The First Summoner - Chapter 55

The Shen family head’s aged face darkened. His attitude hardened.

“There is no need to bring her back. She can return or stay away as she pleases!”

“This old man agrees with the family head,” the Grand Elder immediately declared.

“No matter how talented Shen Yan might be, how could she compare to our Xue’er? Moreover, she is cold-blooded, arrogant, and domineering. She beat the family’s disciples and humiliated the Shen family. Worst of all, she had someone attack the Third Elder! That is unforgivable!”

The other elders nodded in united outrage.

The family head narrowed his eyes. “Send someone to investigate that guard beside Shen Yan. Find out exactly where he came from.”

The mysterious guard had beaten the Third Elder so thoroughly that he could not fight back. His cultivation was surely above the Earth-rank realm.

Why would someone like that willingly serve as an insignificant guard beside Shen Yan?

A thought soon occurred to the family head, darkening his expression.

Had Tianhao sent the man to protect Shen Yan?

If so, everything made sense.

Shen Xue raised her eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Grandfather, the auction in Xuanwu Kingdom will begin soon. His Highness the Crown Prince has invited Xue’er to accompany him…”

The family head’s expression softened. “Go. Keep watch over Shen Yan for me. If necessary, restrain her and prevent her from spending those fifty thousand taels of gold. If you can capture her, I would rather the money be given to you. Xue’er, do you understand?”

“Xue’er understands, Grandfather.”

She nodded obediently.

…

Shen Yan, the focus of every rumor in the imperial capital, had already left Nanxiao Kingdom.

Hongri and Uncle Tan Zhuang traveled with her.

Tan Zhuang happily took the driver’s seat while Shen Yan and Hongri sat inside the carriage.

As he drove, he called through the curtain, “Yanyan, the way you handled matters just now truly resembled Tianhao in his younger days! You are his daughter, through and through.”

Shen Yan paused. “Uncle Zhuang, what was Father like before?”

Tan Zhuang laughed. “Your father was once the most sought-after man of his generation. Countless top factions invited him to join them, but he politely refused every offer.”

“How did you and Father meet?”

He smiled honestly. “That’s a long story. Back in the Central Region, your father saved my life. After that, I became his follower. Hehe.”

The Central Region?

Shen Yan’s eyes stirred. So her father had once traveled there as well.

The Guiyuan Continent was divided into five great regions, but the Central Region was the destination countless cultivators yearned for. Experts were said to be everywhere there.

She had always believed her father was strong.

When he returned to the Shen family fifteen years ago, he had been gravely injured and his foundation destroyed. Did that mean his enemies were in the Central Region?

Shen Yan continued, “So Father lived in the Central Region. Uncle Zhuang, did he have any close female companions there?”

“None,” Tan Zhuang answered without hesitation.

He sighed. “Even now, I don’t know when your father married, much less when he had two lovable children like you and Huai’er…”

Shen Yan set the question aside for the moment.

Throughout the journey, Tan Zhuang kept finding subjects to discuss, seemingly determined not to let her grow bored.

…

Half a day later, Hongri lifted the carriage curtain and smiled at Shen Yan.

“Miss, we’ve reached the gates of Xuanwu Kingdom’s imperial capital.”

Shen Yan acknowledged her softly.

Many groups waited outside the city gates. Most seemed to have come for the auction.

Tan Zhuang frowned slightly at the crowd. “Yanyan, it appears we’ll have to wait another hour. Rest for a while if you’re tired.”

“All right.”

Noise drifted in from outside the carriage.

Most people were discussing the auction’s offerings. The rest spoke of the massacre that had destroyed the Tianfang Sect, the foremost sect in the Pingze Western Region.

“The strongest sect in our Pingze Western Region was slaughtered clean in a single night. I heard even the disciples away on missions are being hunted down.”

“What about the Tianfang Sect young master?”

“I heard he had already left on a mission. He’s currently missing.”

“What faction could be so deranged?”

“Someone said the killers weren’t from the Pingze Western Region, but from several of the other regions.”

“Outrageous! Do the other four regions truly believe they can squeeze the Pingze Western Region like a soft persimmon?”

“Alas, the Pingze Western Region is the weakest of the five regions on the Guiyuan Continent…”

Shen Yan heard every word.

About an hour later, her group finally entered Xuanwu Kingdom’s imperial capital.

Yinyue was already waiting for them by the city gate.

She looked surprised to find Tan Zhuang beside Shen Yan and was about to ask when Hongri answered first.

“Yinyue, this is Uncle Tan. The young master sent him to protect our young lady.”

Understanding dawned. Yinyue immediately bowed to him.

“Greetings, Uncle Tan.”

“Haha, no need for ceremony,” Tan Zhuang replied with a hearty laugh.

After nodding politely to him, Yinyue respectfully addressed Shen Yan. “Miss, Yinyue has already arranged an inn. Please follow me.”

Shen Yan nodded. “Good.”

Xuanwu Kingdom’s imperial capital bustled with life. Vendors sold every imaginable item in the streets and alleys, while shops stood in numbers too great to count.

People packed the roads amid merchants’ cries and ceaseless conversation.

Shen Yan’s group drew particular attention. Her extraordinary beauty and cool, aloof bearing contrasted sharply with Tan Zhuang behind her. He was as tall and imposing as a small hill. Although his face looked honest, a baleful aura lurked in his eyes.

Many young men stared at Shen Yan.

Like an overprotective father, Tan Zhuang glared back, clenched his fists, and made a threatening gesture.

The young men’s faces blanched.

They fled at once.

But when Shen Yan glanced back, Tan Zhuang’s rough and fearsome face instantly softened into a gentle smile.

Shen Yan had no words.

With Tan Zhuang accompanying them, the trip to the inn remained peaceful.

For that very reason, however, many people took notice of the party.

After making inquiries, they learned Shen Yan was the notorious worthless girl from Nanxiao Kingdom. Their curiosity swiftly became contempt.

They privately guessed that her fierce-looking guard was all show, an empty frame meant only to frighten people.

No one in Xuanwu Kingdom yet knew Shen Yan could cultivate. News had not traveled here so quickly.

By the time the group reached the inn, evening had fallen.

The four of them ate dinner together, then retired to their rooms.

They occupied three rooms. Yinyue had originally reserved two, then added another. Shen Yan and Tan Zhuang each had a room, while Yinyue shared with Hongri.

Upon entering her room, Shen Yan immediately locked the door and prepared to cast the summoning formation once more.

Because…

What she had “seen” in her sea of consciousness that morning had been far too astonishing.

She had to confirm it again.