Chapter 421: Finding the Manor

Night fell exceptionally early in the mountains and forests.

Fortunately, the driver was well-prepared; he took a torch from his personal bag and lit it.

"We need to be even more careful at night. If we encounter any danger and can't outrun it, remember that you can climb directly into the trees."

"By the way, you two both know how to climb trees, right?"

He confirmed this with Su Yan and Zhou Li with great caution.

Compared to the driver's nervousness, the expressions of the two were far more relaxed.

With their strength, as long as they didn't encounter massive wild animals or a pack of wolves, there was no need to be too tense.

"Don't worry, with us here, there won't be any danger," Zhou Li replied casually.

The driver didn't know whether to laugh or cry, feeling that they simply didn't understand the dangers of the mountains.

"In any case, you must stay close to me."

With one last reminder, he quickened his pace and moved forward.

They continued walking like this for about another two hours before Zhou Li signaled for them to stop and rest.

"Senior Sister Su, have some water."

He proactively handed over the water flask.

"I'm not thirsty." Su Yan indeed felt neither thirst nor fatigue.

Zhou Li didn't mind; he naturally knew how strong Su Yan's physical stamina was.

"Senior Sister Su, why do you think the Kong family lives in seclusion in a place like this? If they were traveling back and forth, wouldn't they find it inconvenient?"

Zhou Li couldn't understand it.

Although they were an exorcist family and needed to maintain a sense of mystery, there was no need to truly live in seclusion in the mountains.

He truly preferred the way his own Zhou family conducted themselves.

Su Yan said, "I don't know."

Zhou Li stared at her tense profile, his gaze flickering slightly.

Kong Xiang had said when they were at the ancestral lands that she was also a member of the Kong family, but through investigating her life trajectory since childhood, she had absolutely no connection to the Kong family. Therefore, there must be some unknown secret hidden within this.

"Senior Sister Su, is there any danger in us going to the Kong family this time?"

Although Su Yan refused to tell him the purpose of their trip, there was no harm in asking in a different way.

"If you are afraid, it is still not too late to leave now."

This was the answer Su Yan gave, and Zhou Li immediately understood intelligently.

"Senior Sister Su, saying that makes me sad. I truly consider you a friend; when a friend is in trouble, one should naturally be willing to risk everything to help."

"Zhou Li, actually, I know why you are intentionally approaching me. But you are overthinking it. I am just someone used to a carefree life; if it weren't for some private matters, I wouldn't involve myself with any family at all. So, I advise you not to waste your time and energy on me. Otherwise, once we truly reach the Kong family and something uncontrollable happens, I might not have the energy to protect you," Su Yan said these words coldly.

Aside from the Kong family, she did not rule out the possibility of the Zhou, Ma, or Feng families; therefore, the schemes they were plotting were destined to fail.

The expression on Zhou Li's face froze for a moment.

Some things were better left understood between the lines; he hadn't expected her to say it so bluntly.

However, her deduction was still incorrect. His reason for approaching her was actually to be able to marry her as his wife.

"Senior Sister Su, no matter what you say, I definitely won't leave now!"

He expressed his intentions with a firm attitude.

Su Yan was not at all surprised by his decision. "Suit yourself."

In any case, she had already said what needed to be said.

After the three of them rested for half an hour, they continued forward.

But as they walked, the driver's walking speed and direction began to waver.

"I clearly remember it being this way..."

Hearing his murmur, Zhou Li immediately went to his side to inquire.

"Brother, is there a problem?"

The driver's eyebrows were knit together like a twisted rope as he spoke hesitantly, "I am certain we are heading in the right direction, but why does it look different from the last time I came here?"

"What is different?"

"I remember there should be a large grove of pines and cypresses right here, but they are gone now." The driver said, gesturing with his hands.

Taking advantage of the darkness, Zhou Li scanned the surroundings. He knew their direction had been correct all along, so he either didn't see the pines the driver mentioned, or they hadn't reached them yet.

"It's alright, let's just keep walking ahead and see."

The driver had no other good way, so he could only continue forward.

The three of them walked for about another hour before the driver stopped, panting heavily from exhaustion.

"No, this is really wrong. This mountain isn't this high at all. The two times I came before, it only took two or three hours to reach the top."

But they had already been walking for nearly five hours.

Hearing the driver say this, Zhou Li instinctively looked toward Su Yan.

Su Yan also stopped and raised her gaze to look around.

"Are you sure?"

This question was, of course, directed at the driver.

The driver nodded with absolute certainty.

Su Yan did not speak, but instead took a talisman out from her Qiankun bag.

Zhou Li recognized at a glance that it was a talisman used to break a barrier.

Since this was the Kong family's territory, it was only natural that a barrier would block them.

Sure enough, after Su Yan performed a series of operations, they, who were originally standing halfway up the mountain, actually appeared on the towering mountain peak.

The driver was dumbfounded, having no idea what had just happened.

He only saw Su Yan wave her hand, throwing out something bright, and then the surrounding scenery changed.

This matter was both miraculous and terrifying.

"Senior Sister Su, look over there!"

Zhou Li shouted in pleasant surprise.

In truth, even without him saying it, Su Yan had already seen the brightly lit manor at the foot of the mountain.

That manor was so vast that its end could not be seen at a glance.

"This must be the Kong family!"

Even for Zhou Li, who was also from one of the four great families, he was incredibly excited at this moment.

The Kong family had vanished over a hundred years ago. If it weren't for the address Kong Xiang had previously given Su Yan, combined with the driver's guidance, finding this place would surely not have been an easy task.

Su Yan remained noncommittal, but a hint of excitement also surfaced in her eyes.

"Wh-who are you people, exactly?" The driver's trembling voice rang out from behind the two.

At this moment, he was truly frightened.

Zhou Li withdrew his gaze and pulled a stack of bills directly from his pocket, handing them over.

"Brother, this is an extra subsidy for you. Just pretend you didn't see anything."

The driver, who had been staring at them warily, saw so much money that his eyes went wide; there wasn't a trace of fear or suspicion left.

"I didn't see anything at all!"

He spoke with great vigor.

Zhou Li revealed a satisfied smile. "Brother, you can head back now."

The subsequent matters no longer required him at all.

The driver did not dare to stay for even another second and turned to leave immediately.

A moment later, only Su Yan and Zhou Li remained on the mountain peak.

"Senior Sister Su, let's head down now."

Although the Kong family looked close, there was still a considerable distance to travel if they actually wanted to walk down the mountain to get there.

(End of Chapter)