I’ll Definitely Play the Stand-in Villain-Chapter 100 : Losing Control Before the Imperial Capital’s Gate, Then Let Me Help You Sober Up

Chapter 100: Losing Control Before the Imperial Capital’s Gate, Then Let Me Help You Sober Up
Inside the Imperial Capital, discussions were abuzz. Many wished to know who this so-called true heir of the Demon Suppression King truly was.
For a while, every street and alley was teeming with people. Many sons of noble families and scions of the great clans went out in groups, heading toward the city gate.
“I heard that the real heir of the Demon Suppression King, the one who was swapped by the Nether Cult, will be welcomed back to the mansion today.”
“Brother Haoran, why don’t we go and join the crowd? I heard rumors that the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion and the Marquis of Divine Might’s Residence may form an alliance through marriage. It seems that the one to be betrothed is that true heir, not Shen Yanzhou.”
Within the Dragon-Tiger Institute, many students had already heard the news. In the Library of the Confucian Courtyard, Liu Zi’an and Qi Haoran were discussing this matter.
Qi Haoran set down the book in his hand, his bearing refined, his expression complicated as he said, “I once thought Senior Sister Zhao could change her fate of being forced into a political marriage, but I never expected she would still be unable to escape it…”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help letting out a sigh.
If only he could enter the Hanlin Academy, earn a title, and become a Fifth-Rank State Administrator within three years—perhaps then, he would have had a chance to step into the Marquis of Divine Might’s Residence and boldly express his feelings.
Unfortunately, the Qi Kingdom had declined. As a hostage prince from a vassal state, his position in this Imperial Capital was awkward—too high for some, too low for others.
In terms of family background, he was inferior to many of the noble scions.
“How exactly did Shen Yanzhou obtain his current level of cultivation…”
Qi Haoran tightened his grip on the scroll, unable to suppress the envy and jealousy he felt toward Shen Yanzhou.
“Come on, let’s go take a look at this so-called true heir.”
“Don’t think too highly of Shen Yanzhou. He might look glorious now, but what comes next is hard to say.” Liu Zi’an smiled, pulling his friend up.
Qi Haoran was momentarily taken aback. “Zi’an, could it be that you’ve heard something?”
Liu Zi’an glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention, then lowered his voice. “From what I know, Shen Yanzhou is just a scapegoat being pushed forward. The reappearance of the Nether Cult’s forbidden technique has too many implications—this is deep water. Even my father showed a grim look when he heard of it, warning me not to get involved.”
He only told his friend because he had seen how dispirited he’d been recently.
Qi Haoran’s body trembled slightly. “But wasn’t Shen Yanzhou taken as a disciple by one of the Daoist Patriarchs?”
Liu Zi’an sneered. “Since when can the Daoist sect meddle in court politics?”
“Forget it. Let’s go to the west of the city later. I’ll show you some sights and help you relax a little. Stop brooding over your Senior Sister Zhao.”
“Even if she doesn’t marry into the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion, she’s still someone the Crown Prince fancies…”
The two of them got up, joining the many students of the Dragon-Tiger Institute heading out of the city.
……
“True heir?”
“Could it be Shen Tian? I haven’t seen him in a long time.”
“If possible, I really wouldn’t want to stand on the opposite side of Young Master Shen. In a sense, those two are brothers.”
“But the chance of reconciliation seems slim.”
Even Wu Ruyue, who was investigating a case in the Chilin Guards, put down her work. Thinking of her past acquaintance with Shen Tian, she let out a quiet sigh.
She felt conflicted.
She knew Shen Tian had feelings for her. During their training in the Southern Border, he had hinted at it more than once.
But she had turned him down each time, saying she was devoted to the pursuit of martial perfection.
Yet recently, whenever she spent time with Shen Yanzhou, strange feelings arose in her heart. When she saw him talking to other women, she couldn’t help feeling jealous.
Wu Ruyue knew that she had feelings for Shen Yanzhou.
In the end, she changed into plain clothes, planning to go outside the city to welcome Shen Tian. When he had left without a word back then, their contact had faded away.
She didn’t know where Shen Tian had gone during this time.
But emotionally and logically, she shouldn’t avoid him now.
……
“Young Master, Young Master…”
In the Daoist Courtyard, the hurried voice of Chunchao rang out. She found Shen Yanzhou, who was seated beside Luo Qiushui, discussing Daoist principles.
“What is it?” Shen Yanzhou looked at Chunchao with a knowing smile.
“Shen Tian is returning to the mansion. He’s outside the city right now—do you want to go see him?” Chunchao asked brightly.
“Was it Mother who sent you?” Shen Yanzhou asked.
Chunchao nodded. “The Princess Consort said that at a time like this, you should go as well.”
“So, she really can’t resist watching the spectacle.”
Shen Yanzhou instantly understood the Demon Suppression Princess Consort’s scheming mind. Shen Jingxiao hadn’t even informed him of this.
She clearly knew that Shen Tian had been taken away by a reclusive sect in the Southern Border because of him.
Now that they were about to meet again, wasn’t this like enemies meeting with heightened fury?
However, the Princess Consort didn’t know that the Shen Tian of today was not the Shen Tian of the past.
“I’ll go, of course—but not yet. Let Shen Jingxiao receive him first,” Shen Yanzhou said with a smile.
How could he possibly miss such a scene? Shen Jingxiao hadn’t notified him—but that was all the more reason to go.
This was the perfect chance to upset Shen Jingxiao’s composure.
Before the eyes of all the noble houses of the Imperial Capital, what would happen if this so-called true heir suddenly went mad?
“Senior Sister, would you like to see a show?”
Shen Yanzhou thought for a moment, then called out to the little Daoist nun sitting on a meditation cushion, her brows furrowed in contemplation, seemingly oblivious to the outside world.
“What show?”
Luo Qiushui, deep in meditation and trying to comprehend the Art of Reversing Yin and Yang that Shen Yanzhou had mentioned, turned her head with a cool voice.
“Mm, a monkey show.”
“Monkey show?”
Luo Qiushui was puzzled.
“Yes.”
Shen Yanzhou nodded with a smile.
He had not yet formally become the disciple of the Patriarch of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, but Luo Qiushui was different—she was a legitimate direct disciple of that Daoist Patriarch.
If anything went wrong later, having her by his side meant Shen Jingxiao wouldn’t dare act rashly.
……
At that moment, the main streets of the Imperial Capital were packed—one could say the city was emptied of its people. The Demon Suppression King, Shen Jingxiao, led a group of retainers and attendants out of the city to welcome the heir. Commoners and merchants alike stepped aside. Even the buildings and shops nearby fell silent as many looked down from above.
All the noble families and wealthy clans who came to watch followed behind curiously.
Even many court ministers brought their families out, curious to see what kind of talent the true heir—whom Shen Jingxiao had hidden for years—possessed, and what made him worth such great effort.
“To be hidden by Shen Jingxiao all these years, he must be extraordinary indeed.”
From a restaurant loft near the city wall, Crown Prince Xia Chongming stood with his attendants, looking down, his eyes dark and cold.
He felt a deep sense of unease toward the true heir he had never met.
In his mind, if Shen Jingxiao was willing to pay such a high price to conceal him for twenty years, even giving up a brilliant adopted son like Shen Yanzhou, then this heir must possess talents great enough to threaten him.
“Your Highness need not worry. Two tigers cannot share one mountain. No matter what ability this true heir possesses, even if he has three heads and six arms, as long as the right people are used, there will always be ways to keep him in check.”
“Didn’t Her Majesty the Empress once say that Shen Yanzhou is a fine blade? As long as Your Highness knows how to wield him, he can become a weapon of unimaginable power.”
A goat-bearded attendant offered his flattery with a smile.
At that, Xia Chongming’s expression eased slightly as he recalled his mother’s words from a few days ago—she had urged him to grow closer to Shen Yanzhou and, if necessary, to find a way to draw him into his camp.
For now, however, he still couldn’t discern Shen Yanzhou’s true inclinations.
In the past, he could have lured him with beauties, wealth, or treasures—but now, what did Shen Yanzhou truly desire?
“Hmph. Let’s first go see that so-called true heir,” Crown Prince Xia Chongming flicked his folding fan and rose, walking leisurely out to the street.
His attendants hurriedly followed.
……
Outside the moat of the Imperial Capital, several carriages escorted by the Demon Suppression Army came to a halt. The armored soldiers standing guard only questioned those nearby but dared not inspect the carriages directly. The banner of the Demon Suppression Army hung high, exuding a blood-like aura that filled the air with a chilling murderous intent.
This was the iron-blooded army from the Southern Border—known and feared throughout the Great Qian Dynasty.
However, by the strict laws of Great Qian, heavily armored cavalry were not allowed into the capital. The fact that they had been allowed this far was already thanks to the Demon Suppression Army’s name alone.
“Gentlemen, we have escorted the Heir back to the capital.”
“We await the Prince’s arrival.”
A commander of the Demon Suppression Army stepped forward to speak with the city gate captain, handing over proof of identity.
“General, no need for formality. We are already aware of the situation. His Highness the Prince is on his way here.”
The gate captain’s tone was respectful; clearly, he understood the situation in the capital and dared not obstruct them.
The commander nodded, then walked to the front of a black carriage. He whispered something to the elderly coachman, then lifted the curtain slightly, speaking in a low tone to the young man seated inside—as if giving some instructions.
From the city wall above, many were watching. Through the lifted curtain, they could vaguely make out the silhouette of a young man inside.
“Is that the true heir?”
“What does he look like?”
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
Before long, the people from the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion arrived. Shen Jingxiao walked at the front, wearing his usual loose robe, without a crown or ornament—looking less like a warlord and more like a refined scholar.
Behind him followed Shen Zhigao and several clan elders, their faces filled with restrained excitement.
To these elders who valued bloodline above all else, no matter how many years Shen Yanzhou had lived among them, he could never compare to one who truly carried their blood.
Bloodline—that was the bond engraved into their very being.
“Greetings to Your Highness!”
As soon as Shen Jingxiao appeared, the Demon Suppression Army soldiers, who had been standing upright a moment ago, suddenly dropped to one knee in perfect unison. The clashing of their armor and weapons rang out like molten iron, crisp and thunderous, sending chills through all who watched from the city wall.
This was the army that had once slaughtered so fiercely in the Southern Border that even the nations of the demon race trembled in fear—disciplined, merciless, and precise.
In all of Great Qian, there was likely no one but the Demon Suppression King who could command their absolute loyalty.
At that moment, countless nobles and aristocrats exchanged glances, their eyes deep and contemplative.
“Rise. You’ve all worked hard along the way,” Shen Jingxiao said warmly, raising a hand in a gentle gesture.
The leading general stepped forward, speaking softly, “Your Highness.”
“The Ghost Doctor of Medicine King Valley has personally examined the Heir. He said that his soul suffered some injuries, causing occasional confusion of will.”
“However, after taking those few doses of medicine, the Heir showed clear improvement. He no longer fell into bouts of madness as before and was now able to listen and respond.”
“The elder from Luofu Cloud Cavern in the Southern Border said that they had planted a curse within the Heir’s body, demanding that we withdraw our army from the hundred-thousand mountains.”
“But the Ghost Doctor personally examined him and found no trace of any curse. He suspected that the Heir’s soul might be unstable and suggested seeking items like the Soul-Nurturing Lotus to further stabilize his spirit.”
“Additionally, and most importantly, the Heir’s body was once crippled—his dantian destroyed—but the Ghost Doctor has already healed it. Following your command, we obtained the Blood Spirit Ginseng King, Pure Yang True Pill, and Huanyi Herb, as well as that most crucial elixir. All were refined into a single great medicine, which the Heir has already consumed…”
“Now, though his body may not be indestructible like diamond, it has become an acquired human treasure—ordinary blades can no longer harm him.”
Shen Jingxiao nodded lightly, as he was already aware of these matters.
At present, Shen Tian’s condition had stabilized. He was no longer as deranged and frenzied as when he was first rescued from Luofu Cloud Cavern.
In fact, this could be considered a blessing in disguise. His recent secret “experiment” had shown remarkable results, perfectly aligning with Shen Tian’s current situation.
That was also why he dared to welcome Shen Tian back to the mansion in full public view.
First, to display his commanding prestige within the Demon Suppression Army.
Second, to rightfully restore Shen Tian’s identity, dispelling years of secrecy and concealment.
The third and most crucial reason—was to provide a proper explanation for the incident of the heir being switched twenty years ago.
Only by presenting Shen Tian openly before all could he erase suspicions of him being some “undercover agent of the Nether Cult.”
“These years have made you suffer greatly outside. Today, your father will bring you home, so you may reunite with your parents.”
Gathering his thoughts, Shen Jingxiao softened his expression and approached the black carriage, intending to lift the curtain.
But a harsh and furious voice suddenly rang out from within: “So you still remember that you have a son like me? Do you even know how I’ve lived all these years out there…”
The warmth on Shen Jingxiao’s face froze instantly.
Even the clan elders behind him were stunned, and the retainers and attendants all stood dumbfounded.
From the city wall not far away, the onlookers were also taken aback—what was happening?
Some strong cultivators, their hearing sharp, caught faint bits of the conversation carried by the wind, their expressions turning strange.
Something wasn’t right—this “welcoming the true heir back to the capital” didn’t seem to be going smoothly at all.
“Taoist Song, what did the Heir in that carriage say? Why do Shen Jingxiao and the others look so grim?”
Atop the wall, Crown Prince Xia Chongming stood at a vantage point, overlooking the scene beyond the gate. Even he was taken aback and quickly asked one of the attendants behind him.
“Hehe, it seems the Heir has quite a temper.”
The attendant, dressed as a Daoist in feathered robes and wide sleeves, chuckled softly before taking out an amplifying talisman and burning it. The group could then clearly hear the sounds from below.
“What… what’s going on?”
Crown Prince Xia Chongming was completely stunned—this wasn’t how things were supposed to go!
Shouldn’t this have been a touching scene of fatherly love and filial piety, a joyous family reunion?
At the gate, the nobles and aristocrats who had come to offer congratulations were also frozen in place, unsure of what had happened, not daring to step forward.
“It seems that true heir doesn’t have much of a good temper. Why is he throwing a tantrum at such a time?”
Among the students of the Dragon-Tiger Institute, all gifted prodigies, even from a distance, their keen sight allowed them to clearly see the situation outside the city.
For a time, many of their expressions became rather… colorful.
Liu Zi’an and Qi Haoran both stood stunned, faces turning oddly amused.
“Young Master, how did you know this would happen?”
Shen Yanzhou, accompanied by Chunchao and Luo Qiushui, stood among the crowd at the city gate.
He was particularly eye-catching—dressed in plain white robes, handsome and refined, tall and straight, his bearing otherworldly. Even among the many prodigies of the Dragon-Tiger Institute, he stood out like a crane among chickens, impossible to ignore.
Yet despite the glances cast his way, Shen Yanzhou acted as though he noticed nothing.
“The workings of Heaven cannot be revealed.”
Smiling slightly, he replied to Chunchao’s puzzled question.
“There was a flicker of spiritual fluctuation just now beside you—did you use some Daoist technique?”
Luo Qiushui’s cool voice drifted into his ear, her bright eyes fixed intently upon him.
Her tone carried an unmistakable note of certainty.
Shen Yanzhou froze for a moment—he hadn’t expected Luo Qiushui’s perception to be that sharp, able to sense even such a subtle trace.
Indeed, he had made a move—secretly using the “Thread of Control” technique obtained from Fu Yuying.
This secret art primarily disturbed Shen Tian’s damaged soul and consciousness, amplifying his negative emotions.
Now, Shen Tian was nothing more than a puppet of flesh—no longer whole. How could he possibly suppress his emotions as his true self once did?
“Senior Sister, you’re too clever,” Shen Yanzhou sighed.
Luo Qiushui was momentarily startled. Though she didn’t understand why Shen Yanzhou had secretly cast a technique, she believed there must be a reason for it.
After a brief thought, she blinked and said softly, “I won’t tell anyone.”
……
“Heir, please do not speak recklessly…”
Outside the city gate, an eerie silence fell.
The commander who had escorted the Heir the entire way turned pale and quickly stepped forward to calm him down.
If the Heir were to lose control in public today, wouldn’t that make them a laughingstock?
He had already noticed the subtle shift in the crowd’s gazes from the gate.
“Get lost! You’ve been chirping all the way—are you the heir or am I the heir?”
“Get out of my sight!”
A voice thick with irritation and impatience came from within the carriage, leaving the commander frozen in place, his face flushed with embarrassment.
But Shen Jingxiao, who had seen countless storms, still maintained his composure and spoke gently, “Tian’er, do not make a scene. You’re returning home with your father now—your mother is waiting for you at the mansion.”
“Don’t let others laugh at our Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion.”
“Mother… yes, where is Mother?”
“Why haven’t I seen her? Is she with that bastard Shen Yanzhou again? I’m her real son—why does she treat that bastard so well?”
“I’ve returned home now, yet she won’t even come to see me!”
Mentioning “mother” only seemed to further enrage the figure inside the carriage.
There was a violent sound within—decorations smashed to the floor—then the curtain was yanked aside. A young and handsome face appeared, twisted with fury and malice as he shouted loudly.
Fragments of memory and emotion still lingering in his soul flooded his mind.
He saw a gentle, graceful woman—his mother—treating him coldly, yet showering affection upon another young man.
That young man was Shen Yanzhou—the fake heir, the thief of his birthright and his mother’s love.
He hated that false heir.
“Where is Shen Yanzhou? Bring him out—I’m going to kill him!”
Shen Tian roared, his voice filled with hatred and wrath.
Even though the people of the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion tried to cover up the situation, they could no longer suppress it. Shen Tian’s furious outcry had already spread to the city gate.
Immediately, discussions broke out everywhere.
Those who had already sensed something amiss were now certain—the long-awaited true heir was far from composed and steady.
What kind of noble heir would curse and shout in public like this? He looked no different from a street thug.
“This true heir seems rather ordinary.”
Many noble ladies of the capital, gazing from afar, looked visibly disappointed.
In their minds, the Demon Suppression King’s heir should at least have some of his father’s youthful bearing—but this one seemed far from it.
The way he shouted and raged made him seem like a crude troublemaker from the streets.
“So this is the Demon Suppression King’s heir? He doesn’t quite match what the King described,” remarked the Divine Martial Marquis from atop the wall, frowning deeply.
Beside him, Zhao Qingchan’s gaze lingered on the shouting Shen Tian for only a moment before turning away.
She had never held much expectation for this so-called true heir.
“Does Father still wish me to marry such a man?” she asked softly.
The Divine Martial Marquis frowned slightly but answered kindly, “Let’s observe a little longer. Perhaps there’s some reason or hidden pain behind this.”
……
At that moment, Shen Yanzhou—whose name had just been shouted by Shen Tian—felt countless eyes turn toward him.
He remained calm and unaffected, walking straight toward the city gate.
Chunchao and Luo Qiushui exchanged glances, then followed him.
“Chief…”
Zhou Yang and several hundred-household captains, who had come to watch the excitement, spotted Shen Yanzhou and called out, as if asking whether he needed help.
After all, the true heir was now yelling that he wanted to kill him.
Shen Yanzhou turned back and smiled at them, waving a hand—no need to follow.
Wu Ruyue, standing beside Zhou Yang and the others, looked on with a complicated, shaken expression. She had recognized the figure emerging from the carriage.
Who else could it be but Shen Tian?
But why had Shen Tian’s temperament changed so drastically—becoming so arrogant and violent?
“Heh, looks like the show’s about to begin,” Liu Zi’an said with a gleeful grin.
“Senior Sister Zhao is here too…”
Qi Haoran, however, had noticed another woman among the crowd.
She was dressed in a plain gauze robe, standing quietly with the people of the Marquis of Divine Might’s Residence—serene and graceful as a flower reflected in still water. It was Zhao Qingchan.
Yet Zhao Qingchan’s gaze wasn’t on him; her bright eyes were instead fixed firmly on Shen Yanzhou walking toward the gate, her delicate hand slightly clutching her skirt, a hint of nervousness in her bearing.
That sight filled Qi Haoran’s chest with a suffocating bitterness. Why was Shen Yanzhou worthy of such attention from her?
……
At the grand gate of the Imperial Capital, the people of the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion looked at the approaching Shen Yanzhou, each with a different expression.
The retainers wanted to bow, yet feared rebuke from the clan elders behind them, so they stood stiffly, unsure what to do.
“Zhou’er, you’ve come too.”
“We thought that since you were serving in the Chilin Guards and occupied with handling cases, you might not have time, so we didn’t inform you earlier…”
Before the gathered crowd, even though Shen Zhigao and the others bore boundless hatred toward Shen Yanzhou, they could only force themselves to suppress it for now, wearing polite smiles as they stepped forward to greet him.
Their Sixth Brother’s body was scarcely cold, his coffin still resting in the ancestral shrine—and yet they longed to tear Shen Yanzhou apart on the spot.
Shen Yanzhou looked at Shen Zhigao and the others, smiling faintly. “No matter what, today is an important day for welcoming back the Heir. Even if I’m busy, how could I possibly be absent?”
“Shen Tian, it’s been a while.”
Having said that, he ignored Shen Zhigao and the others and instead turned toward Shen Tian, who had lifted the carriage curtain and was about to jump down, greeting him directly.
“Shen Yanzhou…”
So true was the saying—enemies meeting, their eyes blaze red.
Although the current Shen Tian was but a human puppet, with much of his memory and reason clouded and chaotic, he still remembered clearly that this elegant, unmatched young man before him was the enemy he hated to his very core.
At once, his eyes reddened, his teeth clenched, and he looked like a wild beast breaking free from its reins, about to leap down and fight Shen Yanzhou to the death.
“Heir, please don’t act rashly!”
The young general beside him hurriedly grabbed hold of Shen Tian, restraining him.
“Let me go! I’ll kill that bastard!”
Shen Tian roared, his eyes bloodshot.
Though Shen Yanzhou could feel the immense hatred coming from Shen Tian, he didn’t sense any of the usual negative emotion points he should have received.
He sighed inwardly with slight disappointment. So it really had to be the true body—this puppet couldn’t represent the real Shen Tian.
Watching the scene unfold, Shen Jingxiao’s expression remained calm as still water. He didn’t grow angry; he had already determined that there was something wrong with Shen Tian’s condition.
Even the Ghost Doctor of Medicine King Valley hadn’t been able to identify the cause.
He sighed softly in his heart. No matter what, this was his own flesh and blood. He couldn’t treat him with the same detached indifference he used toward Shen Yanzhou.
Turning to the attendants behind him, Shen Jingxiao ordered,
“The Heir is suffering from hysteria, and his old ailment has relapsed. He must be brought back to the capital at once for treatment.”
After giving the order, he glanced again at Shen Yanzhou.
Perhaps it was only his imagination, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Tian’s sudden madness in front of everyone was somehow related to Shen Yanzhou.
Was it because Shen Yanzhou’s presence had agitated him?
Or was there another cause?
“I’m not sick! You’re the ones who are sick! Let me go! I’ll kill him—kill that bastard!”
At this point, Shen Tian no longer saw any “father” before him. In his eyes, there was only Shen Yanzhou—the enemy who had taken everything from him. The monstrous hatred had completely drowned what remained of his sanity.
With a resounding boom, an explosive force erupted from Shen Tian’s body, breaking free of the young general’s grip.
True Qi surged violently around him. Though he had lost many memories, the martial instinct engraved into his blood and bones drove him to leap into the air, sweeping toward Shen Yanzhou with a ferocious strike.
At the moment of impact, his hands came together like a divine sword. Wisps of sword light entwined his fingers, and behind him, it was as though a sword cliff split open. For an instant, countless celestial swords appeared, slashing down.
Chi, chi, chi—
In that instant, sword light scattered everywhere. Crimson, golden, and violet gleams intertwined, veiling half the sky.
It was an overwhelmingly powerful sword technique—one even Shen Tian had never displayed before, not even before Shen Jingxiao himself.
Now, he unleashed it instinctively, not even aware of its significance.
“The Eternal Sword Returning-to-Sheath Technique…”
“Isn’t that the famed sword art of the Sword Immortal from the Ten-Thousand-Mile Sword Court?”
“How can that be? Isn’t that Sword Immortal stationed in Northern Desert Prefecture? He never took any disciples!”
“Could it be that this Heir is actually the Sword Immortal’s successor?”
At the city gate of the Imperial Capital, the crowd watching was taken completely by surprise when the true Heir suddenly attacked Shen Yanzhou.
Among them were some with sharp insight who quickly recognized the source of Shen Tian’s sword technique.
Instantly, an uproar spread through the onlookers.
Tantai Yuxian—an existence at the peak of Second Rank, only a step away from First—was revered as a legend among all who walked the path of the sword.
Now that Shen Tian had displayed her signature sword art, what did that imply?
No wonder the Demon Suppression King had welcomed him home with such grandeur.
“It seems the Heir has inherited the Sword Immortal’s essence. This sword technique, sweeping across the land like ten thousand blades drawn from their sheaths—on the battlefield, it could slay thousands.”
“Impressive indeed. Among the younger generation, few could be his match.”
“As expected of the Demon Suppression King’s Heir.”
Those nobles and aristocrats allied with the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion immediately began offering praise without hesitation.
Even the prodigies of the Dragon-Tiger Institute felt chills down their spines. Though standing far away, they could still feel the skin-prickling sharpness of that sword aura.
They silently wondered—if they were the ones facing it, could they withstand such a strike?
“Shen Tian knows swordsmanship?”
“Could he have apprenticed under the Sword Immortal of the Pure Pavilion?”
Wu Ruyue, who had once trained alongside Shen Tian and was familiar with his techniques, was stunned. She rarely saw him use sword arts—only knew that he always carried a sword case on his back.
Now, she finally understood.
The people of the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion stood frozen for a moment before realizing what was happening. Yet none stepped forward to stop it.
Even Shen Jingxiao’s gaze only deepened slightly; he did not intervene. Although Shen Tian was currently unstable and confused, he still needed to show his ability publicly—to silence the whispers of petty minds.
If nothing else, Shen Tian was his biological son. How could he be easily humiliated?
Over the years, he had poured enormous effort into him—sending him to the Ten-Thousand-Mile Sword Court to study under Tantai Yuxian, secretly arranging numerous opportunities for his cultivation.
“I’d like to see whether your hollow Sixth-Rank martial strength can compare to Tian’er’s extraordinary skill,” Shen Jingxiao murmured, eyes narrowing.
He had never believed Shen Yanzhou’s cultivation came from his own effort—it must have been inherited from some predecessor’s legacy.
That kind of power, in his view, was hollow—lacking real battle experience and genuine control. How could it compare to the son he had painstakingly cultivated?
The Elder Tang Ya of the Martial Institute had only been defeated by Shen Yanzhou because of carelessness, underestimating the strength of his “Dragon-Elephant Force.”
But Shen Tian’s cultivation derived from the ancient Pure Yang Sect—the Haoyang Heaven-Burning True Art, an extension of the supreme Pure Yang Orthodox Scripture, capable of suppressing all forms of internal Qi.
Moreover, after consuming that single, furnace-refined “Great Medicine,” Shen Tian’s physical body was no weaker than Shen Yanzhou’s Dragon-Elephant Force. With further refinement, his potential would only grow more terrifying.
Chi!!!
At this moment before the gate, Shen Tian, in his frenzy, unleashed his full power. He didn’t even know where this overwhelming strength came from—it had already surpassed the level of an ordinary Sixth-Rank martialist.
“Shen Yanzhou, die!”
Shen Tian roared, hands joined, his sword cry ringing through the heavens.
Dazzling sword light tore across the sky—like ten thousand blades unleashed, slashing toward Shen Yanzhou in countless overlapping arcs, each strike emanating deadly intent even from afar.
Everything happened too quickly. Before the watching crowd could even react, the terrifying sword light had already engulfed Shen Yanzhou.
“Chief…”
Zhou Yang and the other captains, though confident in Shen Yanzhou’s strength, couldn’t help but worry at the sight of such devastating power.
But the next instant, an unexpected scene occurred. The figure of Shen Yanzhou, standing still just a moment ago, suddenly vanished into thin air.
The falling sword light struck the ground instead, carving deep, jagged trenches across the stone.
And then—he appeared behind Shen Tian, still wearing that faint, calm smile, as if he had merely strolled out of the void itself.
“If you’re not thinking clearly, then I’ll help you think clearly.”
Shen Yanzhou clasped one hand behind his back and raised the other. In a slow, deliberate motion—clear enough for everyone to see—he slapped Shen Tian squarely across the face.
The stunned Shen Tian, still searching for where Shen Yanzhou had gone, felt a burning pain explode across his cheek, his vision flashing black.
Pa!
Another crisp slap followed. Shen Tian spat out a mouthful of blood and shattered teeth, his once-handsome face swelling grotesquely.
Shen Yanzhou’s expression remained faintly smiling. “Awake now? If not, then go back to sleep.”
After a few more slaps, the crazed Shen Tian finally came to his senses—only to be immediately kicked into the air before he could even see Shen Yanzhou’s figure. He flipped several times midair before crashing to the ground face-first, sprawling in utter humiliation.
It all seemed slow in words, but in truth, it had happened within just a few breaths.
When the people of the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion finally came to their senses, they saw that the once-raging Shen Tian now lay on the ground, face swollen, blood spilling from his mouth, seemingly unconscious.
Shen Jingxiao’s expression darkened to the extreme.
And before the towering gate of the Imperial Capital—silence fell like death itself.