Visitors from the Royal City

"These past few years, our Fang family's momentum has been too strong—it's only natural for some to feel envious."

In Fang Zhongwu's study, father and son spoke candidly. Fang Yuan had roughly recounted what happened at the banquet.

"That prince from the Azure Cloud Academy, I know of him. His talent is indeed considerable."

Fang Zhongwu asked, "There have been some rumors lately. Have you heard them?"

Seeing his father hesitate, Fang Yuan cut straight to the point: "Are they about me?"

"The Lin Clan or the Rain Listening Pavilion?"

Fang Zhongwu waved his hand. "The Lin Clan is beneath notice. If they dare show their heads, I'll have them wiped out directly."

"As for the Rain Listening Pavilion, cultivating your own trusted aides is only right. Handling everything yourself is a waste of time in the end."

Father clearly knew about all these matters. As the head of the vast Fang family, that was only natural.

"Father, you don't need to concern yourself with the Lin Clan matter. I have my own plans," Fang Yuan replied.

"What exactly is it, then?"

Fang Zhongwu nodded, still intending to reveal the truth.

"There's a rumor in the Royal City that the Royal Family wants to form a marriage alliance with the Murong Family."

"I've had people look into it. This may not be just a rumor."

Fang Yuan's heart was as still as an ancient well. He said flatly, "Is it about my fiancée?"

"Only someone of her status would be worthy of the Ninth Prince."

Fang Zhongwu hadn't expected his son's mental fortitude to be so strong. The words of comfort he'd prepared went unsaid.

"If the Murong Family wants to break the engagement, then let them break it," Fang Yuan said, unconcerned.

Children raised in great families enjoy the honor and resources the clan brings, but they must also pay a price.

Being unable to control one's own fate—that's how it is.

Unless your strength is enough to shatter the rules.

Fang Zhongwu's brows were tightly knit, a troubled look on his face, as if he didn't know how to broach the subject.

"Is there something strange about this matter?" Fang Yuan asked.

Fang Zhongwu organized his words and said, "The Murong Family naturally wants to latch onto the Royal Family's leg—they'd be overjoyed."

"But the key is, Murong Jing doesn't agree."

"She doesn't agree?"

Fang Yuan was stunned.

This was a possibility he hadn't considered.

Logically, he had returned from the Azure Cloud Trial defeated, severely injured, with a damaged dantian.

That was a textbook waste profile.

He certainly didn't think that merely looking after her during the Azure Cloud Sect's trial was enough to make her insist on marrying him.

Fang Yuan had briefly interacted with her and knew well how proud this young woman was.

So this didn't add up.

"Could it be that she knows about your dantian's recovery and your true strength?" Fang Zhongwu asked.

Fang Yuan shook his head.

His re-cultivation involved the Heavenly Origin Earth Realm—even his father didn't know the details, let alone anyone else.

"You're a good-looking lad. Could she be after that?"

Fang Yuan was speechless. That might be possible with another woman, but Murong Jing would never.

"Anyway, the Murong Family wants to break the engagement. We might as well go with the flow and dissolve it privately."

Fang Yuan had wanted to break the engagement ever since he first arrived in this world. There was no need for that bitter, grievance-laden drama.

"That might affect your reputation," Fang Zhongwu said, his gaze worried.

Fang Yuan waved his hand. Personal reputation was nothing compared to the family's standing.

He wished he could be a nobody, silently raising his strength, but as the Young Master, staying low-key was nearly impossible.

"If we keep this marriage, it will eventually bring disaster to the family," Fang Yuan analyzed.

If it were just the Murong Family, that would be one thing.

But now that the Royal Family was involved, the Fang family would likely become a target for everyone.

Thinking back to the banquet, how Chang Qing had deliberately mentioned that Ninth Prince—it was probably meant to insult him too.

"We can't break it off for now," Fang Zhongwu said helplessly.

"The Murong Family does want a marriage alliance with the Royal Family, but they can't do it without Murong Jing's consent."

Fang Yuan was a little curious.

Murong Jing could ignore the opinions of her clan members, given her current status, but could she disregard the Royal Family as well?

"After Murong Jing joined the Azure Cloud Sect, she was noticed by an elder and accepted as a personal disciple!" Fang Zhongwu said.

That explained it.

With an elder from the Azure Cloud Sect backing her, she truly didn't need to worry much about the Royal Family's thoughts.

Even her own clan wouldn't dare pressure her too much over the marriage.

"So now, Murong Jing refuses to annul the engagement, and the Murong Family can't make that decision on their own either."

Fang Yuan said, "And that means we can't break off the engagement first either."

Fang Zhongwu nodded very matter-of-factly.

"What a hassle."

Then, the two moved on to discussing the matter of Green Ridge Stronghold.

Fang Yuan rubbed his hands together. "I should be getting some kind of reward, right?"

"Are you short on gold and silver treasures, or is the monthly allowance not enough?" Fang Zhongwu asked, puzzled.

Fang Yuan's treatment was higher than many elders'; when it came to resources, whatever he needed, he could take. His old father had his back on that.

"Who ever thinks they have too much money?" Fang Yuan said with an awkward chuckle.

Fang Zhongwu quickly thought of the Rain Listening Pavilion and didn't ask further. He promptly wrote out an authorization slip, promising to give Fang Yuan a tenth of the spoils.

Don't underestimate that tenth—a stronghold on par with the Lin Clan, a tenth of its accumulated wealth could support countless people.

"Thank you, Father."

Fang Yuan thought of the Yin She Grass and said seriously, "Father, have you sent anyone to Qixi County?"

"Qixi County is our old estate. What's going on there?"

Fang Yuan briefly explained.

"Better to believe it exists than to dismiss it and be caught off guard."

Fang Zhongwu said, "It just so happens that the clan's ancestral rites are coming up. I'll have someone look into the situation over there."

The ancestral rites were a major ceremony held once every five years by the Fang Family.

Five thousand years ago, the Fang Family rose from obscurity in Qixi County, building their foundation through generations of hard work and struggle.

Fang Yuan understood the gravity of the matter. For the next two days, he stayed in his separate courtyard, reading and practicing martial arts, perfectly at ease.

"The ancestral rites are of utmost importance. Don't waste any time."

About a hundred li outside Clear Sea City, a luxurious convoy was approaching. At the very front, eight Demon Tigers led the way.

"Patriarch, should we rest in Clear Sea City?"

An old servant in coarse gray clothes respectfully asked the person inside the carriage.

"Arriving in Flowing Cloud County City without acknowledging the local prefect would be somewhat discourteous."

The old servant understood immediately. "I'll go notify the Flowing Cloud County Prefect at once."

Upon receiving the news, the Flowing Cloud County Prefect took it very seriously and led his key officials to greet them directly at the city gate.

"What big shot is coming?"

Many commoners were astonished to see the prefect himself coming out.

"Hey, look, there seems to be a convoy approaching outside the city."

"Good heavens, those eight Demon Tigers at the front are incredibly imposing—they must be comparable to late-stage Innate Realm cultivators."

"There's a banner hanging on the carriage—it's the Fang Family!"

"Which big figure from the Fang Family is this, to have the prefect personally waiting at the city gate?"

Hidden experts were among the crowd. An old man, well-traveled and knowledgeable, shook his head and denied it:

"This Fang Family is not that Fang Family. They come from the Royal City!"

PS: Tomorrow is Tuesday, please keep reading!!!