Interlude: The Valkyrie III (Patreon)

It had been 9 days since Song Yuelin and Chen Haoran had left Clearsprings City. After they did, Lan Fen immediately returned to the manor to disperse her people. She had the reliance to avoid the hunt of a superior cultivator, they did not. In any case, their use was coming to an end. She could feel the wind change the moment Shen Jianyu canceled the Palace Exams.

Despite Song Yuelin’s fears, the prince took no other action after canceling the exams. There was no announcement declaring them criminals nor any search done at the estate. Shen Jianyu stayed for three days and left without a word, the city seeming to breathe a sigh of relief when he did.

The damage had been done though. While the City Lord still kept his position the major families were no longer content with the status quo. Her previous sabotage became pointless as they rallied around the Lan family and sought to raise up its Patriarch to become a counterbalancing force. It was not all well for the Lan family, she was sure they had to give up much in the end in order for the deal to be struck. It would all be worth it in the end, a Crystal Transformation realm was that valuable.

It also meant the Lan family could now devote their time to hunting down Lan Fen. She had been holed up in the Silver Ring space ever since leaving the manor. She only left to gather news and otherwise devoted herself to Harmonizing with the Heaven-Splitting Claw.

“You must be annoyed,” the White Tyrant said. Floating in the white space of the Silver ring. “All your planning and preparations ruined by the whims of a higher power.”

Lan Fen stopped her cycling of the Heaven-Splitting Claw and glared at him.

“Such is the nature of the strong.” He hung upside down and poked her head with a ghostly finger. “They’re stones in a calm pond, no matter how softly they’re dropped in the water they still disturb the peace with their ripples.”

“It would be better if we knew why he came here,” Lan Fen said.

The White Tyrant shrugged. “Who cares. I’m more interested in what you’re going to do now.”

“Finish off the Lan family of course.”

“Why?” he asked. “With your talent you’re guaranteed to become a Crystal Transformation  realm in the future. Why not leave and come back when you’re stronger?”

“If I can deal with them now why bother with it later?”

The White Tyrant laughed and righted himself. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”

“If you like me so much then tell me how the situation is at the Chen Estate.”

“They started fighting,” the White Tyrant said.

It had been a shock to discover Song Yuelin returning to the City by himself after the panic he showed. It was a cold feeling to discover Chen Haoran wasn’t with him. Pitting the Lan family against him was both to test him and potentially remove a precious Liquid Meridian elder.

“And there is no sign of Chen Haoran?”

“Do you really think I wouldn’t notice him?”

Lan Fen was surprised the White Tyrant noticed anyone beneath him. He had never had the highest opinion of Chen Haoran to begin with, she wouldn’t put it past him to not register his existence. “Of course not,” she said. “I am simply worried.”

The White Tyrant snorted. “If your pet leaving worried you so much you should have taken him instead.”

“He knows his own situation best. I would not rob him of his choice.”

“For all the good that did him. Do you think the shadow bastard buried him in the mountains?”

“There is no reason for him to do so.” Song Yuelin was frustratingly inscrutable about even the most minor details of himself much less his motivations. She believed in Chen Haoran’s judgment of his character, however. “If murder was his goal he would have done so sooner.”

“And yet the shadow bastard returned alone and the moron is missing.” The White Tyrant leaned in the air as if draped over a couch and looked down on her. “Who’s to say he’s not here to clean up loose ends?”

Lan Fen hummed. “The fight should be over now yes?”

The White Tyrant huffed. “He killed them all.”

“There is our answer then.” She stood up and smoothed out the wrinkles in her robes. “If he was seriously hunting me he would have worked with the Lan family.”

“You’re going to meet him?”

“Of course,” Lan Fen said. “I have to find out what happened to Chen Haoran after all.”

He was alive, she knew that, but if he wasn’t she would make sure he was not lonely on the final road.

———————

The Chen estate had not been treated with respect by her Great-Uncle. The wrought iron gates had been wrenched open and he had seen fit to barrel through the shrubbery and ornaments in a straight path to the manor entrance. Song Yuelin stepped out through the broken doors to meet her. Lan Fen peered behind him into the manor. Not a body to be seen.

“You are as bold as ever, Lady Fen,” Song Yuelin said. “Or perhaps foolish? We never did finish our last discussion.”

“I still have the annulment papers.” Stored within the sleeves of her robes in fact. “Do you dare strike your Young Master’s legal wife?”

“Do you think that will stop me?” He walked toward her. The pressure of his qi loomed over them like an invisible weight. “When I am well aware of your actual intentions?”

“Yes.”

Song Yuelin held her gaze with stone-faced indifference. Then he smiled. “You are talented.” The pressure receded. “I look forward to seeing how you grow in the future.”

“What kind of shitty intimidation was that?” The White Tyrant said.

Lan Fen ignored him. “Where is Chen Haoran?”

Song Yuelin shrugged. “Who knows? He dropped a mountain of gold on my head and leapt into a river, I was hoping he would return here.”

“He will not,” Lan Fen said. There was nothing for him to return to. Chen Haoran would not waste an opportunity to slip his chains for such things

“I see that now.” Song Yuelin sighed. “In any case, I can’t dally here. I’ll send the bill to the Lan family for the damages, make sure you collect it.”

“Will the Chen family be taking action against Chen Haoran?”

He smiled. “You and Young Master Chen seem to have stumbled onto something amazing.”

Lan Fen carefully schooled her expression. Song Yuelin knew nothing, any reaction on her part would only harm her.

He chuckled and brushed past her. “I hope we don’t meet again soon Lady Fen, for your sake.” He casually waved a hand without turning around. “The world is large after all.”

With those parting words, Song Yuelin disappeared with the wind.

The White Tyrant snorted. “Said the frog in the well.” He rubbed his chin. “A mountain of gold huh? That’s not a bad idea. To think that moron could run away.”

“You underestimated him.” She did as well. That was good.

“That would require I have expectations.”

“Whatever you say.” Lan Fen left the manor. She pulled the annulment letter from her sleeve. Just one last task to complete before she could move on to the next stage. “Has the Patriarch reached the Sixth-Layer of Liquid Meridian yet?”

“He’s hit a bottleneck. Fucking trash.” The White Tyrant scoffed. “You really are related.”

“He is still within range then.” That would make it easier. She stowed away the letter. “I will send Xie Jin to look for Chen Haoran.”

“The bug? Is there something special about it?”

“He will find him.” She doubted Chen Haoran would have any idea of where to go. It would be better to have a friendly face guide the way. Xie Jin was morose anyway after the cancellation of the exams, at least in this way he could make use of his talents.

“Are you having second thoughts about the moron?” The White Tyrant smirked. “Do you pity him for-"

“Do not.”

The White Tyrant frowned. “You’ve been getting uppity.”

“You and I are also bound by a deal. In that regard, you’re no better than Chen Haoran.”

“You dare!”

Lan Fen ignored the White Tyrants’ outraged roaring and set a brisk pace toward the City Lord’s mansion.

“You try to make use of my power then insult me. Do you think I won’t let you die?”

“You will not.”

“I could throw a stone and hit talent like yours. Don’t think yourself special just because I’ve praised you a little.”

“As you say,” Lan Fen replied. “Just don’t forget to do your part when we meet the Patriarch.”

“Go find him then. Why bother with the City Lord?”

“I have to annul my marriage.”

Then she would get arrested.

She had stayed in this city for far too long. It was time to end things.

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Apologies for how late this is coming out. I usually struggle with Lan Fen's chapters.