Myriad Realms Gatekeeper
Chapter 69: Chapter 63 Lady An

The interview with Xiao Mengyu was indeed remarkable.

The female reporter would ask her questions, and she knew exactly what the other person wanted, quickly getting to the heart of the topic and bringing up some highlights.

Shen Ye was bored watching on the side and wanted to eat something. He turned his head, only to replace that Old Qian was staring at him.

——So boring. I wish the exam would start already.

Suddenly, the entire private room shook.

A figure crashed through the wall, crossed the room, and flew out after breaking the wall behind it.

"Be careful!"

Qian Rushan reached out to grab Shen Ye, but Shen Ye already had one reporter under each arm, flashing out of the private room in an instant.

The private room collapsed with a boom.

Qian Rushan landed lightly beside Shen Ye, looking at the multiple afterimages dissipating around him, and said with surprise,

"Your movement technique is pretty good, isn't it? Have you made some progress recently?"

His astute eyes could tell just how adept Shen Ye's movement technique was, immediately surmising that this exam was as good as passed, which made his mood soar.

Such a movement technique...

He looked towards Xiao Mengyu, and it seemed she knew what he was thinking, for she gave a slight nod.

So it was Xiao Mengyu who had taught him!

"Good eye, you're truly my discerning patron," Shen Ye said, setting down the two reporters who were still shaken, and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Are you saying you're a steed in need of a good owner?" Qian Rushan grinned.

"Good patrons are common; a fine steed is rare. You should cherish me," Shen Ye replied.

Several banquet staff members hurried over to explain.

——Two new members of the noble families had an accidental altercation during the banquet, which caused the collapse of the private room.

Their exchange naturally came to a halt as well.

They came with their elders, who now brought them over to apologize to Qian Rushan personally.

With such a generous saving of face, Qian Rushan naturally couldn't say much in return.

Qian Rushan sighed inwardly and glanced at Shen Ye.

——Noble families push things to the extreme, and this time you've experienced it for yourself.

Shen Ye returned the glance.

——Even the private room was dismantled; there's nowhere to hide. Should I really take them on in a fight?

"Be careful and protect yourself. I'll be looking out for you," Qian Rushan whispered.

"Sure," Shen Ye replied.

"You don't need to fight," Xiao Mengyu suddenly said.

"Why not?" Qian Rushan asked.

"Because he is in a battle with me, others cannot intervene," Xiao Mengyu replied, taking out a card and waving it in front of Qian Rushan.

Qian Rushan was stunned and couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

Xiao Mengyu's reputation in swordsmanship was well established.

Most scions of the noble families wouldn't dare to cross blades with her.

After all, it takes a long time to reattach and regain full use of a severed arm or leg.

And if one were to accidentally lose their head...

That would be the end of it.

——This Shen Ye kid is really something!

"That's good. Revitalize yourselves tonight. When the final assessment comes out, make the most of it in the examination hall," Qian Rushan said.

Shen Ye and Xiao Mengyu both nodded in agreement.

The very next second,

a voice as refreshing as a spring breeze rang out:

"Isn't that the Shen Family kid?"

Shen Ye looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a graceful and noble woman standing in the center of the banquet hall.

Time hadn't left any marks on her, making her appear to be in her twenties.

Shen Ye could only guess her status based on her solemn and serious attire.

The people around her gathered like stars around the moon—

and as she walked towards them,

it felt as if the entire banquet hall moved with her.

"Ah, let me introduce," Qian Rushan said, steeling himself, "this is a newcomer from the Human Martial Arts Group, who I've been leading. His name is Shen Ye."

"I know him," the noblewoman nodded.

Qian Rushan continued, "This is Lady An from the Jiangnan Song Family, she—"

"You don't need to talk about me," Lady An interrupted Qian Rushan, smiling as she said, "Shen Ye, your grand uncle mentioned something to me not too long ago. I wonder if you still remember it."

"What was it?" Shen Ye asked.

"He said that when you were a child, you especially liked to raise dogs and often trained them to bite people. Once when we were visiting the Shen Family, you even let the dogs loose for a bit of 'fun'."

Lady An mentioned it as though it was casual conversation.

Shen Ye recalled briefly.

When he was a child...

He seemed to have shielded two girls from the Song Family from vicious dogs.

Now, it turned into him training vicious dogs to bite people?

But in such a circumstance, with the other party being a person of high esteem and the topic being elder chit-chat,

who would believe him if he was eager to argue the point?

——This was publicly questioning his character.

Actually, he hadn't wanted to cause any trouble.

——He didn't want to disappoint Qian Rushan's arrangements, nor did he want to let down Xiao Mengyu's kindness.

But—

I've already hidden in the private room, and yet you still want to drag me out.

"Such an early matter, I don't remember it well, but we couldn't afford dogs," Shen Ye said.

A young man behind Lady An couldn't help laughing in derision,

"Who are you trying to fool? The Shen Family couldn't afford dogs?"

Lady An also looked at him with a meaningful gaze.

"We are really poor; my father asked my grand uncle for a Marrow-Supplementing Pill because I was ill not long ago and was turned away, even driven out," Shen Ye said earnestly.

The two reporters standing aside were nearly aglow with excitement, their equipment constantly recording.

Lady An's mouth curled slightly, staring at this honest-looking boy before her, and couldn't help but say with a smile,

"You're sick? Why didn't you tell me? The Song Family might not have much, but we can afford Marrow-Supplementing Pills."

"Ah? I was nearly dead from illness and you didn't know? Seems like you don't know much about me," Shen Ye also responded with a smile.

Catching this discrepancy, even Qian Rushan couldn't help but inwardly cheer.

——If you didn't even know this, how dare you confidently talk about something from over a decade ago, ensuring that I raised a vicious dog?

Lady An's smile faded as she grew solemn and calm, and she slowly said, "So you left the Shen Family to take the high school entrance exam on your own?"

"Yes, I've already signed with the Human Martial Arts Group," Shen Ye replied with a smile and a nod.

"I still have one guaranteed admission spot left; how about I just give it to you so you won't have to take the exam?" Lady An said in a gentle voice.

"That would be wonderful; thank you so much for your kindness," Shen Ye replied, delighted.

"All your expenses throughout high school can also be covered by the Song Family," she added.

"Wow, you really are a living Bodhisattva," Shen Ye applauded.

"However, there's a condition," Lady An said.

"Please go ahead," Shen Ye responded.

"No matter what becomes of you in the future, you must keep your distance from Qingyun. She is from a different world than you. There are things that should remain in childhood. Don't indulge in unrealistic fantasies," Lady An spoke as gently as a spring breeze.

As soon as the name 'Qingyun' was mentioned, the entire banquet hall suddenly went quiet.

People listened to Lady An's words, waiting for a result.

The next second.

A look of surprise appeared on Shen Ye's face, as if he had just won five million, excited beyond measure.

"Keep my distance from Qingyun? Sure, absolutely no problem! Just give me the guaranteed admission spot, and that's not an issue at all!"

There was a buzz of discussion among the crowd.

Many looked at Shen Ye with disdain.

——So this kid is like that.

It's not surprising.

With his status, how could he dare to go against the wishes of the Song Family?

"Then it's settled," Lady An said with a satisfied nod.

Shen Ye paused, the excitement gradually fading from his face. He then said with a warm smile:

"However, I do have a small doubt."

"Go ahead," Lady An said.

"Who is Qingyun?" Shen Ye asked earnestly.

All chatter ceased.

People stared at Shen Ye with complex expressions.

Shen Ye looked utterly puzzled, glancing around the room until his gaze fell on Lady An.

"Lady An, you are dignified and magnanimous, compassionate and kind. The person you are warning me to stay away from must be someone with issues."

"So here's an idea," he continued.

"Give me a full name and a picture of this person, and I promise to keep my distance whenever I see them," he said, smiling cheerfully.

A young master couldn't help but blurt out, "You don't know Song Qingyun?"

"No, I don't," Shen Ye replied.

"No, that's not right, you two met when you were four or five years old," another young master said.

"Do you remember things from when you were four or five years old? Tsk tsk, you have a really good memory; I don't remember," Shen Ye said with a hand spread and a laugh.

Silence.

The people fell into silence.

Even Qian Rushan became silent.

Come to think of it, things that happened at the age of four or five could genuinely be forgotten as one grows older.

He—

had forgotten.

In that case, he couldn't possibly be harboring ill intentions towards Song Qingyun.

Nor could he be plotting to get in touch with Song Qingyun over this.

——He had forgotten who the other person was!

Moreover, in fact, the two had indeed not seen each other for many years.

What could you say about him?

On what basis could you criticize him?

Looking around, Shen Ye suddenly patted his head and said, "Oh no, did I say something wrong?"

"I'm sorry, Lady An, but I just do not know Song Qingyun."

"So you don't have to use the guaranteed admission to leverage anything."

"——Because I simply do not know her."

This was a grand banquet for newcomers making their debut.

Yet he said this in public.

It was the truth.

Even if it were false, it became the truth from this moment on.

By speaking such words, he would never be able to use their childhood connection to relate to Song Qingyun again.

So—

He had not seen Song Qingyun for a long time, and he would not see her in the future either.

That was the outcome.

For him to speak and act this way, he had either truly forgotten, or he simply didn't care.

It's funny how everyone else was busy scheming and arranging, creating such a fuss.

Lady An even made a personal visit.

Yet this young man didn't want any part of that relationship.

He didn't want the guaranteed admission either.

He didn't want anything.

He didn't care.

——He had forgotten.

The others harbored all sorts of desires and thoughts, but what reason did they have to attack someone who had none?

In the ensuing silence.

Lady An looked steadily at Shen Ye and took the initiative to say, "Do you really not remember Song Qingyun? She is the eldest daughter of the Song Family, and I am her aunt."

"Your niece? No, I don't know you, and I don't know her," Shen Ye shook his head repeatedly.

"Alright, you don't want the guaranteed admission either?" Lady An asked.

"I don't want it—but there's something else, Lady An. You have great prestige and your influence reaches to the heavens; perhaps you could help me with something," he started.

Without waiting for a response, he continued:

"You see, I had a serious illness recently and nearly died. Afterwards, a Police Chief named Luo said he would protect me."

"Then he died."

"My best friend died too."

"For some reason, a lot of people around me are dying."

"Do you know why?"

"Someone as important as you must be better at investigating than a middle schooler like me; you must know something."

"Can you see to it that justice is done for them?"