After bidding farewell to Ye Shishi and the others, Shen Lang drove towards Shanyuan Villa.
The first time Shen Lang visited Shanyuan Villa was when Qi Dingjiang captured Yu Xiao and Yu Fei here. Shen Lang had come to rescue them. At that time, with his martial arts cultivation at the early Earth realm, Shen Lang clashed with Shanyuan, who had reached the Heaven realm. If Song Shadao hadn't arrived in the nick of time, Shen Lang would likely have lost his life.
At Shen Lang's wedding, Shanyuan, along with his disciples and the forged Yitian Sword, attempted to kill Shen Lang. He was, however, killed on the spot by Shen Lang's left hand's Annihilation Beam, vanishing into thin air. This, in a way, marked an end to their past grievances.
Half an hour later, Shen Lang's car arrived at Shanyuan Villa. As he parked at the entrance, Miaoshan, a pure and beautiful woman, appeared before him.
"Oh, Miss Miaoshan, you're still at Shanyuan Villa? I thought you all would have disbanded after your master Shanyuan died. There's no one left at Shanyuan Villa now."
Shen Lang didn't dislike Miaoshan. Seeing her, a smile spread across his face as he spoke.
"Shen Lang, my senior sisters Miaoyin and Miaole have left, but I haven't. If you want me to leave, it will only be after I've killed you to avenge my master."
Looking at the man who killed her master, Miaoshan gritted her teeth and said with indignation.
"Avenge? No, no, no. There's no enmity between us. You're caught in a delusion."
Shen Lang looked at Miaoshan, consumed by hatred, and smiled, "You were a witness, and no one knows better than you about the grievances between Master Shanyuan and me. The first time I clashed with her was because Qi Dingjiang had kidnapped my girlfriend and her sister, and I came to get them from Qi Dingjiang. Master Shanyuan, however, completely ignored my plea and attacked me. Out of necessity, I could only resist."
"You were present then, and you know how dangerous it was. It can be said that if my uncle Song Shadao hadn't arrived in time, the grass on my grave would be several meters high by now."
"The second time I encountered Master Shanyuan was at my wedding. She appeared with Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao, bringing your disciples and the Yitian Sword to kill me, and they also poisoned my uncle. Forced to defend myself, I could only resist and eventually killed her."
Shen Lang looked at Miaoshan earnestly and said, "From beginning to end, I never provoked Shanyuan. On the contrary, she was aggressive. Although the final outcome was tragic, don't you think it was somewhat self-inflicted?"
"You..."
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Miaoshan was angered but found no grounds to refute. Shen Lang had indeed not actively provoked Shanyuan; rather, Shanyuan had repeatedly tried to kill Shen Lang. Although she died in the end, Shen Lang was in the right.
"Miss Miaoshan, you and your master are not the same kind of person. She took a crooked path, was fiery, stubborn, and violent. You, on the other hand, are intelligent, open-minded, and gentle. One is like Abbess Miejue, and the other is like Zhou Zhiruo. If you can't let go of your obsession, you'll eventually go mad and be abandoned."
Shen Lang, rarely persuading others, continued, "If you wish to seek revenge, I will not be afraid nor will I evade. I only hope that you won't involve the people around me, because they are all innocent and cannot be harmed in the slightest."
"Shen Lang, I truly don't know who you are. When you kill, you're like a Shura demon, but when you're not killing, you're as comfortable as a spring breeze, inexplicably pleasant."
Miaoshan looked at Shen Lang, perplexed, and said.
"Who I am is not important. What's important is that you should know who you are and the path you wish to take, rather than being swept up by hatred and becoming a tool of revenge."
Shen Lang looked at Miaoshan, smiled gently, and said, "Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao are both scoundrels, and the Qi and Kong families are ruthless. I hope you stay away from them; it's for your own good."
Having said that, before Miaoshan could reply, Shen Lang changed the subject, "I'm here to see Chu Ge. Do you know where she is?"
"She's in the Quiet Heart Abode at Shanyuan Villa."
Upon hearing this, Miaoshan blurted out the answer.
"Then please, Miss Miaoshan, lead the way."
Although Shen Lang had been to Shanyuan Villa before, he was unfamiliar with it. If he had to find it himself, it would likely take him half the morning.
"Follow me."
Although Miaoshan hadn't let go of her hatred for Shen Lang, she no longer treated him with gritted teeth. She quickly led Shen Lang to a secluded and quiet small house.
"This is the Quiet Heart Abode. Chu Ge is inside. You can go in."
Upon reaching the entrance, Miaoshan said, then turned and left.
After Miaoshan departed, Shen Lang walked into the Quiet Heart Abode.
The Quiet Heart Abode was a bamboo house of about thirty square meters. Inside, there was only a table and four chairs. A large character "静" (Jing, meaning quiet/still) was written on the wall.
As Shen Lang entered the Quiet Heart Abode, he saw Chu Ge sitting inside, drinking tea. Chu Ge, who was usually stunningly beautiful, appeared quite dispirited at the moment.
"Shen Lang, you've come?"
Seeing Shen Lang enter, Chu Ge was somewhat shocked and said.
"You asked me to come, and I would naturally come."
Shen Lang walked to Chu Ge and sat down, smiling, "You seem to be in a bad mood. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Shen Lang, you seem very familiar, but I really can't remember if I've met you before."
Chu Ge picked up a teacup with tongs and placed it in front of Shen Lang. She then picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of clear tea before speaking, "You say you know me, and that we even begged together, but these things are not in my memory. However, I can sense that you seem special to me."
"Perhaps not remembering is not a bad thing, is it?"
Shen Lang looked at Chu Ge and smiled, "If you can't recall past events, don't dwell on them. Let's talk about now. What is troubling you so much?"
"Shen Lang, I'm getting married."
Hearing this, Chu Ge said with a look of sadness.
"What?"
Upon hearing that Chu Ge was getting married, Shen Lang felt a pang in his heart, but he calmly said, "This seems like a good thing. Why are you unhappy?"
"If the person I were marrying was someone I loved, it would naturally be a good thing. But I don't like him at all."
Chu Ge said, "This is a marriage of convenience. I have no choice in the matter, and my parents have never given me a choice."
"What can I do for you?"
Seeing Chu Ge's troubled expression, Shen Lang smiled slightly and asked.
"Will you help me with anything I ask?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Chu Ge asked with interest.
"Yes, I won't refuse any of your requests."
Shen Lang smiled at Chu Ge's words and said.
Upon hearing this, Chu Ge smiled and asked, "What if I asked you to kill the person I'm betrothed to?"
Shen Lang didn't hesitate and replied with a single word: "Kill—"