Visiting (Part 3)

That very night, Yuan Qing returned to the inn and informed Lin Xiao and the others that everything on the Yuan family’s side had been arranged. All they needed to do was disguise themselves and head to the back gate of the Yuan residence before midnight.

Yuan Qing had also consulted Lin Xiao about this plan, asking if he minded taking the back door.

Lin Xiao naturally said it was no problem—such a small matter was hardly worth fussing over.

Previously, Lin Xiao had already given Yuan Qing a heads-up that Jiang Youfu, his assistant, would be accompanying them.

As the hour approached midnight, the three of them—Lin Xiao, Jiang Youfu, and Yuan Qing—changed their appearances and slipped out quietly.

The weather was decent that night; the air neither damp nor dry, though the moon had hidden itself away.

They didn’t go straight to the Yuan residence but found a secluded spot to change their disguises before quietly making their way to the back gate.

Inside the Yuan family’s main estate, Yuan Bi had long since made all the necessary arrangements.

So when Yuan Qing led Lin Xiao and the others through the back gate, they didn’t encounter a single soul along the way.

Without any obstacles, they reached the deepest part of the Yuan estate—the secluded place where the family’s elder was in seclusion.

Yuan Bi was already waiting for them there.

Normally, this place was heavily guarded every day, but today, Yuan Bi had come to personally stand watch over the elder and had sent everyone else away.

No one in the Yuan family suspected a thing. After all, they all knew roughly how the elder was doing and assumed that perhaps the elder was nearing the end of his endurance. The family head’s somber mood and his decision to keep vigil alone for the night was seen as a heartfelt gesture.

So, those on duty that day felt at ease and went home to rest.

The three of them wound through the winding paths and finally arrived at the heart of the Yuan estate.

There was a modest mountain here, its peak towering darkly against the night sky.

As they approached, Lin Xiao immediately sensed the mountain exuded a far richer spiritual energy than the outside world.

It seemed this mountain might very well be the Yuan family’s true source of strength.

Perhaps it even contained a branch of a spiritual vein.

He had heard that in Yuanling City, each prominent family had acquired spiritual vein branches through transactions with major sects, though he wasn’t sure if that was true.

However, these spiritual vein branches were no match for the original spiritual veins, and since they were controlled by others, it put them at a disadvantage.

In the cultivation world, families like the Yuans, though the top clan in the city, simply couldn’t compare to the scale of great sects.

They had no choice but to accept this reality.

Wherever spiritual veins were discovered, places rich in spiritual energy were always occupied by the more powerful forces.

Still, Lin Xiao had also heard that families in Yuanling City generally held at least one small spiritual stone mine.

That was their real lifeline.

Lost in thought, they soon reached the courtyard gate.

Sensing someone approaching, Yuan Bi came out to greet them.

He was somewhat surprised to see Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu.

Although he had expected that since they were friends of Yuan Qing, they might not be very old, he hadn’t anticipated they would be so young.

They looked about two years younger than Yuan Qing.

He felt a bit puzzled but had no choice but to accept the situation. Since he had promised, he wouldn’t openly question them.

With a grateful expression, Yuan Bi briefly introduced himself to Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu before inviting them inside.

At this moment, they stood within a courtyard on the outskirts of the mountain. Lin Xiao and the others followed Yuan Bi as they made their way deeper inside.

Upon entering, they discovered that the path led straight into the mountain itself.

Walking straight ahead, they soon encountered several branching paths.

Yuan Bi guided them down the middle passage.

After a while, the group finally arrived before a massive stone door, tightly shut.

Yuan Bi stopped at the door, turned to Lin Xiao, and said, “Daoist Lin, this is where my family’s ancestor is secluded in meditation. His heart demon has grown quite severe and is beginning to spread. The situation inside might not be favorable, so you must focus your mind, calm your spirit, and concentrate on maintaining unity.”

Lin Xiao quickly glanced back to remind Jiang Youfu, then nodded at Yuan Bi.

“All right, Head of the Yuan family, please proceed.”

Without further words, Yuan Bi turned, formed a hand seal, and released a surge of spiritual energy from his palm toward the stone door.

In the next instant, the massive door swiftly lifted upward.

Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu immediately sensed a faint but palpable malice emanating from within.

However, this had little effect on them. Instead, Yuan Qing, whose cultivation was comparatively lower, wore a solemn expression and focused all his attention on guarding his mind.

Seeing that Lin Xiao and the others remained calm and composed, Yuan Bi nodded inwardly. It seemed these two young Daoists either possessed some treasured artifact capable of resisting heart demons, or their cultivation was solid and their mental fortitude exceptionally strong.

Judging by their expressions, Yuan Bi leaned toward the latter.

But none of that mattered at the moment.

Feeling that the ancestor’s heart demon had worsened since a couple of days ago, Yuan Bi hastened to lead everyone inside.

As Lin Xiao and his companions stepped into the cave, they found the surroundings remarkably plain. The walls were dull gray stone, lacking any kind of ornate decoration.

This was quite different from their preconceived notions about a Nascent Soul cultivator’s lair.

They had assumed that such a master would be wealthy and live in a lavish dwelling.

Yet, here the Yuan Family Ancestor lived in such austere simplicity.

However, the Yuan Family Ancestor probably wasn’t poor, right? Perhaps he simply preferred frugality.

Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu thought to themselves.

Still, imagining themselves trapped in such a barren cave for ten or fifteen days made their scalps tingle. Moreover, they had heard that the Yuan Family Ancestor had been in seclusion here for many years.

Just thinking about it was enough to make Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu feel uneasy.

After surveying the cave’s interior, their gazes finally settled on the elderly figure seated cross-legged on a large stone at the innermost part.

Then, they heard Yuan Bi say beside them, “These two, this is the Yuan Family Ancestor.”

At a glance, anyone could tell the ancestor’s condition was dire.

He was enveloped in a thick, dense black mist that almost obscured his features and form.

It was as if he was being gradually swallowed by darkness itself.

Yet, through the gaps in the black mist, one could still discern his gaunt, withered appearance, with strange black patches mottling his face.

Jiang Youfu glanced over curiously but, mindful of the other company, refrained from staring too openly.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao didn’t bother to put on any pretense or stall for time.

He directly addressed Yuan Bi, saying, “Head of the Yuan family, then let’s begin. I kindly ask that the two of you step outside for now.”

Yuan Bi naturally understood that since Lin Xiao was unwilling to be seen, he certainly wouldn’t want anyone witnessing the treatment either.

So he was mentally prepared to leave them alone.

After all, these two were friends of Yuan Qing.

Without them, even if a stranger claimed to have a way to save the patriarch, Yuan Bi would have to grit his teeth and give it a try.

Because, honestly, nothing could be worse than the current situation.

Moreover, the patriarch’s secluded chamber was protected by numerous defensive formations.

If it turned out that the person offering help harbored ill intentions, Yuan Bi had contingency plans ready.

Therefore, he didn’t object when Lin Xiao requested they leave. Instead, he nodded at Lin Xiao and said, “Then we’ll trouble you two, fellow cultivators.”

With that, they stepped out of the cave, thoughtfully closing the massive stone door behind them.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao knew the Yuan family had prepared safeguards against any treachery—quite understandable.

If the roles were reversed, he would do the same.

After all, he had no intention of doing anything wrong.