Chapter 29 – A Beautiful Redemption

Before Shu Wan lost consciousness, she only saw Yi Chenlan’s hand flash before her eyes, and then she plunged into complete darkness.

In the depths of that darkness, a faint light shimmered ahead, and Shu Wan realized she was running toward that point of brightness.

There were two people in the glow ahead. Their figures looked very familiar. As Shu Wan drew closer, she finally saw their faces clearly and couldn’t help but pause in surprise.

She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Mm… yes, no mistake—those two people were indeed herself and Yi Chenlan.

Their bodies were very close, even behaving with a certain intimacy.

Shu Wan held a delicate, tender yellow flower in her hand, her lips curled mischievously like a clever little fox that had just come up with some sly idea. Giggling, she tucked the flower behind Yi Chenlan’s ear and cried: “Don’t move, don’t dodge! Let me see! Wah… my Senior Brother Ah Lan is such a beauty!”

Yi Chenlan obediently let her tease him. The little flower by his temple lay snugly against his sharp and angular profile, soft and hard set against each other, each enhancing the other’s charm, making him appear even more unmatched beneath heaven and earth.

His expression was exceptionally gentle, his phoenix-like eyes brimming with indulgence. His long lashes drooped low, making his gaze unbearably tender. Yi Chenlan smiled with pure happiness. He tightened the arms wrapped around Shu Wan’s waist and murmured softly: “Wan Wan…”

Shu Wan watched as Yi Chenlan slowly leaned in, drawing closer and closer to her face. She even closed her eyes and puckered her lips, waiting for him to come near…

She stared in shock at the scene, turning away right before their lips touched. Her cheeks instantly turned red and burned with heat.

Th-this… what kind of dream was this? It was way too embarrassing…

Shu Wan covered her face and didn’t dare turn around, mumbling to herself in frustrated distress—how awkward would it be to see Senior Brother Ah Lan again after this? She had crossed the line! How could she ever face him again…

The more she thought, the hotter she felt—starting from her blushing face to her whole body. It was so warm, in fact, that it felt almost wrong. Shu Wan turned around in confusion—

And only then did she understand the cause of the heat. The scene behind her had already changed. Now, in front of her, a towering blaze raged, as if it meant to devour the very heavens and earth.

Tongues of flame rushed toward her, yet she felt as though she had been nailed in place, unable to move at all—only able to watch helplessly as the fire swallowed her whole. Shu Wan thought she heard someone calling her name again and again. Never before had she heard someone utter the word “Wan” with such heart-wrenching desperation.

That voice, hoarse and shrill, was like weeping, yet not, like the final, despairing cry of a beast on the verge of death.

…

“Wan Wan? Are you awake?”

Shu Wan opened her eyes and met Zhou Yuan’s calm gaze. While rubbing her aching head, she mumbled: “Uncle-Master Zhou, why am I here with you…”

“This is your father’s courtyard. You were drugged with a sedative. I’m helping to remove its effects. But don’t worry—the formula is quite delicate, it has no harmful side effects. Just now, your mind was unstable, you probably had a nightmare.” Zhou Yuan removed the last metal needle from Shu Wan’s forehead and spoke in a flat tone.

Shu Wan sat up with her hands, bewildered. “What sedative? Just now I… Right, I think I had a dream… Eh? Wasn’t I with Senior Brother Ah Lan at the back mountain? How did I—”

She suddenly stopped speaking, the image of Yi Chenlan’s hand flashing in front of her eyes returning to her mind…

Shu Wan looked up at Zhou Yuan and saw the regretful expression on his face, as if confirming her fear. “Yes, he deceived you and betrayed your trust. He wanted to flee Zhongshan Sect and drugged you to use you as leverage. Fortunately, Senior Brother Song arrived in time and was able to rescue you.”

As he spoke, Zhou Yuan shook his head with a sigh of regret. “What a pity. Yi Chenlan’s medical talent is extraordinary, but in the end, his character fell short…”

“No, no! That’s not it!” Shu Wan stared at him, dumbfounded, before she finally found her voice again. “That’s utter nonsense! Who said such rubbish?! He didn’t hold me hostage—nothing of the sort happened!”

She grabbed her shoes and hastily shoved her feet into them. “Where is Senior Brother Ah Lan? I have to find him!”

Zhou Yuan looked at her in confusion, genuinely puzzled. “What do you mean? Those words came from Yi Chenlan himself.”

Shu Wan froze.

Senior Brother Ah Lan said that himself? Why would he say such a thing?

With a single turn of thought, Shu Wan immediately understood. Yi Chenlan had said that to take all the blame upon himself, to completely shield her from the matter so that she would not be held accountable in any way.

Shu Wan felt an ache in her chest, on the verge of tears. It had been her idea to help Yi Chenlan escape. Now that everything had been exposed, he still chose to protect her, facing all the condemnation and hostility alone.

“Where is he now?! Is he with Father?” Shu Wan asked urgently. “Senior Brother Ah Lan didn’t deceive me. I was the one who offered to take him away. This has nothing to do with him. I have to explain everything to Father!”

Zhou Yuan’s expression immediately grew complicated. “You offered to let him go? That can’t be right… You were clearly drugged by him.”

“There’s no time to explain, Uncle-Master Zhou! Just tell me where Senior Brother Ah Lan is!”

Zhou Yuan, still half-convinced, half-doubtful, turned and walked out. “Come with me. They’re still in the main hall. Senior Brother Shu’s birthday banquet was interrupted, so they should still be questioning Yi Chenlan.”

Ji Qinghe handed the whip to Shu Qi and casually remarked with a smile: “I didn’t expect the son of the Demon Lord to have such a backbone—he’s endured the punishment without a single cry. Since he refuses to speak, I truly have no means left.”

Shu Qi accepted the blood-soaked whip and lowered his eyes to look at Yi Chenlan, who lay on the ground.

Yi Chenlan’s eyes were half-closed, his breath faint. His complexion was deathly pale, and his body was covered in wounds so severe it was hard to look at. The once-blue robe he wore was now soaked in blood, as if it had become a crimson shroud.

“Ah Lan.” Shu Qi said sternly: “Master thought that time in the water dungeon would give you a chance to reflect. Yet not only did you fail to repent, you even dared to abduct Wan Wan and flee! I do not wish to see you suffer, but if you do not give a full account today, I cannot justify myself to the others!”

Yi Chenlan propped himself up slightly, letting out a soft chuckle, his tone lazy. “Master, I have already answered all your questions. I truly don’t know what else you wish to hear.”

His expression carried an aloof, cold pride, as if he were not the one lying weak on the floor, but rather someone who looked down on them all with disdain. Shu Qi narrowed his eyes, his heart brimming with deeper hatred and fury. “Where is Shi Tianlei? After you escaped Zhongshan Sect, where did you rendezvous with him? What sordid schemes have you two conspired? What evil deeds are you planning? I want the truth!”

Yi Chenlan raised his eyebrows slightly and let out a quiet laugh. “I already told you—Shi Tianlei is on Snowy Night Mountain. You’re welcome to send men to search the mountain and capture him.”

“Impossible! Don’t spout such nonsense!” Shu Qi roared in fury and brought the whip down heavily on Yi Chenlan once more.

Before his death, Yi Heng had activated all the mechanisms and secret passages of Snowy Night Mountain. The place had always been shrouded in mystery, and with its elaborate traps and grand formations, it had become even more unpredictable and dangerous. After it was left without a master, many in the Jianghu had ventured to Snowy Night Mountain seeking the legendary martial art, the Snow Mountain Technique. But none had ever returned.

Yi Heng’s actions clearly showed that he never intended for anyone to enter Snowy Night Mountain again. And now Yi Chenlan, ignorant of this, dared to fabricate such a lie? How could Shu Qi believe it?!

Shu Qi lashed him fiercely over a dozen times before finally stopping, shouting angrily: “I’ll give you one more chance! If you still refuse to speak the truth, I will no longer tolerate your presence!”

Yi Chenlan gasped, cold sweat running down his temples and over his cheeks. He endured the pain for a moment, then chuckled once more. “You never tolerated me to begin with.”

Shu Qi suddenly clenched his fists.

The man lying on the ground had a back that was completely mangled and bloody. A small pool of blood had already formed beneath him. His martial arts were completely sealed—he clearly had no strength left to resist. Anyone could now trample and torment him as they pleased. Yet he still did not beg for mercy, did not cry out in pain. He remained so indifferent. So proud. It was infuriating.

Shu Qi seemed to see another person through Yi Chenlan’s figure—someone he had once envied to the point of madness, and whom he now hated to the core.

Though their faces bore no resemblance, Yi Chenlan had inherited that man’s very soul and bones, driving Shu Qi to a madness born of hatred.

Shu Qi raised the whip high and brought it down in a frenzy, lashing Yi Chenlan with ruthless force. The scent of blood thickened in the air, and his movements grew even more violent and swift.

Yet no matter how brutally he beat him, Yi Chenlan never made a sound—no scream, no cry, not even a trace of fear on his face. His eyes remained cold and distant, even tinged with mockery, a faint, sarcastic smile curling his lips.

Enraged, Shu Qi struck harder. He had tormented the son of his enemy for over ten years—long enough to repay the past in full. Today, he would shatter his bones, tear apart his flesh, and send him to meet his short-lived father in the afterlife!

“Well struck! Should’ve done this long ago! Letting him live these ten extra years was far too kind!”

“Hero Shu is just too righteous. If it were up to me, I’d have chopped this bastard into pieces and fed him to the dogs! How could we have waited until today?!”

“Heartless filth… ptui! Even dying here sullies the place!”

…

Amid the all-encompassing agony and the chorus of familiar insults, Yi Chenlan slowly curved his lips into a faint smile. He could feel his life slipping away, and the awareness brought a rare sense of ease to his heart.

This time… surely Heaven would be satisfied? It would let him go, release him from this endless torment. Just please—don’t drag him back to life again. He truly couldn’t take it anymore.

But of course, it was always what he feared most that came upon him. Just as Yi Chenlan’s consciousness grew ever more dim, a voice—familiar beyond belief—rang out beside his ears:

“Stop!”