did not appear as he usually did, with his calm and light smile. There was always a hint of seriousness in his expression, likely because he had still not captured Shi Tianlei.

Since Shu Qi’s return, Shu Wan had suppressed her concerns and had not gone to see Yi Chenlan again, nor had she mentioned him. Shu Qi had tested her a few times, but Shu Wan refused to talk about him. Seeing that his daughter seemed to be slowly shifting towards the mindset he desired, Shu Qi finally relaxed and no longer interfered with her.

“Brother Shu, is this little Shu Wan? Oh my, she’s grown so much, back then she was just a little child!”

Shu Qi was welcoming guests in the hall, and upon seeing the visitor, he immediately went up with a smile and cupped his hands. “Brother Ji, it’s an honor to have you visit! This humble house is truly graced by your presence, please, come in! Wan Wan, this is Uncle Ji Qinghe, you used to love playing with him when you were little, do you remember?”

Shu Wan didn’t remember playing with him as a child, but she knew that he and Shu Qi were hypocrite brothers who knew each other’s ugly hearts well, hiding beneath their superficial façades. She clearly remembered that.

Shu Wan lowered her head and pursed her lips, pretending to obediently greet him. “Hello, Uncle Ji.”

“Good, good, good, such a good child.” Ji Qinghe praised repeatedly. “Brother Shu is truly lucky to have such an excellent daughter. Oh? Where is Ah Yang? In a few years, both of the children should be getting married, right? Back then, Brother Jiang appointed me as the wedding witness, Brother Shu, you haven’t forgotten, right?”

“How could I forget? Brother Ji, please, take a seat. This time, stay for a few more days, and we’ll catch up properly…”

Shu Qi continued greeting several friends. As more and more people arrived, he gradually became too busy to care for himself. Shu Wan immediately tugged at Shu Qi’s sleeve and frowned slightly. “Father, I’d like to go back to my room to rest for a while. I won’t attend the banquet later. Is that alright?”

“Are you tired?” Shu Qi gently patted Shu Wan’s head. “Your injuries are still recovering, and you’ve been standing for most of the day. Go rest for a bit, and later, I’ll have someone bring you dinner.”

…

Shu Wan carefully avoided the hidden sentries and made her way straight to the water prison. However, this time, Yan Dongyun was absent, and only Ge Qing was there.

It was easier to deal with just one person. Shu Wan walked up directly, raising her hand to knock Ge Qing unconscious. But he immediately raised his hands to protect his head, pleading: “Don’t hit, don’t hit! We’re on the same side! We’re on the same side!”

Shu Wan hesitated and stopped her hand. “What do you mean?”

“Junior Sister Shu, are you planning to rescue Yi Chenlan? I want to do the same.” Ge Qing said, wearing a relaxed smile.

“You were so anxious about Yi Chenlan that only Senior Brother Yan couldn’t see it. Today is a good opportunity. I guessed you would come, so I deliberately sent him away. How about it? Isn’t that quite sincere?”

“Sincere? Why do you want to save Yi Chenlan? Who exactly are you?”

Ge Qing’s expression became serious. “I’m not lying to you. My parents were Yi Heng’s old subordinates, and Yi Chenlan can be considered my young master. After they died, I was fortunate enough to be taken in by Master, and my name was changed. Although I’m no longer from Snowy Night Mountain, my family received Yi Heng’s favor, so helping his son is just repaying a debt.”

Shu Wan still couldn’t trust him. “If that’s the case, why didn’t you help him earlier? Senior Brother Ah Lan has been mistreated here for so many years, and I never saw you come out to repay that favor!”

“What ability do I have to help him? I’ve told you, this time I’m just helping out of convenience.” Ge Qing shrugged. “Besides, I’ve already become a righteous disciple now, unlike Yi Chenlan. If I were to get involved while he’s being mistreated, wouldn’t that drag me down as well?”

Shu Wan’s suspicion grew, her frown deepening. “Do you really expect me to trust you? You’re not going to betray us, are you?”

Ge Qing sighed, then extended one finger. “You must trust me. When Yan Dongyun returns, I can help you stabilize him, creating the illusion that Yi Chenlan is still inside. But eventually, this will be discovered, and when it is, I will betray you.”

“I’ll say you forced me to help your lover escape. I can’t beat you, so I’ll naturally let you have your way. To save my own life, I’ll pin the blame on you. That way, your reputation and your engagement could… well, you should reconsider. It’s not too late to give up now.”

Shu Wan was dumbfounded, momentarily stumbling over her words. “Then… you… can’t you come up with another excuse?”

“Big sister, what do you want me to say?” Ge Qing replied, eyeing her skeptically. “You, the great young miss of Zhongshan Sect, taking advantage of your father’s birthday with so many people around to secretly let Yi Chenlan go. I have to come up with a convincing reason, don’t I?”

He looked her up and down with suspicion. “Besides, I think what I said makes sense. If you didn’t have feelings for Yi Chenlan, why would you do all of this? You… don’t like him, do you?”

Shu Wan blinked innocently, her eyes widening in confusion. “I like him… well, no, wait. Does it have to be the kind of ‘like’ you’re talking about in order to do these things? Senior Brother Ah Lan is a good person. He’s done nothing wrong, yet he’s been treated this way. If this continues, he’ll lose his life. I want to protect him, help him escape. Just because he’s not a lover, does that mean I can’t do this? What kind of nonsense are you thinking in your head?”

Of course, there was another reason. Yi Chenlan’s suffering was partly because of her own involvement. What used to be a mere fictional character had now become a living, breathing person, so radiant and noble. Shu Wan had always felt guilty towards him, feeling like she owed him something.

“Oh, oh.” Ge Qing nodded. “Then why don’t you go with him?”

“I’m obviously not going with him! What reason do I have to go with him? Would Senior Brother Ah Lan even want me to go with him? Come on, Brother Ge, those are all just your assumptions, alright?”

“Alright, alright.” Ge Qing said with a shrug. “But I’ll still stick with my reason. When the time comes, you’ll clean up the mess yourself.” He reminded her, a bit uncertain.

Shu Wan waved her hand dismissively. “Got it, got it. Hurry up and open the door.”

Ge Qing gave her a regretful glance, muttering as he opened the water prison door: “You don’t like him, but you’re still so kind to him…”

“What are you mumbling about?”

Ge Qing rolled his eyes secretly and pointed inside. “Young miss, you better go in. I didn’t say anything.”

…

“Brother Shu, where is Wan Wan?” Ji Qinghe scanned the room and asked.

“Wan Wan was injured a while ago.” Shu Qi explained. “I told her to go back and rest. It’s just as well, she should take it easy and not overexert herself.”

Ji Qinghe nodded and sighed. “I’ve heard about Wan Wan’s injury. I can only blame that treacherous son of the Demon Lord… Speaking of which, where is Yi Chenlan?”

Shu Qi took a sip of tea, unconcerned. “Today is a day of celebration. What would we need him here for?”

“Brother Shu, you’ve really become more kind-hearted over the years.” Ji Qinghe smiled, a few more lines appearing on his face. “But it’s because there are so many people today that Yi Chenlan should come. With a punching bag to vent our anger, this banquet would certainly be much more enjoyable.”

Shu Qi chuckled a few times, but suddenly sighed. “This child, he grows more and more admirable. His figure, his manner, even his looks—nothing is lacking, it’s all perfect. Yes, perfect. Perfect enough that it makes people want to destroy him, to watch him rot and decay. Sigh… it’s a pity that this good child was born into the wrong life. He’ll forever have his pride crushed and be trampled into the mud.”

Ji Qinghe lazily added: “Yes, if we’re talking about the luck of being born, who has it better than Jiang Yang? Born a son of heaven, always adored, his arrival was met with praise and expectation. That boy truly has a charmed life.”

Shu Qi paused for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, so much so that tears came to his eyes. Ji Qinghe, bewildered by the unexpected reaction, couldn’t help but ask: “Brother Shu, what’s so funny?”

“Hahahaha… Nothing, nothing at all. I just think your words are very reasonable.” Shu Qi wiped his eyes and generously suggested: “This banquet does seem to be lacking some entertainment. Since Brother Ji is so eager, why don’t we invite Yi Chenlan over? What harm could it do?”