I stood beside the bed, staring at the corpse in front of me. It hadn't rotted or shown any signs of decomposition. The skin was slightly pale, but it looked like someone who had fallen ill.
If it weren't for the stillness in the chest, I would have thought this body was just sleeping.
Having never seen my own corpse before, I still held onto a bit of hope—maybe I was just severely injured, or perhaps I had become a vegetative state, barely holding onto life. If Lu Shiyan found me in time, maybe he could save me.
But the moment I confirmed the lifeless body before me, I realized it was over.
I was truly dead.
Sitting next to my own corpse, I looked down at my palms. Where would I go from here? Was I meant to exist like this forever?
Without taste, without smell, unable to shed a single tear even if I wanted to. Was this what the world after death was like?
No one could hear me. I could see everyone, but no one could see me.
I covered my face, crying without tears.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps—fast, and not just one person.
The person who entered was familiar: the same eyes I'd recognized. But his face was covered by another mask, keeping his true identity hidden.
Behind him was a tall man, dressed in Tibetan robes, with dark skin.
"This is her," the man said, pointing at my body.
The Tibetan man abruptly lifted the white cloth covering me, revealing my body naked beneath it. I could clearly see the wound on my abdomen.
The pale skin had a thin layer of translucent oil on it, likely some kind of medicinal substance to prevent decomposition.
The Tibetan man examined my body, his gaze cold and clinical. He occasionally reached out and pressed on my skin, seemingly testing its elasticity.
His eyes were more like a merchant inspecting merchandise.
His finger pointed at the wound on my waist as he spoke in his local accent, "Pity about the scar here. Otherwise, it could be fully removed."
Removed?
Was I hearing this right? Was he talking about skinning me?
How could this be possible? This was a society governed by law.
But the serious look in both of their eyes left me no room to doubt—they were not joking.
I watched as the man prepared his instruments, inching closer to my body. Desperation filled me as I screamed, "No! Get away!"
Just then, everything went black. When I regained my senses, the surroundings had changed. I was no longer in the basement but back in the Lu family's home.
I collapsed to the ground, my mind consumed with the image of the Tibetan man.
"Down!" A voice, aged yet commanding, jolted me back to reality.
It was Old Master Lu. I hadn't seen him in so long.
After the old madam passed away a few years ago, his body and mind had deteriorated significantly. At times, he was clear-headed, and at other times, confused. To prevent him from wandering and getting lost, he had been staying in a nursing home for the past few years.
The last time I saw him, his intelligence had regressed to that of a child. But now, his expression was serious, indicating his mind had cleared.
I rushed to him, shouting, "Grandfather, please help me! I beg you, don't let them skin me alive!"
But in the vast living room, only the sound of Old Master Lu's booming voice echoed, "The Lu-Su marriage is at risk, and you left Su Wen at the wedding scene! I don't care whether her sister is dead or alive, but your actions are so reckless. How can I trust you to take over the Lu family?"
Old Master Lu had always disapproved of his son, Lu Father's choice to marry Bai Lan, which caused a rift between them. Since childhood, Old Master Lu had placed all his hopes on Lu Shiyan.
Now, seeing his son's reckless behavior, Old Master Lu was not about to let it slide.
Lu Shiyan knelt, not daring to argue with Old Master Lu.
"Family discipline."
The so-called family discipline was a whip, and Old Master Lu was not going easy.
"I've told you since you were young: The head of the Lu family must not be careless. You must be strict with yourself. Have you forgotten my words?"
Lu Father, who had been beaten many times as a child by Old Master Lu, knew the power of the whip. Realizing it was his own son, he quickly intervened. "Dad, Shiyan was just worried about his sister. His actions may have been wrong, but it was understandable."
Old Master Lu, furious, shouted, "The Lu family's rules are clear: rewards and punishments are well defined! Like father, like son! Get out of my way, or I'll beat you too!"
"Take off your shirt," Old Master Lu commanded coldly.
Lu Shiyan had no choice but to comply. There were scars on his back from that night with Su Ning'an.
The scars had faded with time, but they wouldn't raise suspicions.
Old Master Lu didn't show mercy, delivering a harsh whip that immediately tore into Lu Shiyan's flesh.
Su Ning'an rushed forward, "Grandfather, it's all my fault. If anyone should be punished, it should be me. I shouldn't have called my brother."
After Lu Madam passed away, Lu Father insisted on marrying Bai Lan, which shattered his relationship with his father. He disliked Bai Lan, so naturally, he didn't favor Su Ning'an either.
"You understand, do you?" Old Master Lu said coldly. "You're just like your adoptive mother—both are nothing but seductresses."
Old Master Lu raised his hand to strike Su Ning'an, but Lu Shiyan quickly shielded her.
Another lash landed on Lu Shiyan's back.
"Crack."
The sound of applause came from behind.
Shen Ji pushed Lu Yanchen forward, a sarcastic smile on his lips. "Shiyan cares so much for Miss Su Five. Those who know think she's your stepsister, but those who don't might think she's your wife."
At these words, everyone's expression changed, especially Lu Shiyan, whose heart dropped as if Lu Yanchen's eyes had seen through everything.
Lu Shiyan remained motionless as Bai Lan, who had shown no reaction when Lu Shiyan was being whipped, suddenly jumped out, "Uncle, you can't speak like that. An'an is about to be married. If those words spread, what would people think of her? A woman's reputation is the most important thing."
"Heh, so you understand that a woman's reputation is important?" Lu Yanchen's words were full of sarcasm, his eyes cold as he looked at Lu Shiyan.
Bai Lan knelt before Old Master Lu, "It's all the wife's fault. An'an is just too dependent on her brother. If you must punish someone, punish me. Please spare the children."
Old Master Lu, already seething with anger, snapped, "You have no say here! I never acknowledged you as the Lu family's matriarch. You want to be Mrs. Lu? You're not worthy!"
"Grandfather, enough. I'll take full responsibility for what happened. It has nothing to do with Aunt Lan or An'an. If you want to punish someone, punish me," Lu Shiyan said, his voice firm.
Lu Yanchen laughed coldly. "How virtuous of you. You're even getting along with the woman who killed your own mother. No wonder you're so confused, you've forgotten your own name."
"Didn't you say you'd never return to the Lu family? Seems like you're eating your own words now."
Lu Yanchen gave him a dismissive glance. Although Lu Shiyan was kneeling, Lu Yanchen sat with an air of superiority. Despite his disability, his presence far outshone Lu Shiyan.
"I've changed my mind," Lu Yanchen said nonchalantly, tapping the armrest of his wheelchair. "Rather than letting the Lu family fall into the hands of someone like you, it's better I take over."
"What did you say?!"
Everyone in the room turned to stare at him.
Lu Yanchen wheeled himself to Lu Shiyan's side, his gaze cold. "I regret it. Lu Shiyan."