Chapter 27: Talked Until They Couldn't Stand Straight!

Seeing Shen Lang’s kind and amiable expression, Zhou Yu finally shook off his shock. He hurriedly shook his head, saying, "No... no need. It’s just a minor scratch; it’s nothing to worry about!"

"Oh, that’s good then!" Shen Lang nodded with a smile, careful not to provoke him further. He turned to Nalan Yanran and said, "Senior Sister, let’s hurry to Guiyun City. If the Zhou family gets trapped by the Zhao clan’s schemes, it will be troublesome."

Nalan Yanran was stunned at first, but realizing Shen Lang was likely putting on a performance, she immediately nodded. "Alright, let’s do as you say."

Seeing that Nalan Yanran had finally caught on, Shen Lang turned to Zhou Yu with a feigned expression of seriousness. "My friend, I have urgent matters to attend to, so we shall part ways here." He then turned and walked toward his horse.

Zhou Yu, however, instinctively called out, "Wait!"

"Is there something else, my friend?" Shen Lang asked, suppressing a smile.

Zhou Yu’s expression was grave. From the conversation between Shen Lang and Nalan Yanran, he had caught a piece of critical information: the Zhao clan seemed to be plotting against his family, and Shen Lang and Nalan Yanran were heading to Guiyun City specifically to warn them. After a moment of thought, he decided to reveal his identity. "Official Shen, I am a member of the Zhou family. May I ask what you meant by your previous words?"

"A member of the Zhou family?" Shen Lang feigned surprise and asked with a heavy tone, "How can you prove that?"

"This is my identification token."

Shen Lang took the fantasy-style ID card handed over by Zhou Yu and passed it to Nalan Yanran. "Senior Sister, please check if this is genuine."

Nalan Yanran looked at Shen Lang with a complex expression. She had wondered why he was laying a trap for a stranger, but now she realized he had likely deduced that this assassination attempt was the work of the Zhou family all along. With newfound admiration, she nodded. "The identity is legitimate."

"You really are from the Zhou family!" Shen Lang exclaimed with feigned shock. "My friend, if you are from Guiyun City, what are you doing out here?"

"I..." Zhou Yu stammered for a second. "I heard that demons were causing trouble here, so I came to hunt them down. I just didn't expect those two great demons to be so powerful—I nearly lost my life." He raised his slashed arm to prove his story.

Little did he know that Shen Lang had been baiting him from the moment he sensed his resentment. Seeing Zhou Yu jump straight into the trap, Shen Lang nodded. "I have long heard that the Guiyun City Zhou family is compassionate toward the people and serves as a cornerstone of our Great Qin. Seeing you today, it is just as the rumors suggest. I am impressed!"

Seeing that Shen Lang still hadn't answered the question he cared about most, Zhou Yu pressed on anxiously. "You are too kind, Official Shen. That is merely our duty. But I don't understand—what did you mean when you said the Zhao clan is planning to trap us?"

"This..." Shen Lang appeared conflicted. "My friend, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but I’m trying to protect you. Some matters are far too significant; knowing them would only bring you harm."

Assuming Shen Lang was worried that his low status would lead to him being silenced if he learned too much, Zhou Yu looked at him with gratitude. He puffed out his chest and said, "Brother, please rest assured. I am Zhou Yu, the Second Young Master of the Zhou family! Zhou Huaian, the head of the family, is my father!"

*Well, well.* A big fish had taken the bait. Shen Lang hadn’t expected to land such a prize before even reaching Guiyun City. His eyes turned playful as he looked at Zhou Yu. "Oh! So it is the Second Young Master himself. Please forgive my earlier presumption."

"Brother, don't mention it," Zhou Yu replied. "If not for you, I might have been killed back there. How could I hold anything against you?"

Watching Shen Lang reel in the Second Young Master of the Zhou family so effortlessly, Nalan Yanran was truly impressed. Even the hidden shadow observing them couldn't help but sigh, *This boy is a true monster. It’s no wonder His Majesty said he was a born killer.*

Unaware that he had fallen into a pit, Zhou Yu asked again, "Brother, can you tell me what you meant now?"

"Sigh... since you are the Second Young Master, I will speak plainly. Do you know Zhao An?"

"Of course," Zhou Yu nodded solemnly. "The most outstanding Confucian scholar of the younger generation at the Wuming Academy."

"And do you know his true identity?"

"This..." Zhou Yu was confused. "Is his identity not straightforward?"

"He is the illegitimate son of Zhao Tianba!"

"Is that all?" Zhou Yu looked unimpressed. In the world of aristocratic families, illegitimate children were common. He himself had several concubines outside. He suspected Shen Lang was exaggerating.

Before he could ask more, Shen Lang shouted excitedly at Nalan Yanran, "Why are you still holding back? Do you really want to watch me lose the competition and forfeit my position as heir?"

Caught off guard by the reprimand, Nalan Yanran was bewildered. Before she could speak, Shen Lang roared, "A man is working here! Don't you dare nag, woman, or don't blame me for striking you!"

"You..." Nalan Yanran felt wronged. Before she could retort, Zhou Yu, his curiosity piqued, interjected, "Brother Lang, you and Miss Nalan...?"

"Sigh, to be honest, she is my dao companion!"

*Hiss...* Zhou Yu was stunned. He never imagined that Nalan Yanran, the most trusted aide of the Shenxiao Emperor, was Shen Lang’s partner. However, he quickly reasoned that Shen Lang couldn't be bluffing. How else could a notorious "waste" gain the Emperor's trust so quickly? It had to be because of Nalan Yanran.

Giving Shen Lang a thumbs-up, Zhou Yu said, "Brother Lang, you are truly a role model for us all!"

"What can I say? I was born handsome," Shen Lang said, tossing his hair with a cocky grin. Nalan Yanran was rendered speechless, and even Zhou Yu’s mouth twitched.

But when he heard the word "heir," he felt he had grasped the point. He narrowed his eyes. "Brother Lang, are you trying to tell me that Zhao An has also been chosen by His Majesty as an heir?"

"My friend, you are truly sharp! That is correct. His Majesty has chosen both me and Zhao An as candidates. He sent us to collect taxes in Guiyun City and Wanxiang City respectively to test who is more suitable. The Zhao clan doesn’t want any competition for Zhao An, so they will do everything in their power to kill me! Because Nalan Yanran is my partner, they won't dare act openly. They intend to use the Zhou family’s strength to strike at me in Guiyun City! When that happens..."

*Hiss...* Zhou Yu’s mind went numb. He realized that if Nalan Yanran whispered a few words in the Emperor's ear, his family would be skinned alive, even if they survived. He cursed, "The Zhao clan is truly vicious!"