In the presidential suite of the Golden Radiance Hotel.
Duan Wenshi, his face bruised and swollen, sat cowering on the edge of the bed.
"Use a hot towel to cool your face," Wang Ying offered, handing him one.
"Thank you," Duan Wenshi accepted the towel, looking utterly ashamed.
Lin Fan, sitting opposite him, found him somewhat pathetic.
"Why did you think of impersonating me?"
With no outsiders present, Lin Fan no longer needed to hide his identity. Duan Wenshi's eyes widened at his words, and he stopped his movements.
"You, you are… that Lin Fan?"
"The Lin Fan who fought Li Yusheng to a draw?"
Though he had suspected it, hearing it from the man himself was still a shock.
"Who else would it be? Do you think I *wanted* to get involved in your mess?"
"Duan Mou…"
Duan Wenshi stood up excitedly, but words failed him.
"I was foolish, I have failed my ancestors!"
"Sit down and tell me slowly, we have plenty of time," Lin Fan gestured with his hand, speaking softly.
"Alas~"
Duan Wenshi sighed heavily, returned to the edge of the bed, and began to narrate his story.
As it turned out, this whole affair had to do with Long Yun.
After Duan Tiande's death, the entire Duan family fell into decline. Duan Wenshi lived by his father's grave, diligently studying Feng Shui, hoping to one day avenge his father. However, fate was not kind. Duan Wenshi made no progress in his studies, while Long Yun's fame grew. Every time he heard Long Yun's name, he felt immense pressure. The more anxious he became, the less he could calm his mind, and the less he could achieve. In this vicious cycle, he gradually gave up on himself, even contemplating suicide several times. Later, he attempted to hang himself but failed. He believed it was his father's spirit urging him to live on. Yet, facing the ascendant Long Yun, he felt utterly helpless. In this torment, he slowly became a drunkard and was seen by those around him as a madman, mentally ill.
It wasn't until recently that an elder, a long-time acquaintance of his family, visited. During their conversation, he learned that Long Yun had retired from public life and had disappeared. At that moment, he wailed and wailed, his mind on the verge of collapse. Twenty years! A full twenty years! He had gone from a young man to a disheveled uncle, only to receive this piece of news.
"That elder mentioned the duel at West Lake, so I…" Duan Wenshi trailed off, lowering his head in shame.
"Alas~" Lin Fan was speechless. Back then, you were a twenty-year-old young man. So many years have passed, and Long Yun probably doesn't even recognize you anymore. Thinking about it, it was simply that his father lost to Long Yun, which caused a psychological shadow over the young him, making him lose his confidence. He sought a shortcut, wanting to make a comeback. He used Lin Fan's name for two reasons: first, to deter Long Yun and prevent his return. Second, the Duan family had been silent for so many years that no one remembered them. Lin Fan, however, was a rising prodigy of the Xingshi Sect, a pillar who had turned the tide. Using his name would undoubtedly bring in a lot of money. For the impatient Duan Wenshi, this was indeed a good choice.
"I, I'm sorry." Duan Wenshi covered his face, tears streaming down. He had endured humiliation for twenty years and achieved nothing. He had hoped to take a shortcut, to first make a name for himself, only to be caught red-handed by the original owner. He was truly unlucky. For a moment, Duan Wenshi felt the world spinning, as if there was nowhere for him to belong. He wished he could jump from the building and end his tragic life.
Wang Ying, seeing his distress, gave Lin Fan a look, signaling him to comfort Duan Wenshi. Lin Fan understood and said, "You don't have to be like this. Long Yun was driven away by me, so it can be considered that I avenged your Duan family. I forgot to tell you, my master is President Zhong Chen."
"What?" Duan Wenshi's eyes widened, even more shocked than before.
"There were indeed some wrongdoings by the two presidents back then. As their disciple, I apologize to you on their behalf." Lin Fan stood up and bowed deeply.
"You… *sob sob sob*…" Duan Wenshi burst into tears, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions. All the accumulated grievances and sorrow surged forth, finally erupting into a torrent of weeping.
"It's my fault, I couldn't avenge my father."
"Father, I've failed you!"
"I have failed the spirits of my ancestors!"
Duan Wenshi cried sadly, his voice hoarse. Lin Fan looked somber and remained silent.
After a long while. Duan Wenshi stopped crying and, with trembling hands, took out a thread-bound ancient book from his怀.
"Master Lin." Duan Wenshi stood up. "I have offended you by using your name to do wrong. This is…"
"I cannot accept it." Lin Fan knew instantly that this book was very important to Duan Wenshi. Earlier, when he was being beaten, he had kept his body curled up. At the time, Lin Fan thought he was a habitual fraud, protecting himself during the beating. Now, it seemed he was actually protecting this book.
"Please let me finish." Duan Wenshi wiped his tears and said solemnly, "I am a useless wretch. I've studied for half my life and accomplished nothing, bringing shame to the Duan family ancestors and failing to avenge my father." He held the book with both hands and offered it forward. "This 'Qing Nang Zhen Jie' has been passed down through generations of our Duan family. Please accept it, Master Lin. Perhaps you can gain something from it."
"I have already taken President Zhong as my master and naturally have sect arts to learn. Please take it back quickly." Lin Fan stepped back, refusing again.
"Master Lin!" Duan Wenshi knelt on the ground with a thud, holding the ancient book high. "I only ask that you can carry on its legacy. If anyone asks in the future, please mention that it was passed down from the Duan family, and I will have no regrets in death!" Duan Wenshi spoke with passion, and then kowtowed three times.
"Get up quickly, don't be like this." Lin Fan hurried to help Duan Wenshi up. Duan Wenshi struggled to remain kneeling and continued, "Master Lin, Duan Mou has one small request." He paused, took a deep breath, and continued, "If the Liqi Sect provokes us again, you absolutely cannot lose!"
"If you can defeat them using 'Qing Nang Zhen Jie', please inform me." Duan Wenshi looked up, hope flickering in his eyes. Wang Ying then tugged at Lin Fan's sleeve and urged, "Xiao Fan, just agree."
"Alright." Lin Fan took the ancient book and said earnestly, "Thank you, Senior Duan, for the gift of this book."
"Master Lin is too kind." A hint of shame flashed in Duan Wenshi's eyes. He struggled to stand up, leaning on the ground, and said again, "In the future, 'Qing Nang Zhen Jie' will surely be carried forward by Master Lin. I look forward to that day!" With that, he cupped his hands and left.