‘Why does that sound like he can see me using Power of the World?’
Li Shen hadn’t stopped strengthening his connection with the earth beneath him as he realize that the technique helps him comprehend the Earth's Laws a bit faster than normal.
But this wasn’t a technique that anyone can detect or see through, only someone with a high affinity with the earth element could do that. Someone on par with a Heaven’s Chosen affinity for Heavenly Laws.
Someone like him.
Remembering what his father had told him about Huifen comprehending a none elemental Law, the Laws of Gravity, he was starting to understand how that came to be.
“You don’t look surprised by that fact.”
Huifen said when he saw Li Shen’s mild reaction.
Li Shen gave him a smile but secretly thought in his heart.
‘In this era, such aptitude would make one a top talent, but to me, you're just slightly different from everyone else.’
This wasn’t him being arrogant, in fact, he acknowledge that Huifen was unique, but if anyone else had the same potential for all six elements and more, a sense of your not quite at my level would be in the back of their minds.
However, Li Shen wouldn’t let that show, since, despite Huifen's casual demeanor of calling him brother, he was still a Nascent Realm cultivator, an Elder Level existence.
Li Shen shrugged at Huifen’s words.
“My brother is more talented than you, he can do similar things.”
Li Shen didn’t say he could do similar things. Revealing his identity was far enough.
Huifen smiled a bit awkwardly at his words.
Li Shen was indirectly saying what he can see wasn’t that special.
Changing the topic he asked.
“Are there any more questions you want to ask? For example, why I give you the VIP card, or why I was observing you?”
Li Shen took a swing before he waved his hand dismissively and said.
“I already have a good idea of your intentions. It’s probably about my future relationship with the Profound Sword Sect right?”
Huifen didn’t show it, but his heart froze for a split second when he heard that.
It was now becoming scary how Li Shen was calmly acting. He seemed too relaxed in this situation, after all, he had just revealed a secret that could spell bad news if it got out.
Not only that, Huifen was getting the sense that his intentions couldn’t hide themselves from Li Shen’s observant eyes.
‘I suspected he was hiding his talents before, but he’s proving to be more and more of a monster. How did-’
Huifen’s thoughts were cut off by Li Shen.
“You're shocked? It was obvious you only showed interest in me not because you saw a part of my hidden talent, but what that meant regarding my engagement. Your Mercenary Association is a behemoth, I don’t doubt that you have unfathomable secrets in your back pockets. You’ve probably made several moves in the shadows based on those secrets.”
Li Shen stopped there and took a swig from the gourd.
“Despite that, why don’t you feel more-”
“Afraid?”
Being cut off by Li Shen once again Huifen felt uncomfortable.
“Enough with that, it’s like you're reading my-”
“Inner thoughts?”
Li Shen then chuckled when he saw Huifen frown at him.
“You need something from me so I can be casual about revealing my identity since I have that as leverage. Plus, having someone like brother Huifen as a friend will only be beneficial to me in the future.”
“Who’s your brother?”
Huifen scowled, but Li Shen only stared at him with an amused smile.
Seeing this, Huifen was starting to get irritated at Li Shen’s casual behavior, so much so that slight regret for approaching him began to appear in his mind.
Watching Li Shen lick the overturned bottle top trying to get the last drop of wine, Huifen asked with a forced smile.
“How about I tell brother Shen the information you came to obtain and I can stop wasting your time.”
In others words, I’ll tell you so you can hurry up and scram!
Li Shen examined the bottle gourd with interest before he place it into his storage ring and turn to Huifen.
“Sure.”
Without hesitation, Huifen took out a jade slip and after sending a mental message, the runes on the table lit up before a rolled-up parchment appeared.
Li Shen went to take it up, but Huifen suddenly said.
“Brother Shen, I would be careful if I were you. I’m not sure of the details and why you wish to know this person, but he’s a bit out of the Face-less Hero’s league.”
Hearing that, Li Shen frowned.
Taking up the parchment he unfurled it and read its contents.
Huifen watched as he did, but saw no change in his facial expression. He thus concluded he was hiding his surprise.
After reading everything, Li Shen looked at Huifen and asked.
“Is this everything on this person?”
Huifen nodded.
“His position makes it so that we aren’t allowed to keep track of anything more than that. It’s the same with all the other Chosens from large backgrounds, it’s to lessen the likely hood of an assassination being cared out using our information. On either the Righteous Faction or the Demonic Cult Faction’s side.”
Li Shen looked at the parchment again before he toss it into his storage ring.
“Well, if I find out anything about the Central Continent I’ll be sure to tell brother Huifen.”
Huifen was smiling when he saw Li Shen getting reading to leave, but it froze on his face when Li Shen reveal his true reason for approaching him.
The only place the Mercenary Association hardly knows anything about was the Central Continent. Even though Nascent Realm Cultivators can pass through the spatial barrier no one returned after they did.
They had caught wind of Lu Yue’s origins and figured some information about the Central Continent must be in the Profound Sword Sect's hands. But the Sword Emperor refused to negotiate.
Huifen hearing the proposal between Li Shen and Lu Yue in the hall had small ideas bloom in his mind, but only when he discovered the strangeness of Li Shen when he approach him did those ideas turn from small schemes to giving him the VIP card.
But despite Li Shen figuring out Huifen was interested in him because of his engagement, Huifen hadn’t expected Li Shen to pinpoint that it related to the Central Continent.
‘Wait, then does that mean he knows of Lu Yue’s identity? Did the marriage proposal really involve secrets of the Central Continent like Master thought?’
Huifen looked at Li Shen intently.
‘Did he also say that to reveal he has information about the Central Continent? If so when in the future would he reveal it? This brat…’
Huifen’s mouth twitched, malicious thoughts of how o keep LI Shen here or even blackmail him appeared in his mind.
But as quickly as they came, was as quickly as they go upon remembering who Li Shen’s father and background was.
Huifen let out a sigh in his heart.
Li Shen stretched as he got up. He ignored the irritation he saw in Huifen’s heart that was most likely directed at him, before saying.
“Hey, where are we? Mind teleporting me back?”
Huifen felt discontent at how this conversation had gone but still replied.
“Where on the 31st floor, and before you go don’t you want back the card?”
Huifen tried to hand the card to Li Shen but he refused.
“You keep it, if I need anything I can just come to you.”
Li Shen then took up his mask and place it over his face.
Huifen felt a bit disappointing at hearing Li Shen’s words, but he didn’t show it as he said.
“I guess that makes sense.”
He then went to wave his hand at Li Shen to teleport him back to his original location.
Li Shen saw that disappointment in his heart and cursed this fucker.
‘Motherfucker, I knew it!’
Just before being teleported away, Li Shen quickly commented.
“Yeah, plus I don’t like being tracked.”
Seeing Huifen’s dumbfounded face as he was teleported away, confirmed the suspicions Li Shen had about that card.
He had examined it thoroughly before but found no rune inscription that could track his location. But after joining the Mercenary Association and suspecting Huifen to be observing him, he started to doubt his original conclusion.
That was the major clue as to why he suspected Huifen in the first place. But he decided to get back at him the next time they came here.
For now, he had to focus on the information he received as things got a lot more complicated.
Stepping out of the booth, Li Shen headed back down to the 1st floor where Lihua and Li Wen were.
‘Let’s head back to the Academy.’
Li Shen mentally spoke before they left the building and quickly took to the sky.
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