NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 4:
Chapter 4: Out of Three Thousand Weak Waters, Take Only One Sip:
Just as You Ruo was about to make her move, a servant suddenly arrived to report.
“Master, Young Master Pei is here to see you!”
“Since it’s Young Master Pei, bring him in quickly,” Shen Yuan responded calmly.
Here it came—this plot point had finally arrived.
According to the original novel, Shen Xiao’er and Qin Yang, attempting to leave the Shen family, were intercepted by Shen Yuan.
At that moment, Pei Duan arrived, and the situation escalated into a duel. The agreement was simple: if Qin Yang lost, Shen Xiao’er would immediately marry Pei Duan. If Qin Yang won, Shen Yuan would allow them to leave.
On paper, Pei Duan held the advantage, being at the 7th stage Spirit Fusion Realm, while Qin Yang was only at the 5th stage. However, anyone familiar with the typical tropes knew what would happen. Overcoming stronger opponents was the protagonist’s specialty. Despite the gap, Qin Yang would inevitably win, forcing Pei Duan to honor the agreement and let the couple leave.
Shen Yuan internally scoffed at the absurdity of it all, ‘Pei Duan, you and I are both villains. Why are you acting so lovesick? If you want Shen Xiao’er, why not use your authority to overpower her? What’s the point of setting up a duel? Aren’t you just handing the protagonist an opportunity to grow stronger?’
‘Your father, for heaven’s sake, is the commander of the Imperial Guard! If I were you, I would have had Qin Yang torn to pieces by now, rather than pretending to play fair. And for what?’ ‘Shen Xiao’er? You could have any woman you want. Ministers in the Empire would gladly offer their talented and beautiful daughters to secure an alliance with the Imperial Guard. Yet here you are, throwing away the whole forest for one tree.’
“Greetings, Master Shen.”
“There’s no need for formalities, Xiao Pei. Please, have a seat,” Shen Yuan said, gesturing gracefully.
Pei Duan and Shen Yuan were technically of the same generation, with Shen Yuan being only two years older. The reason Shen Yuan had become the family patriarch at such a young age was tied to a tragic event: his father’s assassination. That same attack left Shen Yuan with a crippled leg. Before his death, Shen Yuan’s father decreed that Shen Yuan should succeed him as the Shen family patriarch and inherit the position of Prime Minister.
As for the truth behind the assassination? The original novel never explained it, merely using it as a plot device to weaken Shen Yuan, making it plausible for the protagonist to defeat him later.
“And this is…?” Pei Duan asked, noticing Shen Xiao’er kneeling on the ground, her face filled with distress.
Seeing Pei Duan’s concern, Shen Yuan explained the situation in broad strokes.
After all, as the commander’s son, Pei Duan was someone Shen Yuan still sought to ally with.
Once Pei Duan understood, he immediately knelt beside Shen Xiao’er. “Xiao’er, why are you doing this? What does Qin Yang have that I don’t?”
But Shen Xiao’er, still overwhelmed by her earlier emotional moment with Qin Yang, responded resolutely, “Young Master Pei, feelings cannot be forced. My heart belongs to Qin Yang alone. I hope you can let us be.”
Shen Yuan, observing the scene, couldn’t help but sneer. “Xiao Pei, if you truly want her, why not simply take her by force? Why bother with marriage?”
Shen Xiao’er’s eyes widened in shock. She had never expected Shen Yuan to say something so blunt.
“Xiao Pei, you must understand—beauty is a weapon that can kill. Behind a beautiful face lies only bones and flesh. As cultivators, we must strive for greater heights. Why waste time and energy on such trivial matters?”
Pei Duan’s response was calm but determined. “Patriarch Shen, everyone has their own aspirations. Out of three thousand weak waters, I choose only one sip.”
Shen Yuan almost laughed. Ah, the persistence of a lovesick fool!
Qin Yang, now emboldened, stepped forward. “Pei Duan! Since you claim to care for Xiao’er, then face me like a man. If you win, I’ll let Xiao’er marry you. But if I win, you must respect her wishes and leave her alone. Agreed?”
Pei Duan looked at Qin Yang’s swollen, pig-like face and struggled to suppress a laugh.
Turning to Shen Yuan, he asked, “And this is…?”
“Qin Yang,” Shen Yuan answered plainly.
Pei Duan’s lips twitched. The sight of Qin Yang in such a state made it difficult for him to keep a straight face. Still, he maintained his composure.
“What’s the matter? Are you afraid?” Qin Yang shouted, his frustration evident.
“Afraid? Of course not,” Pei Duan replied with a smirk. “If you’re so eager to lose, I’ll gladly oblige.”
Pei Duan, confident in his superior cultivation level, had no reason to fear Qin Yang. But Shen Yuan, knowing the plot all too well, immediately intervened.
“Xiao Pei, you’re overstepping,” Shen Yuan said with his hands behind his back. “I’ve already made it clear—if Shen Xiao’er returns the Thousand Illusion Spirit Eyes to the Shen family, she can leave with whomever she pleases. Do you think our Shen family’s survival depends on her?”
“But Patriarch Shen—” Pei Duan began to protest, only to be cut off by Shen Yuan.
“Enough. My decision is final. Shen Xiao’er is still part of the Shen family. How I deal with her is none of your concern.”
Pei Duan, clearly out of his depth, fell silent. Shen Yuan couldn’t be bothered with Pei Duan’s melodrama. To Shen Yuan, the true asset wasn’t Pei Duan but his father, Pei Jianghai—the formidable commander of the Imperial Guard. Marrying Shen Xiao’er to Pei Duan had been part of Shen Yuan’s strategy to win over Pei Jianghai.
But now, Shen Yuan saw no need for such a strategy.
With his knowledge of the plot, he had countless ways to bring Pei Jianghai into his camp. He didn’t need Shen Xiao’er for that.
Returning his attention to Shen Xiao’er, Shen Yuan’s tone grew colder. “Still hesitant? What is love but an excuse to shirk your responsibilities to your family? You’ve enjoyed the resources of the Shen family without complaint, yet now refuse to fulfill your obligations. Don’t bother with excuses.”
Turning to Pei Duan, Shen Yuan continued mockingly, “I don’t understand what you see in someone so selfish. Your taste seems rather questionable. How does she compare to Minister Wang’s daughter? That young lady is talented, intelligent, and far more suitable, yet you dismissed her proposal.”
Finally, Shen Yuan looked back at Qin Yang, a sly smile on his lips. “And you—would you still marry her if she were blind?”
Qin Yang swallowed hard. He had ambitions, a destiny to fulfill, and a long road ahead. Could he afford to spend his energy caring for a blind woman? Moreover, his connection to Shen Xiao’er had always been about her value as a member of the Shen family, possessing the rare Thousand Illusion Spirit Eyes.
Without them, was there even a reason to stay with her?