The First Summoner - Chapter 21

Panic stirred in Nangong Ying’s heart, but she forced herself to remain composed.

“Do you think this princess won’t dare touch you merely because you have someone backing you? Don’t forget—my father is the emperor of Nanxiao Kingdom!”

She was trying to frighten Shen Yan.

Shen Yan replied indifferently, “I know.”

But strength reigned supreme in this world. Only the powerful had the right to speak.

Even the ruler of a kingdom could not wield unchecked power.

Shen Yan raised her eyes and advanced on Nangong Ying, one measured step at a time.

“If you mean to attack, hurry up.”

Nangong Ying’s face turned livid.

She had backed herself into a corner with no easy way out.

Deep down, she truly feared that Shen Tianhao would take revenge like a madman, heedless of every consequence. After he grievously injured that foreign envoy, Shen Tianhao had suffered no punishment.

The other kingdom’s emperor had even executed the envoy to appease him.

Her own father was deeply wary of Shen Tianhao as well.

Twenty-five years ago, Shen Tianhao had been a dazzlingly gifted Summoner renowned throughout the Pingze Western Region. Countless kingdoms and powerful factions had extended invitations to him.

He joined none of them.

Rumor said that he later vanished for ten years. He did not return to the Shen family in Nanxiao Kingdom until fifteen years ago, bringing a set of twins—a boy and a girl—with him.

Everyone had expected him to raise the Shen family to new heights.

Instead, they were shocked to discover that his strength had fallen drastically.

Even so, Shen Tianhao was not a man just anyone could afford to provoke.

While Nangong Ying was still shaken, a man’s voice suddenly came from outside.

“Shen Yan, what are you doing here?”

Everyone looked toward the entrance.

Four young men entered the shop. The one in front wore an elegant blue-green robe. He was handsome, with a straight nose and sharp eyes fixed on Shen Yan.

The instant she saw him, memories flooded her mind.

The dungeon.

The torture.

His dark, cruel face as he watched it happen.

Shen Yan gave a cold scoff. “What business is it of yours?”

Nangong Yu froze.

Hou Yuanjia and the others were equally stunned.

Nangong Ying seized the chance to escape her predicament. She hurried to Nangong Yu and complained pitifully, “Brother Yu, this useless wretch hurt my hand! It hurts so much!”

Nangong Yu’s attention shifted to her injured arm. He touched it once, and Nangong Ying screamed.

Her small face was deathly pale.

The injury was clearly real.

Anger rose in Nangong Yu. He stared at Shen Yan with impatient displeasure and ordered, “Kneel and apologize to the princess!”

Shen Yan regarded him in silence.

His voice hardened. “I know you have regained your senses. Stop pretending to be a fool. Kneel and apologize, or I will teach you a proper lesson on the princess’s behalf!”

Shen Yan smiled coldly. “Nangong Yu, would you like me to reveal everything you’ve done?”

His expression changed.

Then his gaze turned dark and vicious. Pretending ignorance, he said, “Nothing this noble heir has ever done has anything to do with you.”

He was desperate to separate himself from her, terrified that she would expose his attempt to murder her.

Nangong Ying snapped, “Shen Yan, what are you trying to accuse Brother Yu of?”

Without the slightest change in expression, Shen Yan began, “A few days ago, I disappeared—”

Nangong Yu’s face darkened, and he cut her off.

“Enough, Shen Yan! No matter what lies you invent, I will never like you. Give up on me!”

Pedestrians outside the weapons shop immediately began whispering, delighted by the scent of scandal.

Shen Yan remained perfectly calm.

“I have no interest in scum like you. Don’t flatter yourself. You should piss in a puddle and take a good look at your reflection. Are you truly so impressive?”

Her gaze raked over him in contempt.

“Now that I have regained my senses, I wouldn’t take garbage like you even as a dog. Your thoughts are too foul, and your heart is too filthy. In a few days, I will have my father visit your estate and end this engagement.”

Nangong Ying and the others stared at her in disbelief.

Then every head turned toward Nangong Yu.

His face had gone green.

He was furious enough to explode.

At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to strangle Shen Yan.

“Say that again!” he roared.

“Are you throwing a tantrum because there’s nothing you can do?”

Shen Yan swept him with an indifferent glance, then delivered a veiled warning.

“Would you like me to tell everyone what you and Shen Xue did together?”

Nangong Yu’s fists clenched violently. His eyes reddened as he glared at her.

Her words invited all manner of speculation.

Even Nangong Yu’s lackeys began inventing their own explanations. They assumed something intimate had already happened between him and Shen Xue.

In truth, Shen Yan meant their conspiracy to murder the body’s original owner.

Silence descended over the shop.

Shen Yan raised her eyes, her gaze glacial.

“If there is nothing else, everyone should return to their own affairs.”

She was not killing Nangong Yu yet because she lacked the necessary strength.

During the apocalypse, she had cut down enemies without hesitation because she possessed power.

Now, without sufficient strength or certainty, she had to take a more circuitous path—protect herself first, then destroy her enemies.

Shen Yan turned and walked forward.

Perhaps intimidated by her presence, the soldiers who had surrounded her retreated to either side and opened a path.

She stopped in front of the weapons shop’s owner.

“Shopkeeper, show me the best dagger in your store.”

The man had yet to recover from what he had witnessed. After a brief pause, he hurriedly nodded with a smile.

Inwardly, he was stunned.

Since regaining her senses, Second Young Miss Shen had talked the princess into submission and even left Nangong Yu humiliated.

This Second Young Miss Shen…

She was not someone to underestimate.

Her inability to cultivate was the only thing anyone could hold against her.

Nangong Ying’s spoiled, contemptuous voice sounded behind her.

“Shen Yan, this princess is magnanimous enough to spare you today! Useless trash like you will never amount to anything. You are the Shen family’s shame, while Sister Xue is its pride!”

With that, Nangong Ying bid Nangong Yu farewell and hurried out of the weapons shop. Her arm hurt too badly for her to remain any longer.

Nangong Yu stared fixedly at Shen Yan’s back. Killing intent flashed through his eyes.

Shen Yan was examining a dagger when her gaze darkened.

She had sensed the murderous aura behind her, though it disappeared almost immediately.

There was no need to guess who it belonged to.

Nangong Yu.

Lowering her eyes, Shen Yan concealed her emotions.

She needed to find the Blood-Devouring Pearl as quickly as possible. She could not remain trapped in a passive position, waiting for others to strike.

Shen Tianhao might protect her when many eyes were present. But if she were alone, anyone who wanted her dead would no longer hesitate.

Her desire for strength had not changed in the slightest.

Nangong Yu soon left with his followers.

Shen Yan turned her full attention back to the daggers. Cold metal met her fingertips, sending a faint thrill through her heart.

It reminded her of the apocalypse—

And the exhilaration of cutting down zombies.