Chapter 249: The Third Strategy
Chapter 249: The Third Strategy
Elder Brother Fang Chi once exposed the theft of vitality from the ordinary people across three thousand li of Lingzhou territory. Fang Cun naturally knew this. He also knew that Elder Brother had been framed because of it, hunted by assassins from the Path of Heaven. But that stolen vitality… was actually used…
…to repair that Spirit Well?
This answer truly shocked Fang Cun.
To steal the vitality of the common folk to mend the Spirit Well, and the Spirit Well, in turn, was connected to the spiritual qi cultivated by the various sects and lineages… Didn’t that mean that during those times, the spiritual qi devoured and cultivated by the Qi Refiners secluded in the mountains, was actually sourced from the vitality of the people? Didn’t that mean those Qi Refiners, who appeared lofty and immortal-like, were, in reality, each like flesh-eating human fiends?
Hearing this answer, Fang Cun could no longer remain calm.
Old Master Fan looked at Fang Cun’s expression and couldn’t help but sigh softly. “Great Xia is vast, with the Immortal Palace at its center. Countless Divine Kings, and innumerable Spirit Wells. Even to this day, I fear many places still steal the vitality of their people to sustain their Spirit Wells. However… I absolutely refused to engage in such practices. And precisely because I refused… I ended up in this predicament…”
He sighed, his face etched with a bitter smile. “Young Friend Fang, you…”
Fang Cun slowly raised his hand, pausing for a long while before speaking. “What does Old Scholar Fan require of Fang Cun?”
Old Master Fan remained silent for a moment. “At the very least, five thousand Dragon Stones might be enough to aid Qingjiang Prefecture…”
“Five thousand…”
Fang Cun exhaled slowly. It wasn’t actually a large sum. But he showed no trace of this on his face, appearing deeply troubled instead. After a long silence, he finally shook his head slowly. “Old Scholar, you overestimate the Fang Family…”
Old Master Fan was momentarily taken aback. “Young Friend Fang, the matter is critical. I won’t stand on ceremony. How much can you provide?”
Fang Cun’s mind raced rapidly, but he deliberately didn’t answer. After a pause, he said, “I must deliberate carefully!”
“Hm?”
Old Master Fan blinked, clearly surprised by this response.
If he spoke of careful deliberation… did it mean the Fang Family, if they scraped together everything, might actually be able to raise such an amount?
“Old Scholar, don’t misunderstand!”
Fang Cun, seeing his expression, offered a helpless smile and sighed. “The Fang Family truly lacks such capability. However, the deceased Phoenix God King, a former friend of my Elder Brother, recently visited me. She mentioned that if I ever faced difficulties, I could seek her counsel. Now, Qingjiang Prefecture’s plight is naturally mine as well. I shall await the next opportunity to meet her and… carefully discuss the possibility of borrowing some funds…”
“This…”
Old Master Fan hadn’t expected this answer. He paused briefly, then managed a small smile. “That… could work.”
“Old Scholar,” murmured an old servant who had been hidden in the shadows, emerging as Fang Cun departed. Watching the direction Fang Cun left, he looked worried, sighing softly. “Do you truly believe this Second Young Master Fang will act generously in this crucial time?”
“Hmph!”
Old Master Fan’s expression grew displeased. “Borrow from the Phoenix God King? What an idea he concocted!”
The old servant was puzzled. “You believe he was lying?”
“He certainly was!”
Old Master Fan’s face darkened. “I know Fang Chi, that ‘Little Gentleman’ all too well, heh. Others see an Immortal Master of pure virtue, untouched by worldly stains. But I know the truth. He was either utterly uncorrupted, or a colossal fraud! Back when his cultivation was still weak, he often visited me as a friend. Later, venturing into the mortal world and awakening to the Dao, he grew arrogant. He distanced himself from me… despicable! He rose so high afterward. Dying young? Unlikely. He wouldn’t truly neglect his family or leave them destitute!”
The old servant chuckled. “Well, he did offer three hundred Dragon Stones readily. Claiming access to five thousand isn’t unreasonable…”
Old Master Fan acknowledged this internally, but a cold snort escaped his lips. The exhaustion of recent weeks surfaced – the tireless effort to placate the Demon Hound disaster, the constant appeals, the humiliating disregard encountered everywhere. “I refuse to emulate the former Prefect, stealing the people’s vitality to nourish a Spirit Well! This burden shouldn’t fall solely upon me, either. The Fang family basks in their pristine reputation! The Seven Clans enjoy immense benefits! Demanding they bleed a little, use their wealth to heal the Spirit Well for the people… what is wrong with that?”
The old servant hurriedly echoed agreeably. “Naturally, naturally. Your virtuous conduct is universally respected, Old Scholar!”
……
Fang Cun departed the main hall, walking through the mist-shrouded paths of the Lingwu Sect under the cover of night, his white robes glowing faintly, a cool aura surrounding him.
Spirit Well… the common folk… Dragon Stones… the Seven Clans…
All these elements tangled chaotically in his mind.
For many matters, he had already made decisions; he merely needed to follow through.
But the revelation from Old Master Fan tonight was unexpected.
The Dragon Stones themselves weren’t a primary concern.
It was the profound truth about the Spirit Well that triggered deep contemplation.
Could it truly be, as Old Fan said, that what he was attempting now was the best possible course?
Previous County Mansions stole life essence to mend the Spirit Well. He, not resorting to theft, only planned to call upon the resources of the Seven Clans and the Fang family when truly necessary to gather more Dragon Stones to heal the well… Was this truly the only feasible solution now?
Old Fan seemed utterly convinced.
Yet Fang Cun felt an uneasy suspicion…
Because if true, wouldn’t this, in some way, be an inescapable trap?
“Second Young Master Fang…”
A woman’s voice came softly from the darkness. She seemed to emerge through the Lingwu Sect’s ever-present, cloying mist – a figure enveloped in haze herself. She appeared to have been waiting for him on the path, calling out gently upon his approach. Yet once she stepped forward, she fell silent, seemingly struggling to speak, her gaze fixed on him with a quiet expectation.
“Another difficulty?”
Fang Cun glanced at Meng Zhixue and asked gently.
Meng Zhixue hesitated momentarily, then nodded, relating what Lu Xiao had said.
“I underestimated him!”
Fang Cun was silent for a moment before letting out a low laugh. “Before, I only saw him as a spoiled child, spouting what he thought were profound insights to appear deep. Now I see… those words weren’t entirely without merit. At the very least, when everyone feels helpless, saying such things can comfort one’s own heart…”
“If you could learn a little from him, you might not face this cultivation bottleneck.”
Meng Zhixue paled slightly, shaking her head slowly. “I… I could never be like him. That’s why I wished…”
Fang Cun flicked his sleeve. “Right now, I’m not much better off than you.”
Meng Zhixue fell silent again. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it. She only stood there, silent.
“Since achieving the Treasured Body, I knew Elder Brother left an answer awaiting me at the peak of the Treasured Body Realm.”
Gazing at the oppressive, unending mist before him, Fang Cun also sighed softly. “I’ve walked to that point now. All preparations are made; I could grasp that answer anytime. Yet… surprisingly, I hesitate to take that final step…”
Meng Zhixue was startled: “Second Young Master Fang, you are… afraid?”
Fang Cun gave a pained smile. “Terrified.”
Meng Zhixue probed: “Afraid of… Old Master Fan?”
Fang Cun shook his head.
Meng Zhixue questioned: “Then… fearful of the Seven Clans?”
Fang Cun shook his head again. Before Meng Zhixue could ask further, he spoke low: “Come with me.”
Meng Zhixue hurriedly followed him down the hillside. Instead of returning to his quarters or using the Soaring Cloud technique, Fang Cun walked directly towards the residence of Shang Yue, the consort from the Seven Clans’ Mo family. The scene of the bloody incident had been sealed; the place was unnaturally silent, shrouded in an almost spectral gloom that drove people away. Only a few Secretaries from the Prefecture’s office and some investigators were forced to stay.
Beside the sealed hall, beneath the plane tree, sat a woman in a bamboo hat with a gauze veil, drinking tea at a stone table. She was the Moon Tribe of the Witch Clan envoy. Her attendants were inside the sealed hall, presumably examining any remaining clues. Fang Cun walked straight to her, sat down across the table without ceremony, and poured himself a cup.
“So many eyes here, Second Young Master Fang. Are you not afraid of being seen?” The woman said impassively.
Fang Cun glanced at her. “Could I be seen?”
“Absolutely not.” The woman replied coolly. “You know our Moon Tribe’s Soul Arts are unparalleled under heaven.”
Fang Cun looked slightly weary. “How… how has your health been lately?”
The Moon Tribe witch’s hand trembled almost imperceptibly.
Beside her, Meng Zhixue watched, her heart filled with immense curiosity. The Moon Tribe was newly subservient to Great Xia, holding special status. Though from the chaotic Southern Borderlands and not a major sect, their submission brought significant political weight, granting them high standing. The status of this Moon Tribe Holy Maiden might even parallel that of a princess within Great Xia. How could Second Young Master Fang be so… familiar?
“Half a year has passed since our last parting, Young Master. The time nears for you to fulfill your promise!” The Moon Tribe Holy Maiden spoke with evident impatience, setting her teacup down coldly.
“I will keep my word. But you will answer me one question first.” Fang Cun’s tone held a hint of command.
Anger flashed across the Holy Maiden’s veiled face. After a long silence, she spoke tersely: “Ask.”
Fang Cun went straight to the point: “Old Master Fan invited you here to assist in healing the Spirit Well. So, how exactly can it be healed?”
“The Spirit Well?” The woman laughed softly. “I brought two strategies to aid Old Master Fan. Which one do you wish to hear?”
Fang Cun replied immediately: “The Third Strategy.”
The hand of the Moon Tribe woman visibly stiffened. She abruptly lifted her veil, revealing a sharp gaze fixed intently on Fang Cun.
“Young Master Fang,” she warned, her voice low and serious, “Hearing the Third Strategy… could get someone killed…”
Fang Cun picked up his teacup. He straightened slightly, meeting her gaze calmly. “I am prepared.”