Main courtyard, Shen Qingshan was resting in bed, attended by Madam Shen.

The old couple had shared a strong bond for many years.

"My lord, how many days will you be able to rest after returning?"

Madam Shen wrung out a damp cloth and wiped Shen Qingshan's face.

Shen Qingshan squinted his eyes, accustomed to such routines.

"How many days can I rest? I must depart by noon tomorrow to return to the border."

"In such a hurry? Is the situation at the border tense?"

Madam Shen was slightly startled, showing some worry on her face.

"It's not the war, but our major affairs."

With just those words, Shen Qingshan stopped speaking further.

Madam Shen seemed to understand the implications and remained silent.

After a while, Shen Qingshan spoke again.

"Based on Shen Han's response tonight, it seems the child isn't intending to cooperate with us in canceling the engagement.

Lingsheng had written him a letter, instructing him to follow our arrangement and annul the engagement.

But when I asked him tonight, Shen Han didn't mention any of it..."

Shen Qingshan's expression turned slightly stern, clearly displeased.

Madam Shen also let out a cold snort beside him.

"If that troublesome child would just listen, Lingsheng wouldn't have needed to write back, and the engagement would be canceled by now.

Currently, Shen Han is on good terms with Prefect Xu, always using him as a support.

If we were to forcibly act against him, it would result in accusations of being merciless."

Madam Shen frowned, narrating the recent events to Shen Qingshan.

From the situations these days, it seemed Shen Han was resolute in not sacrificing himself.

Madam Shen spoke with anger, growing more furious as she continued.

In contrast, Shen Qingshan calmed down a bit.

"To ask a young person to sacrifice for the sake of other clan members, even I wouldn't be willing in my youth..."

Shen Qingshan seemed to understand, but only to the extent of understanding.

"But there's no choice this time; the engagement with Su Jinyu must be annulled. Let Lingsheng handle this matter.

After all, he is Shen Han's father, and it would prevent others from gossiping."

After Mid-Autumn night, Shen Qingshan, the Old Duke of the Shen Mansion, took his deputy general and left after breakfast.

He returned for one night, spent Mid-Autumn, and left in such haste.

Early in the morning, Madam Shen conveyed Shen Qingshan's instructions from last night to Madam He and Madam Xie.

How Shen Han would annul the engagement had been left to Shen Lingsheng to handle, others need not interfere.

After Shen Qingshan departed, the troublemaking Shen Ao also had to return to the capital.

During the Mid-Autumn family feast, Shen Qingshan harshly criticized Shen Han, finally satisfying the bottled-up Shen Ao a bit.

However, when he returned, the task assigned by his elder brother was a complete failure...

Staying in his own courtyard, Shen Han didn't bother with who was coming or going.

Desiring freedom and dignity, he couldn't halt his path of cultivation.

Advancing from Eighth Grade to Seventh Grade involves the leap of spiritual power and five senses.

Currently possessing the strength at the Peak of Grade Eight, going further requires surpassing limits.

Finding the key to breakthrough from the brink of limits.

But how exactly should this limit be found?

Without a tutor for guidance, Shen Han had to explore and discover it himself.

Shen Han didn't leave his small room the entire day, pondering how to find this limit.

Thinking of going out to train was out of the question.

The Shen Family only permitted him to wander around Yun'an City. If he wanted to leave, he probably wouldn't even have permission.

After all, his birth mother had once fled from the Shen Family, and if he also tried to escape, the Shen Family's reputation would be ruined.

Moreover, with an engagement in place, the Imperial Family would likely hold the Shen Family accountable if he fled.

The Shen Family couldn't afford to let this happen.

Unable to leave for training, how should this limit be sought...

After much thinking, Shen Han could only think of the mysterious Celestial Dao Sword Momentum.

Visualizing the Celestial Dao Sword Momentum, fighting against it with full force.

This seemed to be the only scenario where he could be at his limit.

Acting immediately, Shen Han sank his consciousness into his sea of awareness.

Holding a sword, he battled the Celestial Dao Sword Momentum.

Facing the overwhelming sword qi this time, although fearful, he still charged forward.

Not a single move was made, swoosh!

An image of a long sword pierced through his body, Shen Han felt a chill and sweat dripped from his forehead.

The fear of death, even within a visualization, was deeply unsettling.

In the throes of palpitations, he awakened from his sea of awareness.

Walking out of the room, Shen Han splashed cold water on his face and took out a stored pancake to eat.

After eating, he took a deep breath, and his consciousness sank back into the sea of awareness...

In the following two days, Shen Han spent almost all his time visualizing the Celestial Dao Sword Momentum.

Waking from fright over and over, only to delve back into it again.

Capital City, Rain Listening Tower.

Upon returning to the capital, Shen Ao headed there immediately.

Unless the tutor required his presence, his brother Shen Ye would frequently visit here.

The maid at the entrance clearly recognized Shen Ao, welcoming him with a smile as soon as she saw him.

"Young Master Ao, why haven't you been around lately? Is it because of too many lessons at the academy?"

Shen Ao smiled, pretending to be mature, "Went back to the Shen Family, otherwise I would've certainly come to see you."

"Little rascal, go on in, the lady and Young Master Ye are both here."

Shen Ao didn't hesitate, skipping a few steps before heading into the courtyard.

The structure of the Rain Listening Pavilion was very intriguing; after a rain, the eaves dripped water for a long time.

As if continuously listening to rainfall.

Su Jinyu seemed to love the sound of raindrops, which might have led her to choose this courtyard.

"Brother Ye, Sister Jinyu~"

In front of the two, Shen Ao regained his childish adorability.

Far from the bossy demeanor he had in the Shen Mansion.

"Little Ao'Er, you finally thought to come back?

The task given to you, it seems you failed quite thoroughly?"

Shen Ye looked at Shen Ao with a smile, not intending to chastise, just to tease.

For Shen Ye, failure was just failure; the bestowed marriage wasn't something irreversible.

Sending Shen Ao to handle this matter was more for experience.

Hearing Shen Ye say this, Shen Ao's small mouth instantly pouted.

"I was careless; I didn't know that Shen Han had advanced to the Ninth Grade...

Brother Ye, you previously told me he hadn't practiced the Martial Path."

Shen Ye shook his head, "Little Ao'Er, you're an Eighth Grade scholar, even if he's Ninth Grade, so what?"

A series of rhetorical questions left Shen Ao speechless.

Su Jinyu quickly mediated the situation.

"Brother Ye, don't blame little Ao'Er, after all, he's still a child, so young..."

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