TheLazyDreamer
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73. Family Meeting
🕑 Added 2025-05-29 11:04:45 +0000 UTCA few days had passed since the Su Clan's banquet and gathering. Today was the long-anticipated family meeting that Su Kang had to attend with his parents. Su Kang was dressed in a deep navy-blue robe, embroidered with the subtle gleam of a golden lion insignia on his chest. The design of the insignia reflected the hierarchy within the clan. He walked with slow, deliberate steps as he made his way toward the main hall.
The winter sun shone brightly in the sky, but its rays lacked warmth. Along the stone-pebbled paths, resilient winter flora bloomed—clusters of Frostpetal Orchids unfurling delicate white and pale blue blossoms, their edges tinged with silver, and branches of Crimson Ember Berries adding vibrant splashes of color to the side garden.
The air within the manor grounds felt more vibrant than it had just weeks ago. Perhaps the recent banquet had simply reconnected so many dispersed family members, breathing new life into the estate. A servant guided him through familiar corridors until they reached a pair of imposing, closed doors, each intricately carved with the roaring visage of a maned lion. With a bow, the servant took his leave.
Su Kang stepped forward and pushed open the doors. Inside, the vast meeting hall was already partially occupied. A long, polished darkwood table was in the center, with seats arranged neatly along both sides. The Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Elders were already present, their expressions composed, and they gave him solemn nods of acknowledgment.
"Su Kang, you're here," the Eighth Elder said, motioning to a seat opposite him. "Come, sit there."
"Thank you, Elder," Su Kang replied softly and took his seat.
The meeting hadn’t started yet. Soon, his parents entered. Su Chen moved to a seat further up the table, while Dong Yue chose a place beside Su Kang—her intention clear: to guide him through the nuances of his first formal clan meeting. His younger uncle arrived soon after, followed by several other branch elders, their presence adding further gravitas to the gathering.
Finally, a dimming of the already low murmurs signaled the arrival of the clan head. Su Jinhai, the clan head, was followed by three individuals. Two were old men with long, flowing white beards—the First and Second Elders, figures of immense respect who were rarely seen outside of the most critical clan convocations. The third was an elderly woman, her posture straight and her eyes sharp with years of wisdom. Though not an elder by formal title, she was, like Dong Yue, a core figure within the clan.
The only notable absence among the highest echelons was the Third Elder, Grandpa Li, who was currently away with Su Hua. After the initial greetings were exchanged, everyone took their designated seats. The first and second elders sat on either side of the clan head. In total, thirteen individuals, excluding Su Jinhai himself, made up the core council: nine were titled clan elders, and four others, including Su Kang and Dong Yue, were key figures.
Su Jinhai's calm gaze swept across the room before he spoke, his voice resonating clearly in the silent hall.
"Everyone, you are all aware of the recent harvest of rare and precious spiritual herbs, due largely to the efforts led by Su Chen. Now, we must decide on our next steps. How can we use this opportunity to advance the strength of our Su clan?"
The First Elder, his voice rasped by age yet steady, responded first. "There are few options for us to decide, Clan Head. We all understand our current limitations. Either we preserve these herbs, hoping to cultivate a seedling who might one day refine them, or we must seek external aid if we wish to benefit from them sooner."
A low murmur of agreement passed through the table. Everyone understood the stark reality of their dilemma.
"But seeking help from outsiders carries its own dangers," the Sixth Elder interjected, his brow furrowed with concern. "Refining Core Formation Pills is no simple matter, and we lack alchemists of that caliber within Jiang State. We would have to look beyond our borders to find someone capable. And in doing so, we risk exposing our harvest. If the other party chooses to leak the information—or worse, covets the herbs for themselves—we could even lose our resources in foreign lands."
He paused, then added with emphasis, "We must find an alchemist either ignorant of our clan’s standing or one with a reputation for absolute discretion and unwavering integrity."
"What of Heng State?" the Seventh Elder suggested. "We could approach their Pill Tower branch and seek assistance there.”
“They would reject the request if the client had a questionable background. If we go through official channels, the Pill Tower will undoubtedly access our information through their Jiang State branch,” the Second Elder said cautiously. “They would likely notify their local counterparts. And if they ultimately refuse our request, we’ll be left exposed.”
The Pill Tower had branches across various states and empires, and while they were renowned for their professionalism and reputation, they shared critical information between their networks. Though they rarely involved themselves in anything unlawful, it was precisely this integrity that posed a problem—the Su Clan could not risk revealing that they had entered the secret realm and harvested as many herbs as they could.
In Jiang State, the Pill Tower might have agreed to help, trusting the Su clan’s long-standing reputation. But the risk wasn’t in the refinement itself—it was in the exposure. Dozens of noble families had planted their own people within the tower over the years. Many of the tower’s elders were outsiders and didn’t involve themselves in local politics. But a few hailed from Jiang State itself. That was where the greatest risk lay. Information, once leaked, could not be contained.
“Then perhaps the Xuantian Empire?” another elder suggested. “It’s far from Jiang State, and their Pill Tower branch might not have detailed records about us. Alternatively, we could find an independent alchemist—someone unaffiliated with the Tower—if we truly wish to avoid entanglements within their network.”
Su Kang listened intently, his own mind already racing, sifting through possibilities. He had, of course, considered asking Zhu Zhihao for help. If she could introduce him to a trustworthy alchemist capable of refining even one or two Core Formation Pills from their harvest, it would be an ideal scenario. With her backing, the risks of the alchemist probing into their background or betraying their trust would be greatly reduced.
Two pills, he mused. Even if they were only of lower or mid-grade quality, they could still elevate another clan member to the Core Formation realm. And if that person practiced the soul cultivation technique, their odds of a successful breakthrough would be even greater. We could potentially gain two more Core Formation cultivators—a significant boost to our strength.
Another, far riskier opportunity flickered in his mind. During his return journey from the Central Plains in the vision, he had briefly passed through the Zhou Empire. There, he’d heard about a secret realm accessible to all cultivators. A prince from the Zhou Imperial Family had, unexpectedly, secured a great inheritance from within—catapulting both his talent and status. Su Kang didn’t know the specifics, but rumors spoke of ancient alchemical scrolls and scriptures detailing lost pill formulas.
Should I consider a visit to the Zhou Empire to try my luck in that secret realm? The thought was tempting but fraught with unknowns. He had no clear knowledge of the entry requirements, nor whether one's possessions were inspected upon departure. Even if he did manage to obtain the ancient texts, he would still need a master alchemist to interpret and make use of them.
His thoughts inevitably circled back to Elder Lu Yin of the Heavenly Sword Sect. In the previous timeline, he had managed to build a connection with Lu Yin through Meng Li. But now, having altered the past, that connection might no longer exist. The paths he had once forged were no longer guaranteed.
His mind drifted, replaying scenes from that other future. Meng Li, a rising genius alchemist, had been a favored disciple of Elder Lu Yin—who was also her aunt. Su Kang had saved Meng Li during a perilous sect mission, an act that had earned him Elder Lu Yin’s personal gratitude. She had admired his calm, thoughtful demeanor and, a year later, after witnessing both his talent and character, she had even suggested an engagement between him and Meng Li.
Meng Li herself hadn’t objected to the engagement; her passion lay in alchemy, not romance. She was content with Su Kang’s talent and character. But then Li Fang entered her life, repeatedly saving her and slowly winning her heart with his bold heroism.
Li Fang hadn’t known about the informal engagement. One day, he was seen carrying an injured Meng Li in his arms, sparking rumors. Elder Lu Yin had been notably displeased by this, as the engagement, while privately discussed, had not yet been formally announced. To complicate matters, Li Fang soon after declared his desire to protect Meng Li—and her reputation—for life. Deeply moved by his ardor, she decided to withdraw from the informal relationship with Su Kang.
