Call It Whatever You Want

Gong Cheng stared at Shen Tang's retreating back.

His lips trembled, "This matter... I'm sorry..."

The destruction of the Shen Clan was inextricably linked to the Gong Clan.

He should have protected the last bloodline of the Shen Clan, but he failed.

This made the straightforward youth tormented internally when facing his "brother-in-law" Shen Tang, filled with unspeakable guilt and shame.

"What's the use of you apologizing to me?" Shen Tang seemed to snap back to reality, turning around. Her dark eyes, holding a thousand unspoken words, looked indifferently at the guilt-ridden Gong Cheng. "I know very well who the enemy is! What's the use of taking your anger out on you, a fellow victim?"

Gong Cheng was stunned.

A misty haze, tinged with red, spread from the corners of his eyes.

He choked out, "Thank you."

In just two months, his life had been turned upside down. From a once dashing and spirited young master of a noble family, he had become a prisoner whose entire clan had been exiled overnight. Let alone saving his clansmen, even his own life was saved by an old friend.

Upon seeing Shen Tang, he had been prepared to be grabbed by the collar, beaten, and scolded. He hadn't expected the other party to not blame him.

"Zheng Qiao is the one who should die!" Shen Tang paused, then added with murderous intent, "You don't need to apologize!"

She hated seeing people cry the most.

Especially those who were young and good-looking.

When they cried, her head would ache, fearing she'd be drowned by tears.

Her resonant words, like a sharp blade, cut through the confusion, dejection, and gloom that had accumulated in Gong Cheng's heart these days—Yes, the current ruler of Geng Country, the former favorite "Nü Jiao," Zheng Qiao, was the true culprit, the instigator—A flicker of emotion, named "hatred," ignited in his vacant, dead eyes, spreading inch by inch to his limbs and bones, providing new motivation.

His hands, hanging by his sides, slowly clenched into fists, repeating Shen Tang's words word by word, as if speaking to himself.

"Yes, you're right... Zheng Qiao is the one who should die!"

Seeing this, the Male Courtesan's suspended heart finally landed.

Gong Cheng's Dantian had been crippled. For over a month, he had walked with shackles, witnessing his fellow kin being insulted by the escorting officials, or dying from severe injuries, or succumbing to illness, or perishing from starvation and cold... Although he survived, he had little will to live.

His spirit was suppressed, his vitality collapsed, coupled with the destruction of his physical foundation, even the best medicine could only prolong his suffering.

If he could overcome his despair, he should recover quickly.

Shen Tang: "..."

Fine ┓(`)┏

Brother-in-law it is, if you like.

Her gender was truly Schrödinger's gender; ordinary people called her "Young Lady," while those with Literary Heart and Martial Gall called her "Young Master."

Everyone unanimously thought the other party's eyes were faulty.

The young man, silent for a long time, glanced at Shen Tang from the corner of his eye, seeming to ponder something. He asked her, "May I be so bold as to ask, Zheng Qiao ordered the extermination of the Shen Clan with swift and thunderous action, and no wind leaked. How did Young Master Shen escape?"

Shen Tang: "I wasn't there at the time. I took the opportunity amidst the chaos to save my life."

The young man mused, "Oh?"

Shen Tang gave a cold, sarcastic laugh, retorting with veiled barbs.

"What, can't the Gong Clan's Wudafu escape and hide, and I'm not even allowed to be lucky enough to save my own life?"

This remark, delivered with the utmost sarcasm, also struck a blow to Gong Cheng's heart. He quickly cut off the young man's words, saying, "Mr. Gu, the entire Shen Clan were loyal and righteous, unafraid of power or death. They would never have acted as you suspect."

The young man's face darkened: "..."

Did Gong Yun Chi know what he suspected?

Did he think Shen Tang was a coward who fled faster than a rabbit upon hearing the news, abandoning his entire clan?

Questioning his character and morals?

Superficial!

He clearly felt that "brother-in-law" Gong Yun Chi had some issues! He had mentioned the extermination of the Shen Clan several times just now, with such intense hatred, the debt of hundreds of lives. Even with excellent emotional control, a flaw would show, yet this person's heart was completely blank!

Was this reasonable?

This was illogical!

If it were Word Spirits used to resist his mind-reading, it would be understandable, but she hadn't mobilized her literary qi. In other words, this Young Master Shen had deliberately emptied his mind, not thinking, not pondering, and constantly guarding against him.

Such caution, how could there be no secret?

The Male Courtesan, however, noticed a detail.

"The Gong Clan's Wudafu is on the run?"

Shen Tang nodded, "That's what I heard, but it was news from a month ago. I don't know if he's been captured yet."

Gong Cheng's eyes suddenly lit up, and he excitedly grabbed the Male Courtesan, saying, "Wudafu... Weng Zhi, Mr. Gu, that must be my second uncle!"

Although Wudafu was only the ninth rank among Martial Gall, Gong Cheng's second uncle was still young, his talent was universally acknowledged as excellent, a model of early fame, and he had great potential for growth. If not for this upheaval, his future achievements would have been no less than the fourteenth rank Righter.

This was the best news he had heard in days.

As long as his second uncle was still alive, there was still hope for the future!

Shen Tang couldn't bear to pour cold water on him. The words she wanted to say tumbled in her throat, but she swallowed them back down.

"If there's nothing else, I won't disturb you any further."

She felt incredibly uneasy being in the same space, breathing the same air, as that young man surnamed Gu, who could apparently read minds.

Gong Cheng said, "Brother-in-law..."

Shen Tang suppressed the frantic throbbing in her veins and the violent urge to lash out. She forced a smile. "Since the thrice-bow ceremony was never completed and she has already passed away, let's drop that title."

Gong Cheng's face instantly turned pale. "But..."

"I am Shen Tang, courtesy name You Li. Call me whatever you like," Shen Tang said blankly. Anything was fine, as long as he didn't call her "brother-in-law" again. She didn't need to be reminded again and again that she looked like a pretty young girl but was constantly mistaken for a boy; it was too sad.

Gong Cheng let out a sigh of relief. "Alright, You Li."

Shen Tang gave a perfunctory bow. "Goodbye."

"Wait a moment!" Gong Cheng struggled to get up and looked at Shen Tang sincerely. "If you ever need my help in the future, I will spare no effort."

He had wanted to say that Shen Tang could come to him if she ran into trouble. This former brother-in-law had a good appearance and was young, drifting alone in the world, and he didn't know how many difficulties she might encounter. If nothing else, just covering her food and clothing expenses would be a headache. But then he thought about it, and he was even more down on his luck than she was. At least her Dantian was intact, and even if her Literary Heart's rank wasn't high, she could still get by. As for himself?

He was an injured party, relying on old friends for support and care.

If trouble really came, it was hard to say who would help whom.

So, all he could offer was a promise for the future.

Shen Tang paused, her expression complicated.

"Alright, I've noted what you said."

As soon as she left, the young man asked, "Yun Chi, how much do you know about the Shen Clan? How many people are in the main lineage?"

Gong Cheng, supported by two people, returned to his couch and lay down.

"Why is Mr. Gu asking about this?"

"Your brother-in-law said that these paintings..." the young man said, handing the Erotic Illustrations, which made both men and women fantasize, to Gong Cheng, who looked bewildered. "They were all painted by the 'brother' your brother-in-law mentioned. So, how many children does the Shen Clan have?"

Gong Cheng took them and opened them without any psychological preparation.

The impact hit him like a wave.

The next moment, his fingers felt as if they were licked by flames. Startled, he quickly threw the paintings away, his expression one of seeing a ghost, utterly shocked.