The Chen family was devastated!
On the day of Chen and Li’s wedding, they were attacked by a malicious person. Everyone was drugged and rendered unconscious, but the most tragic fate befell the Chen family’s only legitimate son, the renowned Jianghu figure, “Autumn Leaf Wanderer” Chen Shaoqing. Not only was his martial arts destroyed, but his tongue was cruelly severed.
The patriarch Chen Laoye was so shocked by the sight that he fainted on the spot. Chen Shaoyu, the eldest son from a concubine, had to step in for his father, dismiss the guests, and postpone the wedding banquet. As the guests left, they exchanged knowing glances—now that Chen Shaoqing had become a cripple and a mute, would Miss Li still be willing to marry him?
Naturally, Miss Li had no desire to marry him. Who would want to marry a mute cripple? However, Li Laoye was unwilling to abandon the marriage entirely. Even though Chen Shaoqing was now disabled, his legitimate son status remained unchanged, and the Chen family’s position in Jianghu was still strong. So, the matter was left unresolved, to be dealt with later.
Shen Molan was the only one who had been with Chen Shaoqing throughout the ordeal. When he woke up the next day, he was immediately questioned about the identity of the criminal who had harmed Shaoqing. Feeling an overwhelming urge to rush to Feng Manor, he unhesitatingly revealed that it was Yun Niang from Miaojiang.
Chen Shaoyu[1] asked, “They say you, Hero Shen, have unparalleled martial arts. Why didn’t you stop her?”
Shen Molan, having regained some clarity, realized for the first time that the previously unremarkable and low-key eldest son of the Chen family was now looking at him with suspicion.
How laughable—he had been poisoned too!
Shen Molan didn’t want to say more and simply replied, “When Shaoqing wakes up, ask him yourself.”
Chen Shaoyu returned to his usual calm demeanor and smiled. “You misunderstand me, Hero. I don’t doubt you. I only hoped to persuade you to stay, for my father and brother’s sake.”
Shen Molan felt a chill in his heart. He knew that the more hastily he left, the more suspicious he would appear. Furthermore, his qi was still depleted from the previous day, and he was physically weak, so he allowed Chen Shaoyu to confine him in a guest room under soft detention.
That night, Chen Laoye and Shaoqing had yet to wake up, throwing the entire Chen family into chaos. The festive decorations, red characters of joy, and lanterns had not yet been taken down. What should have been a wedding celebration now felt like a funeral.
Shen Molan sat in silence, waiting for his qi to recover so he could escape this soft imprisonment, all the while reflecting on Yun Niang’s parting words.
“Did you truly not notice at all… the signs that someone else was dying?”
Shen Molan was in a daze.
In truth, he had felt it—he had just pretended not to care.
In those final days before he left, that person had slept longer and moved more slowly. His reactions had dulled, and Shen Molan often had to repeat things impatiently before he could understand. Nonetheless, he had assumed that all of these were deliberate attempts to get his attention.
In those last few days before he left, that person had repeatedly reminded him to come see Feng Manor in September, even sending Ying You to fetch him. Yet he never went.
If that person had told him earlier that they had exchanged blood, that they had been poisoned with Wang Hun Yin, would he have believed it?
Wouldn’t he have dismissed it as another pathetic attempt to grab his attention?
Shen Molan lowered his gaze and laughed bitterly.
Humans must be the strangest creatures.
They often cannot control their actions, and the closer they are to someone, the colder they treat them. They excel at using the most vicious thoughts to doubt and suspect those closest to them, then use words or actions to hurt them.
He vaguely remembered, in the quiet of a dream one night, feeling a warm drop of liquid fall on his face, which was then gently wiped away. In hindsight…
Shen Molan’s laughter grew louder, echoing in the still night. He raised his hand to cover his eyes, but tears flowed between his fingers.
How could this be…
How could it end like this…
Chen Shaoqing, being young, woke up the next day. He was overwhelmed with pain, rage, and grief, but he couldn’t utter a single word. In his frustration, he grabbed the hand of the maid attending him, his sharp nails drawing blood, but the maid, despite her pale face, didn’t dare make a sound.
“The young master has woken up!”
“The young master is finally awake!”
News spread quickly throughout the Chen estate, and soon, Shen Molan’s door was opened, revealing Chen Shaoyu standing in the doorway, his expression indifferent. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
“My brother has awoken. He wants to see you.”
Shen Molan, who hadn’t slept all night, looked at Chen Shaoyu through bloodshot eyes for a moment before getting up and following him to Shaoqing’s room.
Chen Shaoqing lay on his bed, pale as a ghost, his wide eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, as though lifeless.
It was a scene all too familiar. Not long ago, Shaoqing had been in the same state, but now…
“…Shaoqing.” Swallowing the bitterness in his heart, Shen Molan found himself unable to utter any comforting words.
Chen Shaoqing’s eyes suddenly shifted towards him, and the hatred within them made Shen Molan pause.
“Ah…” Shaoqing opened his mouth and tried to speak, but only breathy sounds came out. His hatred deepened, and he switched to mouthing his words instead.
No one else noticed, but Shen Molan, who had been watching him intently from the start, understood perfectly.
He was saying—
Why didn’t you kill her?
“I was poisoned as well,” Shen Molan replied, exhaling slowly.
Chen Shaoqing’s expression twisted into silent fury—
Then why am I the only one who became a cripple?
Shen Molan was taken aback, then suddenly laughed.
Chen Shaoqing had been spoiled his entire life. When misfortune befell him—even if it was of his own doing—he would always blame others first, never himself. Shen Molan had once thought this was youthful arrogance, a kind of straightforwardness, but now, after witnessing the scar Yun Niang bore on her face, and seeing Shaoqing’s baseless resentment towards him, he realized he had been wrong.
He had thought to explain himself, however, now faced with Shaoqing’s overwhelming anger and bitterness, he realized how powerless words were.
Shaoqing was blaming him, hating him, even suspecting him—why hadn’t he saved him? Why hadn’t he killed that woman? Why was he the only one who remained unscathed?
How absurd.
It was utterly absurd.
That woman didn’t harm him, but every word pierced his heart.
He had once gone to great lengths to save Shaoqing’s life, tirelessly running back and forth, and ultimately… sacrificing that person…
He had held back the urge to leave just to see Shaoqing one last time. Meanwhile, he was gravely ill waiting. What he’s witnessing chilled his heart completely.
Years of care, companionship, and trust—none of it mattered to Chen Shaoqing in the end. Shaoqing would always put himself first. When it was time to turn on someone, he turned without hesitation. When it was time to doubt someone, he doubted without restraint…
Shen Molan turned around and saw that Chen Shaoyu had already dismissed the maids and servants, leaving only a few highly skilled guards in the room.
The intent was obvious.
What a clever move by the Chen family!
Shen Molan felt a cold sadness creeping into his heart, and he laughed bitterly at himself. His gaze, now icy, swept over the people in the room. But he didn’t bother fighting them. Instead, he said in a detached tone, “It’s as if we never met. From now on, we are strangers walking different paths… Let’s just say goodbye forever.”
Before the words had fully left his mouth, no one saw how he moved. In a flash, faster than anyone could react, Shen Molan leaped through the gaps between the guards and disappeared out the front door. The guards stood there, stunned. Chen Shaoyu, seeing the pale, resentful, and dazed look on his younger brother’s face, raised his hand and ordered, “Chase him!”
But how could the Chen family’s guards catch up to the renowned Hero Black Swordsman, who had spent the entire night recovering his inner strength? His martial skills were unmatched, and his qinggong was beyond extraordinary. They only made it as far as the gates of the Chen family estate before losing sight of Shen Molan entirely.
“The Feng Manor looks beautiful in September. You missed it last year. The ground is covered in golden and red leaves, and the lake sparkles with light. You’d like it… I’ll wait for you…”
You’ll wait for me.
Because you said you would…
Maybe Yun Niang exaggerated things. Maybe there was still a way to save him. Maybe she was just trying to scare him because she was upset at the time…
Shen Molan comforted himself as he rushed to Feng Manor, the place he once thought he’d never return to. He hadn’t even tied up his horse when he anxiously charged in.
But… there was no one guarding the grand gates of Feng Manor.
A sense of unease began to rise in Shen Molan’s chest.
Without any effort, he entered Feng Manor. His hurried, anxious steps slowed as he reached the main courtyard.
At the end of September, Feng Manor was desolate and cold, devoid of life. The pond was full of withered lotuses, the western wind scattered fallen leaves everywhere, and dead branches and decaying foliage covered the stone steps.
Wasn’t it supposed to be beautiful? He had said September at Feng Manor was stunning… but it wasn’t beautiful at all.
It must have just been a trick to lure him back. Everything he had heard and experienced recently—it must have all been just a dream.
The more he walked, the more his half-formed smile faltered.
Where had all the people in Feng Manor gone?
He remembered that when he stayed here just over a month ago, the grand estate was still bustling with servants and maids, quietly talking in corners or busy with their tasks. It had never been as desolate as this…
As he stumbled closer to Feng Wuhen’s bedroom, he suddenly realized that his legs had grown heavy, and he could no longer move them forward.
He saw that two white silk banners were hanging from the door, gently swaying in the breeze.
This is…
A chill shot up from his feet, sending shivers through his entire body. He couldn’t stop trembling.
It must be a mistake.
If it were true, why were there only white banners in front of his door? It seemed… too hasty, too careless…[2]
After all, he was the master of Feng Manor.
Shen Molan stood frozen, staring blankly at the door, as if his soul had left his body.
He… couldn’t bring himself to open that door.
It felt as though, once opened, everything would be exposed, and there would be no hiding from the truth.
Just as he stood there, dazed, his expression almost twisted with anguish while glaring at the two white banners, the door suddenly creaked open.
Startled, Shen Molan snapped out of his stupor, and a wave of joy surged through him like fire. I knew it! He spun around eagerly—
Only to see an elderly man, hunched over, slowly stepping out of Feng Wuhen’s room. The old man squinted at the black-clad young man standing before him and took a long moment to recognize him.
“…Ah, Master Shen,” the old man finally said, nodding slowly, “You’ve come… to see the Manor Lord, haven’t you?”
Author’s Note
I had debated whether Chen Shaoqing’s ending was too harsh since, after all, he’s just a spoiled child.
But Chen values his life too much, as has been shown before. Although he places great importance on his martial arts, it’s not his entire world, and he wouldn’t seek death. At most, he’ll spend his days plotting revenge. He’s been spoiled his whole life, and even in his later years, the Chen family will continue to pamper him. This is how the story ends for a spoiled brat.
[1] The eldest son from a concubine
[2] He’s still thinking it was all still deliberate.