I Reborn on the Night I Divorced the Sword Deity, My Childhood Friend - Chapter 18

In the Central State, high in the firmament, a magnificent galley bearing the insignia of the Yuheng Sect had just departed from the Sword Sect, sailing back toward its home territory.

Shen Du, Yun Suyi, and Shen Siyuan had practically been kicked out of the Sword Sect. They did not even know what had happened. First, overnight, all the major sects abruptly withdrew their wanted bounties on Shen Junyu. Then, Yuan Muzhou refused to see them, claiming he had entered into secluded cultivation.

A day later, only an elder arrived. He handed over a Heaven-Mending Pill and spoke with a hint of arrogance. He stated that since the joint Great Sword Competition of the major sects was approaching, guest rooms were scarce. He then asked the Yuheng Sect party to do them a favor by vacating their space.

As for the pill, it was described as Yuan Muzhou’s final gesture of goodwill. The subtext was clear: the Sword Sect would no longer involve itself in Shen Siyuan’s affairs, and they should stop loitering like unwanted dependents.

The Shen couple had traveled the cultivation world for years; they had never suffered such humiliation. They wanted to lash out, but the elder simply flicked his horsetail whisk, releasing a pressure that silenced them instantly.

Though both were in the Void Refinement Realm, they were only at the early stage. Their aptitudes were no match for the true combat-focused powerhouses of the Sword Sect. Their cultivation levels had been built on a foundation of spirit medicines and opportunities gained from performing divinations for other great figures. They were effective at suppressing juniors, but they were no match for battle-hardened masters.

In the past, because of Shen Du’s unique cultivation technique, these experts had humored him, placing him on a pedestal he had not truly earned. Now that the Sword Sect treated them like discarded shoes, the false prestige Shen Du had built shattered in an instant. Ultimately, the pair had no choice but to lead Shen Siyuan away in resentment.

Once aboard the galley, Yun Suyi settled Shen Siyuan in the innermost room to rest before seeking out Shen Du. Inside the cabin, Shen Du’s thick brows were furrowed, and his majestic face was clouded with gloom.

When Yun Suyi approached to comfort him, Shen Du suddenly whipped around, pointing a finger at her nose as he barked, “I told you long ago that your ‘womanly compassion’ would be our downfall! We should have thrown that ‘Calamity Star’ away or sent him far away when he was a child! Now look; he has cursed Siyuan with a heavy injury and caused our entire family to be spurned by the Sword Sect! He is utterly detestable!”

Cursed by her own husband, Yun Suyi trembled, her face filled with pain and shame. After a long pause, she hesitated. “I did not know Junyu’s fate was so malevolent. I only thought that since he was our biological child, and later became associated with a noble figure like Muzhou, I thought distancing ourselves was enough. We could not just act because of a horoscope.”

“Idiot!” Shen Du snapped, his patience gone. “In all my years, how many fates have I calculated? Have I ever been wrong? Furthermore, that boy does not just clash with his parents; he steals the destiny and luck of his own brother! Years ago, I calculated that Siyuan had a ‘Heaven-Mandated Marriage’ that would propel him to greatness. I was confused when he never encountered it, wondering if my hexagram was wrong.”

“It was not until recently that I realized Muzhou is likely Siyuan’s true fated partner. I recalculated, and it was indeed so. I have no idea how that boy schemed to steal Muzhou away back then. It is loathsome!”

Yun Suyi’s eyes widened, her body shaking. “What? Junyu steals Siyuan’s luck? Muzhou was meant for Siyuan?”

Shen Du nodded coldly. “My fate hexagrams are never wrong.”

Yun Suyi was stunned. At this moment, the last shred of pity she felt for Shen Junyu vanished. Her life’s prosperity came from the man before her, and she never doubted his words. After a moment, she bit her lip. “If that is the case, we must let Muzhou know.”

Shen Du’s eyes flickered. “No rush. If we say it now, Muzhou will think we are framing the boy. However, we should let everyone else know that we have done everything humanly possible for that ‘Calamity Star.'”

“Once that is out, Muzhou will eventually find out. As long as his heart turns back to Siyuan, his immense luck will rub off on him, allowing Siyuan to return to his peak. Then, everything can be reversed.”

Hearing this, Yun Suyi’s anxious heart finally settled. She nodded. “I will find a way to spread this news.”

“It is about time,” Shen Du replied.

As Yun Suyi hurried away with a new glimmer of hope, Shen Du closed his door and began calculating in private. In truth, he had lied to his wife. Shen Junyu’s fate was not that of a “Calamity Star.” In fact, like Shen Siyuan, he possessed a “Noble Dragon” fate.

However, Shen Junyu’s luck was in direct opposition to the rest of the family. If Shen Junyu prospered, they would decline, and reality had proven this true. Since two dragons cannot coexist without injury, he chose to side with Shen Siyuan. He had climbed from being a background character to his current position through his mastery of numerology, and he would not allow anything to threaten his standing.

The Demon Realm, Meng Xingyan’s Manor.

Wen Su and Shen Junyu were seeing such a uniquely decorated residence for the first time. Meng Xingyan’s manor had no greenery; the paths, railings, and buildings were all made of white jade, which was elegant and expensive. A fountain stood in the center, housing a tall Astral Armillary Sphere. In the center of a Taiji pattern, two pearls representing Yin and Yang wove back and forth, mimicking the cycle of the sun and moon.

After disembarking, a demon general led them to the guest hall. The room featured a long white jade table with smaller tables on either side, adorned with seasonal spirit fruits and flowers. Even the cushions were embroidered with celestial silk, a display of wealth no less impressive than that of a major Human sect.

As they sat, a group of demon maids, some enchanting and some refined, entered and brought a waft of fragrance. At a signal from Meng Xingyan, several maids approached Shen Junyu and Wen Su with smiles.

Shen Junyu immediately declined with a serious expression. “I thank the Marquis for his kindness, but I have no interest in such paths and cannot enjoy this favor.”

Meng Xingyan frowned, about to accuse Shen Junyu of disrespect, when a slender maid in green whispered in his ear. His expression shifted as his gaze swept over Shen Junyu and Wen Su. He noted that they claimed to be cousins, yet they looked nothing alike. He assumed he understood their relationship.

Meng Xingyan waved the maids back to his side to pour wine and fan him. He began chatting idly with Shen Junyu, avoiding any mention of divination. Shen Junyu knew the other was still testing him and responded with calm indifference.

After a few rounds of verbal sparring, Meng Xingyan suddenly asked, “Master Wen, did you see the Astral Armillary Sphere in the courtyard when you arrived?”

Shen Junyu nodded. “I did. It is exquisite.”

Meng Xingyan smiled. “Standard spheres are common, but mine has a unique feature unknown to most. Come, let me demonstrate.”

Shen Junyu knew a test was coming, but he followed. He was not afraid. As they reached the sphere, Meng Xingyan waved his hand, and the fountains ceased. This sphere was thrice the size of a normal one, made of meteorite fragments radiating spiritual light.

Meng Xingyan pressed a jade button. With a heavy mechanical groan, the Yin-Yang stones began to rotate, and the central Taiji plate parted. Behind the plate appeared a massive, profound eye that looked like a vast starry sky!

The eye stared directly at Shen Junyu. Instantly, an immense, heavy aura descended. Shen Junyu realized this was a secret technique of the Heavenly Eye Demon Lord, designed to peer into his soul. However, he had been reborn; his fate had already changed. Even the Demon Lord might not see through him.

He stood his ground, letting the gaze fall upon him. Suddenly, the mark on his chest, which had been dormant for so long, turned scorching hot! It seemed to carry an inexplicable fury.

In the next second, a massive blood-red light erupted between Shen Junyu and the sphere. No one could see what happened within. When the light vanished, the eye behind the plate was gone, and the previously glowing sphere had lost all its spiritual energy.

Only Shen Junyu stood there, unharmed, his white clothes untainted by a single speck of dust. Looking at the dead sphere and the empty stone plate, Meng Xingyan’s eyes twitched violently. Without a word of polite departure, his face turned pale, and he transformed into a streak of light, vanishing from the courtyard.