Section 9: Drifting Further Apart

The red sun was setting in the west, but it hadn't completely disappeared.

The sky still held light, though everything seemed to be covered by a layer of gray. Gazing into the distance through the window, the mountains were gradually merging into a heavy blackness.

The living room was dimly lit. Uncle and Aunt sat in the main seats, their faces shrouded in shadow, making them hard to distinguish.

Upon seeing the two jars of wine Fang Yuan had brought, Uncle Gu Yue Dong Tu's brow furrowed into a knot. He spoke, "Time flies, you are both fifteen now. To think you both have Gu Master aptitude, especially Fang Zheng. Your uncle and aunt are proud of you both. I'll give each of you six primeval stones. Take these. Refining Gu worms consumes a lot of primeval essence, you'll need these stones."

As he spoke, servants came forward and handed Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng each a small pouch.

Fang Yuan put away his pouch, remaining silent.

Fang Zheng immediately opened his pouch. Inside were six oval, grayish-white primeval stones. His face instantly lit up with gratitude. He stood up from his seat and bowed to his uncle and aunt, "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt. Nephew really needs primeval stones to replenish his primeval essence. You raised me for so long; I will never forget your nurturing kindness!"

Uncle nodded with a smile.

Aunt quickly waved her hand, speaking gently to Fang Zheng, "Sit down, sit down quickly. Although you two brothers aren't our biological children, we've always raised you as our own sons. We are proud that you are achieving success. Alas, we have no children of our own, and sometimes we wish you could truly be our children."

Her words held a deeper meaning. Fang Zheng didn't catch it, but Fang Yuan's brow furrowed slightly.

As expected, Uncle continued, "Your aunt and I have discussed it. We want to adopt you into our family, to become one true family. Fang Zheng, would you be willing?"

Fang Zheng blinked in surprise, but his face quickly filled with joy. He readily agreed, "To be honest, ever since my parents died, I've longed for a reunion. To become a family with you, Uncle and Aunt, is wonderful!"

Aunt's expression relaxed, and she smiled, "Then you are our good son. Do you still call us Uncle and Aunt?"

"Father, Mother." Fang Zheng realized and quickly changed his address.

Uncle and Aunt both burst into laughter.

"Good son, it was worth us raising you from the age of five, raising you for a full ten years," Aunt said, wiping away tears.

Uncle then looked at the silent Fang Yuan and said gently, "Fang Yuan, what is your intention?"

Fang Yuan shook his head, remaining silent.

"Brother," Gu Yue Fang Zheng began to persuade him, but was stopped by his uncle.

Uncle's tone remained unchanged, "Since that's the case, nephew Fang Yuan, we won't force you. However, you are already fifteen, and it's time for you to establish your own household. This will also make it convenient for you to inherit your Fang family branch. I have prepared two hundred primeval stones for you as financial assistance."

"Two hundred primeval stones!" Fang Zheng's eyes widened. He had never seen so many primeval stones and couldn't help but show a look of envy.

Unexpectedly, Fang Yuan still shook his head.

Fang Zheng was utterly bewildered, but Uncle's expression changed slightly, and Aunt's face also darkened.

"Uncle, Aunt, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Fang Yuan said, giving them no chance to speak further. He picked up the wine jars and left the hall directly.

Fang Zheng stood up, "Father, Mother, Brother is just momentarily confused. Perhaps I could go persuade him?"

Uncle waved his hand, deliberately sighing, "Alas, this cannot be forced. Your willingness to do so makes me very pleased. Someone, escort young master Fang Zheng and ensure he is well settled."

"Then son takes his leave." Fang Zheng retreated, and the living room fell into silence.

The sun had completely set, and the living room grew even darker.

After a while, Uncle's cold voice came from the darkness, "It seems Fang Yuan, that little brat, has seen through our scheme."

The Gu Yue clan rules clearly stipulated that the eldest son, upon reaching sixteen, had the right to inherit the family property.

Fang Yuan's parents had passed away, leaving behind a considerable inheritance, which his uncle and aunt had been "safeguarding."

The value of this inheritance was far beyond a mere two hundred primeval stones.

If Fang Yuan were to be adopted by his uncle and aunt like Fang Zheng, he would lose the right to inherit this estate. If Fang Yuan established his own household at fifteen, it would also not comply with the clan's inheritance regulations.

"Fortunately, we've won over Fang Zheng, and Fang Yuan only has C-grade aptitude," Uncle sighed again, feeling incredibly fortunate.

"Then Master, Fang Yuan is clearly planning to establish his own household at sixteen. What should we do?" Aunt's tone grew anxious at the thought of the inheritance.

"Hmph, since he harbors ill intentions, we can't be blamed. As long as we catch him in a major mistake before he establishes his own household and expel him from the family, we will strip him of his inheritance rights," Uncle snorted coldly.

"But Fang Yuan, that little brat, is very clever. How could he make a mistake?" Aunt asked, confused.

Uncle immediately rolled his eyes and reprimanded in a low voice, "You are truly foolish! If he won't make a mistake, can't we frame him? Let that girl Shen Cui go seduce Fang Yuan first, then scream 'indecent assault.' If we catch them red-handed, we can frame him for drunken recklessness and madness. Then we won't have to worry about expelling Fang Yuan!"

"Master still has the best ideas, such brilliant plans!" Aunt exclaimed with great delight.

The thick night spread out, and the sky full of stars was mostly obscured by drifting clouds. Lights began to appear in the houses of the mountain stronghold.

Gu Yue Fang Zheng was led into a room.

"Young Master Fang Zheng, Master personally instructed this old servant to prepare this room specifically for you," Mama Shen introduced solicitously, bowing with a face full of fawning smiles.

Fang Zheng looked around, his eyes shining. This room was twice as large as the one he had lived in before. In the center was a spacious bed, and by the window was a rosewood desk with exquisite brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone. The surrounding walls were adorned with beautiful hangings. Even the floor wasn't ordinary, but covered with a soft, handmade carpet.

Fang Zheng had never lived in such a room before. He nodded repeatedly, "This is very good, truly excellent. Thank you, Mama Shen."

Mama Shen was Aunt's most trusted person, managing all the servants in the household, the de facto housekeeper.

Shen Cui, Fang Yuan's personal maid, was her daughter.

Mama Shen chuckled, "How could this servant possibly accept your thanks, young master? It's my duty, my duty! Young master, please eat well and sleep well. If you need anything, just ring the bell by the bed, and a servant will immediately come to take your orders. Master has instructed that you focus solely on your cultivation during these days, and all other matters will be handled by us servants."

A surge of gratitude welled up in Fang Zheng's heart again. He said nothing more, only silently resolving in his heart: This time, I must win first place and not disappoint Uncle and Aunt!

The clouds in the sky grew heavier, making the night even deeper. The stars in the night sky were almost entirely hidden by the overcast, with only a few faintly twinkling lights struggling in the sky.

"Uncle and Aunt must be plotting how to expel me from the family. In my previous life, they secretly instigated servants to provoke me, then framed me and finally expelled me. I wonder what changes will occur in this life," Fang Yuan walked on the street, a cold sneer echoing in his heart.

He had long seen through the true faces of his uncle and aunt.

However, he could understand it.

Humans die for wealth, birds die for food. Whether on Earth or in this world, there are always people who trample on kinship, friendship, and love for profit.

In fact, there was no kinship at all. When his uncle and aunt adopted Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng, their ultimate goal was to covet the inheritance. It was just that the two brothers, Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng, kept giving them surprises.

"Everything is difficult at the beginning, and it's even more so for me. I have neither outstanding aptitude nor the care of elders, so I'm starting from scratch. My parents' inheritance can be said to be a great stepping stone for me. In my previous life, my uncle and aunt seized my inheritance, which caused me to spend a full two years to cultivate to the peak of Rank 1. In this life, I cannot make this mistake again."

Fang Yuan walked on, lost in thought.

He didn't stay in his residence but carried two jars of wine and headed straight for outside the village.

The night sky grew darker, with dark clouds obscuring the starlight. The mountain wind blew with a tendency to strengthen.

The mountain rain was coming.

But he still had to explore. He could only reclaim his parents' inheritance when he turned sixteen next year. As for the Flower Wine Wanderer's hidden treasure, that was something he could obtain in the near future.

There were few pedestrians on the street. Dim light emanated from the houses by the roadside, and trivial household waste, along with leaves and dust, were blown by the wind, scattering freely.

Fang Yuan's thin clothes could barely block the mountain wind, and he couldn't help but feel a chill.

He simply opened the wine jars he was carrying and took a small sip. Although it was rough wine, a warmth rose up after he swallowed it.

This was the first time he had truly drunk wine in days.

The further he went from the village, the sparser the houses by the roadside became, and the dimmer the lights grew.

Ahead, the darkness was even heavier. The wind pressed down on the mountain forest, and tree branches swayed in the night, making rustling sounds, like packs of beasts roaring.

Fang Yuan's pace did not falter in the slightest. He walked out of the village gate and gradually disappeared into the dark road.

Behind him, the lights of myriad homes shone brightly.

Within these lights, there was a warm corner.

His younger brother, Gu Yue Fang Zheng, sat at his desk, reviewing the notes he had taken in class. The room was brightly lit, and the solid walls blocked the cold wind. A cup of warm ginseng tea was placed beside him, with steam rising.

"Young Master Fang Zheng, the hot water for your bath is ready," Shen Cui's voice came softly from outside the door.

Fang Zheng's heart stirred: "Then bring it in."

Shen Cui entered the room with a flirtatious look, swaying her hips.

"This servant greets Young Master Fang Zheng," she looked at Fang Zheng with eyes full of allure. Fang Yuan was only C-grade, but Fang Zheng had A-grade aptitude. To get close to him was true great fortune!