"You see? You're overthinking again, aren't you?"

"Patriarch."

After several elders exchanged glances, the Chen Family's First Elder was the first to speak. "As far as I know, Jiangbei Chen Family Station No. 37 is an abandoned station. After it was reactivated some days ago, the camp contained only an Eerie Fire and a dilapidated Wooden Hut."

"There were no other defensive structures."

"Logically speaking, this camp should not have survived to the third day of the Rainy Season—especially one that arrived ahead of schedule."

"I suspect..."

"Perhaps Young Master Chen Fan has simply been lucky. After all, Qiuhe Wang Family Station No. 16 has not fallen yet either."

"Exactly, exactly. That is what we believe as well."

"Most likely."

The elders quickly reached a consensus. Mainly because there was no choice but to agree—there simply was no other possibility. Other than saying he had good luck, what else could they say?

The Chen Family Patriarch, seated in his chair, did not speak. He merely raised his head to look at Chen Quan, signaling that he could voice his thoughts.

"I..."

Chen Quan could not fathom what his father was thinking at all. He only felt restless and uneasy. Even though he knew his father did not love Chen Fan, Chen Fan was still his father's son.

Killing his older half-brother.

Off the scales, it did not weigh four ounces; on the scales, a thousand pounds would not be enough.

Now that it had been laid bare, Chen Quan felt his heart pounding incessantly inside his chest, as though flames were burning within him. He forcibly suppressed the fear in his heart, but his voice still trembled. "In your son's opinion, Big Brother should simply have rather good luck."

"How about..."

"Should we try to rescue him? Bring Big Brother home?"

As soon as those words fell—

The elders exchanged glances again, each seeing the helplessness in the others' eyes. Young Master Chen Quan seemed to have been frightened out of his wits. The Chen Family did not possess the ability to venture into the Wasteland during the Rainy Season to save someone. Why was he spouting such nonsense?

"..."

The Chen Family Patriarch, seated at the head of the hall, lowered his eyes again. He remained silent for a long while, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly against the table.

There was no other sound in the council hall.

Only the heart-clenching sound of tapping on the table could be heard. Everyone unconsciously slowed their breathing, not daring to make any unnecessary sound, not even daring to make any unnecessary movement.

After a long time—

A nearly imperceptible sigh finally sounded in the room.

The Chen Family Patriarch opened his eyes. A trace of weariness flashed through his clouded gaze as it swept over every face present. He spoke hoarsely.

"When my late wife was still alive, she once argued with me and ran outside the city to hide. The Chen Family searched for her for a long time before discovering that she had hidden at Jiangbei Chen Family Station No. 37. Do you all still remember this matter?"

The First Elder, who had been staring at his nose and contemplating his heart, jolted awake at those words. Horror flashed through his eyes as he turned to meet the patriarch's gaze.

"Patriarch... you mean that Jiangbei Chen Family Station No. 37 may contain the Builder inheritance Madam left behind?"

"No, no."

The Second Elder quickly shook his head in denial. "As everyone knows, whether one can awaken as a Builder depends entirely on heaven's will. Even if a Builder inheritance were left behind, it would only consist of detailed blueprint explanations, methods of energy utilization, construction blueprints, special Ghost Materials, and the like. It cannot turn an ordinary Cultivator into a Builder."

"Young Master Chen Fan already underwent awakening within the Lineage. He did not awaken as any kind of special Cultivator."

"Under normal circumstances, a second awakening is impossible."

"Quan."

The Chen Family Patriarch looked at Chen Quan and asked, word by word, "Did you arrange for Chen Fan to go to Station No. 37, or did he request that station himself?"

"I arranged it." Chen Quan had also realized the severity of the matter and did not dare conceal anything. "It was a station that had been abandoned for a long time. I even brought people to thoroughly inspect the hut back then. There was nothing inside. It was practically empty."

"Big Brother... Big Brother, he cannot possibly have become a Builder!"

"Heh."

The Chen Family Patriarch suddenly laughed. His body leaned wearily against the back of his chair. At that moment, he seemed to have visibly aged a little. It was all fate.

He did not know what kind of Builder inheritance his late wife had left behind. These members of the Chen Family were not so certain without reason; common sense truly did dictate as much. But the world was so vast—how could they possibly know everything?

Perhaps there truly was an Exotic Treasure that could turn an ordinary Cultivator into a Builder?

It was just—

It was just, why had she hidden it from him?

Did his late wife not know that if she could make Chen Fan a Builder, he would pour every resource he had into nurturing Chen Fan?

That was his son!

His biological son!

They shared the same blood. This Builder would become the North River Chen Family's greatest foundation, capable of pushing the Chen Family to greater heights. He would no longer need to wait upon that Attendant every day. How could another family's Builder compare to his own son becoming a Builder?

Was one argument enough to warrant this?

And Chen Fan.

Now that he had become a Builder, why had he not immediately returned to the Chen Family? Did Chen Fan think that he would not pour every resource into nurturing and protecting a Builder belonging to the Chen Family?

Was the North River Chen Family some dragon's pool and tiger's den?

But saying more now was useless.

A newly awakened Builder without any resources for cultivation simply could not survive this Rainy Season. Forget Chen Fan—even if he threw the Chen Family's Level 5 Builder into the Wasteland, he would not survive this Rainy Season either.

Just then—

The council hall doors were suddenly pushed open.

"Chen Family Patriarch."

Attendant Liu entered with an unhappy expression, pushed open the door, and dropped himself into his seat. Leaning forward, he stared fixedly at the Chen Family Patriarch. "Is there some important matter you need to discuss behind my back?"

"I have given so much to the Chen Family over the years, and in the end, I do not even have the right to sit in on a council meeting?"

"..."

After pausing for a moment, the Chen Family Patriarch forced out a smile. He walked behind Attendant Liu, placed both hands on his shoulders, and said helplessly, "Don't you always say that you do not want to be called over for every major and minor discussion?"

"I was going to call you, but then I thought the rain was heavy today, so I did not want to disturb your rest."

"It is nothing."

"Now that the Rainy Season is here, we were discussing the Chen Family's next moves."

"You see? You're overthinking again, aren't you?"

As he spoke, his expression remained calm as he swept his gaze over each elder present. The elders immediately understood and stared at their noses, contemplating their hearts, acting as though nothing had happened. The First Elder casually slipped the Ghosthide Map lying on the table into his robes.

"Really?"

Attendant Liu turned to give the Chen Family Patriarch a suspicious look. But when he saw Chen Quan was also present, he immediately relaxed and smiled with satisfaction. "Quan is here too. Chen Family Patriarch, this is more like it. Bring Quan along more often when you hold discussions."

"I watched this child grow up. He can accomplish great things."

"You are already advanced in years. How much longer can you keep toiling away? You should give the younger generation some opportunities."

"As if you need to tell me that." The Chen Family Patriarch feigned anger. "Quan is my son. Do I not know his abilities better than you?"

"Alright, everyone, disperse."

"It is time for morning training. Please, Attendant Liu."

"Chen Family Patriarch, please."

After the Chen Family Patriarch and the elders all left the council hall, only Chen Quan remained. His face was deathly pale, his legs drawn up on the chair, his body trembling faintly, his eyes filled with unwillingness and hatred.

But soon, the corners of his mouth curled upward slightly.

Fortunately—

Fortunately, the Rainy Season.