Chen Chang'an, Where Exactly Are You

Central Heaven Domain, Langya

"Useless!"

"A bunch of useless fools!"

Qingshui Lin Family, a branch of the Lin Clan

Lin Xiong, the head of the Qingshui Lin Family, was seething with rage, and the reason was none other than that brat Lin Ruoheng.

A month ago, when strange phenomena occurred in Yunchuan, Lin Xiong and his people naturally took notice. Though Lin Xiong was merely from a branch family, he was still part of the Lin Clan. When such anomalies appeared in Langya, it was only natural to investigate thoroughly.

But the investigation only made things worse. Upon discovering that the anomalies might be linked to Gu Xian'er from Huanhua Pavilion, Lin Xiong grew tense. Coincidentally, Lin Ruoheng had just returned home and recounted the events that had transpired at Huanhua Pavilion that day.

Furious, Lin Xiong berated Lin Ruoheng harshly.

For the next stretch of time, Lin Xiong focused on one thing alone: finding Gu Xian'er and Chen Chang'an.

Yet, a full month had passed, and they still hadn’t located them—always arriving just a step too late.

"Master, please calm down. Chen Chang'an's movements are erratic. No one knows where he might go next."

"Besides, Langya is vast. Finding someone we’ve never even seen before is no easy task."

The Lin family members were also at a loss. Langya was enormous—how were they supposed to search it all?

"I know Langya is big, but is Yunchuan that large too?"

"With your abilities, you can’t even find someone in a small place like Yunchuan?"

"If you can’t find them, why not ask around?"

"Do you think they’re just holed up somewhere in Yunchuan without moving?"

"A man and a woman traveling with a dog—is that a common sight?"

"If you’re not useless, then who is?" Lin Xiong roared in anger.

Hearing this, the Lin family members could only force a bitter smile. They had already considered everything Lin Xiong mentioned, yet they still hadn’t found any trace of Chen Chang'an.

"Master, we’ve asked around extensively. Some people have seen them, but few paid much attention."

"Moreover, we’ve enlisted the help of several families and sects in Yunchuan."

"But we’ve noticed something odd—Chen Chang'an seems to have visited them all."

"Yet he left shortly after."

"And every time, he somehow manages to evade us, as if he knows someone is tracking him."

"Could it be that this Chen Chang'an truly knows our ancestor?"

"If that’s the case, then what we’re doing…"

BANG!

Before the speaker could finish, Lin Xiong slammed the tea table beside him, shattering it to pieces.

"That nonsense might fool a brat like Lin Ruoheng, but do you really think our ancestor, a figure of such stature, would just know anyone who claims to?"

"If the anomalies in Yunchuan were truly caused by Gu Xian'er, have you considered the consequences?"

"Gu Xian'er and our family share a blood feud—one of annihilation."

"If Chen Chang'an were truly a friend of our ancestor, would he take Gu Xian'er away and let her become an enemy of our Lin Clan in the future?"

"What do you even use your brains for?"

"Did you ask why Chen Chang'an visited those families and sects?"

"That might be the key to finding him!" Lin Xiong demanded sternly.

"Master, we did ask. It’s said that Chen Chang'an was inquiring about whether anyone knew of the Langya Chen Family."

Langya Chen Family?

Lin Xiong frowned, racking his memory. Was there even a Chen Family in Langya?

As far as he could recall, no such family existed—or if it did, it was some insignificant clan not even worth mentioning.

"If Chen Chang'an is asking about the Chen Family, he must have some connection to them."

"Most likely, he’s a member of that family."

"Do you really think someone from a Chen Family none of you have even heard of could possibly know a figure like our ancestor?"

"And yet you were worried about it earlier."

Lin Xiong shot them a disdainful look, but as he spoke, he suddenly froze.

Chen Family?

"Which Chen Family is he looking for?" Lin Xiong asked with a frown.

Huh?

Which Chen Family?

Didn’t you just say it was some obscure Chen Family none of us knew about? If even you haven’t heard of it, how would we?

The Lin family members silently grumbled but dared not voice their thoughts.

"Master, we heard he was asking about whether there was a Chen Family in Yunchuan… over five hundred years ago."

Five hundred years ago?

"Fine. I’ll take care of this matter. You’re dismissed for now."

"Remember, do not slack off in searching for Chen Chang'an and Gu Xian'er."

"Send more people. We must locate them—they’re still in Langya."

"Yes, Master."

Once the others had left, Lin Xiong muttered to himself, "Why would it be that Chen Family?"

With that, his figure flickered, and in the next moment, he appeared in a secluded courtyard within the Lin Family estate.

"Lin Xiong requests an audience with the elders."

The Qingshui Lin Family was a branch of the Lin Clan, so its power structure was complex.

On the surface, Lin Xiong was the family head, holding the highest position. But in truth, the true authority lay with the elders.

The Qingshui Lin Family had three elders, each at the Void Comprehension Realm!

In their prime, they had been notable figures even in the main family.

However, as the Lin Clan expanded, several branch families were established, and these three were sent to Qingshui to oversee this branch.

The position of family head was not given to the strongest or most talented cultivator but to the one most skilled in managing the family—essentially, a glorified administrator.

For powerful families like this, those with true talent had only one purpose in life: to grow stronger. They were not burdened with mundane affairs that might hinder their cultivation.

"Lin Xiong, you’ve come in person. Has something happened in the family?"

"Or have you made progress in investigating the anomalies in Yunchuan?"

"Elders, we have some leads, but that’s not why I’m here."

"Do the three elders… remember the Chen Family?"

Chen Family?

After Lin Xiong spoke, silence lingered briefly before three elderly figures materialized before him—the three elders of the Qingshui Lin Family.

"Which Chen Family are you referring to?" the Grand Elder asked with a frown.

"The one from over five hundred years ago."

"Recently, someone has been asking about that Chen Family. His name is Chen Chang'an."

"When the anomalies occurred in Yunchuan, he was present—right at the epicenter. He may even be connected to them."

"And the strangest thing is… he claims to know our ancestor, Lin Xiangliu."

Know Lin Xiangliu?

"Ridiculous!"

"Even back then, that Chen Family had no ties to Ancestor Lin Xiangliu. Now some random Chen Chang'an pops up and dares to claim he knows the ancestor?"

"Where is this Chen Chang'an? Bring him here. I have questions for him," the Grand Elder said coldly.

"Well… his whereabouts are currently unknown. What did the elder wish to ask him?" Lin Xiong asked hesitantly.

The Grand Elder took out a crystal-clear orb—none other than the fetal pearl Chen Chang'an had been searching for.

"For five hundred years, the three of us have studied this, yet we’ve never uncovered its secrets."

"Chen Chang'an has been inquiring about the Chen family. He might very well be one of them."

"Perhaps only a member of the Chen family would know the true nature of this pearl," the Grand Elder said with a grave expression.

"Grand Elder, I don’t understand. If even the three of you couldn’t decipher it after all these years, could it be… that this pearl is simply useless?" Lin Xiong asked, puzzled.

Useless?

Hearing this, the three elders burst into laughter.

"An artifact passed down through generations of the Chen family could never be useless."

"The more unfathomable it remains, the more it proves its value."

"If we could uncover its secrets and learn how to wield it, perhaps even we three might one day stand a chance of catching up to Patriarch Lin Xiangliu."

At these words, Lin Xiong’s heart shuddered. Could this pearl truly be so extraordinary?

After all, in the eyes of the Lin Clan, Lin Xiangliu was nothing short of an untouchable god.

To catch up to Lin Xiangliu would be to chase divinity itself.

"Elders, I now understand the gravity of this matter."

"Rest assured, I will… I will locate Chen Chang'an and bring him before you."

"Good. Do this well, and you shall be duly rewarded."

"Yes, thank you, Elders."

Lin Xiong left with a smile, though inwardly, he was at a loss.

Langya was vast. Where in the world could Chen Chang'an have gone?