“I…” Butcher looked like he was about to cry. “Fine. I’ll listen. I’ll endure.”

  But in his heart, he cursed nonstop.

  How many chickens even count as a proper flock? Ten already is a flock!

  That damned bald monk—he definitely just can’t bear to see me eat meat.

  After everyone left, Viper came over and patted Butcher on the shoulder in mock comfort.

  “Just hold on a bit. Chickens reproduce fast. Once my master can’t even keep track of their numbers, you can steal one every day and he won’t notice.”

  Butcher hesitated. “…Are you sure he can’t count?”

  Viper flashed a wicked grin. “Relax. Once there are enough, not just my master—nobody in this valley will be able to tell.”

  Enough? How many is “enough”?

  Butcher suddenly felt uneasy. That damned Viper had tricked him before—last time he’d been fooled into raising pig, and the pig had turned out to be his junior brother.

  Now he wanted to trick him into raising chickens too.

  Butcher’s face darkened. He pulled out both butcher knives and lunged at Viper.

  ......

  Preston soon summoned all members of the Evercrest family back for a final discussion.

  After careful consideration, every member who possessed any cultivation talent chose to leave together.

  Those without spiritual roots, or whose aptitude was truly dismal, chose to remain behind in their homeland.

  Preston did not force a single person.

  The construction workers continued rebuilding the estate. The remaining clan members were left with enough wealth to live comfortably for generations.

  Of course, the two branches of the family would not be completely cut off.

  Preston decided that once every year, someone would be sent back to assess the children’s spiritual potential. If any descendant produced a child with exceptional talent, they would be brought back to the main family for proper cultivation.

  And if the opportunity arose, they would be sent to a Great Righteous Sect.

  After all, Lauren had already forged a connection to the Great Righteous Sect. Under her influence, Preston firmly believed the Evercrest family would only grow stronger with time.

  ......

  Three days later, Lauren stood at the head of more than two hundred members of the Evercrest family, preparing to depart.

  When it came time to take roll, one name was missing.

  Nelson.

  A servant quietly reported to Preston that Nelson had disappeared. Lady Odessa had already gone to look for him.

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  Preston was furious.

  “What nonsense is he pulling now? Hurry up and find him!”

  Lauren walked over. “Grandpa, what’s wrong?”

  Preston let out a heavy sigh. “Your father’s gone missing. Everyone is waiting on him.”

  Lauren swept her gaze over the bustling crowd. “People are still packing. I’ll go find him.”

  Preston snorted. “Why bother? Let him rot here.”

  The incident had completely shattered Preston’s trust in his once-favored son.

  But Lauren felt this was something that had to be settled face-to-face.

  She expanded her spiritual sense—and soon located him in a small grove outside the city.

  Her mother, Odessa, was there with him.

  “If you don’t go,” Odessa said, her voice trembling, “how can I go with them?”

  “The matter from back then has already been investigated,” Odess murmured. “I… I don’t blame you anymore.”

  “Nelson,” Odessa cried, “say something!”

  Nelson clutched his head, breathing unevenly. After a long, suffocating silence, he finally spoke.

  “That child came back for revenge. And because of that, I almost got my entire family killed. I don’t have the face to follow them to Sunspire.”

  Odessa’s eyes reddened.

  “But in the end, wasn’t it Lauren who saved everyone? It was your own daughter who pulled us back from the brink.”

  Nelson’s voice broke. “Odessa… I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t say that.” She shook her head slowly. “Are we supposed to carry other people’s sins for the rest of our lives? You should be the one comforting me—yet I’m the one doing the comforting.”

  After a pause, he whispered, “If I hadn’t gone out with them the night before our wedding… maybe none of this would’ve happened.”

  Odessa let out a long, exhausted sigh.

  “I’ve resented that too. For years. But I’ve finally made peace with it.”

  “Your friends all went drinking and fooling around before their weddings. If they did invite you, you would’ve looked petty for refusing. And who hired that prostitute that night?”

  Nelson shook his head weakly. “I asked them all later. Every single one denied it. None of them seemed to be lying.”

  Odessa closed her eyes.

  “Then let’s treat it as an accident. From today forward, let’s never mention that woman or that child again. Not ever.”

  Lauren had been standing nearby for some time, listening in silence. At this moment, she finally stepped forward.

  Odessa startled. “Who’s there?!”

  “It’s me, Mother.”

  “Lauren!” Odessa hurriedly stood up, forcing a smile. “Are you here to call us? It’s time to leave?”

  “Yes,” Lauren nodded. “Grandpa asked me to bring you both over. Everyone is waiting.”

  “Alright, we’ll go right now.” Odessa turned and tugged at Nelson’s sleeve. “Come on, Nelson.”

  He didn’t move.

  Lauren shifted her gaze to him.

  “Father,” she said quietly, “do you believe in fate?”

  Even if you had locked yourself in your room that night… what was meant to happen would still have happened.”

  Both of them looked at her in confusion.

  Lauren drew a slow breath. To them, the concept of Heaven’s Will was still distant and abstract.

  “She only used our family as a tool for her return. Her true target was never you.”

  “It was me.”

  Nelson froze.

  “For tens of thousands of years, the Will of Heaven has suppressed all living beings, preventing ascension. Even Mahayana cultivators cannot defy it.”

  “Someone once told me… I never truly had a sister.”

  “She was merely an eye placed by Heaven into the mortal world—to erase those who dare to challenge ascension.”

  “This is the fate of ants.”

  Nelson and Odessa were completely stunned, unable to comprehend her words.

  Lauren said nothing more. She turned and left.

  To them, it still felt like personal vendetta, like human malice. They had not yet realized that what pursued them was not a person—but inevitability.

  After a long while, Odessa finally spoke:

  “If what Lauren said is true, then this was ordained by Heaven. We can’t escape it. That woman… may never have been your daughter at all.”

  She pulled Nelson up.

  “Let’s go. If we’re late, your father will scold you again.”

  Nelson nodded slowly and followed her.

  .....

  The manor Drake had given them was said to house only a “small family.”

  In reality, it was enormous.

  It could easily accommodate two or even three times the current size of the Evercrest clan.

  Preston was practically glowing as he walked through the estate.

  “Oh, Lauren… thank the Immortal Venerable for us. Truly, thank him!”

  The uncles echoed with excitement.

  The eldest uncle said eagerly, “If only we could meet the Immortal Venerable one day and thank him in person…”

  Lauren’s expression stiffened. She silently thought: Unless the heavens themselves collapse, Master will not come down the mountain for something like that.

  Preston tapped her lightly on the forehead.

  “You want to meet an Immortal Venerable? Keep dreaming.”