Chapter 10: Little ant

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Little ant

Night gradually settled over the Chen family by the time Chen Haoran and Qingxue reached the ancestral grounds. The prior lively atmosphere of the main family residence had gradually vanished into the cold air of the night.

The further they walked, the quieter their surroundings became, until even the voices of the servants and the younger members of the family could no longer be heard from this location.

The ancestral grounds occupied a secluded portion of the Chen Family’s territory. Ancient trees stood along both sides of the stone path, their thick branches extending overhead and blocking much of the moonlight beyond the clouds above.

A series of old, pale-orange lanterns had been placed along the pathway, their faint flames illuminating the weathered stone beneath their feet as they continued their journey.

Along the way, neither Chen Haoran nor Qingxue spoke. Their footsteps were the only sounds accompanying them as they continued deeper into the ancestral grounds.

Chen Haoran’s expression remained solemn, and his mind was occupied by what had happened to his daughter. The more he thought about it, the more questions emerged at the back of his mind.

’A peak second-grade inheritance? The old man had never told me about this before? Why Yue’er? Why now?’

And the more his thoughts wrapped around this issue, the more complicated it became.

Beside him, Qingxue walked with the same composed expression she had maintained since leaving her daughter’s room. Her pale-blue dress moved gently with each step as her long black hair swayed behind her.

The two eventually passed through the final section of medicinal gardens and livestock sheds before arriving at the entrance to the ancestral grounds.

The entrance to the ancestral grounds was marked by an old stone archway. Its surface had been weathered by countless years of exposure to the elements.

The Chen Family crest had been carved into its center, but the edges of the engraving had begun to show signs of erosion and aging.

Beyond the archway stood a long stone staircase that led further uphill, with old oak trees lining the way as the two entered silently.

At the top of the stairs, partially concealed among the trees, was the main ancestral hall.

Its dark wooden structure almost blended into the surrounding trees and foliage beneath the dark night sky.

"Why is the old man always staying here? You didn’t provide him with a house?" Qingxue turned her gaze toward Chen Haoran as she asked this, her tone accusatory.

Chen Haoran glanced toward her as a faint hint of helplessness appeared in his eyes.

"I tried persuading the old man before, and each time he refused. Even if I were to build a mansion for him, he would still prefer to stay here instead."

Qingxue’s brows furrowed slightly.

"Then he really is stubborn as usual."

Chen Haoran gave a helpless smile in return.

"He had always been like that, even when we were young back then."

The two continued forward, their footsteps gradually becoming quieter as the ancestral hall drew closer. From this distance, they finally got a better view of the place.

The structure looked even more secluded than it had from below. The dark wooden walls had clearly endured countless years of erosion, especially the broad roof, which was partially concealed beneath the branches of the surrounding trees.

Qingxue’s gaze lingered on the building.

"He spends all his time here?"

"Decades..."

"Alone?"

"Yes."

Qingxue’s expression became slightly displeased.

"That old man’s strange habits haven’t changed, by the looks of it."

Chen Haoran could only smile.

"He has always been like this."

They soon reached the final few steps leading toward the entrance of the place. Two old lanterns hung above the door beneath the eaves, their pale-orange flames flickering as the soft light gently enveloped the surroundings in the night breeze.

Chen Haoran slowed down, and his gaze settled upon the closed wooden doors. After a brief hesitation, Chen Haoran stepped forward under Qingxue’s supportive gaze and knocked twice against the wooden door.

Gently.

Knock. Knock.

The sound echoed faintly through the quiet grounds.

For several breaths, there was no response whatsoever, as if there were no one at home. Chen Haoran’s hand slowly lowered from the door, and he cast Qingxue a wry glance.

She remained beside him, her expression unchanged as she waited.

Then, from within the ancestral hall, a faint sound of ceramic touching wood could be heard.

Clink.

Chen Haoran’s eyes narrowed slightly, and a moment later—

"Come in."

An old and calm voice resounded within their ears. The voice was neither loud nor imposing, yet it carried clearly enough to reach both of them directly.

Before either of them could move, the closed wooden doors slowly opened on their own.

Creak...

The sound of the old hinges echoed through the night as the doors parted inward, revealing the dimly lit interior of the ancestral hall.

Warm candlelight spilled across the hall, contrasting with the cold darkness outside the entrance.

Chen Haoran’s gaze remained fixed on the open doorway for a moment.

Qingxue, however, had already stepped forward.

Neither of them said anything as they crossed the threshold together. The moment they entered, the wooden doors behind them slowly closed on their own.

Creak...

The outside world was once again sealed away.

Inside, the ancestral hall was far simpler than either of them had anticipated. There were no elaborate decorations, no expensive furnishings, nor any unnecessary ornaments.

At the center of the room sat Chen Yuan.

The old man was seated cross-legged upon a square wooden platform, his posture relaxed as though he had been waiting for the two to arrive.

A small wooden table had been placed before him, and upon it sat a ceramic teapot and a set of ceramic cups. The faint warmth of freshly brewed tea lingered in the air around them.

Chen Yuan’s hand rested casually beside the teapot as he raised his eyes toward the two people who had just entered.

His expression remained as calm as ever.

Chen Haoran and Qingxue slowly approached and Chen Yuan silently watched them without making any attempt to hurry them.

When they were only a few steps away, his gaze shifted toward Qingxue. A faint smile appeared on his aged face, "Litltle Qingxue."

Qingxue’s expression twitched slightly upon hearing the familiar aaddress. She had heard those words countless times when she was younger, long before she had married into the Chen Family.

"Ancestor Chen Yuan."

Chen Yuan’s brows lifted slightly at the unfamiliar titile. He glanced toward Chen Haoran on the side who had alos stopped beside her and respectfully cupped his hands, "Ancestor."

His gaze moved between the two of them with a confused look, "When did I become an Ancestor?"

Chen Haoran exchanged a quick glance with Qingxue before answering honestly, "With your status in the clan, it would be natural for you to already be called an Ancestor."

Chen Yuan stared at him for a moment before letting out a chuckle at the statement, "Status, huh?"

He shook his head lightly, "You people really do like making things unnecessarily complicated."

Qingxue couldn’t help but smile faintly, "Regardless, your position in the Chen Family is no longer something that can be compared to ordinary elders."

Chen Yuan smiled and didn’t bother arguing about it. Instead, his attention returned to Qingxue’s face, "How is your father?"

The question caused Qingxue’s expression to become slightly more relaxed, "My father is well, Ancestor."

"That’s good to hear."

Chen Yuan nodded with a faint smile.

Then, under the two’s gaze, he raised one hand casually as he gestured toward the empty space before them, "Sit."

Neither Chen Haoran nor Qingxue objected. The two walked forward and sat down opposite Chen Yuan with the small wooden table separating them.

Chen Yuan reached for the teapot and calmly poured a cup for each of them before placing the ceramic cups in front of the two.

For a brief moment, everything apperaed to be almost ordinary. The faint scent of the tea wafted into the air as the gentle wind of the cold night rattled the ancestral hall windows.

Chen Yuan slowly lifted his own cup and took a small sip, "I know why the two of you came."

However, before either of them could speak, Chen Yuan’s gaze suddenly shifted upward toward the roof. His eyes brushed there for several breaths before he quietly sighed, "But before that..."

His fingers gently placed the ceramic cup down back onto the table.

Clink.

"I wonder why there’s a strange little guy wandering above my head. Disrespectful."

The moment those words fell-

BOOM!

A vast spiritual pressure erupted from Chen Yuan’s body. It happened in an instant and the peaceful atmosphere within the ancestral hall vanished under the weight of the overwhelming force.

"Ancestor?"

Chen Haoran’s pupils dilated, and Qingxue’s body froze as the two felt the sudden spiritual pressure coming from the old man before them.

It happened too quickly, their thoughts unable to connect in time and the spiritual pressure, instead of directed to them, it surged toward the roof like an avalanche.

The next very moment, a figure was forcibly dragged down from above, screaming.

It was the cloaked man from before, and his entire body was bounded by an invisible force mid-air. His limbs were twisted into an unnatural position as he struggled desperately against the pressure.

A muffled groan escaped from beneath his hood, "Foundation Establishment expert? I- impossible."

His voice trembled with panic, and Qingxue’s expression changed almost immediately, "Stop!"

She instinctinvelly rose from her seat, "Ancestor, wait! He’s-"

Though Chen Yuan barely spared her even a glance, and the terrifying pressure continued to hold the cloaked man suspended in mid-air.

Chen Haoran was equally shocked under the terrfying coercion, and his face had lost its previous composure.

He could barely believe what he was sensing, "T-this pressure."

He heart trembled, ’The old man is actually a Foundation Establishment expert?’

For so many years, he had always regarded Chen Yuan as nothing more than an eccentric elder who preferred spending his days within the ancestral grounds. An elder that possessed countless knowledge for the family.

Yet the power currently filling the hall before him was something that he had never felt before.

It was vast, almost an impossible chasm between him and this pressure, ’A foundation establishment expert... Our family actually has a foundation establishment expert.’

His confusion was rapidly turning into ectasy. Though his questions remained unanswered for now.

Chen Yuan finally lowered his gaze toward the struggling figure that was begging for mercy in the air. His expression was calm, almost indifferent.

"Has this little guy been following you since you returned to the family, Little Qingxue?"

Qingxue’s expression stiffened. For a brief moment, she simply stared at the cloaked figure suspended in the air, as though she was trying to understand why Chen Yuan would want to ask such a question.

Then she quickly nodded, "Yes, Ancestor. He was sent by my father to accompany me on my journey here. He has been guarding me since I left home."

Chen Yuan’s eyes remained on the cloaked man, "Is that so?"

There was no change in his voice, yet the figure in the air trembled violently beneath the invisible pressure.

Qingxue’s brows furrowed.

"Ancestor, he is my father’s trusted guard. There must be some misunderstanding."

Chen Yuan finally turned his gaze toward her, "Little Qingxue, does this man know about the inheritance in the little girl’s body?"

His tone remained gentle, but something in those words made her expression gradually become more solemn.

Qingxue’s fingers unconsciously tightened against the fabric of her dress. She hesitated for several breaths before finally nodding.

"Y-yes."

Her voice had become noticably quieter. After all, for an outsider to know the Chen Family’s secret inheritance is basically exposing the Chen Family’s weakness.

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes at the response and he didn’t immediately respond. Instead, his gaze remained on the cloaked figure suspended before him.

Qingxue noticed the silence and hurriedly added, "But he is my father’s trusted guard. He had been accompanying me since I left my family’s residence in the capital. He is not a threat to the Chen Family."

"Little Qingxue, " Chen Yuan interrupted her, his voice remained calm.

But then, his expression turned cold as his eyes sharpened, "Care to tell me, why is your servant a demonic cultivator?"

And seemingly displeased with his own words, Chen Yuan’s smile vanished completely from his face, "Why does he have demonic qi inside his body?"

Those words were muttered slowly, one by one as the pressure inside the hall increased alongside it.

The words were not loud, it wasn’t even in the right tone at all. Yet the moment those words reached the two’s ears, both Chen Haoran and Qingxue froze.