Snow Fall – Vengo Gao, Ouyang Nana

*Tai Ping Jiu Yu Zhi* says: In the 970th year of the Chao calendar, a star fell from the sky and shattered into three parts, landing in the southwest.

The fragments fell into the hands of three families: the Wei family, who acquired the Blood Amber Stone and gained rapid power but at the cost of their lives; the Mu family, who obtained the Illusion Stone and could control human will but risked losing their own nature; and the Mo family, who possessed the Black Yang Stone and needed to endure severe trials to gain immense strength.

It is said that if the three stones are united, the backlash can be neutralized. Thus, for over a thousand years, the three families have been in constant conflict. On the day the Shen family met their misfortune, Shen Zhiheng contracted a strange illness, needing to drink blood to survive. To protect him, his grandmother took him on a journey, hiding and fleeing everywhere, using stolen chicken blood to keep him alive.

They traveled across the rivers and mountains, witnessing both joy and sorrow. Shen Zhiheng's desires grew fewer over time, and his only wish became to find the person who had caused his condition and his younger brother, Shen Zhiqian. After a hundred years of wandering, he found no root or result. A wealthy merchant from Haidong hosted a banquet today, but the guest of honor was the merchant’s concubine’s newly born son.

The merchant's wife was devastated and questioned her husband, but he was indifferent. “Whose child doesn’t have a banquet for their full moon? This is a chance to recognize her as a mother. Her biological daughter, Mi Lan, is a girl and also blind—can she even manage her? ” Mi Lan sat quietly in her room, holding a broken doll and listening to her parents' argument.

Because she was blind, Mi Lan's hearing was very sharp, and she even heard the sound of Shen Zhiheng entering downstairs. She also overheard Li Yingliang’s plan in the car; today, he had come to take Shen Zhiheng’s life. At the banquet, Li Yingliang, a man of great wickedness, was the subject of gossip. Meanwhile, upstairs, the merchant and his wife were having a hysterical argument. However, the prominent figures downstairs were not surprised and continued to enjoy the entertainment.

Li Yingliang kept a fierce gaze on Shen Zhiheng, while Shen Zhiheng heard the sounds of Mi Lan being violently beaten by her mother upstairs. Shen Zhiheng stood up and left, making Li Yingliang's attempt to offer him a cigarette seem rather ridiculous. Shen Zhiheng lit a cigarette by the window, and in an instant, the cigarette flew into Mi Lan’s mother’s hand, ending the beating of Mi Lan.

Li Yingliang, undeterred, chased after Shen Zhiheng to introduce himself, but Shen Zhiheng chose to ignore him. On the way, Shen Zhiheng's car broke down, and while walking, he was ambushed by Li Yingliang and his men, who ran him over with a car. Despite being hit by the car and shot in the head, Shen Zhiheng did not die.

They then fired dozens of bullets into his body and ran over him several times with the car before he finally stopped moving. Afterwards, Li Yingliang’s subordinates found it strange; how could Shen Zhiheng still get up after such severe injuries? Li Yingliang was convinced that Shen Zhiheng was truly dead, but there was no body to be found. Mi Lan, long subjected to domestic violence by her mother, decided to end her life that night.

She walked through the snow-covered streets in her coat, pondering where to end her life. She quietly entered a ruin that smelled of burning, thinking no one would know if she died there. Shen Zhiheng was there; he had not died but was severely injured. Mi Lan smelled a strong scent of blood and, upon realizing that she could not see, Shen Zhiheng felt relieved and asked for her help.

She said she was there to die, but Shen Zhiheng begged her not to die and that he needed her. Mi Lan, experiencing an unprecedented feeling, nodded heavily and agreed to his request. Before leaving, Mi Lan draped her coat over Shen Zhiheng and promised to call her friends for help. Mi Lan stood up and headed towards the Mi residence.

Li Yingliang, seeing a young girl wandering the streets, thought of his own sister and kindly got out of his car to ask her. Upon discovering she was Miss Mi, he offered to take her home. The servants helped Mi Lan wash her hands, removing the blood from Shen Zhiheng. Reflexively, she splashed some water on her face and, upon opening her eyes, Mi Lan could see everything—she saw her own reflection in the mirror!

Mi Lan only saw the world for a moment before darkness returned. She found it unbelievable but decided to keep the matter hidden for now. The next morning, Mi Lan went to the hospital Shen Zhiheng had mentioned to find Dr. Situ Weilian. The nurse said Dr. Situ was busy, so Mi Lan waited in the office. Dr.

Situ Weilian seemed to have some vague meaning before mentioning Shen Zhiheng's name, but when he heard Shen Zhiheng's name, he immediately became serious and closed the door. Mi Lan hoped that Dr. Situ Weilian would go save Shen Zhiheng immediately since he was severely injured and might die if help was delayed. However, Dr. Situ Weilian was confident that Shen Zhiheng would not die and promised he would go save him that night.

Mi Lan was somewhat skeptical but got close enough to remember his scent, threatening that if he did not go, she would come back to find him. In the middle of the night, Dr. Situ Weilian brought Shen Zhiheng back home and removed the bullets from his body. Mi Lan's mother discovered that she had sneaked out during the night and beat her again, venting all her anger towards her disabled daughter.

Mi Lan had become accustomed to such beatings, remaining calm while worrying about Shen Zhiheng’s safety. Fortunately, Dr. Situ Weilian saved Shen Zhiheng, and he woke up safely. Li Yingliang, the Chairman of the Economic Committee of the National Government, was a man of immense power and ruthless methods. He was still angry about someone who had spoken ill of him previously, so he dragged the person over, gave him a beating, and forced him to sign a cooperation contract.

Li Yingliang went to report to Chi Shanying, believing that Shen Zhiheng was dead. Dr. Situ Weilian had found those who harmed Shen Zhiheng and mentioned Mi Lan, who had come alone to the hospital despite being blind and without telling her parents. Shen Zhiheng remembered this benefactor who had saved him and felt she was a person of integrity, so he visited the Mi residence late at night.

Shen Zhiheng was outside the window, and Mi Lan was delighted to smell his scent in the air, confirming that Dr. Situ Weilian had not lied to her. To reassure her, Shen Zhiheng lifted her hand to touch his face and told her he was better. He introduced himself as Shen Zhiheng and promised that he would help her if she was ever bullied.

Shen Zhiheng gave Mi Lan a gift of red tea and hoped she would take good care of it. When the flowers bloomed, he would come to see her. Hearing about the red color, Mi Lan felt a sudden hope and wanted to see the red he described and Shen Zhiheng’s appearance. Ten days later, the red tea flowers bloomed. After staying at Dr. Situ Weilian’s house for so long, Shen Zhiheng finally decided to go home.

He valued his reputation greatly and did not want others to see him in such a disheveled state after escaping death. Li Yingliang sent two people to watch the Shen residence, and when they saw someone enter, they quickly reported it. Shen Zhiheng's injuries were severe, and he couldn’t even eat normal food. Dr. Situ Weilian warned that if he continued to resist the craving for blood, he would become a monster that could only feed on blood.

Shen Zhiheng needed to find the person who had turned him into this state. Shen Zhiheng did not die, which made Li Yingliang furious, and he was determined that Chi Shanying must not find out. Jin Jingxue wanted Li Yingliang to accompany her to a dance party. At the party, he saw Shen Zhiheng with his own eyes, and was shocked and filled with disbelief. Was this man a substitute for Shen Zhiheng? Li Yingliang made an excuse to leave and began to investigate the truth step by step but could not get any closer.

Li Yingliang finally saw Shen Zhiheng in person on the second floor. Shen Zhiheng was casually smoking a cigarette; his illness was severe, and he remembered Li Yingliang well this time. Li Yingliang quickly masked his shock and invited Shen Zhiheng to dinner the next evening. Shen Zhiheng agreed but warned Li Yingliang to get a good night's sleep because the following night would be significant for him.

After Li Yingliang left, Jin Jingxue and Situ Weilian danced together and became friends. Upon returning home, Li Yingliang locked the doors and windows with three bolts. Fearing assassination after recalling Shen Zhiheng's warning, he spent the night hiding in the bathroom. The next day, Shen Zhiheng had someone come to clean his home. Although the place had few items, they were all valuable antiques, and the locked rooms were to remain undisturbed.

Mi Lan received winter clothes from her father but was more concerned about the pot of red tea flowers. The newspaper reported a beast attacking people, which reminded Shen Zhiheng of his younger brother. If the beast was indeed his brother, Shen Zhiheng had to stop him from committing further atrocities. Hearing her parents argue, Mi Lan knew she would be beaten again. Clutching the red tea flowers, she was still struck by her mother, who shattered the pot.

Mi Lan, who had never resisted before, picked up a nearby chair, further enraging her mother, who ordered the door to be locked and denied her water and food, intending to starve her. Panicked, Mi Lan picked up the broken flowers from the floor, cried, and then cut off her long hair with scissors. Chi Shanying was shocked to learn that Shen Zhiheng was not dead.

To his surprise, Shen Zhiheng was meeting with Li Yingliang, so he decided to join the scene. The meeting between Shen Zhiheng and Li Yingliang was filled with hostility. Li Yingliang, filled with hatred towards Shen Zhiheng, still servilely offered him a cigarette and discussed work matters, hoping for leniency and promising valuable rewards. Shen Zhiheng found it amusing and laughed heartily, declaring that he wanted Li Yingliang’s life.

Both men quickly drew their guns, but Shen Zhiheng soon controlled Li Yingliang, gagged him, and prevented him from signaling for help by breaking any objects. Shen Zhiheng sought revenge for the injuries he had suffered, typically not so ruthless, but their actions had left no room for mercy, not even leaving a complete corpse. Chi Shanying arrived with his men just in time. Shen Zhiheng took Li Yingliang as a hostage to escape.

On the way, being pursued by Li Yingliang's men, he kicked Li Yingliang out of the car. Shen Zhiheng reached the French Concession, and Chi Shanying dared not pursue further. Killing was not Shen Zhiheng's principle, and he had not intended to kill Li Yingliang. When Li Yingliang woke up in the hospital, he had to explain to Chi Shanying, despite Chi Shanying’s disbelief.

Frustrated, Li Yingliang dispatched many people to monitor Shen Zhiheng and even ordered an investigation into his ancestors. Shen Zhiheng decided to take Situ Weilian to the Mi residence to express his gratitude in person. In the severe winter, Mi Lan trembled under a thin quilt on her bed. Upon hearing that Shen Zhiheng had come to thank her, she forced herself to get up. Mi Lan's mother was displeased with the visit and tried to refuse, claiming Mi Lan was not home and directly sending Shen Zhiheng away.

Shen Zhiheng and Situ Weilian rushed upstairs without a word when they heard commotion from above. They opened the door to find Mi Lan lying weakly on the floor. Noticing that Mi Lan had a fever, Shen Zhiheng and Situ Weilian took her from the Mi residence to the hospital. Mrs. Mi, seeing this, was enraged and took out her frustrations on the servants at home.

In her distress, she accidentally fell down the stairs and was also sent to the hospital. When Mi Lan woke up in the hospital, she was relieved to hear Shen Zhiheng's voice. To confirm if his illness had truly improved, Mi Lan lifted her hand, and Shen Zhiheng quickly moved closer to her. Upon hearing that Mi Lan had cut her own hair because her mother used to pull it during beatings, Shen Zhiheng felt a pang of sympathy.

He took out a seal engraved with the word "诺" (promise), symbolizing his commitment to be there for her whenever needed. Despite his strong craving for blood in the blood-scented hospital environment, Shen Zhiheng managed to suppress it. Jin Jingxue visited the hospital to see Li Yingliang. She had always hoped Li Yingliang would work with her instead of Chi Shanying, even wishing he could stay by her side forever, like when he was a child at the Jin residence.

Shen Zhiheng brought flowers to visit Mi Lan, who had grown accustomed to his presence. With him around, she felt comforted and warm. Shen Zhiheng took her out to experience the snow, colors, and the world she had never seen before. Li Yingliang found Shen Zhiheng and Mi Lan's situation very strange. He arranged for someone to watch Shen Zhiheng at the Shen residence constantly.

Jin Jingxue visited Li Yingliang daily to care for him, repeatedly reminding him to protect himself. Li Yingliang, impatient with Jin Jingxue's constant visits, rushed to the hospital to handle his discharge paperwork, and went to Shenzi's home where the arrangements were quite nice, including a special quilt prepared for him. When Shen Zhiheng left the hospital, he encountered a friend who mentioned a fortune teller knowledgeable about worldly matters.

Shen Zhiheng decided to investigate, hoping to find his brother, though he wasn't sure if he could. Arriving at the fortune teller's place, he was surprised to find the man had been waiting for him. Mr. Mo knew Shen Zhiheng had survived for a century, making Shen Zhiheng cautious, though Mr. Mo claimed he meant no harm. Mr. Mo revealed that Mi Lan's aunt, Wei Qiu, was one of the three families.

Originally a gentle woman, Wei Qiu's personality changed drastically after acquiring the Blood Amber Stone, which gave her extraordinary abilities. Strictly speaking, Shen Zhiheng was now a patient, and finding the Blood Amber Stone might cure him. However, it was uncertain whether Wei Qiu or the Mu family possessed it.

The Mu family, who had the Illusion Stone with the power to control minds, believed that uniting all three stones could save them, leading to their fierce conflict with Wei Qiu. Shen Zhiheng wondered if Mr. Mo was also a member of the three families. Mr. Mo didn't answer directly, saying Shen Zhiheng would know if fate allowed. Before Shen Zhiheng left, Mr. Mo gave him a cup of tea, during which Shen Zhiheng saw Wei Qiu in a daze.

When he woke up again, Mr. Mo had vanished, leaving behind a golden crow with a note saying it was very spiritual and hoping Shen Zhiheng would treat it well. Shen Zhiheng had the newspaper report new sightings of a beast that drained blood, hoping his younger brother would appear. Late at night, a masked figure entered the morgue but encountered Shen Zhiheng, who had been lying in wait.

Shen Zhiheng chased the figure, trying to unmask him, but their abilities were evenly matched, allowing the figure to escape. Back in the morgue, Shen Zhiheng saw Situ Weilian demanding to enter, claiming the director had sent him for the autopsy report. Shen Zhiheng, still enraged, was certain the person he had encountered was his brother. His anger was not due to a lack of revenge but because his only relative did not recognize him!

Situ Weilian tried to calm him, wondering if he was unsure how to confront Shen Zhiheng. Late at night, Shen Zhiheng went to the ancestral hall to pay his respects. An undercover agent, who was secretly investigating, was discovered. The agent, terrified by Shen Zhiheng's presence, fled the yard in panic, claiming to have seen a monster.

Jin Jingxue went to the hospital early in the morning but found that Li Yingliang was missing. Realizing he was avoiding her, she went to his house only to find it locked. Jin Jingxue left the food she brought at his doorstep but, feeling frustrated, ended up giving it to a beggar nearby. While having Western food at a restaurant, Situ Weilian, pretending to be blind, approached her.

Jin Jingxue was charmed by him and even asked him to accompany her to see a play. Mi Lan was in the corridor, feeling the snow. Although she had recovered from her illness, she was reluctant to go home. She rubbed the cold snow on her face and even ate some of it. Shen Zhiheng quickly stopped her, hoping she wouldn’t harm herself. He promised to rescue her from any dire situation.

Jin Jingxue enjoyed going to the theater because Li Yingliang used to take her when she was young. She used to tease him, but he later saved her, and she felt she owed her current self to him. Although Li Yingliang had a bad reputation, Jin Jingxue’s affection for him was not something to be hidden. Li Yingliang, not disheartened, believed that even if Jin Jingxue didn’t agree to pursue him romantically, they could still be friends.

Li Yingliang speculated about the relationship between Shen Zhiheng and Mi Lan, wondering what had happened between them. Shen Zhiheng suddenly realized that he was not in love with Mi Lan but felt indebted to her. The next day, Li Yingliang went to the hospital, seeking to make peace with Shen Zhiheng. Situ Weilian arranged Mi Lan’s discharge, and Shen Zhiheng asked him why he wasn’t afraid when they first met.

At that time, Shen Zhiheng was drinking chicken blood, and Situ Weilian had not only been unafraid but had also casually pointed out that it was chicken from the hospital. Changing the topic, Situ Weilian teased Shen Zhiheng that he could marry Mi Lan in a few days. Shen Zhiheng did not pursue the matter further, noting that Mi Lan should not stay in the attic when she returned home but should meet some new friends.

Mi Lan was waiting at the hospital entrance for Shen Zhiheng to complete the paperwork when she heard Li Yingliang’s voice and remembered him. Shen Zhiheng was disdainful of Li Yingliang, who repeatedly assured him he meant no harm. However, Shen Zhiheng hoped they would keep their distance, or else he might take extreme measures. Mi Lan overheard their conversation and shared her encounter with Li Yingliang.

Knowing that Li Yingliang intended to harm Shen Zhiheng, Mi Lan resolved not to let him hurt Shen Zhiheng again. Shen Zhiheng signed Mi Lan up for a choir class and promised to introduce her to some friends in a few days. Shen Zhiheng took Mi Lan back to the Mi residence and warned Mrs. Mi repeatedly. Enraged, Mrs. Mi grabbed a duster and went to Mi Lan’s attic, but Mi Lan barricaded the door, preventing her from entering.

When Shen Zhiheng and Mi Lan were about to leave, Mrs. Mi had been verbally abusive towards Mi Lan but suddenly put on a façade of motherly affection upon seeing Shen Zhiheng. Li Yingliang conducted an investigation into Shen Zhiheng and found him to be very mysterious. He was uninterested in women and had no close friends, making him seem enigmatic.

To investigate further, Li Yingliang visited Mi Lan, hoping she would help convey a message to Shen Zhiheng and mediate. Mi Lan agreed but asked Li Yingliang if she was unattractive. Li Yingliang, unusually gentle, sincerely replied that she was not unattractive and resembled his younger sister. He had once thought his sister was a great beauty and would have married into a wealthy family, but sadly, she had already passed away.

Shen Zhiheng was unhappy about Mi Lan’s involvement in this matter, suspecting that Li Yingliang was smart enough to realize that Mi Lan had saved him that night and might become attached to her. Mi Lan, not wanting to trouble Shen Zhiheng, decided to stay hidden at home.

Shen Zhiheng found Li Yingliang intriguing, while Situ Weilian was somewhat perplexed. Since they feared Li Yingliang might go after Mi Lan, why not just eliminate him directly? Shen Zhiheng went to Li Yingliang's office without showing any emotion. Li Yingliang courteously invited him inside, and Situ Weilian saw that Li Yingliang, as described by Jin Jingxue, was just as he had expected. Shen Zhiheng did not want Li Yingliang to approach Mi Lan.

Li Yingliang was direct, admitting that if not for Mi Lan that night, Shen Zhiheng wouldn’t have survived. He was genuinely curious as to how Shen Zhiheng managed to live through such injuries, which seemed illogical. To uncover the truth, Li Yingliang even swore an oath. Shen Zhiheng, with a hint of mockery, confessed, “I am a monster. ” Li Yingliang clearly did not believe this.

Shen Zhiheng did not elaborate further; what mattered was whether Li Yingliang could survive, not who Shen Zhiheng was. Shen Zhiheng declined Li Yingliang’s invitation for a meal and took him away, leaving Situ Weilian and others looking worried. Shen Zhiheng appeared somewhat irritable, reminding Li Yingliang that after today, they should not meet again, or he would be finished! Worried that Mrs.

Mi would continue to mistreat Mi Lan if she stayed at home, Shen Zhiheng asked Situ Weilian for advice. Situ Weilian suggested that Shen Zhiheng dress as a ghost to scare Mrs. Mi. Shen Zhiheng donned a white outfit, and Situ Weilian insisted on adding an ugly makeup. Despite Shen Zhiheng's reluctance, he agreed. Mi Lan, sitting by the window, was delighted to smell Shen Zhiheng’s presence. Shen Zhiheng told her he intended to help her escape her mother’s clutches.

Although this was a normal life for her, no one should be subjected to daily abuse. Shen Zhiheng inquired about Mrs. Mi’s bedroom and urged Mi Lan to go to sleep while he went to Mrs. Mi’s room. Mrs. Mi, waking up to the terrifying “ghost,” was extremely frightened. Shen Zhiheng, playing the part of the Mi family’s ancestor, thoroughly scared her before leaving. After Shen Zhiheng left, the entire Mi household echoed with Mrs. Mi’s terrified screams.

Since then, Mrs. Mi’s mental state deteriorated. Aunt Zhang arranged for a male bodyguard to guard the door, but an unspeakable incident occurred between them that night. The next morning’s news reported that Mrs. Mi had eloped with someone. Li Yingliang heard that Shen Zhiheng had not visited Mi Lan again and thought he might have overestimated her importance to Shen Zhiheng. With Mrs. Mi gone, Mi Lan's life improved significantly.

Shen Zhiheng sent Situ Weilian to handle matters at the Mi residence, distributing red envelopes to the servants. Situ Weilian joked that Shen Zhiheng’s constant attention to Mi Lan might lead her to misunderstand his intentions, but for Shen Zhiheng, love was not something he should have. Li Yingliang brought the police to investigate Shen Zhiheng’s residence, and they arrived fully prepared with official documents. Shen Zhiheng, unguarded, went to the police station for questioning.

Li Yingliang knew that Shen Zhiheng was someone who abided by rules and did not kill, which presented an opportunity. Li Yingliang demanded that Shen Zhiheng be detained as long as possible and sent people to take photos and spread negative rumors to ruin his reputation. After waiting a long time with no one coming for questioning, Shen Zhiheng could no longer tolerate it and called for Li Yingliang. Li Yingliang’s attitude remained arrogant.

Shen Zhiheng spent three days there, showing no reaction to Li Yingliang’s various tactics. Frustrated, Li Yingliang brought a dying prisoner before Shen Zhiheng.

The person in front of Shen Zhiheng was desperately crying for help, and Shen Zhiheng's thirst for blood grew stronger. He angrily questioned Li Yingliang, asking if he didn't treat others as human, then what was he himself? Mi Lan, worried by the discussions among the servants about Shen Zhiheng's arrest, went to the hospital alone to find Situ Weilian.

However, Situ Weilian was preparing for surgery, and Shen Zhiheng was the most upright person, so how could he possibly be in the police station? Shen Zhiheng suppressed his thirst for blood while the person across from him gradually lost their breath. Only then did Shen Zhiheng walk over and cover him with his own cloak to preserve the last bit of dignity. Turning away, Shen Zhiheng shed a tear.

Mi Lan arrived at her father’s and the eighth aunt’s house, where they were packing to flee south. Mi Father did not show much emotion about Mrs. Mi's departure and even comforted Mi Lan, saying it was for the best since no one would beat her anymore. Mi Father wanted Mi Lan to come with them but was warned by the eighth aunt. Shen Zhiheng requested to see his personal doctor but was refused by Li Yingliang.

Meanwhile, many people gathered outside the police station demanding Shen Zhiheng’s release. The police station could no longer hold out and strongly urged Li Yingliang to release him. Li Yingliang, however, regarded them as rioters and sent Sheng Zi to suppress them with force, allowing the police to lawfully arrest people. Shen Zhiheng despised Li Yingliang’s shamelessness.

At that moment, Mi Lan was pleading with her father to save Shen Zhiheng, saying she didn't know any other wealthy people in Haidong. Mi Father initially didn’t want to get involved but made a call to someone he knew. The response was that there was no way to help, and with the eighth aunt urging them to catch the train, Mi Father hurriedly left, leaving Mi Lan with some money.

Situ Weilian also received the news of Shen Zhiheng’s arrest and went to Jin Jingxue for help. Shen Zhiheng was not just his friend but his closest kin. Li Yingliang had also captured reporters from the Haidong Daily to use as leverage against Shen Zhiheng. Jin Jingxue and Situ Weilian arrived at the police station. Jin Jingxue intended to plead for Shen Zhiheng but was surprised to hear that Li Yingliang claimed Shen Zhiheng had harmed him.

Jin Jingxue immediately stood in front of him. The district chief of Xia Cheng called to threaten the police station to release Shen Zhiheng. Jin Jingxue also advised Li Yingliang not to escalate the situation, but Li Yingliang publicly yelled at her, causing Jin Jingxue to leave in anger. Mi Lan went to the police station claiming she wanted to report a crime, tearfully saying she had been insulted by Shen Zhiheng. Shen Zhiheng, gripping the bars, was momentarily stunned.

Mi Lan demanded to touch Shen Zhiheng’s face again to confirm if he was the one who insulted her that day. She approached Shen Zhiheng, pretending to touch his face. By now, many reporters had gathered at the police station. Mi Lan bit her own lip and kissed Shen Zhiheng, causing an uproar. Mi Lan also briefly saw the truth. Li Yingliang, who had been scolding Shen Zhiheng, saw this scene and quickly pulled Mi Lan away.

Mi Lan denied it, saying she had mistaken him. With Mi Lan’s blood, Shen Zhiheng’s health improved. Chi Shanying hurriedly came to release Shen Zhiheng, stating that the situation could not continue. Shen Zhiheng was determined not to let things end here and vowed to properly “thank” Li Yingliang. He took Mi Lan’s hand and left the chaotic place. Chi Shanying, infuriated, slapped Li Yingliang and warned that Miss Mu from the Mu family would soon come to help them.

He instructed Li Yingliang not to provoke Shen Zhiheng during this period and to treat Miss Mu well. Shen Zhiheng, exhausted from the ordeal at the police station, fainted as soon as he returned to Shen Residence. He mustered his remaining strength to have Mi Lan stay by his side and instructed the servants to contact Situ Weilian the next morning. Shen Zhiheng suddenly collapsed, and Mi Lan, terrified, stayed by his side. Jin Jingxue once again refused Situ Weilian.

Their relationship had never been based on mutual benefit, and now that he had found her, their relationship was no longer the same. At the gate of the Jin family, Li Yingliang lingered for a long time, feeling quite guilty.

Mi Lan stayed by Shen Zhiheng’s side all night, not moving at all. It wasn’t until the next day, when Situ Weilian arrived, that Mi Lan seemed to have found a lifeline. Situ Weilian comforted her, saying that Shen Zhiheng had been in such situations before and advised her not to worry too much. Mi Lan was reluctant to rest and stayed by Shen Zhiheng’s side, and after a long time, Shen Zhiheng finally recovered.

Mi Lan curiously wandered around Shen Residence, feeling a bit out of place in the unfamiliar environment. Shen Zhiheng also struggled with adjusting, often forgetting that Mi Lan couldn’t see. Because Mi Lan was blind, she would sometimes walk in while Shen Zhiheng was bathing. Shen Zhiheng, startled, didn’t dare to move or make a sound, while Mi Lan, feeling her way around the room, realized he was bathing and quickly ran out.

Jin Jingxue visited Li Yingliang and even brought cooked dumplings. Li Yingliang’s home was filled with iron bars, and Jin Jingxue was very concerned about Li Yingliang’s living conditions. However, these words only came across as disdain to Li Yingliang, who, in a fit of rage, chased Jin Jingxue away. Situ Weilian struggled to understand Shen Zhiheng’s intentions.

After all, Shen Zhiheng had previously said that for Mi Lan’s safety, she couldn’t be brought back, but now he had arranged for Mi Lan to stay at his own home. After much thought, Situ Weilian felt conflicted, wondering what would happen if they both needed each other. Mi Lan, blushing, turned to check on Shen Zhiheng. Recently, he had been sleeping more and more. Situ Weilian said Shen Zhiheng’s health was deteriorating, but Mi Lan was still worried.

She sniffed around the bed with her nose, and when Shen Zhiheng saw her face getting closer, he couldn’t help but speak up. Mi Lan fled in a hurry once again. During mealtime, Situ Weilian talked about the gossip from the Haidong Daily, specifically the headline “Shen Zhiheng and Mi Lan Seal Their Love with a Kiss,” in front of everyone. Shen Zhiheng immediately snatched the newspaper away.

Mi Lan was very obedient to Shen Zhiheng; even though she didn’t like drinking milk, she would drink it all when he ordered her to. Shen Zhiheng took Mi Lan to the newspaper office, where Mi Lan was intrigued by the strong smell of ink. It was her first time there. Mi Lan asked Shen Zhiheng why he wanted to run a newspaper, and Shen Zhiheng replied that it might be the best way for him to achieve his ideals.

Many people from the company had gone to the police station to rescue Shen Zhiheng. Although Shen Zhiheng scolded them, he still rewarded them and took the opportunity to criticize the gossip about him harshly. Mu Lihua boldly arrived in Haidong, coming for the extraordinarily capable Shen Zhiheng. Chi Shanying instructed Li Yingliang to cooperate with her. Situ Weilian brought a gift for Mi Lan, a Nine Linked Rings puzzle, which made her very happy.

Many people still kept watch outside Shen Residence, but Shen Zhiheng had his own pursuits. Shen Zhiheng told Situ Weilian that Mi Lan’s pupils changed when she kissed him, and perhaps his blood could help her see. Situ Weilian suggested a test. He mixed Shen Zhiheng’s blood into some milk and had Mi Lan drink it, then observed from the side.

As expected, after drinking the milk, Mi Lan saw the world again, but, like before, it was only for a moment. Shen Zhiheng and Situ Weilian took Mi Lan to the hospital, but as she was congenitally blind, the chances of curing her with current medical conditions were very slim. Mu Lihua claimed to have a secret weapon against Shen Zhiheng and spent the night demonstrating it. Li Yingliang, seeing the results, was deeply impressed. Shen Zhiheng and Mi Lan went to the theater to watch a performance. Mi Lan enjoyed the story of Zhu Yingtai greatly.

Li Yingliang, in a daze during his sleep, saw Shen Zhiheng’s figure and, frightened, fired several shots at a chair. Only after gripping the gun tightly could he calm down and fall back asleep. Mu Lihua wanted to learn more about Shen Zhiheng and was feeling very anxious. At Shen Residence, Shen Zhiheng was teaching Mi Lan to write. Mi Lan, being blind, couldn’t read or write, and her parents had never considered sending her to school.

Now, Mi Lan only recognized the characters “沈” (Shen) and “诺” (Nuò). Jin Jingxue, seeing Li Yingliang and Mu Lihua together, was infuriated and rushed up to them but was stopped by Shengzi, which left her fuming. Li Yingliang dined and drank with Jin Jingxue. He overheard people in the casino downstairs talking disparagingly about Jin Jingxue, with disgusting and vile remarks. Li Yingliang, enraged, along with Shengzi, beat up everyone in the room.

Mu Lihua believed that Shen Zhiheng was the person they were looking for and thought that Li Yingliang was also a usable ally. Since the Mu family never lived past thirty, Mu Lihua was determined not to miss any opportunity. Shen Zhiheng learned that Mu Lihua had come to Haidong and that she was already thirty years old, which was significant as the Mu family members never lived beyond thirty.

Shen Zhiheng had someone investigate Mu Lihua’s address and went to check it out late at night. However, Mu Lihua did not appear, and Shen Zhiheng was injured, making him realize that Mu Lihua was definitely not someone to be underestimated. Shen Zhiheng bought steaming buns for Mi Lan for breakfast. He told her that he would be leaving Haidong for a few days to take care of some matters.

If Haidong turned out to be unsuitable, they would have to leave. Mi Lan wanted to go with him, but Shen Zhiheng wanted her to stay. To protect Mi Lan, Shen Zhiheng staged a scene for the watchers, pretending to argue loudly with Mi Lan at the door before she returned alone to Mi Residence.

Zhang Ma took good care of Mi Lan at Mi Residence and was worried that Shen Zhiheng might not come back, but Mi Lan knew he wouldn’t abandon her. Li Yingliang received news that Shen Zhiheng had fled and would not return to Haidong, but he was unwilling to give up. Their grudges were far from settled. Mu Lihua was furious upon learning that Shen Zhiheng’s whereabouts were unknown. She had traveled a long distance to Haidong just for him.

Chi Shanying instructed Li Yingliang to find Shen Zhiheng’s location. Mu Lihua decided to stay put, believing that finding him could break the family curse. Shen Zhiheng found Mr. Mo, knowing that Mr. Mo was definitely not an outsider. The Xuan Yang Stone had been stolen by the Mo family, but they continued to benefit from its energy, remaining immortal. Situ Weilian went to Jin Jingxue’s home to have a meal and brought a gift.

With Shen Zhiheng gone, Situ Weilian had less to do and was becoming increasingly diligent at work. Li Yingliang saw Zhang Ma as the only breakthrough and soon found a flaw in her. Li Yingliang and his men arrived at Mi Residence. Mi Lan remained calm upon sensing his presence, but Li Yingliang, enraged, beat her.

Even so, Mi Lan refused to reveal Shen Zhiheng’s whereabouts, though Zhang Ma mentioned that Shen Zhiheng would come to pick up Mi Lan, leading Li Yingliang to set up an ambush. When Shen Zhiheng returned to Mi Residence, it was fraught with danger. Mu Lihua’s secret weapon was a fully armored “person,” which Shen Zhiheng found hard to resist. Mi Lan was imprisoned in a cage, and Li Yingliang used this to coerce Shen Zhiheng into coming with them.

Shen Zhiheng fell into Li Yingliang's trap and was imprisoned in a cell. Li Yingliang looked smug and contemptuous, and Shen Zhiheng noticed that the cage was electrified, making it impossible for him to escape. Mi Lan was closely watched by the police and couldn’t leave Mi Residence, but she was still worried about Shen Zhiheng. Mu Lihua and Li Yingliang arrived at the cell where Shen Zhiheng was being held.

This was Mu Lihua’s first meeting with Shen Zhiheng, and her eyes were cold and unfriendly. Shen Zhiheng was deeply troubled; he knew the capabilities of the woman in front of him and feared that this time he might be doomed. At night, when most of the police were resting, Mi Lan quietly changed her clothes, made a rope out of her clothes, and threw it down from the attic, attempting to escape Mi Residence.

However, she was quickly recaptured by the police. Mi Lan, now frustrated, demanded to see Li Yingliang. Mu Lihua used many methods against Shen Zhiheng, and she and Li Yingliang remained with him without leaving. Li Yingliang, upon learning that Mi Lan wanted to see him, came over.

Mi Lan was deeply worried that Li Yingliang might kill Shen Zhiheng and pleaded with him, but to Li Yingliang, Shen Zhiheng was not a good person; he was just someone who needed to be dealt with. Mi Lan felt disheartened; Shen Zhiheng had been very kind to her, and she did not want anything bad to happen to him. Mu Lihua and Li Yingliang’s people kept watch on Shen Zhiheng in the cell, but Shen Zhiheng remained quiet.

Mu Lihua thought that continuing like this would be futile and decided that action must be taken that night. Shen Zhiheng, having heard this, resolved to find a way to escape. That night, he managed to open the cell door and defeat the police who came to stop him. He fought back fiercely. Faced with resistance, Shen Zhiheng killed a police officer with his own hands. Mu Lihua coldly controlled the situation.

As more and more police arrived, Shen Zhiheng’s actions became increasingly uncontrollable, and the blood aroused his madness. Li Yingliang and Chi Shanying stationed their men outside and even arranged heavy weapons for guard duty. Shen Zhiheng killed many people and opened the main door, only to be greeted by a hail of bullets. Li Yingliang and Chi Shanying, thinking that Shen Zhiheng was dead, went into the dungeon, only to find Shen Zhiheng, bloodied, floating in the air.

Everyone was terrified and hid, but Shen Zhiheng's escape was unsuccessful. He was controlled by Mu Lihua’s electric net and then sent to the laboratory. Both Chi Shanying and Li Yingliang were curious about whether he was still human. Shen Zhiheng’s injuries would have killed a normal person several times over, and he felt no pain. Chi Shanying had an evil idea—if their soldiers could be like Shen Zhiheng, with a little training, they would be invincible.

Shen Zhiheng finally woke up, and Li Yingliang continued to provoke him with words. Shen Zhiheng was extremely weak and eventually agreed to cooperate. He was stripped naked and chained, losing the dignity and respect he had always maintained in front of Li Yingliang.