The Tang Clan was like any of the three Top Noble families under the Li Royal Family.
Their influences didn’t just remain in the Imperial City or even the Maple Continent for that matter.
They have several dealings with other powers on the Star Bound Continent. They were more cautious about being involved with them too much, but after the engagement between Li Shen and Lu Yue, things changed.
The Tang Noble Family also had quite a few top cultivators, which was expected of a Top Noble Family.
Their loyalty isn’t as noticeable as the two other Top Noble Families, the Zhi Clan and the Chu Clan, but they haven’t shown any signs of going against the Li Royal Family.
Inside the Tang Clan’s main hall, Li Shen was seated in the chair designated for the Patriarch. Legs folded, he fan himself as he wore a neutral expression. Li Wen was standing behind him, while the only other person was Tang Long who had just entered.
Seeing Li Shen in his father’s chair, he showed a calm and composed expression on the outside but Li Shen could see that he was quite nervous on the inside.
Coming to a stop in front of Li Shen, Tang Long cupped his fists and bowed as he said.
“Greetings to the Second Prince. What brings his highness to my Tang Clan for an audience with me?”
Li Shen had sauntered into the clan unannounced and had commanded everyone in the hall to leave and call for him.
Hearing his question, Li Shen casually said.
“I think you know why I’m here.”
After saying that Li Shen stood up and walked down the small steps to stand in front of Tang Long.
Sweat trickled down Tang Long’s forehead as he opened his mouth and said.
“I-If it’s about princess Li Ling then I-”
Li Shen suddenly lifted his hand and started patting Tang Long’s shoulder cutting him off.
Feeling the heavy pats from Li Shen’s hand, Tang Long’s body visibly tensed.
The image he had of Li Shen was like everyone else’s, but over the course of two years, that slowly shifted.
He now feared Li Shen not just for his position as the Second Prince, but for his personality.
Tang Long had observed long ago that Li Shen wouldn’t hesitate to kill him if he did something to Li Ling.
How could he not feel fearful now that he was in front of him after Li Ling had left his clan crying because of him?
While Tang Long was nearing a mental breakdown, he suddenly heard Li Shen sigh and said.
“My sister says I should come to talk to you.”
Tang Long stiffen even more with his heart speeding upon hearing that.
“She doesn’t want you to be mad at her anymore, so go apologize and make it up to her.”
Tang Long blinked, almost expecting Li Shen to say he was joking.
But Li Shen simply patted his shoulder once again and went to leave the hall, Li Wen following close to him.
Tang Long, turned to look at him a confused expression on his face. This was the first time Li Shen didn’t look at him like he was ready to skin him alive.
Before Li Shen left, Tang Long suddenly bowed and said.
“I’ll be sure to apologize to princess Li Ling!”
“Don’t be mistaken, I’ll surely kill you if you ever make her cry under different circumstances. I’m just fulfilling my little sister’s request, nothing more nothing less.”
Li Shen left the Tang Clan after saying that, leaving a Tang Long sighing in relief.
Flying through the air on Li Wen’s broadsword, Li Shen was seated cross-legged, a thoughtful expression on his face.
‘The Heart Devil is almost gone. His cultivation is even showing signs of improvement the more he overcomes it. Is this what a Heart Devil is?’
Li Shen had never seen a Heart Devil before, only having read them in books. He was happy to get this opportunity to see it in person as it felt like he would never get it again.
Heart Devils could happen to anyone but they weren’t common occurrences in the Qi Cultivation world. They only ever happen under specific conditions.
Li Shen wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to conduct some research on it. After all, if he ever found out how to deal with it or even how it was formed, he could avoid a major potential obstacle in the future.
‘It’s convenient that I can see Heart Devils as well. At least I’ve now come to understand that they’re formed from the Seven Cardinal Sins.’
That fact had got Li Shen thinking that if he was able to control the Seven Cardinal Sins with his plum blossom, then could he do the same with Heart Devils?
Looking down at his palm, Li Shen recalled his interaction with Tang Long.
He had stealthily tried getting a reaction from his Heart Devil like ever other chance he got, but like always, some sort of blockage was between the power of his own Sins and those of the Heart Devil.
‘It’s like they’re of a different nature, or on a different spectrum so I’m unable to affect it.’
What those spectrums were, Li Shen didn’t know. He didn’t even know much about the Seven Cardinal Sins in general.
He wanted to delve deeper, but he was terrified. After seeing what mastering the Cardinal Sins can do to someone, he was cautious of them.
Li Shen sighed and lowered his hand.
His gaze turned to the clouds in the sky.
They were heading back to the academy but Li Shen wasn’t in a hurry so he had Li Wen slow down a bit.
However, some time into their journey back while the sun was setting over the horizon, Li Shen got a jade slip message.
Li Shen casually took out his jade slip and saw that it was a message sent from Lihua.
“Hm? Aren’t they supposed to be on their mission?”
Li Shen asked as he sent his perception inside the jade slip to read the message.
As he read, his face slowly fell while his expression became darker and darker.
Putting away the jade slip, Li Shen's casual demeanor was completely gone, replaced by an aura that was bone-chillingly cold.
Li Wen sensing this would have reacted with surprise, if not that he had seen this side of Li Shen before.
Gone was the older brother personality he had, gone were the expressions and feelings he gave to Yang Su and the others. What took their place was a sort of feeling that one could sense from something that had just crawled out of the underworld.
It was a mortifying sense of a monster ready to go hunting.
This was the Face-less Hero persona taking over, a persona that had become a crouch to Li Shen, that he would only let appear when his emotions become wrathful in nature.
“Li Wen, quickly head to the Academy.”
Li Shen’s voice was the same, but it was like someone else had taken over his body for it to have the quality of giving one a sense of impending doom.
Li Wen heeded his orders without a word, and the broadsword let out a sonic boom as it shot through the sky.
**
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