The First Legendary Demonic Scholar

Chapter 103: Chapter 103: The Sudden Hostility

Shen Yuan remained where he was for several breaths. Only after Bang Fo’s footsteps completely disappeared did he finally straighten his back.

His silver eyes slowly wandered around the study. He wasn’t foolish enough to touch anything. Nor did he intend to search through the shelves.

After all, He could still feel it.

That strange sensation. It was as though Bang Fo’s gaze had never left him. Even though the man had already walked away.

Shen Yuan frowned inwardly.

’Some kind of observation technique?’

’Or perhaps a formation woven into the residence itself?’

Whatever it was...

It wasn’t something he could understand at his current cultivation.

’I want to learn whatever technique he’s using. It will benefit me so much if I can do that too.’

At first Shen Yuan thought it was just simple technique of spreading qi into the air but his Qi dispersed as soon as it left the body.

The thought quietly settled into the back of his mind. Only then did Shen Yuan turn around and leave the study.

Outside...

The servant girl was already waiting for him.

She didn’t ask what had happened inside.

Instead, she simply spoke.

"Follow me before you start wandering around like a fool."

Shen Yuan nodded. The two walked deeper into the estate.

The elegant buildings gradually gave way to simpler structures until they reached the rear courtyard.

Compared to the front of the residence, this place looked much less impressive.

Storage rooms stood against one wall.

Stacks of firewood had been neatly piled beneath a wooden shelter.

Several drying racks held medicinal herbs beneath the afternoon sun.

Finally...

The servant girl stopped before a small wooden shed.

It was barely large enough for a single person to live in.

The roof had clearly been repaired several times.

The single window was no larger than two hands placed side by side.

A narrow bed occupied one corner.

Beside it sat a worn wooden table and a single chair.

That was all.

"This will be your room."

Shen Yuan silently looked inside before nodding.

"It is enough."

The servant girl finally turned toward him.

"My name is Lin Xia. I manage the servants whenever Senior Brother is occupied. I distributes the tasks as I see fit."

Her expression remained as cold as before.

"As for your duties..." She reached into her sleeve and handed him a bundle of scrolls. "You’ll be copying these."

Shen Yuan accepted them with both hands.

"The originals stay inside the archive. You are only responsible for producing accurate copies."

Lin Xia looked directly into his eyes for the first time.

"Every character, every stroke, and every seal."

"They must be identical."

"If even one word is wrong, you’ll rewrite the entire scroll."

She paused.

"And if an important document is damaged because of your carelessness..."

Her voice remained calm.

"You’ll pay for it."

Shen Yuan noticed she wasn’t making an empty threat.

She genuinely meant every word.

His gaze instinctively swept over her. Only now did he carefully examine her cultivation.

Ninth Stage of Qi Condensation.

His pupils contracted ever so slightly.

Until now...

He had subconsciously viewed her as another servant. Someone similar to him. But, he couldn’t have been more mistaken.

Although Shen Yuan possessed battle experience far beyond ordinary cultivators...

The gap between his cultivation and the Ninth Stage of Qi Condensation was simply too large.

If she attacked him now...

He wouldn’t survive.

Not even with all of his tricks.

"I understand."

Lin Xia nodded.

"You’ll begin immediately."

"The copied scrolls must be placed on my desk before you sleep."

"If you’re unable to finish..."

"Don’t bother sleeping."

With those final words...

She turned around and walked away without another glance.

Shen Yuan watched her disappear into the courtyard.

’She’s only a servant...’

’Yet she speaks as though she’s my superior.’

He quickly dismissed the thought.

Status meant nothing here.

Strength decided everything.

Inside Bang Fo’s residence...

Even servants followed a hierarchy determined by cultivation.

Closing the wooden door behind him, Shen Yuan sat before the small table.

He carefully untied the bundle of scrolls.

There were twelve in total.

Each densely packed with tiny characters.

His eyebrows rose slightly.

’So much...’

Fortunately...

Most of the documents contained inventory records.

Names of herbs.

Quantities.

Storage locations.

Nothing confidential.

Without wasting another moment...

Shen Yuan picked up the brush.

His wrist moved smoothly across the paper.

Stroke after stroke.

Hour after hour.

Outside...

The sun slowly disappeared beneath the horizon.

Darkness quietly settled over the estate.

Only the faint glow of an oil lamp illuminated the tiny room.

By the time Shen Yuan placed the final brushstroke onto the last scroll...

The moon had already climbed high into the sky.

He gently exhaled.

"My handwriting has improved."

After checking every page one final time...

He gathered the copied scrolls and walked toward the main residence.

Lin Xia was still awake.

She sat behind a wooden desk reviewing another stack of documents.

Without saying a word, Shen Yuan placed the copied scrolls before her.

She looked at him.

Then at the scrolls.

A faint crease appeared between her brows.

"So quickly?"

She picked up the first copy and went through it before doing the same to the rest.

Her eyes carefully compared each one against the originals.

The room fell silent.

Several minutes later...

She slowly lowered the final scroll.

Not a single mistake.

Not one misplaced stroke.

Everything matched perfectly.

For the first time...

A different emotion flickered within her eyes.

It vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.

Jealousy.

Shen Yuan caught it immediately.

Only someone who had spent years observing people’s expressions would have noticed something so subtle.

He pretended not to see it.

Lin Xia quietly gathered the scrolls together.

"You may return to your room."

Her tone remained cold. Yet, It was colder than before.

Shen Yuan gave her a small nod. "Very Well."

As he walked away, he could still feel her gaze lingering on his back.

’Interesting...’

Shen Yuan thought to himself.

’It seems... even within this residence... not everyone is satisfied with the place they’ve been given.’