Critical Condition

Fu Hua was completely flustered at this moment. He had never expected Old Master Fu to value that seemingly unremarkable young man so highly that he was even willing to give the ancestral residence to Shen Yuan.

This ancestral residence was located in the old district and was not worth much in itself.

Yet to the Fu family, this was where Old Master Fu had lived from childhood to adulthood. It was also from here that he had left Wen City and built the vast Fu family empire. This ancestral residence held an exceptionally special meaning for Old Master Fu.

Old Master Fu's willingness to gift the ancestral residence to Shen Yuan was enough to show how highly he regarded him. Shen Yuan's weight in Old Master Fu's heart might not have been much less than that of Fu Hua, his eldest son.

Although Fu Hua was the Fu family's eldest son, Old Master Fu had more than one son. The brothers had long been fighting one another in secret over the inheritance, to the point where the Fu family was even showing signs of splitting apart.

Unwilling to watch his children and grandchildren fight, Old Master Fu had returned to his old home and withdrawn from worldly affairs. Yet the true ownership of the inheritance still depended on Old Master Fu's will.

A few days earlier, Old Master Fu, who had always been in good health, had suddenly fallen seriously ill. Everyone in the Fu family had been thrown into a panic. They sought doctors everywhere, yet could not determine what illness Old Master Fu had contracted.

The brothers realized that Old Master Fu's time might be drawing near, and that the Fu family's heir would surely be decided within the next few days.

Thus, Fu Hua's brothers had all racked their brains these past few days to curry favor with Old Master Fu, hoping to obtain the inheritance this way.

As Old Master Fu's eldest son, Fu Hua knew well that those near death inevitably cherished the past. That was why he had secretly come to Shen Yuan to reclaim the ancestral residence.

After driving Shen Yuan away, he could bring Old Master Fu back to the ancestral residence, reminisce about childhood, and play a few emotional cards along the way.

As long as he made Old Master Fu happy, coupled with his status as the eldest son, the inheritance would be as immovable as Mount Tai.

Yet he had never imagined that in trying to flatter someone, he would slap the horse's rump instead.

Old Master Fu was even willing to give the ancestral residence to Shen Yuan. His unauthorized decision to drive Shen Yuan away would surely provoke Old Master Fu's fury. At such a critical juncture, it would undoubtedly affect his inheritance rights.

At that moment, Fu Hua finally understood why Shen Yuan had asked whether making him leave had been Old Master Fu's decision or Fu Hua's own arbitrary choice.

So Shen Yuan had seen through everything happening within the Fu family long ago. He had not exposed it directly only out of consideration for Old Master Fu.

But at the time, Fu Hua had not taken Shen Yuan seriously at all. He had merely thought Shen Yuan was using Old Master Fu to threaten him.

Having figured this out, Fu Hua wished he could slap himself twice more.

"Mr. Shen, please wait!"

Hurriedly catching up to Shen Yuan, who had just stepped out through the gate, the arrogance Fu Hua had displayed all along finally vanished completely. A humble smile appeared on his face.

"I, Fu Hua, failed to recognize greatness and offended you, Mr. Shen. Please be magnanimous and forgive me this once."

Shen Yuan cast an indifferent glance at Fu Hua, who was following him step for step, with no intention of stopping.

"Arrogant before, respectful after. The very thought is laughable."

Fu Hua's expression stiffened again, but he immediately adjusted his emotions and forced a smile.

"Mr. Shen's lesson is correct."

Having spent so many years in the business world, Fu Hua regarded things like dignity as extremely unimportant.

Verbal mockery was all hollow. So what if Shen Yuan humiliated him a few times, as long as he could obtain the Fu family inheritance?

Fu Yu, standing at the entrance to the courtyard, watched the scene before her with a shocked expression.

From Fu Hua's words, Fu Yu also realized that the young man holding a kitten was the Mr. Shen to whom Old Master Fu had gifted the ancestral residence.

For Old Master Fu to take a liking to Shen Yuan, he surely possessed extraordinary qualities. Fu Yu was not surprised by that in the least.

But she could never have imagined that her eldest brother, who had navigated the business world with ease, would fawn over this young man so much, his attitude even reaching the point of humility.

"Could this Mr. Shen truly be a reclusive master?"

Fu Yu tried hard to think, but she simply could not connect the handsome young man holding a kitten with the identity of a master.

Fu Hua's display did surprise Shen Yuan somewhat with the thickness of his skin, but Shen Yuan no longer had the mind to involve himself in the Fu family's affairs.

The only person he had any friendship with was Old Master Fu. He had no desire to pay any attention to the others.

Without responding, Shen Yuan continued walking away with Bai Xue in his arms. This made Fu Hua extremely anxious. Once word reached Old Master Fu's ears, his inheritance rights would be completely ruined.

Fu Hua could no longer afford to conceal anything. He hurriedly signaled to Fu Yu by the gate, then continued, "Mr. Shen, Father has already decided to give this courtyard to you. This is Father's token of regard for you. Please accept it."

Fu Yu also came to her senses at this point. Though she did not know why Shen Yuan was angry, she hurriedly echoed him.

"You are Mr. Shen, correct? Father specifically asked me to transfer this courtyard to you. He said you absolutely must accept it."

Shen Yuan's expression remained unchanged as he waved his hand. "One should not accept rewards without merit. Do not mention this matter again."

Fu Yu froze for a moment, then said anxiously, "This is Father's final wish before his death. Please, Mr. Shen, you must accept it!"

Hearing this, Shen Yuan stopped at once. His gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at Fu Yu. "Final wish?"

A sorrowful expression appeared on Fu Yu's delicate face.

"Father has been gravely ill in bed for a week now. No matter what treatment we use, there has been no improvement. Several renowned doctors have even issued critical condition notices.

Giving you the ancestral residence is Father's final wish. He hopes you can accept his kindness."

Shen Yuan's expression darkened slightly. He had not expected the old man, who had still been vigorous and full of energy only a few months ago, to suddenly become seriously ill.

His gaze swept over the somewhat guilty Fu Hua, and Shen Yuan immediately understood why Fu Hua had come behind Old Master Fu's back to reclaim the ancestral residence.

But he had no mind to concern himself with such trivial matters now. He simply questioned Fu Yu directly.

"Where is your father now?"

As a friend despite their difference in age, and the first person on Shen Yuan's path of cultivation whom he could call a fellow Daoist, Shen Yuan should visit him both emotionally and reasonably.

Moreover, Shen Yuan was somewhat puzzled. What exactly could have happened to cause someone with one foot already over the threshold of cultivation to become critically ill in only a few days?

Fu Yu looked somewhat hesitant, unsure whether she should tell Shen Yuan.

But Fu Hua beside her had no such concerns. Shen Yuan had finally shown signs of changing his mind. If he refused again, Fu Hua's position as heir truly would not be secure.

"My father is unable to travel conveniently, so he has been staying at home. If Mr. Shen wishes, I can take you to see him now."

As he spoke, Fu Hua hurriedly opened the door of the black luxury sedan parked by the roadside and respectfully invited Shen Yuan inside.

Shen Yuan did not hesitate and directly took a seat in the back.

Fu Hua had also wanted to sit beside Shen Yuan, but remembering Shen Yuan's dislike for him, he instead called for the beautiful Fu Yu to sit in the back while he took responsibility for driving.

The car slowly drove away from the old district.