Chapter 681 - 681: Entering Shenchuan City
It was a little past two in the morning when the five cars from the Shen Family finally appeared outside the Lin Family Courtyard.
The Lin family members had known in advance that the Shen Family would be visiting, so Lin Zhen Nan was already there to receive them. However, Old Lady Lin did not show up; it was only Lin Zhen Nan leading the Lin family members who waited outside.
As the five cars from the Shen Family entered the Lin Family Courtyard, Shen Qianyue got out of the car and respectfully greeted Lin Zhen Nan. As for the other members of the Shen Family, especially the older ones, they didn't even glance at Lin Zhen Nan, standing arrogantly to the side.
Seeing the attitude of the Shen Family members, Lin Zhen Nan's expression was not very good. However, guests were guests, so he did not directly show his displeasure. He exchanged a few pleasantries with Shen Qianyue, then had his people lead the Shen Family members to rest.
Lin Zhen Nan had received word long ago that people of the Shen Family would be visiting, so he had arranged a small building for their stay in advance. However, after the incident involving Lin Huayu that day, he changed his mind at the last moment. He canceled the accommodation originally arranged for the Shen Family members and switched them to a small building right next to the one where Lin Huayu was staying.
Although Lin Zhen Nan was dissatisfied with the people from the Shen Family, his greater concern was for Lin Huayu, who had faced dangers one after another. He placed the Shen Family next to Lin Huayu's building with the hope that they would help protect her. Although his relationship with the Shen Family was not good, Lin Huayu was different; after all, she was a child, and many in the Shen Family were actually quite fond of her!
The members of the Shen Family settled into the small building; all rooms were well-prepared and fully equipped. Despite this, Shen Anyun's face was still a mask of coldness. As everyone entered the living room, she sat down on the sofa and said coldly, "Have you really decided to stay here? If you ask me, it would be better to stay at a hotel. Do we, the Shen Family, really need to depend on others? Moreover, this place belongs to the Lin family!"
"Second Aunt, since we have come to Shenchuan City, staying at a hotel would be too impersonal, wouldn't it?" Shen Qianyue said with a smile, "This is ultimately Uncle's home. Although Little Aunt is no longer with us, we are still relatives after all!"
"Qianyue, you mustn't talk nonsense!" Shen Anyun immediately waved her hand and said, "What Uncle? We, the people of the Shen Family, have never acknowledged that. Hmph, our Shen Family, being the Martial Arts Holy Land of the Southern Six Provinces, would expect the son-in-law of the Shen Family to be at least a peak master. What does Lin Zhen Nan have? He has the strength of a chicken and can only do meticulous business deals. What else is he good for? He's an utter waste!"
The Lin family and Shen Family were relatives, but they rarely interacted with each other, and this was the reason. The Lin family made their fortune through business, so they didn't pay much attention to martial arts. On the other hand, the Shen Family, as the Martial Arts Holy Land of the Southern Six Provinces, naturally looked down upon the Lin family that had no foundation in martial arts. Therefore, from the moment Lin Zhen Nan began courting Huayu's mother, the Shen Family tried all sorts of ways to break them up. When they finally could not, the Shen Family chose to no longer recognize the relationship.
Old Lady Lin was also hot-tempered; she had tried to communicate with the Shen Family several times in the beginning. However, after realizing their disdain for the Lin family, she became thoroughly enraged and cut off all contact between the Lin family and the Shen Family. Even though Huayu's mother died later and Huayu became a link tying the two families together, the disagreements between the Lin family members and the Shen Family remained unresolved. Old Lady Lin's absence in welcoming the Shen Family was for this very reason; she simply could not bear to lay eyes on the Shen Family members.
"Second Aunt, everyone has their own way of living. Little Uncle is better at doing business, and that's also a skill. We can't look down on them just because he doesn't know martial arts!" Shen Qianyue said with a smile, "Besides, isn't Huayu here with us?"
Hearing the name "Huayu," Shen Anyun's expression softened somewhat. Although she held extreme disdain for Lin Zhen Nan and the Lin family members, she was quite affectionate towards Lin Huayu. Especially since Huayu had lost her mother at a young age, whenever Huayu visited the Xihang Shen Family, it was Shen Anyun who personally took care of her, which was very intimate.
"This girl Huayu, doesn't she know I was coming today?" Shen Anyun muttered discontentedly.
"It's already past two in the morning; she might have gone to bed already, since she still has school tomorrow," Shen Qianyue said with a smile, "Second Aunt, you've had a tiring journey too. Why not rest early as well? We have to visit the teahouse tomorrow, and we need to be fully energized!"
"Stop your nattering; don't we know what we should do?" Shen Anyun waved her hand impatiently and turned to discuss the accommodation arrangements with several of her contemporaries.
Shen Qianyue stood by with a gentle smile, his demeanor forever humble and his manners forever impeccable, unaffected by Shen Anyun's words.
In the midst of the Shen Family's discussion, the living room door suddenly burst open, and in bounced Lin Huayu, wearing cute pajamas. She shouted the moment she entered, "Second Auntie!"
Shen Anyun immediately turned to look and, seeing Lin Huayu like this, her icy face finally broke into a smile. She glared at Lin Huayu and said with a laugh, "Hmph, did you even know your Second Aunt was coming today? I thought you wouldn't come to greet me!"
"Second Auntie!" Lin Huayu called out sweetly, running to Shen Anyun's side, hugging her arm and snuggling against her, saying, "I didn't even know you were coming today. If it wasn't for seeing the cars pull up just now, I would still be unaware. Second Auntie, if I had known you were coming, how could I possibly not come to greet you!"
Shen Anyun actually wasn't very angry, just saying a few words offhand. Even Lin Huayu, as she was, couldn't help but giggle and lightly tap her own nose, laughing, "Forget it, your second aunt forgives you. But why are you still awake so late? It's past two in the morning, if you don't go to bed now, are you planning to skip class again tomorrow?"
"I can't sleep!" Lin Huayu pouted and said, "I'm scared!"
"Scared of what?" Shen Anyun smiled and patted Lin Huayu on the shoulder, saying, "You are all grown up now, are you still a child, afraid of sleeping?"
"I'm not afraid of the dark, I… I'm afraid someone will come to kill me…" Lin Huayu said with a pout.
"Kill you?" Shen Anyun immediately furrowed her brows, turned to Shen Baichuan who had walked in with Lin Huayu, and said sternly, "What happened?"
In front of the Shen family elders like Shen Anyun, Shen Baichuan hardly had the right to even exchange greetings. Hearing Shen Anyun's words, he didn't dare to delay, and quickly recounted the events of the day.
After telling the story, Shen Baichuan hurriedly added, "Second auntie, rest assured, I've already moved into my cousin's building and I will protect her well!"
However, Shen Anyun didn't pay any attention to what he said afterward. She just furrowed her brows tighter and gritted her teeth, "Such a thing actually happened? Huayu was almost violated? Who was so bold to take action against Huayu? Don't they know that Huayu belongs to our Shen family?"
"I… I heard that it was someone from Sha Men, called the Netherworld Scholar…" Shen Baichuan said in a low voice.
"Netherworld Scholar!?" Shen Anyun's face chilled over. She had of course heard this name, and also knew of the Netherworld Scholar's reputation. This man was nothing but a despicable thief of women's virtue; almost no girl he targeted had ever escaped unscathed. That Lin Huayu had been rescued was truly fortunate!
"It's truly the remnants of Sha Men, a dog can't change its nature. That bloody battle from ten years ago didn't reform them at all; they still dare to commit such heinous acts!" Shen Anyun slammed her fist onto the table and said indignantly, "If I had known this would happen, during that bloody battle ten years ago, we should have completely eradicated them without leaving a single one alive, and there wouldn't be such troubles today! Hmph, it's all because our family's elders were too soft-hearted and allowed this scourge to persist, almost costing my Little Huayu!"
Shen Anyun was known for her fiery temper and was quite self-confident. She only showed her softer side in front of Lin Huayu because she treated her almost like her own daughter.
"Anyun!" Finally, the middle-aged man who had been sitting with her spoke up. He furrowed his brows slightly, glanced at Shen Anyun, and said, "How can you say such things? The elders had their reasons for what they did. Our Shen family is a prestigious one, acting upright and honorable; we cannot be like those heretical sects, resorting to wiping out our enemies to the last. If our Shen family didn't have the capacity to be magnanimous, how could we command such respect in the Southern Six Provinces?"
Shen Anyun was somewhat wary of this man. She nodded slightly and said, "Brother Jiu is right, I was a bit too agitated. But we gave those people from Sha Men a chance ten years ago, and they didn't grasp it at all; instead, they became more rampant. Brother Jiu, this time we can't be merciful towards them anymore."
"If we have come to Shenchuan City, this time, we shall make a definitive end with Sha Men!" Brother Jiu slowly stood up, gazing at the full moon outside, and said, "Ten years ago, we gave them an opportunity. However, they didn't cherish it. Today, they will pay the price for their deeds!"
Seeing Brother Jiu speaking like this, Shen Anyun got excited and quickly said, "Brother Jiu, why don't we go to the teahouse now and solve this once and for all, dealing with those remnants of Sha Men!"
"No!" Brother Jiu decisively shook his head and said solemnly, "We've been traveling for such a long time, everyone is tired. And with the enemy waiting at ease, it's really unwise for us to clash with them at this moment!"
"So what!" Shen Anyun said, "These people are our defeated foes, even if we're weary from travel, dealing with them won't be a difficult task!"
"Anyun, you must not underestimate the enemy!" Brother Jiu said sternly, "The people of Sha Men each possess unique skills and should not be taken lightly. Moreover, I know that the Right Protector of Sha Men has already returned; this person is exceedingly formidable and difficult to deal with. Plus, Cui Yulong's strength has also increased tremendously; we'd best be cautious!"