“Damn it, it’s old people like you I hate the most. Always forcing unrealistic expectations on your descendants. That’s why I ran away from my Clan, bastards wanted me to do all sorts of things in the name of the clan. Why should I sacrifice my happiness for those expectations placed on me by people who don’t care about what I have to say?”
The cloaked figure then turned to Huang Mei and continued, “And you don’t have to either. I’m leaving with you and your boyfriend now, so just say goodbye to your grandfather. Let him solve the clan issue without you, and it’s not like our Mercenary Association won't provide for its valued members. Your Clan will be fine.”
Clan Leader Huang was glaring at this person at first, but upon hearing the mention of the Mercenary Association his expression froze. His heart almost leaped out of his throat.
Eyes trembling, he looked at this cloaked figure and stuttered, “Y-you, did you just mention the Mercenary Association?”
Turning to Clan Leader Huang the figure said, “That’s right you old fart, and this person here is being formally invited to join us, hence my presence here.”
Seeing that the cloaked figure pointed at Mingzhe, Clan Leader Huang’s expression turned ugly as he said, “This useless fool? Why would a behemoth of an organization like the Mercenary Association pick him to join?”
“Useless?”
The figure said skeptically before he turned to look at Mingzhe.
Mingzhe shook his head, and the figure understood.
“Oh, that’s how it is, you’ve been hiding your true talents. That’s understandable given the nature of it. But no worries, the Mercenary Association pride itself on you keep what’s yours but hand over what’s rightfully ours. No one in the Mercenary Association will question the origin of your talents, else that person would be breaking one of the Association’s Taboos.”
The cloaked figure then turned to Clan Leader Huang and said, “Since you didn’t know of Mingzhe’s involvement with our Association, I won’t pursue this matter. But know that if you had indeed killed him, not only would the Mercenary Association come for your head, even the Council of Elders would have likely come as well.”
Hearing that, the realization of what he almost did hit Clan Leader Huang, and a cold chill went down his spine. However, his heart literally froze for a fraction of a second when he heard the cloaked figure's latter words.
‘Council of Elders? But why would they…’
Reaching here in his thoughts, his eyes suddenly widen in disbelief as he turned to look at the calm face of Mingzhe.
“You-you’re a Chosen?”
“He’s likely going to become one.” Before anything else could be said, the cloaked figure interjected.
“Well, enough of this, I’m already spent. I can’t be bothered wasting any more time on this. Say your goodbyes and whatever.”
“Goodbye grandfather, tell little Zen and my parents not to worry.”
“And if you’re worried that my family would use my position to attack your clan, don't. I won’t allow Mei’er to regret coming with me.”
The cloaked figure then disappeared with Mingzhe and Huang Mei after all was said.
However, just before disappearing, he turned his gaze downward to see a bare feet youth looking up at him.
‘Huh? I almost didn’t sense him. Who is that brat? He looks familiar.’
Xi Shen, who was watching everything unfold under the shelter of a random building, took a swing of his wine gourd after the cloaked figure vanished with Huang Mei and Mingzhe.
‘The Mercenary Association? Interesting.’ Xi Shen thought.
“Hmm, it looks like I didn’t have to worry about this. But now this has gotten me interested in the Mercenary Association. It would be perfect if my Face-less Hero persona wasn’t associated with the Academy Alliance, so as to not draw suspicions of me. I could act independently as the Face-less Hero while having a Power as strong as the Academy Alliance behind me who doesn’t ask questions. Truly this is perfect.”
Xi Shen then took a swig once more before saying again, “Guess I’ll find some time to research more about the Mercenary Association and their requirements to join.”
After saying that, Xi Shen’s figure dissipated into a cluster of dark smoke before traveling back undetected to the Pavilion.
It wasn’t long before the sun was up, and Xi Shen was greeted with Bai Xiaofung and Zen’s shining eyes.
Both of them began bowing and thanking Xi Shen for what he did, saying his words had somehow allowed them to understand their path of cultivation a bit more. Like a fog that was obscuring their field of vision was lifted after they meditated on Xi Shen’s words.
The most shocked one was Bai Xiaofung. He had no idea Xi Shen had this much wisdom in Spiritual Qi cultivation when he himself wasn’t a cultivator.
He was starting to realize Xi Shen's talents weren’t hindered by him not being able to Cultivate. Even without the ability to cultivate, he might be able to achieve things that are in way inferior to anyone in this generation.
Bai Xiaofung admired him for that and was glad to call someone like Xi Shen a friend in this lifetime.
‘But I have to keep up too, I can’t be outdone by brother Shen. I’ll become the greatest Alchemy Master on the Maple Continent!’
Bai Xiaofung thought in his heart as he and Xi Shen left to return to the Celestial Academy.
Xi Shen didn’t stick around to see if the news of Mingzhe and Zen’s sister eloping had spread. He was only mildly interested in it as a way to distract himself from his upcoming birthday.
To say he wasn’t nervous about it would be a lie, but he guessed anyone in his position would have felt a bit uneasy becoming the attention of an uncountable number of people.
Upon reaching the Celestial Academy, Xi Shen met up with the others to check on them, especially Yang Su.
He found him sitting off to the side in the main dining room nursing a cup of tea in his hand.
Seeing Xi Shen, he smiled and stood before bowing while saying, “I’m sorry to have worried Master. I was focused on improving my Fire Qi manipulation since I can’t show the others. But I also thought that would be bad since that would mean neglecting the others. So I began overworking myself to improve them together all at once, well, except for my Lightning Qi. Our Inner Academy doesn’t have a Cultivation Grounds for someone cultivating the Lightning Element.”
Xi Shen patted Yang Su’s shoulder and said, “I knew it was something like that. Since you’ve almost reached the end of the Divine Fire Serpent Absorption Method, you’ll need to head to the Fourth Floor of the Techniques to choose its continuation. While you're there you can choose a water-type Internal Cultivation Method as well.”
Hearing that, Yang Su showed an excited expression.
“Hm, I didn’t plan on you using only one Qi Element forever. After all, it isn’t unheard of to have someone cultivate dual Qi. But be mindful of who you use the others in front of in the future. If your battling an enemy you can’t beat using those two Qi, make sure you kill them if you intend to show the others.”
“Yes Master!” Yang Su said with a bow.
Nodding, Xi Shen then said again, “Well, this is only until you’ve reached a stage you need not hide them anymore.”
“And then you!”
Xi Shen suddenly yelled while spinning around and coming up to Mu Fan, who was happily sitting cross-legged on the ground munching down on a drum stick.
Seeing a shadow looming over him, Mu Fan looked up with his greasy face to see Xi Shen glaring down at him.
Shrinking back a bit, he defensively held the chicken drum close to his chest.
Seeing this Xi Shen’s angry expression falter slightly and his face twitched a bit.
His hand then shot out to flick Mu Fan’s forehead.
*Thud!*
Mu Fan tried to dodge, but even with the speed he was proud of, Xi Shen’s finger still managed to land on his forehead.
The force of the flick actually snap his head back, before his entire body went along to fall over onto the ground.
Mu Fan immediately clutched his forehead and the pain made him wiggle wildly on the ground.
He had used his Spiritual Qi to coat his skin in an instant, but Xi Shen’s finger immediately dispersed it. His skull was throbbing with pain, and he was secretly shocked in his heart.
Despite his skinny physique, his physical strength was by no means lacking, but Xi Shen's flick felt like it came from a ten thousand pound force that was condensed into a single point.
While watching Mu Fan squirm on the ground, Xi Shen said seriously, “Don’t go doing something so stupid again. What if your will to wield the saber had been broken? Even a sliver of doubt would have caused a fracture in your Dao Heart that would cause your progress to grind to a halt.”
“I told him not to, but he still insisted.” Fei Yin sighed as he said that.
“Jun!”
“Yes Master!”
Jun stood up from the table he, Fei Yin, Fang Chen, and Lihua were at, to come to Xi Shen’s side.
“If Mu Fan disobeys my order and returned to the Ten Thousand Sword Valley, I want you to deal out the necessary punishments.”
Jun nodded with a serious expression on his face.
Mu Fan felt the pain subside a bit and he rose up and glared at Jun.
“You little brat, touch me and this big brother will make you regret it when this demon isn’t here.”
Jun’s serious expression falter a bit at that, and he nervously looked at Xi Shen.
With an expressionless face, Xi Shen said, “New Faction Rule: Anyone who refuses punishment from Jun will receive it from me.”
Mu Fan flinched back upon hearing that, and his expression towards Jun immediately soften.
Xi Shen snorted before turning to enter the mansion.
However, his footsteps paused before he took out the jade medallion that identified him as the second prince.
“It looks like my peaceful days are over for now.”
Xi Shen mumble as he sent his perception inside the jade medallion. A simple message then appeared in his mind.
“Shen’er, return home. You’ve had enough fun, now it’s time to return to being a prince.”
A bitter expression appeared on Xi Shen’s face as this message from his father had indeed marked the end of his peaceful days.
‘When Elder brother took me to see him before the Disciple Selection Ceremony, he told me if I take the test and enter the Academy I can be myself. Is that his way of saying I don’t have to act the part of a prince anymore?’
Xi Shen wasn’t surprised that his father knew of his discomfort in keeping up the act of a prince since it wasn’t exactly a secret given his antics in the past.
‘What an understanding dad, he’s nothing like my previous one.’
While thinking that, Xi Shen placed the medallion back into his storage ring.
‘However, I don’t like the way he’s treating this like some political bargaining. He gave me leeway and now I have to give him my undivided attention.’
‘I guess that’s the Emperor within him talking.’
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