Engagement Canceled: I Can Extract Prefixes

“What was the result?”

“I was just outside the door and didn’t hear…”

This servant of the Shen Mansion had a bit of cleverness, knowing that once the news was revealed, Shen Qingshan would definitely be angry.

Since that was the case, he might as well say he didn’t know.

Shen Qingshan didn’t ask further, hesitated a bit, and then turned to walk toward the main hall.

As soon as he entered the door, he saw Shen Lingyong’s furrowed face.

This expression generally indicated that the result might not be very good…

“What was the result?”

Suppressing the discomfort in his heart, Shen Qingshan asked softly.

He was already feeling quite stifled, but he remained very restrained in his speech.

Shen Qingshan hoped that everything was just his incorrect suspicion, that the result should be good, and it was just that his second son habitually frowned.

Hearing this, Shen Lingyong hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“That Sikong Miaomiao, I don’t know how she became so formidable, had a duel with Ye’Er and defeated him…”

Shen Lingyong’s first words were already hard for Shen Qingshan to accept.

Shen Qingshan actually knew Sikong Miaomiao, having even met her when he visited the Sikong Family in the past.

At that time, Sikong Miaomiao was still very young, and Shen Qingshan’s impression of her was stuck on a mischievous child.

The reason he still remembered Sikong Miaomiao after so many years was because, as a child, she was just too playful.

Shen Qingshan silently thought at that time, if Sikong Miaomiao were his descendant, he must discipline her well.

Unexpectedly, that mischievous child from back then could actually defeat Shen Ye.

“Are you sure Shen Ye was defeated by Sikong Miaomiao?”

Shen Qingshan frowned, unable to resist asking another question.

Shen Lingyong also looked troubled and nodded.

“What is the meaning of Sikong Miaomiao, what is her relationship with Shen Han?

Helping Shen Han to deal with Ye’Er, what’s in it for her?”

Shen Qingshan’s face turned sullen, shouting sternly.

Hearing this, Shen Lingyong continued to explain.

“Father, Sikong Miaomiao was not helping Shen Han.

It was just because Ye’Er previously said those words that were too arrogant, so she came out to challenge him.

After defeating Ye’Er, she also issued a challenge to Shen Han…”

By the time Shen Lingyong finished that sentence, he was already stammering.

And from the way he spoke, Shen Qingshan could also sense something.

“Could it be that Sikong Miaomiao defeated Ye’Er but lost to Shen Han?”

Shen Qingshan said this, though he didn’t really believe it in his heart.

But after hearing this, Shen Lingyong awkwardly nodded.

“Father, you were right…

Sikong Miaomiao did indeed lose to that rebellious son. After losing once, she was still unconvinced and challenged Shen Han again.

And still lost…”

Shen Ye lost to Sikong Miaomiao, and Sikong Miaomiao lost to Shen Han.

One up, one down…

Doesn’t this mean that the difference in strength between Shen Han and Shen Ye is very obvious?

“How could this be…

Shen Han has been missing for two years without sustaining any injuries?

What is Luo Zuchen doing, being an Immortal Realm trying to assassinate Shen Han, and he can’t even hurt him?!”

At this, Shen Qingshan was even somewhat infuriated.

Luo Zuchen attacked Shen Han, and even though Shen Han managed to escape by sheer luck, preserving his life,

But he shouldn’t have escaped without a scratch.

“Father…

This is not over yet. After defeating Sikong Miaomiao, Shen Han went on to challenge Ye’Er…”

“Ye’Er should have accepted the challenge, right?”

“Hmm…”

Hearing this, Shen Lingyong nodded.

“Ye’Er, being the pride of our Shen Family, even though that rebellious son Shen Han defeated Sikong Miaomiao, Ye’Er wouldn’t fear him.”

Shen Lingyong didn’t know how to explain, so he thought for a moment.

“Ye’Er indeed didn’t fear or lose his courage…

But only managed to withstand one move from Shen Han…”

One move…

This word made Shen Qingshan’s heart plummet.

It was like losing all power in mid-air, followed by the feeling of weightless freefall.

“What did you say…

One…one move?”

Shen Lingyong looked dispirited, remaining silent.

From a certain perspective, Shen Ye didn’t even manage to take one move.

Moreover, Shen Han directly broke off the new leg that Shen Ye had just attached.

These words, Shen Lingyong didn’t even dare to say to Shen Qingshan.

In silence, the father and son sat.

Not long ago, they had just gone to pray to the Mountain God, speaking of auspicious signs.

A load of nonsense about auspicious signs.

Though Shen Ye had recovered and improved, he was still a far cry from Shen Han.

They were still thinking about dealing with Shen Han, still thinking about avenging the broken leg…

Shen Qingshan, with a hint of dejection, sat in the long chair.

“The second, if back then, we had chosen to bow down, would it be a different result now?

Why must we push our descendants to this state?

Clearly, there were many opportunities for reconciliation, why couldn’t we seize them.”

The Shen Family repeatedly suffered at the hands of Shen Han.

Yet they never learned from their mistakes.

One shouldn’t fall into the same pit twice, yet the Shen Family, because of Shen Han, did not know how many times they suffered.

They seemed never to tire of making the same mistakes.

“The second, do you think our attitude toward Shen Han is in need of change?

The Shen Clan’s title has now fallen to his line.

Perhaps…”

Upon hearing Shen Qingshan’s words, Shen Lingyong immediately shook his head.

“Father, you say this easily, but have you thought about us?

We have long offended Shen Han, if you hand over the family business to him, how will he treat us?

From then on, won’t we even have to look at his face to get a piece of bread or a bowl of porridge?”

With such a poor relationship between Shen Lingyong and Shen Han, how could he agree to this proposal?

Shen Qingshan frowned, no longer speaking about this matter.

“Where are your mother and the main family?”

“They seem to be praying in the inner hall…”

Hearing this, Shen Qingshan said nothing, standing up and heading for the inner hall.

At that moment, Madam Shen and Madam He were still fervently praying.

High above was a statue of the Immortal God, exuding immense majesty.

As Shen Qingshan walked into the inner hall, the two seemed too engrossed to notice Shen Qingshan’s presence.

They were still murmuring to themselves.

Within their words, Madam He was praying for Shen Ye’s victory and safety.

Beside her, Madam Shen was cursing Shen Han with harsh words.

She almost outright said to ask the Immortal God to take Shen Han’s life.

After a while, Madam Shen and Madam He finally noticed Shen Qingshan behind them.

“Master, when did you arrive?”

Madam Shen slowly rose, a gentle smile on her face, walking to Shen Qingshan’s side.

“To what point has the duel progressed?

Ye’Er should have defeated that Sikong Miaomiao, right?”

Madam Shen asked softly, her face still carrying a hint of expectation.

Beside her, Madam He was also full of anticipation.

If this suddenly appearing Sikong Miaomiao were to win, it would indeed be quite embarrassing.

Moreover, if Shen Ye were directly defeated by Sikong Miaomiao, how would they find a reason to challenge Shen Han again?

Seeing the hopeful eyes of the two, Shen Qingshan hesitated for a while, then chuckled softly.

“Patriarch, you laugh like that…”

Madam He inquired softly, uncertain if the laugh signaled something good or bad.

“This laugh of mine is laughter at myself.

After years on the battlefield, after everything of life and death seen,

Still choosing to believe in these Immortal Gods.

Actually going to worship them and ask them.

If spoken aloud, it would truly be laughable to all my colleagues.”

At this point, Shen Qingshan laughed a few more times, almost self-mockingly or with other implications.

“Master, what happened…”

Being at Shen Qingshan’s side for many years, Madam Shen noticed something was amiss.

“What happened to me? What could happen?

I’m just pondering, pondering why I was so foolish, why so stupid, to believe in these Immortal Gods.”

Raising his head to look at the Immortal God statue in front of him, Shen Qingshan walked right up and grabbed it with one hand.

Bam!

The Immortal God statue shattered into several pieces immediately.

The sudden scene left the two present utterly dumbfounded.

The statue of the Immortal God, shattered…