Chapter 87: Please Wait a Moment

After Shen Squad Leader’s parents left, Lu Fang returned to the hall and lowered his voice: “Elder, if a civil war truly breaks out in the Shen family, can you intervene to stop it?”

The half-sage hidden in the shadows transmitted a voice to Lu Fang: “I am only ordered to protect your personal safety. I will not meddle in the Shen family’s affairs.”

Lu Fang frowned. If this half-sage chose to act, he could do much—but the man’s tone was firm.

If he let the Shen family descend into civil war, his trip would be for nothing.

This filled him with resentment!

Seeing Lu Fang’s expression, Shen Squad Leader guessed something and hurriedly said:

“Elder, if you can alleviate the poison afflicting our ancestral elder, the Shen family will surely enshrine you as our honored patron.”

After a pause, Shen Squad Leader looked at Lu Fang: “Lord Wenguan, did the Elder state any conditions?”

Lu Fang shook his head. The hidden half-sage had not uttered a word—either he was powerless, or he refused to interfere in the Shen family’s affairs.

In his view, the former was more likely. Hadn’t the Confucian half-sage Wang Luo tried before? He couldn’t even break the small bell’s barrier.

Shen Squad Leader’s eyes dimmed. She let out a heavy sigh, pacing back and forth in the hall, her mind heavy with worry.

About an hour later.

“Great Master, you’ve come.”

The guards bowed respectfully.

Outside the hall, Shen Qi came forward with many followers, his face haggard, as if he hadn’t slept all night.

“Stay here and guard.”

Shen Qi entered the hall alone, walking toward Shen Kangbo, his voice weary: “Father, I am unworthy—I could not find an antidote to save you.”

“Great Uncle, I heard you and Second Uncle are both gathering forces at Shen Family Mountain. Are you really going to fight each other while our Ancestral Elder hangs by a thread?”

Shen Squad Leader demanded.

Shen Qi sighed and said gravely: “What do you know, child? If I didn’t gather my men first, the Shen family would fall under your Second Uncle’s control.”

“Your grandfather was foolish—why did he entrust him with the intelligence network? Do you know how powerful that network is?”

“It’s my fault too. I should never have been deceived by his schemes. I thought he genuinely revealed his origins, and your grandfather, trusting him, gave him great responsibility—this is how his power in the Shen family grew.”

Shen Squad Leader opened her mouth to speak, but Shen Qi stopped her with a gesture: “With men of such treacherous ambition, mercy only ruins everything.”

With that, Shen Qi swept his sleeve and left.

“Great Uncle!”

Shen Squad Leader tried to plead again, but Shen Qi had already departed with his men.

Lu Fang had remained silent throughout—he was an outsider and truly had no right to interfere in the Shen family’s affairs.

Yet he had a question.

If the poisoner wasn’t Shen Qi, then was it truly Shen Qiheng? He poisoned their meals to kill all three of them—and Shen Qi’s wife.

Wouldn’t that be too obvious?

What’s the difference between that and telling every Shen family member: “I am the one who poisoned the Ancestral Elder; I, an outsider, intend to seize the Shen family”?

That day,

Lu Fang heard increasing friction between the two factions in the mountain villa—almost every hour brought conflict, even the guards outside the hall had shouted and left.

Outside this hall, every corner of the villa was tense beyond measure.

Shen Squad Leader was frantic, yet she couldn’t even leave the hall—even if she did, it likely wouldn’t help the situation.

Shen Kangbo’s condition worsened. A deathly aura radiated from him; his breath was nearly imperceptible, his frame shrunk as if reduced to a skeleton.

Night fell.

Tension spread through the Shen Family Mountain Villa. A whisper of wind or rustle of leaves sent shivers through everyone.

The hour before dawn!

As the clash of weapons tore through the sky, the two factions—nerves stretched to breaking—finally launched war.

Fortunately, the battle did not last long. The cries of battle ceased.

Not long after,

Wang Luo arrived at the hall with Shen Qi and Shen Qiheng. Behind them, both squads of Shen family private troops bore varying injuries.

“You’ve gone too far. If I hadn’t come, would you have fought to the death?”

Wang Luo’s face flushed with anger.

Seeing the group storm in, Lu Fang stepped aside to let them reach Shen Kangbo.

Shen Qi, face dark with fury, pointed at Shen Qiheng:

“You’re a man of treacherous ambition! You’ve allowed your men to provoke us repeatedly—I see now you seek civil war to seize the Shen family’s ancestral legacy.”

Shen Qiheng snorted coldly and retorted: “Your men provoked first, yet you turn around and blame me. I gathered my forces to protect the Shen family. What about you? I don’t know your motives.”

Shen Qi, enraged, burst into coughing and bowed to Wang Luo:

“Master Wang, my father trusted you most. Among all half-sages allied with the Shen family, you alone are permitted to cultivate on Shen Family Mountain. Now that matters have reached this point, please render judgment!”

Shen Qiheng bowed respectfully: “Please, Master Wang, uphold justice.”

Wang Luo’s expression turned grave. He spoke solemnly:

“I understand your feelings, but in times of crisis like this, you must calm down. Qi, your father entrusted you with the Shen family treasury—keep to that.”

“Qiheng manages the Shen family’s intelligence network and controls most of Wuyincheng’s forces—he should be the one to quell the unrest.”

“Qi, dismiss all your men and send them down the mountain.”

Shen Qi’s face turned ashen. He stared at Wang Luo in disbelief: “Master Wang, what do you mean?”

Lu Fang, watching, was slightly startled. Even as a patron of the Shen family, Wang Luo should have remained neutral in this situation.

Yet Wang Luo’s words clearly favored Shen Qiheng.

It made no sense—emotionally or logically. Wang Luo was Shen Kangbo’s friend; Shen Qiheng wasn’t even a Shen by blood, and was likely the poisoner.

If it were Lu Fang, he would never side with Shen Qiheng.

Wang Luo frowned:

“Qi, I’ve made myself clear. Disperse your gathered men immediately. Let Qiheng handle the protection of the Shen family.”

Shen Qi stood there, face dark, silent for a long moment—then suddenly laughed bitterly:

“I understand! Hahaha… Shen Qiheng, your move is brilliant. You poisoned Father because you convinced Master Wang to back you. No wonder—now everything makes sense.”

“With Master Wang on your side, isn’t the Shen family yours to command?”

“Then why play this charade? Why not just kill me outright?”

Shen Qiheng shook his head: “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Master Wang supports me because he sees your actions as wrong. If Master Wang hadn’t sought me out last night, I wouldn’t have known how to respond.”

“Please, both of you, wait a moment.”

A sudden voice rang out.

Everyone frowned, turning toward Lu Fang, who stood aside—what business did he have butting in now?