Chapter 32: The First Step of Revenge—Strike at the Heart!
After making his decision, Shen Yan manipulated the seawater to approach the barrier surrounding Jingyun Island. The restriction was a massive formation, deeply entrenched beneath the sea; ordinary people could never hope to enter.
Yet Shen Yan had no worries. He took a jade token from his storage pouch and aimed it at the barrier.
Immediately, ripples spread through the seabed, and moments later, a translucent door appeared before his eyes.
Meanwhile, in a bedroom atop Jinmiao Peak, Yu Qing’s gaze suddenly snapped toward Shen Yan’s direction.
“Master, what’s wrong?”
It was late at night; the young female disciple in Yu Qing’s arms looked at his suddenly changed expression and asked curiously.
“Someone has used Sun Mingshuo’s jade token to open the island’s restriction.”
Without another word, Yu Qing pushed the girl aside with his magic, dressed swiftly, and made straight for Shen Yan’s location.
As the acting steward of Jingyun Island, Yu Qing had been its true master before Yang Yun’s arrival. He had left a hidden mark in every token issued to newcomers, so when Shen Yan used Sun Mingshuo’s token, Yu Qing detected it immediately.
But when Yu Qing reached the edge of the restriction, he found no one in sight.
“Did they flee after opening the barrier?”
His gaze grew cold. The deaths of three disciples weighed heavily on him, and he had long suspected Yang Yun of secretly murdering them. Yet now, someone had used the jade token to leave the island, making him question his own suspicions.
“Was it Yushuo Peak? Or is Yang Yun deliberately sowing confusion?”
Unable to determine the truth, Yu Qing decided to investigate both sides.
…
As for Shen Yan, after wandering the sea for some time and confirming he was far from Jingyun Island, he surfaced and released his celestial crane.
Ripples of magical energy flowed around him; a drop of profound heavy water transformed into a hollow sphere, enveloping both him and the crane as they headed toward Jinzhou Bay.
When dawn broke, Shen Yan did not rush to avenge himself upon the Yang residence. Instead, he paid respects to his parents and visited his old home, now leveled to the ground.
Returning to the place of his childhood, Shen Yan was overwhelmed. In just a year or so, he had risen from a worthless slave to a cultivator at the late stage of Qi Refining; the changes of fate were beyond words.
As night fell, within the Yang residence, Yang Ze was amusing himself with a concubine. Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically, and he pulled a talisman from his robe.
“Master! Come again…” the concubine purred, feigning dissatisfaction and continuing to tease him.
But Yang Ze shoved her aside, donned his broad robe, and hurried toward the rear courtyard.
He had barely stepped out when a shadow flashed by, making him halt in his tracks.
“Who are you? How dare you break into the Yang residence at night? Aren’t you afraid of execution?”
Yang Ze was terrified; his heart sank, but he forced himself to appear furious.
“Your Grace, do you not recognize me after a year’s absence?”
Shen Yan stepped from the shadows, a faint smile on his lips.
“Shen Yan! Is it you…?”
Yang Ze hesitated, finally recognizing the former slave from the household.
“Did Yun’er order you to return? Wretched thing! How dare you appear before me without kneeling?”
Yang Ze’s shame turned to rage. In his eyes, Shen Yan, though he had left with Yang Yun for Jade Immortal Sect, remained his family’s slave. For a slave to come before him without reporting or kneeling was outrageous!
Shen Yan’s face darkened at Yang Ze’s rebuke.
“You want me to kneel?”
He activated his magic; a powerful aura erupted from him, forcing Yang Ze to stumble backward.
“You… Are you rebelling?”
A sinister suspicion arose in Yang Ze’s heart—had something happened to Yun’er on Jingyun Island?
“Of course I am rebelling. Your Yang family built this residence, imprisoned my parents, and constrained my freedom. Tell me, should I not rebel?”
Shen Yan’s face was icy, his expression contorted, his tone laced with boundless anger.
After nearly ten years, revenge had been his sole thought, day and night. The humiliation and suppression had festered within him, and now, released at last, it felt like the celestial river pouring down from the heavens—utterly exhilarating.
“How dare you! Aren’t you afraid Yun’er will learn of this?”
Yang Ze’s voice trembled despite his fierce tone, but Shen Yan showed not a hint of fear as Yang Ze had expected.
His face remained cold. Now, he was the lofty cultivator, and Yang Ze before him was nothing but an ant he could crush at will.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but Yang Yun is barely able to protect herself in Jade Immortal Sect. She has no time to worry about the Yang residence.”
Shen Yan sneered, savoring his enemy’s terror.
“Impossible, absolutely impossible!”
Yang Ze shook his head wildly, pointing at Shen Yan and shouting angrily.
“Yun’er is a true disciple of Jade Immortal Sect—how could she be in danger?”
Though he protested, his heart believed it. If Yang Yun had not suffered a setback, how could Shen Yan dare to betray him?
“I may as well tell you—some credit is due to me for that predicament.”
Shen Yan’s sense of satisfaction was immense as he leisurely explained the conflict between Yang Yun and Yu Qing to Yang Ze, then added,
“There are three true disciples on the island: one openly opposes Yang Yun, another covets her precious elixir in secret. How long do you think she can last?”
“Impossible, impossible!”
Yang Ze retreated in terror, unable to believe that his daughter, so intelligent and gifted since childhood, could be struggling within the Jade Immortal Sect.
“I almost forgot—just to sharpen the conflict between Yu Qing and Yang Yun, I killed your son Yang Lie.”
Seeing Yang Ze’s inability to accept the truth, Shen Yan delivered another blow.
“Lie’er? My Lie’er is dead?”
Yang Ze’s dazed eyes turned bloodshot at this; he stared at Shen Yan, his voice filled with hatred.
“Yes, I killed him myself.”
Shen Yan nodded with feigned earnestness.
“You must believe me, Your Grace—not only did I kill him, I ground his bones to dust. I suspect he’s already reincarnated; perhaps the meat you ate yesterday was his new life.”
Words that kill the heart—Shen Yan’s remarks utterly unhinged Yang Ze.
“I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you!”
Yang Ze, eyes red with rage, lunged at Shen Yan. Yang Lie had been his favorite son, which was why he had let him accompany Yang Yun to Jade Immortal Sect in pursuit of immortality.
Now, everything had been destroyed by Shen Yan—the wretched creature had turned on his master!
Anger, hatred, pain, grief—all these feelings surged together. Yang Ze swung his fists, vowing to tear Shen Yan apart.
Crack!
But in the next moment, sharp pain shot through his arms, snapping him back to reality.
A thin wall of water had suddenly appeared in front of Shen Yan; Yang Ze’s fists struck the wall, and both arms were broken in an instant.