The First Summoner - Chapter 13

Nangong Yu questioned Shen Xue about the details of Shen Yan’s return the previous day.

She evaded every question.

In the end, coldness entered his eyes.

“Xue’er, I’ll find another chance to get rid of her. She escaped once, but can she escape a second time?”

Shen Xue frowned, putting on a troubled and conflicted expression.

Then Nangong Yu remembered something. Barely contained excitement crossed his face as he lowered his voice.

“I came today specifically to tell you something. According to reliable information, the Qiutian Sect will soon hold a competition in Lingyan Forest, beside Nanxiao Kingdom. Contestants from nearly ten surrounding kingdoms will take part. The top three young cultivators will become inner disciples of the Qiutian Sect, and there will also be generous rewards.”

“What kind of competition?” Shen Xue’s heart leaped.

Inner disciples?

The Qiutian Sect was unquestionably a mid-to-upper-tier power in the Pingze Western Region. It could not compare to the Western Region Academy, but it still stood above ten kingdoms the size of Nanxiao.

The current Shen family was nowhere near its equal.

Even becoming the Shen family head offered less promise than becoming an inner disciple of the Qiutian Sect.

“I don’t know what the competition will involve yet, but…” Nangong Yu narrowed his eyes. Killing intent rose as a sinister smile crossed his face. “Xue’er, we can use this opportunity to make Shen Yan die in an ‘accident.’”

Shen Xue privately admitted that he was not entirely stupid.

Outwardly, she asked with innocent confusion, “But Shen Yan has no spiritual power at all. Why would she enter on her own?”

Nangong Yu smiled confidently. “Don’t worry about that. Whether she enters willingly or is made to enter, she will take part.”

Shen Xue nodded.

Then concern entered her face.

“Father knows you had a hand in the earlier attempt on Yan’er’s life. The elders managed to stop him from seeking revenge, but he already hates you. You must handle the competition discreetly. Don’t leave him any evidence.”

If her grandfather and the elders had not wished to protect her reputation, they might have allowed Shen Tianhao to take revenge on Nangong Yu.

If the conflict erupted, Nangong Yu would suffer, but so would Shen Xue’s reputation—and the Shen family’s name.

The family valued prestige above almost everything. They had no choice but to suppress the affair.

“Relax, Xue’er. You know you can trust me.”

Nangong Yu gave a contemptuous laugh.

He wanted Shen Yan gone not only for Xue’er, but for himself. He had no intention of marrying a good-for-nothing.

Only Xue’er was worthy of him.

If Shen Tianhao had not once saved his father’s life, his father never would have betrothed him to the infant Shen Yan. Who could have known she would grow into a simple-minded good-for-nothing without a single virtue?

Now, even his father found fault with everything about her and regretted arranging the engagement so early.

Nangong Yu and Shen Xue looked into each other’s eyes. He reached out and tenderly took her hand.

Then—

A maid hurried into the hall, her face tight with panic.

“Eldest Young Miss! Your Highness! The Young Master is charging this way with a huge saber. He says he’s going to cut Your Highness down!”

Nangong Yu’s expression changed instantly.

So did Shen Xue’s.

“Brother Yu, run!”

Once Shen Tianhao lost control, he became a madman. Unless someone subdued him by force, the consequences were unthinkable.

At the third level of the Earth-rank realm, Shen Tianhao had few rivals in Nanxiao Kingdom.

Nangong Yu was only at the sixth level of the Yellow-rank realm.

The difference was overwhelming.

He understood that perfectly. His face paled with fear.

After a hurried farewell to Shen Xue, he fled through the side gate with his attendants, his retreat distinctly undignified.

A thunderous crash soon followed.

A savage tiger as tall as an adult leaped into the side hall with a roar. Tables and chairs went flying, and even Shen Xue was forced several steps back.

This was one of Shen Tianhao’s summoned beasts—the Sky-Shaking Tiger.

The beast seemed to feel its master’s fury.

It stalked toward Shen Xue, baring its fangs and growling a threat.

Its powerful pressure pinned her in place.

All color drained from Shen Xue’s face.

“F-Father, spare me!”

Shen Tianhao arrived a moment later.

A long-handled saber filled his grip. His face was savage, his eyes cold and sharp.

“Where is Nangong Yu?” he roared.

“H-he left…” Shen Xue stammered.

Shen Tianhao’s frost-cold gaze settled on her.

She shuddered.

This was the first time he had ever looked at her with such hatred. Cold rushed from her feet to the crown of her head, and she began to tremble.

“Father…”

His eyes were bloodshot.

“Silence! I, Shen Tianhao, have no daughter like you. Of everyone under heaven, you have the least right to call me Father. You tried to murder my daughter and put her blood into your own body. You are utterly shameless!”

The Sky-Shaking Tiger felt the killing intent in its master’s heart.

Its enormous jaws opened.

Just as it was about to swallow Shen Xue, a powerful pressure struck and forced it back.

“Stop!”

“Xue’er, are you hurt?”

The Grand Elder hurried over and helped the terrified Shen Xue from the floor.

When he saw her pale face, he spun toward Shen Tianhao in fury.

“Tianhao, were you trying to kill Xue’er?”

“Yes!” Shen Tianhao gritted out.

The Grand Elder choked.

He regarded Shen Tianhao with the frustration one might feel toward someone beyond reason.

Why cling to a good-for-nothing when he had a far better daughter to choose from?

Shen Xue might not be his by blood, but how was she inferior to Shen Yan? She was intelligent, remarkably gifted, and had brought glory to the family. Now she had even begun walking the path of a Summoner. Her future was limitless.

Shen Tianhao only sneered.

He recalled the Sky-Shaking Tiger, turned, and left without so much as a farewell.

The Grand Elder trembled with rage.

Shen Xue’s eyes reddened.

“Grand Elder, does this mean I don’t have a father anymore?”

He looked at her with affection.

“Even without a father, you still have the family head. You have us old men supporting you. Xue’er, you are a child of the Shen family.”

Shen Xue nodded sadly, hiding the smile in her eyes.

The Grand Elder turned to the maids.

“Take the young lady back to rest.”

“Yes, Grand Elder.”

They gathered around Shen Xue and helped her away.

After everyone had left, a covert guard suddenly appeared and whispered several words in the Grand Elder’s ear.

Mockery entered the elder’s face.

“Ignore that good-for-nothing. She won’t learn anything in the family library.”