A few days had passed. The Su Manor had settled into a tense quiet. Su Kang stood in the main gathering hall, the air heavy with the scent of calming incense and unspoken authority. Su Jinhai sat at the main seat, flanked by the First and Second Elders. To the side, his gaze stern and unreadable, sat the Third Elder. It was Grandpa Li. Su Kang bowed his head. "Greetings, Clan Head. Greetings, honored elders."

It was the first time he had seen Grandpa Li since the elder’s return. He was here today because of him. They had summoned him to discuss the realm exploration again.

"Su Kang," Su Jinhai began, his voice echoing in the grand hall. "We have discussed your proposal to lead the exploration. We have called you here to inform you of our decision."

"The risk is too great," Grandpa Li interjected, his voice a low grumble. He looked at Su Kang, a flicker of concern warring with his usual sternness. Though they had not spoken in years, their bond was not so broken that he would ignore a threat to Su Kang's life. "The boy is the future of this family. We cannot gamble with him in an unknown realm."

Su Jinhai nodded slowly. "We have all agreed on this. Su Kang, your desire to strengthen the clan is commendable. But I cannot approve of you leading the exploration task."

Su Kang had expected this. They won't give up so easily on exploration. But they won't send him as well. He took a steadying breath.

"There may be another way," he said. "One that reduces the risk. It still offers a significant reward." He paused, letting the words settle before he played his card. "It involves our new guest, Miss Yue."

The clan head’s brow furrowed. The elders exchanged confused glances. They knew nothing of a new guest of any importance.

Su Kang continued, his voice calm and measured. "After she saved Su Ting, he invited her to stay temporarily in our manor. She has been staying inside the manor for a few months now. She has since revealed that she is from the Xuantian Empire. Her family runs a prominent auction house, and she has more knowledge of rare treasures and secret realms than we do."

He then recounted the plausible story she had given them—of seeking ancestral roots and rare herbs, a tale of a young noble lady on a sanctioned journey. He omitted her real cultivation realm and the divination, painting a picture of a well-connected but not overtly threatening visitor.

After Su Kang finished, the hall was silent. The elders processed the sudden introduction of such a powerful variable.

Su Jinhai finally spoke, his voice grave. "You want to ask her for help? You want to invite an outsider into the matters of our family and state?" He was clearly unhappy. A noble from the Xuantian Empire would see them as nothing more than provincial cultivators, to be used and discarded.

"No," Su Kang stated. "She already knows about the realm. She offered us a chance to join her expedition. It is to return the favor for our hospitality."

"Too good to be true," the Second Elder scoffed. "Such kindness from a noble of Xuantian empire? I do not trust it."

"Then our other option is to give up on the realm entirely," Su Kang countered, his tone firm. He had to make them see the new reality. "Her group is powerful. They have knowledge we lack. They will enter the realm first, long before any other faction from Jiang or Heng State can even prepare. Anyone who follows will only find the scraps they leave behind."

He leaned forward slightly.

"The situation has changed. It is no longer just about the local sects and families and factions from Heng state. A faction from the Xuantian Empire is now in play. We either join them for a small but real benefit, or we give up entirely."

The room fell silent. Su Jinhai was trapped between his pride and his duty. A small gain was better than nothing. But what if they were treated as mere cannon fodder inside the realm, their lives sacrificed to test the dangers for their 'allies'? The risk was immense.

Finally, he let out a long breath, his gaze heavy. "This is a decision that affects the entire clan's future. I cannot make it alone. I will consult the Ancestor. He will decide."

Grandpa Li grumbled, his voice sharp with frustration. "How can you even think of asking the Ancestor about this foolishness? It is clearly a trap!"

The other elders nodded in agreement.

"Su Kang is confident for a reason," Su Jinhai stated, his authority silencing them. "He believes he has an opportunity he cannot speak of. I will let the Ancestor decide if we should explore this secret realm or abandon it altogether."

He looked at the council, and one by one, they nodded. "You may leave now," he said to Su Kang.

Su Kang bowed his head, hiding a flicker of relief. This was the outcome he had been maneuvering for. But a new uncertainty took root. He had never considered the Ancestor would be involved. He was a figure of immense respect and authority, a peak expert in the Qingyun region. The final decision now rested with him, a man whose judgment Su Kang could not predict. With a heavy heart, Su Kang left the hall, the certainty of his plan now clouded by the will of the Ancestor.

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Back in his own courtyard, Su Kang sat at the table, his fingers drumming a restless rhythm. He thought about what to do next.

I cannot lie in front of the Ancestor, he mused, not when it concerns the clan. A man of his realm would be using his spiritual sense to gauge my intentions. Any lie, and I will be caught. He sighed, the weight of his own secrets pressing down on him. I cannot reveal anything about Zhu Zhihao's true purpose, let alone Fate. This will be difficult.

The very premise of his argument was contradictory. He was advising the clan against entering the realm, yet he himself was determined to go. In the eyes of others, it would look like he wanted to go alone with outsiders to monopolize the benefits. It was a selfish act, one that didn't make sense. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI-Fire.ɴet

"This is why one should not weave too many lies," he murmured to himself, a wry, bitter smile touching his lips. "I am tangled in my own web, and now I must find a way out."

The next few days in the Su Manor passed in a state of quiet anticipation. Everyone was waiting.

Finally, Su Kang received the summons.

A servant guided him to a secluded courtyard deep within the manor, a place that felt detached from the world. An ancient, gnarled tree stood sentinel over a pristine pond, its surface a perfect mirror of the vast, silent sky. Seated by the water’s edge was a man of immense presence.

His broad frame was draped in a loose robe of black and gold. Long, flowing hair, a mix of black and silver, cascaded down his back. A thick, well-kept beard rested on his chest. His skin was a deep, healthy brown, and from his ears hung large, golden circular rings that glinted in the sunlight. He was the ancestor of the Su clan.

With measured steps, Su Kang advanced, each movement heavy with reverence until he stood at a respectful distance. He bowed deeply. "This junior, Su Kang, greets the Ancestor."

The Ancestor did not turn. He did not speak. He simply gestured to the spot beside him. Su Kang sat.

They waited. Silence stretched between them, heavy and contemplative. The only sounds were the gentle lapping of water and the distant whisper of the wind. The Ancestor seemed to be watching the koi fish, their golden scales flashing beneath the surface. He was observing. He was waiting.

Finally, his deep voice broke the stillness, as resonant as the earth itself. “Are you sure you can do this?”

The question was simple. It tested everything.

"Yes, Ancestor," Su Kang replied, his voice unwavering.

The Ancestor turned his head slightly, his deep brown eyes fixing on Su Kang. "What of the girl from the empire? Can you trust her?"

"I believe so," Su Kang said. "She does not need us for this exploration. Their strength is more than sufficient."

“Not even as cannon fodder?” The Ancestor’s gaze was sharp. His deep eyes seemed to stare straight through him.

“No. Not even as cannon fodder. The other party is too strong,” Su Kang replied honestly.

The Ancestor’s gaze returned to the pond. "You have an unusual amount of trust in this Yue Mei. There is more to this than meets the eye," he stated, his tone flat. "I will not ask what you are hiding, be it your secret opportunity or the truth of this mysterious guest." He turned back to Su Kang, his expression serious and cold. "I want to know your goal. What are you truly trying to achieve? Do you want the clan to explore the realm, or not?"

Su Kang took a deep breath. The Ancestor's spiritual senses were sharp. "I want to enter the realm," Su Kang stated clearly. "But I want to do it alone, or with her group. That is the safest path. For now, the clan should not send a formal exploration team. It is too dangerous at a time when we must conserve our strength. Right now, we cannot afford to lose our strength."