Translator: CinderTL
"Alright, my dear nephew must be exhausted from his long journey. Yinu, take him to rest."
"Yes, Father."
"Thank you, Uncle. I'll take my leave now." Xu Sanyan cupped his hands in a respectful bow, his gaze sweeping over the man beside Chang Yulian before rising to depart.
Chang Yinu led Xu Sanyan away, the pair disappearing from sight.
Old Master Chang stared after Xu Sanyan's retreating figure, his thoughts unreadable.
The eldest son, Chang Linmu, spoke up. "Father, this man's identity remains unclear. Should we send someone to investigate?"
The second son, Chang Fangmu, nodded in agreement with his elder brother's suggestion.
Old Master Chang replied calmly, "This young man may be young, but his cultivation level is remarkable—already at the Soul Refining Realm."
"What?!"
The Chang brothers were inwardly shocked. They were merely at the Dao Seeking Realm and couldn't discern Xu Sanyan's true depth. They had assumed he was concealing his cultivation level with a secret technique, never imagining it was so advanced.
The brothers simultaneously turned to watch Xu Sanyan's departure. Chang Fangmu frowned. "Father, with such a high cultivation level, can our younger sister truly succeed?"
Old Master Chang glanced at him. "Rest assured, your sister knows her limits. She won't act recklessly."
"Hmm." Chang Fangmu nodded slowly.
The Chang Family had a notorious reputation. While those outside the Chaotic Cloud Mountains might be unaware, within these mountains, many had heard of them.
This wasn't due to the Chang Family's profound strength, but rather the 'slightly' peculiar nature of their cultivation methods.
Euphemistically, it was called the 'Great Yin-Yang Dao'; bluntly, it was Yin-Yang Harmonization.
However, their methods differed slightly from ordinary Yin-Yang Harmonization. They not only absorbed the vital essence of their Human Furnaces, but also their divine souls, gradually driving the Furnaces mad until they became mere tools.
The Chang Family also possessed mystical arts that complemented their cultivation methods, allowing them to refine Human Furnaces into puppets under their control, each possessing considerable power.
However, this process was time-consuming. Completely draining a Human Furnace and refining it into a puppet required at least three to four years, and sometimes over a decade.
Chang Linmu knew that their mother, Old Master Chang's wife, had been an exceptional Human Furnace. It had taken over thirty years to completely refine her.
Therefore, obtaining a high-quality Human Furnace was exceedingly difficult, and the refinement process was even more arduous and costly, requiring both time and resources.
The results were remarkable. The puppet controlled by Old Master Chang alone possessed power comparable to an Initial Stage Soul Refinement cultivator.
Chang Fangmu frowned in thought. If Young Master Lin's cultivation level was so high, could his younger sister, who was only at the Initial Stage of the Dao Seeking Realm, successfully manipulate him?
Of course, this manipulation wouldn't rely on cultivation level, but rather on certain "skills"—unique abilities possessed by the Chang Family...
Once someone tasted it, they would crave it like marrow, finding it impossible to resist. Gradually, without realizing it, they would become completely ensnared.
Like a frog slowly boiled in warm water, once the temperature reached a certain point, escape would be impossible, and they would be irrevocably transformed into a "member of the Chang Family."
Even cultivators with profound cultivation levels, who had heard of the Chang Family's reputation, found it nearly impossible to escape once they carelessly fell into their trap.
Beside him, Chang Yulian lowered her head slightly, glancing at the handsome man standing stiffly beside her like a wooden statue. She sighed inwardly.
This was her husband, once a young man of extraordinary talent and chivalry. Alas...
He was no longer useful.
It was partly her own fault for failing to fully master the secret technique, nearly ruining him. She desperately needed to find a replacement.
With her eyelids lowered, Chang Yulian mused, Sister, you're getting another bargain this time...
On one side of Chang Family Village, within a larger courtyard, Chang Yinu gazed at Xu Sanyan with a radiant smile, a hint of sweetness lingering in her expression. Every movement exuded youthful vitality, instantly endearing her to others.
Xu Sanyan was particularly fond of this type of woman—or rather, he was fond of any woman who was beautiful. He wasn't picky at all, as Lanlan from the ghost city and Xun Ancai from the Dog Clan could attest.
"Brother Lin, how do you like living here?" Chang Yinu pressed close to Xu Sanyan, pointing to one of the rooms. As she spoke, her delicate body brushed against him almost imperceptibly, the faint fragrance emanating from her skin drifting into Xu Sanyan's nostrils, stirring his imagination.
"It's wonderful, thank you, Miss Chang," Xu Sanyan replied politely.
Chang Yinu's sweet smile faltered, a hint of displeasure crossing her face. "Why do you keep calling me 'Miss Chang'? It sounds so formal and distant. Just call me Yin'er."
Xu Sanyan offered an apologetic smile. "My mistake. Thank you, Yin'er."
"That's better! You can settle in here comfortably. If you need anything, just call for me. I live..." Chang Yinu paused, her eyes twinkling mischievously, deliberately drawing out the suspense to appear playful and endearing.
"There!" Chang Yinu pointed to the room next to Xu Sanyan's.
"So close?" Xu Sanyan was taken aback. They were separated by only a single wall?
Chang Yinu's fingers brushed casually across his arm as she countered, "What's wrong with that?"
"Well... it's not that I mind, but as a man living so close to Yin'er, I'm more concerned about your reputation." Xu Sanyan's hesitation was tinged with a hint of anticipation, perfectly embodying the phrase "feigning modesty." He looked like someone with wicked intentions but lacking the courage to act on them.
"Reputation?" Chang Yinu tilted her head slightly, her large eyes blinking innocently.
"N-never mind. I should get back now." Xu Sanyan fled in disarray, hurrying into his room and slamming the door shut.
"Giggle..."
Chang Yinu's crisp laughter rang in his ears, making him feel as if a kitten were clawing at his heart.
Xu Sanyan bolted the door, his expression instantly shifting to calm, all traces of his earlier bashfulness vanished.
"Slut."
He curled his lip. This woman was clearly a "contrast girl"—she might dress pure, but she was a lustful woman at heart. He'd seen plenty of her type before.
His gaze swept the room. The furnishings were simple: a bed, a set of table and chairs—nothing remarkable.
Xu Sanyan sat down, placed the secret realm fruit on the table, took out a medicinal pill, and swallowed it, silently regulating his breathing.
Simultaneously, he pondered his observations from the journey.
He sensed something deeply amiss with Chang Family Village—something profoundly wrong.
On the surface, everything seemed normal, yet he had detected subtle clues.
First, their excessive hospitality. Whether it was Old Master Chang, the Chang Family members, or especially Chang Yinu, all had been overwhelmingly welcoming.
Considering this was their first meeting, with no prior acquaintance, how could they so readily allow him to sleep next to Chang Yinu's room? Weren't they afraid he might be a villain?
Unless...
They had ulterior motives.
Xu Sanyan recalled the handsome man standing beside Chang Yulian in the main hall. Old Master Chang hadn't introduced him, and Xu Sanyan hadn't asked.
That man gave him an unsettling feeling. Though he could sense the man's breathing and heartbeat, he still felt... not quite alive.
(End of the Chapter)
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