What He Feared Came to Pass

Dusk deepened.

Chen Shi'an was practicing Sword-Draw in his room when he suddenly heard a knock at the door.

He set down the Horizontal Saber and left his room.

He saw Su Qingrou smiling as she ushered a tall, middle-aged man into the courtyard. It was Hou Fang.

"Sister-in-law, it wasn't convenient during the day. Please forgive me if I offended you." Hou Fang had already changed out of his City Guard Team uniform into ordinary clothes.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he hurried to apologize to Su Qingrou.

Su Qingrou waved her hands repeatedly. "It wasn't your fault. You were on official business and had to avoid any appearance of favoritism.

"Brother Hou, come inside and sit down. I'll make you some tea."

Hou Fang looked apologetic. "Sister-in-law, I've heard about what happened to Brother.

"Unfortunately, I was away for over a year and only returned two days ago. I never got to see him one last time.

"I'll pass on the tea for now. Let me pay my respects to him first."

Chen Shi'an hurried to the mourning hall to receive him on behalf of the family.

Once Hou Fang had finished paying his respects, Chen Shi'an escorted him into the courtyard, where they sat beside the stone table.

Su Qingrou had already brewed the tea and brought Chen Tiantian over.

Hou Fang examined the injuries beneath Chen Tiantian's eyes, then took out a money pouch and pressed it into her hands.

Su Qingrou hurried to refuse it, telling Chen Tiantian to give it back.

Hou Fang raised his voice. "Sister-in-law, Brother looked after me so much when he was alive. This is just a small token of my feelings. If you refuse it, you're treating me as an outsider."

Hearing that, Su Qingrou could only accept the money.

Only then did Hou Fang turn to Chen Shi'an and smile. "The last time I saw you, you were still a half-grown boy. Who would've thought you'd grow so tall?"

"Brother Hou, I owe you my thanks for helping us today." Chen Shi'an cupped his hands in gratitude.

Hou Fang waved a hand. "No need to be polite. It was only right."

At that point, a puzzled look entered his eyes. "I've heard about your past, too, but seeing you today, you seem very different from the rumors."

Chen Shi'an chuckled softly. "They're rumors, after all. Some distortion is inevitable."

Hou Fang smiled faintly. "Sister-in-law, I need to speak to Shi'an alone about something. Sorry for the trouble, but could you take Tiantian inside for a while?"

Su Qingrou hesitated briefly, then took Chen Tiantian into their room.

"You managed to put Zhang Mazi down with just a few punches and kicks. You've got some decent skills." Once mother and daughter had gone inside, Hou Fang spoke quietly.

Chen Shi'an waved his hands repeatedly. "I only learned a few crude moves from my brother. They're enough to deal with a few street thugs, but they're nothing in front of you, Brother Hou."

Hou Fang abruptly changed the subject. "Did you see Zhao Desheng half a month ago?"

Chen Shi'an's heart jolted, but he did his utmost to keep his expression calm. He blinked. "Brother Hou, why are you suddenly asking about him?"

Hou Fang watched Chen Shi'an silently. After about six breaths, he said gravely, "He's dead."

"Dead? How did he die?"

Chen Shi'an wore an expression of utter shock.

"Someone killed him," Hou Fang replied quietly.

Chen Shi'an froze, then fear filled his eyes. "Brother Hou, you don't think his death had something to do with me, do you?"

Hou Fang took in every detail of Chen Shi'an's reaction. After a pause, he said, "I was ordered to investigate Zhao Desheng's case. I learned that someone saw him go to the Gambling House to find you half a month ago."

Hearing this, Chen Shi'an could not help cursing inwardly. You bastard Chen! You're already stone cold, yet you still left me this enormous pit to fall into.

At the same time, he secretly felt fortunate that Hou Fang was the one investigating the case.

Then, looking ashamed, he said, "Yes, Brother Hou. Zhao Desheng did come to the Gambling House to find me half a month ago.

"I'd borrowed half a tael of silver from him. He came to collect it."

"Nothing else?" Hou Fang pressed.

Chen Shi'an shook his head repeatedly. "That was all."

Hou Fang frowned and asked coldly, "You borrowed silver to gamble?"

Chen Shi'an lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Hou Fang let out a long sigh. "Shi'an, now that your brother's gone, I'll take the liberty of speaking as your elder.

"You're no child anymore. You need an honest livelihood. The Chen Family needs you to hold it up..."

After a lengthy, earnest lecture, Hou Fang returned to the matter at hand, his expression noticeably more serious. "Those above are taking Zhao Desheng's case very seriously.

"Your meeting with him is already on record.

"If you're implicated in the end and someone questions you, tell them exactly what you just told me. Don't say a single word more. Your story must stay consistent from beginning to end."

Chen Shi'an nodded and asked cautiously, "Brother Hou, which official do you mean by 'those above'?"

Hou Fang frowned. "That isn't something you should be asking about."

Chen Shi'an pulled a miserable face. "Brother Hou, my name's already in the records. I'm scared stiff. If you tell me a little more about what's going on, at least I can prepare myself."

Hou Fang hesitated briefly, then lowered his voice. "Everything I tell you tonight must rot in your stomach. You cannot let anyone know, including your sister-in-law.

"Otherwise, disaster won't just fall on you. It'll fall on me as well."

Chen Shi'an nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry. I won't let a third person hear about it."

Hou Fang cleared his throat. "Commander Wang Tianye of the City Guard Battalion is personally overseeing this case."

Chen Shi'an's heart shook violently. What he feared had come to pass.

With Wang Tianye overseeing the case, he might request the files.

Chen Shi'an's name and information were already in those files. Once Wang Tianye saw them, there was every chance Chen Tiantian would draw his attention.

At the thought, Chen Shi'an's whole body tightened, and his face grew a few shades paler.

If Wang Tianye went after Chen Tiantian, he had no way to resist with his current strength.

Seeing Chen Shi'an turn pale, Hou Fang said gravely, "What are you afraid of? Do as I told you, and you'll be fine."

Chen Shi'an collected himself. "Commander Wang's authority is too imposing. I can't help being frightened."

Then he looked puzzled. "Brother Hou, Zhao Desheng may have been a Squad Leader in the City Guard Battalion, but surely his murder wouldn't be enough to draw Commander Wang's attention?"

Hou Fang sneered. "Zhao Desheng died in the Outer City. There was no way to investigate it in the first place, but his younger sister kept going to the City Guard Battalion and kicking up a fuss. She insists on getting to the bottom of it."

"Zhao Desheng's younger sister?" Chen Shi'an was even more puzzled.

Hou Fang added, "Zhao Desheng's younger sister is very close to Commander Wang. Don't ask any more about the details. Knowing too much won't do you any good."

Damn it! One link after another!

What's coming can't be avoided, no matter how you hide. The more you dodge it, the more tightly it clings to you.

Chen Shi'an narrowed his eyes slightly. He had made up his mind. When it came to Wang Tianye, he absolutely could not sit around waiting, much less pin his hopes on luck. He had to take the initiative.

Hou Fang chatted with Su Qingrou for a while longer, then left the Chen Family home under cover of night.

"Brother-in-law, what did Brother Hou say to you?" Su Qingrou looked puzzled and concerned.

Chen Shi'an answered with a laugh. "Nothing much. He just encouraged me to stop wasting my time and find a proper livelihood."

Su Qingrou nodded. "Brother Hou is a good man. He's right.

"If our chili sauce really starts making money, I'll hurry and find you a pretty girl so you can start a family soon.

"Once a man has a family, he gradually develops a sense of responsibility..."

Chen Shi'an hurried to interrupt her. "Sister-in-law, it's getting late. Take Tiantian to bed. She has school tomorrow morning."

With that, he quickly turned and strode back to his room, seizing every moment to practice Sword-Draw.

By now, he had drawn his saber a hundred and sixty thousand times. If he picked up the pace, he should be able to reach three hundred thousand in ten days.

But Wang Tianye could set his sights on Chen Tiantian at any moment.

Moreover, he was a veteran Ranked Martial Artist and the powerful Commander of the City Guard Battalion. Even if Chen Shi'an attained a rank in the martial dao, he might still be unable to protect his niece.

He had to find another way, and quickly.

The next day, something momentous happened in Windrise Stronghold.

A mysterious person had composed a four-line poem for Tao Yaoyao of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, but delivered only the first two lines:

A famed flower and a beauty who could topple kingdoms delighted each other; forever the king gazed upon them with a smile.

Even those two lines alone caused a sensation throughout Windrise Stronghold.

The strongholds scattered across the Desolate Ruins gathered people from every creed and walk of life. Naturally, there was no shortage of refined scholars, much less people who fancied themselves cultured the moment they had a few taels of silver in their pockets.

As soon as those two lines appeared, they won over the Stronghold's great poets, who praised them lavishly and began searching for their author.

Yet after releasing those first two lines, the person vanished without a trace.

As the poem's recipient, Tao Yaoyao felt both joy and distress.

She was the mistress of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion's Windrise Stronghold branch, a famous figure throughout the Desolate Ruins. Beautiful as a flower, she had countless admirers. Her greatest love was poetry, which prompted her suitors to offer her poems one after another.

Anyone who presented a good poem could win her favor, perhaps receiving a gift in return or even a candlelit dinner.

However, her standards were high. Over the years, precious few had received gifts, let alone a candlelit dinner.

But this half-poem from the mysterious stranger spoke straight to her heart. It made joy blossom within her, and she could not bear to put it down.

As soon as she finished reading it, she sent word out.

If the mysterious stranger delivered the second half, she would arrange a candlelit dinner immediately.

Unexpectedly, and bafflingly, half a day passed after her announcement without the slightest response from the stranger.

Instead, a few men who had lost their senses overreached themselves, tacking dogs' tails onto sable coats by writing their own second halves and going to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to claim the credit.

They did not get a candlelit dinner. They got a thorough beating.

While everyone was speculating about the mysterious stranger's identity, Chen Shi'an arrived before a grand residence in Windrise Stronghold.

Beyond its vermilion gates and high walls, two stone qilins as tall as a person stood at the entrance, along with four young men.

Two stood on either side, their noses pointed skyward, their manner haughty and overbearing.

Passersby could not hide the envy in their eyes when their gazes fell upon the four young men.

On the plaque above the residence's main gate, four large characters danced like dragons and soaring phoenixes: Windrise Martial Academy.

So this was the cradle of Windrise Stronghold's elite. No wonder even its gatekeepers acted as though no one in the world could compare to them.

"Stop! What are you doing? Take a good look at where you are! Do you think just anyone can walk in?"

Chen Shi'an was still twenty paces from the Windrise Martial Academy's gates when a young man with a black mole beside his mouth strode toward him, shouting.

"Brother, I have urgent business with Deputy Dean Lu. Please..." Chen Shi'an cupped his hands in greeting.

The man with the mole swept his hand through the air. "Who are you calling brother? Do you think you're someone who gets to see Deputy Dean Lu?

"Requesting an audience with Deputy Dean Lu? Why don't you just fly into the heavens while you're at it?

"Get out of the way before you get a beating!"

Just then, a lovely young woman wearing a White Lotus Dress walked out of the Martial Academy.

Chen Shi'an was rather surprised. It was none other than Fang Ruyu, who had broken off her engagement with him not long ago.

The instant Fang Ruyu saw Chen Shi'an, she visibly froze. Then she raised her head, thrust out her ample chest, and stepped over the threshold with pride written across her face.

"Junior Sister Fang, heading out?" The moment the man with the mole saw Fang Ruyu, his manner changed completely, and a brilliant smile spread across his face.

Fang Ruyu nodded. "I'm going to buy some pastries."

"Junior Sister Fang, I know every good pastry shop in the Stronghold and every flavor they sell like the back of my hand.

"If you're not in a hurry, I'll buy some for you once my shift ends. I guarantee you'll be satisfied." The man with the mole wore a fawning expression.

Fang Ruyu smiled faintly. "I won't trouble you, Senior Brother. I just feel like having a bite right now."

Hearing this, the man with the mole looked disappointed.

Fang Ruyu turned her gaze toward Chen Shi'an. "Senior Brother, what's going on with this person?"

The man with the mole hastily answered, "Some penniless wretch who crawled out from who knows where. The first thing out of his mouth was a demand to see Deputy Dean Lu."

The corners of Fang Ruyu's lips lifted slightly. "Senior Brother, the Martial Academy is the Stronghold's sacred ground. Only its most outstanding talents may enter.

"You bear a heavy responsibility. Make absolutely sure you don't let in any disreputable people of unknown origins."

Having said her piece, she walked away with her head held high, like a proud little peacock.

The man with the mole stared at Fang Xiaorou's curvaceous figure from behind, his eyes shining. He called loudly, "Senior Brother Fang, rest assured! With your senior brother guarding the Martial Academy's gates, not a single stinking bug will sneak inside and disturb you, Junior Sister."

Only after Fang Xiaorou turned a distant street corner did he withdraw his gaze. His face instantly turned vicious again, and he stared coldly at Chen Shi'an.

"Brat, get lost while I'm still in a good mood! Otherwise, you'll be sorry!"

Chen Shi'an narrowed his eyes and said coldly, **"You damned bootlicking dog! Are those dog eyes of yours blind? Deputy Dean Lu invited me here.

"If you delay Dean Lu's important business, can you shoulder the consequences?"**

The man with the mole had grown accustomed to throwing his weight around while guarding the gates. Everyone he berated had always meekly submitted.

Chen Shi'an's forceful tirade actually left him stunned.

At the same time, Chen Shi'an stood straight as a javelin, his eyes bright and piercing, his bearing radiating an imposing dignity that brooked no insult.

The man with the mole unconsciously stooped a little and swallowed. "Stop putting on airs..."

Before he could finish, Chen Shi'an pulled an envelope from his clothes and slapped it hard against his chest. "Whether I'm putting on airs or not, you'll know the answer as soon as you deliver this letter to Deputy Dean Lu."

Then he gave a cold laugh. "Of course, you can choose not to deliver it. Then you can wait for Deputy Dean Lu to deal with you properly!"