Chapter 23: Shaking off the Trail

It was another bright morning.

[Ding! Sleep Cultivation complete.]

[Five Animals Transformation Art progress: 97%.]

[Deer Form: Great Perfection. Tiger Form: Great Perfection. Bear Form: Great Perfection. Crane Form: Great Perfection. Ape Form: 90%.]

[Demon-Subduing Righteous Sun Blade progress: 0%.]

[Current Realm: Martial Artist Realm: Level Two.]

Martial Artist Realm.

Level Two.

Lu Xuan clenched his fists, and True Energy surged through his body from his Dantian like a great river. Compared to when he had been in the Martial Apprentice Realm, the amount of True Energy he could now command was more than ten times greater.

He walked beneath the tree and casually pushed out a palm, the air buzzed around him.

True Energy burst from his hand and shot forward, ten paces away, the leaves of the tree suddenly rustled violently, several of them tearing free from their branches and spiraling into the morning sky.

This was the Martial Artist Realm.

True Energy could finally be released beyond the body, allowing him to injure an opponent from a distance, Lu Xuan looked at his hand, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Four of the five forms had already reached Great Perfection. Deer Form moved like the wind, Tiger Form pounced like thunder, Bear Form stood heavy as a mountain, and Crane Form was light and elusive as a swallow.

Only Ape Form remained ten percent short.

Even so, with the five forms constantly rotating through his body, his cultivation efficiency was still five times that of an ordinary cultivator.

And now, even though he and Lu Hao were both at the second level of the Martial Artist Realm, Lu Xuan was certain of one thing.

Lu Hao was no longer his match, that thought brought a faint sense of satisfaction to his heart. After all, that arrogant young master had once looked down on him as nothing more than a useless cripple.

But Lu Xuan didn't let that satisfaction linger for long.

The Lu Family's Elders were all in the Spirit Gathering Realm, a full major realm above him. And Lu Tianhe was even stronger.

He was still far from being able to confront them openly, not yet.

Unless there was absolutely no other choice, he would not make such a reckless move, he could kill Lu Hao now.

But doing so would only bring unnecessary danger upon himself and Shen Yuyan. Revenge felt good, but surviving long enough to take all his revenge was far more important.

Lu Xuan took a slow breath and turned back toward the house, "There's no need to rush."

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Shen Yuyan was already awake and busy beside the stove. A veil covered her face, leaving only her eyes visible. They were dark, warm, and focused on the porridge simmering in the pot.

The moment she heard Lu Xuan enter, she turned around, "Husband, time to eat."

"Mm."

Lu Xuan sat down and took a sip.

Shen Yuyan sat opposite him, lowering her head as she quietly drank from her own bowl.

After a moment, Lu Xuan looked at her.

"Are you going out today?"

"Yes."

Shen Yuyan looked up. "The embroidery is finished. I'm going to the market to see if I can sell it."

Lu Xuan hesitated at that, he originally didn't want her going out anymore. After all, the Lu Family was already looking for him, and he couldn't be certain that they wouldn't eventually turn their attention toward her.

But he knew Shen Yuyan too well.

Beneath her gentle and obedient exterior was a stubborn streak that ran deeper than any well. If he told her to stay home, she would probably smile and agree... and then quietly go out anyway.

"Be careful."

"Mm! I know! Don't worry!"

Shen Yuyan smiled brightly. After finishing breakfast, she carefully packed her embroidery into a bundle. She slung it over her back, opened the door, and walked out.

Lu Xuan stood in the doorway and watched her until she disappeared around the corner of the alley, only then did he turn around.

He headed toward the escort agency.

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Carrying her bundle, Shen Yuyan walked along the familiar road toward the market. Her pace was steady, and before long, she arrived at the East City Market.

She found a suitable spot, laid out her embroidery, and quietly waited for a customer

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The morning passed peacefully, by noon, she had sold three pieces and collected a hundred and forty copper coins, looking at the small pile of coins in her hand, a faint smile appeared in her eyes.

It wasn't much, but it was money she had earned with her own hands, since it was still early, Shen Yuyan took a flatbread from her bundle and lowered her head to take a bite, then her brow furrowed slightly.

It wasn't the bread, it was that feeling again, someone was watching her.

She had been able to sense it since she was a child. When a person grew up being stared at, whispered about, and judged everywhere they went, they eventually developed a strange sensitivity to other people's eyes.

Especially ugly people, they became particularly sensitive to the gaze of others.

Shen Yuyan didn't look up. Instead, she continued eating while quietly sweeping her surroundings from beneath her lashes.

The tea stall across the street... no not there.

The straw-shoe vendor by the roadside... not there too.

Behind her... her eyes shifted slightly.

At the corner of the wall behind her, there was half a shadow, someone was pressed flat against the stone, deliberately keeping themselves hidden.

Shen Yuyan's heart tightened, Who was it?

It wasn't Shen Wanqing or Shen Wanrong. Those two never bothered hiding when they came looking for trouble. Whenever they saw her, they would walk straight over with their noses raised, eager to humiliate her.

So who could it be?,

A thought suddenly struck her like a bucket of cold water when a named appeared, The Lu Family.

Her fingers slowly tightened around the flatbread, they couldn't find her husband, so they had come for her instead.

Shen Yuyan's expression remained calm, but a trace of anxiety quietly surfaced in her eyes, she quickly wrapped up the flatbread, packed her embroidery, shouldered the bundle, and stood.

She couldn't go home, not yet.

If the Lu Family was following her, leading them straight to her house would be no different from handing them her husband's whereabouts.

She needed to lose this tail first, then she would go home and warn Lu Xuan, no matter what happened, she could not let the Lu Family find out where he was.

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In the distance, the servant Lu Hao had sent finally began moving, he had been waiting all morning.

Finally, the ugly woman was leaving.

He lowered his head and followed from a distance, careful not to get too close, Shen Yuyan walked along the long street, but she didn't head home, she didn't go toward the Iron Mountain Escort Agency either.

Instead, she suddenly turned into another street, then another.

The servant followed closely behind.

Shen Yuyan kept walking, her expression calm, but her mind was moving quickly, she needed somewhere crowded enough to shake him off.

Or...

Somewhere that could turn the tables, an all too familiar alley appeared ahead, her eyes narrowed slightly.

The alley led directly toward the back gate of the Shen Family residence.

And at this time of day, Shen Wanqing and Shen Wanrong should be returning from the teahouse, she knew those two well.

They hated her.

But they hated the Lu Family even more, a faint light flashed through Shen Yuyan's eyes, she quickened her pace.

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At the end of the alley, two familiar figures soon appeared.

Shen Wanqing wore a light red dress and walked with the easy confidence of someone who had never been denied anything in her life. Shen Wanrong followed behind her, both arms filled with pastry boxes.

The moment Shen Wanqing saw Shen Yuyan, her lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Oh... isn't this our family's little ugly duckling?"

She covered her mouth and laughed, "What brings you to our doorstep today?"

Shen Yuyan kept her head lowered and said nothing, she simply continued walking, hoping to pass them without wasting time.

But before she could get past them, Shen Wanqing's gaze suddenly shifted, her smile faded.

Shen Wanrong followed her gaze, both of them noticed the figure lingering behind Shen Yuyan.

Shen Wanqing's eyes narrowed, "Who's that?"