Heaven’s Shadow

The Feiyan Platform was quiet for a while. With the mountain wind blowing, Lu Chen remained silent, and Su Qingjun also quieted down, seemingly patient as she waited for his response.

After a while, Lu Chen said, “What if I don’t answer that question?”

Su Qingjun thought for a moment and said, “You’ve just helped me a lot. I can’t force you to answer. But I really would like to know.”

“Oh,” Lu Chen smiled, then turned and walked away. “Thank you for understanding.”

“… Hey!” Su Qingjun was taken aback and called out to his retreating figure, “You really aren’t going to say anything?”

Lu Chen laughed, waved at her, and then walked into his thatched hut.

Su Qingjun, momentarily frustrated, had grown used to young men being deferential and answering her questions without hesitation. She hadn’t expected to run into a stubborn person today.

She glared at the thatched hut, gritted her teeth in annoyance, wrapped her cloak tighter, and walked away. However, after walking some distance, she suddenly stopped, furrowing her brows as if she had forgotten something. After a moment, she turned back, walked to the thatched hut’s door, and knocked.

“Come in,” Lu Chen’s voice came from inside.

Su Qingjun pushed open the door and saw Lu Chen sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked at her and said, “What’s the matter?”

“Um, there’s something,” Su Qingjun said. “About the matter you mentioned before, I’ve thought it over a few times and feel that… well…” She seemed hesitant at the end and didn’t finish her thought clearly.

Lu Chen looked at Su Qingjun with some curiosity. “Which matter?”

Su Qingjun was silent for a moment before she seemed to make up her mind and said, “It’s about you helping me deal with the other people from the Su family during this period.”

Lu Chen was a bit surprised. “So you’ve come to terms with it?”

Su Qingjun smiled, though the smile was a bit bitter. She said softly, “Firstly, I’m injured now and don’t look presentable. It’s inconvenient for others to know the truth, so I need your help to handle it. Secondly, after last night, I… I feel a bit disillusioned and think it’s not feasible to continue handling everything alone.”

Lu Chen frowned. “I haven’t asked you what happened last night.”

Su Qingjun replied淡淡地, “It’s not a big deal. Su Mo and his companions are used to being arrogant in Kunwu City and got into a conflict. After a big fight, they arranged for another fight, claiming the opponent was just a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. But unexpectedly, another strange Golden Core cultivator appeared.”

Lu Chen remained silent for a moment, then nodded. “No wonder.”

Su Qingjun seemed unwilling to continue on this topic and gazed at Lu Chen. “Can you help me with this matter?”

Lu Chen smiled and met her gaze. “You’re asking for help only because you can’t face others, so I’m not willing to do it.”

Su Qingjun frowned. “Why?”

“If I help you, I’ll offend many people from the Su family. Have you considered that?” Lu Chen said calmly, “I have no personal grievance with you or the Su family. Why would I invite such trouble?”

Su Qingjun was taken aback, apparently surprised by Lu Chen’s sudden coldness and straightforwardness. “Weren’t you…”

Lu Chen gently waved his hand. “Actually, you still think that others helping you is a matter of course, right?”

Su Qingjun was silent for a long time, then lightly pressed her lips together and admitted, “I was wrong.”

Her complexion was pale due to her injuries, but it added a touch of heart-wrenching beauty. Lu Chen seemed to ignore this, watching her calmly without saying a word.

Su Qingjun looked up at him and said, “I’ve thought it over. My current condition really isn’t good for showing myself to others. I do need your help. If you need some compensation, we can discuss it.”

She seemed suddenly a bit embarrassed, with a hint of self-deprecation. “After all, I just owed you a huge favor. It’s fine if I owe a bit more; we can settle it slowly later.”

Lu Chen looked at her pale but still beautiful face and, after a while, sighed. “Since it’s come to this, I’ll help you fully.”

Su Qingjun’s face lit up with a smile. “Thank you. You’re truly a good person.”

### 

“A good person…” Lu Chen murmured, shaking his head, then turned to Su Qingjun with a serious expression. “I can help you with this, but I can’t do it alone. To stop them, I’ll definitely offend people, so you must back me up.”

Su Qingjun nodded. “Okay.”

Lu Chen, however, wasn’t casual about it. He stared into her eyes and said, “Let me be clear. By ‘backing me up,’ I mean that ordinary insults can be ignored, but if anyone takes action, you hit back exactly where they hit me. If they injure me, you retaliate double.”

Su Qingjun fell silent, and after a while,苦笑道, “I really want to agree right away, but… I’m genuinely worried I might not be able to do it.”

Lu Chen nodded and looked at the woman with a softer gaze. “It’s rare for you to be honest with me.” After a pause, he added, “Still embarrassed to ask for help?”

“Mm,” Su Qingjun said with some frustration, “I know that not everyone in my family is good, and there are many flaws. But since we grew up together and have so many family and blood ties, I’ve been among these people since I was little, so it’s really…”

For a moment, the Feiyan Platform was quiet. The mountain wind blew softly, and since Lu Chen had not spoken, Su Qingjun also remained silent, seemingly waiting patiently for his response.

After a while, Lu Chen said, “What if I don’t answer that question?”

Su Qingjun thought for a moment and said, “You’ve just helped me a lot. I can’t force you to answer. But I really do want to know.”

“Oh,” Lu Chen smiled and then turned to walk away. “Thank you for your understanding.”

“… Hey!” Su Qingjun was taken aback and called out to his retreating figure, “You really aren’t going to say anything?”

Lu Chen laughed, waved at her, and then walked into his thatched hut.

Su Qingjun, momentarily frustrated, was used to young men being respectful and answering her questions without hesitation. She hadn’t expected to run into such stubbornness today.

She glared at the thatched hut, gritted her teeth in annoyance, wrapped her cloak tighter, and walked away. However, after walking some distance, she suddenly stopped, frowning as if she had forgotten something. After a moment, she turned back, walked to the thatched hut’s door, and knocked.

“Come in,” Lu Chen’s voice came from inside.

Su Qingjun pushed open the door and saw Lu Chen sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked at her and said, “What’s the matter?”

“Um, there’s something,” Su Qingjun said. “About the matter you mentioned before, I’ve thought it over a few times and feel that… well…” She seemed hesitant at the end and didn’t finish her thought clearly.

Lu Chen looked at Su Qingjun with some curiosity. “Which matter?”

Su Qingjun was silent for a moment before she seemed to make up her mind and said, “It’s about you helping me deal with the other people from the Su family during this period.”

Lu Chen was a bit surprised. “So you’ve come to terms with it?”

Su Qingjun smiled, though the smile was a bit bitter. She said softly, “Firstly, I’m injured now and don’t look presentable. It’s inconvenient for others to know the truth, so I need your help to handle it. Secondly, after last night, I… I feel a bit disillusioned and think it’s not feasible to continue handling everything alone.”

Lu Chen frowned. “I haven’t asked you what happened last night.”

Su Qingjun replied淡淡地, “It’s not a big deal. Su Mo and his companions are used to being arrogant in Kunwu City and got into a conflict. After a big fight, they arranged for another fight, claiming the opponent was just a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. But unexpectedly, another strange Golden Core cultivator appeared.”

Lu Chen remained silent for a moment, then nodded. “No wonder.”

Su Qingjun seemed unwilling to continue on this topic and gazed at Lu Chen. “Can you help me with this matter?”

Lu Chen smiled and met her gaze. “You’re asking for help only because you can’t face others, so I’m not willing to do it.”

Su Qingjun frowned. “Why?”

“If I help you, I’ll offend many people from the Su family. Have you considered that?” Lu Chen said淡淡地, “I have no personal grievance with you or the Su family. Why would I invite such trouble?”

Su Qingjun was taken aback, apparently surprised by Lu Chen’s sudden coldness and straightforwardness. “Weren’t you…”

Lu Chen gently waved his hand. “Actually, you still think that others helping you is a matter of course, right?”

Su Qingjun was silent for a long time, then lightly pressed her lips together and admitted, “I was wrong.”

Her complexion was pale due to her injuries, but it added a touch of heart-wrenching beauty. Lu Chen seemed to ignore this, watching her calmly without saying a word.

Su Qingjun looked up at him and said, “I’ve thought it over. My current condition really isn’t good for showing myself to others. I do need your help. If you need some compensation, we can discuss it.”

She seemed suddenly a bit embarrassed, with a hint of self-deprecation. “After all, I just owed you a huge favor. It’s fine if I owe a bit more; we can settle it slowly later.”

Lu Chen looked at her pale but still beautiful face and, after a while, sighed. “Since it’s come to this, I’ll help you fully.”

Su Qingjun’s face lit up with a smile. “Thank you. You’re truly a good person.”

### 

“A good person…” Lu Chen murmured, shaking his head, then turned to Su Qingjun with a serious expression. “I can help you with this, but I can’t do it alone. To stop them, I’ll definitely offend people, so you must back me up.”

Su Qingjun nodded. “Okay.”

Lu Chen, however, wasn’t casual about it. He stared into her eyes and said, “Let me be clear. By ‘backing me up,’ I mean that ordinary insults can be ignored, but if anyone takes action, you hit back exactly where they hit me. If they injure me, you retaliate double.”

Su Qingjun fell silent, and after a while,苦笑道, “I really want to agree right away, but… I’m genuinely worried I might not be able to do it.”

Lu Chen nodded and looked at the woman with a softer gaze. “It’s rare for you to be honest with me.” After a pause, he added, “Still embarrassed to ask for help?”

“Mm,” Su Qingjun said with some frustration, “I know that not everyone in my family is good, and there are many flaws. But since we grew up together and have so many family and blood ties, I’ve been among these people since I was little, so it’s really…”

“Even if they take advantage of you, make you work hard, or even get you injured, they don’t come to see you. Isn’t it hard to let go?” Lu Chen pressed.

Su Qingjun’s expression struggled, and she finally gave a bitter smile. “My master has also scolded me several times for this, saying I haven’t changed and will struggle to achieve greatness in the future.”

Lu Chen was taken aback. “Old Mu Yuan actually said that about you?”

Su Qingjun sighed. “Master is concerned about me and is disappointed that I haven’t changed. Of course, I can’t take those words too seriously… Hey, don’t speak carelessly. How dare you call my master ‘old man’!” She lowered her voice. “My master is kind to me, but his temper with others isn’t great. Be careful not to get on his bad side.”

Lu Chen looked at her and suddenly laughed heartily. “Alright, just for what you said, let me teach you a method.”

“What method?” Su Qingjun asked, somewhat bewildered.

Lu Chen said solemnly, “Don’t you think your mindset is wrong?”

“It seems so, but…”

“This is a mental demon!” Lu Chen suddenly interrupted Su Qingjun.

Su Qingjun was startled. “What? A mental demon?”

“Yes, a mental demon.” Lu Chen said seriously, “Hey, don’t look at me like that. Although… uh, the term ‘mental demon’ does sound silly and gives a sense of being a swindler, which doesn’t seem worthy of our prestigious sect.”

“However, think about it. You’re almost a perfect woman in the eyes of others, but when it comes to the Su family, you become like this. There’s something off about that, right?”

Su Qingjun nodded slowly. “Yes.”

Lu Chen continued, “Actually, you’re smart, and you’ve probably thought about these things, but you haven’t figured out how to get rid of these mental burdens, right?”

“Mental burdens… mental demons?” Su Qingjun murmured, her eyes lighting up a bit as she looked at Lu Chen. “Do you… really have a method?”

“Indeed, I do. But whether it works depends on the person.”

“What method? Tell me.”

“Flip the table!”

“Flip the table?”

“Yes, flip the table!”

### 

At this moment, Su Qingjun felt her mind was a mess. Everything the man said seemed so unreliable, but deep down, there was a strange sense of hope.

Maybe it could work?

Maybe it really could work?

“But what kind of method is flipping the table?” Su Qingjun asked with frustration, looking at Lu Chen with disbelief.

“Look, I have a table here.” Lu Chen pointed to the only wooden table in the thatched hut.

“Oh.”

“Hold it.” Lu Chen said.

Su Qingjun looked at him strangely, wondering if she had been made foolish, but after hesitating for a while, she slowly walked over and placed her hands on the table.

“What does it feel like?” Lu Chen asked.

“Um… it’s made of wood.” Su Qingjun said.

Lu Chen rolled his eyes. “Of course… and?”

Su Qingjun thought for a moment and said, “The surface is quite rough, not polished much. The wood grain is average, so it’s probably not made of precious material. The craftsmanship is just so-so. It doesn’t look valuable, and…”

“Hey!” Lu Chen cut her off, exasperated. “Can’t you think like a normal person? I asked you if the table is heavy because it’s made entirely of wood!”

Su Qingjun’s fair fingers grabbed the edge of the table and lifted it, then looked at Lu Chen. “It’s not heavy… forgot I’m a Golden Core cultivator?”