When they arrived at the Shen family, Shen Tanqi popped his head out of the coffin, looking at the elegant Shen family mansion in front of them, saying it was not an exaggeration to call it magnificent.
The Shen family in Shuoxia City was simply like a local emperor.
Turning back to look, Shen Zhiguo crawled out of the garbage can, gasping for breath, unable to stop retching, waving to Shen Tanqi, “I’m fine, young master, don’t worry about me.”
Shen Tanqi: …
He thinks too much.
He couldn’t be bothered with Shen Zhiguo. He slowly walked to the door of the Shen family, and knocked on the copper lion’s ring on the scarlet gate.
Inside, there was no sound. Shen Tanqi pondered for a moment, quickly figuring out the key. Perhaps the Shen family also knew the rules of the Chen Gui’s and didn’t dare to respond lightly. So, Shen Tanqi calmly spoke up, “It’s me, Shen Tanqi.”
Those three words were like a magic spell, and the door instantly opened a crack. Several servants glanced quickly at Shen Tanqi’s appearance outside the door, confirmed it was the young master himself, and immediately ushered them in without daring to delay, with one even rushing off to report to the master.
“Young master, please come in quickly. Today, there are evil spirits haunting Shuoxia City, and the master ordered that no one should enter.” The servant said, then quickly added cautiously, “But you, young master, are certainly different. The master has been talking all day about wanting you to come home to rest and enjoy yourself.”
From the servant’s words, Shen Tanqi could probably understand his position in the Shen family. In fact, he had vaguely guessed it when Shen Fei came earlier. The reason why his original self was so arrogant and despised everyone was all because this family indulged him too much.
This guy was playing the role of the ‘group’s favorite.’
Yu Ce followed him calmly, his gaze sweeping over everything here, his eyes growing deeper and deeper.
Luxurious jade and stone tiles, roofs paved with glazed tiles, golden lamps that stayed on all night, obedient servants and guards, guest cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage—everywhere told him clearly that Shen Tanqi was different from him.
Shen Tanqi would still be the young master of the Shen family, carrying the expectations of the family head and inheriting the entire family in the future.
A wave of disturbance surged in his heart, his breath heavy.
Yu Ce suddenly felt that the high walls around him were like slowly closing cages, trapping Shen Tanqi here and forever isolating him.
He was a dragon, the most despised demon of the Shen family, so he, Goldfish and Taro Ball might never gain the recognition of the Shen family.
Even if he cultivated into immortality.
Even if he had children.
Even if he stood by Shen Tanqi’s side at this moment.
Beside him, Shen Zhiguo, probably because he had gotten over his nausea, started talking to Shen Tanqi endlessly about the Shen family. “Young master, I saw Madam Fei last time. Her health is exceptionally good now, and she said she misses and cares about you very much.”
Shen Tanqi wasn’t a fool; he could tell that Shen Zhiguo was trying to cozy up to him by mentioning Shen Fei. He glanced at him indifferently, then turned to Yu Ce behind him and whispered, “He’s so noisy.”
At his words, Yu Ce immediately used his scabbard to push Shen Zhiguo, with his dirty face, away from Shen Tanqi’s side, and then retreated behind Shen Tanqi again.
Seeing this, Shen Tanqi was slightly taken aback and whispered, “Come here, stand beside me.”
Unexpectedly, Yu Ce just glanced at him lightly and said, “No, the Shen family doesn’t like demons. They might get annoyed if they see me.”
Since he had come to ask for help from the Shen family, Yu Ce naturally didn’t mind making these concessions. For him, he had long been accustomed to various looks regarding his demon identity.
He deliberately distanced himself from Shen Tanqi, stepping back half a step.
Shen Tanqi turned his head and gave him a deep look, but ultimately said nothing.
Likes to endure, huh?
He had previously taught him the principle of speaking directly when there’s something, but it seemed that some people hadn’t learned their lesson at all.
Fine, let’s see how long you can endure.
He smiled at the leading servant and said, “I’ve been practicing outside for a few years and have missed home terribly. I’ve been wanting to come back to see how my family and father are doing.”
The servant lowered his head and respectfully replied, “The master’s health is fine, but he often has headaches. However, recently, Madam Qi specifically invited a divine doctor from the southern country to treat him at home, so he should recover soon.”
Madam Qi was Shen Fei.
As they were talking, the servant had already led them to the main hall. Because the demons were rampant in the city tonight, everyone in the Shen family was still awake, and the main lineages were gathered in the main hall to discuss countermeasures.
As soon as they entered, the voices in the entire main hall ceased, and countless gazes converged on Shen Tanqi—and the figure of Yu Ce behind him.
Presumably, the servant who had opened the door had already reported that Shen Tanqi had returned, accompanied by a demon.
The people in the main hall at this moment had various expressions.
Only the legendary head of the Shen family, sitting at the top, lowered his eyes to look at Shen Tanqi at the door. His solemn and rigid face couldn’t hold back the smile, causing a few deep wrinkles to appear forcibly. Instead of speaking to Shen Tanqi first, he turned to Shen Fei beside him and pointed at him with a smile, “This stinky kid, he’s grown taller again.”
Not a word was said about Yu Ce, the demon behind Shen Tanqi, instantly melting the tense atmosphere in the entire main hall. Seeing the attitude of the head of the family, everyone’s understanding of how much the head doted on Shen Tanqi was refreshed once again.
If anyone else dared to bring a demon into the family, they might have their legs chopped off at the doorstep.
Shen Tanqi had been in society for a long time and could easily sense this atmosphere.
He put on a smile and respectfully greeted the head of the family, “Father, I’m back.”
The faces of all the Shen family members changed again, but only Shen Fei smiled and fanned the head of the family with a smile, softly saying, “Master, look, I said when I brought back the New Year’s gift last time, the young master has grown more sensible now, knowing to be considerate to you.”
Everyone in the Shen family knew that the head doted on this eldest young master, who came late in his life and was the eldest son, the only son of the main wife. From a young age, his talent and aptitude were higher than those of other young masters. If he wasn’t doted on, then who would be?
So, if you wanted to say something that the head would like to hear, you didn’t have to think too hard—praising Shen Tanqi was enough.
Shen Fei understood this well, and although the head’s tone didn’t change much after hearing it, his expression visibly relaxed, “Who knows how sensible he’s become. Was he bullied outside?”
The head’s favoritism towards Shen Tanqi even made Shen Tanqi himself speechless.
But when he thought about the actions of the Shen family in the original book, he still couldn’t bring himself to like these people in front of him.
Shen Tanqi shook his head and smiled, “Who would dare to bully me? Anyone who dares to provoke me, won’t they need to weigh themselves against you?”
Upon hearing this, the head couldn’t contain his smile any longer, and he laughed, “Stinky kid, you’ve been out for a while, and you’ve come back with such a sweet mouth. Aren’t you going to call your old man an old fart anymore?”
Shen Tanqi: ? Original owner was pretty bold.
His parents died early, and Shen Tanqi left home to work with his brother when he was in his teens. To be honest, he didn’t even know how to play the role of someone else’s son, let alone how to get along with this whole bunch of people.
He opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly saw an old man with thick fabric wrapped around his head slowly walking in beside the head, looking like an Arab.
“Master, it’s time to check your pulse.” The old man rubbed his hands eagerly, smiled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and fawned, “Should I prepare two doses of elixir as usual today?”
Just as the old man finished speaking, the head of the family, as if suddenly remembering something, smiled and said, “Doctor, you’ve come just in time. This is my son.”
A few servants carefully brought up a tray covered with silk cloth, and the head of the family waved his hand to indicate that they should pass the tray to Shen Tanqi. Then, he spoke with solemnity to the Arab doctor, “My son was previously harmed by demons and contracted demonic poison. Go and see if the residual poison in his body has been completely cleared.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Tanqi instinctively wanted to skip over this topic, “Father, I came back for something more important…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the Arab doctor approached with a smile and said, “Young master, why say such things? There’s nothing more important than your health. It’s just checking your pulse, it won’t take half a quarter of an hour.”
Hearing that it wouldn’t take long, Shen Tanqi felt somewhat helpless and reluctantly said, “Fine, just do it quickly.”
With Shen Tanqi’s permission, the Arab doctor took the silk cloth from the tray and carefully placed it on Shen Tanqi’s wrist, gently pressing it against his pulse.
As he checked Shen Tanqi’s pulse, the head of the family was extremely nervous, holding his breath and concentrating, fearing that something might happen to Shen Tanqi. He didn’t speak, and the entire main hall remained silent, with no one daring to speak.
Everyone was quietly waiting for the results of Shen Tanqi’s pulse diagnosis, even Yu Ce couldn’t help but look up.
Although he knew that Shen Tanqi couldn’t possibly have demonic poison left in his body, after all, over the past three hundred days and nights, they didn’t know how many times they had gone through those things…
Shen Tanqi absentmindedly watched the expression of the Arab doctor. Actually, he had felt that the doctor seemed like a fraud since the mention of the elixir. Headaches were just minor ailments, what need was there for elixirs?
Forget it, just go through the motions.
However, Shen Tanqi saw the expression of the Arab doctor change from seriousness to astonishment, from disbelief to constipation, from full confidence to doubt about life.
Shen Tanqi: ?
“Doctor, do I have a terminal illness?”
As soon as these words were uttered, everyone instantly turned their gaze to Shen Tanqi and the doctor.
Yu Ce furrowed his brows slightly, having forgotten that he had told himself not to get close to Shen Tanqi first; his body unconsciously leaned forward a bit.
The doctor’s expression froze, a few drops of cold sweat slowly trickling down from his forehead, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Sitting at the head of the table, the family head couldn’t bear it any longer. “What’s wrong with my son? Speak up, Doctor!”
After a while, the Arab doctor seemed to take a deep breath, unwilling to give up, he checked Shen Tanqi’s pulse again before finally speaking with a pale face, “Master, rest assured, young master is in excellent health, without any illness, and the poison has long been cleared.”
Upon hearing this, the various thoughts in the main hall eased for some, while others felt regretful.
The family head’s complexion eased slightly. He wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead, releasing half the tension in his heart. Coldly, he asked, “So, what was the meaning of your expression just now, Doctor?”
His questioning tone was heavy. The Arab doctor swallowed hard, as if mentally preparing himself again and again. Suddenly, he knelt down, knocked his head loudly, and exclaimed, “Congratulations, Master! Congratulations, Master! Young Master… is expecting!”
As the words fell, the family head’s face stiffened like iron. The main hall became so silent that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone looked speechlessly at Shen Tanqi standing in the middle.
Shen Tanqi incredulously withdrew his hand, looking at the Arab quack doctor, and said, “What nonsense are you spouting?”
Even if there were signs of pregnancy, it should have been three years ago. How could there still be signs now, after his child had been born?
Just as he finished speaking, Shen Tanqi suddenly heard a very low cough behind him. The sound was faint, but it echoed clearly in his ears.
He instinctively turned to look at Yu Ce. In that split second of eye contact, Shen Tanqi’s mind instantly flashed back to a terrifying night he didn’t want to remember at all.
The howling cold wind of the night, the icy moon as cold as water, beside the crimson and solid corridor pillars, the scent of alcohol lingering, melting away the vast night.
He was pressed against the pillar by Yu Ce, enduring the entire night.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
