51: If the son plots, the father will surely kill.

Qi Xuanfeng bowed and exited the quiet room, gently closing the door behind him.

It wasn't until he left that suffocating atmosphere and reached the corridor, feeling the cool afternoon breeze, that he felt the tension in his back relax slightly.

He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and raised a hand to wipe his face.

Recalling his father's questions and final instructions just now, his heart felt a complex mix of emotions.

It seemed his father's thoughts were still somewhat different from his own.

Qi Xuanfeng could clearly feel his father's worry for his safety—a hidden yet very real concern.

This warmed his heart, but also made him feel even more ashamed of his own lack of foresight.

As for Zhao Qingwan... his father clearly had no intention of accepting Miss Zhao into the Family.

This made him feel relieved, yet also vaguely disappointed.

“Forget it.”

Qi Xuanfeng shook his head, suppressing his complicated thoughts.

He was just pondering how to proceed when he looked up and saw a familiar figure standing quietly at the corner of the corridor.

“Brother Feng.”

Seeing him come out, Qi Xuanjin stepped forward, his gaze quickly scanning over him.

Seeing that although his clothes were torn and his face showed fatigue, his spirit was decent and there were no signs of serious internal injuries, the worry in his eyes lessened slightly.

“Are you alright? I heard something happened at the foot of the mountain just now. Father had already left first, so I followed down as well.”

Qi Xuanfeng looked at his elder brother.

His skin was lustrous, his eyes clear, his breathing long and steady, and every movement carried a sense of composure.

A trace of envy flickered in the depths of his eyes, which was immediately covered by a hearty smile.

“Haha, what could possibly happen to me?”

Qi Xuanfeng intentionally straightened his back and patted his chest, but this agitated the injury on his left arm, causing him to grimace in pain before forcing himself to endure it.

“It was just a moment of carelessness, I got caught in a bit of a trap. Speaking of which, Brother, do you know the reason behind today's events?”

He leaned in closer and lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness:

“As it turns out, it's the Jiang Family from the neighboring Linchuan Prefecture! They really don't follow the rules!”

“They've stretched their hands into our Cloud Dream County to do some shady business!”

“Do you know why Father specifically traveled far to Heishan Prefecture a few years ago?”

“I reckon it was probably because of this very matter!”

The slight smile on Qi Xuanjin's face stiffened slightly upon hearing the words 'Jiang Family.'

Although he lived in the mountains to Cultivate year-round, as the eldest son whom Qi Yuan was focusing on nurturing, he was not entirely ignorant of the power dynamics surrounding the Family.

“Linchuan Prefecture, Jiang Family?”

Qi Xuanjin's brow furrowed slightly.

“Their Family Foundation seems to be in ‘Suibo County,’ which borders ‘Pinning County’ of our Yunliao Prefecture.”

“Only ‘Qingyan County’ lies between them as a buffer... Although not in the same prefecture, the distance is indeed not far.”

He quickly began to calculate in his mind.

The Qi Family had only been enfeoffed as an Immortal Clan for five years, and their Foundation was still shallow.

In the past, there might have been small frictions or instances of crossing boundaries, but to directly send Cultivators deep into the heart of Cloud Dream County to kidnap Mortal women with Spiritual Roots—the nature of this was entirely different.

This was no longer a simple case of overstepping; it was blatant provocation and contempt, completely disregarding the newly established Qi Family!

No wonder... Qi Xuanjin suddenly thought of how his second brother had searched everywhere for strange news a few years ago but found almost nothing.

His mother had been managing the household for many years and still had some confidants. Although he usually lived in Cuiyun Town, he was still aware of the movements in Yunze County.

Spirit Testing Stones and 'Spirit-Seeking Talismans' work on similar principles; both can sense changes in the surrounding Spiritual Qi.

Those with Spiritual Roots have some Spiritual Qi within their bodies, which will cause a reaction in a Spirit Testing Stone.

If people from another Family had long been active within Cloud Dream County, searching for those with Spiritual Roots...

Those good prospects had probably been taken away by them in secret long ago. What could his second brother have possibly found?

“This matter... is likely not simple.”

Qi Xuanjin's expression turned solemn.

If the Jiang Family dared to act this way, they were either certain that the Qi Family wouldn't dare or couldn't afford to retaliate, or they had something to rely on.

Whichever it was, it wasn't good news for the current Qi Family.

The Family only had his father as a Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator. His mother and aunts' Cultivation was still shallow, and he himself was only at the third layer of Qi Refining... their strength was limited.

Dealing with the malice of an established Qi Refining Family would likely be troublesome.

He looked at his second brother, who was disheveled yet carried a hint of excitement from 'performing a merit,' and his worry deepened, though he forced himself to hide it.

His second brother had been quite startled this time; having just escaped danger, it was better not to disturb his state of mind with these troubling matters... When Qi Yuan stepped out of the underground room, the sky was near dusk, and the mountain wind carried the chill of evening.

That old man surnamed Jiang didn't even have a Storage Pouch. The most valuable thing on him was that Fire Snake Talisman, which had already exhausted its spiritual light.

Qi Yuan pinched the edge of this talisman paper. He gazed at it for a moment, thinking to himself how lucky they were.

A first-tier mid-grade talisman's power was already comparable to the full-strength strike of a fifth-layer Qi Refining Cultivator.

If not for Xuan Peak's alertness in activating the Talisman Tool in time, the scene he would be facing now would be entirely different.

Over these years, had he been too 'compliant'?

He had focused solely on biding his time and stabilizing the Foundation, putting most of his energy into managing Green Cloud Mountain, teaching his children, and improving his own Cultivation and skills.

He had indeed neglected the territory of Cloud Dream County, which was under the Qi Family's protection.

This had given others an opportunity to reach their hands right under his nose, nearly causing a disaster.

In the world of cultivation, strength is ultimately respected, and the weak are prey to the strong.

Excessive low-profile behavior and forbearance had become seen as weakness by certain ambitious neighbors.

If the Qi Family wanted this Spiritual Vein estate, they couldn't remain a tortoise hiding in its shell forever.

When it was time to show their claws, they had to let others know that this Yunmeng was not without a master.

“It seems I must appropriately reveal some of my edge.”

Qi Yuan murmured to himself, his gaze gradually sharpening.

However, how to reveal this edge and to what extent required careful consideration.

The Jiang Family had, after all, been rooted in Linchuan Prefecture for many years, and the depth of their heritage was unknown. A rash conflict was definitely not the best course of action.

But today's matter would certainly not be brushed aside so easily.

That old man... must absolutely not be allowed to leave Cloud Dream County alive.

His mind made up, Qi Yuan's expression grew even more stern.

He then turned his thoughts back to Qi Xuanfeng.

He recalled the old man surnamed Jiang revealing in the underground room that by the time the Zhao Family discovered their daughter was missing and began searching, he was already prepared to evacuate with his people.

The timing... didn't add up.

The distance from the county town to Kaoshan Town was not short. The timing of Xuan Peak's arrival was a bit too coincidental.

Unless... this boy hadn't just happened upon the scene by chance, but had long since sent people to secretly keep an eye on Zhao Qingwan.

That was how he could arrive just in time at the critical moment before the Jiang Family Cultivator had fled far.

“This boy...”

Qi Yuan stood in the courtyard as the twilight deepened, shaking his head.

He had grown up after all.

He was no longer that mischievous child who only knew how to take his younger brothers out to play wildly and needed Yao'er to constantly watch over and discipline him.

He had begun to have his own thoughts and schemes, even daring to hide things from his father, making secret arrangements, and taking a risky gamble.