Chapter 70 – Have We Met Somewhere Before?

  Shen Ruolan’s voice echoed across the great hall, her disbelief at seeing Jun De walking into her grandfather’s palace in the company of the beautiful and powerful Sect Master Mu causing her to be much louder than she otherwise would have intended.

  She immediately flushed a bright red, and one hand came up to cover her mouth as her eyes widened in shock at her outburst. The eyes of everyone in the room, her own parents included, snapped toward her.

  Across the polished jade floor, Jun De paused as he stared at Shen Ruolan, and she could see that he was uncertain regarding her identity. She could almost see his thoughts churning, and a slight frown appeared on his face as he tried to remember where he had met her before.

  But then, after a long moment, his expression softened, and he gave her the slightest nod. It was respectful, but distant.

  Ruolan’s heart raced.

  ‘He knows.’ Ruolan thought. Jun De now knew that she had been disguised as Shen Yuren, and that she was really part of the City Lord’s Mansion.

  And that she wasn’t a young man, but a woman.

  Before Shen Ruolan could say anything more, or her parents could scold her or question why she had called out Jun De, who was clearly the young man that she had just told them about a few minutes prior, Mu Yanyu’s voice broke the awkward silence.

  “City Lord Han, I thank you for the courtesy in receiving me on such short notice. I apologize for not informing you beforehand that I would be visiting, but my Disciple unintentionally entered a Transportation Array in the Hollow Stream Sect and arrived at your city.

  Mu Yanyu explained the situation simply, her voice as smooth as flowing water and as elegant as her appearance. She bowed politely, while Jun De clasped his hands and bowed much more deeply than his Elder.

  It was Shen Ruolan’s turn to frown at the beautiful woman, and her eyes flicked between Jun De and Mu Yanyu.

  City Lord Han Zhengwu waved away the courtesy and let out a chuckle, shaking his head.

  “A rare occurrence indeed! Your arrival may be unexpected, Mu Yanyu, but you are always welcome in Yunlai City.” Han Zhengwu replied before turning his attention to Jun De.

  He could see that the young man was exceptionally talented, having reached the 6th Level of Qi Condensation at his age. There was also the fact that his appearance could rival an immortal, and how his precious Granddaughter seemed to already know him.

  “Is this the young Disciple that required your assistance? Coming to Yunlai City by teleportation array is a fortuitous encounter. Such arrays may lead you somewhere far less hospitable. In the future, take care around such things. You should have come to see me immediately, rather than forcing your Elder to retrieve you personally.” City Lord Han scolded gently.

  Jun De bowed once more and clasped his hands before replying.

  “My apologies, Senior. When I arrived, I had no idea which City I was in. I am new to the cultivation world and was unfamiliar with your honoured status. I will be more mindful in the future.” Jun De said, his tone contrite and respectful.

  Mu Yanyu’s face carried a small smile as she looked at Jun De, nodding in approval at his apology, before turning back to City Lord Han.

  “Allow me to formally introduce Jun De, an Outer Sect Disciple of our Tranquil Mountain Sect. He was accompanying myself and the Elders to investigate the Hollow Stream Sect when we came under attack by Demonic Cultivators. Jun De was separated from us and forced to use the teleportation array.”

  “I thank the City Lord for his care of our Disciple during his stay in Yunlai City.” Mu Yanyu said, bowing again.

  “It is an honour to be in your city, Lord Han. I thank you for your hospitality, and I once again apologize for any inconvenience my presence may have caused you. Or your family.” Jun De added, his eyes moving toward Shen Ruolan, before flicking back to City Lord Han.

  Han Zhengwu nodded slowly, measuring Jun De.

  “The honour seems to be ours. A disciple who walks beside Vice Sect Master Mu Yanyu must be extraordinary indeed.”

  City Lord Han’s voice cut cleanly through the formal air of the grand hall, echoing off the walls. There was a pause before he continued speaking.

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  “Disciple Jun, of the Tranquil Mountain Sect. How are you acquainted with my granddaughter, Shen Ruolan?”

  The room stilled, and the awkward silence returned with full force. Even the ambient hum from the protective arrays surrounding the palace seemed to have stopped.

  A sliver of spiritual pressure descended on him with a trace of the oppressive weight of a Nascent Soul cultivator’s aura. It was restrained, but unmistakable. It didn’t seek to crush him, but it pressed against Jun De with the gentle inevitability of an ocean tide.

  Jun De’s heart clenched, and his golden Qi cycled instinctively through his body in an attempt to resist it.

  ‘Dammit, I knew I should never have gotten involved with her at all!’ Jun De screamed in his mind as he tried his best to stay calm.

  “We attended a lecture in the central plaza and were directed to sit at the same table. I didn’t know she was your granddaughter, or even a woman at all, until a moment ago. Our interactions were brief and respectful, Senior.” Jun De said truthfully, and his voice remained steady.

  Jun De could feel the City Lord’s spiritual sense coiling around his body, reading the truth in his words and looking for a single sign of falsehood.

  After a long moment, the pressure lifted.

  Mu Yanyu, who was standing a pace in front of Jun De, said nothing. Her expression was as still as jade, but her eyes narrowed as she watched Jun De carefully.

  She hadn’t realized she felt somewhat possessive of Jun De until she heard Shen Ruolan call out his name. It was an unfamiliar feeling, mixed with other emotions that someone like her, who was dedicated to cultivation, had little experience with.

  Her lips curved in the slightest of frowns.

  Mu Yanyu didn’t like that feeling.

  Han Zhengwu broke the silence with a soft chuckle.

  “Very well. I am aware of Ruolan’s habit of sneaking out of the palace, but I’m sure you understand why we've taken an interest in who she spends time with.”

  Jun De bowed deeply once again, while he let out a relieved sigh and promised himself that the next time someone tried to be friendly to him on the street, he was going to walk in the opposite direction.

  City Lord Han raised a hand and gestured to those gathered.

  “That will be all for now. I would speak with Vice Sect Master Mu in private.”

  The gathered courtiers, cultivators, guards and attendants bowed and retreated. Jun De looked to Elder Mu for direction when a pair of palace servants approached him and bowed deeply.

  “Honoured Disciple Jun, a residence has been prepared for your use during your stay. Please, this way.” One of them said politely and gestured for him to follow.

  After confirming with Elder Mu, who nodded her head, Jun De followed the servants out of the hall.

  As soon as the doors to the grand hall were closed and Jun De was led away, Shen Ruolan’s parents approached her and dragged her away to a private sitting room.

  “Ruolan, why didn’t you tell us that the young man you were so taken with was a Disciple of the Tranquil Mountain Sect?”

  Shen Ruolan stammered for a moment, flustered and overwhelmed by what had just happened. She had only told her parents a short while before that Jun De was someone she was romantically interested in, and then he had arrived at the palace as if saying his name had summoned him!

  “I didn’t know until today! He never mentioned it before, and I certainly didn’t know he was accompanied by Vice Sect Master Mu Yanyu.”

  Her father and mother exchanged glances, and their expressions were more serious than she expected.

  “He is clearly not just any disciple, Ruolan. He was brought here by the Vice Sect Master as if he were a favoured heir. Tranquil Mountain Sect is one of the strongest Sects on the continent, and Jun De may be more important than he appears.” Her mother explained, before her father interjected.

  “More than that, the Tranquil Mountain Sect has several strange customs. Everyone in the Sect begins as an Outer Sect Disciple, even their most talented prodigies. Mu Yanyu herself was an Outer Sect Disciple, despite her background and talent.”

  Shen Ruolan lowered her head slightly as her parents' words washed over her, and her heart was filled with conflicting emotions. She had thought that she would need to convince her parents that Jun De was a perfect partner for her.

  Now it seemed that such a thing may not be necessary at all.

  Page Break

  Jun De’s temporary residence within the City Lord’s Mansion was more luxurious than any place he had ever stayed before. The courtyard was spacious and quiet, enclosed with tall white walls and elegant wooden pavilions.

  Smooth stone paths wound through well-tended gardens, where the smell of spiritual grasses and blooming flowers perfumed the air. A small jade pond rested in the center, its waters clear enough to see the Koi fish drifting lazily through the floating lotus blossoms.

  The spiritual energy here was dense and pure, stronger than even his courtyard in the Upper Ridge of the Sect.

  Jun De sat at a wooden table near the pond with a porcelain cup of tea steaming beside him. He had just raised the cup to his lips to drink when he sensed a presence approaching his courtyard.

  Shen Ruolan stepped into view, her steps slow and uncertain. After a few seconds, she let out a deep breath and walked toward him. Jun De was struck by her dark, blue-black hair that hung loose over her shoulders.

  ‘She’s beautiful. I can see why she would need to hide her appearance to sneak out.’ Jun De thought.

  Jun De stood slowly and bowed to her respectfully.

  “I greet fellow Daoist Shen Ruolan.” Jun De said politely, and Shen Ruolan blushed at the words.

  “I wanted to come apologize for keeping my identity secret from you. I wanted you to know that it wasn’t because I didn’t trust you.” She replied, and Jun De studied her for a moment before nodding.

  “I would like to apologize as well. I kept my identity a secret because I didn’t know anything about Yunlai City, or its relationship with the Tranquil Mountain Sect.”

  “We both seem to have our fair share of secrets. “ Shen Ruolan said while smiling faintly.

  “Please, join me.” Jun De said, gesturing to the table. He wasn’t concerned about any impropriety. If she were here, she likely had her parents' permission to visit. Jun De didn’t doubt that they were under scrutiny at this very moment.

  For Shen Ruolan, her nerves eased a bit as she stepped forward to join him. Now that they both knew who the other truly was, she hoped they could grow closer than before.