Chapter Forty-Seven: Heartbeat

Suddenly, the burning sensation gradually receded. It did not vanish, but instead contracted from the entire Dragon-patterned Jade Pendant to its very center. It no longer threatened to scorch Yan Yuanqing’s whole palm; only the central portion retained the searing heat. What astonished Yan Yuanqing even more was that this burning sensation came and went, as if a heart wrapped in flames was beating within, pulsing intermittently.

Each time it expanded, it released a surge of internal warmth, causing him to feel the burn anew. At the same moment, a sudden thought flashed in Yan Yuanqing’s mind. He closed his eyes, carefully sensing this faint connection, and soon opened them in delighted surprise.

“So this is how it works! Father isn’t dead after all—he’s still alive!” Yan Yuanqing exclaimed with joy.

Just now, the Dragon-patterned Jade Pendant seemed to possess a spirit of its own, sending him a message: the temperature fluctuations at its heart were a sign that his father was still living in this world. It was the pulse of his father’s life, still vibrant, though he could not be located. If ever the warmth and burning at the pendant’s core vanished completely, losing all its unique qualities, that would mean his father had left this world.

Although the Dragon-patterned Jade Pendant could not pinpoint his father’s location, for Yan Yuanqing, this was an unexpected blessing. Only now did he understand why the pendant was enshrined in the deepest part of his ancestral hall, passed down through countless generations, never seized by outsiders or lost. Its purpose was far more profound than he had realized.

“Father, rest assured. No matter where I am or what time it is, I will never forget you. Wherever you may be, one day I will bring you back to me! You must hold on!” Yan Yuanqing gazed at the pendant in his palm, feeling its pulse and heat as though his hands were placed upon his father’s chest, sensing his heartbeat.

Yet, immersed in the wonder of this discovery and swept up in emotion, Yan Yuanqing’s perception dulled somewhat. Thus, he failed to notice that while he observed the pendant, a shadow lingered in the corner of the window. That shadow belonged to Shi Chengren, who had been driven out by Yan Yuanqing but did not leave at once.

Ever since Yan Yuanqing displayed remarkable strength, Shi Chengren’s suspicion had reached its peak. How could a useless son-in-law, wasted for three years, suddenly become so powerful? It made the entire Shi family seem like weaklings by comparison.

Shi Chengren stayed behind, eager to discover what Yan Yuanqing would do after his departure, and how he had learned to become what he was now. He never expected to stumble upon such an immense secret. From his vantage point, he could only see the Dragon-patterned Jade Pendant in Yan Yuanqing’s hand.

“There really exists such a treasure in this world! No wonder this good-for-nothing son-in-law could suddenly change so much—it must be this precious artifact helping him!” Shi Chengren thought silently, his heartbeat quickening with excitement.

When Yan Yuanqing put away the pendant, Shi Chengren hurriedly and quietly slipped out, not wishing to be caught by Yan Yuanqing—if he were, it might well cost him his life.

This time, Yan Yuanqing’s capture of Shi Chengren brought the farce and the family crisis to an end. Shi Tianhe regained full control of the family’s authority and immediately began to intervene and take charge of the forces under Shi Chengren’s command.