Clenching the hilt of his sheathed sword, Shen Liqian used it to push himself up and sprint toward Shen Yiren.
As he sprinted, he unsheathed his sword.
Shen Yiren instinctively reached for his spear's shaft.
But he couldn't feel any strength in his grip.
It was a miracle he could grasp his weapon at all.
He slowly tried to stand up, but his numb legs gave in to the cold and anchored him to the ground.
A clump of snow atop his head fell into his eye as he lurched his torso forward.
This can't be happening to me…
He'd been rendered useless by the winter and… Shen Liqian!
Shen Yiren had never felt so defeated in his life.
Shen Liqian hadn't even struck him.
His steps thudded, compressing the snow beneath his soles.
Then a sword hissed through the wind and snow.
Cold steel licked Shen Yiren's neck.
His breath snagged in his throat.
"I win," Shen Liqian said.
He slid through the snow and slashed horizontally at Shen Yiren's neck, stopping just short of cutting his skin.
His declaration of victory landed colder than the steel.
Shen Yiren let his weapon fall and raised his shivering hands in defeat.
"There's so much more I have to learn.
"I'm glad I came here."
After confronting his father and learning the entire truth behind his ploy, Shen Yiren was lost.
He had taken his mother away, then planned to venture deep into the mountains.
But he didn't want to just leave without telling someone about his father or his own plans.
He hadn't said a word to his mother because she would only worry endlessly about him.
It was immature and naive, but Shen Yiren was still an eighteen-year-old man.
In the end, he chose to come to Shen Liqian and share everything with him, since they were the same age.
Never in his wildest dreams would he have expected to be humbled by Shen Liqian and have his horizons broadened thanks to him.
Shen Liqian smiled.
"You will learn much more under me than in the wilderness.
"The wilderness is but one of many steps ahead of me.
"I will conquer it, and I want you to stand by my side.
"Join me and continue the legacy of Shen Clan's Spearmanship under my leadership, Shen Yiren."
Ever since Shen Liqian saw that Shen Yiren had nothing to lose, he had resolved to show him his potential and draft him to his side.
He was the best first vassal Shen Liqian could ask for.
Everything Shen Liqian had done so far was for this moment.
Shen Yiren looked into Shen Liqian's eyes.
He's serious.
He hasn't given up despite all odds against him.
He's aiming for the Clan Chief's spot and to lead the Clan into prosperity.
He must have had a moment of enlightenment that gave him this much confidence.
He's proven himself… so why do I hesitate?
I might as well see into Shen Liqian's future.
Shen Yiren brought his trembling hands into a common oath gesture, his right palm gently touching his left palm.
It began snowing more, creating a solemn scene that only Shen Liqian and his parents could witness.
The world seemed to hush around the falling white.
Shen Yiren declared.
"I, Shen Yiren, am entrusting my life and spear to you, Shen Liqian, so that I can stand by your side and witness the future of Shen Clan under your leadership.
"Give me an order, and I will execute it.
"Whether in the wilderness or the Shen Clan, I am not the one to choose my grave!"
Shen Liqian smiled softly, extending his hand.
"Neither of us will perish so early.
"I understand your concerns and your current goal, which aligns with mine.
"Once we both achieve our goals, let's discuss the future of Shen Clan together."
Shen Yiren nodded and weakly grasped Shen Liqian's hand.
Shen Liqian grinned.
"Well, I must quickly take you inside so that you don't freeze to death!"
Shen Yiren: (⊙_⊙)
Off to the side, Shen Lijian and Shen Lexi were proud to see their son defeat Shen Yiren and even take him under his wing.
Their baby had grown up and began spreading his wings.
It was undoubtedly a moment of pride that neither would ever forget.
Shen Lijian smiled.
"I'll help Qian'er."
He ran toward the duo and helped his son pick up the frozen Shen Yiren and carry him inside the manor.
Inside, they wrapped him in blankets and handed him warm tea.
When they went to fetch medicine for the laceration on their guest's eye, Shen Lijian spoke to his son.
"Shen Yiren is a talented and strong cultivator.
"You have done a splendid job defeating him and inviting him into your ranks.
"I'm surprised you're so quick with that, but… I guess that's expected."
Shen Liqian nodded.
"Are you not surprised to see him here?"
"His father betrayed his own brother… so I can more or less see what brought Shen Yiren here," Shen Lijian replied.
Shen Liqian nodded.
"You're right.
"Should we bring his mother here?"
"You call the shots now, Qian'er."
Afterward, Shen Yiren warmed up enough to tell the same story to Shen Lijian and Shen Lexi.
The two of them couldn't believe that Shen Junce had hurt his own son and even taken his eye.
His obsession must have reached a dangerous level.
Shen Yan was even worse, pushing Shen Junce deeper into his obsession to exploit it and gain his favor.
Shen Lijian sighed.
"Shen Junce is at fault, and so am I.
"I should have predicted all of this and erased Junce's Heart Demon."
Shen Liqian's ears perked at that.
"Do you believe it's all Heart Demon, Father?"
Shen Lijian nodded.
"That, or he's staying true to his path to avoid Heart Demons.
"It's still an unhealthy obsession I can never forgive him for."
Since the topic hurt his parents, Shen Liqian quickly changed the subject.
"Do you want your mother to live with us, Shen Yiren??"
"It'd be better for my mom to be here… since our friends are struggling with food, and she'll only feel worse day by day as she's another mouth to feed," Shen Yiren replied, nodding.
"Recuperate for now, and we will pick her up soon."
"Thanks," Shen Yiren replied.
When Shen Liqian had a moment for himself, Zhiyin curled into his lap and looked up at him.
"Congratulations," she said.
"Thank you, Zhiyin!"
[You have drafted your first vassal—Shen Yiren.]
[Shen Yiren]
[Age: 18]
[Cultivation: Fifth Stage Of Qi Attunement]
[Cultivation Method: Spear Fang Cultivation Manual(Mortal).]
[Spiritual Roots: 9]
[You have made a significant progress in your Cultivate Your Vassals Quest!]
[Vassals: 1/2]
Shen Liqian's eyes gleamed as he looked into Shen Yiren's stats.
This man had nine roots, so he was surely the prodigy of the Shen Clan and someone who could develop into a real beast.
He wasn't jealous of those roots; he was glad his vassal had this much potential.
Then Shen Liqian received new system windows that told him about his quest progress.
So I need one more vassal and help them both breakthrough!