Return

When he left, he had been Silver 3-Star, with nothing but memories of his previous life and practical combat experience. He had no trump cards, no one backing him.

When he returned, he was Silver Rank 4-Star, with a Black Gold Rank demon spirit hidden inside him and the cultivation methods of an elder inheritance stored in his mind. He now held things he had never possessed in his previous life. These were the true source of his confidence.

Shen Fei stood still, gazing at the city for a long time. In his previous life, he had entered that city determined to face certain death, and had died beneath its walls.

This time, he returned with an arsenal of trump cards.

The Dark Guild, Shen Hong, the Demon Beast Tide. The things that had once crushed him until he could barely breathe were still powerful. But he was no longer a bystander who could only pass on intelligence through anonymous letters. He had earned a place in the game.

The morning wind swept past, stirring the fallen leaves on the ground. Shen Fei withdrew his gaze, lowered the brim of his hat, and headed toward the city gates. His steps were steady, no different from when he had left.

Only he knew that some things had changed completely.

By the time Shen Fei returned to Glory City, dusk had just brushed the horizon. He mingled with a caravan returning to the city and followed its freight wagons through the southern side gate. The soldiers on guard merely glanced at the caravan's identification token and waved them through, without even getting a clear look at his face.

Including the journey there and back, he had been away for nearly a month.

The wind outside the city carried the raw scent of forest vegetation, crumpling the hem of his clothes and coating his face in a thin layer of dust. He looked no different from an ordinary mercenary who spent most of his time in the wilderness.

He did not return directly to the Sacred Family. He made two circuits through the alleys along the streets, confirmed that no one was following him, then turned into that inconspicuous general store in the West District.

The shopkeeper was bent over the counter tallying accounts. He did not even raise his head, as though he had not noticed anyone coming in.

Knowing the way well, Shen Fei walked to the back door, pushed open the creaking wooden panel, and descended two flights of stone steps. The stale air of the mine tunnel rushed into his face.

The Layered Peaks Black Market was unchanged.

Dim oil lamps hung along the mine tunnel. Oily smoke mingled with the rank scent of demon crystals, the bitterness of medicinal herbs, and the sweat drifting from the corners, all churning together and forcing their way into his nostrils.

Stalls crowded both sides. Hawkers' cries and the sounds of bargaining struck the rock walls and echoed in a low, constant hum.

Shen Fei lowered his hat brim and walked deeper into the tunnel.

He first went to the demon crystal buyer's stall at the very back. Its owner was a stubbled middle-aged man named Wang who had been doing business in the black market for over a decade.

He was tight-lipped and offered fair prices. In his previous life, when Shen Fei served in the City Guard, he would occasionally come here to sell any spare demon crystals he acquired.

Wang looked up at him from behind the stall but did not recognize him.

Shen Fei took the bundle off his back, placed it on the counter, and opened the zipper to reveal the demon crystals inside.

There were dozens of them, large and small, ranging from Bronze to Silver Rank. At the bottom lay the demon crystal from the Silver Peak Ironclad Rhino. It was a size larger than an ordinary Silver Rank demon crystal, with rich, concentrated spiritual energy.

Wang's gaze shifted slightly. He sifted through the demon crystals, then picked up the Ironclad Rhino's crystal and weighed it in his hand. Looking up at Shen Fei, he lowered his voice. "Good quality. Silver Peak goods-did you get this yourself?"

"I went out with a team. This was my share." Shen Fei answered casually without elaborating. "Name your price. If it's fair, I'll sell."

Wang asked no further questions. Those who did business in the black market never asked what they should not.

He lowered his head and worked the abacus, its beads clacking for a while before he named a figure. It was slightly below market price, but fair for the black market. Shen Fei nodded without bargaining.

After counting the low-tier demon crystals, Wang separately calculated the payment for the intermediate demon crystals and the peak-level crystal, then pushed a bag of demon crystals toward Shen Fei. "Check the amount. Come back next time you have goods. Bring enough, and I'll add ten percent."

Shen Fei casually weighed the bag in his hand. Its heft was about right, so he tucked it straight into his clothes, said nothing more, and left the stall.

After selling the demon crystals, he turned into the nearby Inscription Materials Shop. He selected several stacks of basic inscription paper and two ordinary engraving knives, then took a few common medicinal herbs that aided cultivation.

They were all things found everywhere on the market and cost little. He looked like an ordinary cultivator making routine purchases, nothing that would draw attention.

The shopkeeper deftly wrapped the items and handed them over, then took the copper coins and called to the next customer. He did not even remember what Shen Fei looked like.

Leaving the materials shop, Shen Fei did not hurry away. He slowly wandered back along the mine tunnel, his gaze passing over the stalls on both sides. He seemed casual, but in truth he took in every movement around him.

When he reached the branching passage in the northwest corner, he did not pause, merely casting a glance from the corner of his eye.

Several broken wooden crates still stood at the entrance to the passage. The middle-aged man smoking against the wall had been replaced by an unfamiliar face, a man considerably broader than the previous one. He wore a Bronze Ring on his finger and stood ramrod straight, looking unlike an ordinary doorkeeper.

Even fewer people entered or left the passage than before Shen Fei's departure. He stood there watching for half a minute. Only two people carrying cloth bags went in, and no one came out.

It was much as he had predicted. Over the past two months, the expenditure recorded as losses in the Sacred Family's accounts had declined month by month, and the Dark Guild's flow of goods through the black market had fallen with it.

Presumably, Nie Li had been working in the shadows, cutting off several of their routes and forcing them to rein in their activities.

That was good news for Shen Fei. The more cautious they became, the more their telltale tracks would show. He mentally noted the replacement guard and the times people entered and left, then followed the crowd toward the exit without lingering.

By the time he emerged from the general store, night had fully fallen. The shops along the street had lit their lanterns, spilling warm yellow light onto the bluestone paving.

Shen Fei found an empty noodle stall and sat down for a bowl of noodles in hot broth. After a month in the wilderness eating dry, hard wheat cakes at every meal, a hot meal was a rare treat. He ate slowly, listening to two mercenaries chatting at the next table.

They were discussing the city's defenses. After last month's night raid on the west wall, Lord Ye Zong had added three more sentry posts, and the City Guard's inspections had grown much stricter. Even those entering and leaving the black market had to register.

They also said demon beast activity seemed to have decreased lately. The patrols in the north had gone half a month without encountering a large pack.

Shen Fei listened silently without joining in. He knew this was only temporary. The Dark Guild curbing its activities and the decrease in demon beast movements were both the calm before the storm. Once they finished redeploying, their next offensive would only be fiercer than the last.

After finishing his noodles, he paid and followed the main street toward the Sacred Family.

When he reached the estate's entrance, the guard looked up at him, recognized the eldest legitimate son, and gave a slight nod. He neither asked questions nor offered a salute.

Everyone in the household knew this young master was out of favor. No one cared when he left for a month, and no one welcomed him back. They had long grown used to it.

Shen Fei did not care either and walked straight inside. A servant was making the nighttime rounds through the courtyard with a lantern. Seeing him return, the servant lowered his head, addressed him as "young master," then went back to his work.

The front hall was lit. The steward stood behind the counter leafing through an account book. Hearing footsteps, he looked up, saw Shen Fei, and froze for a moment before reacting.

"You're back, young master? Did your training go smoothly?"

"Well enough." Shen Fei walked over, his voice even. "I killed a few Silver Demon Beasts. Didn't run into anything formidable."

"As long as you returned safely." The steward nodded without asking for details, merely adding, "The master went to the City Lord's Mansion this afternoon to discuss business. He probably won't return until later.

"The second young master is practicing his sword in the training grounds out back. He just sent someone to ask for hot water. You must be tired from the journey. Go rest in your room, and I'll have the kitchen send you something to eat."

"No need for the trouble. I've already eaten outside." Shen Fei answered and turned toward his own courtyard.

He had just rounded the covered walkway when he came face-to-face with Shen Yue.

Shen Yue had just finished practicing his sword. He wore training clothes, and sweat glistened on his forehead. Two youths from branch families followed behind him, carrying his sword and sweat towel. At the sight of Shen Fei, Shen Yue paused, looked him up and down, and pulled his lips into a faint smile.

"So you really came back, Brother? I thought you might have run into a powerful demon beast out there and never made it home."

The two branch-family youths beside him lowered their heads, stifling their laughter without daring to make a sound.

Shen Fei did not stop. He walked past Shen Yue, leaving only a flat reply. "How thoughtful of you."

"Hey, don't leave so quickly." Shen Yue turned around and folded his arms, watching his retreating back with a mocking tone. "You spent a month training outside. How much did your cultivation improve?

"Let me see. Have you reached Silver Rank 4-Star yet? If you went all that way and made no progress at all, you'd be disgracing our Sacred Family."

Shen Fei stopped without turning around. "Not much progress. Same as before."

"Just as I thought." Shen Yue laughed aloud, his voice brimming with smug satisfaction. "With that little talent of yours, you could run your legs off out there and it wouldn't help.

"Why not just stay at the institute instead of insisting on going out to suffer? If you're really short on cultivation resources, tell me. I can spare you a few."

Shen Fei gave no further response and kept walking. The laughter and chatter behind him gradually faded. His face remained expressionless. He had long grown used to mockery of this degree.

The more useless Shen Yue thought he was, the less attention he would pay him, and the more favorable that would be for Shen Fei's coming plans.

Returning to his courtyard, he pushed open the door. The room was much as he had left it. A thin layer of dust covered the table and chairs, the bedding was neatly folded, and the windows were tightly shut. It looked as though no one had entered.

Shen Fei closed the door and slid the bolt into place before taking the money pouch and materials out of his clothes.

He walked to the bed and lifted the bedboard, revealing the hidden compartment beneath. It was empty, just as it had been when he left.

He divided the inscription materials he had acquired into two portions. He hid one in the compartment and kept the other on his person for convenient use in his daily cultivation.

He also sorted the remaining demon crystals, keeping the low-tier ones for everyday cultivation and saving the intermediate ones for future breakthroughs.

After putting everything away, he sat at the table and poured himself a cup of cold water. Only after taking a couple of sips did he slowly circulate the soul force within his body.

The aura of the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art flowed slowly through his meridians, entirely unlike the fluctuations of ordinary cultivation methods. It was restrained and still, like an undercurrent submerged beneath the water.

He deliberately suppressed his cultivation, keeping his aura steady at Silver 3-Star, exactly as it had been before he left.

Deep within his soul, the Shadow Mantis lay dormant, barely leaking a trace of its aura.

This Black Gold Rank demon spirit was naturally adept at concealment. As long as he did not summon it, even a Gold Rank expert standing right before him would detect nothing unusual.

With this layer of disguise, no one could see through his true strength unless a Black Gold Rank Expert deliberately examined him.

After resting briefly, Shen Fei rose and walked to the window, opening it a crack to look outside. The lights were still on in Shen Hong's study; presumably, he had returned from the meeting. Shen Fei did not hurry over to pay his respects. Instead, he stood by the window for a while, considering his next arrangements.

Starting tomorrow, he would return to the study and continue helping Shen Hong organize his accounts and correspondence.

Quite a backlog must have accumulated during his month away. Sorting it would be the perfect opportunity to see whether the Dark Guild had made any new moves recently, and whether the times and locations of its meetings had changed.

Adjutant Ma in the City Guard warranted particular attention. He had been a key figure in Shen Fei's previous life. In this life, he had yet to show many telltale signs, so Shen Fei would have to keep an eye on him.

As for the Holy Orchid Institute, he would report back from leave and resume classes in a couple of days. He still needed to attend the Advanced Class, both to keep up appearances and to use the institute's channels to track Nie Li's movements.

After the last soul force test, Nie Li certainly would not stop. He would probably stir up more commotion at the institute next, and might even clash with members of the Sacred Family.

Shen Fei did not need to intervene; he only had to watch. If necessary, he could even use Shen Yue to cause Nie Li a little trouble, diverting Shen Hong's attention in the process.

Then there was the matter of the anonymous letters. His last warning about the night raid on the west wall had worked well, but it had also drawn Nie Li's attention to him. He could not rush the next one. He had to wait for the right opportunity and find a more discreet way to deliver it.

Ideally, he would use a third party to send the intelligence to the City Lord's Mansion, completely severing any connection to himself.

Cultivation remained the most important priority. He had only just begun learning the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art, and there was still much to work out. His summoning time for the Shadow Mantis was also too short. In an all-out battle, it would last only as long as an incense stick burned-not enough for a truly hard fight.

He needed to make the most of his time to build their coordination and strive to double the summoning duration. As for the method's instructions on devouring demon spirits to break through, he could not rush that yet. He had to establish a solid foundation first, then find a suitable demon spirit to try once his cultivation had stabilized at Silver Peak.

As he was thinking, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate. The steward called out, saying that the master wanted to see him.

Shen Fei answered, straightened the front of his clothes, and opened the door to leave.

The study was brightly lit with candles. Shen Hong sat in a grand armchair, holding a document with his brows furrowed. Hearing Shen Fei enter, he did not even raise his head, merely asking offhandedly, "You're back?"

"Yes." Shen Fei stood before the desk with his head slightly lowered.

"Nothing happened during your training, I trust." Shen Hong's voice betrayed no emotion as his brush made a stroke on the document.

"Nothing happened. I only wandered around the outskirts and killed a few low-tier demon beasts."

Shen Hong grunted in acknowledgment and finally looked up, sweeping his gaze over Shen Fei. It lingered on him for two seconds, assessing his cultivation. He was indeed still Silver 3-Star, with little improvement.

He withdrew his gaze and set the document aside.

"Since you're back, don't take tomorrow off. The accounting office has half a month's worth of procurement records piled up. Go help them sort everything out. Organize the recent correspondence according to the usual rules as well, and leave it on my desk."

"Understood." Shen Fei answered promptly.

"If there's nothing else, go rest." Shen Hong picked up his brush again and returned his attention to the document, as though even one more word with him would be a nuisance.

Shen Fei bowed and withdrew.

In the days to come, he would remain the unfavored eldest legitimate son, dutifully sorting accounts and attending classes and cultivating according to his routine.

No one would be on guard against a good-for-nothing with neither talent nor ambition.