The ride back to the city was quieter than usual.
Not peaceful.
Just heavy.
The black sedan moved through the evening traffic while rain gathered slowly above the skyline, dark clouds swallowing the last traces of sunlight. Zhao Ren sat in the front passenger seat, glancing at the rearview mirror every few seconds.
Because the image from earlier refused to leave his head.
That moment.
That single movement.
The way a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator froze just from Su Chen placing a hand on his shoulder.
It didn't make sense.
Not according to what Zhao Ren understood about cultivation.
And that was exactly what bothered him.
Lin Yanyan sat beside Su Chen quietly, one leg crossed over the other, her fingers resting lightly against the car door. She looked calm, but her eyes were distant.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Replaying everything.
Finally, Zhao Ren broke the silence.
"…Boss."
"Yes."
"What realm are you actually in?"
The question lingered in the car.
Lin Yanyan looked over immediately.
Not because she didn't care.
Because she wanted the answer too.
Su Chen's gaze remained outside the window.
"Qi Condensation."
Zhao Ren almost laughed.
"…That's impossible."
"It isn't."
"You suppressed a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator without effort."
"Yes."
"That's not Qi Condensation."
"It is for me."
Silence.
Zhao Ren rubbed his forehead slowly. "You're saying your realm doesn't match your strength."
"No."
A pause.
"My body doesn't."
The words settled heavily.
Lin Yanyan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Your physique."
Su Chen finally looked at her.
"You remember."
"You told your father."
"And you investigated."
"Of course I did."
There was no embarrassment in admitting it.
No hesitation.
That was just who she was.
Zhao Ren frowned slightly. "What physique?"
Su Chen stayed quiet for a moment.
Then—
"Ancient Primordial Body."
The car went silent.
Completely.
Zhao Ren turned around so fast the driver nearly swerved.
"…What?"
Even Lin Yanyan's expression shifted slightly.
Because that name—
It carried weight.
Ancient.
Forbidden.
Almost mythical.
Zhao Ren stared at him. "That physique shouldn't exist anymore."
"It does."
"That's insane."
"Yes."
Lin Yanyan looked at Su Chen carefully now, like she was seeing him again for the first time.
"…That's why your cultivation speed is abnormal."
"Yes."
"And your body breaks cultivation logic."
"Yes."
Zhao Ren let out a disbelieving breath. "Boss… do you know what kind of chaos this causes if the hidden families find out?"
Su Chen's voice remained calm.
"They won't."
"You can't guarantee that anymore."
He was right.
Today changed things.
Those scouts weren't random.
Someone had started noticing.
And once attention began in the cultivation world—
It spread fast.
Lin Yanyan leaned slightly back against the seat, eyes half-lowered.
"So now you're being watched by people stronger than Foundation Establishment."
"Yes."
"And you still look relaxed."
Su Chen looked at her quietly.
"Should I panic instead?"
"…No."
A small pause.
"But you could at least pretend this is dangerous."
"It is dangerous."
"Then why are you calm?"
His gaze returned to the rain beginning to hit the window.
"Because panic changes nothing."
The car fell silent again.
Rain spread slowly across the glass now, blurring the city lights into streaks of gold and white.
Then Su Chen's phone vibrated.
One message.
Zhao Ren's eyes shifted immediately.
"…Another problem?"
Su Chen looked at the screen.
Unknown sender.
Only one sentence.
We finally found you.
The atmosphere inside the car changed instantly.
Zhao Ren's face darkened. "Tracked?"
"Maybe."
Lin Yanyan held out her hand immediately. "Show me."
Su Chen handed her the phone.
She read the message once.
Then again.
"…No fear. No threats. Just confirmation."
"Yes."
"That means they're confident."
Zhao Ren cursed quietly. "I really hate confident enemies."
Lin Yanyan's thumb brushed lightly against the phone screen as she thought.
Then—
"They already knew about the scouts."
Su Chen looked at her.
She continued calmly.
"This message came too fast. Which means the scouts reported immediately."
Zhao Ren frowned. "Or someone nearby was watching directly."
"That too."
Lin Yanyan handed the phone back.
"But this isn't random intimidation."
"No," Su Chen agreed.
"It's contact."
Rain hit harder outside.
The city lights blurred further.
For a brief moment, the entire world outside the car felt distant.
Like something waiting beneath the surface.
Then—
The driver spoke nervously.
"…Sir."
All three looked forward.
Traffic ahead had stopped.
Not naturally.
Cars blocked the road at strange angles.
No movement.
No horns.
Nothing.
Zhao Ren's expression sharpened instantly. "Reverse."
The driver tried.
The engine stalled.
Silence.
Then—
A pressure spread through the air.
Heavy.
Cold.
Different from before.
Far stronger.
Lin Yanyan felt it immediately.
Her breathing slowed slightly.
Not from fear.
Instinct.
Su Chen's eyes darkened slightly for the first time that night.
"…Interesting."
Zhao Ren looked outside carefully. "That's not Foundation Establishment."
"No."
The rain continued falling.
But now—
Every drop felt heavier.
The streetlights flickered once.
Twice.
Then dimmed.
A figure stood in the middle of the road ahead.
Umbrella in hand.
Still.
Waiting.
The pressure in the air bent subtly around him.
Like the world itself was avoiding contact.
Zhao Ren swallowed hard.
"…Void Core?"
"No."
Su Chen opened the car door slowly.
"Half-step Spirit Transformation."
The moment those words left his mouth—
Even the air inside the car froze.
Because Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators were monsters.
Existences capable of influencing the environment itself.
And someone at that level…
Was standing in front of them.
In the mortal world.
Lin Yanyan grabbed Su Chen's wrist before he fully stepped out.
Her fingers tightened unconsciously.
"Don't underestimate this."
Su Chen looked down at her hand briefly.
Then at her eyes.
For the first time—
There was genuine concern in them.
Not cold calculation.
Not curiosity.
Concern.
"…I know," he said quietly.
But he still stepped out.
Rain fell against his shoulders immediately.
Cold wind moved through the silent street.
The man with the umbrella slowly lifted his head.
Older face.
Calm eyes.
No killing intent.
Which somehow felt worse.
"…So you really are alive," the man said softly.
Su Chen stopped a few meters away.
"You know me?"
"Yes."
A pause.
Then the old man smiled faintly.
"The upper families have been searching for the missing heir of the Su bloodline for a very long time."
Behind Su Chen—
Zhao Ren's face changed instantly.
Lin Yanyan's eyes sharpened dangerously.
Because they both understood something terrifying at the same time.
This wasn't random anymore.
This wasn't about hidden organizations.
Or surveillance.
Or curiosity.
This was about Su Chen himself.
And whatever secret existed behind his bloodline…
Had finally started reaching him.