Chapter 111

Chapter 111

Three hours earlier, a plane descended into the capital airport of Country E.

As they exited the terminal, there was nothing outside but white snow. The royal police had closed the roads for the young prince's arrival.

Steward Diado stood waiting for them beside a long line of cars.

Upon seeing the steward, Yuvius stretched out his hands. The steward, visibly moved, hugged him and said to Xie Yunshen, "Thank you for coming to attend the Prince's funeral."

Xie Yunshen boarded the black car bound for the palace.

On a high-rise building, a large screen was broadcasting the funeral of Prince Blanken live.

Snowflakes swirled in the air.

A leaflet in a trash can was caught by the wind and lifted into the air. Xie Yunshen saw a line of words written in red on it.

"The God of the Other Shore will redeem all distress and sin."

*The God of the Other Shore again.*

Xie Yunshen's gaze deepened.

Upon arriving at the palace, the steward still had to help the young prince into his royal ceremonial attire.

As the funeral proceeded halfway, people began to murmur: Had the young prince also been harmed?

Prince Blanken and the Princess had always been beloved, which was why the safety of their young child tugged at everyone's heartstrings.

Only when Xie Yunshen appeared at the funeral holding Prince Yuvius's hand did people breathe a sigh of relief.

The snowfall intensified.

Following royal tradition, the funeral was held in the open-air square outside the palace hall, where the public spontaneously gathered to pay their respects.

Snow settled on Xie Yunshen's shoulders as he bowed to the king.

The king nodded in acknowledgment.

Over a decade ago, it was this very king who had personally requested the Bodyguard Association to assign Xie Yunshen as Prince Blanken's bodyguard.

Yuvius let go of Xie Yunshen's hand. Though only two years old, his etiquette in front of the royal family was impeccable, his tender voice already revealing an unusual firmness.

Xie Yunshen was taken aback. Was this the same little rascal who used to cry for hugs with a pacifier in his mouth?

The king, with compassion in his expression, looked at his youngest grandson and sighed, "Yuvius, bid farewell to your father."

Bracing against the wind and snow, Yuvius walked towards the man on the flower-decked platform.

A two-year-old child did not yet understand what farewell truly means.

He could only follow the etiquette taught by the steward, planting a kiss on the transparent ice coffin.

Seeing no response from his father, he called out softly in a puzzled voice, "Daddy."

"Please get up and hold me, Daddy."

The crowd gathered at the periphery already had reddened eyes; some were weeping quietly.

Xie Yunshen stood there silently, his gaze fixed on the body on the platform.

"What did the autopsy report say?"

"Death by poisoning. Suicide," the steward replied softly and hoarsely beside him.

When Yuvius finally broke down, crying against the ice coffin, Xie Yunshen walked over and picked up the child.

The prince's ice coffin would be slowly carried by horse-drawn carriage once around the palace before proceeding to the royal cemetery.

During this procession, the route was lined with onlookers.

Xie Yunshen walked beside the ice coffin, holding Yuvius.

This masked man holding the prince briefly caused confusion among the people.

His black hair and black eyes clearly showed he was not a member of the royal family, yet on his chest he wore the purple insignia of authority.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, "This is the punishment of the God of the Other Shore! Because Blanken was disrespectful! That's why he died!"

The man was immediately seized by the guards and escorted away.

A moment later, two other agitators in the crowd began shouting loudly, "The God of the Other Shore redeems all distress and sin!"

Xie Yunshen's gaze swept over the crowd, taking in their faces and eyes.

More and more people began to chant. To avoid disrupting the funeral, the guards could only maintain order as gently as possible.

Suddenly, two gunshots rang out!

Someone had fired at Yuvius.

Xie Yunshen shielded the child's body, rolling behind a nearby car for cover. Blood trickled down his side; the bullet had grazed the arm he used to protect Yuvius's head.

Chaos erupted instantly. The guards swiftly formed a protective circle around them.

Yuvius wailed in his arms. Two royal bodyguards tried to take Yuvius from Xie Yunshen's grasp.

Xie Yunshen did not let go. "I can protect him."

Diado exclaimed, "He is the Association's Golden Bodyguard!"

The two royal bodyguards hesitated, then made no further move.

Yuvius's two tender arms also clung to Xie Yunshen with incredible strength.

The assassin was killed on the spot. In his hand was a homemade pistol.

The military violently suppressed all the troublemakers.

This was entirely a premeditated, malicious incident.

The international media coverage quickly sparked widespread debate.

The mysterious Other Shore Divine Sect gradually came into public view.

In the palace of Country E, two doctors bandaged Xie Yunshen's wounds.

Xie Yunshen frowned with worry. Although the bullet had grazed the bone, the pain wasn't severe. The main issue was that with the incident causing such a stir, Mr. Yan would undoubtedly find out he was hurt.

He must be worried.

Just as he was thinking this, his phone rang.

Xie Yunshen saw the caller ID and immediately answered.

"Mr. Yan, I'm fine, don't worry," Xie Yunshen spoke first as soon as the call connected.

There was a brief silence on the other end. "Ah-Shen... I regret it."

Xie Yunshen was stunned.

"I regret letting you attend the funeral." Mr. Yan's frank voice held an unimaginable bitterness.

Xie Yunshen could only manage a laugh. "I'll be back in a couple of days, Mr. Yan. The temperature has dropped; is your knee still feeling cold?"

"..."

"I heard the capital of Country E has the headquarters of over a hundred global brands. I want to bring you a gift. What would you like?"

Yan Shiqi said, "I'm not interested in that stuff. What I need is you. Don't delay a single second. I need you to come back."

With that, he hung up.

A warmth spread through Xie Yunshen's heart.

This incident brought the Other Shore Sect into the spotlight, and Xie Yunshen's identity was gradually being uncovered.

"He looks a lot like the man who followed Prince Blanken over a decade ago."

"Yes, it's him. The Golden Bodyguard from the International Bodyguard Association."

"(Picture) That purple badge on his shoulder—aside from the royal family, I've heard there are only two in the world."

"The nationwide bombing that caused a huge stir back then... Prince Blanken survived thanks to this Golden Bodyguard."

"(Picture)(Picture) The eyes above the mask are exactly the same."

"Back then, whenever Prince Blanken appeared in the news, this bodyguard was always by his side."

"Ten years! Who would have thought he'd reappear now to protect his child at his funeral (sobbing)."

"Speaking of which, isn't this Golden Bodyguard now in A Country protecting the Chairman of the Yan Group?"

"Hmm, isn't he the one who appeared in that interview with the Chairman of Yunqi a while back?"

"Ahhh, the one who was wrongly accused of fraud..."

"Oh shit, now that you mention it, I remember. Prince Blanken even came forward to clear this bodyguard's name."

After the funeral ended, Xie Yunshen, following Yan Shiqi's words, planned to return to A Country overnight.

However, Yuvius was asked to stay at the palace with his grandmother for a day.

Xie Yunshen was actually a familiar face in the palace. Having protected Prince Blanken for three years, every royal knew him.

Xie Yunshen took the opportunity to inquire about the Other Shore Sect.

"All I know is that this Other Shore Sect has some connection to the Top Star Gate from a few years ago," the grandmother said.

Hearing the words "Top Star Gate" nearly gave Xie Yunshen PTSD.

"What?"

Her withered face revealed a mysterious, bitter smile. "This, I'll only tell you. The Top Star Gate, which shook the world, was actually just the outer layer of this Other Shore Sect. Just one of its departments for raising money... Its roots are already entrenched across the globe."

Xie Yunshen felt a chill run down his spine.

"What else do you know?"

"My child, knowing too much does you no good. Don't end up like Prince Blanken, losing your life for nothing."

"What is their goal?"

The old woman gazed at him with profound eyes. "Does it need a goal? Even if it's controlling the world, wielding the power of life and death? Something as simple as that is filled with temptation."

"...Does A Country still have their influence?"

"It's everywhere."

Xie Yunshen was deeply worried. If the Top Star Gate was just a small branch of the Other Shore Sect, would Mr. Yan face their retaliation?

Anxious about this matter, Xie Yunshen was burning with impatience.

The next evening, Xie Yunshen declined the red tape for the royal private jet and, with Yuvius in tow, boarded a flight back to A Country.

A Country, City A.

Inside the study, Yan Shiqi held two photos of Gao Langdong.

In just three short years, the same person's demeanor could change so drastically.

"Gao Langdong is now a member of the International Science Council. Not only does he have a new identity, but his standing is quite high."

Yan Shiying said, "He looks much older, and... I feel his personality has become unusually agitated."

Yan Shiqi asked, "Is Shangguan Hong dead?"

"Not yet. Because the Top Star Gate case was so extensive, the authorities only fully sorted it out a year ago. The others are dead, but Shangguan Hong, the worst of them, remains in prison as a key witness, awaiting trial. I heard his execution is next month."

"What about the leader of the Top Star Gate? Has he been found?"

Yan Shiying shook his head. "No trace of him has been found."

Yan Shiqi stood up. "Can we still visit the prison now?"

"If it's you, Brother, just ask Third Uncle for the paperwork. But why do you want to see him?"

"I have some questions to ask him."

"Brother, aren't you going to wait for... for sister-in-law to come back?"

Yan Shiying also instinctively felt that it was more dangerous for his brother to go alone.

Yan Shiqi was putting on his coat and smiled upon hearing the title. "Don't call him that."

Just then, the study door was suddenly pushed open. A figure, carrying the icy chill of winter, burst into the study.

"Mr. Yan! I'm back!"

Then he pulled Mr. Yan into a tight hug.

It was clear that Xie Yunshen had rushed straight to the study the moment he entered the house, with flakes of snow still clinging to his dark hair.

Yan Shiqi, caught off guard by the hug, closed his eyes and took a moment to steady himself. “I thought you weren't coming back until tomorrow?”

“Because… this is a surprise,” Xie Yunshen replied, his tone earnest. He frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with the other’s calm reaction. “Aren’t you happy?”

Yan Shiying glanced around anxiously and blurted out, “Sister-in-law! Did you not bring Yuvius back?”

Xie Yunshen didn't even bother to react to the title anymore. “He’s downstairs!”

That little brat was really popular—the moment they returned, Uncle Zhao and his grandfather had snatched him away.

With that, Yan Shiying hurried downstairs.

Yan Shiqi grabbed Xie Yunshen’s arm and pushed back his sleeve, revealing a bandaged wound with a faint trace of blood seeping through.

Xie Yunshen figured he must have pulled the injury when he hugged Mr. Yan, he'd been so excited.

“Is the bone injured?”

“It’s just a crack, I’m fine. I heal quickly.”

Yan Shiqi brushed away a snowflake from his forehead with a fingertip.

Xie Yunshen shook his head like a wet dog and rubbed his hair vigorously with his palms.

“Like a big dog,” Yan Shiqi teased, turning his face away to avoid the half-melted snow.

Xie Yunshen grabbed his face and kissed him.