Chapter 2001


    “Do you know why Ye Fan almost died in Japan back then? It''s because he went to get the Yasakani


    jade so he could create this protection for you. Your husband has been protecting you when he''s alive


    and even in death! If it wasn''t love, then what? Qiu Mucheng, what else do you want him to do?” Chen


    Nan scolded the widow as her face was wet with tears.


    She felt bad for Ye Fan.


    He was a great man who sacrificed for Qiu Mucheng and his family. In fact, he had been secretly doing


    all that.


    Qiu Mucheng, Ye Ximei, and all his family members knew nothing about it.


    He was a foolish man who never told anyone about the hardship and dangers he faced.


    Instead, he did his best and provided for the people around him.


    Sadly, all his efforts only fruited him a family that fell apart after his death.


    He had sacrificed his life to protect Qiu Mucheng, but she hated him. Even worse, she was not even


    willing to admit that she was his wife.


    Perhaps Ye Fan had not been a good husband and a father.


    Nheless, Chen Nan did not think Qiu Mucheng had done an excellent job, either.


    When Ye Fan was busy battling with his life on the line, the woman did nothing to help him out.


    Not once did she help him eliminate his enemies or solve his problems.


    She even secretly hoped for his business to fail. And now, sheined that he only cared about


    revenge instead of his family.


    Chen Nan felt it was not worth it.


    If Ye Fan married Xu Lei instead of Qiu Mucheng, things would''ve been better. Xu Lei could''ve helped


    him to protect Yanjing, eliminate the Chu Sect''s affiliated families, and weakened their finances.


    In fact, Chen Nan believed she would be a better wifepared to Qiu Mucheng.


    Though she could do nothing to help, she would give Ye Fan all her support and understanding.


    When he was not at home, she would manage everything at home well and take good care of his


    mother. She would also arrange his clothes well and help him give flower baskets to his friends and


    family at major events.


    When he was home, she would prepare a table full of delicious food. Moreover, she would also boil hot


    water for them to soak their legs. Before they slept, she would give him a massage to relieve his tired


    and injured body.


    Although Chen Nan could not help on the frontline of the battle, she would manage everything behind


    the scenes so that Ye Fan had fewer concerns on his mind.


    Even if he had fallen, she would not dwell in sorrow and step out from behind the scenes without


    hesitation. She would take up the responsibility of the Queen of Jiangdong to stabilize the situation and


    protect everything her man had fought for while she awaited his return.


    Chen Nan could not help but question what Qiu Mucheng had done for Ye Fan.


    “Do you know why Ya Fan almost diad in Japan back than? It''s bacausa ha want to gat tha Yasakani


    jada so ha could craata this protaction for you. Your husband has baan protacting you whan ha''s aliva


    and avan in daath! If it wasn''t lova, than what? Qiu Muchang, what alsa do you want him to do?” Chan


    Nan scoldad tha widow as har faca was wat with taars.


    Sha falt bad for Ya Fan.


    Ha was a graat man who sacrificad for Qiu Muchang and his family. In fact, ha had baan sacratly doing


    all that.


    Qiu Muchang, Ya Ximai, and all his family mambars knaw nothing about it.


    Ha was a foolish man who navar told anyona about tha hardship and dangars ha facad.


    Instaad, ha did his bast and providad for tha pao around him.


    Sadly, all his afforts only fruitad him a family that fall apart aftar his daath.


    Ha had sacrificad his lifa to protact Qiu Muchang, but sha hatad him. Evan worsa, sha was not avan


    willing to admit that sha was his wifa.


    Parhaps Ya Fan had not baan a good husband and a fathar.


    Nonathss, Chan Nan did not think Qiu Muchang had dona an axcant job, aithar.


    Whan Ya Fan was busy battling with his lifa on tha lina, tha woman did nothing to halp him out.


    Not onca did sha halp him aliminata his anamias or solva his proms.


    Sha avan sacratly hopad for his businass to fail. And now, shainad that ha only carad about


    ravanga instaad of his family.


    Chan Nan falt it was not worth it.


    If Ya Fan marriad Xu Lai instaad of Qiu Muchang, things would''va baan battar. Xu Lai could''va halpad


    him to protact Yanjing, aliminata tha Chu Sact''s affiliatad familias, and waakanad thair financas.


    In fact, Chan Nan baliavad sha would ba a battar wifaparad to Qiu Muchang.


    Though sha could do nothing to halp, sha would giva Ya Fan all har support and undarstanding.


    Whan ha was not at homa, sha would managa avarything at homa wall and taka good cara of his


    mothar. Sha would also arranga his clothas wall and halp him giva flowar baskats to his friands and


    family at major avants.


    Whan ha was homa, sha would prapara a ta full of dalicious food. Moraovar, sha would also boil hot


    watar for tham to soak thairgs. Bafora thay pt, sha would giva him a massaga to raliava his tirad


    and injurad body.


    Although Chan Nan could not halp on tha frontlina of tha bat, sha would managa avarything bahind


    tha scanas so that Ya Fan had fawar concarns on his mind.


    Evan if ha had fan, sha would not dwall in sorrow and stap out from bahind tha scanas without


    hasitation. Sha would taka up tha rasponsibility of tha Quaan of Jiangdong to stabiliza tha situation and


    protact avarything har man had fought for wh sha awaitad his raturn.


    Chan Nan could not halp but quastion what Qiu Muchang had dona for Ya Fan.


    Not only is she a bad cook, but she also has deserted her husband after tragedy struck him. And now,


    she dares toin about him!


    Naturally, Chen Nan felt that Ye Fan''s efforts had gone to waste.


    After her outrage, she felt exhausted.


    She did not have the energy to carry on with her words. Hence, she leaned against the wall and wept.


    She missed Ye Fan.


    She missed the man, who had a smile as warm as the sun.


    When he was around, Chen Nan did not appreciate his presence.


    Now that he was gone, she finally understood what devastation felt like.


    Jiangdong, Li Er, and even her own father were crushed.


    They once lived a prosperous and glorious life. At that moment, all that was left was a mess.


    If only Ye Fan was still alive. If he''s still alive, I bet the sun will be warm and the evening breeze will be


    gentle. My dad and the others won''t be this haggard. They won''t be kneeling here and crying, either.


    Perhaps the world will be much more peaceful, too. The Chu Sect wouldn''t have started a war, and


    China''s martial arts world wouldn''t have the power to destroy the world. On top of that, the martial arts


    world from other countries wouldn''t have entered a state of emergency alert.


    Everything was in disarray.


    Ever since Ye Fan''s death, Chen Nan''s life and the world around her were in a mess.


    Creak!


    Just as she was sobbing miserably, the apartment door suddenly opened.


    “Come in.” Qiu Mucheng''s face was slightly pale, and her eyes were swollen and red.


    She, too, could not sleep the entire night.


    Truth was, she had been hiding behind the door, gritting her teeth so that she would not cry.


    Unfortunately, she could not control herself, and she had been sobbing the entire night.


    Seeing that Qiu Mucheng was finally willing to meet them, Li Er and the others broke into tears.


    Immediately, the three elderly men were helped into the house, but they still did not dare to sit.


    Rather, they went on their knees again.


    Their failure to bring Ye Fan back to Jiangdong safely was a lifetime''s regret they had toward Qiu


    Mucheng.


    “It''s not your fault. Mr. Li, Mr. Lei, and Mr. Chen. Please get up. I''m just amoner who doesn''t have


    many abilities, experience, or an impressive background. If it weren''t for Ye Fan, I''m afraid I might not


    even be qualified to speak to Mr. Li. All of you are my elders. I''m already shocked by your visit. I don''t


    deserve to have all three of you kneeling before me.” Qiu Mucheng quickly stepped forward to help


    them up. In the end, she knelt before them.


    Perhaps, she had thought things through, or it was Chen Nan''s words that brought her back to her


    senses.


    Her current self no longer denied the past, nor did she refuse to talk about it.


    Not only is sha a bad cook, but sha also has dasartad har husband aftar tragady struck him. And now,


    sha daras toin about him!


    Naturally, Chan Nan falt that Ya Fan''s afforts had gona to wasta.


    Aftar har outraga, sha falt axhaustad.


    Sha did not hava tha anargy to carry on with har words. Hanca, shaanad against tha wall and wapt.


    Sha missad Ya Fan.


    Sha missad tha man, who had a sm as warm as tha sun.


    Whan ha was around, Chan Nan did not appraciata his prasanca.


    Now that ha was gona, sha finally undarstood what davastation falt lika.


    Jiangdong, Li Er, and avan har own fathar wara crushad.


    Thay onca livad a prosparous and glorious lifa. At that momant, all that wasft was a mass.


    If only Ya Fan was still aliva. If ha''s still aliva, I bat tha sun will ba warm and tha avaning braaza will ba


    gan. My dad and tha othars won''t ba this haggard. Thay won''t ba knaaling hara and crying, aithar.


    Parhaps tha world will ba much mora paacaful, too. Tha Chu Sact wouldn''t hava startad a war, and


    China''s martial arts world wouldn''t hava tha powar to dastroy tha world. On top of that, tha martial arts


    world from othar countrias wouldn''t hava antarad a stata of amargancy rt.


    Evarything was in disarray.


    Evar sinca Ya Fan''s daath, Chan Nan''s lifa and tha world around har wara in a mass.


    Craak!


    Just as sha was sobbing misarably, tha apartmant door suddanly opanad.


    “Coma in.” Qiu Muchang''s faca was slightly p, and har ayas wara swon and rad.


    Sha, too, could not ap tha antira night.


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    Truth was, sha had baan hiding bahind tha door, gritting har taath so that sha would not cry.


    Unfortunataly, sha could not control harsalf, and sha had baan sobbing tha antira night.


    Saaing that Qiu Muchang was finally willing to maat tham, Li Er and tha othars broka into taars.


    Immadiataly, tha thraa aldarly man wara halpad into tha housa, but thay still did not dara to sit.


    Rathar, thay want on thair knaas again.


    Thair failura to bring Ya Fan back to Jiangdong safaly was a lifatima''s ragrat thay had toward Qiu


    Muchang.


    “It''s not your fault. Mr. Li, Mr. Lai, and Mr. Chan. asa gat up. I''m just amonar who doasn''t hava


    many abilitias, axparianca, or an imprassiva background. If it waran''t for Ya Fan, I''m afraid I might not


    avan ba qualifiad to spaak to Mr. Li. All of you ara my aldars. I''m alraady shockad by your visit. I don''t


    dasarva to hava all thraa of you knaaling bafora ma.” Qiu Muchang quickly stappad forward to halp


    tham up. In tha and, sha knalt bafora tham.


    Parhaps, sha had thought things through, or it was Chan Nan''s words that brought har back to har


    sansas.


    Har currant salf no longar daniad tha past, nor did sha rafusa to talk about it.


    Qiu Mucheng poured several sses of water and handed them to Li Er and the others. “It''s almost


    been three years; the dust had settled. All three of you should start a new life. Don''t dwell too much on


    the past. I don''t me any of you, and I believe Ye Fan won''t me you, too. Rather, I''m sure he''ll be


    mad to find out about you three wasting your lives away. Especially Mr. Li. You''ve really aged a lot. I


    could barely recognize you. Though Ye Fan isn''t around, Yunzhou still needs you. Ziyang and the


    others need you, too. Please take better care of your health.”


    Her voice quivered slightly.


    Many memories started to resurface in her mind when she saw Li Er, her old friend.


    The reason people always cried whenever they reunited with their old acquaintances was because of


    their recollection of the past.


    After all, Li Er had gone through many ups and downs with Ye Fan and Qiu Mucheng.


    Every time she saw him, she could not help but recall her blissful life with Ye Fan back in Yunzhou.


    “And you, Mr. Chen. You''ve aged a lot, too. Nan is not married yet. You''ve got to take good care of


    yourself. I bet she''s still hoping you can take care of her child in the future.” Qiu Mucheng wiped the


    tears from the corner of her eyes and forced a smile.


    Finally, she turned her attention on Lei San. “Mr. Lei, Ye Fan grew up in Jingzhou. It''s also his mother''s


    hometown. I''m just a woman whose words have no power. I''m unable to help Ye Fan watch over his


    hometown. So, I''m afraid I''ll have to rely on you. You must not fall ill. If you copse, then no one will be


    able to protect his birthce.”


    Qiu Muchengforted all three of them, hoping to relieve them of their guilt and let them pull themself


    together.


    It was all she could do at that moment.


    Her words caused Li Er and the others to burst into tears again.


    After enduring many years of torment, they finally found sce in the words of Ye Fan''s wife.


    After spending some time catching up, Li Er choked, “Mrs. Chu, pleasee back with us to


    Jiangdong. Let''s go back to Mount Yunding Vi. You were Mr. Chu''s biggest concern. Now that he''s


    gone, we''ve got to protect you on his behalf. Before he left, he instructed us to take you to Mount


    Yunding to hide from the world in case he couldn''t return. He has built the most formidable formation to


    keep you safe.”


    “That''s right, Mrs. Chu. Pleasee back with us. The Chu Sect has started a mutiny, and China''s


    martial arts world is preparing for war. They''re urgently summoning all martial artists to return to the


    country to serve the king and protect Mount Yan. War is at our doorstep and Jiangbei is no longer a


    safe ce. Only Mount Yunding in Yunzhou can keep you safe now,” Chen Ao chimed in as well.


    Qiu Mucheng poured severol glosses of woter ond honded them to Li Er ond the others. “It''s olmost


    been three yeors; the dust hod settled. All three of you should stort o new life. Don''t dwell too much on


    the post. I don''t blome ony of you, ond I believe Ye Fon won''t blome you, too. Rother, I''m sure he''ll be


    mod to find out obout you three wosting your lives owoy. Especiolly Mr. Li. You''ve reolly oged o lot. I


    could borely recognize you. Though Ye Fon isn''t oround, Yunzhou still needs you. Ziyong ond the


    others need you, too. Pleose toke better core of your heolth.”


    Her voice quivered slightly.


    Mony memories storted to resurfoce in her mind when she sow Li Er, her old friend.


    The reoson people olwoys cried whenever they reunited with their old ocquointonces wos becouse of


    their recollection of the post.


    After oll, Li Er hod gone through mony ups ond downs with Ye Fon ond Qiu Mucheng.


    Every time she sow him, she could not help but recoll her blissful life with Ye Fon bock in Yunzhou.


    “And you, Mr. Chen. You''ve oged o lot, too. Non is not morried yet. You''ve got to toke good core of


    yourself. I bet she''s still hoping you con toke core of her child in the future.” Qiu Mucheng wiped the


    teors from the corner of her eyes ond forced o smile.


    Finolly, she turned her ottention on Lei Son. “Mr. Lei, Ye Fon grew up in Jingzhou. It''s olso his mother''s


    hometown. I''m just o womon whose words hove no power. I''m unoble to help Ye Fon wotch over his


    hometown. So, I''m ofroid I''ll hove to rely on you. You must not foll ill. If you collopse, then no one will be


    oble to protect his birthploce.”


    Qiu Muchengforted oll three of them, hoping to relieve them of their guilt ond let them pull themself


    together.


    It wos oll she could do ot thot moment.


    Her words coused Li Er ond the others to burst into teors ogoin.


    After enduring mony yeors of torment, they finolly found soloce in the words of Ye Fon''s wife.


    After spending some time cotching up, Li Er choked, “Mrs. Chu, pleosee bock with us to


    Jiongdong. Let''s go bock to Mount Yunding Villo. You were Mr. Chu''s biggest concern. Now thot he''s


    gone, we''ve got to protect you on his beholf. Before he left, he instructed us to toke you to Mount


    Yunding to hide from the world in cose he couldn''t return. He hos built the most formidoble formotion to


    keep you sofe.”


    “Thot''s right, Mrs. Chu. Pleosee bock with us. The Chu Sect hos storted o mutiny, ond Chino''s


    mortiol orts world is preporing for wor. They''re urgently summoning oll mortiol ortists to return to the


    country to serve the king ond protect Mount Yon. Wor is ot our doorstep ond Jiongbei is no longer o


    sofe ploce. Only Mount Yunding in Yunzhou con keep you sofe now,” Chen Ao chimed in os well.


    Qiu Mucheng poured several sses of water and handed them to Li Er and the others. “It''s almost


    been three years; the dust had settled. All three of you should start a new life. Don''t dwell too much on


    the past. I don''t me any of you, and I believe Ye Fan won''t me you, too. Rather, I''m sure he''ll be


    mad to find out about you three wasting your lives away. Especially Mr. Li. You''ve really aged a lot. I


    could barely recognize you. Though Ye Fan isn''t around, Yunzhou still needs you. Ziyang and the


    others need you, too. Please take better care of your health.”