The Nine Cauldrons

Hearing Teng Qingshan’s voice, a faint bloodthirst lit up Fan Anran’s eyes. He wielded his spear wildly while letting out angry shouts. “I’ll kill you all. Send you all to death. None of you will be able to escape. Not one of you will be able to escape! I’ll send you all to death!!!” For a moment, a powerful aura radiated all around as he wielded the spear.

Chichi~~

A five-colored Power of the Heavens and the Earth flooded the entire study in an instant. The moment Fan Anran’s spear was about to charge into the things in the study, it was automatically blocked by the Power of the Heavens and Earth.

“He~he~” Fan Anran seemed like a wild beast as he let out various guttural sounds.

“Hm?” Teng Qingshan’s expression became very solemn. “I didn’t think that this Fan Anran would actually have such a wild and ruthless aura hidden in the depths of his heart.” Initially, Teng Qingshan had thought that even if Fan Anran had sorrow and hatred in his heart, perhaps they wouldn’t be that intense. However, it seemed that his ruthless aura was astonishingly powerful.

“It’s strange, it’s strange.

“This Fan Anran says he wants to kill people… to kill them all. Just who does he want to kill?

“Moreover… previously, he behaved very simply in front of me, and he was more kind-hearted. Yet he was hiding such a ruthless aura in the depths of his heart. How can the discrepancy between a person’s outward appearance and their inner self be this great?” Teng Qingshan’s heart was already rejecting this youth named Fan Anran. Even if there was a difference between one’s outward appearance and their inner self, it shouldn’t be too great a difference.

It was very normal to wear a mask in life.

However, someone who lived like Fan Anran, with such a great discrepancy between his outer and inner selves, wasn’t normal. The proof of this was Fan Anran’s extremely strong ability to endure silently and hide all of this in the depths of his heart.

…

Suddenly, there were footstep sounds coming from outside.

“What is it?”

“What happened?”

Teng Qingshan glanced outside and saw Li Jun and Linlin rushing over. This was something he had done intentionally. He didn’t isolate the sounds to let his daughter personally witness Fan Anran’s wild and ruthless side.

“This… This…” Honglin was stunned as she looked at the scene before, not daring to believe this wild and beast-like man was the person she liked.

“Anran!” Honglin yelled suddenly.

This yell was like a bucket of cold water being poured onto Fan Anran, snapping him out of the trance.

“Wh-What happened to me?” Fan Anran was somewhat panicky and confused.

“Anran, what was wrong with you just then? What happened?” Honglin was somewhat alarmed. Then when Fan Anran turned to look at Teng Qingshan, Honglin also turned to look at her father. She asked anxiously, “Dad. Dad, what happened to Anran just then? Why did he become like that? Tell me quickly.”

Teng Qingshan gazed at his daughter, Honglin. “I didn’t do much. I just let him show what’s in the depths of his heart.” Immediately after saying this, he stared at Fan Anran with a cold expression.

Fan Anran felt like he had instantly fallen into an ice cave.

It frightened him.

Teng Qingshan instantly took notice of Fan Anran’s expression. “He’s alarmed? Alarmed by what? Alarmed that he lost self-control, or… is he afraid that I’ve discovered whatever’s in the depths of his heart?”

“Uncle, you… just what did you do to me? What happened to me just then?” Fan Anran looked at Teng Qingshan and then turned to look at Honglin. “Linlin, what happened to me just now?”

“A moment ago, you looked like you wanted to kill someone, just like a wild animal that had gone mad,” Honglin said worriedly.

At the side, Li Jun frowned as she gazed at Fan Anran.

“Young one,” Teng Qingshan asked nonchalantly, “can you explain why you were like that just now?”

Fan Anran glanced at Teng Qingshan and then at the worried Honglin. Taking in a deep breath, Fan Anran answered, “Linlin, I’ll be frank with you. My father wasn’t actually a blacksmith in the past. He was actually a horse-riding bandit. And I… am the son of a horse-riding bandit!”

“A horse-riding bandit?” Honglin was startled.

Teng Qingshan’s brows knitted together slightly. Actually, he had already found out about this point early on.

“Mm.” Fan Anran nodded slightly. “When I was really young, I lived in a den of horse-riding bandits.”

Fan Anran seemed like he was caught in his memories.

“Although I lived in a den of horse-riding bandits, they all treated me really well. However, the year I turned seven… my father’s horse-riding bandit gang suffered the violent attack of another gang!” Fan Anran shook slightly.

“During that disaster that wiped us out, my father’s gang was done for. It was all over! The great family in charge of the gang, and the many uncles… Many of them died, while others escaped. As for my mother—” Fan Anran gritted his teeth. “She was shot dead with an arrow right at the start. The other women in the den were either killed or captured. And my father… At the time, he took me and escaped in a panic, at least able to save one life.

“After that, my father and I came to Yong’an County.

“Back then, when we lived in the den, my father had often helped forge weaponry, so he had the skills to forge ironware. He depended on these skills to settle down in Yong’an County.” A glimpse of ruthlessness appeared in Fan Anran’s eyes. “I’ve always been thinking of taking revenge on that horse-riding bandit gang that killed my mother and all those uncles! However… I later found out that the year I turned 10, that gang was wiped out by another gang. Even though I want to deal out revenge, there’s no one to deal it to!”

Fan Anran was in so much pain that his body shuddered.

“Don’t be upset anymore.” Honglin went over to Fang Anran and held his hand.

Fang Anran showed Honglin a grateful expression.

“Young one,” Teng Qingshan’s voice rang out.

“Uncle.” Fan Anran turned toward Teng Qingshan.

“This matter isn’t really a shameful matter, so why have you always hidden it?” Teng Qingshan gazed at him nonchalantly.

Fan Anran forced a smile and said, “After coming to Yong’an County, my father thought of every possible method to get me into the Gui Yuan Sect. A majority of the disciples in the Gui Yuan Sect were either from wealthy families or the countryside, and they all held horse-riding bandits in contempt. If they were to find out my father was a horse-riding bandit, I would definitely be looked down upon. When I was young, I didn’t want that, so I never revealed this fact. As the years passed by… I just didn’t feel like talking about it anymore.”

“Anran.” Honglin thought of her own life and then thought of Fan Anran’s tragic life. She couldn’t help but lean even closer to him.

“Dad, that’s enough, right?” Honglin looked at Teng Qingshan somewhat resentfully.

“Let Anran rest,” Teng Qingshan told her.

As he watched his daughter and Fan Anran leave, Teng Qingshan’s expression grew heavy.

Teng Qingshan and his wife were the only ones remaining in the study.

“Qingshan, what’s wrong?” Li Jun inquired.

“He’s unsuitable,” Teng Qingshan said while shaking his head. “If a normal person goes through such a difficult situation when they’re young… Experiencing a calamity at seven years old and then joining the Gui Yuan Sect at eight years old… Tell me, what should he be like?”

Li Jun was startled. She replied, “Mm, it was such a horrible catastrophe and he was so young… He should… should have a strange temperament or be cold, detached, and antisocial.”

“But from what the intelligence investigated, this Fan Anran has always been a very well-behaved and obedient child ever since he joined the Gui Yuan Sect at a young age. Additionally, he got along with his fellow disciples extremely well. At the mention of Fan Anran, his fellow disciples would all click their tongues and praise him.” Teng Qingshan smiled. “He was a child that had just experienced a horrible catastrophe. Yet he was able to be that obedient and amicable right after joining the Gui Yuan Sect? Don’t you think there’s something strange about that?”

Li Jun nodded slightly.

“And just then, in this study, my experience and senses tell me that this Fan Anran is probably still hiding something from us.” Teng Qingshan shook his head. “This sort of person is unsuitable for Linlin.”

…

Nighttime.

“Dad, did you say he’s unsuitable?” After dinner, the three family members were currently sitting together, listening to Teng Qingshan speak. All of a sudden, Honglin was stunned frozen.

“That’s right.” Teng Qingshan nodded. “This Fan Anran, his inner and outer selves are different. He’s unsuitable for you.”

“What do you mean his inner and outer selves are different?” Honglin got angry immediately. She got so angry that her chest heaved up and down. “Anran experienced a great catastrophe when he was young. His mother even died. So of course he would have pain and hatred in his heart. Yet he has always buried these in his heart, not daring to tell anyone… Dad, this time, you drew out the hatred from the depths of his heart. That’s already bad enough. Yet, Dad, you say that his inner and outer selves are different?”

Teng Qingshan’s brows knitted together slightly.

Beside them, Li Jun said, “Linlin, sit down. Why are you talking to your dad like this?”

Honglin took in a deep breath and sat back down.

“Linlin.” Teng Qingshan looked at his daughter with an undisturbed gaze. “If you believe your dad, then don’t meet with Fan Anran anymore.”

“Dad…” Honglin stared at Teng Qingshan with a pained expression.

In Honglin’s heart, the person she adored the most was her father. She had grown up listening to the legends about Teng Qingshan. Although there were times when she was mischievous, Honglin would definitely not dare to disobey his words as long as it was about something serious. However… this time, it was about the first person she had ever liked.

“Dad, don’t.” There were tears in Honglin’s eyes.

“Fan Anran is unsuitable for you. If you want proof of this, I’ll find proof to give to you within a year’s time,” Teng Qingshan said. “For now, you should stop meeting with him.”

Honglin didn’t utter a single word and stayed silent for a long while.

“Dad, I’m going to sleep.” Honglin then left the room.

Watching Honglin leave, Teng Qingshan puckered up uncontrollably… He didn’t know what he should say to persuade his daughter. Similarly, Li Jun had a face full of worry.

On the second day at dawn, the sky was still dark.

Inside Honglin’s chamber in Dong Hua Park:

Teng Qingshan and Li Jun walked inside.

“Linlin left. You’re not stopping her?” Li Jun said, frowning in discontent.

Teng Qingshan shook his head and pointed to a nearby dressing table. “Last night, Linlin was at her dressing table the whole night. She didn’t sleep. I know Linlin… She’s extremely obstinate. Even if I try to stop her firmly, I won’t be able to hold her back. If she wants to go, let her go. Little Blue is following her in secret. Nothing will happen to her.”

“Hm?” Li Jun walked over to the dressing table. “There are two letters here. Qingshan, one’s for you and the other’s for me.”

Teng Qingshan took the letter from her.

“To my Honorable Father!”

Teng Qingshan opened the envelope and pulled out the letter from inside. His heart trembled as he could see the tear stains that were still on the letter.

There was a total of two pages.

As he read the letter, Teng Qingshan’s expression got more and more unsightly before finally becoming pale.

“What is it?” Li Jun came over and read the letter in Teng Qingshan’s hands. With one read, she burst out angrily, “This child, how dare she talk like that?!”

“Qingshan, don’t get angry. Linlin must be having a fever, that’s why she wrote those words,” Li Jun said.

Teng Qingshan lowered his head as he read the letter. His heart ached. After this, he forced a smile and shook his head. “I too want to see whether it’s me that’s reading him wrongly or that my daughter has better eyes!”