******
Shen Tian shot to his feet and lunged forward before anyone could react, shoving Shen Jun with every ounce of strength he could muster.
In the next second, the latter staggered backward, tripping over his chair and crashing to the floor in a heap.
"This…"
A wave of gasps swept through the hall, loud and thunderous like crashing waves.
Then, silence. Heavy, suffocating silence that seemed to freeze the very air descended upon the hall.
However, the sharp clink of a wine glass hitting the table shattered the stillness.
In the following second, all eyes turned toward the source—Shen Hong.
The majestic patriarch stood slowly. His towering frame radiated calm—a dangerous kind of calm.
"Tian," he said suddenly.
His voice was low, but the chill beneath it could freeze blood.
Shen Tian's chest heaved with ragged breaths, his fists clenched tight.
His heart pounded in his ears, and slowly, he turned to face his father, a desperate flicker of hope glimmering in his eyes.
But—
"You dare to lay hands on your brother, right in front of me?" Shen Hong's voice sounded, now brimming with cold accusation.
Shen Tian's heart instantly sank upon hearing it. "He... You didn't hear him curse my dead mother just?" he asked, dazed and stunned.
Across the hall, his step-siblings instantly exchanged smug, scheming glances.
"You dare speak like that to Father? Looks like you've been showing your true colors lately," Shen Yue sneered.
"Husband!" Madam Shen exclaimed, clutching her chest as if in agony. "He not only struck my precious son without cause, but now he insults you too! Are you really going to let this rogue destroy our family?!"
But the secret thumbs-up she gave Shen Jun—seen only by Shen Tian—betrayed her act.
Shen Tian saw it all.
Shen Hong and the other extended family did not.
Rage instantly burned in Shen Tian's chest. His fists trembled, his breath shallow. And then—
"You are no longer my son," Shen Hong spat.
The words struck like thunder.
But before Shen Tian could even process it, his father continued, his voice colder than ice.
"I disown you. From this moment on, you will leave this house with nothing—not even a single thread of clothing. The Shen family has no connection to you."
No...
Time stopped, and Shen Tian stood frozen, unable to move, unable to think.
And then came the final blow.
Shen Jun stood slowly, a smear of blood at the corner of his lips. He grinned.
"That's right, bastard. Get lost!"
Shen Tian's mouth opened, but no sound came out.
He looked at his father—pleading silently. Waiting for him to take it back. He waited for someone to speak for him, perhaps, one of his uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, or cousins.
But no one did.
He turned his gaze slowly—first to Shen Jun's smirk, then Shen Yue's cruel smile, and finally, to their Mother's satisfied eyes.
Finally, it all clicked.
'So, this... this was their plan all along?'
The banquet invitation, the provocation, the public scene—it had all been a setup.
At this realization, betrayal slowly settled over Shen Tian like a lead blanket.
No defense. No sympathy. Not even from the servants.
His chest burned.
Before he could act or speak, Madam Shen made a subtle gesture, and immediately, the head winked at his men, all of whom instantly stepped forward and surrounded Shen Tian. Then, without a word, they grabbed him roughly and dragged him from the hall like a criminal.
He didn't resist because his mind and soul were already in a state of
When they reached the mansion entrance, one of the guards shoved him so hard that Shen Tian almost fell to his face, a scene that was witnessed by the surrounding servants, causing them all to explode in laughter.
Shen Tian stumbled out.
With this, the doors slammed shut behind him with a final, thunderous clang.
He stared blankly at the closed gate. His mouth parted slightly, his breath lost in the night air. His clothes were torn. His dignity was shredded. His soul was heavy with despair.
Cold wind slapped against his skin, and heavy rain poured from the sky, drenching him in moments.
No coat. No money. No family.
Nothing.
He had nothing.
He was nothing.
Shen Tian slowly slumped onto the curb, motionless, soaked to the bone with the heartlessly falling rain. But he didn't care.
He stared into the darkness, tears mingling with the rain on his cheeks.
'Was this it, Mother? Is this what you meant by "survive"?'
There was no one left. Nothing left to fight for.
He wanted to disappear and die, but…
After what felt like an eternity, he finally stood up—slow, lifeless—and began to walk.
But no sooner had he stepped on the road, however, then suddenly—
Bang!!!
Headlights.
Screeching tires.
Screeching tires.
Sharp, unbearable pain exploded through his body as he was hurled into the air and slammed onto the ground like a broken doll.
Blood instantly pooled beneath him, warm and sticky, seeping into the cracks of the pavement. His limbs became numb, and his breath came in ragged gasps.
Only one thought remained:
'Maybe… this is the best ending for me.'
His vision began to dim, the world began to fade away into the darkness
Shen Tian began to embrace the feeling, ready to leave this cold, heartless, and unforgiving world when suddenly, without any forewarning, a cold, ancient, otherworldly voice echoed at the edge of his consciousness:
"What a pitiful boy."
"Tell me… if you had one wish left in this dying body… what would it be?"
Shen Tian's lips barely moved. His thoughts were faint whispers on the brink of death.
"…I want… to go back in time… save my mother… make them regret everything… and become powerful… enough to never bow again but make the world bow for me…"
A low, cryptic chuckle rumbled through the void.
"Wish Acknowledged."
And with that…
Shen Tian's world went black.
*****
Author's Note: Thanks for reading. Please, if you like it, add it to your library, help like the tags, and support with power stones.