The First Summoner - Chapter 61

Shen Yan’s expression changed.

After a moment’s silence, she turned to Jiang Xianyue. “Xianyue, I have to return to Nanxiao Kingdom.”

“All right. Safe travels.” Jiang Xianyue was equally shocked by Shen Huai’s six-month disappearance, but quickly recovered and nodded.

Shen Yan left the private room with Tan Zhuang and the two maids.

In the first-floor lobby, Nangong Jin and Lu Shaohuai were still fighting. Shen Xue noticed Shen Yan and prepared to call out, only to see the group hurry from the auction house.

Her eyes darkened.

Why was Shen Yan leaving in such haste?

Had something happened?

…

Night had fallen. Just before the gates of Xuanwu Kingdom’s imperial capital closed, Shen Yan’s party drove out in their carriage.

On this moonless, windy night, the road back to Nanxiao Kingdom was exceptionally quiet, broken only by an occasional beast’s roar.

Shen Yan lifted the curtain and looked at Tan Zhuang on the driver’s seat.

“Uncle Zhuang, was that message from Father?”

“Yes. But don’t worry too much, Yanyan. Huai’er is powerful. He’ll surely be safe.”

Hongri and Yinyue also tried to reassure her.

Shen Yan felt no affection for a younger brother she had never met, but she had a duty to protect him.

“Can we reach Nanxiao before dawn?”

“We can,” Tan Zhuang answered immediately.

His own expression darkened. He had learned earlier that Huai’er accepted a secret mission from Western Region Academy, then gradually stopped sending word.

Tan Zhuang had assumed he was carrying out the mission in secrecy.

He had never imagined the young man was missing.

Guilt weighed upon him.

The carriage fell silent.

About three hours later, Tan Zhuang’s face changed. Dozens of unfamiliar auras were closing in, carrying a thick scent of blood.

Shen Yan sensed them too and lifted the curtain.

Tan Zhuang looked back gravely. “Yanyan, stay hidden!”

“Who are they?”

“A large group of Earth-rank experts!”

He yanked the reins and drove the carriage at full speed. He suspected the experts were not pursuing them, but some powerful people were mad enough to kill innocent passersby.

The unfamiliar auras closed in far too quickly.

“Hurry! Kill him!”

“You won’t escape!”

Pressure descended. Shen Yan’s heart lurched, and she became instantly vigilant.

She turned to her maids. “If danger truly reaches us, run without hesitation!”

“Miss, what is happening?”

The carriage raced along a narrow path through the darkness.

Suddenly, a black shadow crashed onto its roof.

Bang!

A huge hole broke open overhead. A gruesome, bloody hand appeared inside, dripping scarlet drops.

Hongri and Yinyue screamed in panic.

Shen Yan looked up. In the dim light, she could make out a young man in black with blood covering his face. Even in that wretched state, his peerless features could not be concealed.

Pain drew his brows together, but his eyes remained razor-sharp and deep, filled with bloodthirsty hatred. He looked like someone who had carved his way out of a mountain of corpses.

Realizing that someone had landed on the carriage, Tan Zhuang flew into a rage.

What senseless misfortune!

He rose and struck at the young man, trying to knock him away.

The youth dodged and clung firmly to the carriage.

Then dozens of figures appeared, surrounding them.

“We aren’t—” Tan Zhuang began urgently, but the mysterious experts ignored him and rushed at the carriage.

One swung a sword directly at it.

Tan Zhuang’s pupils contracted. He had no choice but to intercept.

Boom!

The attacker staggered back several steps.

Tan Zhuang drew a massive ax and stood before the carriage like a guardian god of war, glaring ferociously at the experts.

Powerful pressure erupted from him, stunning them for an instant. As they prepared to attack again, he produced a token.

“I am Tan Zhuang, an elder of Tianmen in the Central Region! Try touching us and see what happens!”

Tianmen of the Central Region?!

Their expressions changed.

One expert moderated his tone. “Elder Tan, hand that young man over and neither side need interfere with the other.”

“Fine.”

Tan Zhuang put away the token and turned to drag the young man from the roof—only to discover that he had vanished.

Alarmed, his first thought was Shen Yan’s safety.

“Yanyan!”

He tore open the curtain. Only Shen Yan, Hongri, and Yinyue were inside.

Relief washed through him. He turned back.

“The person you’re hunting has escaped!”

They refused to believe him, suspecting he had hidden the youth. Tan Zhuang allowed them to inspect the carriage.

There were only three young women inside.

Their faces turned black.

They had lost him again! Without eliminating him completely, they could not report back.

They searched every inch of the carriage but found nothing, and eventually left to follow his trail.

Once they were gone, Tan Zhuang asked anxiously, “Yanyan, were you frightened?”

Shen Yan shook her head. “No.”

He relaxed and drove toward Nanxiao Kingdom at top speed.

Inside the carriage, Shen Yan felt the cold touch of a sharp weapon against her throat.

The bloody young man was holding the blade. He seemed capable of invisibility and had deceived everyone.

After a moment, Shen Yan said calmly, “Shouldn’t you let go now?”

Hongri and Yinyue thought she meant them.

“Miss, what are you talking about?”

Shen Yan looked at them. “Don’t be shocked by what happens next, and don’t scream.”

The two nodded in confusion.

Shen Yan abruptly reached into empty air. In the next instant, the blade nicked her throat and a thread of blood appeared.

Hongri’s pupils contracted. Before she could speak, the sight before her stole her voice.

The blood-covered young man gradually materialized inside the carriage. Half-kneeling, he held a dagger to Shen Yan’s throat, his gaze dark, vicious, and cold.

Hongri nearly screamed, but Yinyue clapped a hand over her mouth.