[{"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-87":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},2292050,4481,"Chapter 87: Please Wait a Moment","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-87",87,"\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang frowned. If this half-sage chose to act, he could do much—but the man’s tone was firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he let the Shen family descend into civil war, his trip would be for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This filled him with resentment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lu Fang’s expression, Shen Squad Leader guessed something and hurriedly said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, if you can alleviate the poison afflicting our ancestral elder, the Shen family will surely enshrine you as our honored patron.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, Shen Squad Leader looked at Lu Fang: “Lord Wenguan, did the Elder state any conditions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Squad Leader’s eyes dimmed. She let out a heavy sigh, pacing back and forth in the hall, her mind heavy with worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About an hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great Master, you’ve come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards bowed respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the hall, Shen Qi came forward with many followers, his face haggard, as if he hadn’t slept all night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stay here and guard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Squad Leader demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your grandfather was foolish—why did he entrust him with the intelligence network? Do you know how powerful that network is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Shen Qi swept his sleeve and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great Uncle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Squad Leader tried to plead again, but Shen Qi had already departed with his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang had remained silent throughout—he was an outsider and truly had no right to interfere in the Shen family’s affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he had a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wouldn’t that be too obvious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside this hall, every corner of the villa was tense beyond measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Squad Leader was frantic, yet she couldn’t even leave the hall—even if she did, it likely wouldn’t help the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tension spread through the Shen Family Mountain Villa. A whisper of wind or rustle of leaves sent shivers through everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hour before dawn!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the clash of weapons tore through the sky, the two factions—nerves stretched to breaking—finally launched war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the battle did not last long. The cries of battle ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo arrived at the hall with Shen Qi and Shen Qiheng. Behind them, both squads of Shen family private troops bore varying injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve gone too far. If I hadn’t come, would you have fought to the death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo’s face flushed with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the group storm in, Lu Fang stepped aside to let them reach Shen Kangbo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi, face dark with fury, pointed at Shen Qiheng:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi, enraged, burst into coughing and bowed to Wang Luo:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qiheng bowed respectfully: “Please, Master Wang, uphold justice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo’s expression turned grave. He spoke solemnly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qiheng manages the Shen family’s intelligence network and controls most of Wuyincheng’s forces—he should be the one to quell the unrest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qi, dismiss all your men and send them down the mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi’s face turned ashen. He stared at Wang Luo in disbelief: “Master Wang, what do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang, watching, was slightly startled. Even as a patron of the Shen family, Wang Luo should have remained neutral in this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Wang Luo’s words clearly favored Shen Qiheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were Lu Fang, he would never side with Shen Qiheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo frowned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qi, I’ve made myself clear. Disperse your gathered men immediately. Let Qiheng handle the protection of the Shen family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi stood there, face dark, silent for a long moment—then suddenly laughed bitterly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With Master Wang on your side, isn’t the Shen family yours to command?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why play this charade? Why not just kill me outright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, both of you, wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone frowned, turning toward Lu Fang, who stood aside—what business did he have butting in now?\u003C\u002Fp>",1185,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1a45abf0ccfbd4df5ee662c930c2a4b172c6c8e625bc66ed931f3726163c9185","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-88","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-86",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]