Free Web NovelChapter 49: Chapter 49: Blood Sun’s Suspicion
Xue Rong did not move immediately.
That was what made him dangerous.
A foolish Blood Sun agent would see abnormal activity in the Qin Estate and rush to test it. A reckless one would send assassins, poison resources, or provoke the Zhao family into direct conflict.
Xue Rong did none of these.
He sat in a dark room lit by a single crimson lamp and read every report again.
Qin Yuheng.
Initial awakening: Not Awakened.
Secondary verification: Awakened after suspected Talent Fruit.
Combat display: thunder-body characteristics.
Floor 1: SSS evaluation.
Floor 2: SS evaluation.
Floor 3: SS evaluation and hidden vein confirmation.
Academy resource contest: first place. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Qin Estate inner formations: activated twice.
Qin Zhengyuan’s condition: unknown, but possibly fluctuating.
Xue Rong tapped the table.
One coincidence was luck.
Two could be talent.
Three was pattern.
The Qin family had begun moving resources internally after Qin Yuheng’s rise. That alone was understandable. A young heir with strong potential could inspire a family to invest more.
But Qin Zhengyuan’s wound-related formations activating twice after Qin Yuheng’s first few Tower rewards?
That was more interesting.
Xue Rong opened an older file.
[Qin Zhengyuan]
Former classification: High-value wounded target.
Condition: Primordial Seal Wound stable but incurable by known local resources.
Blood Sun Corrosion: dormant. freёwebnovel.com
Threat Level: Suppressed.
Observation Priority: Low-Medium.
He changed the final line.
Observation Priority: High.
Then he opened Qin Yuheng’s file.
[Qin Yuheng]
Possible talent: Thunder-body enhancement.
Alternative possibility: Reward perception, luck resonance, or hidden bloodline awakening.
Recommendation:
Indirect testing.
Avoid direct conflict with Qin Wanshan.
Use Zhao family pressure and academy competition channels.
Xue Rong smiled faintly.
"Let the children fight first."
He summoned a subordinate.
A black-clothed man entered and knelt.
"Envoy."
"Contact Zhao Lan’s side channel. Offer a resource that can help Zhao Tianyu stabilize his Crimson Beast Blood before the next ranking challenge."
The subordinate hesitated.
"Will that expose us?"
"Use the merchant route. No symbol. No name."
"Yes."
"Also, spread information in the black market. Qin Yuheng may possess rare first-floor and second-floor resources. Do not mention Blood Sun Hall."
The subordinate bowed.
"Yes."
After he left, Xue Rong looked toward the direction of the Qin Estate.
"Qin Wanshan, what are you hiding this time?"
At the Qin Estate, the second stabilization treatment began under strict secrecy.
The underground seal chamber glowed with silver-blue light.
The Soul Lantern Heart floated above Qin Zhengyuan’s chest, while the newly evolved Moon-Cleansing Spirit Lotus rested in a jade basin beside him. Mu Qinglan guided moonlight-like energy through the lotus petals, drawing out a stream of pure cleansing aura.
Qin Wanshan controlled the main seal formation.
Gu Tianhe guarded the chamber entrance.
Qin Yuheng stood outside the inner circle again, watching silently.
This time, the reaction was stronger.
When the Moon-Cleansing Spirit Lotus released its power, the dark-red lines beneath Qin Zhengyuan’s skin stirred violently. Blood-colored mist rose, but before it could spread, the Soul Lantern Heart released a stabilizing flame.
The two treasures worked together.
One stabilized the soul.
One cleansed and suppressed corrosion.
Qin Zhengyuan’s jaw tightened, but his breathing remained steady.
The system panel appeared before Qin Yuheng.
[Moon-Cleansing Spirit Lotus applied.]
[Soul Lantern Heart resonance detected.]
[Blood Sun Corrosion suppressed.]
[Spirit backlash reduced.]
[Broken Seal Backlash remains unstable.]
[Ancient Bloodline Suppression remains dormant.]
[Qin Zhengyuan stable strength recovery estimated: 3% - 5%.]
Three to five percent.
It sounded small.
But Qin Yuheng had seen enough to know that his father’s true strength was not ordinary. Even a small recovery might be significant.
The treatment lasted two hours.
When it ended, Qin Zhengyuan opened his eyes.
For a brief instant, the air around him changed.
It was not violent.
It was controlled.
But Qin Yuheng felt as if a spear had silently appeared in the room, pointed toward the heavens.
Then the pressure faded.
Qin Zhengyuan lowered his gaze.
His hands trembled slightly.
Mu Qinglan supported him.
"Do not move too quickly."
Qin Zhengyuan smiled faintly.
"I know."
Qin Wanshan exhaled.
"Stable?"
Qin Zhengyuan nodded.
"More stable than before."
Qin Yuheng stepped closer.
"Father?"
Qin Zhengyuan looked at him.
This time, his face still looked pale, but the deep exhaustion that had always lingered beneath his eyes had weakened.
"Yuheng," he said softly, "thank you."
Qin Yuheng shook his head.
"I still have not cured it."
"No," Qin Zhengyuan said. "But for the first time in many years, I can breathe without feeling the seal cut every thought."
Mu Qinglan’s eyes softened.
Qin Wanshan turned away slightly, hiding his expression.
Gu Tianhe lowered his head.
The Qin family had endured this wound for years.
Tonight, it had not disappeared.
But it had retreated.
That was enough to change the atmosphere of the entire chamber.
After the treatment, Qin Wanshan warned everyone again.
"No one outside this chamber learns that Zhengyuan has recovered strength."
Qin Zhengyuan nodded. "I will continue appearing as before."
Mu Qinglan said, "Blood Sun may already suspect movement."
Qin Wanshan’s gaze sharpened.
"Let them suspect. Suspicion without proof makes them cautious."
Qin Yuheng listened carefully.
The family was not afraid of Blood Sun Hall in a simple sense.
They were cautious because the enemy was deep, hidden, and connected to old secrets.
The next day, Qin Zhengyuan appeared in the courtyard as usual, pale and quiet. He coughed twice when servants passed. To outsiders, nothing had changed.
But during private morning training, Qin Yuheng saw him lift an old wooden spear.
Only for a moment.
Only one form.
The spear moved.
No sound.
No flash.
Yet the training dummy ten meters away split cleanly in half.
Qin Yuheng stared.
Qin Zhengyuan lowered the spear calmly.
"This is not strength," his father said. "Only memory."
Qin Yuheng’s heart shook.
If this was only memory, then what had Qin Zhengyuan been at his peak?
Qin Zhengyuan looked at him.
"You are growing quickly. That is good. But remember, Yuheng, power without control invites enemies before you can defeat them."
"I understand."
"Do you?"
Qin Yuheng was silent.
Qin Zhengyuan stepped closer.
"You have obtained resources, improved the family, and gained academy attention. But now others will move. Not because they know your secret, but because your results disturb the balance."
Qin Yuheng nodded slowly.
"Zhao family. Blood Sun Hall. Possibly others."
"Yes."
"What should I do?"
Qin Zhengyuan smiled faintly.
"Continue climbing."
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
His father’s voice was calm.
"If enemies move because you grow, then stopping will not save you. It will only make you easier to handle. Grow, but do not grow blindly. Hide, but do not hide so much that you become weak. Trust family, but do not burden everyone with every danger too early."
Qin Yuheng absorbed every word.
Qin Zhengyuan placed the wooden spear down.
"And one more thing."
"Yes?"
"Your siblings and cousins are not decorations. Let them struggle. Let them bleed. Let them win. If you protect them from every storm, they will never become Qin pillars."
Qin Yuheng thought of Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, Qin Mo, Qin Ruyan, Qin Feng, Qin Yuze, and Qin Xue’er.
"I will remember."
That afternoon, Heavenly Gate Academy announced the next combat ranking update.
Zhao Tianyu had submitted a challenge request.
Again.
But this time, the challenge format was different.
[Core Class Special Challenge]
Challenger: Zhao Tianyu
Target: Qin Yuheng
Format: Three-Stage Combat Assessment
Stage 1: Strength collision
Stage 2: Movement pursuit
Stage 3: Controlled duel
Approved by academy rules.
Qin Mo read the notice and frowned.
"This is designed to test your abilities."
Qin Yuchen said, "Strength, movement, duel. They want to measure your thunder-body talent."
Qin Lian added, "And force you to reveal limits."
Qin Yuheng looked at the notice calmly.
Behind Zhao Tianyu stood Zhao Lan.
Behind Zhao Lan, perhaps Blood Sun Hall had begun to move.
Qin Yuheng smiled faintly.
"Then we give them limits to see."
Qin Mo looked at him.
"Fake ones?"
"Useful ones."
The next battle would not be about winning.
It would be about controlling what the enemy thought they had learned.
