Fu Ting’xin quickly pacified Qin shi, telling Fu Shen to go out and enjoy himself without worry. When he returned, Fu Shen no longer wanted to leave. Fu Ting’xin had no children of his own, and Fu Shen had grown up under his care, learning both literary and martial arts directly from him, making their bond closer than that of father and son.
In the 19th year of Yuantai, Fu Tingyi was assassinated by Eastern Tartars. The following year, Fu Tingxin died in battle in the northern frontier. That same year, eighteen-year-old Fu Shen donned his armor and left the capital, stepping onto the northern battlefield.
In the 25th year of Yuantai, Fu Shen returned to the capital wounded and was betrothed by Emperor Yuantai.
No matter how bitter and vengeful he would become later, Fu Shen was still an innocent and flamboyant young master at that time.
Those close to Fu Shen were mostly scions of noble families. In this dynasty, civil officials were not granted titles, and noble families were mostly from military backgrounds. These half-grown youths spent their days wielding knives and practicing martial arts, unable to compose a single poem to a celestial beauty, let alone to a “gentleman among flowers”.
These big monkeys halfheartedly admired some orchids, had lunch, and when they heard that food and water were ready, they immediately mounted their horses, carried their hawks, and rushed into the mountains with excitement.
Fu Shen rode his horse slowly through the forest, occasionally drawing his bow and aiming. This archery skill was honed in the Northern Yan army and was somewhat overkill for small animals. Just as he was feeling bored, a rustling sound suddenly came from the dense forest on the right, followed by horse hooves. Yi Siming and Fu Shen exchanged a distant glance and simultaneously drew their bows, aiming at the black shadow in the bushes.
Fu Shen’s fingers tightened on the bowstring, squinting as he gradually made out the silhouette, his heart stirring.
“Wait!”
He immediately called out, but it was too late. Yi Siming’s arrow had already left the bow.
Fu Shen couldn’t stop him, and without even aiming, he raised his hand and shot an arrow that flew in an almost straight trajectory, striking Yi Siming’s arrow and deflecting it by several feet!
A rider on a white horse emerged from the crowd, and the horseman courteously nodded and said: “The Flying Dragon Guard is here on imperial orders to arrest a court criminal. May I ask if anyone on the mountain has seen any suspicious individuals?”
The noble young masters all looked down their noses at him, with someone mockingly saying, “Oh, what a grand display. What serious criminal has escaped to warrant the Flying Dragon Guard’s intervention?”
The man was not offended, and replied with a mix of softness and firmness: “I don’t dare to accept such praise. I’m simply carrying out my orders.”
The questioning young master was momentarily stunned, his expression turning unpleasant. Fu Shen, afraid they might start fighting, immediately spoke to mediate: “We are merely passing through and have not seen the criminal you mentioned.”
The man glanced at Fu Shen, and his originally cold and indifferent eyes suddenly softened with a hint of a smile: “Oh, it’s Young Master Fu. Long time no see.”
Fu Shen stared at him intently and remembered – this was the forbidden guard who had thrown a paired lotus at him that day on the street.
“Master Yan…”
“Fu Shen said with complex emotions, ‘Long time no see.’
All the young masters stared at the two of them, bewildered about when Fu Shen had become acquainted with a Flying Dragon Guard. Yan Xiaohan slowly swept his gaze over everyone, his glance seeming substantial, causing the guilty young masters to break out in cold sweat. He suddenly smiled: ‘The fugitive is involved in a major conspiracy case. Soldiers are checking all routes in and out of the capital, with a bounty issued. Those who harbor or protect the criminal will be considered accomplices in treason.’
The scene continued with intense interactions, political intrigue, and a potential confrontation between the Flying Dragon Guard and the noble young masters, with Fu Shen caught in the middle of the escalating tension.
Fu Shen was shocked at this moment. He could feel that Yan Xiaohan’s first strike was truly not holding back. The Flying Dragon Guard was arrogant and domineering, and he only realized today that this was not just empty talk.
If he couldn’t win by surprise, Xie Er would likely fall here today.
At the critical moment of life and death, Fu Shen’s brain had never been so clear and quick.”
Thoughts flashed like sparks in his mind, quickly grasped and decided –
This was also a hint of his future character’s emergence – calm in the face of danger, steady and meticulous, good at survival in desperate situations.
Two knives collided with a sound like dense rain, swift as a hurricane, the blade light almost forming two white ribbons. Fu Shen’s wrist strength was insufficient, and he gradually fell into a disadvantage. When they raised their knives to each other again, Yan Xiaohan directly knocked his knife away. The remaining momentum, with the knife tip carrying a fierce wind, was about to pierce Fu Shen’s throat.
However, no.
Yan Xiaohan could kill Xie Er without hesitation, but killing Fu Shen required more consideration.
The knife hummed in mid-air, forcibly changing direction, showing the ultimate control of the weapon. With a wrist twist, the knife’s back passed mere millimeters from Fu Shen’s neck, brushing past his carotid artery.
At the same moment, Fu Shen suddenly erupted!
He had been waiting for this moment. Fu Shen calculated that Yan Xiaohan would not kill him. As the knife’s edge changed direction, Fu Shen almost pressed against the knife’s back, instantly closing in and silently pressing a small hunting knife against Yan Xiaohan’s throat.
In the blink of an eye, the situation dramatically reversed.
“Lord Yan, I’m sorry,” Fu Shen panted in his ear, threatening, “I don’t want to trouble you.
Tell your men to release Xie Er, step back, and immediately descend the mountain.”
His grip was perfectly measured—enough to prevent Yan Xiaohan from speaking, but not enough to suffocate him. Anyone could guess who taught him this technique. Yan Xiaohan, a resourceful hero, recognized the situation and calmly signaled his subordinates to lower their weapons.
“Throw away your own knife too.”
Yan Xiaohan released his grip, and Fu Shen kicked the knife away.
Xie Qianfan, pale-faced and terrified from nearly dying moments ago, was released by the Flying Dragon Guard and timidly returned behind Yi Siming. Suddenly, Fu Shen called, “Xie Er.”
“Ah?”
Fu Shen said, “You provoked first by words, then shot and injured someone. Come and apologize to Lord Yan.”
Everyone was stunned.
Xie Qianfan, recovering from the shock, clenched his fists and turned red, shouting: “I won’t! What is he? A court dog! Why should I apologize to him!”
Yi Siming restrained Xie Qianfan, trying to mediate: “Fu Shen…”
“Will you apologize?” Fu Shen’s face darkened coldly. “If you keep causing a scene, I’ll release him right now. You can try me.”
Xie Er: “…”
Yan Xiaohan, being held hostage, almost couldn’t suppress his laughter.
Xie Qianfan glared, his eyes reddening, and suddenly burst into loud, wailing sobs: “I won’t, I won’t, I won’t! You’re all on his side!”
Don’t I mean anything to you?!”
Everyone: “…”
Yan Xiaohan heard Fu Shen sigh softly behind him.
“He’s just a child, spoiled rotten, not intentionally trying to offend you,” Fu Shen whispered, “I’ll apologize on his behalf. Holding you hostage was a last resort. I’m sorry.”
His voice still carried a youthful playfulness, but his demeanor and skills were remarkably composed like an adult.
