Chapter 14: Chapter 14

An Wanli was the full name of Master An. Despite not having that ferocious aura and being slightly stout, his ability to survive in the hands of the man in green says something about his character, even if it meant that he had to be embarrassed numerous times.

The status of Shen Lian had dictated his fate for being unable to participate in the interaction between An Wanli, Jin Daowang, and Shen Qingsan. Upon meeting a point of mutual agreement, Jin Daowang, An Wanli, and the petite old man left the inn with their weapons.

What could be noticed was that the clanking of swords from the streets was fading away. He had to face the fact that he was greatly outnumbered, no matter how invincible that man in green thought he was.

Shen Lian witnessed how much the body of the man in green endured. Slashes and bloodstain could be seen, wounded from head to toe. He was at last locked on the collarbone, bound by heavy chains, captured in a prison van built out of pure steel.

‘Such discreet planning, they must have seen this coming,’ thought Shen Lian as he observed the scene.

Little did he know, that whole stage took the Shen family only a few days to plan. If he had known, he would be more surprised with the power of Shen family.

In the air of silence, Shen Lian returned home with Shen Qingsan. He bore no malice, nor does he hold any favorable impression towards the man in green. Lament was the word to describe the day.

He came to a point of realization that even a highly skilled, seemingly invincible Jianghu drifter can be detained when outnumbered. ‘Physical body will still be a limit to the skills one attains,’ he thought to himself.

At the same time, he was amused by the Deity Vanquisher Sword, that was indeed something that opened his eyes. That will be the only thing Shen Lian would ever long for from the man in green.

Back he was at the Shen’s residence.

Routinely, Shen Qingsan reported the day to Old Master Shen. Despite the prior knowledge, Old Master Shen still listened patiently.

He had his reason for this. Being homebound, he was not able to take hold of the situation that had happened outside of home. But he knew he could paint a clearer picture by analyzing reports from different people, with different perspectives of what had transpired.

One of his secret to success. “Unbiasedness leads to clarity.”

Old Master Shen was told about that important item that Master An took from the man in green, also about how Shen Lian was present at the scene of the crime.

Old Master Shen did not say a word, but Shen Qingsan knew that deep down, Old Master was greatly displeased. That was not a good sign for Shen Lian at all.

In the following days, Shen Lian was grounded.

He was not mad. As if he did not realize that he was grounded at all, he lived his life as usual, routinely doing his bodyweight workout that baffled the spies that were watching him.

He also made daily requests for dietary supplements.

Ever since that day, both Shen Lian and old Master Shen did not initiate visits to each other. Being grounded in his own yard, almost no one remembers him as the half young master of the house.

The days passed, one month’s time was gone with the wind, just like that.

Shen Lian did not gain much physique wise, but his complexion improved.

He did not admit his mistake to the Old Master Shen. As the matter of fact, Old Master was longing his for his apology!

The past month had been fruitful for Shen Lian. With the financial power that the Shen family holds and that sense of control he had over his physical body, he could feel the improvement day by day. With all the supplements he was able to afford with the Shen family’s support, he had compensated his physique for what he had lost from the past two years living in that poor, run-down condition.

Meager as usual with those delicate features of his, little did he know what great improvement he had on his inner strength.

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He was able to do a single-handstand. Now that was truly rewarding.

Bodyweight training would be the safest, and most comprehensive routine to stick by.

Complemented with his modern medical knowledge, he had more potential than all the Jianghu drifters in this era.

He knew that with the condition right now, he was just as healthy as Jin Daowang or Master An, if not healthier, despite the absence of Inner Qi training.

Amidst his session, breeze sneaked into the room from the window slit and danced with the candlelight. Disturbed by the flickering light, Shen Lian blew the candle off and discontinued his training.

That cloudy night made sight difficult without the aid of candlelight.

Seated on the bed, Shen Lian adjusted his breathing, feeling energized after his training.

“We are held captive, by the world, and our physique. But is it any better, if we escape from it? Like a tiger that has been long caged, little did it have to worry about survival, little did it have to face the harshness of reality, being cast out in winter to hunt for food. In the cage, a tiger is merely a larger cat, losing its natural instincts.”

As for the out of body experience, the current Shen Lian could not be certain of the consequences. Whether or not if he will end up in psychosis-like his predecessor, the true owner of Shen Lian’s body.

Although, he had to decide quickly as time was running out, and Old Master Shen would not spare him more.

Shen Lian could not deny the potential of those unveiled mysteries on Earth, especially after witnessing the extent of wealth and influence the Shen family holds.

The support from the Shen family could support his practice and cultivation and at the same time, it was a bondage.

He knew he had to act quickly, perhaps even risk the uncharted waters.

Without the Shen family, he would not have recovered so quickly from his poor health condition. For this, he holds great gratitude towards them. But this certainly does not mean he would agree to Old Master Shen’s terms.

He positioned his state of psyche, optimizing it at neutral, free from distractions.

The spirit and the soul, these were supposedly inseparable.

It was as if a hand rope draped from a tower, holding that rope, he was raised from below. Shen Lian could clearly feel that force raising him, despite the pull of gravitational force.

The rope was stronger.

Like a rocket, the spirit launched, fueled by the physical energy to break away from its soul. The strength of the physical energy was the key to breaking free, without it, this practice would be a hollow one.

Expectedly, Shen Lian understood that theory.

Slowly as he reaches a high altitude, he stopped doubting himself, freed his mind, and the world was never the same.

He could see himself. Not that body he sees in the mirror, but that truest form of himself.

That body was lean and wizened, deep hollows at the cheeks. In the silence, that seated body fell lightly, like a corpse.

But he, he was hovering in the air.

“Free, as light and air,” there was no better way to express his situation at that moment.

As a spirit, he could be least bothered by emotional affairs. Peaceful and quiet. Tranquil and calm.