Chapter 45: This Young Master Meets A Peacock

Chapter 45: This Young Master Meets A Peacock

The bluster of the Elders was strangled and they scrambled to be the first to bow after Shen Jianyus appearance. Lan Fen dragged him to bow so low he couldnt even raise his eyes to see the prince. The rest of the crowd quickly followed suit. Praises and hails rang through the air and he trembled beneath the weight of them.

Chen Haorans mind raced seeing Song Yuelins reaction. He hadnt been this worried even when the City Lord was threatening to kill them. Lan Fen panicked before entering the palace and then a prince of the Empire appeared. Song Yuelin panicked, the prince being here was bad for them. Why? Was it because of the deal the Chen family had with the City Lord? They had hidden it from the various forces in the City, were they hiding it from the Empire too? Was it something the Empire shouldnt know period?

You may rise, Shen Jianyu said. He did not pitch his voice with qi. It did not matter. Every cultivator here would strain their ears to not miss a word. You must be wondering why you were told to come here. He smiled. Chen Haoran heard more than one breath hitch. I was in the area and heard it was playing host to a Palace Exam. He nodded to the Exam Official.

Was he really here for the exams? Were there going to be some additional tests added? What was so special about them that royalty would get involved?

I heard that the exam was rather important to the people here, Shen Jianyu continued. So I canceled them.

What?

A wave passed through the crowd, the sheer disbelief almost manifesting into something physical. Lan Xishen shuddered, Lan Yao widened her eyes, Lan Fen pressed her lips into a tight line, Song Yuelin was carefully blank-faced, Xie Jin openly gaped. The City Lord and Exam Official seemed just as surprised as they were.

Youre welcome, Shen Jianyu said.

Your Highness I must protest, the Exam Official said. This is unprecedented!

What is so unprecedented about me using my royal authority to decide on matters established by royal authority?

This is an overreach, your Highness.

Send a memorial to the court then. Let me know when you find someone who cares.

The Exam Officials face pinched into something ugly but she ultimately stood down. Shen Jianyu looked down at the gathered elite of Clearsprings City with boredom. It started to dawn that he was serious, the exam would indeed be canceled.

Is this it? Shen Jianyu asked the City Lord.

This should be the majority of the participants Your Highness, the City Lord bowed and answered.

I dont know, Song Yuelin snapped. He grabbed Chen Haoran and Lan Fens wrists and ducked into an alley. Liquid shadow bubbled out from his sleeves and draped over them like a cloak. Chen Haoran had no time to adjust to the sudden blindness when Song Yuelin suddenly accelerated.

He could only liken the experience to being whipped around on a roller coaster through a dark tunnel. He couldnt tell if his feet were planted on the ground or if Song Yuelin was dragging him through the air like some sort of trailing flag. The shadows cloaking him blocked the wind force of the no doubt ludicrous speed Song Yuelin was going at, just as it blocked sight, feeling, or any sense of being anywhere. The only things Chen Haoran could feel were his thoughts and the yellow qi coursing through him, qi and mind. In Song Yuelins shadow he was just a skeleton of meridians and the shaking mind within it, waiting for the darkness to recede so he could put his skin back on again.

He felt sick.

The shadows receded and Chen Haoran was a man again. His knees gave out, the sudden halt of motion combined with the blinding assault of light and stunned him. He reached for his qi to clear away the pains, but his stomach roiled and he bent over and vomited. He blinked away the tears in his eyes as his senses returned to him and spit out the sour in his stinging throat before sitting up.

They were in an alley, one of the city gates was in view outside its entrance. It was the same gates Chen Haoran used for all his trips into the Clearsprings Mountains. Song Yuelin and Lan Fen stood before him. Lan Fen looked fine despite being just as unprepared as he was, and a bitter part of his mind was not surprised.

I apologize for the discomfort Young Master Chen but the situation called for it, Song Yuelin said. He reached out a hand but Chen Haoran slapped it away and shakily rose by himself.

What situation? Chen Haoran hissed. You havent explained anything! You dont even know whats going on!

Whatever the reason for Shen Jianyu to appear here is, it wont be good for us if we catch his attention, Song Yuelin patiently explained.

If he were here for us he would have done something when we were in the City Lords palace, Chen Haoran retorted. Hes probably here for the City Lord, you saw how he was fucking with the guy.

Yes, Song Yuelin agreed. And how much confidence do you have in the City Lord that he wont expose us if pressed?

Hes a Crystal- Chen Haoran began but his words died as realization came over him. Nothing that had been said about the City Lord painted him as reliable. Shouldnt I be the one asking you that? Would the Chen family really make a deal with such a flaky bastard?

Song Yuelin was grim. An Imperial prince personally appearing in the region was beyond our expectations. He sighed. We may yet be safe but its better to be cautious and lay low for the time being.

Chen Haoran frowned and looked at the gates. Why did you not bring us to the manor?

We will be leaving Clearsprings City until the situation either blows over or blows up, Song Yuelin answered.

A harsh screeching filled the air and they looked over to Lan Fen dragging her nails across the alley wall and leaving long white marks on the brick

She folded her arms and looked at Song Yuelin calmly. When did I agree to leave with you?