Faced with his younger brother's questioning, Fang Yuan said nothing and continued eating breakfast. He knew his brother's temperament well; Fang Zheng was incapable of keeping his cool.
Sure enough, seeing that his elder brother did not even spare him a glance, as if treating him like air, Fang Zheng immediately cried out in dissatisfaction, "Brother, what did you do to Shen Cui? Ever since she came out of your room yesterday, she's had a huge crying fit. The more I comforted her, the harder she cried."
Fang Yuan raised his eyes and looked at his younger brother, his face expressionless.
Fang Zheng frowned and stared intently at his elder brother, waiting for an answer.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Yet Fang Yuan merely glanced at him, then lowered his head and continued eating.
Fang Zheng was instantly enraged. Fang Yuan's attitude was nothing less than naked contempt for him. Humiliated and angry, he slapped the table and roared, "Gu Yue Fang Yuan, how can you act like this?! She's just a little girl, and she's served you for so many years. I've seen every bit of her gentleness and consideration toward you. Yes, I know you're disappointed, and I can understand your despondency. You only have C-grade Aptitude, after all, but you can't take out your misfortunes on someone else! That isn't fair to her!"
Before he had even finished speaking, Fang Yuan sprang to his feet, his raised hand flashing like lightning.
With a crisp smack, he gave Fang Zheng a solid slap across the face.
Fang Zheng covered his right cheek and staggered back two steps, face full of astonishment.
"You insolent thing, what kind of tone are you using to speak to your own elder brother?! Shen Cui is nothing more than a little maidservant. For the sake of such a woman, have you forgotten that I am your brother?" Fang Yuan rebuked him in a low voice.
Fang Zheng came back to his senses, pain pulsing from his face into his nerves in waves. His eyes went wide as he panted heavily and said in disbelief, "Brother, you hit me? From childhood until now, you've never hit me! Yes, I was tested to have A-grade Aptitude, while you only have C-grade. But you can't blame me for that! It was Heaven's arrangement..."
Before Fang Zheng could finish, Fang Yuan backhanded him with another slap.
Fang Zheng covered both cheeks with his hands. He was stunned senseless.
"You naïve fool, what do you even remember! From childhood until now, how did I take care of you? When our parents had just died and we lived in hardship, Uncle and Aunt gave the two of us only one new outfit for the New Year. Did I wear it myself? Who did I give it to? When you were little, you loved candied-fruit porridge, so every day I told the kitchen to make you an extra bowl. When others bullied you, who took you to settle the score? There are countless other things I cannot even be bothered to mention. And now, for the sake of a servant girl, this is how you speak to me? You come to question me?"
Fang Zheng's face flushed crimson. His lips trembled; he was ashamed, furious, and alarmed, yet unable to utter a single word in rebuttal.
Because everything Fang Yuan had said was true!
"Fine, then." Fang Yuan sneered repeatedly. "Since you've abandoned even your biological parents and acknowledged others anew, what does an elder brother like me amount to?"
"Brother, how can you say that? You know that from childhood, I've longed for the warmth of a family. I..." Fang Zheng hurriedly tried to explain.
Fang Yuan waved a hand, stopping him from continuing. "From today onward, you are no longer my younger brother, and I am no longer your elder brother."
"Brother!" Fang Zheng was shocked and opened his mouth to speak.
At that moment, Fang Yuan spoke again. "Don't you like Shen Cui? Rest assured, I didn't do anything to her. She is still a virgin, an untouched maiden. Give me six Primeval Stones, and I'll transfer her to you. From now on, she'll be your personal maid."
"Brother, how could you..." His feelings had suddenly been exposed, and Fang Zheng was caught completely off guard, flustered.
But at the same time, his heart settled. The thing he feared most had not become true.
Not long ago, on that night, Shen Cui had personally attended him while he took a bath.
Although nothing substantial had happened, Fang Zheng would never forget that night's tenderness. Whenever he thought of Shen Cui—her nimble hands, her soft, moist red lips—his heart would surge with a tremor.
The tender emotions of youth had long accumulated within the young man's chest and begun to sprout.
Thus, when he learned of Shen Cui's strange condition yesterday evening, anger immediately welled up in his heart. He instantly gave up refining the Moonlight Gu and searched the entire village for Fang Yuan, determined to demand an explanation.
Seeing Fang Zheng hesitate, Fang Yuan frowned. "Love between man and woman is perfectly normal. Be honest about it—what are you hiding and dodging for? Of course, if you don't want the exchange, then forget it."
Fang Zheng immediately grew anxious. "Exchange! Why wouldn't I? But I don't have six Primeval Stones left."
As he spoke, he took out his money pouch, his face flushing bright red.
Fang Yuan accepted the pouch and found six stones inside, but one of them was less than half the size of a complete Primeval Stone. He immediately understood that Fang Zheng had drawn out the True Essence within it in order to refine the Moonlight Gu more quickly.
The more natural True Essence was extracted, the smaller and lighter a Primeval Stone became.
Though there were only five and a half stones, Fang Yuan knew that these were all the Primeval Stones Fang Zheng possessed. Fang Zheng had no savings to begin with; these six Primeval Stones had only recently been given to him by Uncle and Aunt.
"I'll take the Primeval Stones. You may leave now." Fang Yuan's expression was cold as he tucked the pouch into his robes.
"Brother..." Fang Zheng still wanted to speak.
Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly and said unhurriedly, "Before I change my mind, you'd best disappear from before my eyes."
Fang Zheng's heart tightened. He gritted his teeth and finally turned around and left.
As he stepped out of the inn, he unconsciously pressed a hand to his chest, feeling wave after wave of hollowness in his heart. In the unseen depths, a feeling told him that at this moment, he seemed to have lost something extremely important.
But soon his heart warmed. He thought of Shen Cui, and of that night which had tethered his soul and haunted his dreams.
"I can finally have you openly and rightfully, Cui Cui." Without looking back, he walked out of Fang Yuan's sight.
Fang Yuan stood there expressionlessly for quite some time before slowly sitting down.
Bright sunlight streamed through the window and shone upon his indifferent face, giving anyone who saw it a chilling feeling.
Business in the dining hall was somewhat sparse. More and more pedestrians filled the streets outside, their clamor drifting in and making the silence here all the more pronounced.
The breakfast had already gone cold. The waiter came over attentively and asked whether he needed it reheated.
Fang Yuan heard nothing. His gaze shifted like smoke and clouds, as though he were recalling something.
The waiter waited for a while, but seeing Fang Yuan lost in thought and receiving no response, he could only rub his nose and leave dejectedly.
After a long while, Fang Yuan's gaze steadied.
The memories in his heart, like smoke, had gradually faded away.
He returned to the real world. Sunlight poured in, illuminating more than half the tabletop. The steam rising from the food had dispersed, and the bustling sounds of pedestrians on the street reached his ears once more.
Through his clothes, he reached out and touched the five and a half Primeval Stones tucked against his chest. A trace of bitter, mocking laughter appeared at the corner of his mouth.
But the smile vanished as soon as it appeared.
"Waiter, take this food away and heat it up." Fang Yuan glanced at the dishes and called out calmly.
At that moment, his eyes were incomparably clear.
"What? Your elder brother said that?" In the main hall, Uncle frowned, his voice exuding coldness.
Aunt sat to one side, looking at the bright red palm marks on both of Fang Zheng's cheeks, utterly speechless.
"Yes. When I saw Brother, he was eating breakfast at the inn. That was exactly what happened," Fang Zheng answered respectfully.
Uncle's brows furrowed even more deeply, forming the character for river.
After several breaths, he let out a deep sigh and said sternly, "Fang Zheng, my child, remember this: the maidservant Shen Cui is not Fang Yuan's private property. We assigned her to him, so how could he buy or sell her? Besides, if you wanted her, you should have told us earlier. We could simply have assigned her to you."
"Ah?" Fang Zheng was dumbfounded.
Uncle waved a hand. "Go back for now. You gave all your Primeval Stones to Fang Yuan, so I'll allocate another six to you. Remember, use them properly for refining Gu this time. Win first place in this round, and we'll be proud of you."
"Father, your son is ashamed..." Fang Zheng was so moved that tears streamed down his face.
Uncle sighed. "Go now, go now. Hurry back to your room and refine Gu. You've already wasted quite a bit of time."
After Fang Zheng withdrew, Uncle finally revealed an enraged, ferocious expression.
He viciously slapped the table and growled in a low voice, "Hmph, that little brat actually used our people as merchandise. Truly sly and cunning!"
Aunt hurriedly soothed him from the side. "Master, calm your anger. It's only six Primeval Stones."
"You woman, what do you understand! Fang Yuan only has C-grade Aptitude. To refine the Moonlight Gu, he needs Primeval Stones. With his immature methods as a first-time Gu refiner, six Primeval Stones certainly wouldn't be enough. But now he has twelve, more than enough." Uncle ground his teeth in hatred.
He continued, "As long as resources are sufficient and cultivation is not held back by a bottleneck, a Gu Master's progress will be extremely fast. In two or three years, the Lineage can produce Rank 2 Gu Masters one after another. The lower Fang Yuan's cultivation is, the less hope he will have of reclaiming the family property a year from now. He is still young and has only just begun cultivating. We must hold him back and make him fall behind those his age right from the starting line. The academy's resources are awarded to outstanding students. With his aptitude, once he falls behind, he won't receive resources. Without resources to support his cultivation, he will fall further and further behind. If this vicious cycle continues, will he still have the strength to inherit the family property a year from now?"
Aunt did not understand. "Even if we do not restrain him, after one year he will at most reach Rank 1 Mid Stage. Master, you possess Rank 2 cultivation. Are you afraid of him?"
Uncle stamped his foot in anger. "You woman, truly long-haired and short-sighted! With my dignified status as an elder, am I supposed to fight a junior head-on? If he demands the return of his inheritance, it is perfectly justified. We cannot stop him directly; we can only act through the clan rules. The clan rules clearly state that anyone who wishes to establish a family at sixteen must possess at least Rank 1 Mid Stage cultivation. Otherwise, it means Fang Yuan is not qualified to waste Lineage resources. Do you understand now?"
Aunt suddenly understood.
Uncle narrowed his eyes, dark glints flickering within them. He shook his head slightly and sighed. "This Fang Yuan is far too clever, far too crafty. Even seduction could not fool him—what kind of mind is that? At such a young age, yet already so calculating and shrewd. Terrifying! We originally wanted to scheme against him, but he simply moved out. We wanted to rely on Shen Cui to monitor and disturb him, yet he sent her away and even earned six Primeval Stones from it."
"Ah, if only he were as foolish as Fang Zheng. Right, from now on, treat Fang Zheng better. He has A-grade Aptitude. And I can see that he is deeply unconvinced by Fang Yuan, deeply unwilling to accept defeat. That emotion is very good; it must be guided properly. I have a premonition that he will become the finest weapon for dealing with Fang Yuan in the future!"
In the blink of an eye, another two days passed.
No lamp was lit in the inn room. Moonlight streamed in, casting frost-like radiance across the floor.
On the bed, Fang Yuan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, mobilizing his Bronze True Essence and concentrating fully on refining the Wine Worm Gu.
A small section of the Wine Worm Gu's body had been dyed bronze-green, but its will remained tenacious and unyielding. Wrapped in mist-like True Essence, it struggled without cease.
Fang Yuan's refinement was progressing poorly; it could be said that every step was arduous.
"I've consumed a full two days and two nights, resting only two hours each day, and used up twelve Primeval Stones, yet I've refined only one fifteenth of it. Judging by the time, someone should succeed in refining a Gu within the next few days."
Fang Yuan saw the situation as clearly as fire.
His aptitude had already been inferior, and the Wine Worm Gu he was refining possessed an exceptionally tenacious will to survive, far stronger than an ordinary Moonlight Gu. It was perfectly normal for him to fall behind under such circumstances.
"A temporary setback is nothing. As long as I obtain the Wine Worm Gu..." Fang Yuan's heart was like a mirror-smooth lake, without the slightest trace of impatience or discouragement.
But at that moment, the Wine Worm Gu suddenly curled up into a ball.
"Not good, Gu backlash!" Fang Yuan abruptly opened his eyes, a trace of shock flashing through them. Before his eyes, the Wine Worm Gu had curled into a round dumpling, suddenly bursting with dazzling white light.
It was making an all-or-nothing gamble!
At once, Fang Yuan felt a powerful will emanating from the Wine Worm Gu. It directly bypassed the True Essence and descended upon the primeval sea within his Aperture.
Gu backlash was exceedingly rare. Only Gu insects with exceptionally unyielding wills would expend every ounce of strength, succeeding or perishing in the attempt.
If it had been any other young man, he would certainly have panicked in the face of such a situation.
Yet though Fang Yuan was startled, he did not panic. Instead, he felt faintly pleased. "An all-or-nothing gamble is good. As long as I withstand this backlash, the Wine Worm Gu's will shall be greatly weakened. But next, I must gather all my focus and resist this assault of will with everything I have. There cannot be the slightest interference from the outside world. Otherwise, things will be disastrous. Sigh... I can only hope no one comes to disturb me during this time."
Having considered it through, he was about to mobilize the True Essence in his Aperture and meet that will head-on, entangling with it in a great battle of three hundred rounds.
But at that moment, another strange change arose!
A Gu insect appeared at the center of his Aperture, above the primeval sea.
Boom!
This Gu insect erupted with an incomparably powerful aura.
That aura was like the Heavenly River pouring down, like a mountain flood bursting forth; it was also like a terrifying giant beast whose majesty had been offended, opening its scarlet eyes to see who dared trespass upon its territory!
"The Spring Autumn Cicada?!" At the sight of this Gu insect, Fang Yuan was utterly shocked!!
(P.S.: Thank you to fans 789, Lost Light, Tai Sui, Wei Luhui, and Water Light Cloud Clear for your rewards. Thank you as well to my old friend Mingfeng Soul for your continued support. The new book has been out for exactly one week, and so many old friends have come. Some of them are friends from years ago. Seeing your familiar IDs fills my heart with warmth. It can be said that without your support, I could not have made it this far.
I will keep walking onward—three years, six years, nine years... During that time, some friends will leave for a while, while some will remain. On the vast journey of life, we bear witness to each other's existence; we prove to each other that we have lived.
I imagine such a scene: when we grow old, friends will see the ID "Reverend Insanity," smile knowingly, and say to themselves, "Oh, it's him. I read his novels when I was young. I even gave him recommendation votes." Or perhaps I will open the old pages again and see one familiar ID after another—those who gave rewards, cast monthly votes, and left comments. I will recall that when I wrote alone, these names were the little points of lamplight that warmed me through my journey.
At this point, this book reaches a small turning point. Fang Yuan will begin to truly reveal his unique brilliance. Those friends who have made it this far are all people of fate. I guarantee here that this book will only become more exciting, and the updates will remain very stable—far better than the previous book. Please give it more recommendation votes; it needs them right now.)
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