47: Chapter 47 The Shen Family's Craftsmanship

Shen Yuanshan found Shen Yuanhe in a hidden cave on the mountainside.

The cave was not large, only about a zhang deep, and the entrance was tightly concealed by a few crooked pine trees; unless one was searching deliberately, it would be impossible to discover.

Shen Yuanhe was sitting cross-legged in the cave, holding a Spirit Stone to restore his spiritual power, his aura fluctuating—clearly, he had just gone through a fierce battle.

Hearing movement, he opened his eyes abruptly, his spiritual power surging. Only after seeing who it was did he relax.

"Third Brother? Why are you here?"

Shen Yuanhe was somewhat surprised; he had come to the Tiannan Mountains to train alone this time.

Shen Yuanshan did not answer. He strode into the cave, sat down across from him, took off his mask to reveal his grim face, and glared at Shen Yuanhe. "Sixth Brother, look at the mess you've made!"

"???" Hearing this, Shen Yuanhe was completely bewildered. "Third Brother, what do you mean? What did I do?"

Shen Yuanshan took a deep breath and recounted his recent encounter from beginning to end.

From running into a large group of Cultivators gathering in the depths of the Tiannan Mountains, to being stopped by people from the Tiangang Sect, to trading a blow with Senior Brother Sun Zhengyang, and finally, that old thing running off with his people.

Of course, he didn't mention that he had almost lost the fight.

"What did you say?!" After hearing this, Shen Yuanhe sprang up from the ground, his eyes wide as copper bells, his voice cracking.

"Impossible! I ground those three into dust; how could anyone still be alive?"

"Absolutely impossible!"

He was very confident in his handiwork; he had followed the entire procedure without cutting any corners.

"But that is the truth!" Shen Yuanshan glanced at him, his tone eerie. "The people from the Tiangang Sect are looking for you everywhere. Blood Rain Pavilion—that's a nice name you've come up with, quite resounding."

Shen Yuanhe's face turned ashen; he had no mind to entertain that remark.

"Where exactly did things go wrong?"

He stood in the cave, pacing back and forth, his brows knitted tightly together.

He began to review the situation.

"Oh! Right, a secret technique!"

Shen Yuanhe suddenly realized, turning to look at Shen Yuanshan. "I know! One of those three must have cultivated a special secret technique, which allowed them to escape!"

Speaking of this, his brows darkened slightly.

"A secret technique? You mean..." Shen Yuanshan raised an eyebrow.

Shen Yuanhe didn't answer immediately, instead squatting down, picking up a withered branch, and drawing a few symbols on the ground.

"Third Brother, do you remember Blood Crow Mountain?"

Shen Yuanshan nodded slightly. "Blood Crow Mountain? Of course I remember. That bandit den the Wang Family colluded with—wasn't it wiped out by some major School?"

"It was wiped out." Shen Yuanhe nodded. "But the people of Blood Crow Mountain practiced very evil Cultivation Techniques. I heard Little Nine mention once that Blood Crow Mountain had a secret technique that allowed them to leave a backup elsewhere. After their Physical Body was destroyed, as long as the backup remained, they could be reborn using a Blood Pool."

Shen Yuanshan's pupils constricted. "You mean someone cultivated the secret technique of Blood Crow Mountain?"

"That's not necessarily true." Shen Yuanhe shook his head slightly. "The Tiangang Sect is, after all, a righteous School; their Elders shouldn't practice such Evil Path techniques. I mean, someone practiced a similar escape technique."

He threw down the withered branch and stood up, his expression looking rather grim.

He hadn't expected that he would almost have his reputation ruined by the Tiangang Sect.

As a member of the Shen Family, how could he make such a mistake!

After this training session ended, he would definitely study a few secret techniques; he must never let such a mistake happen again!

Seeing Sixth Brother gritting his teeth, Shen Yuanshan couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Alright, alright, now is not the time to dwell on that." He waved his hand, his expression turning serious. "The people from the Tiangang Sect have already set their sights on the 'Blood Rain Pavilion', and looking at their stance, they won't stop until they drag you out."

Shen Yuanhe's brows locked tightly. "Then what should we do? Should I go back and find that guy who escaped and finish him off?"

"Finish him off?" Shen Yuanshan sneered. "Who is the person who survived your hands? Do you know how many people the Tiangang Sect sent this time? What is the cultivation level of the team leader? You don't know anything, so how are you going to finish him off?"

Shen Yuanhe opened his mouth, but was momentarily speechless.

He truly didn't know.

He didn't even know how many people had survived, let alone who they were.

Furthermore, the people from the Tiangang Sect were already aware of their existence; it wouldn't be so easy to act again.

If they ran into a Primal Chaos Realm Cultivator from the Tiangang Sect, it wouldn't be easy for them to escape.

"Then what do you suggest?" Shen Yuanhe sat back down on the ground, his face looking unpleasant.

Shen Yuanshan didn't answer immediately, instead squatting down, picking up the withered branch Shen Yuanhe had thrown, and slowly drawing a circle on the ground.

"The Tiangang Sect now believes that the 'Blood Rain Pavilion' is the culprit, and that we are all people from the Blood Rain Pavilion." He said while drawing. "Then let's make that a fact!"

Shen Yuanhe was stunned. "Make it a fact?"

"Correct." A meaningful arc curled at the corner of Shen Yuanshan's mouth. "Think about it: the more they believe the 'Blood Rain Pavilion' is real, the less they will associate this matter with our Shen Family. Our Shen Family has been in the Southern Region for thousands of years, always keeping a low profile and never making enemies with major Sects. No matter how the Tiangang Sect investigates, they will never trace it back to us."

Shen Yuanhe nodded thoughtfully.

Shen Yuanshan continued, "So many Cultivators have suddenly appeared in the Tiannan Mountains, even the Tiangang Sect has sent several groups in; their goal must be the Great Emperors Secret Realm. With the Secret Realm appearing and various forces gathering, this is the perfect time to fish in troubled waters."

He stood up, standing with his hands behind his back, his gaze looking through the cracks in the cave toward the mist that never dispersed in the depths of the Tiannan Mountains.

"We will use this opportunity to build the reputation of the 'Blood Rain Pavilion'. Let the people from the Tiangang Sect truly believe that the Blood Rain Pavilion is a mysterious force hiding in the shadows."

After hearing this, Shen Yuanhe stood up with a start, his eyes full of excitement. "Third Brother, your brain is sharp!"

Shen Yuanshan glanced at him and said eerily, "You're just realizing this now? Who do you think has been cleaning up your messes all these years?"

"..." Shen Yuanhe's mouth twitched. "Third Brother, you've caused plenty of trouble yourself. Take last year, in Guangling City..."

"Ahem!" Shen Yuanshan glared at him, gritting his teeth. "Sixth Brother, do not mention the matter in Guangling City again!"

Guangnan City had recently become unreasonably lively.

The streets, which were usually deserted, were now bustling with traffic and crowds of people.

Cultivators from all over the Southern Region arrived in groups of three or five, some flying on swords, others riding Spirit Beasts, converging from all directions.

In teahouses and taverns, discussions about the Great Emperors Secret Realm could be heard everywhere.

"Have you heard? An entrance to the Great Emperors Secret Realm has appeared in the depths of the Tiannan Mountains!"

"Nonsense! The whole Southern Region is talking about it! Even major Sects like the Fentian Valley and Wanjian Sect have sent people over!"

"Tsk tsk, the Great Emperors Secret Realm... that is a Dao field left behind by a Great Emperor! Any treasure from inside would be enough for us to live on for a lifetime!"

"Forget it; with our cultivation level, going in is just seeking death! Haven't you seen that those big shots of the Void Tempering and Primal Chaos Realm have all come?"

Shen Qingyuan walked lazily down the street, listening to the surrounding discussions, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

The news of the Great Emperors Secret Realm had spread faster than he imagined.

It had only been a few days, and the entire Southern Region knew about it.

"Young Master, there are many more experts in the city." Luo Qingyue followed by his side, her white clothes like snow, looking cold and ethereal.

Her gaze swept lightly over the surroundings, her tone calm.

Shen Qingyuan gave a hum, hands tucked into his sleeves, walking slowly.

There were indeed many Cultivators who had come to Guangnan City these days.

When he had just left, he sensed several Primal Chaos Realm auras in the city, and over a dozen Void Tempering Realm ones; those in the Dharma Image Realm and Huahong Realm were as numerous as hair on an ox.

In the past, when had Guangnan City ever seen such a spectacle?

The Shen Family had been able to stay in Guangnan City safely for so many years by relying on being cautious.

Usually, even Void Tempering Realm Cultivators were rarely seen. Now that so many powerhouses had flooded in, any other Family would have likely been unable to sit still.

But the Shen Family was doing fine.

Patriarch Shen Tianze had called all the clan members back a few days ago, ordering them to go out less during this period, stay home to cultivate in seclusion, and not cause trouble.

As for those incoming Cultivators—

Let them come; Guangnan City was open for business anyway. As long as they didn't cause trouble in the city, the Shen Family would pretend not to see them.

The two strolled along, and before long, they arrived in front of the Yicui Pavilion.

It wasn't a coincidence; this was the purpose of Shen Qingyuan's trip.

Nothing to do today, time to listen to music at the brothel!

This was his daily routine.

The Yicui Pavilion was exceptionally lively today, with all kinds of carriages parked in front and a continuous stream of Cultivators entering and exiting.

In the main hall, glasses clinked, the sound of strings and bamboo instruments never ceased, and the air was filled with the fragrance of wine and cosmetics.

Shen Qingyuan stepped over the threshold and lazily swept a glance across the main hall.

"Yo! Young Master is here!"

The waiter at the door had sharp eyes and recognized this regular customer at a glance. He quickly hurried over with a smiling face. "The private room on the third floor is reserved for you! Still the same spot!"

Shen Qingyuan nodded, casually tossed a Spirit Stone to the waiter, and led Luo Qingyue upstairs.

The waiter took the Spirit Stone, his eyes squinting into slits from smiling, and eagerly led the way.

The three passed through the hall and went up the stairs to the third floor.

Pushing open the door to the private room, the beaded curtains were half-rolled, sandalwood incense curled in the air, and the moonlight from outside spilled in, casting a clear radiance on the soft couch.

Shen Qingyuan walked to the soft couch, lay down lazily, hands behind his head, looking at the carved beams above, and sighed comfortably.

"It's still most comfortable here."

Luo Qingyue knelt beside him, her white clothes like snow, her brows and eyes cold.

She glanced at the tea set on the table, frowned slightly, reached out to push the ordinary tea leaves aside, took out her own tea set from her sleeve, and began to brew tea.

Her movements were smooth, flowing like clouds and water, calm and unhurried.

The waiter tactfully retreated and closed the door gently.

A moment later, light footsteps could be heard outside the private room.

"Young Master—"

A soft, sweet voice came from outside the door, filled with a hint of joy.

The door was pushed open gently, and a slender figure walked in.

The woman was about eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing a light pink dress, with a slender waist and a graceful figure.

An oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and a pair of watery peach-blossom eyes that seemed to be able to speak.

It was none other than the Yicui Pavilion's top courtesan—Lian Yue.

She held a pot of wine in her hand, a radiant smile on her face, and walked toward Shen Qingyuan with light, graceful steps.

"Lian Yue heard that Young Master had arrived, and specifically..."

Halfway through her sentence, her gaze fell on the white-clad figure beside Shen Qingyuan, and she froze instantly.

Luo Qingyue was kneeling beside Shen Qingyuan, white clothes like snow, black hair cascading like a waterfall, her brows and eyes as cold as frost, a faint chill lingering around her.

The teapot in her hand tilted slightly, the emerald-green tea flowing from the spout into the cup, the aroma of tea curling, refreshing the heart and soul.

That posture, that bearing, that natural, cold temperament—

Not to mention the girls of Yicui Pavilion, even in the entire Guangnan City, one could not find a second woman who could compare to her.

The smile on Lian Yue's face froze.

The hand holding the wine pot trembled slightly, and the joy in her peach-blossom eyes was instantly replaced by a complex emotion—surprise, disappointment, and a hint of indescribable bitterness.

"You... Young Master..." Her voice lost its previous sweetness, becoming somewhat dry. "Who is this..."