Chapter 44

"Who are you?"

"It was I who sent my daughter to invite you last time, see you again in fifteen days." The red light trembled, swayed, and then dived into Ye Liuyun's body, re-emerging with a scroll clutched in its tail, before vanishing into the sky.

All of this happened so quickly that no one except Shen Lian heard the red light's voice.

Sword Thirteen and Sword Fourteen hurried to Ye Liuyun's side, took out a crystal-clear pill with a hint of moonlight, and fed it to Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun slowly regained consciousness. He had fainted due to the shock to his spirit, and he was very clear that he had woken up on his own, not because of the pill.

"I'm fine, you two don't need to worry."

Then he touched his chest, his expression changed, and Sword Thirteen quickly whispered a few words in his ear.

Only then did Ye Liuyun relax and slowly said, "Young Master Shen's methods are truly remarkable, I am very impressed."

"Brother Ye, how about we call off the matter with Bai Yufei and the Green Bamboo Gang?" Shen Lian replied with a smile.

"What about our matter?"

"You tell me."

"Next spring, when the flowers bloom, I will be waiting for you at the Famous Sword Manor at any time." Ye Liuyun patted the handle beside him, and his wheelchair flew up from the ground, landing in the sedan chair.

Sword Thirteen and Sword Fourteen lifted the sedan chair and disappeared into the night.

Bai Yufei urgently said, "Young Master, the Famous Sword Manor is no less dangerous than a dragon's lair or a tiger's den. Why did you agree?"

"We shouldn't have let that arrogant young man go today," An Renjie said angrily.

"Spring is the best time, and the Famous Sword Manor is well-known. I believe it will be a good scene then, and there's no harm in going," Shen Lian shook his head and smiled faintly.

The so-called江湖 (jianghu) is a place of grudges and enmities, where you kill me and I kill you, with no end.

Shen Lian didn't find it interesting. If killing could solve everything, there would be no such thing as烦恼 (fan nao) in the world.

"Uncle Wu, prepare some things for me. I'll return to the Shen residence tomorrow." Shen Lian turned back to the inn, and the retreat of the Famous Sword Manor's young master didn't excite him much, just as usual.

******

The sun rises every day, but at Shen Lao Ye's age, seeing the sunrise doesn't guarantee seeing the sunset.

In the past two years, he had no major worries. To be precise, his unambitious eldest son and his wife Xu actually had a grandson. Two months ago, when the child was born, no one invited Shen Lian, and no one told him about it. Even Wu, the steward who was close to Shen Lian, didn't know.

However, despite the joy in the entire residence, Shen Lao Ye didn't show much happiness because of the new grandson.

It wasn't until he heard that Shen Lian had returned that he smiled and even ate a few more bites of food.

As for the newly born grandson, he didn't even bother to look at him, let alone hold him.

Now, most people in the Shen residence had very mixed feelings.

The treatment of an outsider surpassing that of a biological grandson was a strange phenomenon.

Although Shen Lian bore the surname Shen, this Shen wasn't entirely the Shen of the Shen family.

Was Shen Lao Ye confused?

Shen Lian was walking with Shen Lao Ye in the garden. The sparse snow and frost were still visible among the withered flower branches.

"You lazy fellows, why don't you bring a coat for Young Master Lian? If my good grandson catches a cold, I won't let you off easily," Shen Lao Ye was really angry. Shen Lian was wearing a single layer of clothing, and it looked cold just to look at him.

"Grandpa, it's fine. My internal energy has made some progress, and this bit of cold doesn't affect me at all," Shen Lian laughed.

"I almost forgot, you've learned martial arts, and your body is much better than before. An Wanli always praises you when he sees me. He says his son has improved a lot since he started associating with you. Xu's son, who is usually arrogant, also speaks highly of you. Even the former governor, Shuo, praised you as a noble tree when he said goodbye to me," Shen Lao Ye said, his face full of smiles. There is probably no old man in the world who wouldn't be happy about such things.

His achievements are already beyond what ordinary people can imagine. What could be more delightful than an outstanding descendant?

"Perhaps they are all giving me face."

"I haven't heard them praise Qing Shi or Qing Shan. Qing Shi is also a troublemaker," Shen Lao Ye said with a hint of anger when mentioning Shen Qing Shi.

"Blood is thicker than water. Why get angry? If it's because of the new nephew, it's even less worth it," Shen Lian's face was calm and composed.

"Shen Lian, you are too smart." Shen Lao Ye couldn't help but sigh.

He made a gesture, and everyone around them retreated.

"How did you find out?"

"Grandpa, don't you know that my medical skills are no worse than any doctor in Qingzhou? Uncle and Aunt can't have children," Shen Lian looked deeply at Shen Lao Ye. He had visited Shen Qing Shi and Shen Qing Shan's families and naturally saw the new nephew. Xu was somewhat timid but also somewhat proud.

But Shen Lian didn't show any expression, just glanced at the two of them.

With his skills, he only needed to 'observe' to know their physical condition, and he knew whether the nephew was real or not.

"Have you told anyone else?" Shen Lao Ye suddenly asked.

"What do you think?"

Shen Lao Ye said, "I wish you had told someone else. At least it would show that the Shen family still matters to you."

He was old and wise, how could he not understand that if Shen Lian didn't care about this matter, the Shen family's wealth and status were probably not worth much to him.

"Gold and jade are not meant to stay in a small pond. When the wind and clouds come, they transform into dragons. Qingzhou is too small for you. It's rare that you still came to see this old bone before leaving," Shen Lao Ye had a bittersweet feeling. He had let Shen Lian go for two years, and the once fragile sapling was now strong enough to withstand the wind and rain.

"It's not that Qingzhou is too small, but our goals are different. Life is about seeking contentment, not other things," Shen Lian, having been seen through by Shen Lao Ye, didn't need to hide anymore.

He also admired Shen Lao Ye's shrewdness. Although he had some life experience, he was still far from the seasoned Shen Lao Ye.

"Never mind, I won't stop you, and I can't stop you. I hope you always remember that you grew up in the Shen family," Shen Lao Ye was indeed old and saw things more clearly. In the days before his life ended, he had fewer attachments.

Shen Lian gently hugged the old man. He was wearing little, but he wasn't cold, and his body's warmth could penetrate the old man's thick clothes.

Finally, Shen Lian slightly loosened his embrace, his face smiling, and said, "I will always remember your kindness, and I will always be called Shen Lian."

Shen Lian walked away from the garden, feeling no guilt.

PS: Thank you for the 588 rewards from Shu Yan, the 588 reward from SOS member, and the rewards from Feng Xuan, "Nicknames are just clouds," zxh1973, and Dugu Zuimian.

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