Inside the banquet hall of the Chen Estate, wine and meat filled the tables amidst the clinking of glasses and the sound of music and dance. Wen Buhuo sat calmly beside Master Wang, leaving the delicacies before him untouched. His expression remained serene, but his gaze discreetly observed everything in the hall. Over the past few days, the young master of the Wang family had grown resentful and jealous of the high regard his father showed Wen Buhuo; at this moment, he looked upon Buhuo with utter disdain.

Halfway through the feast, the head of the Chen family let out a hearty laugh and announced loudly, "Everyone, it is rare for us to gather like this. I wonder, have any of you ever witnessed the methods of an Immortal?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a white-haired elder slowly stepped out from behind the curtain. He bore an air of transcendent grace, a faint smile playing on his lips. With a flick of his hand, every lamp in the hall was instantly extinguished, plunging the room into darkness. Then, as his hand seals shifted, a ball of fire transformed into a phoenix, soaring and dancing through the air with lifelike precision, casting flickering shadows across the hall.

The room erupted in gasps of amazement and applause. The young Wang master stared with wide eyes, secretly vowing to learn such immortal arts to surpass the "pretentious" Wen Buhuo.

When the performance ended, the Chen patriarch spoke again: "This is an Immortal I happened to meet by chance. Now, in his mercy, he is willing to seek out descendants with 'Immortal Affinity' among the mortals to bestow his teachings! Anyone under the age of twenty may step forward and try!"

The hall seethed with excitement once more. Many young masters and ladies rushed to join the queue. The elder touched their wrists one by one, surging his spiritual power, but most showed no reaction and were quickly eliminated. The young Wang master squeezed through the crowd, full of hope, only to end up at the back of the line. Ultimately, out of more than a dozen people, only two emitted a faint glow upon contact; the young Wang master gained nothing and retreated to the side in dejection.

Secret Talk Under the Candlelight

After the banquet dispersed, Wen Buhuo asked Master Wang to return first, using the excuse of admiring the night scenery to remain in the Chen Estate for further investigation.

As the night grew deep, he employed his concealment techniques to weave silently through the Chen back gardens. Suddenly, a faint ripple of spiritual energy caught his attention. Following the fluctuation, he saw a familiar figure moving stealthily through the depths of the mansion—it was Mo Caihuan!

Wen Buhuo pulled her into a dark corner and whispered urgently, "Caihuan, what are you doing..."

Mo Caihuan was dressed as a maid, her face slightly altered with a disguise; she had clearly infiltrated the Chen Estate to gather intelligence. Seeing Wen Buhuo, her eyes flashed with surprise before turning resolute. "Brother Wen, they killed my mother. I cannot sit by and do nothing!"

"Do you have any idea how dangerous this place is?" Wen Buhuo’s tone carried a hint of reproach. "This isn't a task you can handle. Go back quickly—I will help you take your revenge!"

Mo Caihuan remained silent for a moment before relaying what she had discovered over the past few days: "The butler, the master, and the young master of this house... they are all suspicious. Their movements are very hidden. I don't know exactly what they are doing, but Brother Wen, you must be careful."

Wen Buhuo felt a growing weight in his heart. He nodded and said, "I understand. Now, listen to me and leave this place immediately."

He knew that while Mo Caihuan appeared fragile, she was incredibly strong inside and had put in an immense amount of effort.

Suddenly, Mo Caihuan stepped forward and hugged him gently, her voice trembling slightly. "Brother Wen... after this is over, can we live together?"

Wen Buhuo did not answer; he only patted her back softly. He knew she was seeking an anchor, a warm home. But as he was currently treading the Great Path of Cultivation, he could not give her that promise.

He escorted Mo Caihuan out of the Chen Estate and watched her go until her figure completely vanished into the night. He knew that while her infiltration was risky, it had provided him with precious clues. The secrets of the Chen Estate seemed to run deeper than he had imagined.