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In the grand hall of the Shen Family, a group of Elders gathered, all anxiously looking at Shen Yan, the young Family Head.

"What on earth has happened?"

The one asking was the old Family Head of the previous generation, Shen Qingfeng, who was also Shen Yan’s grandfather and one of the only two Super First Rank sorcerers in the Shen Family.

It was he who had overruled the opposition and concentrated resources on two sons born out of wedlock, enabling Shen Yan to attain his current status.

Towards this old master, Shen Yan displayed even more respect than towards his own father, and he hastily stood up, saying, "Grandfather, the situation is critical...."

"No matter how critical it is, you shouldn’t have done this. You’ve offended so many families, how are we supposed to arrange a good marriage for Yu’er?"

Before Shen Yan could fully explain, an elder next to him started to scold, and Shen Yan frowned as he looked over. It was his father, Shen Dongsheng. Shen Yan didn’t show much warmth towards this father, who was more focused on quick results than principled conduct.

Had it not been for the old master’s recognition of his talent, he feared he might have been worn to death by his stepmother, since sorcerer families value talent over birthright.

Yet which woman wouldn’t want her own biological child to rise to power?

If the family values weren’t upheld, it wasn’t unheard of for qualified illegitimate sons and daughters to be worn down to death.

Now that he had become the Family Head, and his son had begun to show promise, his father had the audacity to start nitpicking.

Shen Dongsheng failed to see the trend and went on incessantly, "Yu’er is the most talented of the third generation.

Yin Yang Academy only releases its roster once every five years; being on that roster means that even the young mistresses from millennia-old families might consider a match, and if he brings back some good Techniques, our Shen Family. .."

"Enough!" Shen Yan had not even begun to counter when Old Master Shen Qingfeng directly interrupted the other, "Let the Family Head finish speaking!"

Shen Dongsheng choked, looking at Shen Yan’s cold gaze, and he involuntarily shrank back.

He was not favored by the old man, who had insisted on keeping the position of Family Head for himself and not passing it to him and later directly bequeathing it to his grandson, Shen Yan. This made him so short of breath in front of this damned son. What kind of image was this?

"Grandfather...." Shen Yan, not bothering with his worthless father, bowed respectfully, "My eldest son, Shen Yuan, was assigned to Jiangnan two years ago. Do you remember?"

"Hmm..." Old Master Shen Qingfeng nodded. "I was in seclusion at the time. When I emerged, I learned he had been posted to Jiangnan. I was somewhat pleased since it didn’t seem so bad for the Shen Family to produce a scholarly offspring. Yet I hadn’t expected such an incident to occur in Jiangnan."

These words made Madam Zheng, who followed behind Shen Yan, slightly startled. The Old Master... actually pleased for Shen Yuan?

What about that incident... was there anything to be pleased about?

Anxiety inexplicably rose in Madam Zheng’s heart...

"He’s not dead. It seems he has even made quite a name for himself!"

"What do you mean by ’made quite a name’?" The crowd was immediately stunned.

"According to reports from Shen Yang, a lower-born, outside the Wu’an Town post station, Shen Yuan had a confrontation with the elders of the Huang, An, Yang, and Li families..."

"What did you say?" The group of elders were almost choked by their tea upon hearing this, coughing for a long while before they could catch their breath and, with widened eyes, asked in unison.

If a younger member was arrogant and ignorant, offending one Elder and confronting them, it would cause anger but not such discomposure. But clearly, the Family Head meant something different – having a confrontation with four families’ Elders...

This was no longer mere arrogance and ignorance. What would make four families’ Elders engage with a junior?

"And then what?" Old Master Shen Qingfeng asked with widened eyes.

"The elders from the four families were at a disadvantage and were forced to retreat!"

Everyone: "....."

"Is... is... is this what Shen Yang said?" Even the usually composed old man Shen Qingfeng stuttered as he spoke. He remembered Shen Yang as a rather clever child; how could he speak such nonsense?

"It’s not false!" Shen Yan stepped forward, "The fact that Shen Yuan can draw Formations in the void has spread. If we were to hold a banquet today, I’m afraid it wouldn’t be women discussing marriage who would come, but rather Elders from various families trying to probe us!"

"Drawing Formations in the void..."

The group of Elders’ heads buzzed, feeling the story getting more and more far-fetched.

Could a twenty-something really accomplish such a feat?

"Does it have something to do with Chen Qing of Jiangnan?" At the end, Old Master Shen still caught the crux of the matter.

Shen Yan nodded, thinking to himself, Sure enough... the only one I can discuss things with in the Shen Family is the Old Master.

He then recounted all the intelligence in an orderly fashion.

The crowd listened to the account as if it were a story, and it took them a long while to recover their senses. Only Shen Qingfeng reacted, his expression becoming extremely grave.

He understood. This worthless offspring of the Shen Family who went into government service had joined Chen Qing.

In itself, it wasn’t a big deal; if the family didn’t acknowledge him, that would be the end of it.

But the crux was that Shen Yuan had gained favor and seemed to possess some incredible secret Technique.

A twenty-year-old being able to draw Formations in the void and give hundreds of soldiers the ability to fly was a capability that even millennia-old great families would madly vie for!

That lad was now within Chen Qing’s influence and untouchable. However, it was troublesome for their own side.

Some would surely speculate why a child who was claimed to lack aptitude suddenly had such capability?

Why did that child happen to take a post in Jiangnan?

The Shen Family of Jiangnan did have some connection with theirs, and with Chen Qing’s control of Jiangnan, as well as his secret intelligence on the Dragon Palace, there must be innumerable ties.

And what about the Shen Family of the Capital City?

Was there also a connection?

After all... it was a bit too coincidental, wasn’t it?

Upon this thought, Old Master Shen immediately rose to his feet and said, "Close the doors and turn away guests, and immediately send someone to the Yin Yang Academy to bring back the Shen family’s disciples. Do not attend the academy temporarily for the next few days."

"Old Master, what is this about?" A group of people asked in a daze.

Old Master Shen did not attend to them but instead looked at Shen Yan, "You did the right thing, but do not worry too much.

After all, Shen Yuan is still with Chen Qing.

As long as he has not returned, the turmoil here will not be as great as you think.

Our family still possesses the merit of following the dragon.

In the next few days, there will be a court session; you go and observe the situation, and then explain in public . .."

Shen Yan gave a wry smile upon hearing this, "I’m afraid I cannot fulfill Old Master’s wish."

"Hmm?" Shen Qingfeng was taken aback, then his expression changed, "You mean ..."

"Yes ..." Shen Yan gave a bitter nod and presented a flying letter.

"Having served an official post for two years, due to the mists of Jiangnan, I have not been able to return home for the ancestral rites; no matter the reasons, it ultimately shows my unfilial piety.

Now that the mists have cleared, before the Double Ninth Festival, I will certainly return to the Capital City. I hope Father can forgive me."

Old Master Shen’s hand trembled as if electrocuted upon reading the end of the letter, which then fell to the ground.

"Old Master, what’s this?" The people around curiously looked at the envelope.

However, Shen Qingfeng did not attend to them and was staring intensely at Shen Yan, "Before the Double Ninth Festival? Tomorrow is the Double Ninth, you ... when did this letter arrive?"

"It arrived three days ago ..." Shen Yan’s smile was even more bitter as he glanced at his wife behind him, who bowed her head and dared not speak.

Nonetheless, he took the responsibility upon himself, "Because I did not pay enough attention to my elder son, I never inquired about his letters; the steward would just subconsciously take them to Shen Yuan’s own room. "

Shen Qingfeng: "..."

Seeing Old Master Shen’s ashen face, Shen Yan also knew that Old Master Shen must be extremely angry. Not to mention him, when he heard from the steward that a letter from Shen Yuan had arrived three days ago, he almost died of anger himself.

"That means ... he will arrive today?"

"Yes ..."

"No wonder ..."

Old Master Shen slumped into his chair, drained of strength.

No wonder Shen Yan was willing to offend those noble families to close the doors and turn away guests.

If a banquet were to start, those who arrived .

.. might not be limited to just the friendly families.

And once they arrived, it would only become harder to send them away!

But in this situation ... would closing the doors and turning away guests be useful?

--------------------------------------

"Butler Zhou, what’s the matter that you’re so flustered?"

Outside the Yin Yang Academy, just as he was getting into his sedan chair, Shen Yu frowned and asked.

He had just passed his examination and was in high spirits, with a few classmates having arranged to drink together that evening. Why such a rush to bring him back? He still had classes in the afternoon ...

"Young Master, there has been some trouble at home. Don’t say anything for now; just come back with us," the butler said.

"Trouble?" Shen Yu was taken aback, "What trouble?"

As his words fell, he was stunned to notice that all sounds outside the entire academy had ceased. Whether classmates or the teaching masters, all had stopped in their tracks and were looking in his direction, giving him the creeps!

He did not receive this much attention even when they posted the names in the morning. What was happening?

At this point, he could feel that the butler was not just fooling him. Something ... really must have happened at home.

"Young Master, please get into the sedan ..." Butler Zhou said with a grave face, glancing around and lowering his voice.

Even in broad daylight, these people would not dare to be reckless.

The Family Head was correct in ordering the return of the Shen family’s disciples.

It seems the information must have already spread.

Everyone was watching the descendants of the Shen family.

If they were allowed to stay at the academy overnight, who knows what might happen.

"This butler, take your leave slowly!"

Just as the butler was about to lead people away, a middle-aged man dressed in white, who seemed to be in his thirties, walked over with a smile.

"I’ve seen Master Fang!" Butler Zhou was in charge of receiving and greeting for the Shen family, so he naturally recognized important people from various families. The man before him was Fourth Master Fang from the Fang Family, a newly appointed master at the academy!

"These students’ classes are not over yet. Where does the butler plan to take them?"

Butler Zhou’s heart sank, but he still managed a forced smile, "There is a matter at home, and the Young Master needs to return early."

"Could it be for a family banquet?" that Fourth Master Fang asked, grinning, "Ah, speaking of which, I count as one of Shen Yu’s teachers, yet I wasn’t sent an invitation to the celebration banquet. That truly hurts my feelings."

"Master is joking," Butler Zhou felt increasingly uneasy, "If Master is willing to honor us with your presence, the Shen family would surely welcome you with open doors, but today ..."

"Since the butler has said so, then I will shamelessly impose ..." he said, looking at Shen Yu inside the sedan, "I’m not invited, but if I shamelessly attend the feast, I won’t be chased out, will I?"

Shen Yu hurriedly came out from the sedan, "Master, you jest. It would be my honor if Master graced us with your presence!"

Butler Zhou widened his eyes, wanting to argue, but suddenly realized with horror that he couldn’t speak a word!!

"Hmm, such a handsome young man," Fourth Master Fang said with a smile, "So young and already on the list of successful candidates, there is much to look forward to. My daughter is also getting on in years; would Shen Yu be willing to meet her?"

Shen Yu was taken aback at first, then immediately overjoyed, "It’s up to Master to decide!!"

The Fang Family, eh? At least a top ten thousand-year-old noble family in the Capital City, and the daughter of Fourth Master Fang, at that. He remembered that Fourth Master Fang had only one legitimate daughter, right?

She took a liking to him?

Today, he had been listed in the morning, and by the afternoon, he was receiving the olive branch from the Fang Family. It truly was his lucky day!