[{"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-89":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},2292052,4481,"Chapter 89: Tianji Daoren","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-89",89,"\u003Cp>Wang Luo let out a self-deprecating laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems you’ve already made up your mind, Kangbo—no matter what I say, it’s useless. Very well, from now on, I’ll no longer serve as a household guardian of the Shen family. As long as these old bones still move, I might as well travel awhile.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Kangbo sneered: “We’ve known each other for fifty years. I’ve never wronged you or treated you poorly—yet you conspire with outsiders to kill me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think I’ll let you leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry, old friend—I’ll give you a grand funeral!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Luo snorted coldly: “We’re both Half-Saints. If I choose to leave, let’s see if you can stop me!” He vanished from where he stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Kangbo disappeared at the same instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunder cracked across the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang followed the Shen family out of the hall and saw Shen Kangbo and Wang Luo hovering face-to-face in midair—one surrounded by rotating Eight Trigrams, the other wreathed in visible ink-calligraphy characters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look! It’s the mist of Wuyincheng!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the legends are true—these mists are the great array laid down by our Ancestor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The pressure is overwhelming—I can barely breathe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every member of the Shen family wore smiles on their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a dozen breaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vast waves of mist surged from all directions, swallowing Shen Kangbo and Wang Luo whole—even Lu Fang, concentrating his righteous qi into his eyes, could not pierce the fog to see the battle within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this was no ordinary mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the thick fog, arcane light flickered and space warped—the mist must have had protective properties, for not a single spark of spiritual energy leaked out from the duel of the two Half-Saints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle also did not last as long as expected—it ended before fifteen minutes had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the mist rapidly dissipated, Wang Luo tumbled from the air and crashed heavily toward the rear mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Kangbo emerged, his robes torn and his expression weary—clearly, that battle had been far from simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Wang is dead. Shen Qi, you will root out the traitors within the manor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Shen Kangbo shot off like a streak of light toward the rear mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi replied, “Brother, I’ll take care of this. I’ll take men to detain anyone connected to Wang Luo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hurried away with his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi Cheng sighed and turned to Shen Squad Leader: “Squad Leader, your uncle treated you unfairly before. I apologize to you publicly, before everyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Squad Leader bowed quickly: “Uncle, you’re too kind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To say Shen Qi Cheng had done anything truly wrong during this upheaval would be exaggerated—he had merely acted too harshly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But given that Shen Kangbo had been poisoned and the Shen family faced chaos, his behavior was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Qi Cheng bowed to Lu Fang and smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks to your righteous words, Lord Wenguan, I’ll speak with my father about the widespread distribution of the Great Zhou Gazette. Someone, show Lord Wenguan to the guest quarters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you,” Lu Fang said, pulling Shen Xiaxuan along as they followed a guard toward the western side of the manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the guest quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the guard left, Shen Xiaxuan pouted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Outside, everyone said how wonderful the Shen family was—but now I see, it’s not nearly as free as traveling with my master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang asked curiously: “Forgive me—I don’t know your master’s title. Someone who trained such a formidable disciple must be a true cultivator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, the Shen family’s turmoil had distracted him—he hadn’t asked her properly. Now that everything was clear, he finally remembered to inquire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Xiaxuan grinned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My master isn’t some great cultivator—he’s just a fortune-teller who runs a shabby stall. I’m strong because I’m naturally gifted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, sure, I’m not as good as Brother Lu, but you wouldn’t believe the look on my master’s face when he first saw me—he kept saying ‘naturally gifted!’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now I think about it, I miss him. I wonder if he’s been eating properly these past few months.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally gifted?” Lu Fang studied Shen Xiaxuan from head to toe and shook his head. “Your master really has keen eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hidden Half-Saint suddenly spoke: “Could it be him? That old bastard really is him—he’s already heading this way. What bad luck!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words faded, a carefree voice rang out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xuan’er, you’ve been lied to. Your aunt told you a falsehood—you’re not a Shen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, an old Taoist in patched robes appeared, his face grimy and dusty like a beggar’s, always wearing a sly smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Xiaxuan rushed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Taoist sighed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you I had a minor grudge with Shen Kangbo—you wouldn’t believe me. I found your uncle’s family. Your aunt lied to you, saying Shen Kangbo is your father. While the old man hasn’t noticed, let’s run—quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Xiaxuan frowned skeptically: “Master, do you really hate Shen Kangbo? Then why dare come here? I can only believe a third of what you say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Taoist had been so focused on Shen Xiaxuan he’d barely glanced at Lu Fang—but now he paused, startled, then his grin turned enigmatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, may I ask your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lu Fang could answer, Shen Xiaxuan beamed: “He’s Lord Wenguan—the man who wrote Dream of the Red Chamber.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Prophet,” the old Taoist said, losing interest. He turned back to Shen Xiaxuan. “Xuan’er, since you’re not that old bastard’s daughter, let’s go before they throw us out—it’d be too embarrassing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Xiaxuan nodded and turned to Lu Fang: “Brother Lu, I’m leaving with my master. If I have time later, I’ll come to the capital to visit you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang replied sincerely: “Good. I’ll make sure to treat you well then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Shen Kangbo’s voice rang out: “Old friend, you’ve come all this way—why rush off? Why not stay awhile and chat? I was just looking for someone to cast a divination for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Taoist rolled his eyes dramatically, grabbed Shen Xiaxuan, and strode out, muttering as he went:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You old bastard, still have the nerve to ask me for a divination? My disciple came here and nearly got persecuted by your Shen family…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice still echoed in the air as he vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly, this man is no ordinary person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang sighed. He had sensed the old Taoist was merely a Seventh-Rank martial artist, yet facing him, Lu Fang felt as if his soul were being probed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hidden Half-Saint said: “If that old man were ordinary, then everyone under heaven would be ordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang bowed respectfully: “I beg you, Elder, to enlighten me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Half-Saint smiled: “That man is Tianji Daoren. You know that barbarians and demons have seers—well, he is our Great Zhou’s seer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His Majesty once wanted to appoint him head of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, but he refused.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those who pry into and reveal heavenly secrets suffer special suppression from the Dao. He says only by making himself utterly wretched can he live in true freedom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang sighed regretfully: “So his divinations must be incredibly accurate. I should’ve asked him for one just now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Half-Saint: “No. On average, out of ten divinations, not one is ever correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1204,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","48f5c5287d9c755876c00340ceac823dda4038832b91c24758f5cd97cb8534d2","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-90","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-88",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]