[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou":3,"chapter-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-82":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ink Saint of Great Zhou",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2292045,4481,"Chapter 82: The Half-Sage Wang","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-82",82,"\u003Cp>Shen Lingyun shook his head and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know who it was. Just now I was rushing over here when a paper ball hit me—it said Shen Squad Leader’s bedroom was poisoned with Lao Zu’s poison.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Squad Leader frowned slightly. “Then why didn’t you just say it outright? Why were you stammering?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Lingyun’s face twisted in distress. “I didn’t know how to explain it, and I feared you’d think I was framing you on purpose, Father! I truly didn’t!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You disobedient brat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi cheng snorted coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Shen Lingyun’s words, Lu Fang assumed—if this was true—the prime suspect was Shen Qi heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this a case of using a knife to kill?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First eliminate Shen Squad Leader, whom Shen Kangbo sees as his heir, then gradually seize control of the Shen family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Fang wondered: even with outside help, could this second son of the Shen family truly seize control? Not easy—but possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface, the Shen family of Great Zhou was as wealthy as a nation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But without Shen Kangbo’s overwhelming martial strength and allied factions to back them, it was like building a tower on sand—extremely unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi cheng coldly said: “So it seems our Shen family truly has a traitor inside. Second son, do you have anything to explain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi heng appeared open and upright, saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is there to explain? Brother, I’ve always respected Father and you. Since childhood, I swore to protect every member of the Shen family. Do you think I’d poison Father?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi cheng said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t want to suspect you, but Father entrusted you with most of the family’s intelligence network. If he dies, I may not be able to control you. And you know—you don’t carry Shen blood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Otherwise, Father wouldn’t have named Shen Squad Leader as his heir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regardless, for the future of the Shen family, you must hand over the intelligence network.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the hall was stunned!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi heng isn’t a Shen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for these words coming from Shen Qi cheng, who would believe it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man entrusted by Shen Kangbo with the family’s intelligence operations—wasn’t even a Shen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is this possible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Squad Leader shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang stared at the silent Shen Qi heng, deeply astonished—this man truly wasn’t a Shen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbelievable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Kangbo’s heart was vast—he had entrusted his adopted son with such power. As Shen Qi cheng said, if chaos erupted now, Shen Qi heng would surely be one of the beneficiaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Lingyun shouted: “I still call you Second Uncle—tell me, is this true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under everyone’s gaze, Shen Qi heng sighed deeply and nodded. “It’s true. Though Father never told me, I discovered it by accident.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, if this were any other time, I’d hand over the intelligence network without hesitation. But not now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I said before—even if I die, I will protect the Shen family!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you about this back then precisely so you’d lower your guard against me. I have no intention of fighting you for the Shen family. My only wish in life is to serve the Shen family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang was numb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in his past life playing “Werewolf,” he’d never faced such mental strain—Shen Qi heng had voluntarily revealed his origins to his brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be Shen Qi cheng who poisoned him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Shen Kangbo died, only this man seemed to benefit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that’s not certain—someone among them might be lying. After analyzing everything, everyone seemed capable of poisoning him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Destroy it all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m truly exhausted!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang watched the two Shen brothers glaring at each other and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft sigh echoed through the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A white-robed elderly man, in his seventies, appeared out of thin air—tall and slender, wearing a scholar’s cap, his eyes bright and sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi cheng saw him like a savior. “Master Wang, you’ve finally arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The newcomer: Confucian Half-Sage Wang Luo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also a retainer of the Shen family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, he appeared as Shen Kangbo’s life hung in the balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi cheng hurriedly said: “Master Wang, my father…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo did not answer. Instead, he walked toward the small bell’s light shield and extended his withered hands to touch it—power surged from his palms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the bell’s shield merely rippled like water—unbreakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo sighed. “Have you ever considered that even if you identify the poison and brew an antidote, how will you get it inside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi cheng froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Wang is a Confucian Half-Sage—yet even you can’t break this shield?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi heng asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo shook his head and sighed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shen Kangbo’s Xiuhua Bell has unknown origins. Its offensive power is weak, but its protective ability is unparalleled in the world. I cannot force it open.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kangbo’s consciousness has already slipped into unconsciousness… Sigh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All I can do now is urge you two brothers to stop suspecting each other. The Shen family still needs your united strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I already know the full story. You’re fools! Because of a few words from outsiders, you’ve turned on each other?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi heng humbly asked: “What do you mean, Master Wang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo’s knife-like gaze turned to Lu Fang. “Literary Crown Marquis, do we have any grudge against each other?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang shook his head, a sense of dread rising in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo nodded and continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let me speak plainly: you came to see Kangbo, and this happened. You should assist the Shen family’s investigation. You’re a marquis—you likely aren’t the killer. But this woman beside you is far too suspicious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Xiaxuan shook her head frantically. “I came to claim kinship! I didn’t poison him! If you can’t find the killer, are you trying to make me take the blame?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang stepped in front of Shen Xiaxuan, signaling her to be silent, then looked at Wang Luo. “Elder, you and I both know she’s merely an innocent caught in this conspiracy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Innocent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo sneered. “Let me ask you, Literary Crown Marquis, a few questions. First: do you know her past?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang remained silent—he had already truthfully stated he met Shen Xiaxuan on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You say nothing—I take that as confirmation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo pressed on:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second question: Kangbo accepted every long-lost child who came to claim kinship. Did he ever say she was his daughter? If I recall correctly, just now Shen Squad Leader said Kangbo denied it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang sighed heavily. He couldn’t refute it—the facts were clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo raised his voice: “Since you, Literary Crown Marquis, don’t know her past, and Kangbo never acknowledged her as his daughter, yet you persistently shield her—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be that you two are in cahoots?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you afraid that if we interrogate her, she’ll break under torture and expose you?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1137,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","41e95cbc335db9948415a30c3301834b4bb7acf47c1cbc5fa54c24b0e8ea31ec","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-83","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-81",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]