Late at night.
Just as Wang Haoran was getting ready to turn in for the night, he received a phone call from Luo Qingqian, asking to et.
Without hesitation, he dressed and headed out. His energy was abundant as ever; he didn’t need much sleep, and since Luo Qingqian was in the mood for a midnight etup, of course, he would accompany her.
The location she chose was a lakeside spot not far from the Qingling campus. Wang Haoran knew this place well. Back when he was trying to win over Xu Muyan, he even jumped into the lake here once as part of his act.
His steps quickened with anticipation. He hadn’t expected Luo Qingqian to be this bold—choosing a remote place like this for a late-night rendezvous. Just imagining it stirred his blood a little.
But when he arrived… he was stunned speechless.
At the lakeside stood not only Luo Qingqian, but also Lin Chen, lying cold and lifeless on the ground.
The mont Luo Qingqian saw him, she threw herself into his arms and began sobbing uncontrollably.
He quickly held her, trying to soothe her as he gently asked what happened.
Only then did he learn that Luo Qingqian and a few of her sisters had gone searching separately after Lin Chen went missing. She was the first to find him… but by then, it was already too late.
Her heart had collapsed from grief. She didn’t have the strength to call the others, so she contacted Wang Haoran first.
“Qingqian, I’m so sorry… May he rest in peace,” Wang Haoran whispered as he held her close, his eyes falling to Lin Chen’s cold body.
That bastard Yan Yuntian. One day, I’ll send you down to keep him company. And as for your seven sisters, Lin Chen, I suppose I’ll have to trouble myself to take good care of them. So… rest easy.
He spoke silently in his heart, his expression calm but eyes sharp with intent.
His phone vibrated again. A ssage from Qin Yunhan—asking where he was.
What’s with everyone staying up late tonight?
Wang Haoran sighed internally and thought about just telling her to go to bed, and that there was no need to co out.
But on second thought, he ssaged her to co et him… right here, at the lake.
Of course, he wasn’t calling her out for a date. He needed her to cry for Lin Chen.
If you’re going to put on a show, it needs to be convincing all the way through.
He already had Yu Ning spread false news: that Lin Chen was Qin Yunhan’s boyfriend. It was that lie that had led Lin Chen into the trap… and to his death.
So this bla—this pot of boiling drama—had to be dumped squarely on Yan Yuntian’s head.
To make sure Lin Chen’s mysterious elder sister would later direct her fury at the right man, Qin Yunhan needed to appear before Lin Chen. She had to play the role of a grieving girlfriend, making it believable.
And once the ti cos, she could stand as a witness… and point the finger at Yan Yuntian.
After replying to Qin Yunhan’s ssage, Wang Haoran waited.
Luo Qingqian stayed in his arms for a long while, tears slowly subsiding. Though still sorrowful, she was a little more composed now.
“Want to notify Weiwei and the others?” he asked gently, seeing she still wasn’t steady.
She nodded.
Wang Haoran pulled out his phone and made the call, informing the rest of the group.
They were far away—too far to arrive quickly—but soone else showed up not long after.
A young woman. So beautiful, it stole the breath from his lungs.
For a mont, Wang Haoran nearly lost himself in her presence.
But he was no novice. He’d seen countless won, fought countless battles of wit and will. He recovered in an instant.
The woman scanned the scene briefly before locking eyes with him. “We were just ssaging.”
It hit him then. His expression turned serious. “How do you have Qin Yunhan’s phone? Who are you?”
The woman, of course, was Feng Xuansu.
She had taken Qin Yunhan’s phone while the girl slept, skimd through her ssages, and found the na most frequently contacted: Wang Haoran.
Then she impersonated Qin Yunhan to lure him out here.
“You don’t need to know that. Just co with . I have sothing to say to you.” Her voice was cold and firm.
Wang Haoran, knowing full well how these things played out, imdiately guessed what she wanted—probably so self-righteous nonsense about staying away from Qin Yunhan for her own good.
If Luo Qingqian weren’t here, he might’ve given Feng Xuansu a very different lesson in manners.
But for now, with an audience, it was better to play the mild-mannered role.
“I’ve got sothing going on,” he said calmly. “Let’s talk another ti.”
“I don’t have ti for that. Co now.” Her tone turned sharper.
Wang Haoran only smiled and shook his head.
“You’re refusing? I’m afraid it’s not up to you.”
Before he could respond, Feng Xuansu’s figure blurred—crossing several ters in an instant. Bathed in moonlight, her hand reached toward his shoulder, ready to seize him by force.
But just before her fingers touched him, Luo Qingqian’s palm flashed forward in a strike.
The two palms collided with a thunderous boom of compressed air.
Their clash was evenly matched. Both won took a step back, surprise flashing across their eyes.
Neither expected the other to be this strong.
“Luo Qingqian? You?!”
Until now, Feng Xuansu kept her focus on Wang Haoran. With the dim moonlight, she hadn’t gotten a good look at the woman beside him. But now that she did, her eyes narrowed in shock.
“Feng Xuansu. What a surprise. Fancy seeing you here,” Luo Qingqian said with a biting smile. “What’s wrong? The aloof First Beauty of the Hidden Martial World, too proud to acknowledge any man… and now you’re trying to steal one?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Unless I’ve gone blind, why would I ever fall for such an ordinary guy?” Feng Xuansu snapped back.
But to Luo Qingqian, that was a slap in the face.
Calling him “ordinary”? Wasn’t that just saying she had no taste? That she was the blind one?
Outrage flared in her chest.
“Feng Xuansu, you’ve always wanted to beat —always wanted to climb from third to second on the Hidden Dragon and Rising Phoenix Ranking. Fine. Tonight, I’ll grant you your wish. Let’s see the difference between us.”
“You think I’m afraid of you?” Feng Xuansu retorted, her eyes blazing.
“Let’s all calm down, alright? We can talk this out.” Wang Haoran stepped between them, trying to defuse the tension.
“Get lost. No one asked you,” Feng Xuansu snapped, glaring daggers at him.
Seeing her beloved treated like that only fueled Luo Qingqian’s fury. Without hesitation, she gathered all her Internal Energy and launched a strike toward Feng Xuansu’s chest.
But before her palm could land, Feng Xuansu suddenly clutched her head and let out a cry of pain.
Luo Qingqian wasn’t the type to hit soone who was already down. Her hand froze midair, her face frozen in shock.
Even Wang Haoran, who’d been watching the scene unfold like a play, was stunned.
Because right now… it almost looked like Feng Xuansu was deliberately throwing herself into a pit just to fra Luo Qingqian.
But that couldn’t be. No way.
“Dear… run. Run, quickly. Don’t worry about … just go, go!”
Feng Xuansu collapsed to the ground, clutching her head, her face twisted in pain as she scread like her heart was being torn apart. Her words were raw, frantic, torn from so forgotten corner of mory.
Watching her, Wang Haoran’s astonishnt slowly lted into a strange, amused smile.
Read this chapter on CrimsonScrolls · Support the Translator · © 2026 CrimsonScrolls
Read on CrimsonScrolls
User Comments
0 comments from readers