"Grandfather, did you capture any of the attackers? We might be able to pry some useful information out of them!" Shen Haoran said thoughtfully.

"Sigh... It’s not that we didn’t want to, but every single one of those attackers in black came with the resolve to die. The moment the situation turned against them, they’d take poison and dissolve into a pool of blood, not even leaving a corpse behind!" Old Sir Shen said with a sigh.

"How could this be?" Shen Haoran’s brow furrowed.

"All we can do now is maintain a passive defense! But the attackers from the day before yesterday already included Tier Eight and Tier Nine Spirit Pupils. I dread to think if a Spirit General will show up next time!" Old Sir Shen said, his voice laced with worry. ’After all, I’m the only Spirit General in the Shen Family. If one of their experts shows up, our family will suffer catastrophic losses!’

"Sigh..." At his words, everyone present could only sigh, their faces grim.

"Never mind. Instead of wasting time here, everyone should go and reinforce the Shen Family’s defenses to prevent another attack!" Seeing that no one could come up with a better plan, Old Sir Shen dismissed them from the meeting room.

"Haoran, you just got back. You must be tired. Go get some rest. I’ll continue to investigate this matter."

In that moment, Shen Haoran noticed Old Sir Shen seemed to have aged a great deal. ’All the family’s affairs, large and small, fall on his shoulders,’ he thought. ’And now something like this has happened... Grandfather must be incredibly anxious.’

Shen Haoran didn’t dare disturb him further. After bidding farewell, he left the meeting hall, allowing his grandfather some time alone to think. He then made his way toward his own courtyard.

As Shen Haoran approached his courtyard, he saw Aunt Xue waiting for him at the entrance from a distance.

"Aunt Xue!" Seeing how much more haggard she looked, Shen Haoran felt a pang in his heart. ’Ever since my parents disappeared, Aunt Xue was the one who raised me. I can only imagine how much she must have suffered these past two years while I’ve been away!’

"Young Master, you’re back!" Aunt Xue exclaimed, her eyes red with emotion.

"Yes, I’m back. I’m sorry for all you’ve been through," Shen Haoran said, his voice full of guilt.

"Don’t say that! Come, come, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? I made your favorite egg-fried rice!" Aunt Xue said cheerfully, pulling Shen Haoran into the house.

When they reached the kitchen, the fragrant aroma of egg-fried rice instantly whetted Shen Haoran’s appetite. He was so eager to eat he completely forgot to introduce Ji Lingxuan to Aunt Xue. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

However, Aunt Xue could already guess their relationship from their affectionate behavior. She was quite taken with the impossibly beautiful young woman, and she kept smiling and nodding at Ji Lingxuan. This made Ji Lingxuan so flustered she could barely eat, keeping her head buried in her bowl.

After the meal, Shen Haoran caught up with Aunt Xue for a while before heading back to his room.

Once in his room, Shen Haoran sat at the table with a grave expression, his fingers drumming restlessly on the surface as he mulled something over.

"Brother Haoran, are you thinking about the attack on the Shen Family?" Ji Lingxuan asked softly.

"Yes. I’m wondering who could be behind the attack on our family. According to Grandfather, it was clearly targeted at the Shen Family. And any faction capable of training so many Death Warriors has to be a major power," Shen Haoran said, frowning.

"Could someone have hired these Death Warriors? Or assassins?" Ji Lingxuan offered her own theory.

At Ji Lingxuan’s words, Shen Haoran’s frown deepened. ’If they really are assassins, then the Shen Clan Members are in grave danger!’

WHOOO... WHOOO... WHOOO...

Just as Shen Haoran was lost in worry, a series of urgent horn blasts echoed from the main estate, shattering the tranquility of the night.

Hearing the alarm, Shen Haoran rushed into his courtyard and looked toward the main compound. It was brightly lit and a clamor of noise rose from it...

"What is it? What’s happening?" Aunt Xue also ran out, having heard the commotion.

"It’s nothing, Aunt Xue. You go back and rest. I’ll go take a look!" Shen Haoran reassured her, then turned to Ji Lingxuan. "Stay here and protect Aunt Xue. You be careful, too!"

"Okay, I will, Brother Haoran. You be careful, too!" Ji Lingxuan knew the gravity of the situation and immediately agreed.

"Young Master, please be careful!" Aunt Xue called out worriedly after his retreating figure.

...

Shen Haoran moved quickly. In just a few leaps, he landed on a rooftop overlooking the front compound.

Below him, chaos reigned. Forty or fifty black-robed figures were frantically storming the inner compound, while the Shen Family guards fought desperately to protect their home. However, most of the attackers were at the Spiritualist Tier. Their leaders were even stronger—one Spirit General and five experts at the Spirit Pupil Tier. The Shen Family guards were steadily being pushed back. The family’s strongest fighters were pinned down by the enemy Spirit General and Spirit Pupils, unable to break away.

’Boss Shen, where are you? Why is there such a repulsive scent?’ Just as Shen Haoran prepared to jump down and help, Changmao’s voice echoed in his mind.

’What do you mean?’ Shen Haoran paused, asking in confusion.

Just then, Changmao scrambled onto Shen Haoran’s shoulder. Looking down with an expression of pure disgust, it pointed at the black-robed men. ’It’s them, the ones in black. They have a scent that’s extremely familiar, but also utterly repulsive!’

Hearing this, Shen Haoran’s interest was piqued. ’You know who they are?’ he asked quickly.

’Er... I don’t. I just know I really hate their smell!’ Changmao said, shaking its head.

’Then why does it smell familiar to you?’

’Er, I don’t know that either. It’s just an instinctual reaction. Besides, I’m only a Spiritual Thought, so I’ve lost most of my memories. I’m not sure why I feel this way!’ Changmao said, scratching its head.

’Never mind...’ Seeing that Changmao couldn’t explain it, Shen Haoran turned his attention back to the battlefield. By now, the black-robed attackers had reached the main hall, and most of the guards were already wounded.

’Hmph. You dare target my Shen Family! Then you can leave your lives behind!’ Shen Haoran’s eyes turned cold. His figure vanished, reappearing an instant later in the middle of the crowd.

GRR! GRR!

The sudden appearance of a new figure drew the attention of the surrounding attackers. A few inhuman growls rumbled from their throats before they lunged at Shen Haoran.

"Hmph!" Watching the dark figures approach, Shen Haoran snorted. The full aura of a Tier Six Spirit Pupil erupted from him. In an instant, black flames engulfed his body, coalescing into a suit of Black Flame Armor. The terrifying heat warped the very air around him!

The next moment, Shen Haoran became a black afterimage and vanished. A slaughter began. The Spiritualist-tier attackers couldn’t see his figure at all; they would feel a searing wave of heat, and then their heads would be separated from their bodies.

Thanks to his long period of training in the Profound Spirit Mountain Range, Shen Haoran’s killing skills were superb. There was no wasted motion—wherever he passed, a swath of black-robed men fell. With his intervention, the tide of battle turned in an instant.