The First Summoner - Chapter 74

Shen Yan was speechless.

She very much wanted to escape.

Zhuge Youlin, however, only grew more excited. He reveled in the thrill and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Faster! Faster! Go even faster!”

The old tortoise actually obeyed and ran faster still.

After nearly half a day of bone-rattling travel, they encountered another party coming through a different tunnel. The other group was receiving far better treatment than they were.

A tortoise led their procession as well, but the platform it pulled was covered with a layer of soft cushioning. The platform itself had clearly been modified. Not only was it spacious, but ornate railings carved with exquisite patterns bordered either side, lending it an air of extravagant refinement.

Compared with what Shen Yan and the others were sitting on…

The difference was rather stark.

There were seven people in the other party. Four were young men and women, while the other three were middle-aged men who appeared to be escorting them.

When the two groups met, neither could avoid sizing up the other.

A fat young man sat at the front. The moment he saw how shabby and bedraggled Shen Yan’s group looked, he pointed at them and burst out laughing.

“Hahaha! Look at you. How poor and pathetic!”

Zhuge Youlin’s gaze sharpened. Then he grinned and asked, “Are you offering to help us, then? If so, eighty or a hundred thousand taels of gold will do. No need to give us too much.”

The fat youth’s expression changed at once.

“Who said I was going to help you?”

Zhuge Youlin lowered his brows, fixing him with a keen stare. “Then what the hell are you laughing at?”

The fat youth immediately flew into an embarrassed rage.

“You dare insult this young master?!”

“Insult you?” Zhuge Youlin clicked his tongue. “No. I’m merely stating the facts.”

The fat youth choked on his reply. He turned to one of the middle-aged men dressed in black and ordered, “Uncle Li, kill him!”

Zhuge Youlin crooked a finger at them, smiling provocatively. “Come on, then!”

Uncle Li abruptly tightened his grip on his sword and was about to strike when the white-haired old woman atop the tortoise spoke.

“Now, now. Peace is precious.”

The fat youth opened his mouth, about to curse the meddlesome old hag, but another middle-aged man clapped a hand over his mouth before he could make a sound.

Uncle Li had also caught sight of the old woman’s face. His expression changed sharply. He immediately cupped his hands and bowed his head.

“We were the ones who gave offense.”

The fat youth’s eyes widened in disbelief, anger rapidly building within them.

The other three youths were equally stunned. Vaguely sensing that the white-haired woman was not someone to provoke, they hurriedly lowered their heads in respect.

The old woman cast Zhuge Youlin an indifferent glance. He was still pulling faces at the fat youth, so she frowned and coughed.

Zhuge Youlin immediately restrained himself.

Ignoring Uncle Li and the rest, the old woman commanded, “Old Tortoise, go.”

The moment the words left her mouth, the old tortoise surged forward.

Its speed left Uncle Li’s party staring in astonishment. How could such an old tortoise run so fast?

In the blink of an eye, it had vanished without a trace.

Only billowing dust remained.

“Cough… cough, cough!”

They covered their faces, choking on the dust.

Once his mouth was released, the fat youth glared furiously at the middle-aged man beside him and slapped him across the face.

Smack!

“You made this young master lose all face!”

The man’s cheek swelled from the blow. He hurried to explain, “The person sitting atop that old tortoise was an important figure in the Santong Organization. She is someone we cannot afford to offend. Had you said the wrong thing, Young Master, she certainly would not have spared you.”

This only made the fat youth angrier. In his mind, Zhuge Youlin had dared act so brazenly only because he had that important figure behind him. Otherwise, he would never have suffered such humiliation.

Another youth quickly placated him. “Young Master, I suspect they’re also headed to Western Region City to register for Western Region Academy’s entrance test. Once that important figure is no longer protecting them, we can kill him whenever we please.”

The fat youth’s anger gradually subsided.

He snorted through his enormous nostrils and declared arrogantly, “Next time, this young master definitely won’t let him off! I, Li Buman, am a third-grade alchemist—a peerless genius! All I have to do is offer a few pills, and countless people will risk their lives for me!”

The other three youths echoed him with eager flattery.

At last, they managed to coax Li Buman back into a good mood.

…

Meanwhile, Shen Yan’s group was once again experiencing travel at breakneck speed.

Two hours later, the old tortoise stopped, and they finally had a chance to rest.

Shen Yan ran a hand over her face and came away with grit on her fingers.

Zhuge Weiran offered her a clean handkerchief. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine.” Shen Yan accepted it and wiped the dirt from her cheeks.

Zhuge Youlin suddenly leaned closer, his eyes flicking over her face. With open appreciation, he said, “You’re quite pretty. How come I’ve never heard anyone mention that before?”

Shen Yan glanced at him. “Because everyone only cared that I couldn’t cultivate.”

“Oh.” Zhuge Youlin nodded in realization. Then, seeming to recall something, he asked, “Are you applying to Western Region Academy too? Has your cultivation reached Yellow-rank level eight?”

“Yes.”

Zhuge Weiran looked at her in surprise. He had not expected her cultivation to have truly reached Yellow-rank level eight. Advancing to that realm in only a few short months made her talent terrifying beyond belief.

Even more terrifying than Shen Huai’s.

Zhuge Youlin folded his arms. “Then you’re pretty talented.”

“I’m all right,” Shen Yan replied blandly.

She could not discern either brother’s cultivation realm.

In a small nation like Chifeng Kingdom, Zhuge Weiran was already considered its foremost genius, while very few rumors existed about Zhuge Youlin.

Zhuge Youlin was most likely concealing his cultivation.

There also seemed to be a deep connection between Chifeng Kingdom and the Santong Organization.

Shen Yan did not ask about it. Sometimes, the more one knew, the sooner one died.

The white-haired old woman’s voice carried over. “We set off again in fifteen minutes.”

“Got it, Great-Aunt!” Zhuge Youlin answered cheerfully.

Then he turned toward the other two. “I, Zhuge Youlin, will definitely take first place in the entrance test. Seventh Brother, Shen Yan—do you believe me?”

Zhuge Weiran sighed helplessly. “There is always a higher heaven and always someone stronger. Don’t be so arrogant, or you may end up embarrassing yourself.”

Zhuge Youlin paid him no heed. Flashing a toothy grin, he said, “A person should have ambitions, shouldn’t they? My goal is first place!”

“What about you, Shen Yan?”

Shen Yan raised her eyes to him. “First.”

“Do you mean I’ll be first, or that you want first place?” Zhuge Youlin asked, interest glinting in his eyes.

Her tone remained calm. “I’ll be first.”

Zhuge Weiran looked at her in surprise. Her expression was utterly composed, without the slightest ripple, and he felt a flicker of shock.

Zhuge Youlin laughed.

“You want first place too? There can only be one winner.”

Shen Yan arched a brow. “Then let’s see who takes it in the end.”