At the head table, with elders like He Wude present, He Yitian and He Yiming dared not make the slightest disruptive noise or display any disrespect. However, the brothers and sisters seated in the secondary positions exchanged knowing glances; though they also kept their voices down, the atmosphere at their end was markedly livelier than that of the main dais.

It was the middle of the month again, meaning all the younger disciples were gathered in the hall to dine, He Yiming included.

Since discovering his elder brother had returned to normal, his inclination to isolate himself for closed-door cultivation had waned considerably. While he still practiced diligently in his own time, by the middle of the month, he would emerge to join everyone for their communal gathering.

Though the subtle shift in the relationship between the two brothers hadn't been outwardly apparent among the third generation, it was impossible to conceal from the shrewd and calculating He Wude.

Once the relationship between the brothers was fully restored to its former state, He Wude and the other elders finally breathed a collective sigh of relief.

At this moment, the Old Master He watched his numerous descendants gathered together with deep satisfaction. Under his efforts over the decades, the He family was flourishing vibrantly. He almost felt the illusion that the days of the He family dominating Taicang County were not far off.

Of course, turning fantasy into reality still required continuous and substantial effort.

Drawing his gaze back from the crowd, he picked up the teacup before him, took a small, measured sip, and called out in a resonant voice, "Quan-yi, what did your second uncle write back?"

He Quan-yi stepped forward. "Father, Second Brother’s letter says that the Old Master Cheng’s birthday celebration is five days from now. He has prepared gifts and is asking which of us from the estate should deliver them."

He Wude waved a hand dismissively. "Have you make the trip, Quan-yi. Ensure the gift delivered is impeccable; we must not let our standing slip."

"Yes, Father." He Quan-yi hesitated slightly. "Father, Second Brother mentioned that Xu Xiangqian is among the contingent from the Xu family attending the birthday."

He Wude paused slightly, raising his brows. "Xu Xiangqian? Is that the fourth son of the Xu family who has already broken through to the Ninth Level of Internal Strength?"

"Precisely. Xu Xiangqian is a martial fanatic. He’s over forty but remains unmarried. Decades of relentless effort allowed him to break through to the Ninth Level of Internal Strength last year, making him the only expert in the Xu Fort with a real chance of challenging the Ten Peak Layers," He Quan-yi stated grimly.

"The Ninth Level..." He Wude nodded slowly, pondering for a moment before a trace of disdainful cold laughter touched his lips. "The Xu family is clearly putting their strength on public display."

"Indeed, Father. Now that the Xu family’s second generation boasts a Ninth Level expert, even the Cheng family will view them with greater respect. If the Xu family manages to overshadow us at the Cheng family banquet, it will undoubtedly cause some trouble."

He Wude snorted coldly. "Trouble? If they want to overshadow us, I certainly won't let them have their way. Quan-xin..."

"Here, Father."

"This time, you will lead the contingent. Yitian, Yiming, along with Yihai and Yixuan—the four of you will go. I want every person in Taicang County to know that whether among the second or third generation disciples, it is the He Family Estate that stands supreme," He Wude declared, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

As the Old Master's forceful words echoed, the younger generation present felt a surge of renewed spirit, their eyes burning with fervent light.

This was not about personal grudges; it was about collective honor. Especially when the others looked at He Yitian and He Yiming, their gazes held a mixture of envy and reverence. Though they were brothers of the same generation, a clear hierarchy had been established here, marking the two as the future pride of the He Family Estate.

※※※※

After the evening meal, He Yiming returned to his own courtyard.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes narrowed, and his Internal Strength flared up instantly, though he immediately suppressed it completely within a split second.

He turned around respectfully. "Grandfather, you have arrived."

"Mmm." He Wude’s figure emerged slowly from the shadows. He looked at He Yiming with a flicker of surprise. "Yiming, how did you know I was here?"

He Yiming blinked, scratching his scalp briefly. "I heard the sound of your footsteps, Grandfather."

He Wude glanced down at the ground, his heart filling with suspicion. Had his footfalls truly been that heavy? Or was he, perhaps, truly growing old...

He sighed lightly, a shadow of wistfulness crossing his face.

He Yiming had no idea that his casual remark had evoked such profound contemplation in the old man.

In truth, his awareness of He Wude’s presence wasn't based on hearing footsteps, but on a keen sense—a spiritual intuition far more acute than that of ordinary people, inherently innate and utterly superior to anything achieved through post-natal training.

He Wude shook his head slightly, brushing aside the unsettling feeling. "Yiming, how is your cultivation progressing?"

He Yiming immediately replied with deep reverence, "Your grandson is cultivating quite well, thank you for your concern, Grandfather."

How could he possibly express that his progress wasn't merely 'well,' but an explosive, rocket-like advancement? However, this reality could never be disclosed to the old man before him.

He Wude showed a satisfied smile. "Quan-yi mentioned that a few days ago, while you were training in the underground secret room, you almost tore the entire chamber apart?"

He Yiming’s face flushed slightly, and he managed an awkward smile. "Grandfather, that was an accident. I hadn't quite mastered my control at the time."

He Wude laughed heartily several times and waved his hand. "It’s fine. As long as your cultivation remains normal, never mind tearing down one secret room—even if you dismantled my entire He Family Mansion, it would be of no consequence."

He Yiming’s face grew even redder. If he truly demolished the He Family Mansion, his father would likely rush back from the city the very next day to treat him to a long-overdue serving of bamboo shoots stir-fried with pork slices.

Yet, thinking about it now, ever since he broke through to the Fifth Level, he hadn't been struck once. After reaching the Sixth Level, the attitudes of everyone in the family toward him had subtly shifted. After the Seventh Level, the elders wouldn't dare scold or hit him; not a harsh word had been spoken.

He marveled inwardly at the benefits brought by increased strength. Though he was only fourteen this year, the status he enjoyed now was already comparable to that of his twenty-two-year-old elder brother.

He Wude strode into the room and sat down casually.

He Yiming scrambled to find tea, brew it, and stood respectfully before the Old Master.

He Wude got straight to the point. "Yiming, having you accompany Quan-xin to the Cheng family—will this interfere with your cultivation?"

"It will not," He Yiming quickly assured him.

Indeed, given his bizarre and incredible speed of cultivation, it truly wouldn't cause any major disruption.

"That is good." He Wude grew serious. "When we arrive, the Xu family will undoubtedly stir up trouble. And I am certain they will strike when your Uncle and Elder Brother are absent. That is when your performance will be critical."

He Yiming’s eyes brightened. "Grandfather, rest assured. I will not disappoint you."

He Wude let out a soft chuckle and patted Yiming’s shoulder gently. "But you must remember to be cautious in all things. If you encounter true danger, do not push yourself unnecessarily. It is better to momentarily avoid their edge than to suffer any serious setback."

"Understood," He Yiming responded gravely. Yet, inwardly, he scoffed. His grandfather had no idea of his true capabilities. If he knew Yiming had already entered the realm of the Ninth Level Internal Strength, he surely wouldn't have uttered those warnings.

He Wude issued a few more instructions before concluding, "Your uncle’s Internal Strength has already reached the peak of the Ninth Level. In Taicang County, he is second only to myself and that old fellow from the Xu family. With his skill and martial arts, he is undeniably the third most powerful figure in Taicang County. If you encounter an enemy you truly cannot handle, pass the challenge to your uncle. Remember, do not overextend yourself."

He Yiming nodded emphatically, repeatedly promising that he would not sacrifice the greater good for a small gain.

Only then did He Wude leave, satisfied. Among all the third-generation disciples, his hopes for He Yiming were the highest—he longed for him to shine at the Cheng family event, but even more, he dreaded him encountering any danger. This conflicting desire was an unavoidable burden of old age.

The next day, He Quan-xin left the courtyard where the library was permanently housed, leading several younger family members onto the main road heading toward the county seat.

Both the Cheng and Xu families kept their main bases established outside the county town, but the Cheng family was different; they were the only major clan that rooted its primary influence within the town itself.

Within the county walls, the Cheng family’s power was deeply entrenched, controlling nearly thirty percent of the businesses, and even the County Magistrate was a position held by a Cheng family member.

In the history of Taicang County, the Cheng family was a hereditary line of officials; over eighty percent of the County Magistrates throughout the ages had been of Cheng lineage.

Therefore, although in terms of martial force the Cheng family was the weakest of the three great clans, their authority and voice within the county town were the strongest.

Of course, given that Taicang County was remote, merely an insignificant corner of the Linlang Prefecture, and the local populace was notoriously fierce, past prefectural officials had always found it a headache.

More importantly, the region lacked any valuable local specialties or lucrative resources, meaning outsiders were rarely eager to take up posts here. The Prefecture generally adopted a policy of benign neglect toward Taicang County, choosing not to focus its attention here unless a faction began openly gathering forces for rebellion.

Consequently, in this unique locale, the power of the official government was often matched, if not outweighed, by the influence of the established clans.

Due to their lack of peak martial power, the Cheng family never provoked the He and Xu families. In this way, the three great families maintained a delicate balance and silent understanding within Taicang County.