Chapter 420: A Better Arrangement

“Miss, Su Yan is not here right now. I believe the most urgent matter is to treat your eyes first. We can discuss the remaining matters as we go.”

The one speaking this time was not Kong Shan Kui, but Kong Xiang, who was standing to the side.

Under the black cloth, Kong Nian’s brows furrowed tightly. At this moment, she even had the feeling that Kong Xiang had betrayed the family to side with that wench Su Yan?!

It seemed she would have to find an opportunity to warn her uncle privately later.

“Since Martial Uncle Kong says so, then it was Kong Nian who was being too anxious. I will follow Uncle's arrangement and head back to rest first.”

“Very well. Someone, escort Miss Kong back.”

With Kong Shan Kui’s command, Kong Xiang remained in the hall.

Only after Kong Nian’s figure had completely disappeared from their sight did Kong Xiang confirm once more with Kong Shan Kui.

“Patriarch, do you truly intend to cure Miss's eyes?”

Clearly, before today, Kong Xiang had not known that Kong Shan Kui had such intentions.

“Kong Nian still has other uses.”

When Kong Shan Kui spoke these words, his eyes were bottomless.

Kong Xiang froze for a moment, but then he realized something, and his expression grew unsettled.

“Patriarch, you don't want her to...”

He didn't dare say the rest of the words directly.

Kong Shan Kui did not deny it.

Kong Xiang couldn't help but shed a silent tear of sympathy for Kong Nian in his heart.

The laughable part was that Kong Nian was still obsessing over the power to seize Su Yan, unaware that the Patriarch had already arranged the path she was meant to walk in the future.

However, this was also the fate that members of the Kong family could not escape.

“By the way, did Su Yan really say she would come?” Kong Shan Kui proactively brought up Su Yan.

Kong Xiang nodded with absolute certainty. “Based on my understanding of Su Yan, she will definitely come in order to uncover the truth behind Kong Xiangrou's death back then. Patriarch, is there anything else we need to prepare?”

Since they had already decided to take Su Yan for their own use, the more prepared they were, the better.

Kong Shan Kui waved his hand. “No need. I will deal with that child when she arrives. You only need to increase the number of personnel; report to me immediately once she actually appears.”

“Yes.”

Kong Xiang even had a feeling that they wouldn't have to wait long.

With someone of Su Yan's personality, reaching the limit of how long she could delay coming here without showing up was likely already at hand.

***

After a long journey of three days and two nights, Su Yan and Zhou Li finally arrived at Nanling, where the Kong family was located.

However, arriving here did not mean they had found the Kong family.

At Zhou Li's strong insistence, they temporarily found a guesthouse in the county town to rest and regroup.

“Senior Sister Su, when I went out to buy food just now, I asked the local residents. There are many mountains here, and there are indeed many villages hidden in the mountain valleys. I contacted a local using the address you gave me to act as our guide. He said that if we set out from here, we will have to walk at least two more days of mountain paths before we can get close to the area where the Kong family is located.”

Back at the ancestral lands, Zhou Li had already seen that there was an extremely deep connection between Su Yan and the Kong family. However, whether this connection was good or bad, he could not be certain yet.

Su Yan had not told him her true purpose for going to the Kong family.

But given the friendly relationship between the Kong and Zhou families, even if he went there, the Kong family would certainly not make things difficult for him.

Perhaps he could take this opportunity to help Su Yan and gain her favor.

With Zhou Li handling these matters, it indeed saved Su Yan a lot of trouble. After listening to him, Su Yan instructed, “We will rest here tonight and set out early tomorrow morning.”

Su Yan suffered from complete insomnia that night. She imagined countless scenarios of what might happen after meeting Kong Shan Kui, and had even prepared herself for a life-and-death struggle with the Kong family.

The next morning.

Su Yan and Zhou Li boarded a carriage heading toward the mountain forests.

To be honest, this was Zhou Li's first time riding in a carriage, and he found it somewhat novel at first. But the mountain paths were rugged and the carriage swayed violently; before long, he felt as if his bones were falling apart.

After two hours, he simply jumped off the carriage and chose to walk alongside it.

“Boss Zhou, although outsiders say the scenery in the mountains is beautiful, these mountain paths are not only difficult to walk, but if you're unlucky, you might encounter wolves and tigers. You really must be careful taking your girlfriend along.”

The driver was also a guide found by Zhou Li, and he offered these warnings as he spoke.

Because Zhou Li spoke with extraordinary poise and was particularly generous with his money, the driver addressed him as "Boss Zhou."

What Zhou Li cared about more was the last sentence the driver said, and he immediately looked toward Su Yan.

Normally, Su Yan wouldn't bother to argue with a stranger's words, but Zhou Li's reaction forced her to speak.

“I am his Senior Sister, not his girlfriend.”

Zhou Li felt a hint of disappointment; it seemed he needed to keep working hard.

The driver hadn't expected he had misjudged them and hurriedly apologized.

“I am truly sorry. I saw the two of you looking like a perfect young couple, of a similar age, so I assumed you were in that kind of relationship.”

“It doesn't matter. Have you been to the place we are going before?” Su Yan proactively changed the subject.

The driver held the reins and smiled somewhat helplessly. “I actually haven't been there. I was fortunate enough to visit the outskirts of that manor once two years ago. But I've heard from others that the people living there are not simple. Getting inside is no easy task, and you might even get hurt.”

Su Yan was not surprised. How could the Kong family's territory be allowed to be entered and exited freely by ordinary people?

“If you just want to go into the mountains to see the scenery, I can take you to the mountains in the south. Many people go there frequently, and the scenery is quite nice,” the driver recommended enthusiastically.

“Thank you for your kindness, big brother, but we have already decided to go to the manor you just mentioned,” Zhou Li answered on Su Yan's behalf.

Seeing their determined attitude, the driver said no more.

The three of them traveled along the mountain path in the carriage, and by the afternoon, even the small path had disappeared.

However, the expressions of Su Yan and Zhou Li were clearly much more invigorated than when they had first set out.

The driver stopped the carriage, found a thick, large tree, and tied the reins to it.

“Go up from here. Once you cross that mountain peak, you should reach the place you are looking for.”

Su Yan looked up in the direction the driver pointed, her eyes deep and unfathomable.

So, as long as they crossed that mountain, they could reach the Kong family.

“Let's go.”

At Su Yan's command, the three continued toward the mountain peak.

The mountain did not look particularly towering, but once they truly entered, they discovered it was even more rugged than they had imagined.

Although the driver was leading the way in front, he was soon panting heavily.

What surprised him was that the young man and woman, who looked thin and delicate, actually had better physical stamina than he did.

(End of Chapter)