Chapter 379: The Sun Family

As Mo Hua released his Divine-Sense to scout the area, in the grandest mansion of Qianjia Town, a thin, sharp-featured middle-aged cultivator suddenly opened his eyes, his expression shifting in surprise.

He frowned and ordered,

“Call Ze’er here.”

A servant immediately obeyed, and soon a young man with a frivolous look strolled in casually.

“Father, what is it?”

This middle-aged cultivator was named Sun Yi, head of the Sun Family.

The youth was Sun Ze, his eldest legitimate son.

Sun Yi frowned and said, “A cultivator is probing with Divine-Sense.”

Sun Ze’s eyes widened slightly. “A Foundation Establishment cultivator?”

Sun Yi nodded. “This Divine-Sense is extremely subtle and profound. It swept past gently—had I not been comprehending an array at the time, my mind fully focused, I might not have even noticed it.”

“This person must be Foundation Establishment, without a doubt!” Sun Yi declared firmly.

Sun Ze frowned as well.

“A Foundation Establishment cultivator? What’s he doing in a backwater like Qianjia Town?”

Sun Yi pondered for a moment, then said slowly,

“Whatever his purpose, we should treat him with courtesy. Don’t provoke him—just see that he leaves early.”

He added, “Since this cultivator used Divine-Sense to scout ahead, he’s surely an outsider. There’s only one road into Qianjia Town. Take some men and go meet them. Invite them as guests—don’t offend.”

Sun Ze complained, “Why bother? Let him come or go as he pleases. Why should we concern ourselves?”

Sun Yi snapped, “What do you know? Foundation Establishment cultivators differ vastly in power. Our Sun Family sits in a remote corner—naturally, we must build good relations with other cultivators. Even if we don’t befriend him, we must at least know his intent and not offend him.”

“Besides, that Divine-Sense… I fear this cultivator’s background isn’t small.”

That one wisp of Divine-Sense had filled him with unease.

Chastised, Sun Ze could only bow his head.

“Fine, Father. I’ll listen to you.”

After he left, Sun Yi sat in silence, brows furrowed, a chill flickering in his eyes.

“I just hope he’s not here to cause trouble…”

In Qianjia Town

Grandpa Kui was leisurely cracking pine nuts while driving the carriage.

The great white ox pulled the cart slowly down the street.

Mo Hua peeked out from the window, examining the formations around them—

but the surrounding houses were low and crude, and the formations even more so. Nothing worth studying.

After a while, several cultivators appeared ahead.

At their head was a young man dressed in luxurious robes, his expression arrogant though he tried to act composed.

Grandpa Kui halted the carriage.

The youth stepped forward with a smile and cupped his hands.

“Honored guests have arrived—please forgive us for not welcoming you sooner.”

Grandpa Kui’s wooden expression didn’t change. He asked flatly,

“Who are you?”

His voice was dry and rasping like withered wood. Though it was a man’s voice, it barely sounded human.

Everyone from the Sun Family shuddered inwardly.

Sun Ze hurried to answer, “I am Sun Ze, eldest son of the Sun Family of Qianjia Town.”

Grandpa Kui asked again, his tone still flat,

“What do you want?”

That desiccated tone made Sun Ze feel physically uncomfortable, and even somewhat irritated.

He was used to being the one questioning others—not the other way around, and certainly not with such indifference.

But remembering his father’s warning, he dared not show it.

Even this old coachman seemed eerie—whoever sat inside the carriage had to be extraordinary.

And if there really was a Foundation Establishment cultivator inside, he couldn’t afford to offend him.

Sun Ze forced a polite smile.

“Qianjia Town is small and humble. I fear we’ve been rude to our honored guests. If you don’t mind, please come rest at my Sun Family estate so that we may offer proper hospitality.”

Grandpa Kui said nothing.

Inside the carriage, Mo Hua and the three disciples exchanged glances, then all looked toward Mister Zhuang.

Mister Zhuang gave a faint nod.

Outside, Grandpa Kui simply said, “Very well.”

For reasons he couldn’t explain, Sun Ze actually let out a breath of relief.

This coachman, wooden as he seemed, exuded a quiet pressure that made him uneasy.

And even more, he wondered—just who were the ones riding inside?

Sun Ze led the way. Grandpa Kui flicked the reins, and under the astonished gazes of townsfolk, the carriage rolled slowly through the grand gates of the Sun Family mansion.

When it stopped, the head of the Sun Family, Sun Yi, personally came out to greet them.

But the people who stepped out of the carriage left them all surprised.

First came a sharp-eyed young boy with heroic features, then a charming young girl.

Next, a clear-eyed youth with delicate, almost ethereal features—Mo Hua.

And finally, that youth helped down a man in white robes, handsome and refined like an immortal, but whose aura was utterly still—so still, he didn’t even seem like a cultivator.

Sun Yi froze.

Among these people… who was the Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Whose Divine-Sense had he felt?

He frowned.

By appearance, the white-robed man was the most likely—but if he truly were Foundation Establishment, his aura shouldn’t be completely undetectable.

Unless… he was beyond Foundation Establishment. A Golden Core expert.

But a Golden Core cultivator wouldn’t appear in such a remote second-tier region!

“Could I have… misjudged?”

Was it possible there hadn’t been a Foundation Establishment cultivator spying after all?

Sun Yi hesitated. But since they were already invited in, he couldn’t drive them away now—nor could he admit he’d been mistaken.

He forced a polite smile and said,

“May I ask this Daoist friend’s honored surname?”

Mister Zhuang replied faintly,

“Zhuang.”

Sun Yi blinked. A concise and weighty surname—his few words carried the air of a lofty master.

Whether he was genuine or a fraud, however, remained to be seen.

But the situation was already set; there was no point worrying over it.

Sun Yi cupped his hands.

“Honored guests, may I ask what brings you to our humble place?”

Mister Zhuang answered calmly,

“Passing through your land—just stopping to rest a few days.”

Sun Yi didn’t quite believe him, but still smiled.

“Fate brings all encounters. Since you’ve come, you’re our guests. Please, stay at the Sun residence a few days—we’ll be honored to host you.”

Mister Zhuang smiled faintly.

“Then we’ll trouble you.”

“You honor us,” Sun Yi replied courteously.

He arranged for their lodgings and added warmly,

“If you need anything, just tell the servants. The Sun Family will do our best to provide it.”

After settling them in, Sun Yi returned to the hall. The polite smile faded from his face.

Sun Ze asked, “Father, which one’s the Foundation Establishment?”

Sun Yi shook his head. “I haven’t figured it out yet.”

Sun Ze scowled. “If none of them are Foundation Establishment, we wasted all that effort! And you were so humble toward them—are they even worth it?”

“Don’t say such foolish things!” Sun Yi rebuked sharply. “A true man knows when to bend and when to stand tall. There’s no shame in lowering yourself when necessary.”

The Sun Family hall was richly adorned.

As Sun Yi sat, a beautiful maid brought him tea. He took a sip, pondering, then said slowly,

“Even if none of them are Foundation Establishment, their identities are far from ordinary…”

Sun Ze tore his gaze away from the maid’s slender waist and nodded.

“True. That old coachman, that confident young boy, and that pretty little girl—they all have an unusual air about them.

And that ‘Mister Zhuang’—with his immortal demeanor, he’s either a true master… or a top-class fraud.”

Sun Ze listed them one by one—except Mo Hua.

To him, Mo Hua was just a cute, well-behaved boy, not worth a second thought.

“Father,” Sun Ze leaned closer and whispered,

“What should we do next?”

Sun Yi arched an eyebrow, setting down his teacup, and said calmly,

“Observe for a few days. If they’re not to be provoked, we treat them with full respect.”

“And if we can provoke them?”

Sun Yi’s gaze deepened, voice dropping low.

“…Then we’ll still treat them well.”

Sun Ze chuckled knowingly.

The Sun Family prepared two spacious guest rooms for their visitors—

one for Mister Zhuang and Grandpa Kui, and another for the three children.

Though modest in size, the rooms were refined, with porcelain, folding screens, and sandalwood incense curling softly through the air.

Several plush beds were neatly arranged, each layered with soft blankets.

Bai Zixi sat gracefully in meditation, serene as a painting.

Mo Hua and his senior brother lay on their beds whispering.

“That guy named Sun doesn’t look like a good person.”

“Which Sun?”

“Which one do you think?”

“The father or the son?”

“Both don’t look like good people.”

“Exactly. Their smiles were fake.”

“All skin, no sincerity.”

“Too friendly. Clearly up to something.”

“No one’s that nice for no reason…”

The two kept whispering.

Bai Zixi, unable to cultivate with all the noise, finally opened her bright eyes, watching them helplessly.

(End of Chapter)