Shen Han followed Yan Yun all the way, heading towards the northwest.
Along the way, he listened to her talk about the situation in the Northern Mountain Domain.
The Seven Sects and Sixteen Countries are the top forces in this domain.
Due to the passing of the Old Monarch, Jiuxiao Countryâs power level significantly declined.
Relying on its former foundation, it has endured for over a decade, but now, itâs likely to struggle even more.
The conflict between the Blood Moon Sect and Jiuxiao Country primarily stems from Jiuxiao Countryâs weakened power.
The interests that Jiuxiao Country once held now have to be given up.
With such meager strength, how could one hold onto jade for long?
The purpose of this trip is to visit the Taihang Sect, one of the Seven Sects.
To request their old Sect Leader to mediate the conflict between Jiuxiao Country and the Blood Moon Sect.
After hearing what Princess Yan Yun had to say, Shen Han hesitated for a moment before he couldnât help but speak up.
"This trip is just to deliver a message.
Is it common for Jiuxiao Country to have a prince or princess deliver messages?"
Upon hearing this, Princess Yan Yun smiled helplessly.
"Father has many princes and princesses under his knees; weâre just entitled as princesses in name.
To be honest, weâre not even as favored as disciples of other sects.
However, if this visit successfully persuades the Sect Leader of Taihang Sect to mediate, Father should reward me.
Then, Yan Yun will surely repay Young Master Shen."
Shen Han smiled and softly declined.
"Actually, this trip to the Taihang Sect is bound to be very smooth.
One of my good sisters has recently been accepted as a direct disciple by the Taihang Sect.
And her master is the son of the Sect Leader of Taihang Sect.
If she steps up to plead for us, it will surely work~"
On the way to the Taihang Sect, Yan Yun would occasionally skip a few steps playfully, indicating her fairly good mood.
Back in Jiuxiao Country, she prided herself on taking good care of that sister.
Though she didnât live well, she would still share whatever she had with her good sister.
Jiuxiao Country wasnât very far from the Taihang Sect.
Shen Han had pretty much heard all he wanted to know from Yan Yun.
Then he stepped onto the magical artifact of the Lion King Sectâs Young Sect Leader.
It was merely a few hundred miles, and it only took one or two two-hour to reach.
Looking at the mountain range ahead.
At the foot of the mountain, there were already guards stationed.
Shen Han looked up, and compared to the ethereal Xiaoyao Peak,
the Taihang Sect seemed quite inferior, somewhat lacking in class.
"The Sixteenth Princess of Jiuxiao Country requests to meet Taihang Sectâs direct disciple Kang Dongyun, and kindly asks the guard brother to pass on the message."
While speaking, Yan Yun handed over some coins.
After accepting the coins, the guard finally smiled and proceeded up the mountain gate.
The mountain didnât seem more than a few hundred feet high; it shouldnât take long.
Yet Shen Han and Yan Yun waited for nearly a two-hour.
It was already 3:00 PM when they saw someone descending from the mountain gate.
The woman should be Yan Yunâs good sister, Kang Dongyun.
Today, she seemed well-dressed.
When she got closer, Kang Dongyun noticed there was a man beside Yan Yun.
The guard who delivered the message only mentioned Yan Yun.
"Dongyun, Dongyun~"
Upon hearing Yan Yun call her name, Kang Dongyun lacked her usual cordiality.
There was a slight coldness in her demeanor.
"Who is this...?"
"On the way here, we ran into some trouble, but fortunately met Young Master Shen who saved us. As thereâs no urgency, he came along with me."
Upon hearing Yan Yun mention him, Shen Han didnât act arrogantly, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.
Yan Yunâs introduction caused a subtle change in Kang Dongyunâs expression.
"Saved you? What kind of danger did you encounter on the road?"
Yan Yun hesitated: "Just some minor trouble..."
She didnât want to mention the death of the Lion King Sectâs Young Master.
"To save you, Yan Yun, he must have some skills, right?
What realm is he in currently?"
Kang Dongyunâs tone carried a hint of arrogance.
This demeanor felt unfamiliar to Yan Yun: "Young Master Shen, he..."
"Spiritual Qi Realm, first layer."
Before Yan Yun could speak, Shen Han answered himself.
"Spiritual Qi Realm, first layer?
I thought it would be more impressive; heâs quite inferior to my senior brother.
However, with that level of strength, he could at least serve as an Inner Sect disciple in our Taihang Sect.
Jiuxiao Country is in decline now, and it might eventually fall apart.
Itâs better to join our Taihang Sect."
In front of Yan Yun, Kang Dongyun spoke so bluntly.
"Dongyun..."
"What, does Princess Yan Yun think I spoke wrongly?
In the past, whenever I, Kang Dongyun, spoke, you, Yan Yun, always liked to refute it. Do you still have that habit?
Did you think that giving me food and clothing meant I had to obey you for life?"
"Dongyun..."
Yan Yun looked a bit embarrassed; she didnât expect such treatment when she came today.
Seeing this, Shen Han slightly frowned: "Talking about ingratitude in such a unique way, since you remember the favors of food and clothing that Princess Yan Yun gave you, shouldnât you remember the grace as well?
If it felt so humiliating, you shouldnât have accepted it back then."
Hearing Shen Hanâs words, Kang Dongyun rolled her eyes at him.
But she didnât argue with Shen Han.
Shen Hanâs words made sense, and she couldnât immediately think of a counter.
After a moment, Kang Dongyunâs expression turned cold: "Actually, if it were other people from Jiuxiao Country, I, Kang Dongyun, would definitely plead with my master to have him persuade the Sect Leader to intervene.
After all, I lived in Jiuxiao Country for many years.
But since itâs you, Yan Yun, today, I donât want to help you.
This letter, Iâll pass it to my master.
Heâll attend your invitation from Jiuxiao Country, but as for persuading him, find a way yourself."
With those words, Kang Dongyun walked away.
Before leaving, she gave Shen Han a fierce look.
Yan Yunâs expression was difficult; her supposedly good sister.
Perhaps it was only she who thought so.
The letter had been delivered, but this time, she shouldnât have come; her visit was detrimental to Jiuxiao Country...
Before coming, she thought she and Kang Dongyun were as close as sisters...
Now it seems that what she did for her was perceived as humiliation.
Shen Han watched this scene without saying much.
In this world, not everyone is grateful.
Some people are repulsive, accepting othersâ help yet feeling humiliated by it.
If they had any dignity, they wouldnât have accepted it in the first place.
On the way back to Jiuxiao Country, Yan Yun seemed preoccupied and hardly spoke.
At 9 p.m., they finally reached the capital of Jiuxiao Country.
Though called a capital, Shen Han, at a higher vantage point, felt it was vastly inferior to Yunâan City or Anyang City.
It felt more like a town from a remote country like Yexuan.
The Northern Mountain Domain is filled with powers vying against each other, making it difficult for the Imperial City to be grandiose.
Following Yan Yun into the capital, they stepped into a courtyard.
Through Yan Yunâs explanation, Shen Han learned it was where she lived.
Since the Sovereign has many descendants, only favored ones are permitted to reside in the palace.
And the Imperial Palace of Jiuxiao Country seemed quite shabby.
It felt like it was only the size of two Marquis Mansions.
Seeing Yan Yun leading a guest back, the old servant in the courtyard greeted them and then ignored them.
"The courtyard is small, but please bear with me, Young Master Shen, and rest in my little room.
Tonight I must enter the palace to report the news.
Kindly forgive me, Young Master Shen. Inside the room are some books you may browse if interested."
Shen Han nodded without saying much.