He was tall and robust, towering like a mountain, exuding an oppressive and imposing presence. The thick, dense beard covering his face added a bandit-like fierceness to his demeanor, making it impossible not to feel a sense of fear.
His aura was too overwhelming; Shen Jun and the others shrank back, not daring to step forward to tie anyone up.
Shen Jun’s eyes darted around, and he quickly spoke up to persuade Shen Dazhu, “Uncle, since Cousin is unwilling, let’s just drop it. It’s rare for Cousin to have someone by his side, so it’s understandable that he’s reluctant. We’re forcing him against his will.”
Shen Dazhu was in a fit of rage and wouldn’t listen to reason. He snarled viciously, “That Tiansha Guxing of his is incredibly tough—anyone who stays by his side will be cursed to death by him!
Rather than that, why not sell this woman for some silver to pay for your tuition and add to Lan’er’s dowry!”
Tiansha Guxing?
Sang Sang’s eyes widened instantly.
Shen Jun put on an urgent expression. “Uncle, don’t speak of Cousin like that. He…”
“Am I not speaking the truth? He cursed his own younger brother to death, and he’s brought me nothing but bad luck and constant misfortune. If I weren’t tough enough, I’d probably have been cursed to death by him too!”
Shen Yan’s fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands. The aura around him grew heavy and terrifying.
Sang Sang stared blankly at Shen Yan, a strange emotion churning in her eyes.
Seeing Shen Yan’s reaction, Shen Dazhu thought he had struck a nerve and felt a surge of smugness instead.
He lifted his head, his tone triumphant. “They don’t dare to act, but I do! Let’s see if this unfilial son of mine really dares to do anything to me!”
Shen Yan grabbed the carrying pole beside him and thrust it fiercely into the ground, where it stood upright, deeply embedded in the soil.
Shen Yan looked at him, his gaze icy and indifferent, devoid of any warmth.
“Do you think I dare?”
Shen Dazhu’s feet seemed rooted to the spot, unable to take half a step forward. His entire face trembled uncontrollably.
Shen Jun and the others were also terrified, their faces pale, not daring to make a sound.
Shen Dazhu was intimidated by his imposing presence and no longer dared to act like a father in front of him. But to leave in such a humiliating manner was too embarrassing, leaving him stuck in an awkward position, unable to advance or retreat. His face alternated between green and white, looking utterly wretched.
Shen Jun swallowed hard and mustered the courage to speak.
“Cousin…”
Shen Yan: “Now, get lost. Immediately.”
“We…”
Shen Yan yanked the carrying pole out of the ground, leaving a deep hole behind.
He then slammed the pole into the ground again, as if the entire earth trembled with the impact.
“Either leave on your own, or I’ll beat you until you do.”
Seeing his expression, Shen Jun knew he was serious, not joking in the slightest. His heart tightened, and he wished he could flee with his head in his hands.
Today’s plan was clearly not going to work; they would have to take their time and scheme again in the future.
If they were really beaten by him, it would be a loss with no gain.
He tugged at Shen Dazhu, who was still stubbornly holding his ground, and whispered a few words of persuasion.
Though Shen Dazhu was still seething with anger, he was ultimately intimidated by Shen Yan’s presence and reluctantly took the offered way out.
“Jun’er, you’re the sensible one. For your sake, I won’t stoop to this unfilial son’s level today! Let’s go!”
The group turned and left, and as they walked away, Shen Dazhu continued to grumble and curse, “I must have committed some sin in my past life to have given birth to such a Tiansha Guxing! If I had known this earlier, I should have strangled him right after he was born!”
The grumbling gradually faded into the distance, but those words lingered like a curse, echoing in the minds of the two of them for a long time.
Sang Sang could feel the heavy, oppressive atmosphere surrounding Shen Yan and didn’t dare to speak for a moment, only stealing glances at him.
After a long while, Shen Yan’s calm and unruffled voice finally broke the silence, “You heard what they said just now. It’s all true—I am a Tiansha Guxing. Anyone who stays by my side will be plagued by misfortune. If you want to leave, I won’t stop you.”
After saying this, he took a step forward as if to leave again. Sang Sang panicked and immediately ran in front of him, blocking his way.
Her face was filled with urgency. “No, no, I won’t leave! Since you bought me, I am yours! Unless you drive me away, I won’t go!”
Shen Yan looked at her, his eyes dark and unfathomable, his expression shadowed and unclear. “I am a Tiansha Guxing. I could bring you death. Aren’t you afraid?”
She shook her head without hesitation. “I’m not afraid! I don’t believe those lies at all! They are all bad people; only you are good! Even if… even if you really are a Tiansha Guxing, I… I still won’t leave! You are the only one who has been kind to me. Others may fear you, but I don’t. Ever since you brought me back, I’ve already considered this place my home. Please, don’t drive me away…”
By the end, a misty sheen of tears had gathered in her eyes, threatening to spill over. She tried hard to hold them back, but this restrained and vulnerable demeanor only added to her fragile beauty.
Shen Yan’s heart couldn’t help but stir, and his icy heart seemed to be enveloped by an unfamiliar emotion.
Home?
How long had it been since he had heard that word?
Could he really have a home?
Could he really be needed?
Seeing him remain silent with a stern expression, Sang Sang felt he didn’t believe her and grew even more anxious.
“I mean it, you have to believe me! Please, let me stay, don’t drive me away! My fate is tough; I’m not afraid of being cursed. Besides, I… I don’t even remember who I am or where my home is. If you drive me away, I’ll have nowhere to go…”
Thinking of her recent days of drifting like duckweed and her family, who were nowhere to be found, a bitter feeling rose in her heart. The tears she had been holding back finally fell, streaming down her cheeks.
Seeing her cry, Shen Yan’s heart stirred involuntarily.
He said in a low voice, “I didn’t say I was driving you away.”
Sang Sang suddenly froze, as if still unable to believe it.
“R-really?”
He let out a soft hum from his nose in response.
Sang Sang felt a sudden surge of joy. A tear still clung to her eyelashes, but she broke into a smile, looking like a fool with her tear-streaked face.
Shen Yan watched her, and inexplicably, a part of his heart slowly began to warm.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Shen Yan, clear and bright, her tone filled with cheerfulness. “I knew it! My benefactor is a good person!”
This was not the first time Shen Yan had heard her say this, but for some reason, he found it rather agreeable this time.
He then added, “I don’t keep idle people.”
Sang Sang immediately responded, “I won’t freeload! I can help with chores—washing clothes, boiling water, cooking, I can do it all! I’ll go clean up the house right now!”
Without waiting for Shen Yan’s reply, she energetically set to work.
Almost instinctively, her first target was the kitchen.
Sang Sang could no longer remember her past, but the skills ingrained in her body remained untouched, as if carved into her bones.
When she picked up a needle and thread, she naturally knew how to stitch.
When she picked up a kitchen knife, she naturally knew how to handle ingredients and how to steam, boil, or cook them.
Entering the kitchen, she felt as comfortable as a fish in water, completely at ease.
Could it be that she was once a cook?
The thought flashed through her mind but was quickly dismissed.
Whatever she had been before no longer mattered—living well in the present was what truly counted.