After watching Chen Qingyu leave, Chen Xingzhen finally let out a sigh. Ancient relics were not always blessings; more often than not, they were filled with peril. Expeditions into them usually ended with empty hands, leaving nothing but wasted effort.
Too much time had passed. Even iron tools would have rusted away, sharp weapons dulled to useless scraps, and treasures of lesser substance long since crumbled to dust. Whatever could endure the passage of ages was surely extraordinary—but that did not mean fortune would smile upon their family.
The clan’s growth could not be entrusted to vague hopes. Though Chen Xingzhen harbored his own secret wish—that the ruins might hold strange plants like the ones Chen Qingyu described, or rare treasures capable of strengthening the clan—he knew better. Even with Chen Qingyu’s cultivation at the Innate Realm, the place had radiated overwhelming danger. That alone was enough to prove the site was no auspicious ground.
The family could not gamble recklessly, especially now. Their situation was still unsettled: enemies watched from the shadows, and a restless branch of the Liu family had begun to stir. It was not the time to send anyone probing ruins they could not control. From every angle, the wisest course was to act as though they knew nothing of it. Only when the family had secured true stability would exploration become an option.
For now, their focus should remain on Yong’an City. If they could establish a foothold there—using the Zhou family’s name as cover—then with the clan’s blood rice they could build strength gradually. It would be a slow process, but a steady one. With the Zhou family’s reputation at its peak, the Shi family was unlikely to act rashly. And as for that branch of the Liu family, they would not dare strike blindly without first discerning the Chen clan’s true strength. Still, vigilance was required.
Chaotic Burial Mountain was firmly under their control now, no longer the wild ground of old. If the Liu family wished to pry into its secrets, they would find it no easy task. Chen Xingzhen rubbed his brow, his thoughts tangled in a thousand directions. The few fresh strands of white at his temples were proof enough of the burden he carried.
…
“It has been too long with no word. I fear his chances are slim.”
“This Chen family is no simple force. We cannot linger here.”
In a shadowed house, an old man who had been waiting many days frowned deeply, speaking to the two clansmen at his side. They had been in the area only a few days. At first, nothing seemed amiss. But after yesterday’s probing, the Chen clan’s reaction had been swift and decisive. That alone revealed their deep control over this place. Strangers in unfamiliar territory, the three of them could not afford reckless moves.
“Elder, should we leave now?” one asked.
“Yes. If we delay, it may already be too late,” the old man replied.
They packed swiftly and slipped from the mountain. Relief only came when they finally crossed beyond Chaotic Burial Mountain’s boundary. It seemed Yingxian had not betrayed their presence; otherwise, they would never have walked out alive.
Yet just as they prepared to continue on, a figure appeared ahead, smiling as he blocked the path. “And where might the three of you be headed? My lord wishes to meet you. Please, do us the favor of coming along.”
The elder’s face darkened. He spun to flee, but figures sprang from the shadows, surrounding them on all sides.
His heart sank. He was late-stage Blood Coagulation Realm, but his opponents included several of equal cultivation—one of them a much younger man whose aura was steady and fierce. Against such numbers, he had no chance. So the Chen family’s strength was this deep? They had lain in wait all along.
Resistance would be meaningless. Better to live and endure. As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn. Once the clan learned of their capture, surely rescue would come.
“Let’s go,” the old man muttered, forcing calm. Seeing his compliance, the smiling man only nodded faintly.
After a stretch of road, doubt flickered across the elder’s face. They were not being taken back toward Chaotic Burial Mountain, but further away.
“Wait,” he asked sharply, “where are you taking us?”
“You’ll know when we arrive.”
“You’re not of the Chen clan?” His surprise showed.
“Whoever told you we were Chen clan?” The man sneered. “Enough talk. Keep moving—the road ahead is still long.”
At that moment, the elder recalled the phrasing earlier—“my lord,” not “my patriarch.” His heart sank further. These people truly were not of the Chen family. But if not them, then who—and why capture him? With no answers, he could only follow, weighed down by unease.
…
“Brother, the man has been brought.”
In Yong’an City, word reached the Shi family. Shi Pojing set aside his book and rose, stepping into the adjoining room. Inside, the elder stood stiffly, his unease plain. He had already sensed something was amiss when they brought him here.
His clan lived quietly in a village near Yong’an, low-profile and without entanglements in city affairs. How had they been noticed?
But now his fate lay in another’s hands. Resistance was pointless. He could only wait.
Soon, a man entered, cupping his fists with an apologetic smile. “My subordinates can be careless. If they offended you on the way, I ask your forgiveness.”
“I am Shi Pojing of the Shi family. If I’m not mistaken, you must be of the Liu clan?”
The elder was shaken. This man had already uncovered much about their family. Still, he forced composure and replied evenly, “Liu Ziyan, of the Liu family. I do not know why your clan has brought me here. Might you explain?”
Shi Pojing only laughed lightly. “No hurry. Bring tea.”
They spoke idly for a time until at last Liu Ziyan’s expression shifted. “You mean to say your Shi family seeks cooperation with the Liu?”
Shi Pojing inclined his head. “Exactly. The Chen family does not know its place. Of course, we cannot let them be. And your Liu branch was nearly annihilated by their hands. Were it not so, Chaotic Burial Mountain would still be yours. Can such a grudge be left unanswered?”
Liu Ziyan’s gaze narrowed. “If the hatred runs so deep, why not act yourselves? The Chen clan has some strength, yes, but surely not enough to match the Shi family.”
Shi Pojing smiled faintly. “Yong’an is not ours alone. There are three other great clans here. The Chen family is not as simple as it appears. With only the remnants of your Liu branch, even if you birthed two more Innate experts, vengeance would still be beyond reach. But if you join hands with us, then when the matter is settled, of the Chen family’s blood rice, our clan will take only half. The other half, we will not contest.”
The words hung in the air. Liu Ziyan fell silent, his thoughts turning.
At last, he said slowly, “This is no small matter. I cannot decide it alone. Allow me to return and seek my patriarch’s counsel before we speak further. Would that be acceptable?”