Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

"you……"

The man in black was furious. An unnatural flush rose on his pale face. He struggled to stand up, but stumbled from the pain.

Li Yuan just stood there coldly watching her, showing no intention of helping her up.

The man in black steadied himself, glared at him fiercely, staggered to the window, and somewhat awkwardly climbed out, quickly disappearing into the night.

Li Yuan shook his head with amusement: "Are you stupid? You have a door to ask for but you don't use it."

After confirming that she had left, Li Yuan waited a while longer before walking to the window, carefully closing it, blowing out the oil lamp, and sitting back down in the darkness.

On the rooftop, a middle-aged man with a stubble beard watched all of this quietly.

He was sitting there, yet he was completely invisible, as if he were a transparent person.

"This brat is something else."

The middle-aged man shook his head and sighed softly.

For three consecutive days, Li Yuan stayed indoors and did not go out.

He meditates and regulates his breathing every day to adapt to the changes in his body. Since his awakening, there has been an invisible flow of energy in his body. He doesn't know why this is happening, and no one can guide him. He can only try his best to soothe it.

While he was oblivious to everything else, the whole of Chang'an was in an uproar because of him.

"A level nine talent has appeared at Shenwu Academy, its rainbow light illuminating the sky!"

"An unprecedented mutant, named Yuan, is a son of the Li family!"

"Level nine, how many years has it been since we've had one? The last one was Ye Hongyu, wasn't it?"

"More than that, such talent, once it matures, will surely make one a pillar of the nation."

The news was being spread throughout teahouses, taverns, alleyways, mansions, and even the inner palace.

A level nine talent not only signifies the birth of a genius, but also means that the future power structure may change because of him.

This also means a potential stock that is worth investing in and courting, or that should be viewed with caution when it is suppressed.

Countless eyes were searching for his whereabouts, some openly, some secretly.

Fortunately, Li Yuan was cautious enough that ordinary people could not find this place. Occasionally, someone found Changning Alley, only to discover that when they used their divine sense to explore it, it was completely empty.

In prison at Dali Temple.

Li Chongwen sat opposite a dignified-looking old man.

This man was Wang Boyuan, the father of the Wang family and the head of the family. Although he had lost in the factional struggle, he still had considerable influence.

"...Chongwen, Yuan'er is also my grandson. We're family, so let's not be so formal."

Wang Boyuan stroked his beard and said slowly, "Xiuer said she wanted to separate from you, but that was just an angry outburst. As long as Yuan'er is willing to acknowledge me as his maternal grandfather, I will risk my reputation to clear your name and reinstate you to your original position."

Li Chongwen held the teacup with his dirty hands, his eyelids lowered, and gently blew away the floating leaves on the water's surface, without answering immediately.

He had heard about the immense power of a level nine talent even while in prison, and couldn't help but feel secretly delighted.

Wang Boyuan's intention was clear: he wanted to label Li Yuan with the Wang family name before Li Yuan truly rose to prominence, so as to share in the potential benefits he might bring in the future.

"Your Excellency Wang's words are indeed for the sake of that unfilial son," Li Chongwen put down his teacup and sighed dramatically. "However, that rebellious son is arrogant and unruly; he may not listen to me..."

A sly glint flashed in Li Chongwen's eyes. Now that he held the initiative, he naturally wanted to gain more benefits.

Li Yuan is now a rough gem, but also a hot potato. His fortunes are unpredictable. More importantly, Wang Boyuan wants to get something for nothing. He wants to take the biggest share of the pie just by virtue of being a maternal grandfather and by relying on a piece of empty promise.

He sneered inwardly. Why should the Wang family so easily reap the rewards of his Li family's prodigy?

He was waiting, waiting for Wang Boyuan, or someone else, to offer more favorable terms.

A hint of displeasure flashed in Wang Boyuan's eyes, but he quickly concealed it and laughed it off: "Chongwen's concern is that this matter is not urgent and can be discussed later."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Wang Boyuan finally took his leave.

Li Chongwen sat alone in the haystack, his eyes flickering uncertainly. He was weighing his options and observing the situation.

On the third day, night fell.

The gate to the small courtyard deep in Changning Lane opened silently, and Li Yuan slipped out, wearing a large gray cloth hat that covered most of his face.

He looked around warily, and only after confirming that no one was around did he quickly leave.

Li Yuan deliberately chose to walk through deserted alleys, heading straight for a secluded corner of the West Market, where there was an inconspicuous, dilapidated general store, which was now boarded up.

Li Yuan looked back, knocked rhythmically on the door, and soon the door opened a crack. He immediately slipped inside.

Behind the counter was a young shop assistant, about fourteen or fifteen years old, who looked pleasantly surprised when he saw Li Yuan.

"Big brother, you've arrived!"

He lowered his voice and hurried forward, his eyes a little red. "These past few days, everyone in the city has been saying that you've achieved a level nine talent. I can't believe it, and I haven't dared to go find you..."

The shop assistant's name is Aji. He was an orphan who begged with the original owner when he was wandering. After Li Yuan transmigrated, he found a way to open this general store so that Aji could make a living.

At the same time, it was also a secret outpost that he had secretly arranged.

Aji is simple-minded and quite dependent on Li Yuan. Li Yuan often teaches him to recognize characters and learn some simple arithmetic.

"Yes, it's true."

Li Yuan turned around, closed the door, took off his hat, patted Aji on the shoulder, and smiled.

"I came tonight to tell you that I'm about to enter the Divine Martial Academy, and I'm afraid I won't be able to visit you as often after that. Be careful and stay alert."

Aji nodded vigorously, tears welling up in his eyes: "Big brother, don't worry, I can take care of myself."

Li Yuan smiled, took out a small money pouch from his pocket, and stuffed it into Aji's hand: "Take this money, it'll be enough in an emergency. If anything happens, just bear with it and wait for me to come back."

Aji held the money bag, feeling its weight and a pang of sadness in his heart. Suddenly remembering something, he turned and ran to the inner room, pulled out an old bundle from a hidden compartment in the cabinet, and handed it to Li Yuan with both hands.

"Brother, this is what you asked me to find. I just happened to find a bargain."

Li Yuan took the bundle; it felt slightly heavy in his hand. He nodded and carefully put it away.

"If you come across anything like this in the future, please keep it for me."

"Yes, brother."

Li Yuan didn't linger any longer. He gave Aji a few instructions, put on his hat, and turned to leave.

Instead of going straight back to Changning Lane, he wandered around the intricate alleys of the West Market several times, sometimes stopping to listen, sometimes suddenly turning back. Only after confirming that there were no tails following him did he quicken his pace.

When he returned to Changning Lane, it was already late at night. He immediately slipped inside and closed the door.

The alley was completely silent and dark, with only the occasional bark of a dog.

Several shadowy figures, darker than the night itself, emerged silently from the shadows on both sides of the alley, like ghosts, and surrounded the courtyard.

Their goal was clear. They nodded to each other and made their way toward the courtyard together.

In the deep darkness, a low shout suddenly rang out, the sound resonating directly in the minds of the group.

"roll!"