Shen Yuan left the dressing room and returned to the garden in satisfaction. Zhou Yi wasn't lying about the concealer being a special grade. Not only it was waterproof, it was also smudge-proof. After applying it for a couple of seconds, it practically glued itself to his skin.
He didn't have any plan on revealing his mark again except to Ji Zhixuan when the time was right, so this was just what he needed.
Reaching back to the bench, he saw Zhou Yi with his back against him and could finally count the mark on his back. Currently, only 5 diamonds were visible, but with the concealer as a variable, there could be more he was hiding.
"What are you doing?"
"Young Master Shen." Zhou Yi turned around from Shen Yuan's voice, consternation on his face. "I believe you are being targeted. We should—"
The strum of guqin traversed the air, cutting his words unfinished. They, and all the other participants, turned towards the sound to find the musician playing on the stage, her fingers dancing elegantly across the strings.
When the music had captured everyone's attention, the male host stepped onto the stage and opened the event. "Ladies and gentlemen, catalysts and activators, we welcome you to our annual matchmaking event! I hope all of you have been enjoying your time so far with your fellow participants? I can already see many beautiful buds ready to bloom."
While the host continued with his intro, Zhou Yi wanted to use the time to take Shen Yuan away. "Young Master Shen, we must leave. Someone is targeting you."
"How do you know that?"
"There is a woman watching you in the crowd." Zhou Yi scanned their surroundings and found the same woman he had marked looking towards them again. He blocked Shen Yuan from her line of sight and lowered his voice. "I believe she's a spy."
Shen Yuan raised his eyebrows and trailed down Zhou Yi's vigilant gaze. The woman in question didn't avoid his eyes and instead smiled at him before focusing back on the stage.
He guessed she was the 'record keeper' Ji Zhixuan appointed.
"Sir Zhou, this is a matchmaking event. Everyone is looking at everyone here. More so activators towards catalysts and vice versa. You're being paranoid." Shen Yuan spread his fan with a sigh. "Or is this your way of trying to have me all to yourself? I admit the concealer is very helpful. But if having it entails accepting your courting, I rather return it."
"I don't have such impure intentions. That woman is highly likely to be sent here by someone. Someone malicious."
"I'll listen to you if you have any kind of proof, but if it's only your intuition speaking, I rather not. I'm not waiting another year to come here again."
Faced with Shen Yuan's clear disregard, Zhou Yi knew there was no persuading him otherwise. It was already fortunate enough that he managed to resolve their misunderstanding, so he shouldn't push more of his luck with Shen Yuan still not completely trusting him.
He could only stay close to him and keep an eye out until the event finished. Hopefully, he would be more willing to talk afterward.
"Does everyone still have the item given to you at the entrance? Please take it out and have a closer look," the host requested. "I'm sure all of you have noticed that it's an incomplete half of a butterfly. To officially open this event, your first task is to find the owner of your other half. Once everyone is paired up, we will then start our first game."
Shen Yuan guessed as much and took out the ornament with everyone else. He flipped it around to find the carving on the connecting point was jagged and was about to start searching around when it glitched.
He paused and looked back at it but saw nothing wrong with it. Just as he thought he was imagining things, it glitched once again and shocked his hand with a zap, jolting his fingers open.
The ornament fell to the ground. He didn't dare blink as he watched the glitches change its shape. After it stopped, it lay there for a full 2 seconds before a hand picked it up.
Zhou Yi connected the piece with his own and found them a perfect fit. He returned Shen Yuan's piece to its owner. "Seems like we're partners."
"…" Shen Yuan kept his eyes on Zhou Yi as he carefully retrieved it.
Though he couldn't say for certain what just happened, without question, it was Zhou Yi's doing. Did he consciously will it?
No. If he was aware of where he was right now and what the nature of this world truly was, he would've long been awake. Then, it was more likely to be a subconscious influence.
If Zhou Yi kept becoming stronger, eventually, it wouldn't take much effort for him to kill the vulture. It would be bad if he killed it out of his knowledge and it couldn't transfer itself into his psyche. Unlike with the vulture, he couldn't trace his whereabouts.
Before anything unexpected happens, he should make preparations as soon as possible.
"Young Master Shen? Is everything alright?" Zhou Yi asked in concern.
Shen Yuan clutched his ornament. "…It's nothing."
When was Ji Zhixuan coming?
As soon as he thought that, a firm arm wrapped around his waist and pulled him into a sturdy chest. The anxiousness in his heart melted into the warm embrace, and he looked up behind him with a smile.
"Well, hello. How can I help you?"
Ji Zhixuan returned Shen Yuan's smile. "The flowers told me the other half of my piece is in the hands of their prince. I see no one else more appropriate."
It didn't take long for the crowd to realize who he was and fell into commotion. Though nobody dared to enter his space, the stage was quickly forgotten, and those who stood further huddled nearer to take a look. Not every day they could see—let alone be in the same space—with the most powerful second generation in the city.
While the other young masters either played around or depended on their family business, Ji Zhixuan built his own business empire and it was rumored that his personal wealth already surpassed that of his own parents. Even this very event was sponsored by him and the garden itself belonged to him.
Of course, there was the general's son, but even with his position, Ji Zhixuan still had wider and more powerful influence around the city—if not throughout the country. In terms of strength, Ji Zhixuan also won by a level.
It was well known he didn't have a single exclusive catalyst yet. Could he be here to finally find one?
Before Shen Yuan could give a reply, Zhou Yi grabbed his arm and attempted to yank him out of Ji Zhixuan's hold, but Ji Zhixuan was long prepared and secured him in place. Still, Zhou Yi didn't let go. "Excuse me, we already confirmed that we are each other's partners. Please let him go. You are being very rude and improper."
The crowd sucked in a breath of cold air. Who was this person daring to court death!?
Ji Zhixuan looked at Zhou Yi's hand on Shen Yuan in displeasure and snapped his fingers. A coordinator hurried towards his side with a tray, holding a matching set of ornaments. He took away the piece in Shen Yuan's hand and tossed it to Zhou Yi's feet before giving Shen Yuan one side of the matching set.
"Now, he's mine. Which one of us did you say was being very rude and improper, Commander Zhou?"
Low exclamations ensued around them, their attention shifting completely to Zhou Yi. He wasn't flustered from his exposure and calmly took off his mask. "This person is under my protection, Young Master Ji. I kindly ask you to let him go before I must use force."
"What are you deciding all on your own? I never agree to that." Shen Yuan snatched his arm free. "It's fine already, so just leave."
"You don't know who this person is."
"Whether I do or not doesn't concern you."
"It's for your own safety."
"I can take care of myself." Shen Yuan pried Ji Zhixuan's arm off him and returned the ornament to him. "I'm not in the mood for this anymore. Since you don't want to leave, Sir Zhou, then I will. Enjoy the rest of your day."
He cast a brief, meaningful glance at Ji Zhixuan before walking away.
"Young Master Shen—"
"The fair gentleman already voiced his disagreement and, dare I say, discomfort." Ji Zhixuan blocked Zhou Yi from going after Shen Yuan.
Zhou Yi drew his eyebrows taut. He couldn't tell whether Ji Zhixuan knew about Shen Yuan's power or not, but his presence here couldn't be a coincidence. He wasn't the type of person who would attend insignificant events.
"In case Commander Zhou harbors personal intentions towards him, let me give you a fair warning." Ji Zhixuan swept his eyes across the crowd before circling back to Zhou Yi. His voice was calm and even, but the threat looming within pressed a cold blade into their nerves. "I'm pursuing that man. I don't need to explain more, do I?"
"You…" Zhou Yi frowned deeper.
He couldn't be serious, could he?
This monster? Pursuing someone?