Shen Anning held the token and looked at Chen Lin in astonishment.
"Second Brother, the design on this token seems to belong to the divine bird. Is the Fourth Brother you mentioned that Lord Yuan?"
Chen Lin smiled.
He waved a hand. "That fellow Yuan isn't worthy. How could we sworn siblings become kin with a petty scoundrel like him?"
Shen Anning's mouth fell open.
There were only two cultivators in the Divine Bird District. Apart from Lord Yuan, the only other one was Young Master Bai.
"Second Brother, don't tell me our sworn Fourth Brother is Young Master Bai?"
"Why couldn't he be?"
Chen Lin answered calmly.
He pointed at the token. "This token is yours. When you have time, you can visit Fourth Brother and complete your part of the sworn-sibling ceremony."
"Ah!"
Shen Anning was somewhat dazed.
Then, as though the token were burning her hands, she passed it back and forth a couple of times before carefully putting it away.
Even now, she still found it hard to believe.
Her eyes kept darting toward Chen Lin, as though she wanted to see through his lie.
"Has your ancestor come out of seclusion?"
Chen Lin changed the subject.
"Yes, but the breakthrough failed. After the grand ceremony, our ancestor will stay here to cultivate."
Shen Anning sighed.
Her ancestor's failure to break through had affected the standing of the entire West Courtyard Shen Clan.
Their lineage had supported Jin Ruhua all along, and this time her ancestor had stood a chance of becoming the Left Alliance's Great Elder. But insufficient cultivation was a weakness, leaving that opportunity to slip away.
Chen Lin also felt sorry for the Shen Family.
They had earned merit by backing a rising ruler, yet failed to reap the greatest benefits. It was