The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 416 Meeting! (6k)

To everyone's surprise, no other prominent families came to visit in the following days.

Logically speaking, vying for a formation master should be a race against time, and all the major families would definitely try every means to be the first to arrive.

The current situation can only mean that they have chosen to give up.

The reason is not hard to guess—after learning that the Zhao family, ranked second, and the Yan family, ranked third, had already made their moves, the other families with slightly weaker strength naturally did not want to invite humiliation upon themselves.

After all, people strive for higher positions, and water flows downhill.

Could the Zhou family, ranked eighth, really have the audacity to say, "Our offers are better than the others? If you join the Zhou family, your fortunes will surely rise?"

This is not only an insult to the master, but it will also offend several of the top-ranked families, making it a thankless and arduous task.

Having figured this out, Zhou Qing couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

He had planned to take advantage of this opportunity to gain more benefits, but now it seems that's out of the question.

As for Yan Luo and Zhao Muye, they have been unusually quiet since moving into the Shen family's home, and have not come to disturb them again.

Their attitude has already shown that the remaining choice is in the hands of the "master".

Excessive entanglement will only backfire and increase resentment.

On the fifth day, just as Zhou Qing and his second uncle were secretly plotting how to seize the replica of the ultimate weapon from Yan Luo, two figures suddenly appeared from the horizon.

"Greetings, Miss and Young Master!" The gatekeepers bowed respectfully upon seeing Shen Hanyi and Shen Yunzhou.

Shen Hanyi's face was as cold as ice. She ignored everyone's greetings and strode straight inside.

The guards were already used to it—this cold and aloof young lady treated even her own father this way, let alone them, her servants.
Five-colored ripples swept over the two people, and after confirming their identities, the door slowly opened.

"Sister, should we go directly to the 'Tranquility Hall' in the central courtyard, or go back to the fourth branch first?" Shen Yunzhou asked, turning his head after entering the Shen family residence.

Shen Hanyi paused slightly, looked towards the direction of the fourth branch of the family, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, but she did not say a word, and turned to head straight for the "Tranquil Heart Hall".

"Oh dear, when did Hanyi return?" Halfway there, a beautiful woman dressed in a moon-white brocade dress with flowing clouds suddenly appeared in front of the two.

Su Yurou gently waved her round fan, her delicate oval face and bright, sparkling peach blossom eyes saying, "Second Aunt has missed you so much."

"Second Aunt." Shen Yunzhou bowed respectfully, but Shen Hanyi just looked at her coldly.

"Do I need to report to you?" Shen Hanyi's voice was as cold as ice.

Despite this attitude, Su Yurou remained unperturbed and continued to smile radiantly.

Since Liu Qingci's death, Shen Hanyi has always been cold and aloof to everyone, and everyone has long been used to it.

Moreover, Shen Hanyi is now a fourth-level array master with the cultivation of the Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm.

If it weren't for the restriction of seniority, Su Yurou wouldn't even have the right to speak with him.

“Of course not,” Su Yurou said with a light laugh. “Second Aunt knows why you’ve come.”

“That Master Qingzhou has condensed 30,000 spirit seals, as my second aunt witnessed with her own eyes. You will definitely benefit greatly from communicating with him.”

Seeing Shen Hanyi's impatient expression, Su Yurou quickly waved her round fan.

With a gentle glance, she said, "Second Aunt just wanted to remind you that Yan Luo of the Yan family, Zhao Muye of the Zhao family, and Miss Yu Yan of the Yu clan are all guests in the mansion now."

She parted her lips slightly, her breath sweet as orchids: "They say that good things should not go to outsiders. Since the master has chosen our Shen family, it means that we are destined to be together. If someone else were to snatch him away, it would be a huge loss."

As she spoke, she gently stroked her hair with her slender hand, her eyes filled with anticipation: "If Hanyi could get closer to the master and keep him in the Shen family, I'm sure the old man would be very pleased after he comes out of seclusion."

Shen Hanyi stared at her coldly, without saying a word.

Su Yurou felt uncomfortable under that cold gaze, and the forced smile on her face gradually froze.

She had no choice but to awkwardly step aside to make way, unconsciously increasing the frequency of her fan movements.

Shen Hanyi walked past her expressionlessly, her clothes fluttering and sending a chill through the air.

Shen Yunzhou, who was following behind, clicked his tongue in amazement. His older sister's aura was truly domineering.

In the Shen family, the only one who could be so unyielding and self-willed was probably my older sister.

Strength is indeed the best source of confidence.

Shen Yunzhou didn't dare to delay and quickly quickened his pace to catch up.

As she watched the siblings walk away, the embarrassment on Su Yurou's face gradually faded.

She gently waved her round fan, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

With an elegant flick of his right hand, a crystal-clear image stone floated above his palm.

"To give it, or not to give it?" She parted her red lips slightly, her voice so low that only she could hear it, her eyes filled with a constantly shifting expression.

"Second Sister-in-law~"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind.

Su Yurou calmly put away the image stone and then turned around.

Liu Rushuang arrived gracefully, gazing at the two figures gradually disappearing into the distance: "Has Hanyi returned?"

Su Yurou lightly waved her round fan, raising an eyebrow slightly: "That's right, she just got back and already giving me the cold shoulder. Sigh, she doesn't even know how to be respectful."

As she spoke, she slightly raised the corners of her eyes, exuding charm with every gesture, and deliberately adopted a pitiful appearance.

Liu Rushuang shook her head and chuckled: "They have every right to be proud. Among the younger generation of the Shen family, only the siblings have reached the Spirit Severing Realm."

"Even I get nervous when I see her now."

"Oh?" Su Yurou half-covered her face with her fan, her eyes sparkling. "Is Third Sister-in-law afraid?"

"Why should I be afraid of her?" Liu Rushuang chuckled. "No matter how strong she is, she's still a member of the Shen family, while I will always be her third aunt."

Su Yurou's lips curled slightly, her eyes holding a deeper meaning: "Only those who have done something wrong feel guilty. Someone as upright as me has never felt this way before."

Liu Rushuang's gaze sharpened: "It seems Second Sister-in-law's health is even better than I imagined."

"Of course~" Su Yurou covered her lips with her fan, her eyebrows and eyes exuding charm. "What, does sister-in-law think there's something wrong?"

"No, no!" Liu Rushuang quickly waved her hand and pointed to the sky. "Second Sister-in-law is standing in the bright sun now; you can't even see your shadow, let alone your body!"

Su Yurou looked down and burst into laughter: "It really is! But..."

Her eyes suddenly flashed, and she parted her cherry lips slightly, "Is it possible that we're floating in the air, so even if we had shadows, they wouldn't fall down?"

"Second sister-in-law is right," Liu Rushuang smiled lightly, "It's just that sister-in-law is too slow-witted."

Su Yurou gently waved her round fan, her eyes filled with mockery: "You're not dull-witted, you're just easily led astray~ Who says you don't cast a shadow when you're in the air?"

She gently raised her slender fingers, pointing to the white clouds higher above her head.

The white clouds drifted slowly in the breeze, casting dappled shadows between the mountains and palaces.

Liu Rushuang's expression changed slightly.

Su Yurou looked up at the high-hanging sun and said with a slight smile, "In fact, as long as we live under this sun, we will all be exposed and leave traces."

With that, she twirled her skirt and vanished into thin air.

Liu Rushuang remained silent for a long time before looking down.

On the rocky path, a small black dot is gradually lengthening—that is her shadow.

As the sun began to set, the shadow continued to extend.

She turned and left without saying a word.

Unbeknownst to anyone, in front of a high-rise window of a palace not far away, the eldest son, Lin Jingtang, stood quietly like a pine tree.

She stood tall and straight, her hands clasped in front of her abdomen, exuding an aura of dignified authority.

Those phoenix eyes calmly watched everything that had just happened, their gaze as still as a deep well.

A moment later, she gently closed the window, and her figure quietly disappeared into the hall...

……

A gentle breeze was blowing in front of the Jingxin Hall.

Shen Hanyi was dressed in white, her silver hair cascading down to her waist like a waterfall, gleaming with a cool luster in the sunlight.

She wore a veil and stood quietly in front of the palace, like a plum blossom braving the snow, her aloofness and coldness revealing a hint of detachment.

When Chaolu and Xishuang saw the fourth young lady suddenly return, they turned pale and hurriedly bowed before retreating into the side hall, closing the door tightly behind them.

Upon seeing this, Shen Yunzhou's eyes flashed with admiration.

He then straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully: "My name is Shen Yunzhou, and my elder sister Shen Hanyi and I have come to pay our respects to Master Qingzhou!"

Inside the hall, Zhou Qing, who was plotting the hunt for Yama with his second uncle, froze on the spot as if struck by lightning upon hearing this familiar announcement.

His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of his chest.

His blood-red eyes uncontrollably gazed out of the hall, and the figure he had longed for appeared in his sight without warning.

Zhou Qing's fingers trembled slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down, but he couldn't make a sound.

His gaze greedily followed that figure, as if he wanted to make up for all the more than 160 years that had passed.

In particular, his fists clenched and unclenched unconsciously under his sleeves, his heart filled with excitement and trepidation.

The second uncle's eyes flashed with a sharp light when he saw Zhou Qing's out-of-control state.

He had long wanted to meet the woman who haunted Zhou Qing's dreams.

After all, whether they have grandchildren or not depends on this.

Seeing Zhou Qing standing there dumbfounded, he quickly walked towards the palace gate.

"Squeak-"

The sound of the palace doors slowly opening startled the two people outside.

Shen Hanyi's once calm heart was suddenly stirred.

Anticipation, joy, and trepidation intertwined, causing her to unconsciously clench her sleeves.

What if Lu Yaoyao guesses wrong?
Just then, the palace door opened a crack.

A young man wearing a tiger-head hat peeked out, his face full of excitement.

Strangers, young, and full of energy—yet completely different from the person she remembered.

Shen Hanyi's heart sank, and the light in her eyes dimmed instantly.

"He's not that master, that's his disciple," Shen Yunzhou whispered a reminder.

Upon hearing this, Shen Hanyi's eyes rekindled with hope.

The second uncle stared intently at Shen Hanyi, becoming more and more satisfied with her.

With her aloof and icy demeanor, her stunning beauty, and her perfect figure, it's no wonder Zhou Qing couldn't forget her.

Such a beautiful and talented woman must have suitors lining up throughout the entire Southern Phoenix Prefecture, so why did she choose to fall for my son?
Did you force him?
But now is not the time to think about that.

A glint flashed in the second uncle's eyes as he secretly activated the "Mysterious Spirit Detection Technique," sending an invisible fluctuation of spiritual energy to quietly probe Shen Hanyi's dantian.

A moment later, a look of wild joy flashed in his eyes, and he almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"You must be Master Si Yunya, please come in." Before Shen Yunzhou could finish speaking, the Second Uncle slammed the palace door shut.

"She's pregnant! She's really pregnant!" Uncle Er exclaimed excitedly, rubbing his hands together.

He rushed over to Zhou Qing, who was still in a daze, and said, "You guessed right, kid! I'm going to be a grandfather, and you're going to be a father!"

Zhou Qing stood frozen in place, at a loss for what to do.

He had imagined the reunion countless times, but when the moment actually arrived, his mind went blank.

For over 160 years, aside from their vague encounters as "seniors" in the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace, they hadn't seen each other in reality since the end of the Spirit Slaying Protection Act. "Silly boy, what are you standing there for?" Second Uncle patted his shoulder hard.

"I'll go out and let you guys keep watch. When Shen Hanyi comes back, the other three families will definitely be keeping an eye on her. With me here, you can all catch up and enjoy yourselves!"

After speaking, the second uncle straightened his clothes and reopened the palace door.

"Miss Shen, my master invites you," he said respectfully.

Shen Hanyi nodded slightly and moved with light, graceful steps.

Just as Shen Yunzhou was about to follow, his second uncle immediately stopped him: "Yellow-haired man, non-array masters, and other men are not allowed to enter!"

Shen Yunzhou touched his hair, looked around, and was speechless.

Isn't this too obviously targeted?
You could have just told me not to go in.

"The two masters of formations are exchanging their insights, and no outsiders are allowed to disturb them," the second uncle said righteously, "including myself."

Helpless, Shen Yunzhou sat down on the ground in a huff and waited.

……

Inside the hall, Shen Hanyi walked slowly forward.

The palace doors closed slowly behind her, making a dull thud.

Her gaze fell on the figure deep inside the hall, whose back was to her. She looked closely, but couldn't find a trace of familiarity.

"My name is Shen Hanyi. I greet you, Master." She bowed respectfully.

Zhou Qing clenched his fists and slowly turned around.

The moment their eyes met, Shen Hanyi's heart trembled—this unfamiliar face, this unfamiliar gaze, was not his.

An indescribable sense of loss welled up inside me.

Zhou Qing's gaze, however, involuntarily fell on her flat stomach.

Noticing his gaze, Shen Hanyi frowned slightly and subconsciously took a half step back.

Zhou Qing then realized his rudeness and quickly looked away.

After all, apart from "Number One," no one should know that she was pregnant.

He waved his hand, setting up several soundproof barriers, his voice trembling slightly: "Thank you for waiting for me for ten years in Tianlan City."

Shen Hanyi's pupils contracted sharply, and a hint of joy flashed across her face: "You really are."

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he quickly changed them, "You're really still alive?"

Zhou Qing nodded, took a few steps forward, and stood in front of her.

A familiar smile appeared on his lips: "Yes, I came to the Shen family to look for you, but you were never here."

Looking at this unfamiliar face, yet hearing such familiar words, Shen Hanyi's heart trembled, and her tense nerves finally relaxed.

[Heart Judgment Points +9]

Soon, the word "jerk" above her head quietly changed to "big jerk"!
Seeing this, Zhou Qing couldn't help but laugh even more heartily.

Shen Hanyi felt a little guilty at his laughter, especially when faced with this unfamiliar middle-aged face, and for a moment she didn't know how to speak.

"Yaoyao misses you so much," she said, almost as if possessed.

Zhou Qing was also a little flustered, and followed up by asking, "Is she alright?"

“Very good. She has always believed that you are still alive and has worked very hard. Now she has broken through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm,” Shen Hanyi said.

"That's amazing." Zhou Qing exclaimed sincerely, but his gaze unconsciously fell on her.

The hall suddenly fell silent, with only the sound of each other's breathing remaining.

Both of them remembered something, but they didn't know how to bring it up.

"you……"

"I……"

"You go first," they both said in unison.

There was another moment of silence.

Zhou Qing took a deep breath and broke the deadlock: "How have you been all these years...?"

Shen Hanyi's heart skipped a beat, and her hand unconsciously wanted to touch her lower abdomen, but she stopped herself and whispered, "It's...it's alright."

"That's good, that's good..." Zhou Qing's voice was slightly hoarse, "It's my fault, I've made you suffer all these years, I..."

He suddenly looked up and stared directly into Shen Hanyi's eyes.

He had never pursued a girl before, let alone had her pregnant with his child.

He had originally planned to gradually deepen their relationship until things naturally progressed, but at this moment, his mind was blank, and he had no idea what to say or do.

That incident was an accident, and for a woman of exceptional talent, it almost ruined her reputation.

He was afraid of saying the wrong thing and offending her again.

Shen Hanyi noticed his gaze and his hesitation, and suddenly realized something.

"you……"

Zhou Qing gritted his teeth and decided to confess: "My second uncle—the one wearing the tiger-head hat just now—he... could see some changes in you. I'm sorry!"

He betrayed his second uncle directly, and now he can only use him as a shield.

Shen Hanyi trembled, her cheeks flushing slightly beneath the veil.

The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

After a long while, Shen Hanyi finally raised her hand, gently touched her lower abdomen, and whispered, "I..."

“I will definitely become a good father!” Zhou Qing suddenly said, then added, “and a good husband as well.”

Shen Hanyi's ear tips immediately turned bright red.

Zhou Qing said earnestly, "I know we're not a good match, but I believe I can bridge that gap. I want to try."

Looking into his determined eyes, Shen Hanyi hesitated for a moment before softly asking, "Could you... switch back to your original appearance and speak?"

Zhou Qing was taken aback and was about to answer when his second uncle's voice suddenly echoed in the hall: "This really won't work; we'll have to wait a while longer."

The two of them immediately blushed.

Zhou Qing cried out helplessly, "Second Uncle, you..."

"This was an accident, I'm not listening anymore, you two can talk it out!" The second uncle's voice gradually faded away.

Zhou Qing looked at Shen Hanyi awkwardly: "That's just my second uncle's personality. I'm able to achieve the Four Flowers Gathering at the Top thanks to him."

Shen Hanyi lowered her hand and had no choice but to change the subject, saying, "Let's not talk about that for now. How did you come out of the void?"

Seeing that she did not resist the conversation and was even willing to continue, Zhou Qing was delighted.

In fact, the fact that she did not choose to transform into a spirit over such a long period of time already says it all.

He may have once been just a seed in her heart, but now he wants to make that seed take root and sprout until it grows into a towering tree that she can no longer ignore.

"It's a long story," Zhou Qing's gaze softened, and he wisely stopped talking about the topic.

"It's really dangerous. The void has no direction, the turbulence is unreasonable, and those void creatures are completely impossible to communicate with."

Shen Hanyi: "..."

Zhou Qing coughed lightly and quickly pulled up a chair: "Sit down first, I'll tell you slowly."

He carefully held onto the back of the chair, saying, "Slow down."

Shen Hanyi's cheeks flushed slightly as she slowly sat down.

Zhou Qing then sat cross-legged on the ground, looking up at her: "I was really scared after being dragged in by that void beast. There was no time, no landmarks there."

Shen Hanyi listened quietly.

After all, very few people can survive coming out of the void, and the public's curiosity and curiosity about the unknown there are even stronger than their exploration of the forbidden zone.

Outside the hall, the second uncle sat in front of the door, nodding and swaying his head from time to time.

Shen Yunzhou looked up at the blinding sunlight and felt like a complete idiot standing in the sun.

He shifted his position slightly and shuffled closer.

"Master?" Shen Yunzhou approached with a grin.

The second uncle opened his eyes, adjusted the tiger-head hat on his head, and said impatiently, "What?"

Shen Yunzhou lowered his voice: "How did you get to know Master Qingzhou? Did you pick him up on the road?"

"What do you mean 'found'? He's my master!" Uncle Er exclaimed, his eyes wide. "We've known each other for years!"

"Huh?" Shen Yunzhou looked disappointed.

Second Uncle glanced at the yellow hair on his head and suddenly covered his nose.

Then, curiously, he asked, "I heard from your Shen family that the realm of enlightenment you comprehended is quite unique? It doesn't cause much harm, but it's extremely insulting?"

"No, no!" Shen Yunzhou waved his hands repeatedly, "Those are just rumors spread by people who can't beat me!"

The second uncle, however, became interested: "I don't believe you. You must be being modest. Come on, insult me ​​and see."

Shen Yunzhou flipped his hands over, and two lumps of yellow filth suddenly appeared in his palms, emitting a nauseating stench.

"vomit--"

The second uncle was caught off guard and inhaled a large amount of air. His face turned deathly pale, and he turned around and vomited.
……

The night was as dark as ink, and a cool breeze was blowing.

Shen Tianhong stood with his hands behind his back in the darkness, his black robe almost blending into the night.

He stared at the Jingxin Hall in the distance with a gloomy look, then glanced at the Second Master and Shen Yunzhou who were chatting happily outside the hall, his brows furrowed.

"These two can actually talk for so long?"

He slowly opened his palm, and a bright green Gu worm crawled out from his sleeve.

This worm was no bigger than a grain of rice, with six wings on its back and an eerie glow on its abdomen. Upon closer inspection, it was found to have countless compound eyes.

With a flick of Shen Tianhong's fingertip, the Gu worm flapped its wings and flew silently toward the main hall.

Outside the hall, the second uncle, who was boasting to Shen Yunzhou, suddenly felt a twitch in his eyelids, but then continued chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened.

But secretly he transmitted his voice into the hall: "Although absence makes the heart grow fonder, a little bug has sneaked in. Be careful."

Inside the hall, Zhou Qing was talking about his plan to quietly eliminate the third wife, Liu Rushuang, to avenge Shen Hanyi.

Just as Shen Hanyi was about to say something, both of them changed their expressions after hearing the second uncle's telepathic message.

Subsequently, Shen Hanyi quietly released her divine sense and quickly locked onto the northwest corner.

Zhou Qing followed the gaze and saw a green Gu worm with six wings trembling slightly, which pierced through the layers of restrictions and landed silently on a moonstone.

The two exchanged a glance and immediately understood each other.

Shen Hanyi said more seriously, "There are still some things I don't understand about the third change of the 'Nine Palaces Spirit Locking Array'."

Zhou Qing understood and continued, "The key to this formation lies in the way the spiritual seals are stacked."

The two of them started discussing the principles of formations, one after the other.

On the moonstone, the compound eyes of the Gu worms gleamed with an eerie light, transmitting back every word of the "normal" conversation inside the hall.

Shen Tianhong, standing in the shadows, listened to the discussion about the formation, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
(End of this chapter)