The First Summoner - Chapter 12

Shen Yan softened her tone.

“Father, I don’t hate you, and I’m not angry. I only worry that you’ll exhaust yourself running around for my sake.”

Shen Tianhao shuddered, both moved and heartsore.

“Silly girl. You’re Father’s daughter, not some outsider!”

Something strange stirred in Shen Yan’s heart.

His daughter?

She had been an orphan in the apocalypse. She had never known the warmth of family.

Now, held in Shen Tianhao’s arms and listening to the sincerity in his voice, she felt warmth for the first time.

She lowered her eyes and murmured, “Yes. I am your daughter.”

…

Shen Yan accepted Shen Tianhao’s kindness, though she still intended to search for the Blood-Devouring Pearl herself.

He suddenly remembered something.

“Yesterday, Father ordered Lingyuan to be given thirty lashes,” he said tentatively. “She is barely alive. Yan’er, how do you want to deal with her?”

Scenes from the original owner’s memories flashed through Shen Yan’s mind.

For years, Lingyuan had beaten and cursed her at the slightest provocation. Worse, the maid had colluded with Shen Xue to torment her.

Shen Yan’s expression turned completely cold.

“Kill her.”

The two words shook Shen Tianhao.

He paused for several seconds, then nodded gravely. “All right.”

He would not question Yan’er.

They spoke for a while longer before Shen Tianhao gently reminded her, “Rest well. Father will go deal with Lingyuan.”

He turned away.

The moment his back faced Shen Yan, his smile vanished. Dense killing intent churned in his eyes.

Shen Yan sensed the murderous aura erupt from him as he left.

A heartbeat later, it disappeared without a trace.

She watched his retreating back, increasingly curious about his past.

Only someone who had survived countless battles could possess killing intent that powerful.

Her father might be only at the third level of the Earth-rank realm, but he was far from simple.

The cultivation realms of Guiyuan Continent, from highest to lowest, were Heaven-rank, Earth-rank, Mystic-rank, and Yellow-rank. Each had ten levels.

In a small kingdom like Nanxiao, Shen Tianhao’s cultivation already left nearly everyone else behind.

He was also a Summoner. Many factions had invited him to join them, but he politely refused every offer.

He wanted only to watch his two children grow and to guard the Shen family.

Shen Yan planned to visit the family library and learn more about this world.

But just as she asked a guard to lead the way, Shen Xue appeared.

Dressed in white, Shen Xue was as lovely as fresh snow, her expression gentle. Four maids and two guards followed behind her.

She spotted Shen Yan at once.

“Sister Yan’er!”

She hurried over and stopped in front of her.

Guilt covered Shen Xue’s face, and her voice sounded pitiful.

“Sister Yan’er, I came to apologize. I brought your favorite water chestnut cakes. I made them myself. If you eat them, will you forgive me?”

“You truly have no shame,” Shen Yan said.

Shen Xue’s face stiffened. She was about to knit her brows into a wounded expression—

“Don’t perform for me.”

Shen Yan looked at her as if she were garbage and gave a cold warning.

“Shen Xue, cherish the time you have left. One day, I will grind you beneath my heel, and you will never rise again.”

Shen Xue’s pupils contracted.

The force of a good-for-nothing’s presence had actually stunned her.

Worse, panic had entered her heart.

She quickly calmed herself.

Their pretense had already been torn apart. There was no reason to keep acting.

Shen Xue stepped closer and lowered her voice to a mocking whisper.

“Shen Yan, Shen Tianhao is the only person in this family who protects you. One day, he will leave your side. You can imagine what will happen then. Your mind may have recovered, but you are still a good-for-nothing. You could never defeat me before, and you will spend the rest of your life buried beneath my brilliance.”

Then she smiled.

“Your blood was quite good.”

An ordinary person might have flown into a rage and struck her.

But Shen Yan had survived every cruelty the apocalypse could offer. She regarded Shen Xue with complete calm.

It was as if she saw straight through the provocation.

Shen Xue was surprised.

The good-for-nothing had not taken the bait?

She assumed Shen Yan was only pretending to be calm. Lowering her voice so no one else could hear, she tried again.

“The noble heir, Nangong Yu, will never marry you.”

Shen Yan gave her an indifferent sidelong glance.

“You can keep that piece of trash. The two of you suit each other perfectly.”

With that, Shen Yan ignored her and left with the guard for the Shen family library.

Shen Xue remained behind, her face twisting slightly.

She had no great opinion of Nangong Yu herself, but Shen Yan’s words still left her feeling humiliated.

Shen Yan had not only regained her senses. She had also become clever and composed, making her increasingly difficult to handle.

Fortunately, she was still a disgraced good-for-nothing despised by everyone.

No matter how clever Shen Yan became, she would never compare to her.

Just then, a guard hurried over.

“Eldest Young Miss, the noble heir has arrived. He is waiting for you in the side hall.”

Shen Xue’s heart tightened.

She feared the truth would come out.

After all, she had placed all the blame on Nangong Yu, and he knew nothing about it. The Shen elders had no intention of pursuing the matter with him, but she needed to steady him first.

She nodded. “Very well.”

…

In the Shen family’s side hall, a young man in blue brocade sat toying with the jade pendant at his waist.

At the sound of movement outside, Nangong Yu immediately rose in delight.

“Xue’er.”

Shen Xue gave him a shy look. “Brother Yu.”

Nangong Yu wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and cherish her.

With so many people nearby, he forced himself to abandon the thought.

Shen Xue approached, tears glimmering in her eyes and fear on her face.

“Sister Yan’er returned safely yesterday. She has regained her senses as well. She is no longer simple-minded.”

“What?” Nangong Yu stared at her in shock.

He had watched Shen Yan stop breathing before he left that remote dungeon.

How could that idiot possibly still be alive?

Shen Xue looked at him pitifully.

“Brother Yu, I know I did something wrong. I haven’t been able to find any peace.”

His face filled with distress.

“It’s all right. I’m here. I won’t let that idiot Shen Yan hurt you. Put all the blame on me.”

“Brother Yu, how could I…”

Nangong Yu gazed at her in infatuation and stroked her cheek.

“For you, this is nothing.”

Shen Xue began to cry.

“Thank you, Brother Yu.”

Her face overflowed with gratitude.

Inside, she mocked Nangong Yu for being an utter fool.

But only a fool like him could be so useful to her.