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Shen Yuan never thought that one day... he would be involved in a matter of life and death for Lyuzhou.

Listening to Wei Gongzhan describe Lyuzhou’s overall crisis, he felt like he was in a dream...

"Shen Yuan?"

"Hmm?" Shen Yuan was startled, returned to his senses, and looked at the other person with confusion.

"What are you daydreaming about?" Wei Gongzhan frowned and said.

"I..." Shen Yu gave a wry smile, "It’s nothing. Continue, please. You were saying that now the whole of Lyuzhou City is under the control of the Thousand-Faced Fox?"

The chaos caused by the Thousand-Faced Fox in the Capital City led to the death of the Empress.

Even someone from a minor family like him had heard about it.

In fact, when Chen Qing had the creature locked up, he felt doubtful, always thinking that a monster that formidable would cause trouble one day; he just hadn’t expected it to come so quickly!

"The City God left you a message that he might already be under control?"

"Hmm..." Wei Gongzhan also had a bitter smile on his face: "The situation... is more serious than imagined!"

"With the City God not around, and the Dean likely in trouble as well, shouldn’t we ask for help from outside? Wouldn’t it be better to call back Lord Xu Hu?"

"Lord Xu Hu is on standby at the outer side of the West Sea, ready to support Lord Chen Qing at any moment. The moment we call him back, that group of monsters will surely notice and might even be drawn here, potentially affecting Lord Chen Qing’s overall strategy.

The City God’s intention is for us to solve it on our own. "

"What do we have to solve it with?" Shen Yuan was startled.

"Little Mink and I can’t get into Lyuzhou City; we need your help..."

"Hmm?"

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

"Indeed, there doesn’t seem to be any problem..."

Ali looked at the Mirror Jade recording brought back by Chen Ying; she had watched it carefully three times and was sure that there were no issues for now.

The only special persons were that careless Shen Yu as well as Shen Yuan, who had just brought his mother back.

Shen Yuan entered the city gates a quarter of an hour later than Shen Yu, but that wasn’t unreasonable.

From Shen Yu’s memories, it was known that Shen Yuan did not have much affection for the Shen Family. His mother, to whom he was most attached, had been taken to Jiangnan, and with the Shen Family causing a major disaster, it was understandable that he was not as panicked as Shen Yu.

After all, compared to Shen Yu, Shen Yuan’s achievements and foundations were now in Jiangnan.

In the worst case, he could simply sever ties with the Shen Family, and neither the Imperial Court nor the Northern Wolf Country would be able to do anything to him.

But it was different for Shen Yu; if he couldn’t stay in Jiangnan and had to return to the Capital City, he might very well be implicated by the Shen Family.

Furthermore, Shen Yuan was just a Fifth Rank Magician. Although he had inherited some knowledge of arrays, the threat he posed was ultimately not great...

Thinking of this, the ever-cautious Ali finally decided not to control Shen Yuan further. Her innate power was not unlimited, having been depleted quite frequently lately. Continuing to misuse it might even damage her essence.

Just as she was about to stand up, Chen Ying suddenly hesitated as if wanting to say something.

"What is it?" Ali frowned.

"Oh, just now... a message came from Seventh Master Shen; Shen Yuan sent him an invitation letter."

"Hmm?" Ali looked at Chen Ying. "Are they very close?"

"Yes, Seventh Master Shen has always been very interested in the arrays of the Heavenly Institute. But since I’m usually very busy and often in Daqing Mountain, Seventh Master Shen often seeks out students from the institute to discuss these issues.

Among them, Shen Yuan has the most solid understanding and is a frequent visitor to Seventh Master Shen’s residence in Lyuzhou. "

"I see..."

"Should we ask Seventh Master Shen to avoid involvement?"

"No need... he can handle it." Ali then smiled, "I’m tired. You and Heiyun keep watch here; I’ll rest for a bit."

"Understood, my lord..."

After Ali left, a black mass appeared, and Chen Ying looked over; it was the legendary Mr. Heiyun.

In her altered memories, she seemed to be quite familiar with this Heiyun.

"With Shen Yuan and Shen Qi being so close, the Yin-Devourer might not be able to deceive the former. Should he discover anything, it would ultimately be troublesome..."

"It won’t be discovered..." Heiyun chuckled.

"Why?"

"Because... that is Shen Qi!"

"Hmm?"

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

"My son, are you heading out so soon?"

"Hmm..." Shen Yuan smiled, "I made plans with a friend. There are some difficult questions I’ve been wanting to ask them."

"Oh, it’s about your studies..." Madam Zheng nodded, "Then come back early; don’t tire yourself out."

"I will..."

Watching his mother’s content smile, Shen Yuan sighed in his heart.

If this matter couldn’t be resolved, neither he... nor his mother would likely...

After all, can there be intact eggs under an overturned nest?

If he wanted to continue living the life he aspired to, he had no choice but to fight through this wave!

Gathering his emotions, Shen Yuan had just stepped out when he saw a frantic Shen Xue running towards him.

"Brother, you have to help me!"

At this critical moment, this fellow really knew how to pick his time.

Shen Yuan was filled with impatience inside, but his face showed only cold indifference, "What now?"

Madam Zheng frowned as she witnessed this, "Come inside and talk."

In a corner unknown to the three, an eye slowly opened and stared intently at Shen Yuan’s face.

"Mother, elder brother..." Shen Yu could no longer maintain his facade and knelt on the ground, "This time you really must help me. Those two fools from the Shen family have caused a calamity. I can’t go back. If I go back, Mother... you might never see me again!"

"This..." Madam Zheng was stunned, "Is it really that serious?"

"Of course it’s serious!" Shen Yu hurriedly said, "Whether it’s studying forbidden arts or recklessly killing a foreign envoy, both are crimes punishable by the extermination of the whole family. I’m not joking.

If I stay in Lyuzhou, with elder brother’s protection, the Imperial Court may not reach us here, and perhaps there may still be a chance for survival. But if I go back..."

Looking pitifully at Madam Zheng, Shen Yu was clearly pressuring his mother’s emotions.

Madam Zheng, in the end, could not harden her heart, for this was the child she had once valued the most. Although she had grown cold toward him before, how could she possibly stand idly by now that such misfortune had befallen him?

Thus, she also looked pleadingly at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan looked at Shen Yu with amusement, "If what you say is true, the Shen family may be facing total ruin this time. What, then? As a legitimate member of the Shen family, do you plan to hide in Jiangnan? What about your relatives in the Shen family?"

"Father values you so much, and you don’t care?"

"Grandfather has been so biased in his support, the Shen family has nurtured you for so many years, and you have the heart to keep hiding here, without even the thought of going back to pass on the message in advance?"

Shen Yu: "...."

Madam Zheng too was stunned, caught in her anxiety she hadn’t thought of it, but now that she realized, this child was planning to completely abandon the Shen family to avoid disaster.

Wasn’t this just like how he once wanted to abandon her? Only that previously it was because she was a burden on his marriage, and now... isn’t it because the Shen family was burdening his life and death?

This child... really hasn’t changed at all...

"I..." Shen Yu cursed inwardly, but his expression was one of innocence, "I... I got scared for a moment..."

"So you’ve calmed down now?" Shen Yuan looked at him with amusement, "The news hasn’t been sent back yet. If you ride swiftly, and get to the Capital City, relaying the message to the Shen family in time, perhaps... there might still be a chance for survival for the Shen family. What do you think?"

Shen Yu lowered his head and remained silent.

Clearly, he did not want to take the risk...

But he could not find any argument against it!

"Enough..." Shen Yuan, tired of looking at the other’s appearance, indifferently said, "I will request Dean Chen to allow you to stay in Jiangnan and then go to the college’s base institute for study. If you can seize the opportunity, you can still remain in Jiangnan."

"Thank you, elder brother!"

"As for the Shen family matter, I will inquire about the specifics."

"Are you going to find Dean Chen?" Shen Yu quickly said, "I know, he is in Shen Xue’s room."

Shen Xue’s room...

A strange light flashed in Shen Yuan’s eyes; at this time, still in Shen Xue’s room, it seems Wei Gongzhan was right, Dean Chen is most likely under control.

"Dean Chen is in Shen Xue’s place?" Shen Yuan pretended to frown, "Then it’s inconvenient to look for him right now. It just so happens I’ve arranged to meet with Seventh Master Shen; I will go to him and inquire about what exactly is going on."

Seventh Master Shen?

Surprise flashed through Shen Yu’s heart, and then a surge of jealousy. This Shen Yuan, having been in Jiangnan for two years, not only had honed his skills but even had connections with such important figures in the Sorcerers’ Realm like Seventh Master Shen!

How unjust was fate, he thought, that after striving so hard since childhood, carrying the heavy pressures of the Shen family for so many years, after all that effort, what was the result?

Still not as good as some who had two years of sheer dumb luck!

"Alright then, take good care of mother," Shen Yuan said in a low voice, "And don’t cause any trouble!!"

"Rest assured, brother..." Shen Yu hurriedly assured, his heart cold with anger, yet his face full of gratitude.

A true man can bend and stretch; let this despicable person gloat for a few more days...

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

By the time Shen Yuan visited Seventh Master Shen, it was already evening, and in the yard, Seventh Master Shen sat leisurely in his chair, savoring the dishes on the table, a cup of fragrant Ginseng Blood Wine, and a few new dishes made from ingredients from various states in Jiangnan, utterly at ease.

"Seventh Master really knows how to enjoy life," Shen Yuan remarked from a distance with dissatisfaction, "I heard about such a big incident as soon as I arrived, and even Dean Chen Ying is still busy in Shen Xue’s room. But you seem completely calm and collected."

"The matter has already been dealt with, what’s there to panic about?" Seventh Master Shen said nonchalantly.

Shen Yuan looked at him, hesitating in his heart; whether it was his demeanor or tone, the man was exactly like the Seventh Master Shen he remembered. Could he really be a monster in disguise?

"Seventh Master... has it really been resolved?" Shen Yuan asked curiously, "I always feel it’s not that simple, right? I know the worth of those two incompetent cousins of mine, studying forbidden arts? Neither the Shen family nor those two good-for-nothings would dare to do so."

"Well..." Seventh Master Shen grinned, lowered his voice and said, "Indeed, there is some inside information. Dean Chen is also investigating, and it seems... he’s in your sister Shen Xue’s room right now."

"No wonder..." Shen Yuan appeared to suddenly understand, "I was wondering; just now, Shen Yu said Dean Chen was in Shen Xue’s room, and I didn’t feel it was appropriate to disturb him immediately. So, he’s still investigating. How is my sister doing now, I wonder?"

"She’s not in any danger; you should be able to see her today."

"Then that’s good, that’s very good."

"Did you come to me just for this matter?" Seventh Master Shen asked with a grin.

"Not just for this." Shen Yuan smiled, "Didn’t Seventh Master want to research the Minor Azure Dragon Array with me before? Now that I am back, I thought to get to the bottom of this matter before the college starts the term. Do you have the time to make a trip to Daqing Mountain with me?"

Seventh Master Shen: "...."