Chapter 41: Family’s discussion.

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Family’s discussion.

The following morning arrived quietly.

A thin layer of mist still lingered around the family grounds, drifting between the trees and old stone paths as the first rays of sunlight slipped over the distant mountains.

The morning air carried the faint fragrance of spiritual herbs from the nearby gardens, while somewhere across the family grounds, the sound of early-rising children practicing their bodies could occasionally be heard.

Elsewhere, within the deep ancestral grounds, stood the huge ancestral hall that occupied the front area near the entrance. Unlike the other buildings, the hall had remained completely unchanged throughout the years.

Or, a better way to put it, it had been maintained through a certain someone’s diligence. The entrance was reached by a short flight of stone steps.

Two large wooden doors stood beneath the roof, their surfaces darkened with age. Above them hung an old wooden plaque bearing three words.

Chen Family Ancestral Hall.

Inside, the hall was spacious. Rows of wooden tablets stood upon a long altar at the very back, each one representing a deceased member of the Chen Family. Some tablets were new and still carried their original polished surface, while others had become darker with age.

Behind the tablets was a large wall painting depicting a vast mountain range beneath a crimson sunset. The mountains were not particularly detailed, yet there was something strangely familiar about the scene.

Chen Yuan had painted it himself many decades ago.

At the center of the hall stood a large incense burner made from dark bronze. Thin trails of smoke rose from the three incense sticks burning within it, slowly curling toward the ceiling before disappearing into the morning air.

On either side of the altar were several rows of wooden chairs, arranged neatly for family gatherings.

Near the center of the hall, however, two chairs had been placed beside a small wooden table.

Chen Yuan sat on one of them with a cup of tea in his hand.

Across from him sat Chen Yan.

The faint sound of porcelain touching wood echoed through the quiet hall as Chen Yan placed his cup onto the table. Chen Yuan remained silent for a while, watching the thin steam rise from his tea.

Then he spoke.

"Spiritual energy fills the vessel, yet the vessel does not become the path."

Chen Yan’s eyes shifted toward him and, slowly, he picked up his cup as he calmly replied, "The body bears ten thousand laws, yet flesh alone cannot comprehend them."

Chen Yuan smiled.

"The spirit observes the heavens and learns their mysteries."

Chen Yan continued, "The body walks beneath those heavens and turns those mysteries into strength."

Chen Yuan’s fingers lightly tapped against the wooden table.

"And the soul..."

His voice lowered.

"Remembers why it began walking."

Chen Yan’s gaze became thoughtful.

"Three roads beneath one heaven."

"Three laws within one existence."

Chen Yuan nodded.

"Spiritual Law is the river."

"Body Law is the vessel."

"Soul Law is the one who chooses where the river flows."

A faint smile appeared on Chen Yan’s face.

"Then remember this proverb."

He lifted his cup.

"When the river runs dry, strengthen the vessel."

"When the vessel breaks, protect the soul."

"And when the soul loses its direction..."

Chen Yan took a slow sip.

"...even an endless river leads nowhere."

Chen Yuan gave a quiet laugh.

"Not bad."

He placed his cup down.

"But there is another."

"The body is born from the earth."

"The spirit reaches toward the heavens."

"The soul stands between them."

Chen Yan’s eyes brightened slightly.

"Then cultivation is not ascending to heaven."

"No."

Chen Yuan looked toward the rows of ancestral tablets.

"It is learning how to stand between heaven and earth without being broken by either."

The words slowly faded into the quiet hall.

The incense continued to burn, its thin smoke drifting upward between the ancestral tablets as the morning sunlight gradually reached the entrance.

Neither Chen Yuan nor Chen Yan spoke for a while, allowing the silence to settle naturally between them.

Then, from the empty space beside the table, a faint ripple appeared.

It was so subtle that the curtains near the entrance barely moved.

In the next instant, a figure quietly stepped out from the distortion.

Chen Feng.

He glanced at the two empty chairs before walking toward them.

Without saying anything, he pulled out one of the chairs and sat down beside the table, his ancient sword resting naturally against the edge.

Neither Chen Yuan nor Chen Yan reacted. Instead, Chen Yuan simply lifted the teapot and poured another cup. Chen Feng accepted it without a word.

For a few breaths, the three men simply drank their tea together.

The silence between them was surprisingly peaceful. Chen Yuan eventually glanced at Chen Feng, his fingers still resting lightly against the teacup.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

Chen Feng’s hand paused around his cup. His gaze lowered toward the tea, watching the faint ripples on its surface as they reflected his old face.

"No."

His hoarse voice came in return.

"I didn’t find what I was looking for."

Chen Yan was silent for a moment. He reached toward the small plate on the table and picked up a piece of dried fruit, turning it between his fingers before casually placing it into his mouth.

He chewed slowly, his eyes remaining on Chen Feng.

Then, with a faint smile, he spoke.

"But you’ve found something new, no?"

Chen Feng’s eyes shifted toward him. Chen Yan swallowed and picked up his teacup again.

"Something you weren’t looking for."

Chen Feng stared at him for a few breaths. His expression remained calm, but his fingers slowly loosened around the teacup.

"...You’re right."

A faint smile appeared on his weathered face.

He leaned back in his chair, letting out a quiet breath as his gaze wandered across the ancestral hall. His eyes passed over the old wooden pillars, the rows of ancestral tablets, and finally settled on the painting of the mountains behind the altar.

After a moment, he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from his face.

"I suppose..."

He paused, a faint smile still resting on his lips.

"I’ve found my way home."

Chen Yuan listened quietly, his gaze drifting toward the ancestral tablets and lingering on them for a few breaths before he waved his hand and adjusted one of the incense sticks that had tilted slightly to the side.

Chen Yuan withdrew his hand and returned his attention to the two men sitting before him.

"Since you’re staying, we should start planning ahead."

He picked up his teacup, but did not drink from it yet.

"There are too many things that need to be dealt with."

His gaze shifted toward Chen Feng, then to Chen Yan. In the next second, Chen Yuan took a sip before placing it back onto the table.

"Then let’s begin."

"The first matter is today’s announcement."

His expression became slightly more serious.

"Haoran still hasn’t been informed about everything that happened in Blue Cloud Mist City, nor does he know what we’re planning to announce to the family."

"It is still early in the morning. The reports might not have arrived at the family yet."

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow.

"Shouldn’t we call him here first?"

"There’s no need."

Chen Yuan waved his hand dismissively.

"I’ll simply bring everyone later"

Chen Feng looked at him.

"Everyone?"

"Everyone."

Chen Yuan repeated the word.

"Not only the inner members of the family, but also the outer members, since some of them are now Chen Feng’s legitimate descendants."

Chen Feng looked into Chen Yuan’s eyes for a few breaths. There was no surprise in his expression. He already understood what Chen Yuan was thinking.

"You want them to follow my path."

Chen Yuan nodded.

"Those who possess sword intent should be given the opportunity to walk the Sword Dao. And those without sword intent should also walk the Sword Dao."

His gaze moved toward Chen Feng’s ancient sword.

"We shouldn’t waste their talent simply because no one in the family knows how to guide them."

Chen Yuan continued.

"It may take years before they are capable of truly understanding your path. Perhaps even decades."

He lifted his teacup again, taking a slow sip.

"But that’s precisely why they should begin now."

Chen Feng’s eyes lowered slightly. Chen Yuan placed the cup down.

"You had no one to guide you."

"You had to swing a wooden sword thousands upon thousands of times before you even understood what sword intent was. You had to stumble through your own path without knowing whether you were walking in the right direction."

His gaze became slightly softer.

"But they don’t have to."

"You are here now."

Chen Feng looked toward the ancestral tablets. For a long while, he said nothing. Then his fingers slowly tightened around the teacup.

"...You’re right."

His voice was quiet, but there was a hint of determination within it.

"If they truly possess sword intent, then letting them waste their talent would be a greater mistake than allowing them to fail."

"I will guide them. I had no one to rely on when I was young, but I can’t let the same fate befall them."

Chen Yuan smiled.

"Good."

"Just make sure this path isn’t known to the outside world too early, or else..."

Chen Yuan’s smile faded slightly.

"We could bring trouble to our doorsteps."

He picked up the teapot and slowly refilled his cup. The quiet sound of tea flowing into porcelain filled the hall before he placed the teapot back onto the table.

"Then let’s move on to the next matter."

Chen Yan, who had been listening quietly until now, leaned forward slightly.

"Family restructuring."

Chen Yuan’s eyes shifted toward him, slightly startled by his expression. Chen Yan didn’t care and placed both hands on the table, his expression becoming more serious.

"The Chen Family is no longer the same family it was before."

He glanced toward Chen Feng.

"Especially after what happened in Blue Cloud Mist City and our identities were exposed to the Kingdom."

Chen Yan’s eyes gleamed with a faint smile.

"We are now a family with three Peak Foundation Establishment experts. Even the royal family of Great Yan barely has two. With such strength and prestige, the Chen Family cannot continue carrying itself like a small cultivation clan."

"If our strength has reached the level of the great families, then our foundation, influence, and wealth should rise to match it."

Chen Yuan nodded.

"The family needs to grow. I see where you are going."

"Not only in cultivation."

Chen Yan’s eyes gleamed slightly as he added his own thoughts.

"In people."

He leaned back in his chair.

"We should open our doors and begin recruiting talented cultivators into the family."

"Why bother sticking to the old rules? We urgently need people, and perhaps more talented cultivators who would be willing to marry into our family."

Chen Feng remained quiet, listening.

Chen Yan continued.

"Our current foundation is too narrow. Most of our income still comes from spiritual herbs and mortal medicines. We have a few other businesses, mainly handling trade routes toward the western and central regions, but that is far from enough to support the family we are trying to build."

His fingers tapped lightly against the wooden table.

"We will need more people to manage businesses, cultivate resources, protect our territories, handle trade, and develop new industries. Right now, none of our clan members know the arts of formation, alchemy, or even forging."

"We rely too much on external suppliers for all of these, which in the long run will hurt us."

He paused.

"And most importantly..."

His eyes seemed to shine at the thought.

"We need more money."

Chen Yuan stared at him for a moment.

Chen Feng’s mouth twitched slightly.

Chen Yan continued without embarrassment.

"More spiritual stones. More resources. More capital."

He gestured toward the ancestral grounds around them.

"And eventually, we need to expand the family grounds as well. We have already begun outgrowing what we currently possess."

Chen Yan’s expression became increasingly animated as he continued.

"I’ve been thinking about how we should structure everything."

He raised one finger.

"The three peaks system, since there are currently three of us."

"The first peak should be mine."

Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Your peak?"

"Yes."

Chen Yan smiled.

"I’ll oversee the management of the family. Businesses, finances, trade routes, recruitment, external relations, resource distribution, and everything else that keeps the family functioning."

He patted his chest.

"Don’t worry about money with me around. I will make sure that you will sleep with spiritual stones tucked inside your robes."

Chen Yuan’s face stiffened, and Chen Yan continued, raising a second finger.

"The second peak should belong to you."

Chen Yuan pointed to himself.

"Me?"

"Yes, and that will be the main peak. The heart of the Chen Family."

Chen Yan’s voice became more deliberate.

"The ancestral hall can remain there. We can elevate the ground around it and move the buildings. But the important inheritances and sacred places should eventually be moved or established there as well. The inheritance grounds, cultivation grounds, important treasures, and anything related to the ancestors should be protected within the main peak."

He glanced toward Chen Feng.

"And in the future, if more ancestors appear..."

A faint smile appeared.

"That peak will become the place where the ancestors gather. And another thing, we need a better gathering place, not like our current one."

Chen Yuan looked thoughtful.

"That sounds reasonable."

Chen Yan raised his third finger.

"And the third peak..."

He turned toward Chen Feng.

"...belongs to you."

Chen Feng looked at him.

"Me?"

"The Enforcement Peak."

Chen Yan nodded.

"It will be responsible for training the family’s combat forces, cultivating the younger generation, and maintaining the Chen Family’s own enforcement team."

"The family will need people who can protect its interests without relying on outsiders. Guanshan is already the City Lord of Blue Cloud Mist City, and we need people to protect our people."

Chen Feng’s fingers lightly tapped against the ancient sword beside him.

"An enforcement team."

"Yes."

Chen Yan smiled as he looked between the two.

"The three peaks will have different responsibilities, but they will support one another."

Chen Feng glanced toward the empty space beyond the hall, as if already imagining the mountains that would one day stand there.

"Then we’ll need more than three peaks eventually."

Chen Yan smiled.

"That’s why we need more people."

Chen Yuan let out a quiet laugh.

"It seems you’ve already started spending money that we haven’t earned yet."

Chen Yan’s eyes narrowed with amusement. He gently rotated his teacup between his fingers before finally taking a sip.

"Then the family restructuring is settled for now."

Chen Yan nodded.

"Good."

Chen Yuan’s gaze shifted toward the ancestral tablets. There was one more matter, a matter that could potentially change the Chen Family even more than everything they had discussed so far.

His fingers stopped moving.

"Now..."

His voice was calm, but the atmosphere within the ancestral hall subtly changed.

"...there is the third agenda."

Chen Yan’s expression became curious. Chen Feng also turned his attention toward Chen Yuan.

Then, Chen Yuan slowly placed his teacup onto the table as he set his gaze on the other two.

"The next ancestor."

The hall fell silent. His gaze moved between Chen Yan and Chen Feng.

"What kind of ancestor does our family need next?"