Elder Shen Ti, under the strict orders of the patriarch, briskly made his way back to the library. He paused just before Shen Fei, who was deeply engrossed in a book.
"Young master, the patriarch requests your presence," Elder Shen Ti announced firmly, his voice carrying a note of urgency.
Shen Fei, hearing the words, placed the book down with deliberate slowness. Feigning confusion, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Father? Isn't he supposed to be in seclusion?"
"The patriarch has just emerged from seclusion and has specifically asked for you," Elder Shen Ti replied evenly, careful not to betray the underlying motives behind Shen Hong's summon.
"Did he mention why he wants to see me?" Shen Fei inquired, his expression maintaining a façade of innocence while standing up.
"No, young master. He did not disclose his reasons. Perhaps you'll find out once you meet him," Elder Shen Ti answered, his tone clipped.
Shen Fei, still keeping up his act, tilted his head in mock confusion. But as he stepped out of the library, his usual air of arrogance returned, his footsteps echoing through the corridors. It wasn't long before he reached the doors of Shen Hong's study. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and strode inside.
Shen Hong, seated in his grand chair with a book in hand, scowled as the door swung wide. "Damn it, boy! Have you no manners? Must you barge in like a brute?"
"Father," Shen Fei responded with practiced innocence, "you've never required me to knock before. Why now?"
'Damn brat! Can't you at least try to save some dignity for your father?' Shen Hong fumed internally, his embarrassment heightened by the presence of Ye Mo and Ye Zong, who were discreetly observing from the shadows.
Clearing his throat and attempting to mask his irritation, Shen Hong changed the subject. "I hear you've taken quite a liking to books these days."
Shen Fei's face lit up with an exaggerated look of enthusiasm. "Oh, Father, you won't believe the story behind it! Just before returning home from the Holy Orchid Institute's holiday, I went to the training grounds to hunt a few demon beasts. While I was out there, an unusual fruit fell from a tree and hit me right on the head."
Shen Hong's expression darkened, skepticism creeping into his features. "You're telling me that a falling fruit turned you into a scholar?"
"No, no, Father, it's much more than that," Shen Fei said hurriedly, waving his hands as if to dismiss the misunderstanding. "This wasn't any ordinary fruit. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before—a purple fruit with intricate, glowing patterns that seemed to shift and shimmer. It looked... almost alive. I was mesmerized."
He paused, adopting a more serious tone. "Something within me urged me to eat it. My instincts told me it held incredible power. Before I realized it, I had already taken a bite. But as soon as I came to my senses, I panicked. I thought I might have poisoned myself, so I swallowed a few antidote pills, just in case. To my surprise, nothing bad happened."
"And what? You suddenly became a genius?" Shen Hong asked, his voice dripping with disbelief.
"Exactly!" Shen Fei exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face. "After that day, my mind became sharper than ever. Problems that once seemed impossible to solve suddenly felt trivial. Everything I've ever seen, heard, or read is now perfectly etched into my memory. It's like a vault that holds every detail, every moment, permanently. Naturally, I decided to use this gift. I've spent the past few days devouring every book in the family library."
As Shen Fei spoke, Ye Mo, hidden in the shadows, scrutinized every nuance of his expression. Yet, despite his sharp gaze, he found no sign of deceit. Shen Fei's words, while fantastical, carried an air of conviction that made them difficult to dismiss outright.
Shen Hong sat in silence, his fingers drumming against the armrest of his chair as he processed the story. After a moment, his brow furrowed, and he barked, "Do you take me for a fool?"
Before Shen Fei could respond, Shen Hong turned toward the door and called out, "Guard! Summon Elder Shen Ti immediately. Have him bring a selection of books from the library. Let's see if this so-called newfound brilliance of yours is real."
Elder Shen Ti arrived promptly after a knock at the door. Upon receiving permission, he stepped inside, carrying several books with him.
"Shen Ti, pick a few pages from each book and ask Shen Fei questions at random. Let's uncover the truth behind this 'genius' of his," Shen Hong ordered, his tone a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
Feigning confusion but obeying the command, Shen Ti selected one of the books, flipped to a random page, and began asking questions about the content.
Shen Fei responded with pinpoint accuracy, not only reciting the information verbatim but also elaborating on concepts and details not even covered in the book.
Impressed but cautious, Shen Ti switched to another book and repeated the process. No matter the topic or difficulty, Shen Fei answered with the same precision, adding insights that displayed exceptional intellect.
Even Ye Mo and Ye Zong, silently observing from the shadows, were astonished by the display.
After an extended session of questioning and answering, Shen Ti finally set the books down, and Shen Hong leaned back in his chair, clearly pleased.
"Good! Very good! Shen Fei, you truly are my son," Shen Hong declared, his face glowing with pride. "You may leave now. It's time for dinner."
Shen Fei wasted no time and hurried out of the room, his actions resembling someone fleeing a demon.
As Shen Fei's footsteps faded, Ye Mo and Ye Zong stepped out of their hiding spot. Shen Hong turned to them with a nervous smile.
"What do you think, Lord Ye Mo?" Shen Hong asked, his voice betraying a hint of unease.
"It's remarkable," Ye Mo replied, stroking his long beard thoughtfully. "I detected no falsehood in his expression. The world is vast and full of mysteries. We've hardly explored beyond Glory City. Perhaps such a fruit truly exists. With such talent, we must nurture it properly. I will personally inform the principal of the Holy Orchid Academy to grant him unrestricted access to the library."
"Congratulations, Brother Shen Hong," Ye Zong chimed in, smiling warmly. "Your son has proven to be a rare genius."
Shen Hong bowed slightly in gratitude. "Thank you. Your support means much to me."
"Well then, we'll take our leave," Ye Mo said, preparing to leave the study.
"Lord Ye Mo, Brother Ye Zong, please stay and have dinner with us tonight. It's the least I can do to thank you for coming on such short notice," Shen Hong offered sincerely.
In the dining room, Shen Fei ate quickly and left without sparing a glance at Shen Xiu and Shen Yue, who were seated with him.
Shen Hong later joined the table, leading Ye Mo and Ye Zong. They chatted amiably while eating before Ye Mo and Ye Zong eventually departed, returning to the Snow Wind Family manor.
As they walked, Ye Mo's expression turned thoughtful. "Maintain a close relationship with Shen Fei," he advised.
"Father, we already have good ties with the Sacred Family," Ye Zong replied, puzzled.
"I mean Shen Fei specifically," Ye Mo clarified, leaving Ye Zong even more confused.
Before Ye Zong could ask further, Ye Mo ended the conversation and left.
Back in his room, Ye Mo sat in quiet contemplation, muttering to himself. "This fruit... it doesn't just increase wisdom. I met that boy once before—arrogant, lustful, and reckless. Yet now, his entire demeanor has changed. Can a fruit truly alter someone's very nature?" He shook his head, dismissing the thought. "Forget it. As long as it poses no threat to Glory City, it doesn't matter. Everyone has their secrets, and if something has truly changed, it's Shen Hong's problem, not mine."
Meanwhile, in his room, Shen Fei practiced body-refining techniques until midnight. Then, moving stealthily, he slipped into Shen Xiu's room. Quietly climbing onto her bed, he embraced her from behind, startling her.
However, after days of enduring his shameless antics, Shen Xiu had grown used to his behavior. She sighed softly and eventually fell asleep, even as Shen Fei harassed her. His hands wandered over her body, kneading her breasts while his stiff dick pressed against her ass.
For Shen Fei, the night was just beginning, but Shen Xiu, resigned to her fate, could only drift into uneasy slumber.
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