The First Summoner - Chapter 18

Shen Yan remained in the library until evening. Only after committing every move of Meteor Flame Fist to memory did she leave and make her way back to Xicui Courtyard.

Night had fallen, though scattered lanterns still illuminated the Shen family estate.

The two guards following behind Shen Yan exchanged a look.

They did not know what she had learned inside the library. One thing, however, was certain.

Not only had she torn open the mouth of a disciple who spewed filthy insults outside the library, but she had also indirectly gotten more than a dozen disciples thrown out.

Second Young Miss had truly changed.

At least the Young Master could worry a little less now.

When Shen Yan returned to Xicui Courtyard, she found Shen Tianhao waiting for her.

His eyes brightened the moment he saw her, and a tenderness too deep for words entered his gaze. He immediately came forward and rested a broad palm on the top of her head.

“Yan’er, you must be hungry. Father had a whole table of dishes prepared.”

Shen Yan looked up at him for two silent seconds.

“I’m hungry.”

She had returned to Xicui Courtyard precisely because of that. Unlike cultivators, she could not go days—or even months—without food or water.

“Then eat as much as you want.” Shen Tianhao smiled warmly.

After a moment, he asked with almost cautious hope, “Were you happy today?”

Shen Yan nodded. “Mm.”

Ever since returning, Shen Tianhao had paid close attention to everything involving her. He already knew most of what had happened that day.

Her answer made him visibly relax.

He stroked her head again and coaxed her as though she were still a small child. “If anything makes you unhappy, you must tell Father.”

Shen Yan felt a little uncomfortable with the attention, but she nodded. “All right.”

Shen Tianhao gave a helpless laugh. “You’re so well-behaved now that Father still isn’t used to it.”

Shen Yan said nothing.

Behind her, the two guards’ mouths twitched.

They could not help remembering how Second Young Miss had torn someone’s mouth open with her bare hands that very morning.

She had been terrifying!

Well-behaved?

Young Master, you have no idea!

The two guards roared inwardly, nearly losing control of their expressions.

Shen Yan followed Shen Tianhao to dinner.

Throughout the meal, he took care of her in every possible way. From time to time, he even told a painfully dry joke in an attempt to make her smile.

Shen Yan did not want to disappoint him, so she pretended to laugh.

Afterward, she set down her chopsticks and said seriously, “Father, I need to visit Lingyan Forest tomorrow.”

“Lingyan Forest?”

Shen Tianhao froze. “Why?”

Shen Yan found an excuse. “I lost something important there.”

He frowned with worry. “Father can retrieve it for you.”

She shook her head. “I want to go myself.”

Shen Tianhao fell silent.

Heaving a deep sigh, he felt a wave of helplessness. His daughter had grown up. She had plans and opinions of her own now.

“Yan’er, even if you want to visit Lingyan Forest tomorrow, you can’t.” He explained, “News has spread across the imperial capital. As of today, the nine kingdoms have jointly sealed off Lingyan Forest because the Qiutian Sect will soon hold its competition there.”

Shen Yan’s heart sank.

She had read about the Qiutian Sect. It was a mid-to-upper-tier power in the Pingze Western Region, and its overall strength could not be underestimated.

Now nine kingdoms had sealed off Lingyan Forest…

Shen Tianhao asked, “What did you lose that matters so much?”

“The jade pendant my little brother Ah Huai gave me.”

Shen Huai had indeed given her a jade pendant capable of drawing impurities from the body. Shen Xue, however, had tricked the original Shen Yan out of it a year ago.

Shen Yan’s gaze deepened.

Shen Xue had taken far too many things that should have belonged to the body’s original owner, both openly and in secret.

She would make Shen Xue repay every debt many times over.

Shen Tianhao was briefly stunned. Emotion stirred in his heart.

Tentatively, he asked, “Do you miss Huai?”

“A little.”

Then Shen Yan added, “Father, I would like to go out and look around tomorrow.”

“I’ll go with you,” Shen Tianhao replied instinctively.

“There’s no need. I want to walk around by myself, and I’m not a child anymore.” Shen Yan met his gaze.

He nodded, looking distinctly disappointed. “Very well. Then Father will send several guards and maids with you. Will you take a carriage?”

“Mm. Thank you, Father.”

His expression softened. “Yan’er, you never need to thank me. It makes us sound like strangers. Your injuries haven’t healed, so if you feel unwell while you’re out, come home immediately. Do you understand?”

He continued, “I have already dealt with Lingyuan. I also chose two attentive maids for you. Take a look. If you find them suitable, keep them.”

Shen Tianhao gestured.

Two young women in the clothing of Shen family maids appeared at once. The woman on the left had delicate, refined features, while the one on the right was charming and lively.

They bowed to Shen Yan.

“Hongri greets Second Young Miss.”

“Yinyue greets Second Young Miss.”

At first glance, Shen Yan could tell that neither was weak. Their breathing was too even and controlled for ordinary maids.

But Shen Yan did not need anyone to serve her.

She looked at Shen Tianhao and slowly shook her head. “Father, I don’t need maids. I’m used to being alone now.”

Hongri and Yinyue immediately dropped to their knees.

Shen Tianhao hesitated. “Are you dissatisfied with them?”

“I simply don’t need them.”

He sighed and tried to persuade her. “Yan’er, you are still a young woman. There are some things—applying ointment to an injury, for example—that another woman should help you with. Besides, Father cannot rest easy when you are alone. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to talk to?”

After Shen Tianhao coaxed and pleaded at length, Shen Yan finally agreed.

She had only one condition: Hongri and Yinyue’s loyalty had to belong to her. Without her permission, neither of them could report her affairs to Shen Tianhao.

Shen Tianhao wanted his daughter to have companions who could speak with and protect her. In the end, he could only agree.

Later, inside the upper room of Xicui Courtyard, Shen Yan regarded the two maids standing before her.

“What are your cultivation levels? Conceal nothing.”

Hongri and Yinyue exchanged a startled glance. Neither had expected Second Young Miss’s first question to be about their cultivation.

Hongri answered with a bright smile, “I am at the third level of the Yellow-rank realm.”

Yinyue replied respectfully, “I am at the fourth level of the Yellow-rank realm.”

As expected, their cultivation placed them at the very top among the household maids. They were comparable to some of the Shen family’s younger disciples.

Even Shen Xue was only at the seventh level of the Yellow-rank realm.

Shen Yan spoke without hurry. “If you enter my Xicui Courtyard, I have only one requirement: absolute loyalty. If either of you betrays me, I will kill you with my own hands.”

The invisible pressure radiating from her stunned both women.

In that moment, they completely forgot that Shen Yan was supposedly a good-for-nothing who could not cultivate.

They dropped to one knee, lowered their heads, and answered with solemn respect.

“Yes, Second Young Miss!”