Seven days later, Zhang Yang and the others finally neared the Kunlun Mountains. They had left Qinghu two days prior, entering the sparse territory of Xijiang Province, where seeing few people was the norm. The route they were taking involved far more mountain trails than the grasslands they had crossed earlier, making the journey significantly harder and, with no one else around, much more monotonous. Long Cheng, who had voluntarily taken on driving duties, now felt an intense envy for Zhang Yang. Since Chasing Wind joined their party, Zhang Yang hadn't ridden in a vehicle; he traveled exclusively on Chasing Wind's back. The creature’s speed was so blistering that Zhang Yang consistently arrived at their destinations first, waiting there at his leisure for the others. Long Cheng was certain that if they hadn't been deliberately slowing down, Zhang Yang, mounted on Chasing Wind, would already have reached the Long Family headquarters; their pace was simply too fast. Driving their cars, having to navigate treacherous, heart-stopping mountain roads, seemed far less relaxed than Zhang Yang’s method. Kuba Town was an unremarkable little settlement in Xijiang Province, home to only seven or eight thousand people, yet covering an area larger than a county seat in the central plains. The town center housed only a few hundred families, totaling just over three thousand residents, and boasted nothing more than a small gas station and a convenience store—not even a modest inn. Upon entering the town, under Long Feng's direction, Long Cheng steered their cars directly into the largest compound within the settlement. This compound belonged to Weisiya, the richest man in town. Weisiya was Kuba Town’s most notable figure, whose word carried more weight than the town mayor’s, making him the most influential person here. The compound was vast, and its gates stood wide open, leaving ample space for their two vehicles to park without issue.

"Who might you be?" As soon as the cars settled, a man with the distinct appearance of a Xijiang local emerged from inside. He glanced at the license plates, asking with evident surprise. His Mandarin was standard, a rarity for someone speaking so fluently in Xijiang.

"Weisiya, I am Long Feng!" Long Feng was the first to step out of the vehicle. The man facing him, who looked to be in his forties, was Weisiya, Kuba Town’s wealthiest resident. Rumor had it he owned vast tracts of land, substantial flocks of sheep, and even a mineral vein.

"Young Master Feng, you have returned!" Seeing Long Feng, Weisiya paused briefly before his expression immediately softened into one of deep respect, bowing slightly and stepping aside. Weisiya was a native of Kuba Town and born and raised in Xijiang, but he held another significant title: his family had served as hereditary retainers to the Long Family for generations. Kuba Town fell under the Long Family’s sphere of influence. Weisiya acted as the gatekeeper and guardian here; any messages to the Long Family headquarters had to pass through him, and he relayed any intelligence back to the central branch. Long Cheng alighted from the car, slightly bewildered by the deference, but he kept silent. The closer they got to the Long Family headquarters, the fewer words Long Cheng spoke. Old Huo also descended from the truck. This was a lengthy hiring period, but Huo hadn't voiced a single complaint along the way, remaining cheerful throughout. Long Cheng had offered a hefty rental fee for this trip, nearly covering his own vehicle expenses. The profit margin far exceeded his usual runs, and despite the extended duration, the compensation was significant. Moreover, Long Cheng and his group had treated him well; their food and drink were identical to his own, and he had been treated with courtesy—qualities Old Huo deeply appreciated in an employer.

Weisiya was about to speak when he abruptly turned his head. A white horse walked into the courtyard, snorting softly as it ambled in, exuding an air of utter tranquility. Perched on the white horse was a young man, holding a pet sable curled in his arms. Horses were not uncommon in Xijiang; there were numerous ranches here, and Weisiya himself kept over a dozen, yet none were as magnificent as this white steed. The entrant from outside was naturally Zhang Yang. Upon entering the town, Chasing Wind had automatically slowed its pace, allowing Long Cheng’s party to proceed first.

"Weisiya, prepare a few guest rooms for us. Zhang Yang is a guest of the family, and we travel together tomorrow!" Long Feng stated calmly. Weisiya, standing nearby, immediately nodded and went to make the arrangements. A guest of the family meant a guest of the Long Family; anyone invited by them was undoubtedly important. Weisiya was astute enough to know what questions to ask and, more importantly, what to omit. Only the truck driver, Old Huo, remained entirely clueless about the dynamics at play.

"Kuba Town is the outermost periphery of our Long Family territory. Moving forward from here, after another couple of days, we enter the mountains. Once in the mountains, the distance to home will not be great!" After dinner, Long Feng spoke softly to Zhang Yang in private. Reaching this point meant they were close to home. Long Feng felt a surge of excitement; having been away for over half a year, this was the longest stretch he had spent away from his family. Familiarity brings trepidation, especially since he had undergone profound changes during this absence.

"Going home is a good thing, especially with the massive gains you've secured this time!" Zhang Yang smiled faintly. He had long understood that the reach of established clans extended far beyond simple holdings; the areas approaching the family domain were all under their jurisdiction. However, he hadn't anticipated the Long Family’s influence stretching this far out, with their heartland still more than two days’ travel away.

Long Feng was briefly taken aback, then chuckled: "Indeed. This haul completely exceeded my expectations—even the family members won't foresee it!" When he left, Long Feng was at the early stage of the Second Layer; upon his return, he had firmly reached the late stage, his internal energy stable enough to break into the Third Layer at any moment. Such a rate of progress was rare even within the Long Family. Furthermore, he had recommenced cultivation of a supreme-grade foundational heart technique. Returning now, Long Feng was certain he would command new respect.

"Speaking of gains, yours are by far the greatest!" Zhang Yang noted, and Long Feng laughed again, his gaze becoming slightly complex. His own progress was considerable, but compared to Zhang Yang's, it was insignificant. Half a year ago, Zhang Yang was only slightly ahead, perhaps mid-Second Layer. Now, he was a full layer higher. A late-stage Third Layer cultivator at twenty years old would undoubtedly cause a massive stir in the internal energy cultivation world if word got out. It would be disingenuous to say Long Feng felt no jealousy, but it was overwhelmingly eclipsed by relief and satisfaction. These positive feelings far surpassed any envy. Zhang Yang was his friend, and the better his friend’s achievements, the happier he felt.

Zhang Yang offered no reply, merely glancing outside. In the courtyard, Chasing Wind, Shadowless, and Lightning were playing together. The spiritual beasts' affections were pure; they lacked the complexities of human guile. Though they had been together for only a short time, the three beasts interacted like old friends of many years.

The next morning, Old Huo was called aside by Weisiya. Weisiya handed him a sum of money—enough to buy his truck twice over—and instructed him to leave the vehicle behind and return home. They were now entering the Long Family’s controlled territory. As an invited guest, Zhang Yang could proceed indefinitely. Long Cheng, an outer disciple of the Long Family brought personally by Long Feng, was also permitted passage. Old Huo, however, was a complete outsider, a mere mortal, and could not be allowed further into the inner domain. The cargo within the truck would be delivered to the Long Family under Weisiya’s supervision; Old Huo was to be compensated financially. Old Huo was momentarily stunned by Weisiya’s request but ultimately agreed happily. The money Weisiya offered was substantial; he could purchase a new truck and still have a surplus, so he certainly wouldn't object. Furthermore, Long Cheng had already settled the remaining travel fees. With someone arranged to escort him to a place where he could arrange transport home, what was there to refuse? This trip had lasted barely over a fortnight, yet the earnings neared the price of two new trucks—he was naturally ecstatic. He was just an ordinary man, and this would remain just an extraordinary trip in his memory. Without Old Huo, only trusted personnel remained. They continued forward, still with two vehicles and one horse, moving slowly ahead.

After Kuba Town, they passed through two more settlements, both garrisoned by Long Family personnel. News of Long Feng’s return was relayed through these contacts back to the Long Family headquarters. As one of the foremost talents among the younger generation of the Long Family, his return was information no one would take lightly. Two days later, Long Cheng and the others finally abandoned the vehicles, having entered the inner reaches of the Kunlun Mountains. The Long Family headquarters was no longer far. Driving was impossible here; they could only proceed on foot. The gifts they carried would be sent back separately; Long Cheng and his group had no need to worry about them.

"The scenery in the Kunlun Mountains is magnificent; it’s rare that you managed to select such a secluded location!" Zhang Yang walked alongside Long Feng, choosing not to ride Chasing Wind, while Long Cheng followed behind, curiously surveying their surroundings. Weisiya saw them to this point and then returned to Kuba Town; he could not come back to the family unless summoned, as returning without authorization would bring severe punishment. Long Feng knew the remaining route and could proceed home by himself.

"Only in a secluded place can one maintain a lasting legacy. In fact, our Long Family has relocated several times. Initially, we were not situated in the Kunlun Mountains, and even within the Kunlun range, we have moved our position," Long Feng smiled and shook his head. The Long Family’s two-thousand-year lineage—the only clan to span over two millennia—had indeed weathered numerous crises throughout its existence. Fortunately, the ancestors of the Long Family bore the pressure, made the correct decisions, and ultimately averted these disasters, preserving the family's continuity.

"Change is correct; permanence is an illusion. Without adaptation, one is ultimately discarded," Zhang Yang nodded silently, deeply resonating with Long Feng’s words. The families that endured invariably underwent significant transformations; those who remained conservative and stagnant ultimately vanished. The Zhang Family was no exception; one of their ancestral precepts permitted future descendants to freely alter their place of residence, stressing that form was secondary to the paramount goal of preserving the family line. The Zhang Family was thinly populated, usually consisting of only one or two individuals per generation; without adaptation, they would have long since been erased from history. Not to mention their medical arts alone would invite intense covetousness; many would certainly target them. Even if they could withstand the initial threats, over time, others would inevitably prevail.

The mountain trails were arduous, but fortunately, none of the group were ordinary people, allowing them to progress swiftly. Long Cheng's cultivation was the lowest. After half a day of trekking, his forehead was slick with sweat, and his internal energy was significantly depleted. He had to maintain his internal energy just to keep pace with Zhang Yang and Long Feng. Zhang Yang considered asking Chasing Wind to give him a lift, but the creature adamantly refused; he eventually had to give up the idea. Chasing Wind showed affection only to Zhang Yang, who had saved its life. It held no strong positive impressions of others, not even Long Feng; the beast carried a residual trauma from being chased by over a hundred people previously.

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