Chapter 379: The Sun Family
Chapter 379: The Sun Family
As Mo Hua released his spiritual sense to probe, in the most extravagant mansion in Qianjia Town, a middle-aged cultivator with a thin and stern face suddenly opened his eyes, his expression filled with surprise.
Frowning, he instructed, "Call Ze'er here."
Soon after sending a servant on this errand, a youthful boy with a frivolous expression entered and casually asked, "Father, what is it?"
The middle-aged cultivator was named Sun Yi, the head of the Sun family.
The boy, Sun Ze, was the eldest son and heir of the Sun family.
Sun Yi furrowed his brows and said, "There's a cultivator probing with his spiritual sense."
Sun Ze, surprised, asked, "A Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
Sun Yi nodded. "This spiritual sense is extremely subtle and profound. It lightly swept by, and if I hadn't been concentrating on comprehending the array, my spiritual sense might not have detected it."
"This person is undoubtedly a Foundation Establishment cultivator!" Sun Yi asserted confidently.
Sun Ze's brows furrowed as well. "What is a Foundation Establishment cultivator doing here in Qianjia Town?"
Sun Yi pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "Regardless of his intentions, we will treat him with courtesy. If we can avoid provoking him, we will. The sooner we send him on his way, the better."
Then he added, "This Foundation Establishment cultivator is using his spiritual sense to scout the area. He must be a visiting cultivator."
"There's only one road leading to Qianjia Town from the outside."
"Take some men and go greet them. Invite them as guests, and be careful not to offend them."
Sun Ze, displeased, said, "Why go to such lengths? Let him come and go as he pleases. Why should we bother with him?"
Sun Yi rebuked, "You understand nothing! There's a world of difference between a Foundation Establishment cultivator and others. Our Sun family is situated in a remote corner, so it's best to forge connections with other cultivators. Even if we don't form alliances, we should at least find out why he's here so we don't inadvertently offend him."
"Moreover, this Foundation Establishment cultivator probably has a formidable background."
That spiritual sense had filled him with a deep sense of wariness.
Having been chastised, Sun Ze could only obey. "Alright, Father, I'll do as you say."
After Sun Ze left, Sun Yi still wore a frown, his thoughts in turmoil. Finally, his gaze turned cold. "I hope he's not here to cause trouble..."
...
In Qiandeng Town,
Gu Laoshi cracked sunflower seeds as he drove the horse carriage, with Dabao pulling the carriage slowly through the streets.
Mo Hua stuck his head out, taking in the surroundings and examining the arrays.
However, the houses were low and the arrays crude, offering little of interest.
After a while, several cultivators appeared up ahead.
The one leading them was a young cultivator dressed in fine clothes, with a frivolous expression on his face that he tried to mask with feigned solemnity.
Gu Laoshi halted the carriage.
The young cultivator cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Welcome, esteemed guests. Please forgive us for not coming out to greet you sooner."
Gu Laoshi's expression remained wooden as he asked in a dull tone, "Who are you?"
His voice was raspy, like dry wood—clearly human, yet somehow not.
The Sun family members felt a tremor in their hearts.
Sun Ze quickly said, "I am Sun Ze, the eldest son of the Sun family of Qianjia Town."
Gu Laoshi asked indifferently, "What business do you have here?"
The raspy voice grated on Sun Ze's ears, and he felt a sense of displeasure growing within him.
He was used to being the one asking questions, not being questioned in such a cold, indifferent manner.
But his father had given him instructions, so he dared not disobey.
This carriage driver, despite his seemingly ordinary appearance, exuded an air of strangeness. The cultivator inside the carriage was likely even more extraordinary.
If there really was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was definitely not someone Sun Ze could afford to offend.
So, Sun Ze respectfully said, "Qiandeng Town is humble and crude, and we fear we may have startled the esteemed guests. If you would deign to accept our hospitality, please join us at the Sun family residence. We would be honored to show you our humble hospitality."
Gu Laoshi remained silent.
Inside the carriage, Mo Hua and the three disciples exchanged glances, then looked at Zhuang Xian Sheng.
Zhuang Xian Sheng nodded slightly.
Gu Laoshi, outside the carriage, nodded and said, "Very well."
For some reason, Sun Ze felt a sense of relief.
This carriage driver, who seemed as stiff as a wooden plank, gave him a subtle sense of pressure.
It also piqued his curiosity about the identities of those inside the carriage.
Sun Ze led the way, with Gu Laoshi driving the carriage behind him. They attracted astonished gazes from the townsfolk as they slowly entered the grand gates of the Sun family residence.
The carriage came to a stop.
Sun Yi, the head of the Sun family, came out to greet them personally.
But the cultivators who emerged from the carriage surprised them.
First, there was a young boy with sword-like eyebrows and a starry gaze, followed by a petite girl with a delicate face.
The last to disembark was a young cultivator with clear eyes and exquisite features.
Among these people, who was the Core Formation cultivator? And whose spiritual sense was it that had probed them earlier?
Sun Yi furrowed his brow.
Logically, this white-robed monk seemed the most likely to be the Core Formation cultivator, but if he were, it was impossible for his spiritual energy to be so deeply concealed that Sun Yi couldn't detect even a hint of it.
Unless he was above the Core Formation stage, a great cultivator at the Golden Core stage.
But a Golden Core cultivator wouldn't venture to such a remote and insignificant place as a second-rate state.
"Could it be that I was mistaken?"
Perhaps there hadn't been a Core Formation cultivator scrutinizing them after all?
Sun Yi muttered to himself, his doubts growing.
However, now that he had invited them in, he couldn't very well turn them away, nor could he admit that he might have been mistaken.
He could only grit his teeth and ask, "May I inquire as to your esteemed surname, fellow daoist..."
Zhuang Xian Sheng replied nonchalantly, "My surname is Zhuang."
Sun Yi was taken aback. 'Zhuang' was an unusual surname, and the way it was spoken, with such brevity and restraint, seemed to suggest a master of great skill.
The question now was whether this was the real deal or an imposter.
But at this point, there was no use in dwelling on such things.
Sun Yi cupped his hands and said, "We are honored by your presence, but may I ask the purpose of your visit?"
Zhuang Xian Sheng's tone remained nonchalant as he replied, "I am merely passing through your land and intend to rest here for a few days."
Sun Yi was skeptical but maintained a smile as he said, "All encounters are destined. Please consider yourself a guest in my humble abode. If you would not turn down my hospitality, I would be glad to extend it."
A faint smile appeared on Zhuang Xian Sheng's face as he said, "Then I shall accept your kind offer."
"Think nothing of it," Sun Yi said, cupping his hands.
Sun Yi then proceeded to arrange accommodations for Zhuang Xian Sheng and his companions, his demeanor warm and friendly. "If there is anything you require, please do not hesitate to ask my servants. My family will do our best to accommodate your needs."
After settling Zhuang Xian Sheng and the others, Sun Yi returned to the guest hall, the smile on his face gradually fading.
Sun Ze asked him, "Father, which one is the Core Formation cultivator?"
Sun Yi shook his head, "I haven't figured it out yet."
Sun Ze frowned, "If there isn't a Core Formation cultivator among them, then we've been wasting our time. Why are you still groveling to them? They don't deserve it."
"Enough of your ignorant talk!" Sun Yi reprimanded, his brow furrowed. "A man of virtue can both bend and stretch. What's wrong with being humble?"
The Sun family's guest hall was lavishly decorated.
Sun Yi sat down, and a beautiful maidservant approached to serve tea. After taking a sip, Sun Yi pondered for a moment before continuing, his voice calm, "Even if there isn't a Core Formation cultivator among them, their identities are certainly not ordinary..."
Sun Ze's gaze, which had been lingering on the maidservant's slender waist, shifted as he nodded in agreement, "Indeed, that old man driving the carriage, the dignified young boy, and the pretty girl all exude an extraordinary aura..."
"And that Zhuang fellow, with his otherworldly appearance, is either a true master or a master con artist..."
Sun Ze counted them off, but he overlooked Mo Hua.
Mo Hua, with his well-behaved appearance, didn't catch Sun Ze's attention.
"Father," Sun Ze leaned in and whispered, "What should we do now?"
Sun Yi raised an eyebrow, put down his tea cup, and replied in a low voice,
"We'll observe them for a few days. If they're not someone we can afford to offend, we'll treat them with courtesy..."
"And if we can afford to offend them?"
Sun Yi's gaze at Sun Ze turned enigmatic, "Then we'll still treat them as honored guests."
Sun Ze smiled as well.
...
The Sun family prepared two large guest rooms for Mo Hua and his companions.
One room was for Zhuang Xian Sheng and the old puppet, while the other was for Mo Hua and his two senior brothers.
Despite being labeled as "large," the rooms were intricately designed, complete with fine porcelain, screens, and burning agarwood incense filling the air with a pleasant fragrance.
There were five or six beds in each room, covered with soft blankets.
Bai Zixi sat elegantly, meditating with her eyes closed.
Mo Hua and his senior martial brothers, on the other hand, lay on their beds, whispering to each other.
"That Sun guy doesn't look like a good person."
"Which Sun guy?"
"There's more than one?"
"A father and a son..."
"Neither of them looks friendly."
"Yeah, their smiles are so fake."
"All smiles and no sincerity."
"Overly enthusiastic, probably hiding some ulterior motive."
"Trying too hard to please..."
...
The two brothers continued their hushed conversation, while Bai Zixi, unable to cultivate, could only open her autumn-like eyes and look at them helplessly.
(End of Chapter)
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