"I know what I am saying, Mother. It was I who provided the initial information about the realm. I have my reasons for saying this," Su Kang stated.
His gaze steady and confident as he met her worried eyes, trying to reassure her with a silent plea for trust. He then turned his attention back to the assembled elders.
"If we are to explore the realm, then I wish to lead that task."
A ripple of uncertainty passed through the other elders; they exchanged hesitant glances, unsure how to respond.
Su Kang was undeniably stronger than many of them, perfectly capable of leading such an expedition. Yet, he was young.
If anything were to happen to him—whether due to a lack of experience or an overwhelmingly unfavorable situation—the Su clan would lose its most promising seedling. It was something they could not afford.
"Do you possess some particular advantage within the realm?" the Second Elder asked, his tone careful.
"Otherwise, what justification do we have for sending you, when old monsters from other factions will be spearheading their own teams?"
"Yes, Elder. I do possess an advantage," Su Kang said, his tone unwavering. "Because of it, I believe I am more suited for this task than anyone else."
"Then what is this advantage you speak of?" the First Elder inquired, his curiosity piqued, a sharp, calculating glint in his aged eyes.
A similar thought sparked in the minds of the others: Su Kang must possess more detailed information about the realm than he had initially shared.
If true, the clan could benefit significantly. However, the question of whether Su Kang himself would be allowed to go remained highly debatable.
"Unfortunately, I cannot share this information," Su Kang replied, bowing his head slightly. "I apologize for this."
"You…!" The First Elder's expression wavered—surprised, but also visibly displeased. For a moment, his usual composure cracked. Withholding such information, especially when it pertained to the clan's future, could easily be construed as selfishness or distrust.
A subtle wave of displeasure passed over the faces of several other elders; some likely thought Su Kang didn't trust them enough.
Su Chen, seeing the atmosphere souring by the second, and noticing even Su Jinhai's troubled expression, decided to step in.
He had his suspicions—particularly that his son's so-called "opportunity" was related to this hidden advantage.
"Can you tell me about it, Kang'er?" he asked, his voice soft but measured, his tone carefully neutral so as not to pressure his son.
"No, Father," Su Kang replied without a moment's hesitation. "I cannot share this with you either, nor with anyone else."
Su Han, always quick to grasp subtle cues, caught the unmistakable finality in his nephew's tone. "So, for some compelling reason, you are unable to disclose this advantage of yours?" he asked, emphasizing the question, his brow creased with thought.
"Yes, Uncle. I cannot share this information," Su Kang confirmed. He was, of course, thinking of Fate. If he were to lead the exploration, he planned to rely on Fate's ability to sense destiny, minimizing any actual risk to himself or the clan.
He had no intention of blindly risking lives when he didn't know what lay hidden within the realm. Furthermore, the clan now possessed enough spiritual herbs to refine a dozen Core-Formation Pills.
There was no urgent need to gamble everything on the realm. With time and patience, they could pursue a more favorable path. There was no reason to rush headfirst into the unknown, especially when they had already gained so much.
Su Jinhai silently observed Su Kang's determined posture and unwavering eyes. He must be under some kind of restriction, he thought.
He knew that certain jade scrolls used by powerful factions in other states; information or cultivation techniques recorded within such scrolls often had some seals preventing them from being shared with others, whether verbally or through spiritual transmission. This kind of information could only be shared through the scroll itself.
"What are your thoughts on this?" Su Jinhai asked, his gaze sweeping across the other council members.
"It is too early for us to decide definitively whether to participate in the exploration," the Second Elder spoke first, his voice thoughtful and calm, fingers intertwined atop the table.
"News of the realm will take a couple of months to spread across the states. There is no need for us to be the first to act. We should observe the situation as it unfolds. Heng State will undoubtedly participate as well.
Our approach should be passive and reactionary for now—we should not rush into this." A subtle nod from the Clan Head acknowledged his point.
"Yes, we can definitely afford to wait more," the elder lady spoke again, her voice firm as she agreed with this cautious remark, her sharp eyes glinting with pragmatism.
"We must not think only of the big fish in this lake—when far more dangerous predators are already circling beneath the surface. Our strategy should be to acquire whatever benefits we can from this exploration, without risking any irreversible losses to our clan."
A murmur of assent rippled around the table at her words, many faces showing quiet relief.
"Moreover," the First Elder commented, his brow furrowed in contemplation. His aged voice carrying the weight of experience, "many alliances will likely form among factions, be it factions from Jiang State or factions from Heng State.
Heng State will definitely dominate it, so we should consider this more carefully before taking any major decision."
Su Jinhai observed the nods of agreement from the others. It was clear there was no appetite to make such a significant decision in this single meeting.
Some were likely thinking it would be perfectly acceptable if the Su Clan didn't explore the realm at all. With Heng State involved, the best treasures would naturally fall into their hands; why should the Su Clan take risks for the potential benefit of others? A sense of shared caution settled over the room, a collective exhale almost audible.
"Very well," Su Jinhai declared, his voice calm but decisive, bringing the matter to a close.
"We will defer the decision regarding our involvement in the realm's exploration to a later date. For now, let us conclude this meeting."
The elders all rose to their feet, the subtle rustle of robes filling the chamber. As Su Jinhai stood, preparing to depart, they bowed in silent deference.
Soon, the two senior-most elders took their leave, accompanied by the elder woman, their footsteps echoing softly in the now quieter hall.
Su Kang remained seated, his expression thoughtful. He noticed his mother, Dong Yue, also looked a little more relaxed, the tension visibly easing from her shoulders now that the immediate decision about the realm's exploration had been deferred.
A moment later, his younger uncle, Su Han approached him with his father, a relieved smile gracing his charming features.
"Su Kang," Su Han said warmly, his voice threaded with sincerity, "I meant to thank you properly for the information that led us to the realm's discovery. Truly, without you, none of this would have been possible.
But please, don't feel you're obligated to participate in the actual exploration. We certainly don't want to tempt fate by pushing our luck unnecessarily." He sighed, a hint of weariness in his tone.
"I'm sure elder brother, wouldn't take excessive risks if he were to venture inside again." He was talking about Su Chen.
After securing such a bounty of herbs, it would be nothing short of foolish to court danger in an uncharted and potentially deadly territory.
The family had been handed a treasure trove; protecting that gain was now of utmost importance. So long as they had the time to refine the pills undisturbed, there was no urgent need to chase further risk.
"Su Kang, your uncle is right," Dong Yue interjected softly, her voice gentle but underlined with quiet resolve. She stepped closer, her husband at her side, and met Su Kang's eyes with the calm strength only a mother could wield.
"You've only just returned to us. Moreover, your father and I have already visited the realm once. Let us handle any future exploration."
Su Chen gave a solemn nod, standing beside his wife in silent agreement. Her words mirrored his own thoughts exactly.
"Mother, I know you're worried about me," Su Kang sighed, shaking his head gently. "But it's not as if I haven't experienced the wider world."
He had experienced several secret realms in the Central Plains due to his vision, and had even read some general information regarding the nature of such places there.
He likely knew more about the intricacies of realm exploration than anyone currently in the Su clan. With that knowledge, his own abilities, and the unseen assistance of Fate, he felt a quiet confidence in his capacity to navigate such challenges safely.
"You don't have to worry. Nothing has been decided yet," Su Chen added gently, trying to erase Dong Yue's lingering concern.
"Everyone needs time to think and come to their own conclusions. Until then, I'll do my best to make sure we don't walk down a reckless path."
"Yes, I understand." Dong Yue nodded her head. "Let's go." She said with a quiet relief.