The First Summoner - Chapter 77

Shen Yan saw a single character emblazoned on the sedan chair: Chi.

Chi?

She had previously read many records concerning the Pingze Western Region. Among all its major powers, there was only one clan surnamed Chi.

The Chi Clan was reputed to be the foremost spirit-plant clan in the entire Pingze Western Region. Nearly everyone who emerged from the family was a spirit-plant master.

On closer inspection, the guards and burly sedan bearers all wore clothing embroidered with flowers and spirit plants. A crest in the shape of the character *Chi* adorned the right side of every chest.

Zhuge Weiran recognized them as well. “They’re from the Spirit-Plant Chi Clan.”

“The Spirit-Plant Chi Clan?” Zhuge Youlin arched a brow, intrigued. “Could their young master, Chi Yue, be here to apply to Western Region Academy? I hear Chi Yue is extraordinarily gifted as a spirit-plant master, but no one outside the Chi Clan has ever seen his true face.”

The Chi Clan’s party had gone to such lengths to maintain an air of mystery that the passenger in the sedan was almost certainly their young master, Chi Yue.

The Chi Clan’s people noticed them too. Seeing all three of them covered in dirt, they frowned in disgust.

Then they ignored them.

Shen Yan caught their looks and glanced down at her clothes. They were smeared with so much mud and grit that she did indeed look filthy.

When she looked up at the Zhuge brothers, she found they were no better.

Zhuge Youlin’s lustrous, beautiful red hair was now dusty and disheveled, though neither brother’s handsome face had suffered for it.

“Even covered head to toe in mud, this young master’s brilliance cannot be concealed,” Zhuge Youlin declared.

Shen Yan and Zhuge Weiran stared at him in silence.

Shen Yan found him rather theatrical. His thoughts had a tendency to leap in the strangest directions.

“Let’s clean ourselves up before we head to Western Region City,” she suggested.

Zhuge Youlin agreed first. “Works for me. After sitting for so many days, my backside is practically split in two. I need to lie facedown on the ground for a while.”

As he spoke, he truly flopped onto his stomach in the grass without the slightest concern for appearances.

Zhuge Weiran nudged his calf with the toe of his boot. “Get up. Change into clean clothes and wash your face.”

Zhuge Youlin closed his eyes and answered weakly, “Seventh Brother, let me lie here a little longer.”

Zhuge Weiran had no choice but to leave him be.

He and Shen Yan then went their separate ways to find somewhere to change.

Shen Yan did not go far. She entered her ability space directly.

When she returned, she found Feng Xingyao still lying on the couch, eyes lightly closed, as though he had never woken at all.

Ninefold had also returned to the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

Shen Yan first washed her face with water she had stored in the ability space long ago, then tidied the dust from her hair. Taking a clean set of clothes, she walked behind a shelf to change.

She removed her outer robe, then her inner garment as well. Just as she was about to put on a fresh one, Feng Xingyao slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze drifted behind the shelf seemingly by accident, then immediately withdrew. He closed his eyes again.

He had seen her fair back.

It was marred by many scars, however—scars that seemed impossible to remove.

Once Shen Yan had finished changing and was about to leave, Feng Xingyao stopped her. His voice held a husky note of indolence.

“Shen Yan.”

She paused and turned toward him.

The man had sat up on the couch. His loose black hair lent him a languid air, while his striking, aloof features possessed an innate nobility. His lips were vivid as blood.

“There’s something I want to tell you.”

Shen Yan blinked. “What is it?”

“Buy me several sets of clothes.”

Shen Yan stared at him.

“What you’re wearing is perfectly fine.”

“It smells,” Feng Xingyao said blandly.

The excuse left her speechless. “Do you have any money?”

“No.”

“Anything valuable?”

“No.”

Shen Yan said seriously, “You’re obsessed with cleanliness. There’s no way your clothes smell. Keep wearing them. Besides, don’t you know that high-level spell, the Dust-Cleansing Art? Just use it a few more times.”

She turned to leave, but an icy hand suddenly closed around hers, making her heart jolt.

She tried to wrench free, but his grip remained firm. His fingers continued to stroke the back of her hand.

He leaned closer and closer, lips parting. “Smell it. Doesn’t it stink?”

“Feng Xingyao!” Shen Yan frowned and called his name in warning. Seeing that he was nearly pressed against her, she sighed. “I’ll buy them. Now let go of me!”

“All right.” Satisfied, Feng Xingyao released her hand.

He stepped back several paces.

Shen Yan had caught his scent just now. Far from unpleasant, it carried a faint trace of sandalwood. His clothes were spotless, probably without so much as a speck of dust on them.

She had no idea why he suddenly wanted new clothes.

It was likely another of his peculiar habits.

“I’ll buy them once I enter Western Region City,” she said.

“Good.” A dazzling smile curved Feng Xingyao’s crimson lips.

Shen Yan found him increasingly seductive, possessed of an indescribable and lethal allure.

She swiftly left the ability space.

After she disappeared, Feng Xingyao was somehow already reclining against the couch again. He lowered his eyes to the hand that had held hers and rubbed his fingers together, a dark glint surfacing in his gaze.

That human boy outside had touched her hand.

The boy’s scent had been on her.

Now…

It was gone.

Her hand carried his scent instead.

Feng Xingyao himself did not know why he had acted that way. Perhaps it was merely his own peculiar form of amusement.

He did not want anyone else touching her.

…

In the Changyin Mountains, Shen Yan retraced her steps to find the Zhuge brothers, only to discover that both Zhuge Youlin and Zhuge Weiran were gone.

Her expression tightened.

She crouched and inspected the traces they had left behind. The lingering scent of a spirit beast hung in the air. The next instant, she heard movement not far ahead.

Her eyes changed. She shot to her feet and raced toward the sound.

When she arrived, Zhuge Youlin stood with his back to her. A gigantic tiger beast had been sliced into numerous pieces, every cut perfectly smooth. The sight was ghastly. His right hand appeared to be manipulating something, and when light refracted through the air, Shen Yan glimpsed several nearly transparent threads.

Blood stained their ends.

The tiger beast’s blood.

“Youlin!” Zhuge Weiran’s anxious voice rang out.

Only then did Shen Yan realize he was not far behind her and had also just arrived.

Zhuge Youlin seemed to hear the shout. He swiftly closed his fingers, making the fine threads disappear in an instant, then turned around with a beaming smile.

He pouted. “You two are so slow.”

“I’ve already changed into clean clothes and killed a spirit beast while I was at it.”