TheLazyDreamer
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41 Yue Mei
🕑 Added 2025-04-21 10:21:36 +0000 UTC
He was familiar with divination techniques, but none operated quite like this.
The methods practiced in Jiang State paled in comparison to what she had just demonstrated, a revelation that left him uneasy.
He nodded his thanks, inwardly certain that Fate's protection shielded his destiny from her prying. His real concern lay with her purpose.
Why had she come all this way? No plausible reason came to mind. Even if she sought treasure or secret realms, Jiang State held little allure for someone of her apparent standing.
“Brother, she’ll be staying at the Su Manor for a while,” Su Ting announced.
Dammit!
Su Kang cursed inwardly, forcing a composed smile as he nodded in agreement.
Could it be because of the secret realm that was supposed to be found? But I doubt that someone like her would be lacking resources or spiritual herbs.
The Xuantian Empire boasted several powerful cultivation regions, whereas Jiang State primarily hosted small to medium ones.
Consequently, Su Kang suspected the newly discovered realm would likely mirror those found before—small or medium in scale.
His brows furrowed slightly.
My parents should’ve reached their destination by now. Even if someone else caught wind of the realm, they couldn’t have sent her here so quickly.
Unless there are other hidden realms in Qingyun Region we’ve missed entirely.
Su Kang's mind raced through possibilities. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, especially with someone of her background present.
In that vision of the future, just two Nascent Soul cultivators had been enough to erase his entire family line. His family had been tortured for two days, and no one had come to their aid.
Heng State had at least two known Nascent Soul cultivators, even though part of it was considered barren, much like Jiang State.
Su Kang recalled traveling hundreds of thousands of kilometers into Heng State before noticing a significant shift in Qi density; both Nascent Soul experts resided in the central or northern regions, far from Jiang State’s borders.
The Xuantian Empire, however, was different. It likely harbored four or five Nascent Soul cultivators, perhaps even more.
Su Kang could not afford to place his family in danger, not even accidentally.
Their journey back to the Su Manor was smooth, yet the silence felt heavy.
Su Ting noticed his brother's unusual behavior; he couldn't recall Su Kang ever acting so strangely.
Normally, Su Kang would have reprimanded him immediately in the tavern for causing trouble, not dragged him away quietly. Something was definitely amiss.
He resolved to speak with him once they were home. In the meantime, he tried to guess the possible reasons behind his brother's behavior.
Su Kang, deep in thought, couldn't shake his unease. After considering the possibilities, he could only conclude that her presence stemmed from a personal reason.
Upon reaching the manor, Su Kang composed himself and addressed their guest.
"Miss Yue, I will arrange suitable accommodations for you. Please let the staff know if you require anything."
She was escorted to an elegant, isolated guest house within the outer manor—a modest structure nestled within a quiet garden, where the gentle sound of a distant waterfall lent the place an ethereal serenity.
Back in the inner courtyard, as dusk deepened into night, Su Ting could no longer contain his curiosity. Once they were alone in the garden, he turned to his brother, brow furrowed.
“Brother, what’s going on? You’ve been acting strangely since the tavern. Did something happen with Miss Yue?”
Su Kang glanced at him before asking pointedly, "Do you know much about the Xuantian Empire?"
Su Ting blinked, caught off guard. “Of course. I even asked her about it… she told me quite a bit.”
Su Kang let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting toward the tranquil pond in their courtyard.
After a moment's pause, he stated gravely, "Miss Yue is no ordinary person. She’s a Core Formation cultivator."
Su Ting’s eyes widened. “…What?” He struggled to process the revelation. “But… she entered a realm intended for Foundation Building cultivators.”
“She must have deliberately suppressed her cultivation,” Su Kang replied, his voice calm but his eyes sharp.
“She followed you here, Su Ting. This isn't a casual visit.”
Even if her intentions weren't malicious, her use of divination techniques on him was undeniably suspicious.
Who was to say she hadn't done the same to Su Ting? Was she searching for something—or someone?
Su Ting looked shaken and began recounting everything he knew about her—their meeting, her demeanor, her behavior throughout their time together.
As Su Kang listened, his suspicions solidified into certainty. She hadn't arrived by chance.
Her general aloofness, the suppressed cultivation, the decision to follow Su Ting after saving him—it all pointed towards a hidden motive.
Without another word, Su Ting began pulling out various artifacts, jade scrolls, and treasures he had accumulated.
“Brother, check these. See if anything stands out. Maybe something here caught her attention,” he urged quietly.
Su Ting was visibly distressed, realizing he might have brought a potential threat into their home.
He admitted he'd let his guard down after she saved him. In hindsight, her behavior seemed strangely indifferent to everyone else.
She had even praised his cooking, something most cultivators would never bother with. That had made him believe they were on good terms. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
Su Kang shook his head. “If she wanted something specific from your collection, she likely would have acted already.”
Nevertheless, he carefully examined the items, surprised by the quality his brother had amassed.
Despite not being allowed to travel far or visit dangerous places, Su Ting had managed to collect quite a few valuable items—exquisite-level techniques, third-grade spiritual herbs, and rare minerals.
Impressive, but not enough to attract a Core Formation cultivator.
Noticing his brother’s growing anxiety, Su Kang reached out, resting a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry yourself sick over this. I’ll handle it. Perhaps we're overthinking things; we haven't done anything to attract someone of her caliber. Get some rest.”
Su Ting hesitated but eventually nodded, leaving the treasures where they lay and walking off without another word.
Su Kang watched him go, sighing softly.
I need to uncover Miss Yue’s true purpose before it’s too late. I just hope she’s acting alone… and no one is pulling the strings behind her.
Meanwhile, in her guest house, Miss Yue sat quietly, holding a small, ornate mirror. Its surface shimmered faintly, displaying a live projection of Su Kang and Su Ting’s conversation in the garden.
Her expression remained composed, yet a flicker of frustration—tinged with exhaustion—crossed her eyes.
With a sigh, she removed a slender hairpin and tapped it against glowing runes etched onto the mirror's frame.
“Aunt… this is taking longer than expected. He’s realized I’m hiding my cultivation. I… I don’t know what to do next.”
Her voice was soft, but the anxiety within it was unmistakable.
After a brief pause, a calm and gentle voice replied through the mirror. “Yue Mei, don’t worry. I’m here to guide you.”
The mirror’s image shifted slightly, now following Su Ting as he walked back towards his room, his expression clearly troubled.
He sighed and murmured as he lay on his bed,
"Yue Mei... what is your true intention?"
She took a deep breath to steady herself, but her thoughts remained muddled.
With a tired sigh, she deactivated the artifact; her own cultivation was too low to sustain its power for extended periods.
She had been relying on this high-level spiritual artifact to conceal her true realm. Ordinarily, not even a Nascent Soul cultivator should have seen through the disguise.
Yet, somehow—Su Kang had seen through it.
Just who are you, Su Kang?
Although she had prepared multiple backup plans, she wished to avoid resorting to certain methods, fearing they would only bring unnecessary trouble to the Su family—an outcome she genuinely wanted to prevent.
