Upon hearing this, Fang Lingyuan's expression of surprise faded slightly. He leaned back in his chair, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke.
"It's not exactly troublesome."
His voice was somewhat low, and his gaze fell on the pine forest outside the window, rustling in the afternoon wind.
"It's just that I'm a little... powerless."
Fang Han didn't speak, but listened quietly.
"Because of you, the Fang Clan's influence is no longer limited to Liangshui City."
Fang Lingyuan said slowly.
"I have businesses in several surrounding cities, and my assets have increased more than tenfold compared to two years ago."
He paused, the weariness between his brows becoming even more pronounced.
"As you know, the Fang Clan's current prestige is entirely due to your efforts."
"You are ranked first on the Prodigy Ranking, and everyone in Qingyang Prefecture knows this. Out of respect for you, many people have been patronizing the Fang Clan's business. However, the Fang Clan's own strength cannot keep up with the speed of this expansion."
His fingers tapped lightly twice on the desk, producing a dull thud.
"The five Medium Grade manuals you brought back last time really solved our immediate problem and accelerated the cultivation speed of our clansmen. I even used them to break through to the sixth grade."
"However, time is still short, and the strength of the warriors in the clan is generally low, so there are not many capable people."
He sighed, turned his gaze away, and looked at Fang Han.
"Ultimately, the problem lies in the shallow foundation and the overly ambitious expansion, which has become unsustainable."
Fang Han listened quietly without speaking immediately.
He pushed the package on the desk forward and untied the knot in the cloth.
Fang Lingyuan's gaze fell on the package, his tone questioning, "What is this...?"
Fang Han did not answer directly, but instead opened the package, revealing a thick stack of booklets carefully wrapped in oilcloth.
"A while ago, I made some contributions to the sect, and the sect rewarded me with some things."
His voice was flat, as if he were talking about something insignificant.
"These are part of the reward."
Fang Lingyuan reached out and picked up the top booklet, then opened it to the title page.
His fingers paused slightly as they touched the page.
" High Grade cultivation technique... < Mystic Frost Sword Art >?"
He picked up another book.
" High Grade internal cultivation technique... < Origin-Returning Heart Method >?"
His hands began to tremble slightly as he flipped through the books one after another.
High Grade Body Movement < Soaring Swan Step >, High Grade sword technique < Army-Breaking Saber Art >, High Grade fist technique < Mountain-Shaking Fist >...
There are ten High Grade martial arts techniques, covering various categories such as internal energy cultivation, Sword Technique, knife techniques, fist and palm techniques, and Body Movement. Each one is enough to cause a bloodbath in Liangshui City and even several surrounding cities.
When Fang Lingyuan flipped to the bottom three books, his breath suddenly caught in his throat.
< Celestial Dipper Fist >, a top-tier fist technique.
The Azure Origin Sword is a top-tier Sword Technique.
The Blazing Sun Saber is a top-tier sword technique.
"Top-tier... top-tier cultivation technique?!"
Fang Lingyuan suddenly raised his head, his once composed face now filled with undisguised horror, and his voice changed.
" Fang Han, what... what merit did he perform that the sect would reward him with such a valuable item?"
Fang Han met his gaze, her voice remaining calm.
"I happened to have some items that the sect urgently needed, so I handed them over."
Fang Lingyuan stared blankly at the thick stack of books on the desk, his fingers gently tracing the Dark Gold cover of " Celestial Dipper Fist," his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure.
His lips moved several times before he could barely find his voice.
He raised his head, and a faint heat flickered in his experienced eyes.
"Top-tier cultivation techniques! Those are top-tier cultivation techniques! In the entire Liangshui City, no, in the surrounding cities, which family can produce even one top-tier cultivation technique? And my Fang Clan actually has three!"
"With these, my Fang Clan has laid the foundation to move towards becoming a major family in the county."
Fang Han didn't say much, and pushed another package forward.
"These are some Danyao I exchanged at the sect; they should be beneficial to the cultivation of my clansmen."
Fang Lingyuan opened the package, inside which jade bottles and porcelain vases of various sizes were neatly stacked.
He picked one up casually; the bottle had a label on it that read " Marrow-Cleansing Pill ".
He picked up another one – " Foundation Cultivation Pill " (a traditional Chinese medicine).
" Detoxification Pill ", " Barrier-Breaking Pill "...
Fang Lingyuan's hands trembled slightly.
"What... what are you going to do with all these Danyao? You need them for your own cultivation in the sect, why bother..."
He was pleased that Fang Han was thinking of the Lineage, but if Fang Han's cultivation was delayed because of the Lineage, then it would be putting the cart before the horse.
"It's enough for me."
Fang Han said with a smile.
" The Clan Head just said that what the clan lacks is a solid foundation. With these cultivation techniques and Danyao, the cultivation speed of the clan's martial artists should be able to be accelerated."
Fang Lingyuan stared at the table full of cultivation manuals and Danyao, remaining silent for a long time.
He spoke slowly after a moment.
" Fang Han."
He paused, his eyes filled with solemnity and gratitude, and said.
On behalf of the Fang Clan, thank you.
Fang Han stood up and shook his head slightly:
" Clan Head, you flatter me. I am also Fang Clan family. A strong Lineage is a strong support for me."
Fang Lingyuan took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, and that familiar calm smile reappeared on his face.
He walked back to his desk and carefully rewrapped the thick stack of martial arts manuals in oilcloth, his movements as gentle as if they were rare treasures.
"I will personally safeguard these techniques and teach them to select individuals. There are several promising young men in the clan who, given time, will surely achieve great things."
Fang Han nodded and said.
" Clan Head, I'll head back to the Rain-Listening Pavilion to visit my parents and Younger Sister first."
Fang Lingyuan raised his head, nodded slightly, and spoke in a gentle voice.
Go ahead.
Fang Han walked along the bluestone path toward the Rain-Listening Pavilion.
This courtyard, located at the deepest part of the Fang Mansion, has changed somewhat since he left a few months ago.
A row of Emerald Bamboo has been newly planted outside the courtyard wall, and they have grown to be as tall as two people, rustling in the wind.
A newly written couplet hangs on either side of the moon gate, the calligraphy vigorous and powerful.
He passed through the moon gate and entered the courtyard.
A small figure in a green dress was practicing calligraphy at a stone table under the pavilion in the courtyard, with a female teacher instructing her and a Maid attending to her.
Hearing footsteps, the figure raised her head, revealing a delicate, beautifully sculpted face.
"Elder brother!"
Fang Ying dropped the brush and pounced over like a joyful sparrow.
She is eight years old this year, and has grown taller than last year. She wears her hair in two buns, with a newly picked silk flower tucked behind her ear. When she runs, the silk flower trembles, which is quite adorable.
Fang Han squatted down and patted his younger sister's head.
Fang Ying rubbed against Fang Han, her voice filled with undisguised joy.
"Brother, you're back!"
"Look what your brother brought you."
Fang Han gently patted his sister's back, took out an oil paper package, and waved it in front of her.
Fang Ying let go of her hand, took the oil paper package, and quickly unwrapped it. Inside were neatly arranged osmanthus cakes, each shaped like a little rabbit, lifelike.
This is the signboard of a long-established pastry shop in Azure Profound City, Fang Han specially took a detour to buy before leaving.
"It's bunny-shaped pastries!"
Fang Ying's eyes lit up immediately. She carefully picked up a piece, looked at it from left to right, and was reluctant to take a bite.
Eat slowly, don't choke.
A gentle female voice came from under the corridor.
Fang Han looked up and saw his mother, Lin Wan, standing under the eaves, wearing an elegant Moon-White ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a light blue jacket over it.
Her hair was tied up with a silver hairpin, and her face remained gentle, though a few fine lines had appeared at the corners of her eyes.
Her gaze fell on Fang Han, and her eyes, which bore a resemblance to Fang Han, were filled with affection and relief.
"Mother."
Fang Han stood up and walked forward.
"You're back."
Lin Wan reached out and straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, looked him up and down, and frowned almost imperceptibly.
"You seem to have lost weight. Did you not eat properly while you were at the sect?"
"The sect's food is excellent, how could I possibly lose weight?"
Fang Han smiled, took out a small jade box from his pocket, and handed it to his mother.
"Mother, this is for you."
Lin Wan took the jade box, opened it, and saw two pills the size of longan, with a smooth and lustrous color like solidified Danyao. A refreshing medicinal fragrance wafted out, which was enough to invigorate one's spirits.
"This is Beauty-Nourishing Pill; after taking it, it can beautify the skin, nourish the complexion, and delay aging."
Fang Han then took out a slightly larger wooden box, inside which were several bottles of health-preserving Danyao stored in warm jade bottles.
"This is for Father. It can strengthen the body and nourish the blood. I asked the Elder of the sect's Pill Hall and they specially picked it out for you."
"Why are you spending this money, child? Your parents don't need it."
Lin Wan looked at the Danyao but did not refuse them. She carefully put the jade box away, a hint of pride flashing in her gentle eyes.
Fang Ying had somehow squatted down on the stone bench, nibbling on the osmanthus cake, her cheeks bulging like a little squirrel stealing food.
She looked at her mother, then at her brother, her dark eyes darting around, and suddenly spoke.
"Brother, do I have a present?"
Yes, of course.
Fang Han took out a small brocade box from his pocket and handed it to Fang Ying.
Fang Ying couldn't wait to open it. Inside lay a pair of jade bracelets, their color warm and lustrous, their carving exquisite, and their size just right for a child to wear.
The bracelet is also engraved with a ring of extremely fine cloud patterns, which shimmer faintly in the light.
"So beautiful!"
Fang Ying's eyes lit up; at her age, she was most fond of sparkly things.
She carefully picked one up, slipped it onto her slender wrist, and looked at it from left to right, unable to get enough of it.
Lin Wan watched this scene from the side, a slight smile curving her lips.
Fang Han handed the remaining items to the Maid standing beside him and turned to look at his mother.
"Mother, is Father not home?"
"Your father went out just as dawn broke."
Lin Wan shook her head, her tone tinged with helplessness.
"Thanks to you, the Lineage has promoted him to head manager, overseeing dozens of shops and hundreds of people. He's probably checking the accounts at one of the shops right now."