Chapter 39: Wheel of Fate
Chapter 39: Wheel of Fate
Shen Gong’ao’s writing was bold and forceful, the brushstrokes wild and powerful, the ink soaking deep into the paper.
But… his signature came after Wuque’s, and he had written his own name smaller than Wuque’s.
Instantly, everyone was stunned.
Fu Jianzhi, Governor of Tianshui Province, Lord Mi Gou, and Lord Li Jinshui—these three powerful figures. Even one appearing was rare, so why were all three here at Shen Gong’ao’s home today?
Remember, during Shen Gong’ao’s Triumph Ceremony and his ceremony for becoming a marquis, the Mi Clan didn’t send anyone. Tianshui Academy didn’t send anyone either.
Now that all three had come together today? Wasn’t it obviously to pressure Shen Gong’ao?
Everyone knew Shen Gong’ao was arrogant. He definitely wouldn’t accept this Contract signed by an unreliable kid like Shen Wuque.
The three hadn’t even expected him to. They were prepared to settle for making him compromise elsewhere.
But no one imagined Shen Gong’ao actually agreed and signed the Contract.
Everyone knew Wuque was useless. He could barely lift a chicken.
Getting anything other than last place in the Academy Grand Examination would be difficult for him. Passing the exam was a fantasy. Competing with Fu Tieyi? Pure nonsense.
He was absolutely certain to lose.
Even an idiot wouldn’t honor this Contract. Thirty Large Warships meant naval supremacy!
Yet Shen Gong’ao, for the sake of teaching his son, actually agreed. What effort he was putting in!
Suddenly, Fu Jianzhi and the other two had nothing to say.
With Shen Gong’ao’s signature, this became a true Contract. Unchangeable.
It meant the Shen Gong Family’s Thirty Large Warships now belonged to the Mi Clan and the Empire’s royal family. They could divide the loot privately soon.
…
After signing,
Shen Gong’ao looked at Zhi Fan and slowly asked, “Zhi Fan, why have you come? If I guess correctly, you’re here to divorce Shen Wuque, aren’t you?”
Zhi Fan, breathtakingly beautiful, lifted her slender neck. She looked at Shen Gong’ao, then at Wuque.
That was right!
Zhi Fan was here for divorce.
She had come to the Shen Gong residence today to lay her cards on the table.
She was willing to pay any price for the divorce, even half her business.
But now…
It was clear the Mi Clan and the imperial court were teaming up to blackmail the Shen Gong Family.
If Zhi Fan demanded divorce now, it would just pour oil on the fire. Worse, it would be kicking them while they were down.
Zhi Fan… wouldn’t stoop to such low behavior.
She cherished her pride, her dignity. She scorned such mean-spiritedness.
“No, that’s not why. I’m leaving!” She stood up.
As she left, she glanced at Wuque.
She felt ridiculous. She had hated this man for eight years.
He was so absurd, shallow, stupid.
When he obsessively chased Fu Caiwei, he was this way. And today? He’d tossed away his family’s Thirty Large Warships without a care.
Did he even know what it meant? To someone so empty, it was probably just a number.
Suddenly, she found Shen Wuque quite pathetic.
Ignorant people were always pitiful.
…
Shen Gong’ao, Mu Hongyu, and Wuque shared a light meal.
No one mentioned the upcoming Academy Grand Exam. No one brought up the Thirty Large Warships.
Before they finished eating, Mu Hongyu shooed Shen Gong’ao away.
She pulled up her trouser leg, revealing her calf. Most wounds there were healed. Before, rotting flesh had shown bone in places.
Then, Mu Hongyu looked at Wuque, her eyes hinting at playful teasing.
“Clearly, it was you who healed me,” she chuckled. “But you made your father lie, say it was some doctor from the Southern Barbarians. Did you think I was blind? Lots of people say you’re ridiculous. But I just feel it in my bones: my son’s caring now. A woman knows such things.”
“I got letters from the Solitary Mountain Villa too. Said things were desperate. If you hadn’t stepped forward, Jiumogang and his wife would be dead on the spot. You signed that Contract to save their lives.”
“I’m moved, warmed. Because my Wuque has really grown up.”
“Treat this Academy Grand Exam like a game. Play it how you like. Score last? Doesn’t matter. We’re assimilated foreigners, thick-skinned enough to take mockery.”
“Alright, go. Your teachers must be waiting.”
Wuque looked at Mu Hongyu. Suddenly, he said, “Mother. That day I signed the Contract. There was another reason, besides saving Master Jiumogang.”
“What reason?” Mu Hongyu asked.
Wuque said, “There was a man… utterly pitiful. Truly, the saddest in this world. To achieve my goal, I killed him. I felt myself slipping into darkness. So I needed… to reach for something bright, something good.”
Mu Hongyu cupped Wuque’s face, her voice serious. “My son, forget him!”
“Forget the man you killed. Forget it. Act like it never happened.”
“Let your mother tell you something. Every person is for themselves, or heaven destroys them. Get too close to anyone, you see their flaws. Your father’s impressive, right? Yet to me, he’s flawed, barely human. For the family back then, he did terrible things too. Know the Ying Clan?”
Wuque’s heart trembled. He replied softly, “Yes.”
Mu Hongyu continued, “Fifteen years ago, the Ying Clan’s army was annihilated on the battlefield. Their whole clan was captured. Then, Lord Mi slaughtered them all. Months later… the last Ying survivor, a ten-year-old boy back from study, fell into our hands. I wanted to save him. But for the family’s gain, I stayed my hand. Such a lovely child… he still haunts my dreams. Why are your father and I inseparable? Bound together? Because we’ve seen each other at our very worst.”
“My child… embrace whatever gives you strength. Be it goodness, or darkness.”
“But if something weighs upon you? Hinders your flight? Cast it away without hesitation. Doesn’t matter if it’s seen as good, right, or moral.”
“Because to your mother? Nothing matters but the family. Nothing.”
“So long as we prosper, let the floodwaters drown the world.”
…
Wuque left Zhenhai City, heading north.
A troop of Shen Gong family knights accompanied him—over a hundred, led by the formidable martial artist Shadow.
Wen Daozi and the others all came too, escorting him north to Yingzhou City for the Academy Grand Exam.
Shen Gong’ao wasn’t there to see him off. But he stood atop the family castle, watching his son’s retreating figure.
Even after Wuque vanished from sight, Shen Gong’ao’s gaze stayed fixed.
After a long pause, he mocked himself aloud: “Must be the costliest exam ever. Thirty warships. Over a million silver taels. My son really is the world’s champion wastrel.”
“Age does that, doesn’t it? Soften hearts. Makes a father putty in his child’s hands?”
“Too tender a father ruins the son. Ha!”
…
Yingzhou City lay six hundred li from Zhenhai City.
Mid-journey, Wuque made a detour to Wuwang Town.
Hometown of the master archer Li Jiqian. Now, only his son remained.
Wuque saw him. Li Jiqian’s son was called Li Qianji.
Their grand family mansion had been seized. His son was cast out, living in the town’s ancestral hall, hungry and cold.
The boy seemed troubled. Not exactly slow. More like lost in his world.
When Wuque visited, he squatted on the ground, writing and drawing, muttering to himself endlessly.
Wuque left him several dozen silver taels and a pile of dried provisions. Li Jiqian’s son took no notice.
Late that night, deserted and still.
Wuque came beneath a giant banyan tree. This was where Li Jiqian once practiced archery and meditated.
Wuque took out an urn of ashes. He buried it below the tree.
Returning him to his roots was enough.
No need for graves or markers.
Wuque bowed deeply.
Master Li Jiqian, he silently vowed, thank you for your first-grade archery skill. When I come back, I’ll take your son with me.
Unseen, as Wuque left Wuwang Town, Li Qianji slipped from the shadows. He watched their departing backs, trembling, tears spilling soundlessly down his face.
…
The next evening,
Wuque’s group entered Yingzhou City.
Once, this was his home. A magnificent mountain-top palace, shimmering in the distance. Now? It belonged to the Mi Clan.
Ten thousand square miles of land—once all his family’s—mostly belonged to the Mi Clan now.
Wuque shook his head, banishing those thoughts!
The most urgent thing? The Academy Grand Exam tomorrow.
This exam would shape many destinies.
It would also decide the fate of the Shen Gong family’s Thirty Large Warships.
And of course, it determined the foundation for Wuque’s own path to greatness…