"These past few years, the Fang Family has been developing so well that it's only natural for people to envy us."
In Fang Zhongwu's study, father and son spoke frankly. Fang Yuan gave him a rough account of what had happened at the banquet.
"I know that prince from the Azure Cloud Academy. His talent really is impressive."
Fang Zhongwu asked, "There have been some rumors lately. Have you heard them?"
Seeing his father hesitate, Fang Yuan said outright, "Are they about me?"
"The Lin Clan or Rain Listening Pavilion?"
Fang Zhongwu waved a hand. "The Lin Clan is beneath notice. If they dare show their faces, I'll have them wiped out."
"As for Rain Listening Pavilion, it's right that you want to cultivate your own people. Handling everything yourself would only waste your time."
Clearly, Fang Yuan's father knew about all of this. That was only natural for the head of such a vast family.
"You don't need to worry about the Lin Clan, Father. I have my own plans," Fang Yuan replied.
"What exactly is going on?"
Fang Zhongwu nodded, deciding to tell him the truth.
"There are rumors in the Royal City that the Royal Family wants to arrange a marriage alliance with the Murong Family."
"I had someone look into it. It may not be just a rumor."
Fang Yuan remained calm as still water. "Is it about my fiancée?"
"Only someone of her standing would be a suitable match for the Ninth Prince."
Fang Zhongwu hadn't expected his son to take it so well. He hadn't even gotten the chance to offer the words of comfort he'd prepared.
"If the Murong Family wants to break off the engagement, then let them," Fang Yuan said, unconcerned.
Children raised in great families enjoyed the honor and resources their families provided, but they also had to give something in return.
That was what it meant to have no choice in the matter.
Unless you were strong enough to break the rules.
Fang Zhongwu furrowed his brows, looking troubled, as if he didn't know how to begin.
"Is there something more to this?" Fang Yuan asked.
After gathering his thoughts, Fang Zhongwu said, "The Murong Family naturally wants to attach themselves to the Royal Family. They couldn't be more eager."
"But the key is that Murong Jing doesn't agree."
"She doesn't?"
Fang Yuan was stunned.
He hadn't considered that possibility.
After all, he had returned defeated from the Azure Cloud Trial, grievously wounded, with his Dantian damaged.
He was the very picture of a good-for-nothing.
He didn't believe that simply looking after her during the Azure Cloud Sect's trial would be enough to make her insist on marrying him.
Fang Yuan had spent a little time with her and knew just how proud the girl was.
That made no sense.
"Could she know that your Dantian has been repaired, and know your true strength?" Fang Zhongwu asked.
Fang Yuan shook his head.
His cultivation involved the Heavenly Origin Earth Realm. Even his father knew little about it, let alone anyone else.
"You're a handsome young man. Could she be after your looks?"
Fang Yuan was speechless. That might have been possible with another woman, but Murong Jing certainly wouldn't.
"In any case, the Murong Family wants to break off the engagement. We might as well go along with it and dissolve it in private."
From the moment he'd arrived in this world, Fang Yuan had wanted to break off the engagement. He didn't need to act out that bitter, star-crossed romance all over again.
"Could this damage your reputation?" Fang Zhongwu asked, worry in his eyes.
Fang Yuan waved a hand. Compared with the family's standing, his personal reputation was nothing.
He would have loved to become a nobody, quietly building up his strength, but as Young Master, it was difficult to keep a low profile.
"If we keep this engagement, sooner or later it'll bring disaster upon the family," Fang Yuan reasoned.
If it had only been the Murong Family, that would have been one thing.
But now the Royal Family was involved too. The Fang Family might well become a target for everyone.
Thinking back to how Chang Qing had brought up the Ninth Prince at the banquet, Fang Yuan suspected that he'd meant to insult him as well.
"We can't break it off just yet," Fang Zhongwu said helplessly.
"The Murong Family does want an alliance with the Royal Family, but they can't do it without Murong Jing's consent."
Fang Yuan was curious.
Murong Jing could disregard her family's wishes, given her current standing, but could she really disregard the Royal Family too?
"After Murong Jing joined the Azure Cloud Sect, an elder took a liking to her and accepted her as a personal disciple," Fang Zhongwu explained.
That made sense.
With an Azure Cloud Sect elder backing her, she really didn't need to care much about what the Royal Family thought.
Her family wouldn't dare put too much pressure on her over the engagement, either.
"So, Murong Jing doesn't want to break off the engagement, and the Murong Family can't make that decision on their own."
Fang Yuan said, "Which means we can't dissolve the engagement first, either."
Fang Zhongwu nodded in agreement.
"What a headache."
After that, the two talked about Green Ridge Stronghold.
Fang Yuan rubbed his hands together. "I should get a reward for this, right?"
"Are you short on gold and silver, or isn't your monthly allowance enough?" Fang Zhongwu asked, baffled.
Fang Yuan's benefits were better than those of many elders. When it came to resources, he could take whatever he needed.
His father was there to back him up.
"Who ever complains about having too much money?" Fang Yuan said with an awkward grin.
Fang Zhongwu quickly thought of Rain Listening Pavilion. He didn't ask any questions, and soon wrote out an authorization, promising Fang Yuan a tenth of the spoils.
Don't underestimate a tenth. Green Ridge Stronghold was nearly as powerful as the Lin Clan, and a tenth of its accumulated wealth would be enough to support a great many people.
"Thank you, Father."
Fang Yuan thought of Yinshe Grass and asked seriously, "Father, have you sent anyone to Qixi County?"
"Qixi County is where our ancestral home is. What's going on there?"
Fang Yuan briefly explained.
"Better to believe it and be safe than to dismiss it and regret it," Fang Zhongwu said. "The family's ancestral rites are coming up soon anyway. I'll have someone look into things there."
The family's ancestral rites were an important ceremony held once every five years.
Five thousand years ago, the Fang Family had risen from humble beginnings in Qixi County. It had taken generations of hard work and struggle to build the family's wealth to what it was today.
Fang Yuan understood the importance of the matter. For the next two days, he stayed at the family estate, reading and practicing martial arts, enjoying the peace.
"The family's ancestral rites are of great importance. Don't let us be late."
Roughly a hundred miles outside Clear Sea City, a grand procession of carriages approached. At its head, eight Demon Tigers led the way.
"Family Head, shall we rest in Clear Sea City?"
An old servant dressed in coarse gray clothes respectfully asked the person inside the carriage.
"Now that we've come to Flowing Cloud County, it would be somewhat discourteous not to pay our respects to the local Prefecture Governor."
The old servant immediately understood. "I'll notify the Flowing Cloud Prefecture Lord at once."
When the Flowing Cloud Prefecture Lord received the message, he took it very seriously and led the important officials to welcome them at the city gate.
"What important figure is coming?"
Many of the common folk were surprised to see the Prefecture Governor come out in person.
"Hey, look! There seems to be a procession coming from outside the city."
"My god, those eight Demon Tigers at the front look so imposing. They must be as strong as late-stage Xiantian cultivators."
"There's a flag hanging from the carriage. It's the Fang Family!"
"Which important figure from the Fang Family is this? The Prefecture Governor himself is waiting at the city gates to receive them."
Among the crowd were more than a few hidden experts. An old man with a wealth of experience shook his head and corrected them:
"This is not that Fang Family. They're from the Royal City."
Before you continue