The First Summoner - Chapter 5

Outside the gates of the Shen residence in Nanxiao Kingdom—

“Whoa!”

A man’s deep voice rang out as he reined in his stallion. He appeared to be in his thirties.

Anxiety covered his face, and a fine sheen of sweat dampened his brow. His hair was disheveled, as if he had rushed back from somewhere far away. He swung down from the saddle at once.

The guards stationed at the Shen family gates tensed when they saw him striding toward them. They bowed respectfully.

“Greetings, Eldest Young Master!”

The man charged into the residence as if he had not heard them.

The guards exchanged glances. They could not help thinking of that good-for-nothing who had gone missing…

Ignoring everything in his path, the man burst straight into the Shen family council hall.

“Where is Yan’er?” he demanded.

The Shen family elders were already seated inside. At the sound of his voice, they turned.

As expected, the newcomer was Shen Tianhao.

His sharp gaze swept across the elders. “Where is Yan’er? Where have you hidden her?”

An elder in green robes sat on the left. He gave an unconcerned sneer.

“Shen Yan probably ran off with some wild man.”

Rage exploded in Shen Tianhao’s chest. He lunged in front of the green-robed elder and drew back a fist to smash it into the man’s face—

“Enough!”

An aged, authoritative voice stopped him.

Shen Tianhao’s fist halted half an inch from the elder’s cheek.

He forced down the fury in his chest and turned toward the half-gray-haired old man in the seat of honor. Deep wrinkles carved the elder’s weathered face.

“Tianhao,” the old man said sternly, “Shen Yan has been missing for nearly four days. I sent people to search for her, but they found nothing. Perhaps this is simply fate.”

“To hell with fate!”

Shen Tianhao’s face turned livid. He was plainly furious beyond reason.

The old man’s expression darkened. “Tianhao, calm yourself.”

Shen Tianhao’s eyes reddened. “Father, Yan’er is your granddaughter and my daughter. She is missing, and you expect me to stay calm?”

The old man fell silent.

The atmosphere in the hall grew oppressive. The Shen elders looked at one another, none willing to provoke Shen Tianhao further. Once his temper erupted, he became a madman.

Deep down, they all thought it would be best if Shen Yan were dead. Then the Shen family would finally be rid of its stain.

She was witless and foolish, a good-for-nothing who could neither awaken a Spirit Bone nor cultivate. She could not even inherit the summoning power of the Shen family.

Better for such a burden to disappear.

Shen Tianhao looked across the elders and saw their utter indifference. His heart ached even more for his daughter. Drawing a deep breath, he asked heavily, “Who was Yan’er with before she disappeared?”

“Who knows?” one elder replied with contempt.

The Grand Elder, seated at the head of the row on the right, spoke up.

“Tianhao, Shen Yan may truly have met with disaster. You should accept it. Shen Yan may be gone, but you still have Xue’er. That girl is exceptionally gifted. At only seventeen, she has already reached the seventh level of the Yellow-rank realm. She may not possess the bloodline of our Shen family’s Summoners, but she can still bring honor to the family. Xue’er is your daughter as well…”

Shen Tianhao was so enraged he nearly lost control. He gave a bitter, self-mocking laugh.

“I never should have asked any of you.”

He turned to leave the council hall.

At that moment, an elegant young woman in white approached. She was about to request entry when she saw Shen Tianhao coming out, and her eyes brightened.

“Father, you’re back from Yunqing Kingdom!”

At the sound of her voice, Shen Tianhao looked up and rushed toward Shen Xue. He gripped both her arms tightly.

“Xue’er, do you know where Yan’er went? You have always been closest to her. You must know something!”

“Father, that hurts.” Shen Xue winced softly, her delicate brows drawing together.

Shen Tianhao immediately released her.

Shen Xue shook her head in sorrow. “I don’t know where Sister Yan’er went. But the day before she disappeared, I heard her talking to herself about her little brother, Ah Huai. She said she missed him.

“After she vanished, I searched so many places. I even followed the road toward the Western Region Academy, but I still found no trace of her. What if Sister Yan’er is hungry…?”

Her voice broke at the end. Her eyes reddened, and tears slipped down her cheeks as if she were overwhelmed by worry and grief.

Yan’er…

Shen Tianhao’s breath caught. His heart twisted as though a blade were carving it open.

Shen Xue sobbed. “It’s my fault, Father. I failed to watch over Sister Yan’er. Please punish me.”

Shen Tianhao looked lost. He did not hear a word she said.

“Yan’er… my Yan’er…”

He murmured her name over and over.

Then he summoned a dagger and slashed his palm without hesitation. A deep, ghastly cut appeared, and blood welled out at once.

“Ah!” Shen Xue cried out.

Inside the council hall, the Shen family head’s expression changed drastically. He shot to his feet and swept outside like a gust of wind, seizing Shen Tianhao by the wrist.

“Have you gone mad?” the family head roared. “Using blood sacrifice to perform a summoning will shorten your life!”

Shen Tianhao’s eyes were resolute, his voice becoming eerily calm.

“Father, I have to find Yan’er. She may be frightened and helpless somewhere. She must be waiting for her father to save her.”

Jealousy flickered through Shen Xue’s eyes.

The Shen family head let out an angry, disbelieving laugh.

“She is nothing but a good-for-nothing!”

As the words left his mouth, a thin young girl stepped across the courtyard threshold and witnessed the argument ahead.

Several guards came running behind her, panting for breath.

“Young Miss Shen Yan has returned!”

Every elder in the council hall stared toward the courtyard in shock.

A young girl stood there, her clothes in rags and her body covered in wounds. Her face was deathly white, her lips dry and cracked. She looked pitifully frail.

Yet her eyes were razor-sharp.

It felt as though one glance from her could see straight through the human heart.

Anyone who met that gaze felt a flicker of guilt.

“Yan’er!”

Shen Tianhao’s pupils contracted. He strode toward her, overwhelmed by the joy of recovering what he had thought lost.

He wanted to pull her into his arms. But the moment he saw the wounds covering her body, he did not dare touch her, afraid the slightest pressure would split them open again.

His eyes instantly turned wet. His heart clenched as he asked in a trembling voice, “Yan’er, does it hurt? Who did this to you? Tell Father. I will avenge you!”

Shen Yan slowly raised her eyes.

She looked directly at Shen Xue.

Terror seized Shen Xue, throwing her into panic.

What was going on?

Wasn’t Shen Yan already dead?