Chapter 404: Better to Divert Than to Block

It was called a casual meal, but Su Yan was exceptionally cautious at the dining table.

Zhou Xiongfeng was clearly testing her background, using the guise of concern to subtly pry into her affairs.

Regarding the things he could investigate, Su Yan answered everything she knew, but she remained tight-lipped about everything else.

Auntie Wang had made it very clear: shortly after the patriarchs of the three great families went to the Kong family twenty years ago, her mother began her period of secluded cultivation. Therefore, Zhou Xiongfeng was certainly one of them.

However, Su Yan knew very well that Zhou Xiongfeng did not yet know she was Kong Xiangrou's daughter; otherwise, his attitude would definitely not be like this.

"Master Su, so you're saying your circumstances are the same as Xiao Li's. Xiao Li's mother passed away early as well, and I raised him all by myself, acting as both father and mother."

Zhou Xiongfeng naturally knew that Su Yan's mother had passed away long ago, and that her father had later married another woman who gave birth to a son for the Su family. There were even rumors that Su Jianguo had sent Su Yan to live in Big Willow Village specifically because he married that woman.

Looking at it this way, Su Yan's childhood had been quite tragic.

As for why Su Yan had become an Exorcist, it likely had something to do with the old woman who raised her.

He had also investigated that Granny Li; she was herself an extremely low-profile and mysterious medium.

Just as Su Yan was being brought back to her father's side, her stepmother and stepsister had successively met with accidents. Zhou Xiongfeng would never believe these things happened without her involvement.

However, it was precisely because he knew so much that he had no suspicions regarding Su Yan's identity.

As for Zhou Chong saying the Kong family had also been constantly trying to win Su Yan over, he likely understood what the Kong family was plotting.

Watching Zhou Xiongfeng's constantly changing expressions, Su Yan wondered—while he was probing her, wasn't she also testing him?

"Actually, I especially admire Patriarch Zhou's benevolence and righteousness. Take this trip to the ancestral grounds, for example; Patriarch Zhou clearly knew it was a life-or-death gamble, yet he still let Young Master Zhou participate. Such breadth of mind is definitely not something an ordinary person can achieve."

If these words had come from anyone other than Su Yan, no one would have dared to say them.

After all, the Zhou family had deceived so many Exorcists into risking their lives for them; it was nothing to be proud of.

Sure enough, as soon as her voice fell, the seemingly relaxed atmosphere at the table came to an abrupt halt.

Su Yan continued to look at the father and son, Zhou Xiongfeng and Zhou Li, with composure.

She had said it on purpose—firstly, to expand her topic, and secondly, to drive a wedge between the father and son.

She didn't believe for a second that Zhou Li could truly remain indifferent to this matter.

"Ahem, Master Su overpraises me. I only have one son, Xiao Li; he is even more important to me than my own life. If it were possible, I would rather be the one to go in than let young people like you bear the burden. But many things are beyond my control. Although children are important, compared to the masses of living beings, I can still distinguish between what is heavy and what is light. Besides, this was Xiao Li's own choice."

Zhou Xiongfeng's tone was helpless and heavy. As he finished, he specifically looked at Zhou Li sitting beside him.

Zhou Li gave him a reassuring look.

A deep bond between father and son.

Su Yan remained noncommittal. "Thus, Patriarch Zhou and Young Master Zhou's self-sacrificing spirit is truly a model for our generation. Fortunately, although this trip was perilous, we managed to return alive without failing our mission. Regarding the situation in your ancestral grounds, does it mean you won't need to worry about it for a short period of time?"

Zhou Xiongfeng nodded immediately. "At least within ten years, there should be no need to re-enter."

This was also the point that brought him the most relief.

"And after those ten years?" Su Yan asked opportunistically.

Zhou Xiongfeng showed a look of difficulty. "It will depend on the situation. Those things suppressed below are constantly thinking of ways to escape."

Su Yan's expression turned serious. "If I am not mistaken, the reason the Zhou family established the ancestral grounds there was to suppress the evil spirits below, right? Even with the suppression of the Zhou ancestors, you still need to repair it frequently. What exactly is down there?"

Zhou Xiongfeng hadn't expected Su Yan to be so interested in this. He gave a dry cough and lowered his eyes to hide something.

Only after a moment did he lift his gaze again. "What else could it be? Naturally, those evil entities."

"It is better to divert than to block. Since that is the case, why doesn't Patriarch Zhou simply dissolve the formation and deal with those suppressed things all at once? Wouldn't that be a permanent solution?" Su Yan proposed the suggestion very earnestly.

At this moment, Zhou Xiongfeng even suspected whether Su Yan knew something.

However, he quickly dismissed the thought. Even Zhou Li was not clear on the secrets of the ancestral grounds; Su Yan was not a member of the Four Great Families, so there was no way she could know.

"I have certainly thought of it, but the ancestral grounds were placed under a restriction by our ancestors hundreds of years ago. Although those evil spirits cannot get out, even highly powerful Exorcists cannot get in, unless the restrictions of the ancestral grounds are directly broken. But if that happens, a single moment of inattention could allow the evil spirits to escape, and the people in this city would be the ones to suffer the true disaster."

Zhou Xiongfeng's explanation was perfectly logical.

Su Yan listened quietly, almost unable to stop herself from giving him a thumbs up.

"So that's how it is. I really thought about things too simply."

Zhou Li, who had remained silent the entire time, hurriedly spoke up to temporarily interrupt the conversation between the two.

Su Yan only ate symbolically before saying, "Are you well-acquainted with the Patriarch of the Kong family? This time, I had the honor of meeting several senior and junior fellow disciples from the Kong family, and they invited me to visit the Kong family when I have time."

It seemed like mere small talk, but she was beginning to observe Zhou Xiongfeng's every move.

Zhou Xiongfeng was not surprised. Given the strength Su Yan had displayed, what family wouldn't want to recruit her?

"The current Patriarch of the Kong family is Kong Shan Kui, who likely took power about fifteen years ago. Kong Shan Kui is a very old-fashioned man; he is inflexible in his ways and has a very fiery temperament. If Master Su goes there, you must be very careful with your conduct, otherwise, you might accidentally offend this Patriarch Kong."

Su Yan showed a look of surprise. "Is Patriarch Kong really that fierce?"

Watching her expression, Zhou Xiongfeng saw exactly the result he wanted.

"Kong Shan Kui is even more so than I described. That man—once he has decided on something, even eight hundred oxen couldn't pull him back."

Su Yan couldn't help but sigh. "A fiery temperament is a small matter. As long as one can be upright and righteous like Patriarch Zhou, it is a blessing for all living beings. It would be best if it weren't like the Feng family."

(End of Chapter)