The elder in dark clothing gazed into Song Kuangyi’s clear and sincere eyes, seemingly devoid of any impurities. After a moment of silence, he ultimately refrained from continuing the topic.

He understood this student’s nature, appearing gentle but with a very firm inner resolve.

He said no more, stepping forward three steps, closing the distance to the book table, and lowered his voice:

"Young master, Young Master Yan just called the residence again."

The smile on Song Kuangyi’s face deepened slightly:

"Kuangyan, huh? He’s always clung to mother since childhood, always liking to tell her things first. Surely, this time he called her directly, didn’t he?"

The elder in dark clothing nodded.

Song Kuangyi picked up the warm tea on the desk and took a gentle sip:

"What did he say on the phone?"

The elder took a deep breath, yet his expression turned extraordinarily grave.

He did not answer immediately, instead stepping forward three more steps, almost touching the edge of the book table, his body leaning forward slightly, lips nearly brushing Song Kuangyi’s earlobe.

Time in the study seemed to stand still for a moment.

The rustling of bamboo leaves outside the window, the sound of koi in the pond swaying their tails, all seemed to fade into the distance.

Communications with the "Celestial Crown" are absolutely secure, absolutely impossible to be eavesdropped upon.

Moreover, the other end communicating with the "Celestial Crown" would be drawn into an encrypted channel, making it hard to be overheard.

In other words, the elder in dark clothing was not eavesdropping on the envoy’s communication device, but instead... the entire villa of the envoy.

Long before the envoy was "dispatched" to Lower City and hadn’t yet moved into that villa, the elder had already made some minor modifications to the villa.

Very subtle changes, embedding a listening device into the walls of the villa’s ceiling.

A military-grade listening device, capable of hearing through walls; just one can capture the sound throughout the whole house, and when on standby, it has almost no electronic fluctuations, making it difficult to detect even when through walls.

Only when specific sensitive words are captured does it briefly awaken, entering an eavesdropping broadcasting mode, releasing almost undetectable electromagnetic fluctuations, and then falling back into a slumber.

But today, the envoy’s conversation with the Song-Cao Clan harshly triggered more than one keyword.

—[Big Brother], [Celestial Crown], [Evil Sacrifice], [Home]...

Song Kuangyi listened quietly, the gentleness on his face never changing by a fraction.

The elder finished speaking and took a slight step back, creating some distance, with his slender face covered in frost, and a flash of sharpness in his eyes:

"Young master, this matter is of the utmost importance.

We absolutely cannot allow Young Master Yan to return with this ’achievement.’ That sheepskin scroll recording the [Evil Sacrificial Ceremony], we must find a way to get it into our hands. Delays could lead to changes!"

Song Kuangyi gestured with his hand to calm the other person down and sighed deeply:

"Teacher, Kuangyan is my younger brother, we share the same blood, and are deeply bonded. As his elder brother, how can I prevent him from coming home?"

"Young master!!"

The elder’s voice slightly elevated with a sharp tone,

"Precisely because he is your own brother, precisely because of this blood tie, you should be most wary of him!"

He bit his teeth and smiled coldly:

"If he behaves and stays in Lower City to enjoy his power, then he will forever be your good little brother. But if he yearns to come home, then he is your greatest threat, even more than the danger posed by the elder house."

"After all, young master, you may choose not to compete with the elder house, not wanting to take the position of the Song Clan’s Young Family Head, but young master, you cannot give up the position of the Third House’s eldest son to your brother."

Song Kuangyi fell silent.

The elder continued:

"I taught you, young master, the most important thing is always to be in a position where you can advance to attack or retreat to defend. Only if Master Yan does not return can the Third House and your Cao Clan maternal family continue to be your steadfast support."

Song Kuangyi’s gentle smile gradually faded, his eyelashes casting a shadow over his face, obscuring the emotions stirring in his eyes.

After a long while, he raised his gaze again, a bitter curve on his lips:

"Ah, the teacher’s words are somewhat overcautious, yet upon deeper thought, they do hold some truth."

The elder’s tightly-strung heartstrings finally relaxed, knowing the young master had ultimately heeded his advice.

Song Kuangyi sighed:

"Well, for the peace of the Third House, to avoid future fraternal conflict, I will follow the teacher’s advice."

He looked at the elder, his gaze full of compassion and pain:

"But just to stop him from coming back! The matter of the sheepskin scroll, let it go. I am Kuangyan’s big brother; I only wish to protect what is mine. I cannot take my brother’s things; that would sadden mother."

The elder furrowed his brows, thinking the young master was still too benevolent, too filial.

If the sheepskin scroll can really mass-produce [Evil Sacrifice Hosts] and the young master takes it back to offer to the clan, what great merit that would be.

The young master could certainly gain more support from it, perhaps even change the current situation where the Third House is suppressed by the elder house.

Song Kuangyi seemed to know what the elder was hesitating about, and he said solemnly:

"Teacher, I do not want to make mother sad."

The elder solemnly nodded: "Young master is kind and values family ties. I am truly impressed."

He could only agree not to make plans for the sheepskin scroll, despite losing many benefits. However, at second thought, isn’t it this display of kindness by the young master that makes him willing to die serving him?

Song Kuangyi stood up, respectfully clasping his hands towards Elder Xuan in a deep bow: