“Little cousin, you little brat! How come you didn’t tell anyone you were so powerful?! Were you hiding it al this time?”
Li Sun lifted Li Shen off the ground in a bear hug.
While grinning, Li Sun squeezed Li Shen some more before placing him down.
Not minding the awkward smile on Li Shen’s face he grabbed his cheeks and began pulling them while saying with a reminiscent and melancholic expression.
“My cute baby cousin is no more, now in his place is this handsome guy I can’t recognize.”
“Cousin Sun please, not in public.”
Li Shen saw everyone around him looking at them and he became embarrassed.
As if he had been pierced by a sword Li Sun clutched his chest and his legs wobble a bit.
“And you’re even treating me differently. When you were younger you would always come wanting me to carry you on my back, but how times have changed.”
Li Shen watched his cousin’s dramatic performance and sighed in his heart.
Li Sun had that type of jolly personality and he wasn’t afraid of showing affection, a bit too much if Li Shen was asked.
Back when he was a baby and couldn’t get around he would use Li Sun as his personal transport to carry him to the Clan Library. But because of that Li Sun had become attached to him.
However, to be honest, Li Sun was more of a big brother to Li Shen than Fu Wei was, so despite being cousins their relationship was like brothers more than anything.
Currently it was a few hours after Li Shen smack the shit out of everyone. The image he had did a 180 degrees turn.
In the hall, numerous disciples could be seen with swollen black eyes and busted lips. They would draw stares from everyone but they didn’t want to leave after being ruthlessly beaten by Li Shen. They wanted to fight him again, there was no way they would take these beatings laying down.
These disciples' mental fortitude was extraordinary. If others were in their positions they would have run away with their tail between their legs. But they were proud geniuses of their respective academies and as geniuses, they had the drive to improve regardless of any setback.
So more than a dozen disciples were now glaring at Li Shen.
‘I admire their tenacity but it’s going to get annoying fast if they constantly come to me looking for a rematch.’
At this time various people in the crowd were chatting amongst each other while servants walked around with treys of glass wine.
Li Shen’s birthday celebration was still in full swing, but now all the Elders were in the background while the younger generation conversed.
In events like these, it was common for people to try and make connections as well as build relationships with notable figures.
Being at different levels of power made it sure that there was a difference in things such as cultivations resources and knowledge, so having someone as a friend who was in that high of a position could benefit their cultivation progress immensely.
Around Huifen, several people were seen trying to suck up to him. Those people even include the Faction Leaders like Bai Huang Fu and the rest.
Perhaps it was the fact that he gave Li Shen the Mercenary Alliance VIP card was driving them crazy. But Huifen looked completely uninterested with them though he didn’t outright shoo them away.
Li Shen that had shown his strength had this situation happening to him now.
The youths from noble families would come up to him to strike up a conversation. However, each time Lihua and the others' passive stares would have them feel that their ass kissing was unwanted.
One other thing that was new was…
“Second Prince, I’m So Fan from the So Noble Family.”
A rather well-dressed young man came up to Lu Shen’s group.
“This is my sister as well, her name is So Bing.”
So Fan pointed to the girl next to him.
So Bing bent her knees in greeting while saying respectfully.
“Greetings to the Second Prince, So Bing is honored to have this chance to meet someone as great as you.”
Li Shen sighed in his heart but on the outside, he wore a smile and returned the etiquette as a Prince should.
So Fan stood there and made small conversation with Li Shen, So Bing would chime in to comment ever so often.
“Second Prince, now that your talent in body cultivation and Soul Arts is revealed for all to see after beating all the geniuses of the Academy Alliance, your accomplishments are going to spread to all corners of the Continent, becoming as well-known as the Crown Prince's.”
Li Shen smiled and said completely unabashed.
“Of course, I would expect nothing less.”
“Huh? Uh, yes that’s right.”
So Fan was taken aback for a moment but was quick to affirm Li Shen’s statement. For some time now while talking to him, he was starting to realize that this Prince was completely shameless in regard to self-praise.
“However, as much of a genius I am, I wouldn’t say I have beaten all of the geniuses in my generation from the Academy Alliance. Not everyone had taken up my offer and instead stood back and watched. I’m sure they are the ones who think it was beneath them to accept my challenge.”
As Li Shen spoke, So Fan realize again that Li Shen was very blunt with his words. Most people would dance around certain things or subtly hint at them but he was openly saying everything.
His way of speaking completely threw him off as he never met someone like Li Shen before. He didn’t know how to hold the conversation with him further. Especially with his friends next to him giving him those stares.
“Uh… It was a great pleasure meeting the Second Prince, I will be taking my leave now.”
“It was a pleasure to meet the Second Prince as well.”
So Fan and his sister turned and left, but So Bing took a quick glance at Lu Yue next to Li Shen.
She had hoped to catch the prince’s attention with her looks but every time she look at Lu Yue she would be reminded of her inferiority.
Li Shen watched them leave and he heaved out a sigh.
Before no one wanted to interact with him but now young daughters of Noble Families were being introduced to him, hoping he would find an interest in them?
“How troublesome it is to be this handsome eh?”
Li Shen shook his head.
Lihua and the others turned to look at him while strange expressions appeared on their faces.
Li Sun who hadn’t left patted his back and said with a smirk.
“Little cousin, that’s the life us handsome men have to live. You’ll eventually come to deal with it.”
Hearing his cousin’s words, Li Shen nodded seriously and responded in a solemn tone.
“I know cousin Sun, it’s just too exhausting sometimes.”
Lihua from her position immediately rolled her eyes at these two shameless men, while Yang Su and the others smiled bitterly.
“What are you two talking about? Both of you only so-so.”
Li Shen and Li Sun turned in the direction that the voice came from, but they had to squint their eyes due to the sudden bright and dazzlingly light coming from Fu Wei.
His smile was radiating a light that could melt a woman’s heart and cast any so call handsome man into depression after realizing their inferior looks to him.
The two simultaneously turned and gave the other a wearily smile.
Li Sun recovered from the blow somewhat and he glared at Fu Wei and said.
“Little cousin, if we combine our looks together we beat that bastard right?”
“Yes yes, definitely absolutely.”
Li Shen immediately agreed and the two nodded vigorously as their brain continue to feed their hearts a heavy dose of copium.
Li Ling who was holding Fu Wei’s hand had her eyes lit up and a smile appeared on her lips.
She let go of Fu Wei’s hand before running over to Li Shen and Li Sun.
“Little Ling Ling did you come to see your favorite cousin?”
Li Sun seeing her jumped forward with arms outstretched as if to pick her up in a hug, but the cold breeze he felt as she brushed past him to jump into Li Shen’s arms caused his heart to freeze over before it could be heard shattering like glass.
“Brother, are you alright? I saw you crying before and I wanted to go see you but mother told me not to get up.”
Hearing that, Li Shen patted her tiny head and said.
“Crying? I wasn’t crying, I’m totally fine, why would I be crying.”
Li Ling looked up at Li Shen with a frown.
“But-”
“No butts you little troll, do I look upset to be crying now?”
Li Ling after looking at Li Shen’s broad smile shook her head and said.
"Uh uh, you don’t."
“Then there’s no need to worry is there?”
“Ahh, no big brother don't!”
Li Shen began pinching Li Ling’s chubby cheeks to her protests.
While Li Ling was positioned in front of Li Shen holding his arms over her shoulders, he casually chatted with Yang Su and the others, at the same time Li Sun talked with Fu Wei. Two people suddenly sauntered over to them.
“Hey, you sister thief! To think you were hiding your talents, I guess I can’t call you a useless prince anymo-owie.”
Lu Shin was cut off by Lu Feng’s chop and he rubbed his aching forehead. He swore his head was one moment away from breaking in half.
Li Shen along with Li Sun and Fu Wei looked at the two approaching them.
Li Sun and Fu Wei’s expressions were especially serious as they looked at Lu Feng. However, Lu Feng only gave them a small smile before he turned his attention to a silent Lu Yue.
“Yue’er, are you alright?”
Lu Yue nodded but Lu Shin suddenly rushed up to her and held her shoulders before frantically saying.
“Ah, my little sister, are you all right?! That bastard almost hurt you, I’ll cut him into pieces if I find a scratch on you!”
Lu Shin’s face twisted into a malicious expression, but his collar was suddenly pulled back by Lu Feng.
“What did I tell you about boundaries? And don’t touch her, you know she doesn’t like being touched.”
Lu Feng suddenly turned to Li Shen.
“But her future partner would hopefully be an exception.”
A small frown crept onto Li Shen’s face at that and he remembered what his father told him about Lu Yue.
“How about you get to know each other? I’m sure as her first time here my little sister would love to see the sceneries in the Imperial Palace.”
Li Shen frowned even more and was about to speak but Li Sun suddenly chimed in.
“Little cousin I think you should show her around as well since you've been ignoring her all this time. That's not very gentleman of you, you know? The West Wing has a beautiful lake that she might want to see. The location isn’t visited by many people as well.”
Li Sun gave Li Shen and knowing smile, but Li Shen only groaned internally.
Being alone with her would be so awkward, what would they talk about? Would she even interact with him when she’s so cold and indifferent?
Before Li Shen could think of an excuse Fu Wei spoke up and agreed to the proposal as well.
Now refusing to show her around would make it obvious he was avoiding her.
Sighing internally, Li Shen thought.
‘This conversation would eventually happen so it was better just get it over with now. And I’m sure she’s not as happy about the marriage as I am, she’s probably only doing it because it might save her. Not that her reasoning is a bad thing, I too feel sympathetic for her. I’ll just get to know her with this, maybe my heart would flutter like those love-struck men in the romance stories I read before.’
Li Shen looked at Lu Yue and he said while motioning his hand forward.
“After you.”
Lu Yue without her expression changing stepped forward and he met her stride as he took her to the West Wing.
“Master?”
Before he could walk away, Li Shen turned to a chubby Tai who called out to him.
“Stay here with Little Snow, I’ll be back.”
Tai nodded his head before he went back to licking his five fingers that had sauce on them. He and Mu Fan was seen together munching on one of the many spreads that were set up in the hall.
It was like watching a skinny and a chubby pig stuffing their faces.
Li Shen turned away with an amused smile just as Lihua came and smack Mu Fan on the back of his head. Tai as well didn’t get off scot-free and he stood there embarrassed as Lihua scolded him while pointing at the forks and knives he didn’t bother using.
Leaving the hall, Li Shen and Lu Yue took a carriage that brought them to the West Wing.
After stepping out of the carriage Li Shen held out his hand to help Lu Yue out but she completely ignored it and walked past him.
“Okay.”
Li Shen let his hand drop before turning to look at Lu Yue’s back.
The sun was setting and the rays of the sunset refracted on her ocean blue hair and dress giving her an ephemeral look.
‘As beautiful and pitiful your situation might be, if I don’t find you pleasant to be around then I don’t see a need to degrade myself by helping you. If that arrogant look wasn’t present in your eyes as you look at me I would have thought your current situation resembles my past life.’
As Li Shen thought that he caught up to her and began leading the way, albeit with an expressionless face.
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