Chapter 55: Conversation

The shadow led Xu Yuan to a cluster of courtyards in the northwest of the estate—a heavily guarded section.

Xu Yuan knew this place well.

For within the vast Xu family manor, only this area had been denied to him, the master of the house, as access.

Of course,

this might also stem from his habit of borrowing things from home and selling them elsewhere.

Xu Yuan suspected that somewhere within this section there must be a vault-like chamber—hence, he treated himself, the third son, with the vigilance of a thief.

Yet in memory, he recalled having entered it once.

For his father and Xu Changge would occasionally call him, and those "calls" took place beneath this very section.

But what kind of conversation could there be between a father and son through such a call?

With Xu Changge, they might rage at each other, cursing one another in frustration. But with his father, the Chancellor, there was no shared language at all.

Each conversation followed almost exactly the same pattern—

"Father, you've called me."

"Hm."

Two lines, then silence.

"How have you been lately?"

"Still okay."

"Hm."

"Hm."

Then silence again.

One side asks a question, the other responds, and after the reply, silence settles upon them both.

Silence stretches until both sides are completely at a loss, and then, from the Imperial Capital, the connection is severed without a word.

For that father, calling him wasn't always an emergency—most often, it was simply to hear his voice.

The underground space is vast and utterly still.

In the immense room, there floats a single crystal sphere suspended in midair.

Yet as the spirit senses extend outward, one can feel the countless array patterns etched beneath it.

This is the real-time communication device of this world.

Xu Yuan stands silently before the crystal sphere.

He has been here for two minutes.

After a brief exchange, both sides have simply stood there, motionless, for nearly thirty seconds.

And indeed, they are now stuck again.

Another half-moment passed,

Xu Yuan's lips moved slightly, and he spoke up:

"Um... I've reached eighth rank."

A silence stretched for two seconds,

then the crystal sphere flickered with a brief glow.

Then,

a steady, middle-aged male voice came through—calm, so calm it seemed devoid of any emotional fluctuation:

"Hmm."

Yet, as the words settled, the voice seemed to realize its tone had been too flat, paused briefly, and added:

"Very good."

"......"

Perhaps influenced by memory, Xu Yuan couldn't help but let out a soft, involuntary chuckle upon hearing those words. Realizing his mistake, he immediately stifled it.

Yet that faint laugh had still reached the other side, and the crystal flickered briefly before a voice echoed:

"I heard Changge say you have a very strong constitution now, is that true?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan's heart eased. He replied:

"Average, just a bit better than his—only a natural Dao body, nothing special."

"......" Xu Father.

A silence fell. Then, Xu Yuan heard a soft exhalation.

Over there, it seemed they wanted to smile, but held it back.

The next voice came again, calm and steady, laced with a gentle reminder:

"Being able to cultivate is good news—quickly strengthen your power. If the pills Longge gave you run out, go to the household steward for more."

This father, like Xu Changge, never questioned the origin of Xu Yuan's constitution.

Xu Yinhè had risen from a commoner to a powerful figure dominating the Great Inland, and along the way, his fortune had been boundless.

As a child grew, if he wished to speak of it, he would take care of it; if not, let it be.

Hearing this, Xu Yuan's eyes lit up, but after a moment's pause, he said:

"Cough… Father, my cultivation speed has been so rapid—this is actually due in large part to Zhou Xian's contribution. His cultivation technique aids me in my practice."

He hadn't forgotten his promise to Zhou Chen.

Though it was only a single word, for Zhou Chen it might mean a vial of elixir that enhances cultivation.

Such things must never be forgotten.

On the other side, silence lingered for a moment, then the voice came again:

"Zhou Chen? The cultivation technique he's been practicing does indeed have that effect."

"Hmm." Xu Yuan replied.

"Very impressive."

A word of praise.

But it was unclear whether it was meant for Zhou Chen, or for Xu Yuan—the one who had prompted Zhou Chen to voluntarily assist.

Pausing briefly, the other side then said:

"Regarding Zhou Chen's matter, I'll make arrangements."

And with that,

the familiar silence returned.

Yet this time, it lasted less than ten seconds.

Xu Yuan hesitated for a moment, but spoke nonetheless:

"Father, what exactly is the background of that Qin Weijiu?"

"Hmm?"

Hearing this question, a soft note of surprise sounded from the other end, followed by a slow reply: "You find yourself interested?"

When speaking of this matter, that stern and steady voice carried a distinctly perceptible trace of a smile.

Si Ziyu and Ying'er had compiled and reported their every action and move of late to Xu Yinhe.

He was highly satisfied with the way his son had handled the affair of the Charm-Soul Demon Body.

Compared to his son's meager cultivation level, the willingness to apply his intellect to the proper path was what truly brought him comfort.

Xu Yuan replied as a matter of course: "Naturally. Had it not been for my Innate Soul Body naturally tempering my intent, I fear I would have already fallen under that vixen's control by now. Of course I must concern myself with this."

That Qin Weijiu even knew of the Burial Village; his origins could not possibly be simple.

He couldn't figure out the small details—definitely the elder had his ways.

Hearing this, the other side remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said:

"Alright, Changge, go speak with your younger brother about Qin Wei Jiu."

"... "Xu Yuan.

Oh, so that's why the old man laughed at first.

It turns out Xu Changge had been eavesdropping all along.

Unfair.

Imperial Capital, the Prime Minister's Estate, Study Room.

The heavenly yuanshān incense specially reserved for the imperial family drifts through the study, delicate breezes seeping in through the open window and spreading throughout every corner.

The room is utterly still.

A spherical crystal, several times smaller than the underground of Jingjiang Prefecture, floats silently in midair.

An elder and a younger man sit cross-legged upon a tea tray carved with dragons and painted with phoenixes, sipping slowly, speaking with measured care.

Their faces are strikingly similar.

The younger one possesses a handsome countenance, dressed in a serene green robe.

The elder has white hair at his temples, clad in a black robe embroidered with coiling dragons, bearing an unyielding bearing, especially his eyes—glimpses of them send chills down one's spine.

Yet now, the elder man's eyes, rare in their stillness, carry a few gentle smiles.

Xu Changge glanced at his father with helpless resignation, and softly addressed his younger brother, who had been boasting of surpassing his own talent:

"Qin Wei Jiu is no ordinary man. Ten years ago, in Jiangnan Prefecture, I once traveled with him. Our first meeting..."

"I know about this," the spherical crystal suddenly spoke, interrupting.

Xu Changge, his voice calm and measured, continued:

"At the Tianyuan Grand Assembly thirteen years ago, I met him...."

"I know about that too." The spherical crystal in the air interrupted once more.

Xu Changge silently glanced at his father across the room, noting his expression remained unchanged, and held his tongue:

"Ah... Qin Wei Jiu is a disciple of the sect, from a thousand-year-old noble family...."

"Ah..." the crystal sighed.

"..." Xu Changge clenched his fists slightly.

The spherical crystal spoke with earnestness:

"Xu Changge, could you just get to the point?"

"..."

Xu Changge stopped speaking and instead softly called out his companion's name:

"Xu Changtian."

"Hm?"

"Shut your mouth."

"Hah, did I say something wrong? Isn't this all known throughout the world..."

"Shortly, I'll be going to Jiuyuan City for a matter." Xu Changge suddenly said.

"..."

Xu Yuan was startled by this, then immediately closed his mic.

Jiuyuan City,

Forty li straight from Jingjiang Prefecture.

"Hmph!"

Seeing that Xu Yuan had fallen silent, Xu Changge let out a cold snort, then began to recount the matters of Qin Weijiu to his younger brother in a soft, deliberate cadence.

The details were meticulous to the extreme, spanning almost the entirety of the man’s life from his birth to the present moment.

Moreover, he laid particular emphasis on several critical points of suspicion.

Listening intently to the very end, Xu Yuan felt a stirring in his heart.

It was glaringly obvious,

That while he had been immersed in his spiritual cultivation, Xu Changge, as his eldest brother, had clearly expended immense effort to unearth Qin Weijiu’s background.

After a protracted silence,

Xu Yuan suddenly asked in a low, measured voice:

"Father, do you know of a place called the Burial Village?"