"See? You're overthinking things again, aren't you?"

"Family Head."

After exchanging glances with the other elders, the Chen Family First Grand Elder spoke first. "As far as I know, Jiangbei Chen Family Station No. 37 was an abandoned station. Even after it was reactivated a few days ago, the camp had nothing but an Eerie Fire and a dilapidated Wooden Hut."

"There were no Defensive Structures whatsoever."

"By all rights, that camp shouldn't have survived to the third day of the rainy season, especially one that arrived early."

"My guess is..."

"Perhaps Young Master Chen Fan has simply been lucky. After all, the Qiuhe Wang Family's Station 16 hasn't fallen yet either."

"Exactly, exactly. We think so too."

"That's most likely it."

The Elders quickly reached a consensus. Mainly because they had no choice—there were no other possibilities. What could it mean besides good luck?

Seated in his chair, the Chen Family Head said nothing. He merely looked up at Chen Quan, signaling for him to share his thoughts.

"I..."

Chen Quan couldn't fathom what his father was thinking, and he felt increasingly uneasy. He knew his father wasn't fond of Chen Fan, but Chen Fan was still his son.

He had plotted to kill his own older half brother.

Left unexamined, the matter might seem trivial. Put under scrutiny, its weight was immeasurable.

Now that it had been brought out into the open, his heart pounded in his chest as though a fire were burning inside him. He forced down his fear, but his voice still trembled. "In my opinion, my older brother must have been lucky."

"How about..."

"We try to rescue him? Bring Big Brother home?"

His words hung in the air.

The elders exchanged glances again, seeing the same helplessness in one another's eyes. Young Master Chen Quan seemed to have been scared out of his mind. The Chen Family wasn't capable of rescuing someone from the Wasteland during the rainy season. Why had he started spouting nonsense?

"..."

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

No other sound could be heard in the Council Hall.

Only that nerve-racking tapping remained. Everyone instinctively slowed their breathing, afraid to make a sound. They dared not even shift unnecessarily.

A long time passed.

Only then did a barely audible sigh drift through the room.

The Chen Family Head opened his eyes. A trace of weariness flashed through his clouded gaze as he looked over everyone present and spoke hoarsely.

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

The First Grand Elder, who had been keeping his eyes lowered and his thoughts to himself, abruptly snapped to attention. Shock flashed in his eyes as he turned to meet the Family Head's gaze.

"Family Head... are you saying that Jiangbei Chen Family Station No. 37 might contain a Builder Inheritance left behind by your wife?"

"No, that can't be."

The Second Elder quickly shook his head. "Everyone knows that awakening as a Builder depends entirely on fate. Even if she left behind a Builder Inheritance, it would only contain detailed blueprint explanations, methods of using energy, Building Blueprints, special Eerie Talent, and the like. It couldn't turn an ordinary Cultivator into a Builder."

"Young Master Chen Fan already underwent his awakening in the Family. He didn't awaken as any kind of special Cultivator."

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

"Quan."

The Chen Family Head looked at Chen Quan and asked, enunciating every word, "Did you arrange for Chen Fan to go to Station 37, or did he ask to go there himself?"

"I arranged it." Chen Quan had realized how serious the matter was and dared not conceal anything. "It was a station that had been abandoned for a long time. I even took people to search the hut thoroughly. There was nothing inside. It was practically empty."

"Big Brother... Big Brother couldn't possibly have become a Builder!"

"Heh."

The Chen Family Head suddenly laughed and leaned wearily against the back of his chair. In that instant, he seemed to age visibly.

It was all fate.

He didn't know what Builder Inheritance his late wife had left behind. These elders of the Chen Family had good reason to be so certain; that was indeed how things normally worked. But the world was so vast. How could they possibly know everything?

Perhaps there really was an exotic treasure capable of turning an ordinary Cultivator into a Builder.

But...

But why hide it from me?

Didn't she know that if Chen Fan could become a Builder, I would pour every resource I had into nurturing him?

He was my son!

My own flesh and blood!

They shared the same blood. This Builder would become the North River Chen Family's greatest asset and propel the family to new heights. He wouldn't have to wait on that attendant every day anymore, either. How could another family's Builder possibly compare to his own son becoming one?

All this over a single argument?

And Chen Fan, too.

If he had become a Builder, why hadn't he returned to the Chen Family immediately? Did he think I wouldn't devote every resource to nurturing and protecting a Builder who belonged to the Chen Family?

Was the North River Chen Family some kind of death trap?

But there was no point dwelling on it now.

A newly awakened Builder without any resources to support him couldn't possibly survive this rainy season. Never mind Chen Fan—even the Chen Family's Level 5 Builder wouldn't survive this rainy season if he were thrown out into the Wasteland.

Just then—

The Council Hall doors were suddenly pushed open.

"Chen Family Head."

Attendant Liu entered with a disgruntled expression, dropped into his seat, and leaned forward to stare straight at the Chen Family Head. "What important business are you discussing that requires keeping me out?"

"After all these years of serving the Chen Family, am I no longer even qualified to sit in on a meeting?"

"..."

After a pause, the Chen Family Head forced a smile. He walked behind Attendant Liu, placed both hands on his shoulders, and said helplessly, "Aren't you always telling us not to summon you for every little meeting?"

"I was going to invite you, but then I thought, with all this rain today, I shouldn't disturb your rest."

"It's nothing important."

"The rainy season has arrived, so we were discussing what the Chen Family should do next."

"See? You're overthinking things again, aren't you?"

As he spoke, he calmly swept his gaze over each Elder present. They immediately understood and lowered their eyes, pretending nothing had happened. The First Grand Elder casually slipped the Ghosthide Map on the table into his robes.

"Really?"

Attendant Liu turned to give the Chen Family Head a suspicious look. But when he noticed Chen Quan was there too, he relaxed and smiled with satisfaction. "Quan is here as well? That's more like it, Chen Family Head. You should bring Quan along to more meetings."

"I've watched this child grow up. He'll make something of himself."

"You're getting on in years. How much longer can you keep working so hard? You have to give the young people a chance, don't you?"

"As if I needed you to tell me that." The Chen Family Head feigned indignation. "Quan is my son. Don't I know his abilities better than you?"

"All right, everyone, let's adjourn."

"It's time for morning exercises. After you, Attendant Liu."

"After you, Chen Family Head."

After the Chen Family Head and all the Elders left the Council Hall, only a deathly pale Chen Quan remained. He sat with his legs curled up on the chair, trembling slightly, his eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness to accept what had happened.

But soon, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Fortunately...

Fortunately, the rainy season had arrived early.

Heaven's mandate was with me!