See? You're Overthinking It Again, Aren't You?

"Family Head." After exchanging glances with the other elders, the Chen family's Great Elder was the first to speak. "As far as I know, Jiangbei Chen Family Outpost No. 37 is an abandoned outpost. When it was reactivated a few days ago, there was only a ghost fire and a dilapidated wooden cabin inside the camp. "Beyond that, there are no defensive fortifications whatsoever. "By all rights, it should have been impossible for this camp to survive into the third day of the rainy season—especially a rainy season that arrived ahead of schedule. "My guess is... "Perhaps Young Master Chen Fan has had good luck. After all, Qiuhe Wang Family Outpost No. 16 hasn't fallen yet, either." "Indeed, indeed, we believe so as well." "Eighty percent chance that's it." The elders quickly reached a consensus. In truth, they had little choice; there were no other possibilities. Aside from good luck, what else could it be? Seated in his chair, the Chen Family Head said nothing. He merely looked up at Chen Quan, signaling that he could voice his thoughts. "I..." Chen Quan was entirely unable to fathom his father's thinking, feeling thoroughly restless and uneasy. Even though he knew his father felt no affection for Chen Fan, Chen Fan was still his father's son. Plotting to kill his own half-brother. Left off the scales, the matter didn't weigh four liang; placed on the scales, a thousand jin wouldn't hold it down. Now that it was laid bare on the table, Chen Quan felt his heart pounding violently in his chest, as if engulfed in flames. Forcing down the terror inside him, his voice trembled uncontrollably: "From what your son can see, it should be that Eldest Brother has had decent luck. "How about... "Should we attempt a rescue? Bring Eldest Brother home?" The words fell. The elders exchanged glances once more, each seeing the helplessness in the others' eyes. Young Master Chen Quan seemed to have been frightened out of his wits. The Chen family didn't possess the capability to venture into the wilderness during the rainy season to rescue someone. Why had he started spouting such nonsense? "..." Seated at the head of the room, the Chen Family Head lowered his eyes again, remaining silent for a long time as his fingertips tapped absentmindedly on the table. No other sound remained in the council hall. Only the tension-filled tapping against the table could be heard. Everyone unconsciously slowed their breathing, not daring to make the slightest noise, nor even make an unnecessary movement. After a long silence. A barely perceptible sigh finally came from within the room. The Chen Family Head opened his eyes, a flicker of weariness passing through his clouded gaze. He looked over the face of everyone present, his voice raspy: "When my late wife was still alive, she once quarreled with me and ran outside the city to hide. The Chen family dispatched people to search for a long time before finally discovering she had hidden at Jiangbei Chen Family Outpost No. 37. Do you all still remember this?" The Great Elder, who had been sitting with eyes downcast and focused breath, jolted awake at those words. A flicker of shock flashed in his eyes as he turned to meet the Family Head's gaze. "Family Head... do you mean that an architect's legacy left behind by the madam might be hidden in Jiangbei Chen Family Outpost No. 37?" "No, that's not right." The Second Elder quickly shook his head in disagreement. "As everyone knows, whether one can awaken as an architect depends entirely on Heaven's will. Even if an architect's legacy was left behind, it would at most be detailed explanations of blueprints, methods of energy utilization, building blueprints, special ghost materials, and the like. There is no way it could make an ordinary cultivator become an architect. "Young Master Chen Fan has already undergone awakening in the clan, and he didn't awaken as any special cultivator. "Under normal circumstances, a second awakening is impossible." "Quan'er." The Chen Family Head looked toward Chen Quan, enunciating each word carefully: "Back then, did you arrange for Chen Fan to go to Outpost No. 37, or did he actively request to go there?" "I arranged it." Chen Quan now realized the gravity of the situation and dared not conceal anything. "That was an outpost abandoned long ago. At the time, I even brought men to thoroughly inspect the cabin. There was nothing inside; it was virtually empty. "Eldest Brother... Eldest Brother couldn't possibly become an architect!" "Heh." The Chen Family Head suddenly chuckled, leaning back wearily against his chair. At that moment, he seemed to age visibly. It was all fate. He did not know what kind of architect legacy his late wife had left behind. The elders' confidence was not without reason—common sense was indeed so. But in a world so vast, how could they know everything? Perhaps there really was an exotic treasure capable of turning an ordinary cultivator into an architect. But... Why hide it from him? Did his late wife not know that if Chen Fan could become an architect, he would have poured every resource into nurturing him? That was his son! His biological son! Flowing with the exact same blood as his! Such an architect would have become the greatest foundation of the Jiangbei Chen family, propelling the clan to greater heights. He wouldn't have had to cater to that retainer day in and day out anymore! How could another clan's architect ever compare to his own son becoming an architect? All because of a single quarrel, it had to come to this? And that Chen Fan. Since he had become an architect, why hadn't he returned to the Chen family immediately? Did Chen Fan truly believe he wouldn't pour every resource into protecting and nurturing an architect belonging to the Chen family? Did he think the Jiangbei Chen family was some dragon's pool or tiger's den? Yet saying more now was useless. A newly awakened architect, without any resources to nurture him, couldn't possibly survive this rainy season. Never mind Chen Fan—even if the Chen family's Level 5 architect were thrown into the wilderness, he wouldn't survive this rainy season either. Just then— The council hall doors were suddenly pushed open. "Family Head Chen." Retainer Liu pushed through the doorway with a dissatisfied expression. He plopped down into his seat, leaning forward to stare straight at the Chen Family Head. "Are there important matters being discussed that need to be kept from me? "After giving so many years to the Chen family, in the end, don't I even have the qualification to sit in on discussions?" "..." After a slight pause, the Chen Family Head managed a smile, walked over behind Retainer Liu, and rested both hands on his shoulders with a helpless expression. "Haven't you always said not to call you for every council, big or small? "I originally intended to summon you, but after thinking it over, I felt the rain was too heavy today to disturb your rest. "It's nothing serious. "Now that the rainy season has arrived, we were simply discussing the Chen family's subsequent actions. "See? You're overthinking it again, aren't you?" As he spoke, his gaze calmly swept across each elder present. The elders immediately took the hint, sitting with eyes downcast and noses aligned with their mouths as if nothing had happened. The Great Elder casually slipped the ghost-skin map lying on the table into his robes without drawing attention. "Truly?" Retainer Liu turned a suspicious look at the Chen Family Head, but when he saw Chen Quan present as well, he was instantly put at ease and smiled with satisfaction. "Quan'er is here too. Family Head Chen, that's the way to do it. Usually, you should bring Quan'er along more often for these discussions. "I've watched this child grow up since he was little. He can achieve great things. "You are getting on in years. How much longer can you keep toiling? You must give the young people some opportunities, right?" "Does that need you to tell me?" the Chen Family Head feigned anger. "Quan'er is my son. Don't I know his capabilities better than you? "All right, let's disperse. "Time for morning practice. After you, Retainer Liu." "After you, Family Head Chen." Once the Chen Family Head and all the elders left the council hall, only Chen Quan was left behind, his face pale as death. He sat curled up in his chair, limbs trembling slightly, his eyes filled with bitterness and resentment. Soon, however, the corners of his mouth curved upward slightly. Fortunately... Fortunately, the rainy season had arrived early. Heaven's mandate was on his side!