Chapter 68 – Meet the Parents, Eventually
Shen Yuren returned to the City Lord’s Mansion just as the sun began to sink low on the horizon, casting long beams of warm light on the paved courtyard paths. As she stepped past the heavy, ornate gates, the guards took a glance at her before quickly looking away.
She had made this trip many times before, and they were accustomed to letting her through. She wasn’t sure if they knew her true identity, but they were wise enough not to say anything.
Only when Shen Yuren was deep within the sprawling inner residence, well beyond the prying eyes of the public and with only trusted servants and guards around her, did she remove her disguise and begin to relax.
Ducking into her changing room, she quickly removed her plain outer robes and replaced them with items from her storage ring. Dressed in fine silks once again, she brushed back her long, blue-black hair and pinned it up with a jade hairclip.
In her rush to speak to her parents, she didn’t take any time to adjust her clothing or apply cosmetics to her face. Her cheeks were flushed with a tinge of red from her time with Jun De, and her steps were light as she moved quickly through the halls of the palace.
She didn’t even bother to stop in her personal chambers or send word ahead of her arrival. Her mind still lingered on Jun De, his appearance and the way he carried himself. There was something steady and honest about him that was appealing, and he was unlike anyone she had met before.
Shen Ruolan, no longer Shen Yuren, knew Jun De was someone worth knowing. And, more importantly, someone with whom she wanted to become closer. Her emotions were turbulent, and she had trouble keeping herself from smiling at the thought of seeing Jun De again.
She eventually reached a long corridor that led to her parents’ quarters and private audience hall, and Shen Ruolan slowed her pace just enough to catch her breath and smooth a few of the wrinkles from the front of her dress.
The guards smoothly stepped aside as she approached and opened the doors respectfully.
Inside the room, her mother, Han Yueqin, stood beside a long table of scrolls and jade slips.
She was a graceful and sharp-eyed woman, with an expression that was always calm but difficult to read. Her cultivation was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and she was only waiting for the right opportunity to go through her Core Formation tribulation.
Han Yueqin was the only daughter of City Lord Han, and her husband, Shen Jiuyang, sat on the other side of the room while reviewing letters and correspondence.
A scion of a powerful clan in Yunlai City, his features were firmer and his gaze was stern, but never unkind. He was also at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and was a man well respected amongst the cultivators of Yunlai City.
Both of her parents looked up as Shen Ruolan entered, and her mother’s eyebrows lifted in surprise to see her daughter's dishevelled appearance.
“Ruolan? What has happened to you? Are you in some kind of trouble?” Her mother asked, and Ruolan could already imagine the City Lord’s guards being sent out to eliminate whatever, or whoever, had caused her beloved daughter trouble.
Her parents spoiled her, to say nothing of how the City Lord himself doted on his only granddaughter.
Whatever Shen Roulan wanted, she would receive.
Shen Ruolan flushed slightly in embarrassment and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
“No, I’m not in trouble. I just didn’t want to waste time freshening up.”
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Shen Jiuyang quirked an eyebrow at the response. His daughter would never be caught in the palace without looking her best.
Both her father and mother knew of her escapades outside of the mansion; it was impossible to hide anything from a Nascent Soul cultivator, or a pair of Foundation Establishment parents determined to keep their daughter from harm.
“It must be something important, you still have dirt on your nose from the streets outside.” He teased, and Ruolan quickly wiped her nose with her hand and scowled at her father.
“I do not!” She said sternly, and her father chuckled.
“What is it, my sweet?” Her mother said with gentle encouragement while trying to keep a smile from her own lips.
“I met someone today. Yesterday, in fact. He’s a cultivator, but not from the city. He’s quiet, and handsome, and-” Shen Ruolan was cut off as her mother reacted in alarm at what she was saying.
Han Yueqin shot a quick glance at her husband, whose own smile had disappeared in the blink of an eye and was now sitting on the edge of his seat, ready to react immediately. People often thought that she was overprotective of their daughter, but that was nothing compared to Shen Jiuyang.
The streets would run red with blood if he thought someone was trying to take advantage of Shen Ruolan.
“What Clan or Sect is he from?” Han Yueqin asked, already planning on how they would go about discouraging this young man from becoming close to Ruolan. Anyone from Yunlai City would know better, but a cultivator from outside likely didn’t know who she really was.
“I’m not sure. I don’t believe he’s from a Clan, at least he didn’t mention one. He said he was separated from his travel companions by a teleportation array and arrived in Yunlai City by accident.”
That caught her parents' attention.
Teleportation Arrays were rare, and very few people would have the opportunity to interact with them, let alone be accidentally transported away. Either Jun De was lying about how he arrived, or his background was more complicated than just being a rogue cultivator from outside the city.
“His name is Jun De, and he is from Nan Ao City. He’s my age, with a cultivation at the 6th Level of Qi Condensation.” Ruolan finished, and this time her parents were unable to conceal their reaction.
Both of Shen Jiuyang’s eyebrows raised as his eyes widened, and Han Yueqin’s lips parted slightly before she quickly composed herself.
“Truly talented! To have reached the 6th Level of Qi Condensation at your age is no small feat. Such a person would not remain unaffiliated for long. Nan Ao City is a modest place, not known for producing prodigies.” Han Yueqin remarked.
“And why, exactly, is this Jun De so interesting to you, Ruolan?” Her father asked, and his daughter hesitated before responding with excitement.
“Because I want to spend a lot more time with him.” Shen Ruolan stood with her hands clasped in front of her, the glow of excitement making her look even more beautiful. Her parents, however, regarded her with a mixture of caution and disgruntlement at her statement.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to a marriage agreement, eventually. You have been saying that it is time for me to select a partner for the future, and Jun De is extremely talented.” Ruolan said carefully as her father’s face darkened.
“Ruolan, you are the granddaughter of the City Lord of Yunlai. Your cultivation, your position, and our family’s bloodline are not minor matters to be decided on a whim!” Her mother scolded, and her father was mollified somewhat by her words.
Shen Jiuyang looked at his daughter sternly with his arms folded across his chest.
“Your marriage isn’t a decision to be made lightly, and it cannot be made by you alone. Whoever stands at your side must be someone of great potential, strength, and reputation. He would need to be recognized by powerful Sects or noble Clans.”
“I understand, but Jun De is different! You’ll see when you meet him, he’s everything you would want for my betrothal partner and more!” Shen Ruolan replied, her lips forming a pout, and she was all but stamping her foot in frustration.
Her parents exchanged another look, before her mother sighed and her father nodded. Once again, they were powerless to resist their daughter's mood.
“We will discuss this again later. And perhaps, we may meet with this Jun De in due time.”
Before they could speak about it further, there was a knock at the door, and a servant stepped inside and bowed low.
“Honoured Master and Mistress, the City Lord has summoned you. An esteemed guest has arrived in Yunlai City. Vice Sect Master Mu Yanyu of the Tranquil Mountain Sect will be visiting the City Lord shortly, and he has commanded you to be present.”
Both Han Yueqin and Shen Jiuyang straightened immediately, their expressions shifting from the private emotions shown to their daughter to the formality required of their positions.
“The Vice Sect Master of Tranquil Mountain Sect? That’s no minor visitor. She must be travelling with a purpose, a hegemonic Sect would not come to Yunlai City on a whim.” Han Yueqin commented.
“Especially not when the entire region is dealing with a Demonic Cultivation Method being spread like wildfire.”
Ruolan blinked, and her heart skipped a beat.
‘Tranquil Mountain Sect. Tranquil City. Jun De had mentioned needing to contact his teacher, who may have been returning to Tranquil City. Could they be connected somehow?’ Ruolan thought.
She smoothed the front of her dress and followed her parents without a word, but her mind was suddenly racing.
