novelraw Chapter 98 : The Future Husband, the Demon Suppression King’s Head Covered in Green?
Chapter 98 : The Future Husband, the Demon Suppression King’s Head Covered in Green?
Chapter 98: The Future Husband, the Demon Suppression King’s Head Covered in Green?
“Master foresaw many things in his life, and nearly all of them eventually came true.”
“Before his ascension, when his mind was hazy and unclear, he mumbled a few incoherent words, foretelling a cataclysm that would engulf the entire world.”
‘“A banished immortal descends, outer demons arise. As yang gives birth to yin, entanglement breeds and grows.”’ The old man in snow-white robes muttered softly.
The Daoist nun pressed her brow. “But what exactly are the ‘banished immortal’ and the ‘outer demon’? Master never explained clearly.”
“There’s no mistake. The outer demon refers to evil beings from beyond the realm, and the banished immortal is a fallen celestial.” The white-robed elder said firmly.
“Wait a moment, Senior Brother…”
The Daoist nun seemed to recall something. She suddenly took out a hand-copied ancient scroll from her robe, her expression solemn as she flipped through its pages carefully.
The white-robed elder blinked. “What’s that?”
Without looking up, the Daoist nun replied, “Before Master’s passing, I recorded all his delirious words here. You know as well as I do—he revealed far too many heavenly secrets in his lifetime. That’s why he met such an unfortunate end in his later years. Since he bore so much karmic burden and divulged so many truths of Heaven, even his daily words must carry some deeper meaning.”
The white-robed elder was stunned for a while. Thinking carefully, it did make some sense. But Master’s mind had been completely muddled in the end—could those fragmented, dream-like words really foretell a future calamity?
“What exactly did he say?” he asked.
“Uh…”
The Daoist nun continued flipping through the pages, then suddenly froze, her expression turning odd.
The elder glanced at her. “What is it?”
“Master said… that Aunt-Master Biyun of Quiet Court Peak… has a very round butt…”
“……”
The elder fell silent for a moment, then sighed. Fortunately, Aunt-Master Biyun’s Dao companion had long since passed away—otherwise, upon hearing that, she might have dug up Master’s grave herself.
“Master may have departed lightly, but he left us with such a heavy burden.”
“How long until the great calamity he foretold?” he asked.
“By calculation, about five years.” The Daoist nun replied.
“So five years from now, our world will be destroyed—turned into a wasteland?”
“Can the banished immortal really stop it? But Xiaoxuan is only at the Sixth Rank now. Even if she reaches the First Rank in five years, I fear it will make no difference.” The elder sighed.
“I truly hope Master was just senile, speaking nonsense… I haven’t lived enough yet…” The Daoist nun couldn’t help but sigh too.
“If it were nonsense, then why have all of Xiaoxuan’s experiences matched his prophecies one by one?”
The elder felt powerless. At their level of cultivation, few things could trouble them anymore.
Even the ancient depraved gods hidden deep within planes of time and space—they could deal with them calmly.
But in that ultimate calamity Master foresaw, even those of the First Rank would be as insignificant as dust.
“Then who is the outer demon?” The white-robed elder finally asked.
“Xiaoxuan didn’t say much, only that he’s in the Great Qian Imperial Capital.”
“But I can’t go there for another three months. I’ve asked her to take a disciple on Master’s behalf first.” said the Daoist nun.
The elder’s expression grew strange. “Truly in the Great Qian Capital? Then what do you plan to do?”
The Daoist nun remained calm. “What do you mean?”
The elder said solemnly, “In Master’s prophecy, that outer demon would kill his father and brother, rebel for his own ambition, stir endless slaughter and bloodshed, and for the sake of so-called eternal life and dominion over the world, enslave all races of the Immortal Dao to build a lofty tower to the heavens.”
“But in this age, the path to Heaven is already severed. Even Master said immortality is impossible and the immortal road is closed. Doing such a thing will only invite immeasurable sin and karmic backlash.”
“I even suspect that the culprit behind the ultimate calamity Master did not fully describe… is this very outer demon.”
The Daoist nun’s expression remained calm. “I know all this.”
“Then you still plan to take him as a disciple?”
The elder couldn’t understand. Since they already knew what would happen, why not end the danger before it began?
“So, should I kill him first?” she asked.
The elder looked at her, now utterly serious. “You decide for yourself. In Master’s prophecy, you too will die because of this outer demon—though he will also be your future husband.”
The Daoist nun fell silent.
The elder sighed softly. He knew his junior sister’s temperament well. The reason she came rushing here was likely because of her hesitation over this matter.
Master’s prophecies never missed.
The outer demon would become her disciple, then her husband, and eventually bring about her death.
It was a doomed karmic entanglement.
“I’ll decide after I see him.” Her emotions were in turmoil, and her figure faded into the void.
The white-robed elder gazed at the tranquil sea, then at the empty fishing rod beside him, his eyes deep and distant.
……
The news that Shen Yanzhou had been accepted as a personal disciple by one of the ancestral masters of the Taixu Immortal Sect quickly caused an immense stir throughout the Great Qian Imperial Capital.
Compared to the trouble he had caused at the Martial Institute, this was an event that shook the entire Daoist world—making his earlier affairs completely negligible.
In truth, the aftershocks of this news would only continue to spread.
For now, it had only circulated within certain circles of the capital.
Naturally, the news soon reached the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion. Shen Jingxiao, who had just returned, stood frozen in the study for a long while, unable to come back to his senses.
“The ancestral master of the Taixu Immortal Sect… actually took him as a disciple?”
He gripped the bookshelf beside him, almost thinking he had misheard.
That ancestral master of the Taixu Immortal Sect—he had heard of her.
Among the Three Pure Immortal Sects—Jade Pure, Supreme Pure, and Grand Pure—only the Taixu Immortal Sect still had such an ancient ancestor alive and active in the world.
A living fossil, in every sense.
Domineering and fiercely protective of her own.
“Do I really have to change my attitude toward Shen Yanzhou now? But with his temperament, once he gains power, he’ll never let me off.” Shen Jingxiao’s face darkened.
He took a deep breath, regaining his calm, and soon summoned Ran Yi.
“Your time is running out.”
“Fourteen days. If there’s no result in fourteen days, I’ll show no more mercy.” Shen Jingxiao’s voice was cold and devoid of feeling.
Ran Yi kept her head lowered. She too had heard the news of Shen Yanzhou becoming the disciple of the Taixu Immortal Sect’s ancestral master.
She was happy for him—but mostly, she was afraid. She knew Shen Jingxiao’s nature. He would never allow Shen Yanzhou to keep growing.
He was going to make a move.
……
In the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard, Yu Chenyu also sat in stunned silence for a long time, unable to believe the development.
“He really hid it well.”
After a while, she spoke softly. Even she had never noticed that Shen Yanzhou possessed Daoist cultivation.
“Doesn’t that mean His Highness has now become the little ancestral master of the Daoist sects?” Chunchao said in surprise.
Yu Chenyu said nothing, recalling the moment earlier that day when she met the Empress in the palace.
If Shen Yanzhou truly possessed such abilities, she could afford to tell him more of the secrets that must be known.
……
In the Hall of Cultivated Mind, Emperor Mingde wore a radiant smile—the happiest he had been in a long time.
Beside him, Wei Gong bowed with satisfaction and offered his congratulations.
“Once I’ve settled matters with the Cui Clan of Hejian, I’ll reveal everything to him. What I promised Qingshu back then—I’ll give him all of it, nothing less.”
“He’s proven himself more than worthy.” Emperor Mingde murmured.
Wei Gong bowed. “This old servant has already made arrangements with the Chilin Guards. Once His Highness Shen Yanzhou settles his Daoist affairs, he’ll take up a post there.”
“With that official title, even Shen Jingxiao would hesitate to move against him.”
“I’ll also help the young lord assemble a trusted group of talented warriors within the Chilin Guards.”
“Excellent.” Emperor Mingde nodded.
……
That day, the Great Qian Imperial Capital was destined for unrest.
For days, high-ranking Daoist figures from across the Nine Provinces gathered in the capital, all heading to the Dragon-Tiger Institute, hoping to visit Shen Yanzhou—the “Little Ancestral Master.”
They dared not take it lightly, for the ancestral master who took him in was famous throughout the Daoist world for being extremely petty.
If she learned her new disciple wasn’t being properly respected by the sects, she might take it as an excuse to “discipline” them—and she was known for bullying the weak without a shred of shame.
However, all who came to the capital failed to meet Shen Yanzhou. They were turned away by Luo Qiushui, who told them it would disturb Shen Yanzhou’s cultivation and enlightenment.
Faced with someone of Luo Qiushui’s own terrifying seniority, the visiting Daoist leaders could only leave their gifts and retreat quietly—never even glimpsing Shen Yanzhou’s face.
Three full days passed.
At last, Shen Yanzhou comprehended the so-called “technique” from the “Wordless Heavenly Tome.”
As for why it took him three days—it was because Luo Qiushui had told him she herself needed five days to grasp the basics of the breathing method and draw the first thread of spiritual energy into her body.
If she needed five days, then as a “banished immortal,” three days was about right.
As for that so-called breathing method, Shen Yanzhou merely modified The True Explanation of Primordial Unity slightly and created a self-styled “Nameless Breathing Method,” which he then demonstrated before Luo Qiushui.
“Junior Brother truly deserves the title of Banished Immortal.”
“Your talent and comprehension surpass mine. This breathing method you’ve derived carries the essence of transforming myriad arts— even the spiritual energy it stirs is extraordinary.”
Luo Qiushui commented seriously, her flawless face full of earnest admiration, her demeanor that of a teacher relishing instruction.
At that moment, Shen Yanzhou sat cross-legged on a simple futon, dressed in a moon-white robe, his black hair glistening like crystal strands. Threads of spiritual energy swirled and coiled around him with each breath, forming faint vortices of chaos. The surrounding aura constantly streamed toward him.
To play the role of this so-called “Banished Immortal,” he had gone to great lengths.
From a blank page, he had conjured a breathing art out of nothing.
But there was one thing he couldn’t hold back—he sighed softly. “Senior Sister, I’m already at the Sixth-Rank, Core Formation Realm… You really don’t have to teach me how to breathe in and out to draw spiritual energy…”
It was like a graduate student being taught how to count “one plus one equals two” all over again.
Luo Qiushui froze.
“Then what do you want to learn?”
She tilted her head slightly, thinking seriously for a moment. She had only been planning to teach her junior the things that their master had once taught her.
But now, it seemed that he didn’t really need any of those.
“Talismans, alchemy, artifact refinement—or perhaps Master’s unique divine techniques?” Shen Yanzhou asked.
“As a Banished Immortal, Junior Brother should not be bound by preexisting arts and spells. One must not cling to the old ways but instead deduce and create according to one’s own Dao. Only then will it truly suit oneself.” Luo Qiushui’s voice was calm and cool.
“……”
Shen Yanzhou stayed silent for a long moment before consoling himself—geniuses really were like this.
“So, the divine techniques that Senior Sister knows… were they all self-created as well?”
After a pause, he asked.
Luo Qiushui nodded naturally. “The comprehensive Five Elements arts that the disciples of the Daoist Academy now study—most of the lower and mid-tier techniques among them—were improved and redeveloped by me from the old, complicated spells. I refined them to shorten casting time, reduce spiritual consumption, and slightly increase power.”
“As a Banished Immortal, your talent and comprehension in this field should surpass mine.”
Shen Yanzhou laughed inwardly—he truly didn’t know what to say.
That so-called master of his was clearly a hands-off teacher, knowing that Luo Qiushui was a true Daoist prodigy, so he hadn’t taught her anything—just let her figure out and invent everything herself.
But he wasn’t like that. He was merely a cheat-bearing wastrel.
He could learn existing arts—but to invent them from nothing? That would be tormenting his own system panel.
“Senior Sister speaks wisely.”
“To cling to rules and stagnate—how can one ever progress? Every divine art and technique has only become perfect through generations of improvement and innovation.”
Though he thought otherwise in his heart, Shen Yanzhou kept a properly enlightened look on his face.
Luo Qiushui’s clear eyes brightened slightly, clearly approving of his words.
“However, even the cleverest woman cannot cook without rice.”
“Senior Sister, do you have any existing divine techniques I can study, or perhaps the orthodox Tiangang True Laws of the Taixu Immortal Sect?” Shen Yanzhou asked.
Luo Qiushui slightly furrowed her brows. “The orthodox Tiangang True Laws? I’ve heard Master mention them. They exist, but for various reasons, most have been lost. The collected records are incomplete. Among the Three Pure Immortal Sects, fewer than ten Tiangang True Laws remain.”
Fewer than ten?
That surprised Shen Yanzhou. In the original story, Daoist matters were rarely detailed, so he hadn’t realized that the Daoist sects now possessed so few of those True Laws.
“Junior Brother doesn’t intend to create a divine art on the same level as the Tiangang True Laws, does he?” Luo Qiushui asked.
You really think too highly of me.
Shen Yanzhou shook his head inwardly. Even if The True Explanation of Primordial Unity reached the fourth stage of Ten Thousand Transformations Returning to Flow, it could only simulate some spells—it couldn’t truly recreate them.
So the plan of extracting arts from Luo Qiushui wouldn’t work.
He could only shift his focus to Vice Deans Pu Chengjun and Fang Wendao instead.
“Speaking of which, I’ve yet to meet Master.”
“What impression does Senior Sister have of Master?” Shen Yanzhou asked casually.
Luo Qiushui didn’t think much of it and answered in her usual calm tone, “Beautiful.”
“Hmm?”
Shen Yanzhou raised his eyebrows. What kind of impression was that?
“Master is very beautiful.”
Luo Qiushui repeated it once more.
……
Shen Yanzhou didn’t stay in the cave residence any longer. For someone like him, lasting three days there was already impressive.
Using the excuse of missing his mother, he told Luo Qiushui he would return home for a while and left the Daoist Academy.
Before leaving, Luo Qiushui handed him all the gifts she had accepted on his behalf over the past three days.
That turned out to be a pleasant windfall.
After a quick count, there were high-grade talismans, inner armors, magical artifacts, talismanic treasures, and all kinds of rare items—each quite valuable, though lacking any divine techniques.
“Perhaps those Daoist seniors assumed that with a master like mine, I wouldn’t be short of divine arts.” Shen Yanzhou chuckled inwardly, not minding much.
He had six basic attribute points ready. That was his real confidence—he could break through at any moment.
Upon returning to the mansion—
Shen Yanzhou first went to the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard. After all, it had been three days since he’d seen the princess consort, and as a “filial” son, he should at least greet his mother.
Unlike before, he could now clearly feel the change in how people looked at him.
Not just servants and maids—even the household retainers and guest elders bowed respectfully from afar.
It seemed Shen Jingxiao had deliberately given orders.
“Looks like when he dined with Emperor Mingde that day, he must’ve been reprimanded.” Shen Yanzhou sneered inwardly, pretending not to notice.
Princess Consort Yu Chenyu was, as usual, transcribing Buddhist scriptures in the bamboo pavilion. Her graceful figure was wrapped in a plain gauze dress, her demeanor serene and elegant.
When Shen Yanzhou arrived, he didn’t disturb her—just quietly watched from the side. Her swanlike neck was slender and white, her hair cascading like ink, a faint fragrance drifting with the wind.
“Not used to life in the Daoist Academy?”
After finishing her copying, Yu Chenyu finally put down her brush and paper, glancing at him lightly.
“I’m used to it. Mother doesn’t know—over there, I’m someone even the grandmasters treat with respect. Whatever I need, I have. Even the elders speak to me courteously. Not like in this mansion, where I was once treated as a nobody.” Shen Yanzhou said with a smiling tone.
“Oh? If it’s so pleasant there, why come back? Isn’t it better to enjoy yourself there?” Yu Chenyu said faintly.
“But Mother isn’t there. Three days without seeing you, and I already missed you.” Shen Yanzhou smiled.
Yu Chenyu’s lips curved slightly, but her tone stayed cool. “Sweet talker.”
“Mother, look at this.”
Shen Yanzhou bent down suddenly, leaning close to her. A clear, translucent jade bracelet appeared in his hand, faintly glowing with Buddhist light and Daoist aura—it carried a touch of serene charm.
“Where did that bracelet come from?”
Yu Chenyu glanced at it and instantly recognized it as a talismanic treasure forged through both Buddhist and Daoist techniques. Even if she couldn’t tell its exact function, its color was elegant and beautiful.
“A Daoist expert gifted it to me. Does Mother like it? I kept it specially for you.” Shen Yanzhou smiled.
“It’s… fine.” Yu Chenyu nodded slightly.
“It’ll surely look beautiful on you.”
Without waiting for her response, Shen Yanzhou gently took her slender hand, lifting her sleeve to reveal her fair arm.
Then he held the bracelet up, measuring it against her wrist.
Seeing his action, Yu Chenyu froze for a moment, instinctively wanting to pull back. But noticing his serious expression, she suppressed the strange feeling in her chest and let him continue.
“Mother’s hands are truly beautiful.”
Shen Yanzhou praised softly, almost absentmindedly.
He wasn’t lying—the fingers were long and delicate, her nails tinted faintly pink. Her skin was so soft it seemed boneless, and he subconsciously gave it a light squeeze.
Yu Chenyu’s hand trembled slightly, her impulse to pull away growing stronger.
Though Shen Yanzhou was her adopted son, he was now a grown man.
Their interaction felt far too intimate.
And she wasn’t foolish—she clearly sensed Shen Yanzhou’s subtle intent.
“I’ll do it myself.”
Yu Chenyu reached with her other hand to take the bracelet.
But before she could, Shen Yanzhou had already slipped it onto her wrist. The plain jade gleamed softly against her snow-pale skin, making it look even fairer.
Yu Chenyu lowered her gaze slightly, staring at the bracelet. She had to admit—it did look rather nice.
“Does Mother like it?”
Shen Yanzhou’s voice came from beside her, light and smiling.
Yu Chenyu turned her face slightly; she could almost feel his breath.
They were far too close. Normally, she hated when others invaded her space. Even her maids didn’t dare approach her so closely—yet now, their faces were nearly touching.
Why, then, did she feel no disgust toward Shen Yanzhou? Why instead did something feel strangely off within her heart?
“What are you two doing?”
A cold, shadowed voice cut through the air.
Yu Chenyu looked up and saw Shen Jingxiao. She quickly looked away, pretending not to notice him.
Her brows furrowed slightly. Normally, she would have sensed him approaching long before he arrived.
But her focus had wandered—clearly because of Shen Yanzhou.
Shen Yanzhou also noticed the approaching Demon Suppression King, but since even the princess consort acted as if she hadn’t seen him, why should he care?
In fact, he deliberately tightened his grip on her delicate hand.
Yu Chenyu noticed the motion, shot him a glance, and seeing his feigned innocence, allowed him to hold on.
Negative emotion from Shen Jingxiao +23 +25 +28…
Outside the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard, the Demon Suppression King, Shen Jingxiao, stood expressionless as he watched the two in the bamboo pavilion. His cold gaze seemed to chill the very air.
The accompanying clan elders’ faces turned from surprise to alarm.
From their view, they saw Shen Yanzhou bending close toward Princess Consort Yu Chenyu, their faces nearly touching.
Especially since Shen Yanzhou was holding her slender hand and smiling as he spoke.
To an uninformed onlooker, ignoring their familial titles, they might easily have been mistaken for an affectionate couple.
“Princess Consort, may I come in?”
Shen Jingxiao’s tone was icy, though outwardly still calm.
“If you have something to say, just say it.” Yu Chenyu replied faintly.
“I came to speak with Zhou’er, regarding His Majesty’s intent to promote him—to take a post in the Chilin Guards.” Shen Jingxiao drew a deep breath, forcing his composure.
“Then come in.”
Yu Chenyu nodded slightly and withdrew her hand from Shen Yanzhou’s grasp.
Only then did Shen Jingxiao notice that Shen Yanzhou had been helping Yu Chenyu put on the bracelet. With his experience, he instantly recognized its extraordinary nature—its material, luster, and craftsmanship all of the highest grade, blending both Buddhist and Daoist methods.
That realization made him exhale slightly in relief. The earlier scene had nearly frozen his thoughts with rage, a fire burning uncontrollably within him.
Fortunately, it wasn’t Shen Yanzhou putting a green hat on him.
Otherwise, if such a thing spread, Shen Jingxiao’s lifelong reputation would be utterly ruined—mocked and ridiculed by countless people.
“Zhou’er is already an adult. You are my legally wedded wife, and there’s no blood relation between you two. If your behavior remains this intimate and word spreads, it will damage the reputation of our mansion.”
“Zhou’er’s courtyard was destroyed and is currently being rebuilt. Since you’re both living in the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard, it’s best to avoid suspicion.”
“You must also stop indulging him so much.”
Shen Jingxiao spoke bluntly, not caring that Shen Yanzhou was standing right beside them. After all, they had already torn off all pretense of civility in the mansion—no need to pretend otherwise.
Upon hearing this, Yu Chenyu gave him a faint glance. “I know what I’m doing. Zhou’er is filial and thoughtful toward me. If you were half as understanding as he is, that day in the Hall of Pure Serenity, I wouldn’t have been put in an awkward position before Her Majesty.”
“……”
Shen Jingxiao froze. He knew exactly what she meant. That day, the Empress had deliberately probed into their current relationship to make things difficult for the princess consort, and his silence at the time had displeased Yu Chenyu.
Now that she brought it up again, he could only swallow his words.
“Tian’er will return to the capital in two days. By then, I’ll bring him here so that you two may finally reunite as mother and son.”
He turned the topic deliberately.
He wanted Yu Chenyu to remember—Shen Tian was their real son, while Shen Yanzhou was merely a stand-in.
Yet Yu Chenyu showed no joy, merely nodding calmly. “You say he is, then he is. A stranger I haven’t seen in twenty years—you’d have me call him my son just like that?”
Shen Jingxiao felt his mood worsen. Yu Chenyu hadn’t been so “unreasonable” in the past. Was she now unwilling to acknowledge even her own son?
“How could that be? You and Tian’er share blood. Blood ties run thicker than water—how could he be a stranger?”
“……” Yu Chenyu said nothing more.
“Zhou’er, when I was away from the capital, I didn’t know how harshly some elders treated you. But now I’ve investigated everything. I’ve brought your Sixth Uncle here to apologize and let you handle it personally.”
Shen Jingxiao turned to look at Shen Yanzhou.
As he waved his hand toward the courtyard, one of the clan elders waiting outside—the Sixth Elder—entered, shame written across his face. He removed his outer robe, exposing a muscular torso, while another elder tied a thorned branch across his back.
“Zhou’er, your Sixth Grandfather wronged you. These years have been hard for you.”
“It was your Sixth Grandfather who lost his mind, treating you unfairly—refusing to let you study, forbidding you from practicing martial arts, letting you fall into worldly temptation too soon…”
“Everything I did was for the good of the mansion. You didn’t know it then, but during those difficult years, had you shown too much talent, it would have drawn suspicion and hostility from the court…”
The old man’s face flushed with shame, his eyes reddening as tears welled up. With a heavy thud, he knelt before Shen Yanzhou.
His tearful sincerity made even the maids and servants watching tear up.
Shen Yanzhou remained silent, calmly observing the performance.
He wanted to see what kind of trick Shen Jingxiao was playing. Clearly, this was a forced apology—someone brought out to take the blame for years of mistreatment.
There was no way Shen Jingxiao had suddenly grown a conscience. More likely, he just wanted to give an explanation to that person in the Golden Luan Hall.
“Sixth Grandfather jests. How could I blame you? After all, you acted for the good of the mansion.”
Smiling, Shen Yanzhou walked forward, seemingly intending to help the old man up.
Seeing his demeanor, the onlookers exhaled softly. They thought Shen Yanzhou had decided to let the matter go.
Now that he was favored by His Majesty and accepted as a disciple by the ancestral master of the Taixu Immortal Sect, his growing power made them all uneasy—they certainly didn’t want to be his enemies.
“Sixth Grandfather, please rise. Your old body can’t handle such kneeling.”
“These years, though the mansion treated me harshly, I never held any hatred. After all, I’ve still lived a privileged life here, never lacking fine food or comfort.”
Shen Yanzhou spoke sincerely as he helped the kneeling elder up.
His words left everyone stunned—even Shen Jingxiao’s eyes narrowed slightly. Could it be that Shen Yanzhou truly wanted reconciliation?
But his next words made everyone’s expressions change.
“However, I’m someone who holds grudges.”
“I’ve never hated the mansion, only kept gratitude in my heart. Yet someone has tried to kill me—feeding me the Nether Gu, devouring my vitality day and night for twenty long years, tormenting me endlessly…”
“Sixth Grandfather, was that you?” Shen Yanzhou asked seriously, staring into the old man’s eyes.
The elder, who had been weeping moments ago, froze completely. His mind went blank as he instinctively turned to Shen Jingxiao.
But Shen Jingxiao’s expression didn’t change—he didn’t even meet his eyes.
“It was… it was me.”
“Zhou’er, your Sixth Grandfather wronged you…” The old man gritted his teeth and accepted the blame.
Shen Yanzhou smiled. “In that case, you can die now.”
The moment the words left his mouth, he struck the old man’s forehead with a single palm. The power of Primordial Qi surged forth like Mount Tai descending.
With a wet crack, the elder’s head burst apart—red and white splattering in every direction.
Shen Yanzhou had already erected a spiritual barrier in front of himself. His robes remained spotless.
But Shen Jingxiao and the others, caught off guard, were splattered with blood and brain matter.
None of them had expected Shen Yanzhou to kill so suddenly—in front of them all.
And that Sixth Elder was a Fifth-Rank martial expert—yet he hadn’t even had time to react before being killed with a single strike?
Even Yu Chenyu in the bamboo pavilion was taken aback.
“Shen Yanzhou…” Shen Jingxiao’s face turned dark as ink, his killing intent barely suppressed.
Shen Zhigao and the others looked upon the slain elder with grief and fury.
To them, this was a gesture of apology and reconciliation—but Shen Yanzhou had taken advantage of it to commit murder.
“I must report for duty at the Chilin Guards, so I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”
Ignoring their murderous glares, Shen Yanzhou smiled casually and strode away.
Having a powerful backer really was a wonderful feeling.
……
At the Chilin Guards headquarters—
Commander Liu Ci and several Captains had already gathered, awaiting him.
They had received word from the commanding officer: today was the day the newly appointed Captain Shen Yanzhou would assume his post.
A direct appointment by the Emperor himself was a rare event within the Chilin Guards.
Normally, Captains were promoted step by step—from menial soldiers and regular warriors, through merit and battle record.
For someone to be appointed a Captain straight away, a rank second only to Commanders, was unheard of.
Of course, everyone in the capital now knew of Shen Yanzhou—the dual Sixth-Rank prodigy of both Martial and Daoist cultivation. Even within the Bureau of Immortal Inspection, he would have easily qualified as an Immortal Officer.
Though some among the Chilin Guards harbored resentment, they all kept silent.
“This time, Captain Shen will personally take charge of the case regarding those recently found cultivating the Northern Sea Heaven-Transforming Human Pill Grand Art in the capital. He will have full authority over the investigation,” Commander Liu Ci announced to the assembled Captains.
This was an order directly from Commanding Officer Wei Gong.
“Yes, we await Captain Shen’s command.” the Captains responded in unison.
Wu Ruyue was now also among the Chilin Guards. Unlike Shen Yanzhou, who entered as a Captain, she had started from the bottom and had to earn every promotion.
Of course, that was because she had chosen to train in the Southern Border previously.
Had she stayed in the capital, she would likely already be a Hundred-man Captain by now.
“I really didn’t expect this—that I’d be working with him again,” Gu Ruoxi muttered. She was stationed at the Chilin Guards as well, since the bodies of the recently deceased Martial Institute students had been sent here.
As an Immortal Officer from the Bureau of Immortal Inspection, she had handled difficult cases before, though this one had proven exceptionally frustrating—days had passed with no progress.
What shocked her most, however, wasn’t Shen Yanzhou’s new military position, but his identity as the Daoist sects’ “Little Ancestral Master.”
Gu Ruoxi had thought herself gifted—about to break through to the Seventh Rank and establish her Foundation—but she never imagined Shen Yanzhou’s hidden cultivation was already Sixth Rank, and that he now outranked even her own Third Grandfather, Gu Chengyun, in the Daoist hierarchy.
As the Chilin Guards waited in formation at the training grounds, a tall and elegant figure appeared, walking toward them.
Shen Yanzhou had arrived.
“His Highness Shen—the new Captain Shen.” Commander Liu Ci stroked his beard with a smile, stepping forward to greet him, followed by the other Captains.
“Why does Young Lord Shen look even more handsome than before?”
Wu Ruyue hadn’t seen Shen Yanzhou for several days. The moment she laid eyes on him, she froze.
The two had once shared an intimacy she could never forget—and yet now, Shen Yanzhou’s every movement radiated a refined, otherworldly grace that words could hardly describe.