Zhang Shaoqi, the Young Master of the Zhang Family

The grand hall was expansive and filled with people. Lin Han, using his heightened senses, observed a dignified-looking man in lavish attire. Although nobody had told him who this man was, based on his aura, Lin Han could tell that he was the current head of the Shen family and Shen Mengyao's father.

His presence was the most powerful in the room.

As Lin Han entered the hall with Shen Mengyao, the onlookers couldn't help but murmur and exchange puzzled glances, wondering who this unassuming man accompanying her was.

Lin Han squinted his eyes as he surveyed the room, maintaining a polite smile. After Shen Mengyao took her seat, Lin Han remained standing to the side. No one in the hall questioned his presence, assuming he was just a servant.

As they entered, Lin Han felt a pair of burning eyes fixed on Shen Mengyao, the type of gaze that wouldn't relent.

Lin Han quickly identified the source of the intense scrutiny and concluded that the young man must be Zhang Shaoqi, who stood by a distinguished elder. Lin Han assessed the elder's cultivation level to be at the peak of the Body Refinement Fifth Stage, signifying his strength.

Zhang Shaoqi began with a flourish, ignoring Lin Han's presence, and expressed his affection towards Shen Mengyao.

"Mengyao, everyone knows the depth of my affection for you. Today, my dream will finally come true. You can trust me; I, Zhang Shaoqi, promise to provide you with everything you need for a comfortable life."

Zhang Shaoqi's speech was smooth, and his good looks worked in his favor. Coupled with his family status as the heir to the Zhang family, not many young women would have the strength to resist such a suitor.

However, Shen Mengyao's face showed no interest or warmth. She merely regarded him with cold disdain, seeing through his superficial flattery.

"Zhang Shaoqi, we are not so close, and I request you not to call me 'Mengyao.' I don't like you, and I hope you will stop pestering me."

Shen Mengyao's face remained cold, and her father, Shen Jingtian, who had initially tried to diffuse the situation, realized something was amiss.

The Shen family's elders, who had been watching the proceedings, exchanged puzzled glances. They weren't prepared for Shen Mengyao's blunt rejection.

After Shen Mengyao's resolute refusal, Zhang Shaoqi's demeanor shifted, and he turned cold. He hadn't anticipated such a direct and unyielding response from her. Faced with the rejection, his face darkened.

Lin Han, observing the exchange, could tell that Zhang Shaoqi's interest in Shen Mengyao was driven primarily by her looks. If she were to marry him, her future prospects did not seem promising.

Staring at Shen Mengyao, Zhang Shaoqi suddenly smiled and said, "Mengyao, your father once told me that as long as I became the number one young talent in Yun City, you would marry me. It was a prearranged decision! Today, I am at the peak of the Body Refinement Fifth Stage, an undisputed top young talent in Yun City. So, starting today, you, Shen Mengyao, are my wife!"

With these words, Zhang Shaoqi was clearly furious. He had never experienced such a cold rejection before.

Therefore, the courteous demeanor that Zhang Shaoqi had just displayed completely vanished in an instant.

His words were unusually firm.

As Zhang Shaoqi's words echoed through the hall, a wave of commotion erupted. Clearly, the attendees had not expected this revelation, and their collective gaze turned toward Shen Jingtian.

Lin Han stood beside Shen Mengyao and sensed her body shudder at the sound of Zhang Shaoqi's words. She was visibly shaken, and her face showed disbelief.

"Father, is this... is it true?" Shen Mengyao's voice trembled as she spoke, and she appeared on the verge of tears, her expression filled with disbelief.

"It's true, but..." Shen Jingtian spoke with remorse, and Lin Han could tell there was an unspoken story behind his words, which had left him in a troubled state.

Upon hearing Shen Jingtian's words, the entire hall was filled with murmurs. Many of the Shen family's elders had expressions of disbelief.

"Family Head, how could you do such a thing? Mengyao is your own daughter!"

A senior member of the Shen family, sitting next to Shen Jingtian, was nearly shaking as he spoke, displaying his concern for Shen Mengyao.

"Yes, that's right!"

"Indeed!"

The Shen family was known for its unity and had not experienced any internal disputes. To those present, Shen Mengyao was like their granddaughter, and her outright refusal of this marriage proposal had sent shockwaves through the room.

Lin Han could understand Shen Mengyao's feelings at this moment. Facing such an unexpected situation, he could feel her emotional turmoil.

“Zhang Shaoqi, you are an animal! If I have guessed it right, you are the one who killed Ning Ling, aren’t you?”

Taking a deep breath, Shen Mengyao uttered these words with her teeth gritted. Her finger was shaking when pointing at Zhang’s handsome face, and she wore a resentful expression on her face.

Upon hearing her words, the elders at present was enlightened.

Ning Ling, the top genius in the Yun City, was an expert at the sixth stage of Body Refinement Realm. His strength made sure that he was the undoubted number one martial artist in the city among the young generation.

And it was exactly because of Ning’s presence, that Shen Jingtian would agree to marry his daughter to Zhang Shaoqi under such condition.

In view of this, when Zhang Shaoqi had finally reached the pinnacle of the Body Refinement Fifth Stage, he had interpreted this as a prearranged agreement, which Shen Mengyao was now being forced to accept.

Realizing the situation, the Shen family elders began to understand Shen Jingtian's predicament. Zhang Shaoqi was the heir of the powerful Zhang family, the top force in Yun City. Turning him down outright was not an easy task, so Shen Jingtian had chosen to accept his proposal. However, no one had anticipated that within the last ten days, Ning Ling, the most talented youth in the Yun City, would die under mysterious circumstances.

Ning Ling had been born into a common family. Ten days ago, Ning Ling and his entire family was killed under baffling circumstances. This tragic event had shaken Yun City, leaving many in grief and regret for the loss of such a promising talent.

In retrospect, if Ning Ling had not died, given his talent, he would have achieved great accomplishments.

The investigations into this matter were still ongoing, with no substantial leads yet. The simple truth appeared to be that Zhang Shaoqi, in his desperation to become the top young talent of his generation, had eliminated his most formidable rival, Ning Ling.

Upon hearing Shen Mengyao's accusations, the Shen family's elders in the hall started to put the pieces together. They began to grasp the gravity of the situation.

This seemingly innocent young man had done something so gruesome. The Shen family's elders couldn't believe that a teenager could commit such heinous acts, revealing a ruthless and unfeeling nature.

Was this really just a young man?