Free Web NovelChapter 31: Chapter 31: "See? You’re Overthinking Again, Aren’t You?
"Patriarch."
The Elders exchanged a look, and the Grand Elder of the Chen Family spoke first. "As far as I know, the Jiangbei Chen Family’s Site 37 is an abandoned outpost. After being reactivated a few days ago, the camp contained only a single Ghost Fire and a dilapidated Wooden House."
"Beyond that, there are no City Defense Buildings."
"Logically, it should be impossible for that camp to survive until the third day of the rainy season, especially one that arrived early."
"My guess is..."
"Perhaps Young Master Chen Fan was just lucky. After all, even Site 16 of the Hill and Valley Royal Family hasn’t fallen yet."
"Yes, yes, we think so as well."
"Most likely."
The group of Elders quickly came to a consensus. It wasn’t so much a choice, as there were no other plausible explanations. ’Besides good luck, what else could it be?’
Patriarch Chen, sitting in his chair, remained silent. He merely looked up at Chen Quan, signaling that it was his turn to speak his mind.
"I..."
Chen Quan was completely unable to fathom his father’s thoughts, and he felt restless in his seat. Even though he knew his father held no affection for Chen Fan, Chen Fan was still his son.
Scheming to kill his own half-brother.
It was a small matter if kept quiet, but a scandal of immense proportions if brought into the open.
Now that the matter was on the table, he felt his heart thundering in his chest as if engulfed in flames. Forcibly suppressing his terror, his voice trembled. "As I see it, Big Brother must have just gotten lucky."
"What if..."
"We try to rescue him? Bring Big Brother back home?"
The moment he finished speaking, the Elders exchanged another glance, each seeing the helplessness reflected in the others’ eyes. ’Young Master Chen Quan must have been scared witless. The Chen Family doesn’t have the power to venture into the Wilderness for a rescue during the rainy season. What is this nonsense he’s spouting?’
"..."
Patriarch Chen, seated at the head of the table, lowered his eyes again. He was silent for a long time, his fingertips tapping a light, unconscious rhythm on the tabletop.
The only sound in the meeting hall was that nerve-wracking tapping. Everyone subconsciously held their breath, not daring to make the slightest sound or movement.
After a long while, a nearly inaudible sigh echoed in the room.
Patriarch Chen opened his eyes, a flicker of exhaustion in their cloudy depths. His gaze swept over everyone present as he spoke in a hoarse voice.
"When my late wife was still alive, we had an argument. She ran out of the city to hide. The Chen Family searched for a long time before finally discovering she was at the Jiangbei Chen Family’s Site 37. Do you all remember this matter?"
The Grand Elder, who had been minding his own business with his eyes lowered, was jolted by those words. A flicker of horror crossed his eyes as he turned to meet the Patriarch’s gaze.
"Patriarch... are you suggesting that Site 37 of the Jiangbei Chen Family might contain an Architect’s legacy left behind by the matriarch?"
"No, that’s not right."
The Second Elder quickly shook his head, disagreeing. "As everyone knows, whether one can awaken as an Architect depends entirely on the Celestial Mandate. Even if an Architect’s legacy was left behind, it would only consist of things like detailed Blueprint analyses, energy utilization techniques, or perhaps Building Blueprints and special Ghost Materials. It’s not something that can turn an Ordinary Cultivator into an Architect."
"Young Master Chen Fan has already undergone his awakening within the family. He did not awaken as any special type of Cultivator."
"Under normal circumstances, a second awakening is impossible."
"Quan’Er."
Patriarch Chen looked at Chen Quan and asked, word by word, "Was it you who arranged for Chen Fan to go to Site 37, or did he request to go there himself?"
"I arranged it." Chen Quan now realized the severity of the situation and didn’t dare hide a single detail. "It was an outpost that had been abandoned for a long time. I even took men to search the house thoroughly. There was nothing inside; it was almost completely empty."
"Big Brother... Big Brother, he can’t have become an Architect!"
"Heh."
Patriarch Chen suddenly laughed. He leaned back wearily against his chair, seeming to age visibly in that single moment.
’It’s all fate.’ He didn’t know what kind of Architect legacy his late wife had left behind. These Chen Family Elders were so certain for a reason; common knowledge was on their side. ’But the world is so vast, how could they possibly know everything?’
’Perhaps there really is an Exotic Treasure out there capable of turning an Ordinary Cultivator into an Architect?’
But...
’But why did she hide it from me?’
’Didn’t my late wife know that if Chen Fan could become an Architect, I would have poured all of the family’s resources into training him?’
’He is my son!’
’My own flesh and blood!’
’He carries my blood. This Architect would become the greatest pillar of the Jiangbei Chen Family, capable of elevating us to a whole new level. I wouldn’t have to spend my days catering to that Tributor anymore. How could an Architect from another family ever compare to my own son becoming one?’
’All this, just because of one argument?’
’And Chen Fan...’
’If he has become an Architect, why not return to the Chen Family immediately? Does he think I wouldn’t pour all our resources into cultivating and protecting an Architect who belongs to our own family?’ fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
’Does he think the Jiangbei Chen Family is some kind of viper’s nest?’
But saying any more now was pointless.
A newly awakened Architect with no resources for training had no chance of surviving this rainy season. Forget Chen Fan; even if their family’s Level 5 Architect were thrown out into the Wilderness, he wouldn’t make it through this rainy season alive.
Just then—
The doors to the meeting hall were suddenly thrown open.
"Patriarch Chen."
Tributor Liu barged in, a displeased look on his face. He plopped down in his seat, leaned forward, and stared straight at Patriarch Chen. "Was there some important matter to discuss that required you to avoid me?"
"I’ve given so many years to the Chen Family. In the end, do I not even have the right to sit in on a meeting?"
"..."
Patriarch Chen paused for a moment before forcing a smile. He walked over to stand behind Tributor Liu, placing his hands on the man’s shoulders. "Weren’t you the one who’s always saying not to call you for every single meeting, big or small?" he said in a placating tone.
"I was originally going to call for you, but then I thought, since the rain is so heavy today, I shouldn’t disturb your rest."
"It’s nothing important."
"Now that the rainy season is here, we were just discussing the Chen Family’s subsequent actions."
"See? You’re being overly suspicious again, aren’t you?"
As he spoke, his calm gaze swept over each of the Elders present. They immediately understood and resumed their posture of minding their own business, as if nothing had happened. The Grand Elder casually slipped the Ghost Map from the table into his robes.
"Really?"
Tributor Liu shot Patriarch Chen a suspicious look, but his worry vanished when he saw Chen Quan was also present, and a satisfied smile spread across his face. "Ah, Quan’Er is here too. Patriarch Chen, this is how it should be. You should bring Quan’Er to these meetings more often."
"I’ve watched this boy grow up. He’s capable."
"You’re getting on in years. How much longer can you manage everything? You have to give the younger generation a chance, right?"
"As if I need you to tell me," Patriarch Chen said, feigning anger. "Quan’Er is my son. You think I don’t know what he’s capable of?"
"Alright, everyone is dismissed."
"It’s time for morning exercises. After you, Tributor Liu."
"Patriarch Chen, after you."
After Patriarch Chen and all the Elders had left the meeting hall, only Chen Quan remained, his face deathly pale. He sat curled up in his chair, his body trembling slightly, his eyes filled with resentment and bitterness.
But soon, the corners of his lips quirked upward.
’Thankfully... the rainy season arrived early.’ fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
’The Celestial Mandate is on my side!’
