The End

"Brother Yuan, you're here!"

Round and chubby, Fang Man wore his usual smile when he saw Fang Yuan, as if he'd expected him to come.

Although he was covered in wounds and filthy from head to toe, he still kept his spirits up.

"It might not have been me who came."

"No, it had to be you."

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

"Damn it, I'm going to kill those sons of bitches right now!"

Fang Man got to his feet and made to head outside. He'd clearly been bottling up his anger for days with nowhere to vent it.

"Take this medicine first."

Fang Yuan handed him some healing pills. Knowing his brother's temperament, he didn't try to talk him out of it.

In the corner, Fang Yuan'er, who had also been captured, watched the two of them chatting and laughing. His heart was heavy.

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

But when he saw Fang Yuan about to leave, a voice deep inside urged him to speak. He wavered, locked in an internal struggle.

Only after the two had vanished from sight did he let out a dejected sigh.

"Brother Yuan, wait. I just remembered—Fang Yuan'er is still locked up inside."

Fang Yuan glanced at Fang Man, who was turning back, and chuckled. "Have you two made up?"

Fang Yuan had naturally seen him too. He hadn't stepped in to help, but it wasn't out of spite.

The two had never gotten along, but their disagreements had always been confined to the family—just petty squabbles.

Besides, if Fang Yuan had gone over and freed him himself, it would have looked like a show, and things would have been awkward for both of them.

The family would soon search the prison anyway. Quite a few of their disciples were being held here, so Fang Yuan'er would be rescued.

"Brother Yuan, don't get the wrong idea." Fang Man waved his hands repeatedly.

He was afraid his big brother would think he was a turncoat.

"Honestly, I never expected him to save me during the battle at the mine," Fang Man said with a sigh.

Fang Yuan's eyes shifted. After a moment of silence, he said, "You can fight among yourselves at home, but out there, you're all brothers."

With that, Fang Yuan patted him on the shoulder and walked out alone.

Fang Man seemed thoughtful, then turned back to the prison and cut Fang Yuan'er's chains.

After the Green Ridge Stronghold had been completely destroyed, the most exciting part was, of course, counting the spoils.

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

"No amount of wealth is worth more than our own brothers."

At those words, the Eleventh Elder was moved. It seemed he could already see the makings of a family leader in Fang Yuan.

The Green Ridge Stronghold looked large, but the wealth it had left behind amounted to no more than that of a third-rate family.

Third-rate families had no Foundation Building Realm cultivators to protect them, which clearly didn't match the strength of the Green Ridge Stronghold.

Of course, the foundations accumulated by a family could never compare to those of a force made up of bandits like the Green Ridge Stronghold.

The vault mostly contained ordinary gold and silver, with few pills or magical artifacts. Fang Yuan couldn't even be bothered to look at the cultivation manuals and martial skills.

"What's this...?"

Among the clutter, Fang Yuan spotted an inconspicuous piece of jade that seemed vaguely familiar.

"It happens to fit the half of the Jade Cup I found last time."

Fang Yuan studied the broken edge. The two halves seemed to fit together perfectly, and his gaze flickered.

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

Besides, the family had its own rules. How could he take things for himself?

"Brother Yuan, I found a promising fellow in the prison just now. I'd like to introduce him to you."

Outside the vault, Fang Man, still covered in blood, had been waiting for a while. He spoke with a broad grin.

"You're hurt again?" Fang Yuan asked.

Fang Man waved a hand with a smile. "It's someone else's blood. I haven't even had a chance to change yet."

Fang Man always seemed to be smiling and treated others kindly.

But deep down, he was extremely proud and acted wildly. Otherwise, his clansmen wouldn't have called him Madman Man.

Fang Yuan couldn't help turning to look at the person Fang Man was recommending, sizing him up.

The man had a powerful build and a dignified face. His eyes gleamed like cold stars, and his two dark, lacquered brows gave him the bearing of a hard man.

He was covered in wounds, but still stood ramrod straight.

"Greetings, Young Master Fang!"

Wu Lin raised his eyes slightly, watching Fang Yuan with care. He found that Fang Yuan wasn't as tall and burly as he'd imagined.

But he had clearly seen what happened in the prison. Fang Yuan had faced two cultivators attempting to assassinate him and handled them with ease.

"He might even be younger than me," Wu Lin thought.

Fang Man leaned close to Fang Yuan and whispered, "He's from Yanggu County."

"Then is his name Wu Song?" Fang Yuan asked in surprise.

Fang Man didn't quite follow his train of thought, but still answered, "His surname really is Wu. His given name is Lin."

"Good of you to remember."

Yanggu County lay over a hundred li from Clear Sea City. It had once been an insignificant little county in Flowing Cloud County, until a Spirit Vein was discovered there.

Later, the Spirit Vein came under the Fang Family's control.

Thus, Yanggu County gradually became part of the Fang Family's sphere of influence, and they held considerable sway there.

Fang Man had deliberately recommended Wu Lin because he still remembered the matter of the talisman discovered at the Spirit Vein.

"Lately, strange sounds have often been heard in the woods outside Yanggu County, as if ghosts were drifting about."

After Fang Yuan sent the others away, Wu Lin thought for a moment, then began explaining the situation.

"Strange sounds? Be more specific," Fang Yuan asked.

"Something like a child crying."

Fang Yuan quietly considered the matter. The disturbance outside Yanggu County was likely caused by the talisman.

But such tricks, meant to scare people, wouldn't have much effect on the powerful cultivators the Fang Family had stationed at the Spirit Vein.

"Anything else?"

Wu Lin furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before replying, "A lot of women and children have gone missing from the nearby villages. The authorities have found no trace of them."

Fang Yuan made a note of it, then gave Wu Lin a jade bottle containing several Qi-Blood Pills.

"Thank you for the reward, sir!"

Wu Lin accepted it with both hands. He didn't yet know what was inside, but someone of Fang Yuan's standing would hardly be stingy.

"Before long, the Fang Family will be recruiting disciples. You may have a chance."

Wu Lin had been born in Yanggu County. The Fang Family's reputation there was as loud as thunder; how could he not yearn to join them?

What's more, the Fang Family had saved his life. He would always remember that debt of gratitude.

"I'll do my best." Wu Lin clenched his fists.

After Fang Yuan left, Wu Lin opened the jade bottle. When he saw the Qi-Blood Pills inside, overwhelming delight appeared on his face.

He was at the stage of tempering his qi and blood.

These pills would be enough to push him to the ninth level of Body Tempering, perhaps even letting him glimpse the Houtian Realm!

Wu Lin's resolve grew firmer still.

"The Green Ridge Stronghold has been wiped out. What should we do with this place?" the Eleventh Elder asked.

The Green Ridge Stronghold had occupied the land as bandits. If they left it alone, another den of thieves might spring up.

"Why not burn it all down?" Fang Man suggested with a grin.

Fang Yuan didn't answer, but the other clansmen all approved of the idea, especially those whose brothers had died at the mine.

"Spread the news that the Green Ridge Stronghold has been destroyed. There's plenty of lumber here. Give it to the nearby villagers."

Fang Yuan thought of the villages that had been slaughtered and sighed softly.

"Besides, the family will need materials to rebuild the mine. We can take them from the stronghold."