Chapter 25: Acknowledging the Ancestry
“Who exactly was that mysterious person who made a move last night? Judging from the looks of it, he came specifically for me. After leaving the Tianji Studio, he even deliberately followed me?”
“Unfortunately, Tianji Studio was destroyed, and all my clues were severed.”
“It seems what the Nether Sect was plotting must be related to the truth behind the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion back then. But now that this opportunity is lost, there will be no further progress.”
“Moreover, with the Chilin Guards and the Bureau of Immortal Inspection investigating the capital so thoroughly, it’s no longer convenient for me to pry further.”
Outside the Wu Residence in the inner city of the capital, the long street was bustling with noise and activity.
Vendors were shouting and hawking their goods, while merchant caravans and pedestrians came and went in an endless stream.
Shen Tian walked alone along the street, looking somewhat dejected, his mind a swirl of thoughts.
He had thought everything would go smoothly, yet unexpectedly, at the most crucial moment, an accident occurred.
Moreover, he wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but when he greeted Wu Ruyue this morning, her expression seemed a little unnatural—no longer as gentle and kind as usual.
“Could I be overthinking it? Or has Ruyue been harassed by that profligate these past few days and become too troubled and weary?”
Shen Tian’s heart grew inexplicably irritable, and he could only blame everything on that wastrel, Shen Yanzhou.
Negative emotion from Shen Tian +11 +14 +17 +21...
“Ouch! Do you walk without eyes? Can’t you see where you’re going?”
Suddenly, someone bumped into his shoulder. Though Shen Tian had been distracted, his physique was incredibly strong and steady; he didn’t move an inch. Instead, the man who had collided with him fell backward, cursing under his breath.
“You’re the one who wasn’t looking where you were going and ran into me. What, are you trying to extort me?”
Shen Tian had already been in a foul mood, and now, just walking properly down the street, someone had come to provoke him. His gaze instantly turned cold.
The man who bumped into him was a small, thin fellow in a dark robe, with a pair of mustaches that gave him a slick appearance.
Behind him were several followers.
“Hey, you brat—judging from your accent, you’re not from around here! Don’t you know where you are? You hit someone and don’t even apologize. What, you plan to start a fight?”
The thin man was immediately enraged, rolling up his sleeves to step forward, while his followers surrounded Shen Tian.
The surrounding pedestrians quickly stepped aside, afraid of getting involved. Only a few onlookers lingered nearby, eager for some drama.
Shen Tian frowned.
He didn’t want trouble, but he wasn’t afraid of it either. However, if a fight broke out here, would it draw the attention of the capital’s patrol guards?
“You, boy—what are you staring at? If you know what’s good for you, get down and apologize!”
Seeing Shen Tian hesitate, the thin man with the mustache grew bolder, his tone becoming even more arrogant.
Shen Tian clenched his fists and took a deep breath, almost unable to suppress the anger rising within him.
“What’s all this commotion on the street?”
Just then, a slightly hoarse voice sounded.
A middle-aged man in fine brocade robes, with a slightly plump build and a friendly smile, walked out from the crowd.
Shen Tian was a little surprised—he hadn’t expected anyone to step in for him.
“The manager of Prosperity Pavilion?”
Apparently, the onlookers all recognized the man, and even the mustached thin man’s face turned pale as he fell silent.
“Get lost. If I see you trying to scam people again, you won’t be let off.” The brocade-robed man cast a casual glance at them, his tone calm but firm.
The thin man nodded repeatedly and hurried off with his lackeys, tails between their legs.
“Thank you.”
Shen Tian cupped his hands gratefully toward the man.
“Young hero, you carry yourself with steady composure and a sharp, iron-blooded aura. You must have retired from the army, yes?” The brocade-robed man sized Shen Tian up with an appreciative look.
Shen Tian rubbed his nose and gave no direct answer.
“I feel a certain kinship with you at first sight. Would you do me the honor of sharing a drink?” The man asked with a warm smile.
Though Shen Tian felt somewhat uneasy, it would have been impolite to refuse the man’s goodwill.
The surrounding crowd looked on with envy. The manager of Prosperity Pavilion was a renowned figure in the neighborhood—and the pavilion itself was said to be owned by a certain great figure in the capital.
Soon, Shen Tian followed the man toward Prosperity Pavilion.
The two exchanged few words along the way, which made Shen Tian feel all the more unsettled, as if something about the situation wasn’t right.
Wasn’t it a bit too much of a coincidence that this manager happened to appear just in time to help him?
Before long, a magnificently built restaurant stood before them. The brocade-robed man smiled faintly and said nothing more, leading Shen Tian straight to a private room on the top floor.
“A smart man like you must have already guessed—someone wishes to meet you.”
“But we can’t make it too obvious.” The man smiled as he pushed open the door.
Shen Tian nodded slightly and looked inside, where an old man sat quietly, sipping tea.
The elder had a sturdy frame and wore a plain gray robe. His brows were sharp, temples raised, and though his hair was graying at the sides, his bearing remained dignified.
The once-stern gaze in his eyes softened the moment he saw Shen Tian.
“May I ask who senior might be?” Shen Tian asked instinctively.
The old man’s face grew excited as he quickly stood up. “Child, my name is Shen Zhigao. I am the clan elder of the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion—and the third uncle of the Demon Suppression King himself.”
“What?”
Shen Tian was stunned, then overjoyed.
The people from the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion had come to find him?
Did this mean that the Princess Consort was finally willing to meet him?
“At last, I’ve met you, child.”
Shen Zhigao extended a broad, fan-like hand and patted Shen Tian’s shoulder, his eyes filled with the fondness of an elder meeting a descendant.
Suppressing the joy and excitement surging in his heart, Shen Tian felt a deep sense of recognition—as though he had finally found his roots.
……
At noon.
Wu Ruyue stood beneath the eaves of a pavilion corridor, quietly watching Shen Tian return to the residence.
She had noticed that ever since last night, something about Shen Tian’s demeanor had been off.
She suspected it might be because the Nether Sect’s stronghold had been destroyed, which disrupted his plans.
Yet after he went out during the day and came back, his expression seemed subtly lighter—almost pleased.
What could have happened?
Whom had he met?
Unfortunately, it had been impossible to follow him during the day. If she had found some excuse to accompany him, he would likely have been on guard.
“For now, I mustn’t alert the enemy.”
She rubbed her temples, thinking for a moment, before taking a jade talisman from her sleeve.
It was the one Shen Yanzhou had given her the day they met, meant for private communication between the two of them.
At first, Wu Ruyue had been unwilling to accept it—she had felt that spying on Shen Tian betrayed their friendship.
But given the current situation, if Shen Tian truly colluded with the Nether Sect and intended to bring chaos to the Great Qian Dynasty, then he was the one betraying their friendship.
With that thought, Wu Ruyue decided to use the talisman to report everything that had happened last night and today to Shen Yanzhou.