The Curtain Falls

"Brother Yuan, you're here!"

The round Fang Man saw Fang Yuan, his face still carrying that ever-present smile, as if he had expected this all along.

Despite being covered in wounds, disheveled and grimy, he still maintained a good attitude.

"The one who might come isn't necessarily me."

"No way."

Fang Yuan cut the chains binding his brother, setting him free.

"Damn it, I'm going to kill those bastards right now."

Fang Man stood up, making as if to charge out, clearly holding a bellyful of anger with nowhere to vent.

"Take the medicine first."

Fang Yuan handed over healing pills, knowing his brother's temperament well and not bothering to persuade him further.

In the corner, Fang Yuan, also captured, watched the two chatting and laughing, feeling bitter inside.

He deliberately shifted his body, not wanting Fang Yuan to see him in such a sorry state.

But when he saw Fang Yuan about to leave, a voice deep inside urged him to speak, a war raging within.

Only after the two disappeared from sight did he let out a lonely sigh.

"Brother Yuan, wait. I just remembered, Fang Yuan is still locked up in there."

Fang Yuan looked at Fang Man, who was about to turn back, and chuckled lightly: "Have you two patched things up?"

Fang Yuan had naturally seen him too, but he hadn't stepped in to save him—not out of pettiness.

Though they didn't get along, it was limited to family squabbles, minor spats.

But if he went over and unlocked the chains himself, it would seem like grandstanding, and they'd both be awkward.

Soon the family would conduct a thorough check of the prison, since many family disciples were locked up here, and they'd naturally free him.

"Brother Yuan, don't misunderstand." Fang Man waved his hands repeatedly.

He was deeply afraid his big brother might think he was a turncoat.

"Actually, I didn't expect that in the battle at the mine, he would step in to save me." Fang Man said with considerable emotion.

Fang Yuan's eyes flickered. He was silent for a moment, then spoke: "At home, we can quarrel. But outside, we're all brothers."

With that, Fang Yuan patted his shoulder and walked out alone.

Fang Man, lost in thought, turned back into the prison to cut Fang Yuan's chains.

After completely destroying Green Ridge Stronghold, the most exciting moment was naturally tallying the spoils.

"Everyone else heads straight for the treasure vault, but you go to the prison first." The Eleventh Elder teased with a smile.

"No amount of wealth can compare to one's own brothers."

Hearing this, the Eleventh Elder's expression shifted, as if he could already see the shadow of a family leader in Fang Yuan.

"Green Ridge Stronghold looks big, but the wealth it left behind is only on par with a third-rate family."

A third-rate family had no Foundation Building Realm cultivators sitting at its helm, which clearly didn't match the stronghold's strength.

Of course, a family's accumulated foundation was far beyond what a band of roaming outlaws like Green Ridge Stronghold could compare to.

In the treasure vault, most of it was ordinary gold and silver, with few pills or artifacts. As for techniques and martial skills, Fang Yuan couldn't even be bothered to glance at them.

"This is..."

Among a pile of odds and ends, Fang Yuan spotted an unremarkable jade piece that looked somewhat familiar.

"It happens to be the other half of the Jade Cup I got last time."

Fang Yuan looked at the broken edge, gradually realizing it could fit together with the half-cup he already had. His eyes flickered.

After taking the other half of the Jade Cup, Fang Yuan left the vault. There were truly few items here that caught his eye.

Besides, the family had its own rules—how could he take things for himself!

"Brother Yuan, I found a talent in the prison just now. I want to introduce him to you."

At the entrance of the treasure vault, Fang Man, covered in blood, had been waiting for a while. He spoke with a grin.

"Hurt again?" Fang Yuan asked.

Fang Man waved his hand with a smile. "That's all other people's blood. Haven't had time to change clothes yet."

Fang Man's personality—on the surface, always smiling, friendly to others.

But deep down, he was extremely proud and acted erratically, which was why his clansmen called him the Mad Brute.

The person he recommended—Fang Yuan couldn't help but turn his gaze to the side and size him up.

This man had a towering build and dignified features. His eyes shot cold light like winter stars, and his brows were painted thick as lacquer—clearly the temperament of a tough man.

He bore many injuries across his body, yet his back remained ramrod straight.

"Greetings, Young Master Fang!"

Wu Lin lifted his eyes slightly, carefully observing Fang Yuan, and found that he was not as tall and burly as he had imagined.

But the scene in the prison cell earlier—he had seen it clearly. This man had faced two Cultivators' assassination attempts alone and still handled it with ease.

"His age is probably younger than mine," Wu Lin muttered inwardly.

Fang Man sidled up to Fang Yuan and said in a low voice, "He's from Yanggu County."

"Then is his name Wu Song?" Fang Yuan asked, startled.

Fang Man was a bit slow to follow the train of thought but still replied, "His surname is indeed Wu, but his given name is Lin."

"Much appreciated."

Yanggu County lay over a hundred li from Clear Sea City. Originally just an unremarkable small county in Flowing Cloud County, a Spirit Vein had later been discovered there.

Eventually, the Spirit Vein came under the Fang Family's ownership.

Thus, Yanggu County gradually fell within the Fang Family's sphere of influence, giving them considerable sway in the area.

Fang Man had specifically recommended this man because he still kept in mind the matter of the Talisman discovered at the Spirit Vein.

"Lately, strange sounds have indeed been appearing frequently in the mountain forests outside Yanggu County, as if ghosts were drifting about."

After Fang Yuan dismissed the others nearby, Wu Lin pondered for a moment and began to recount the situation.

"Strange sounds—can you be more specific?" Fang Yuan asked.

"Somewhat like the crying of a child."

Fang Yuan mused inwardly. The disturbances outside Yanggu County were likely the effect of the Talisman.

But such scare tactics alone wouldn't have much impact on the experts the Fang Family had stationed to guard the Spirit Vein.

"Is there anything else?"

Wu Lin frowned in thought for a moment, then replied, "Many women and children have gone missing from nearby villages. The authorities have investigated but found nothing."

Fang Yuan silently noted this and handed Wu Lin a jade bottle containing several Qi-Blood Pills.

"Thank you for your generosity, sir!"

Wu Lin accepted it with both hands. He didn't yet know what was inside, but someone of such status wouldn't be stingy with their gifts.

"In a while, the Fang Family will be recruiting disciples externally. You might have a chance."

Wu Lin had been born in Yanggu County; the Fang Family's reputation thundered in his ears. How could he not yearn for it?

Moreover, his very life had been saved by the Fang Family. This debt of gratitude was one he would surely remember.

"I will definitely work hard." Wu Lin clenched his fists.

After Fang Yuan left, he opened the jade bottle and saw the Qi-Blood Pills inside. A surge of intense joy spread across his face.

He was currently in the stage of tempering his blood and qi.

These pills were enough to push him to the ninth level of Body Refining, or even allow him a glimpse of the Houtian Realm!

Wu Lin's resolve grew even firmer.

"Green Ridge Stronghold has been destroyed. How should we handle this place?" the Eleventh Elder asked proactively.

Green Ridge Stronghold had occupied the land as bandits. If left unattended, it might well become another den of outlaws.

"Why not just burn it down?" Fang Man suggested with a smile.

Fang Yuan didn't reply, but the other clansmen were very receptive to the idea, especially those whose brothers had died in the Mine.

"Spread the news of Green Ridge Stronghold's fall. There's plenty of timber and lumber here—give it to the nearby villagers," Fang Yuan said, recalling the slaughtered village and letting out a soft sigh.

"Besides, the family needs materials to rebuild the Mine. We can take them from Green Ridge Stronghold."