Everyone Says I’m Cold and Aloof, But I Just Have Social Anxiety! - Chapter 13

Eunuch De instantly fell into a state of blind panic. His pupils constricted sharply, and with tears and snot streaming down his face, he hurriedly begged for mercy: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, spare my life!…”

“It is true that this servant followed the orders of the Prince of Anyang to attend to your side and… and inform him of certain matters regarding Your Majesty. But I swear to the Heavens, I never once harbored the intent to harm you, Your Majesty!”

Emperor Tai’an knit his brows in a deep frown, his face etched with disgust. He had no desire to hear any more of this clamor; he simply found it far too noisy.

He raised his hand and lightly tapped the tabletop. In an instant, a secret guard dropped from the ceiling like a phantom, kneeling on one knee with hands clasped. “Your Majesty!”

Emperor Tai’an kept his lips pressed tight, uttering not a single word. Instead, with a cold expression, he waved his hand, signaling the guard to take Eunuch De away and dispose of him.

Understanding the command perfectly, the secret guard carried it out with crisp, efficient movements.

Once they were gone, Emperor Tai’an called out in a low voice, “Someone, come in.”

At his word, a young eunuch hurried in from outside the door, his heart filled with extreme terror. Standing outside, he had known clearly that the Emperor was currently in a foul mood.

Trembling and cautious, he said, “Your Majesty, what are your orders?”

Emperor Tai’an walked to his desk, picked up a brush, and wrote a single sentence: “Find those who murdered the Prince of Anyang; there is no need for immediate capture, simply report to me.”

He folded the note carefully and ordered in a stern tone, “Give this to the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Chang Zai.”

The young eunuch hurried to take the note. Before he could even voice his acknowledgment, Emperor Tai’an spoke again: “Furthermore, early tomorrow morning, go to the Imperial Tombs and invite Eunuch Wei out. Tell him to return to my side to serve! You may go.”

“Yes!”

Receiving his orders, the young eunuch bowed and retreated with cautious steps.

Night fell, the sky blanketed by a myriad of stars, while the cold moonlight poured into the courtyard like water.

The branches of the Wutong tree swayed with the breeze, casting mottled, staggered shadows on the ground like a natural ink wash painting. Beside the stone table, the silhouettes of the two men were faintly outlined by the soft moonlight.

Gu Qingzhi was dressed in white, his stature tall and lean, his countenance as cold as frost. He looked like a banished immortal descended to the mortal realm, untouched by the dust of the world.

Yan Luochen, meanwhile, was clad in robes as red as fire. His black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, though the expression between his brows carried a hint of worry, as if he were haunted by ten thousand sorrows.

A gentle breeze brushed past, bringing a slight chill and lightly lifting the hems of their robes.

Through Yan Luochen’s narration, it was revealed that he was born into a family of cultivators. While not a world-renowned clan, their days had been peaceful and stable. That was, until the ruthless claws of the Prince of Anyang reached out toward them.

Years ago, a clan elder had taken a thirteen-year-old Yan Luochen to attend the succession ceremony of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Sect. The intent was to let him broaden his horizons and recognize various influential figures.

Although the Yan family held no prominent status and had little say in such gatherings, they were at least able to sit in a corner and watch the “great figures” converse. At that time, he had seen Xuan Ling, the Peak Master of Liuyun Peak from the Yuqing Immortal Sect, whose white jade pendant hanging at the waist was particularly eye-catching.

The clan elder had explained this to him in detail; thus, the moment he saw Gu Qingzhi, he was able to recognize him instantly. Back then, sitting in that corner, he had committed every great figure who appeared before his eyes to memory.

When the ceremony ended and the crowds dispersed, they had prepared to return to the Yan family home. Unexpectedly, just after leaving the territory of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Sect, they encountered the Prince of Anyang.

The young Yan Luochen had been ignorant and confused at the time, only feeling that the way the man looked at him was extremely strange, causing an instinctive sense of repulsion in his heart.

As they left, he heard the Prince of Anyang utter one final sentence: “Still tender. He can be plucked in a few years…”

At the time, Yan Luochen found it nonsensical, and the clan elder did not take the matter to heart either. They never imagined that from that moment on, Yan Luochen had been targeted by the Prince of Anyang—a fixation that would eventually implicate the entire Yan family.

It wasn’t until Yan Luochen turned twenty that the family met with sudden disaster. He learned then that the Prince of Anyang had sent people to the Yan family once before.

In that originally tranquil and harmonious land, the Yan family’s territory was now shrouded in a heavy gloom. Initially, the Prince of Anyang only wanted Yan Luochen alone. When the Yan family politely declined, he changed his tune, claiming he wanted to expand his own power. He greedily and forcibly requisitioned their land, acting with a tyrannical arrogance as if he intended to seize everything for himself.

The Yan family’s resistance failed and only incited the Prince’s fury. He dispatched his thugs to carry out a brutal crackdown on the family.

Moreover, to increase his own cultivation, the Prince of Anyang was utterly depraved. He would dose people with Spirit-Consuming Powder and forcibly engage in “Dual Cultivation” with those he favored a wicked practice that was absolutely revolting.

The Yan family was thrown into chaos. Most of the clansmen were poisoned with Spirit-Consuming Powder, including Yan Luochen. When the Prince failed to see him, he ordered his men to find him, but they were ultimately unsuccessful.

In an instant, the Yan family became a river of blood. Clansmen were either killed or scattered, and the casualties were heavy. Their once warm and harmonious home was left devastated, filled with the cries of the grieving.

Yan Luochen, the standout of the Yan family’s younger generation and the one the clan cherished most, narrowly escaped thanks to the desperate protection of his family.

At first, Yan Luochen was completely unwilling to flee alone. He roared in anger: “How can I abandon the family to save my own life? I have reached the Golden Core Realm; I have the strength to fight!”

His father held him tightly, eyes full of tears and pleading: “Child, you are the hope of the family. You cannot act on impulse.”

Yan Luochen’s eyes widened as he shouted: “Father, how can I watch the family suffer!”

His mother also rushed over, crying: “Chen’er, the clan elder said that if you do not leave, there will be no hope left for the Yan family. As long as you are alive, the Yan family still exists.”

Yan Luochen was filled with indignation, but later, during a brief clash with the enemy, he realized with a shock that his spiritual energy was depleted, making it impossible to use his full strength.

The Prince of Anyang was in the Soul Transformation Realm, and the subordinates he brought were not lacking in Golden Core experts. The most powerful elder in the clan was only at the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm; no one could stand against the Prince.

Yan’s father and mother begged: “Child, go. For the sake of the Yan family, and to avenge us.”

Looking at the expectant and resolute eyes of his kin, Yan Luochen finally complied with his family’s wishes. From then on, he was hunted and fled for his life.

The pursuers sent by the Prince of Anyang were relentless. Even though he lacked his former strength, fortunately, he was quick-witted and was never caught. During this time, he fled toward the Yuqing Immortal Sect, hoping that if his luck held, he might encounter someone from the sect—ideally to join them, find sanctuary, and then seek a chance for revenge.

He gritted his teeth and swore in his heart: “Prince of Anyang, if I do not avenge this, I, Yan Luochen, am not fit to be called a man!”

He fled into the Forest of Myriad Beasts and stayed for a day before luckily encountering Gu Qingzhi.

Initially, he was curious as to which young noble dared to slaughter demon beasts alone. Before he could look twice, he realized Gu Qingzhi was actually spacing out. Seeing that a Two-Headed Wolf was about to launch an attack, Yan Luochen completely ignored his own lack of spiritual energy and resolutely decided to help.

However, after stepping in, he realized the other party was entirely capable of dodging the attack and didn’t need his meddling at all. Upon closer inspection, he saw the words “Yuqing” on the white jade pendant at Gu Qingzhi’s waist.

Naturally, he understood the weight that jade pendant carried. Thus, the intent to form an acquaintance sprouted in his mind, thinking that perhaps this way, the situation could be completely turned around.

In the end, it was exactly so.

Recalling the hatred of the past, a deep enmity flickered in Yan Luochen’s eyes. The hand holding the teacup trembled slightly and involuntarily.

Gu Qingzhi listened quietly, never interrupting.

Yan Luochen raised his cup, took a small sip, and after a moment of silence, continued: “I thought that if I were truly driven to a dead end, I would simply fight to the death and take them with me. I never expected to be saved by you.”