Why Did You Force Me?

Fang Mo had not realized that Yue Jian had secretly stood up for him, yet he had inadvertently drawn Hu Yuehua's attention and exposed his whereabouts.

At that moment, he was staring eagerly at the box Ding Zhiyuan had brought.

"Twenty bottles of medicinal liquid for soaking baths, and ten jin of Exotic Beast Meat!"

Ding Zhiyuan set the box on the table and opened it. Twenty green medicine bottles were lined up in a foam board on the top layer. Beneath it were several bags containing vacuum-packed chunks of Exotic Beast Meat, along with ice packs that gave off a chill.

"There isn't much fresh Exotic Beast Meat available. Use this for now. I've already asked my father to call in favors and see if he can get more!"

Ding Zhiyuan spoke somewhat helplessly.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Ding. This is already very good!"

Fang Mo said gratefully.

Ding Zhiyuan patted Fang Mo on the shoulder and reminded him, "You need to find a stable supply channel. As your consumption increases, your cultivation progress will be affected without a steady supply."

Fang Mo smiled bitterly. "We'll take it one step at a time!" With that, he took money from the drawer and handed it to Ding Zhiyuan.

Ding Zhiyuan did not stand on ceremony. After accepting the money, he said, "Then I'll take it. The next batch may not arrive until next month."

"That's fine. Together with the Martial Hall's supplies, it should last until next month." Fang Mo locked the medicinal liquid in the cabinet, then put the Exotic Beast Meat into the refrigerator to ensure it would not spoil.

Afterward, the two headed to the front courtyard together.

In the front courtyard, Fang Mo asked Ding Zhiyuan about the Underground Boxing Gyms in Yunyang.

"What are you asking that for?"

Ding Zhiyuan looked at Fang Mo in confusion.

Fang Mo hurriedly said, "I just want to go and have a look!"

Ding Zhiyuan smiled. "If you want to watch, you can go to the Iron Stone Boxing Gym in City God District. You only need to pay admission. But the matches there are fairly low-level. Most are bouts below Ming Jin, with only the occasional Ming Jin fight!"

"I can go take a look when I have time!"

Fang Mo felt that Iron Stone Boxing Gym suited his needs quite well.

He began calculating when he should go give it a try.

The two arrived at the front courtyard and each found a spot to practice.

In the rear courtyard, Guan Lie was guiding his disciples in their training.

Just then, the phone rang.

He walked to the table, picked it up, and glanced at the screen. His brows furrowed slightly, but he answered it anyway.

"What instructions does Vice President Bai have?"

A hearty laugh came from the other end of the line. "Haha, Hall Master Guan, you're too polite. How would I dare give you any instructions?"

Guan Lie smiled faintly. "Vice President Bai is occupied with countless affairs. You certainly would not contact me without reason!"

"Nothing can be hidden from Hall Master Guan!"

Vice President Bai gave an awkward laugh, then said, "Then I'll be direct. I wanted to ask whether your Martial Hall has taken in a student named Fang Mo."

"Fang Mo?"

Guan Lie raised his brow at this, but then said, "There is such a student. May I ask whether this student has caused some trouble?"

The students in the rear courtyard all heard the voice. Quite a few looked over, while others pricked up their ears.

"It's not that he caused any trouble!"

The voice on the phone paused slightly and lowered a little. "It's just that I heard this student is not suited to martial arts. Hall Master Guan, aren't you afraid that keeping him in your Martial Hall will damage its reputation?"

Guan Lie's brow lifted slightly. "Since when did President Bai begin taking an interest in how we recruit students?"

The caller was Bai Hongsheng, vice president of the Yunyang Martial Arts Association, responsible for the Association's daily affairs.

This Martial Arts Association mainly coordinated matters between Yunyang's Martial Halls, though its authority was not great.

Still, it could not be offended. If the Association made things difficult during the annual review and the Martial Hall's license failed to pass, that would be troublesome as well.

Bai Hongsheng lowered his voice. "Hall Master Guan, you are a sensible man. Since I called you, there must be a reason. He's only one student. Why bring trouble upon yourself for him?"

Guan Lie smiled faintly.

"Can President Bai tell me who is behind this?"

"I'm sorry, but I cannot tell you that!"

Bai Hongsheng's voice rose slightly.

"However, I can tell you this: every Martial Hall in Yunyang will receive notice that none of them may take in Fang Mo. Now Hall Master Guan understands the force behind this, yes?"

"Hall Master Guan, I'm doing this for your own good. There's no need to seek discomfort!"

Guan Lie's eyes lifted slightly. He was somewhat surprised, but he merely said, "President Bai, I understand. I will consider it."

Guan Lie hung up, his brows slightly furrowed. He turned and left the rear courtyard, heading to the pharmacy.

Inside the pharmacy, Xie Changmin was reading a chess manual while arranging chess pieces. Without raising his head, he said, "I heard it. Which force do you think is applying pressure?"

"Hard to say. It could be the Yang Family, or it could be the Qin Family!"

Guan Lie shook his head, his expression solemn.

"Tang Xiong told me last night that both the Yang Family and the Qin Family had stepped in on the Great Wind Gang's side. He could no longer exert any influence there!"

"He also advised Fang Mo to leave and not get involved in the struggle between Yunyang's powers. There may even be factors from within the Fang Family involved. He might not be able to withstand the pressure for us!"

"This kid is in a bad situation. Quite a few people want to deal with him!" Xie Changmin said with a smile.

"Senior Brother, do you truly intend to take him as your disciple?"

Though Guan Lie was asking, his gaze was not directed at Xie Changmin.

Xie Changmin put down the book and looked into the courtyard, his eyes settling on Fang Mo, who was practicing his fists. "In all these years, I have rarely encountered a disciple with such talent in the path of Alchemy. I cannot take all I have learned into the grave!"

Guan Lie followed his gaze, his brow creasing slightly. "Senior Brother, with his Bone Structure, Dark Force may be his limit. If he cannot break through to Dan Jin, can he inherit your alchemy arts?"

"Advancing Soldier!"

Xie Changmin moved a pawn one step forward and said evenly, "Though a pawn is weak, once it crosses the river with a single step, perhaps it can create a miracle!!"

Guan Lie looked at the chessboard. With that one move of the pawn, the entire board came alive. His eyes lifted slightly.

Fang Mo had no idea what had happened in the rear courtyard. He only felt that something was off during lunch.

The people from the rear courtyard were all looking at him strangely, as though they were discussing him.

Fang Mo did not pay it any mind. After eating and resting for a while, he continued his training.

As he practiced, Ding Zhiyuan hurried over.

"Fang Mo, stop training for now!"

"What is it?"

Fang Mo stopped moving and looked at Ding Zhiyuan in confusion.

Ding Zhiyuan pulled Fang Mo aside and said in a low voice, "Fang Mo, who exactly did you offend?"

"What happened?"

Fang Mo was full of confusion. Ding Zhiyuan had rushed over just to ask this?

Ding Zhiyuan was sweating profusely with anxiety as he said urgently, "Just now, Chen Minzhong from the rear courtyard told me that the Martial Arts Association wants the Hall Master to expel you!"

"Expel me? Why?"

Fang Mo's heart jolted violently, and his expression changed.

Remembering the strange looks from the rear courtyard students at noon, he finally understood why.

His heart tightened sharply.

Fang Mo could not help but grow uneasy.

If he left the Martial Hall now, it would be a dead end for him. Without its protection, those gangs might not let him off.

Ding Zhiyuan said anxiously, "I don't know either. They said someone from the Martial Arts Association had delivered the notice. Also, no Martial Hall in all of Yunyang is allowed to take you in!"

Fang Mo's heart chilled again at those words. A fierce light burst from his eyes. He already understood who was making a move against him.

Other than Qin Lang, who hated him so much his teeth itched, it had to be his stepmother Hu Yuehua, who wished him dead.

However, Qin Lang probably did not have that ability, and the Qin Family likely would not do something so pointless. That left only his dear stepmother, Hu Yuehua. With her power and the Fang Family's wealth and influence, she could do it.

Why did you have to force me!

Anger rose in Fang Mo's heart. He had already left the Fang Family, yet Hu Yuehua still refused to let him go.

First, she had leaked that he had taken five million, drawing the gang forces' attention to him.

Now she had resorted to this move. Did she want to drive him into a corner with no way out?

Ding Zhiyuan felt the anger in Fang Mo's eyes in an instant, and his heart chilled as well. Junior Brother Fang's gaze was so cold it made one's heart tremble.