Chapter 6: The Mysterious Taoist

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Shen Xunqing’s originally excellent mood was completely ruined by that woman. Unfortunately, this troublesome woman had been reborn as a member of the royal household. Now that he was one of the examiners for the imperial examination and Yu Huan was a candidate, if the royal family noticed this, things would not be so easily resolved.

Thinking this through, Shen Xunqing turned back to Yu Huan and smiled faintly, “Let’s forget it for today. I ran into some acquaintances and had to handle some matters, so it will take some time. The boatman will take you ashore; take the same route back. The black servant will escort you home.”

Yu Huan remained silent but nodded in agreement.

Shen Xunqing left with a cold expression. Glancing back at Yu Huan, he boarded a larger pleasure boat, only to realize that not only was that troublesome woman on board, but also the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and other royal relatives and nobles.

On the boat, there was a lively atmosphere filled with music, dance, and the clinking of wine cups.

As soon as Shen Xunqing stepped onto the boat, the merriment ceased, and all eyes turned to him. The previously noisy boat instantly fell silent.

Sitting in the center, dressed in common attire, a man held a white porcelain wine cup in one hand while embracing a singing girl with the other. Despite the revelry, he exuded an air of refinement, as if practicing calligraphy or playing the zither—utterly graceful and composed.

Being seated in the center naturally meant he held the highest status. This elegant nobleman was the Crown Prince. Beside him, bearing a similar appearance but a more roguish demeanor, was the Second Prince.

The Crown Prince did not look at Shen Xunqing but instead turned to Yan Qianqian, asking, “Is this the Shen family young master you often mention, Sixth Sister?”

Yan Qianqian smiled brightly, a rosy flush blossoming on her cheeks. She nodded gently and teased, “Brother, you already know, so don’t ask.” She then stole a glance at Shen Xunqing. “It’s quite embarrassing!”

At that glance, Shen Xunqing stiffened, suppressing the discomfort in his throat. “Xunqing pays respects to the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the princess.”

The Crown Prince seemed to regain his composure and appraised Shen Xunqing carefully before laughing softly, “This Shen family young master has a good appearance, far more handsome than my singing girls…”

Hearing this, Shen Xunqing lowered his gaze and was about to reply when Yan Qianqian interrupted, “Oh! Brother, I don’t care how many singing or dancing girls you have at your residence, but how can you compare the one I like to those women!”

The Crown Prince glanced meaningfully at Shen Xunqing, then turned to Yan Qianqian, “Oh? Feeling jealous?”

Yan Qianqian’s voice rose slightly, “Brother!”

The Crown Prince sighed with a mix of helplessness and indulgence, “Alright, alright. Let’s continue the fun! Since Xunqing has come, don’t be shy. Find a seat anywhere.”

Though he said “anywhere,” all seats except the one below the Crown Prince were already taken. Shen Xunqing, adhering to the idea of making the best of the situation, took that seat, opposite Yan Qianqian.

Once Shen Xunqing sat down, the boat resumed its lively atmosphere. Yan Qianqian stared at him intently, and so did the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince sipped his wine lightly and casually said, “I heard that Lord Shen—or rather, Prince Shen—is going to be one of the examiners for the imperial examination?”

Shen Xunqing paused with his chopsticks mid-air and replied, “That is true.”

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The Crown Prince’s expression was calm, his smile warm, and his tone casual as if chatting about daily matters. “If, I say if, I wanted to ask Prince Shen for a little favor during the exam, would Prince Shen be willing?”

Shen Xunqing withdrew his hand, his tone equally calm and light. “Your Highness jest. As the future heir to the Yan Kingdom, how could I possibly be of help to Your Highness?”

A playful glint flashed in the Crown Prince’s eyes. “Ah, Prince Shen, don’t belittle yourself. You might be able to help after all.”

Shen Xunqing fell silent, offering no further words.

By the shore,

After disembarking, Yu Huan followed Shen Xunqing’s instructions and retraced her steps. The black servant was indeed still waiting.

From a distance, seeing Yu Huan return alone, the black servant felt uneasy. He concentrated and realized his master had boarded a boat filled mostly with high-ranking individuals. He instantly understood and wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

His master had finally had some rare alone time with the lady but ended up encountering these troublesome people. The servant could imagine his master’s mood.

Soon, Yu Huan reached the black servant’s side. The servant stood and greeted her, “Miss Yu, I’m truly sorry. It’s rare for you and my master to spend time together, but my master likely got held up by acquaintances again. Miss Yu, why not take this chance to rest and recharge? You’ll need your strength for the exam.”

Yu Huan was momentarily taken aback but nodded gently and boarded the carriage.

The weather was unpredictable. One moment the sky was clear and bright; the next, it turned dark and cloudy. In the distance, white lightning flickered faintly, accompanied by the rolling thunder, like the beating of drums, which grew increasingly unsettling.

The black servant glanced at the sky and warned, “Miss Yu, it’s about to rain. Hold on tight. We must get back to the city before the storm.”

Yu Huan quietly replied, “Alright,” clutching the window frame firmly.

Receiving her response, the black servant gradually quickened the carriage’s pace. The ride was somewhat bumpy but stable, and they soon entered the city.

The black servant stopped the carriage outside the mansion and let Yu Huan disembark first. “I’ll park the carriage. Please go inside ahead,” he said, then led the horses away.

Yu Huan ascended the steps, just a few strides from entering the mansion, when someone called out, “Young Master, please wait.”

Turning around, Yu Huan saw a Taoist priest dressed in a gray robe, holding a whisk, calling out to him. Politely, Yu Huan asked, “What does the Taoist want with me?”

The old Taoist stroked his beard, looking serious, and pointed at the mansion behind Yu Huan. “Young Master, do you reside in this mansion?”

Yu Huan shook his head. “I’m only temporarily staying here. I will leave after a while.”

The old Taoist’s eyes widened like lanterns. His normally flushed face turned pale. “Young Master, absolutely not! This mansion is uninhabitable! If you stay any longer, I fear for your life!”

Yu Huan frowned. “What do you mean, Taoist?”

The old Taoist clicked his tongue, his expression grim. He stared intently at the sky above the mansion and said gravely, “This place is thick with demonic energy and soaring malevolence. How could a mere mortal like you live amidst such rampant evil spirits?”

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Yu Huan gave a forced smile. “That’s impossible. To be honest, Taoist, please don’t take offense, but I generally don’t believe in ghosts or gods.”

The old Taoist was not angered by this. “No matter. I only wish to do a good deed. If you insist on staying, I will not stop you. But how about this: let me perform a ritual to show you the true forms of the demons in this mansion…”

Just as Yu Huan was about to refuse, the old Taoist’s fingertips glowed faintly white. With a gentle flick, the light shot straight into Yu Huan’s eyes. Caught off guard, Yu Huan suddenly felt an intense itch.

He raised his sleeve to rub his eyes. “Young Master Yu, what’s wrong? Are you alright?” The black servant’s voice sounded nearby.

Yu Huan tried to open his eyes and saw that the old Taoist was gone. The black servant, who had seemed normal, now appeared to his eyes with golden pupils and sharp horns protruding from his head.

Startled, Yu Huan pushed the black servant away and said, “It’s nothing—just some dust in my eyes.”

After saying this, Yu Huan stumbled into the mansion, not daring to look around or stop along the way. Once inside his room, he shut the doors and windows tightly and sat on the bedside, eyes vacant and lost.

The black servant frowned, having just gone to park the carriage. What had happened? He sniffed the air carefully, sensing a foul, unpleasant odor mixed in.

Around the time the rain ceased, Shen Xunqing finally stepped off the boat.

The Crown Prince, standing at the bow with a faint smile, said, “Prince Shen, now that you have entered the court, every action you take, every choice you make, must be considered with utmost care. If you slip and fall, it won’t be just you who suffers, but a whole group of people connected to you, centered around you.”

The Crown Prince spoke softly, barely audible even to those beside him, yet Shen Xunqing heard every word clearly.

Without turning, Shen Xunqing remained silent. Though revenge was paramount, there was something even more important.

He rarely regretted his decisions, and having chosen to follow the little King of Hell, he now must eliminate all trivial distractions to focus entirely on that goal.

The forest was empty. After confirming no one was around, Shen Xunqing swiftly returned to the mansion.

Night had fallen, but Shen Xunqing keenly sensed a familiar yet hateful aura in the air. He tried to recall who it belonged to, but the memory felt distant, almost forgotten.

He shook his head, calming himself to think carefully, but no clue came to mind. Normally, anything that left an impression on him in the past few thousand years would be unforgettable.

There were only two possible reasons for his forgetfulness: either he accidentally confused two auras or he had known that person so long ago that the memory had faded. The latter seemed more likely.

But most long-ago beings were either perished, sealed, or cursed—except for him, who remained unharmed.

Could it be that some ancient sealed entity injected a fragment of its consciousness, which then escaped under certain circumstances?

The thought surfaced strongly in his mind, impossible to dismiss.

The once peaceful path of pursuit had now become complicated with a demonic woman from the demon realm and a young fox spirit. If another old entity appeared, things would become truly troublesome.

Thinking this, Shen Xunqing bit his lip and smiled grimly.