The Return of the God Level Assassin Chapter 1286: WHY WOULD HE CARE?

Shen Xin stepped into the shooting range, intending to let off some rounds simply to ease the building tension. Come Monday, he'd dive into the last year of his undergrad law program. The immense burden of the upcoming school's intensity already pressed down on him. Precisely for that reason, he aimed to vent a bit of pressure right now, prior to classes kicking off.

Had law truly captured his interest, this crushing load might not weigh so heavily. In reality, though, he harbored a strong dislike for his field of study. Left entirely to his own devices, he'd have joined the military without a second thought. Even pursuing finance would suit him better. Yet the decision wasn't his alone. His elder brother, Shen Lin, had already embarked on a political trajectory. Thus, to fulfill the family's enduring strategy, Shen Xin bore the responsibility of becoming the attorney.

Thus, he found himself trapped in an unwanted profession, one likely to define his entire future. Escape might only come through disownment by the Shen clan. But he lacked the courage—or perhaps the recklessness—to court such an outcome.

Unlike his Uncle Yi Mu, who followed his whims thanks to his independent wealth, Shen Xin relied on the Shen family's resources and networks to sustain his lavish, upscale existence. He couldn't abandon it all for the sake of ideals. The luxury vehicles, designer outfits, exotic trips—pleasures he truly savored—demanded substantial funds, which he possessed none of independently. Moreover, he suspected his relatives would sabotage any solo success, rendering defiance a futile, doomed struggle.

This explained his silence on grievances; voicing them would smack of insincerity. Rather than causing a fuss, he managed his irritation discreetly. He'd visit this range occasionally, unleashing several dozen shots to dissipate the accumulated strain.

As a frequent visitor to this shooting venue, Shen Xin navigated its setup with ease. He headed directly to his preferred VIP lane positioned at the hall's distant edge. Such areas offered greater seclusion and typically fewer crowds, a setup he favored. Nearing it, he nearly halted. Occupants filled his customary space. And not ordinary ones. They appeared to be a pair, evident from one male positioned right behind the other. Their forms clung intimately, resembling a rear embrace more than instructional guidance.

He clicked his tongue in irritation, irked at losing his solitary shooting haven. Particularly as this duo seemed intent on romance. Honestly, who'd select a firing range for a romantic outing? Shaking his head in astonishment, he simply bypassed them, veering toward the adjacent lane.

Grabbing the safety earmuffs from the nearby counter, he raised them toward his ears. In that moment, his glance shifted laterally once again to the pair. Now, he witnessed the rear man dipping his head, nipping at the neck of his companion. Then the man tilted his head up a fraction. Upon doing so, Shen Xin glimpsed his features distinctly.

It proved to be the very last individual he'd anticipate in such a scenario. Shen Ji Yun. His very own relative, whose face rarely betrayed emotion. That impassive kin was genuinely grazing someone's neck with his teeth. Yet that wasn't the pinnacle of surprise. The real jaw-dropper was that his apparent romantic interest resembled a youthful male.

"What the fuck?" The exclamation escaped him uncontrollably, resounding too sharply in the range's subdued atmosphere.

He observed his cousin's response. Shen Ji Yun shifted abruptly to the side in a swift motion. Positioning himself firmly between the other youth and Shen Xin, he obstructed any line of sight. The pose screamed guardianship. Next, Shen Ji Yun pivoted to confront him, his countenance morphing from surprise to a vigilant, steely resolve.

Shen Xin gaped at his relative. Doubts of misidentification evaporated instantly. This was unmistakably Shen Ji Yun. The shielding posture shielding the other confirmed the intimacy. Shen Ji Yun shared space with a male, their interactions unmistakably beyond platonic.

"What the fuck, Shen Ji Yun?" Shen Xin echoed, disbelief lacing his tone. He advanced a pace, straining to peer past his cousin. "Please, tell me you're concealing a girl with an exceptionally brief hairstyle."

"Unfortunately for you," Shen Ji Yun replied. His stare locked onto Shen Xin's, unflinching and direct. "He's a boy."

A surge of stunned emptiness washed over Shen Xin at first, clearing his thoughts. Then a chill, weighty realization gripped his torso, clenching his frame. At last, a blaze of rage erupted, scorching away the bewilderment.

"You fucker," Shen Xin snapped. He pressed forward another step, his words heavy with incredulity and fury. "Do you have any idea at all what you're getting into?"

Once the first jolt of spotting his cousin subsided, Shen Ji Yun regained his composure. He held his ground without averting his eyes from Shen Xin's barbs. "Yes," he responded evenly. "I'm enjoying time with my boyfriend."

What if Shen Xin had caught him and Luo Yan in an intimate moment? What if his relative now grasped their bond? It mattered little to him. He wouldn't fret even if Shen Xin dashed off to inform the broader Shen household. Why fret over their views when they'd scarcely treated him as kin?

Within that lineage, only his Uncle Yi Mu and grandmother held true significance for him. With both having blessed his tie to Luo Yan, he felt no compulsion to heed others' judgments any longer.