Chapter 46: Seen Through

“Ah!” the young woman couldn’t help but scream.

The others inside who had already walked to the door were also taken aback.

Because Su Chunfeng’s movement was very strange, and also… rude — anyone could see that his outstretched hand was pushing precisely toward the woman’s chest area.

Luckily, Su Chunfeng reacted quickly, his right hand shifting slightly, brushing past the left side of the woman’s body without any noticeable oddness. At the same time, he sidestepped and squeezed past the woman, turning around in the hallway with a look of surprise and alarm on his face. It was as if he had been about to leave but encountered this situation by chance, so he instinctively raised a hand to block and nimbly dodged to avoid a collision.

From the perspective of casting the art, Su Chunfeng did not need to hit that shadowy mass directly with his Hand Seal and palm technique; just grazing it would have been enough.

However, when anyone performs an action resembling an attack, they subconsciously try to hit the target squarely.

“Who are you?” the woman glared at Su Chunfeng angrily.

Su Chunfeng was not angered. With a calm expression, he smiled and said, “Auntie, Happy New Year…”

This fashionably dressed woman, with average looks but appearing quite beautiful due to makeup and a good figure, was Chen Xian’s youngest daughter, Chen Yufang, aged twenty-seven. Known for her brash and unreasonable temper, she now glared at Su Chunfeng with a face full of anger, about to continue her outburst. But hearing this big kid call her “Auntie,” she showed a hint of surprise on her face and found it hard to vent her anger further. She snorted, ignoring the half-grown child, and turned to look at Su Cheng and his wife, who were standing awkwardly at the indoor doorway along with another child. She stomped her foot and walked back inside, grumbling, “Ugh, who are these people? They don’t even change into slippers when entering! Annoying!”

“Yufang, they’re all family, don’t talk nonsense!” Jiang Ruying chided softly, though she didn’t look the least bit angry on the surface.

Meanwhile, Chen Xian, sitting on the innermost sofa, frowned slightly. He had just happened to see Su Chunfeng’s hands forming a Hand Seal the moment he stepped out the door.

By now, Su Cheng and Chen Xiulan, both looking apologetic, had already led Xiao Yu outside.

Jiang Ruying saw them off at the door with a kind expression.

Su Chunfeng didn’t make a big deal of it either. He turned and headed downstairs, though he felt a bit of self-reproach inside—he had been too professional just now. He shouldn’t have acted, and there was no need to act.

Earlier, when he opened the door and saw Chen Yufang enveloped in Yin Evil Energy, Su Chunfeng had immediately and subconsciously cast a technique for self-defense. But at the instant he formed the Hand Seal to cast the art, he also realized that the Yin Evil Energy had already begun to scatter and flee. To be exact, whether he cast the art or not, that Yin Evil Energy would have retreated. The reason was simple: Chen Xian was a proper high-ranking official, his formidable Official Authority protected his household. How could petty Evil Spirits and Demons dare to invade?

Moreover, Su Chunfeng, by his own nature, couldn’t be bothered to care whether someone in Chen Xian’s family was being harassed by evil entities.

However, just as they walked out of the building and headed toward the residential compound’s main gate, they heard Chen Xian’s voice behind them: “Little Feng, come over here. Grandpa has a few questions for you.”

The whole family stopped walking.

Su Chunfeng turned his head in confusion and saw Chen Xian indeed smiling and waving at him, his face showing a rare kindness.

Su Chunfeng looked at his parents.

Su Cheng and Chen Xiulan also looked puzzled but could only nod.

Su Chunfeng jogged over and stood in front of Chen Xian, asking politely, “Grandpa, what is it?”

“Little Feng,” Chen Xian glanced around, then asked softly in a kind tone, “Earlier, when your Aunt Yufang came home and happened to meet you at our door, I noticed your movements and expression seemed a bit strange… Tell me, what did you see?”

“Nothing much,” Su Chunfeng’s eyes showed innocent confusion. But inside, his heart tightened—could it be that this old man in an official position also understood the Esoteric Art of Qimen? Otherwise, given Chen Xian’s personality, why would he chase outside to call back a half-grown child for questioning?

Chen Xian smiled and whispered gently, “I saw you—it seemed like you formed a Hand Seal and cast an art.”

“What?” Su Chunfeng looked even more confused, as if he didn’t understand what Chen Xian was saying.

“Child… your expression now and the look you had just now at home, and when you met your Aunt Yufang at the door, are two completely different extremes,” Chen Xian smiled, reached out, and gently stroked Su Chunfeng’s short hair stubble, saying kindly, “So, trying to hide something from me actually gave you away.”

Su Chunfeng’s heart trembled. These old officials really were one shrewder than the next, their eyes sharp as they aged into cunning.

But his expression still maintained that youthful innocence and curiosity: “Grandpa, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

A flicker of annoyance passed through Chen Xian’s deep eyes but vanished instantly. His gaze shifted past Su Chunfeng to Su Cheng, Chen Xiulan, and Su Chunyu, saying, “Come back. Have lunch at home. Coming all this way and not staying for a meal—how does that look? You kids from the old hometown, why are you all like this? Am I a tiger? Are you all so afraid of me?”

With that, he reached out and took Su Chunfeng’s hand, leading him back toward the building.

“I don’t want to,” Su Chunfeng stubbornly pulled his hand free from Chen Xian’s grip, looking at him somewhat fearfully, then turned to glance at his parents and younger brother, who were still standing dumbfounded in the distance.

Seeing their child actually pull free from Chen Xian’s hand, Su Cheng and Chen Xiulan hurriedly led Xiao Yu over.

As he walked quickly, Su Cheng scolded, “Little Feng, you’re being so unreasonable!”

Su Chunfeng bit his lip lightly and lowered his head without speaking.

Chen Xian, still smiling, took Su Chunfeng’s hand again, not minding at all, and said gently, “Alright, it’s all because you parents are usually too strict with the child, look how scared he is, tsk. It’s rare for you to visit during the New Year, have lunch before you leave… As for you all, I don’t usually talk much. Your aunt just scolded me earlier, saying I should invite you back.”

His attitude was very sincere.

But whether it was genuine or not, only Su Chunfeng knew most clearly at this moment, and he was also the most uneasy.

He couldn’t figure out why Chen Xian understood the Esoteric Art of Qimen. Moreover, just from seeing him form a Hand Seal, he could tell he knew Esoteric Technique. Logically, unless one was part of the Qimen circle, it was basically impossible to recognize. Especially since Chen Xian was from the official world; he shouldn’t have been exposed to Esoteric Art of Qimen.

Su Cheng and his wife were also surprised by Chen Xian’s attitude. But seeing Chen Xian’s no-nonsense demeanor, the couple could only mumble a few polite words humbly, then followed him back into the building. And Su Chunfeng let Chen Xian lead him inside.

This feeling was very awkward.

After all, no one liked having to go back into someone else’s home to eat after already leaving. That seemed too ill-mannered—were they that desperate for a meal there?

Moreover, this was Chen Xian’s home!

Jiang Ruying and Chen Yufang were also particularly puzzled by this family’s return. Chen Yufang even got angry, her face stern as she turned and went to her own bedroom.

As soon as Chen Xian entered, he instructed, “Ruying, call and have some good food delivered from outside.”

“Alright,” Jiang Ruying agreed, then said with a smile and a chiding tone, showing no surprise, “I said it—have lunch before leaving. It’s not easy coming all this way, and you still made Old Chen chase you outside to call you back… We’re all family, why are you being so polite?”

Her words made it seem like it was really Su Cheng’s family who were being unreasonable.

Su Cheng and Chen Xiulan smiled awkwardly with shame and muttered polite phrases like “too much trouble” and “sorry to bother.”

“You watch some TV in the living room first. I’ll take Little Feng to the study for a talk. I think this kid is good; I should test him,” Chen Xian didn’t sit down but smiled and waved, saying, “Little Feng, come with me to the study.”

“Oh,” Su Chunfeng had no choice but to agree and walked toward the study.

In the living room, Su Cheng and Chen Xiulan looked both puzzled and delighted—it seemed Little Feng’s performance had won Chen Xian’s appreciation. For such a young age to earn the admiration of a senior high-ranking official, of course his parents felt honored. Maybe their Little Feng could become a big official in the future, even bigger than Chen Xian.

Chen Xian’s study was decorated and furnished simply: a brown desk, chairs, and bookcase, the bookcase filled with books.

At the far end of the study was a spacious, bright balcony with a rattan round table and two rattan chairs. On the round table was an open book, a purple clay teapot, and two cups.

Clearly, Chen Xian had been reading here earlier.

Chen Xian walked over to the round table on the balcony and sat down, gesturing for Su Chunfeng to sit as well. Then he personally picked up the delicate small purple clay teapot and poured Su Chunfeng a cup of already cooled tea. With a calm expression, he said, “Child, it’s just the two of us here. You can tell me the truth safely. I promise not to spread it, ensuring your privacy. Of course, at your age and mindset, you might not even understand yet just how mysterious the things you know are. Also, don’t hope to deceive me. I have personally witnessed situations similar to you forming a Hand Seal and casting an art earlier.”

Su Chunfeng scratched his head as he sat down, glancing at the book on the desk that Chen Xian had just closed—”Analysis of Yi Principles.”

Although Su Chunfeng couldn’t fathom why Chen Xian understood the Esoteric Art of Qimen so well, from Chen Xian’s attitude, he knew he probably couldn’t hide it this time. So after a moment’s thought, his expression quickly shifted into one of mature calmness. He picked up the teacup, drank the cold tea, and smiled, “I know a little. What do you want to ask? Go ahead.”

Chen Xian paused briefly, then asked calmly, “Earlier, was there something wrong with your Aunt Yufang?”

“She was enveloped by an evil entity. Nothing serious,” Su Chunfeng said.

“Why would an evil entity target her?” Chen Xian frowned. “From what I understand, someone like me—petty evil things shouldn’t dare to harass my family.”

Su Chunfeng thought for a moment and said, “She might have played something like Planchette Writing outside by herself.”