Chapter 11: Brother’s Path

Perhaps, ever since inheriting his brother’s secret treasure, Fang Cun was destined to walk the same path his brother had once walked.

Perhaps, ever since reincarnating into the Fang Family, Fang Cun was destined to walk that path.

……

Although Fang Cun had led a carefree and idle life under the shield of his genius brother’s reputation throughout the years since his arrival in this world, it didn’t mean he was blind to its perilous nature, a world of raw survival where the strong preyed on the weak…

Just in Willow Lake City alone: to the south, Demonic Cultivators rampaged, sowing chaos everywhere; to the west, demons and monsters lurked, harming people constantly. Inside the city, powerful aristocratic families clashed for power and profit, eyeing rivals with hostility. Out beyond the city walls, fierce bandits had their eyes on the Fang Family, eager to take a fat bite. Now, with his brother gone, in a world like this, how could he protect the Fang Family, protect the peaceful lives of the old man and his wife?

Fang Cun had already thought this through clearly.

Fang Chi of Willow Lake: started reading at three, awakened his potential at five. By seven, he was noticed by an old Instructor from the Academy, entered its gates, studied the Nine Classics, and cultivated the Qi Refining arts. His rise was unstoppable. Back then, the Fang Family of Willow Lake was just ordinary folks, but thanks to this eldest son’s ascent, their fortunes turned, rising step by step. By the time Fang Cun was born, the Fang Family had become one of the most prominent families in Willow Lake City!

The Fang Family rose through the Qi Refiner, so naturally, they needed to preserve themselves by having a Qi Refiner.

……

Elder Fang sensed a subtle change in his second son. He even felt like he saw the reappearance of his eldest son, whose true depths he himself had never fully fathomed. For a moment, his heart trembled faintly, unsure whether it was joy or worry he felt.

“Cun… Cun’er…”

When he spoke, Elder Fang realized his throat felt clogged, and his voice was hoarse as he asked, “What… what do you want to do?”

Fang Cun replied calmly, “Of course, I must enter the Academy!”

Only by becoming a Qi Refiner could he protect the Fang Family, could he shield them.

And the first step to becoming a Qi Refiner was entering the Academy!

By becoming an Academy disciple, he would at least have minimal protection, enough to intimidate those with ill intentions towards the Fang Family. If they dared to move against him or his family, the City Governor or the Academy would at least step in to take a look and ask. But without the status of an Academy disciple, once the dwindling intimidation left by his brother faded entirely…

The Fang Family could vanish completely from this world without causing even a ripple!

Therefore, he absolutely must enter the Academy. He needed the identity of a disciple first, to temporarily stabilize the Fang Family’s situation.

“Enter the Academy?”

Elder Fang was startled by his son’s words. It was as if he was seeing this son he had raised for over ten years for the very first time. He scrutinized him carefully for a few moments before letting out an involuntary, bitter laugh. “My foolish son, oh, entering the Academy isn’t something you can just waltz into…”

Fang Cun chuckled unconcernedly and said, “That foolish cousin of mine got in, so why can’t a foolish son?”

“Your cousin… back then, I had to stuff five thousand taels of gold to get him in…”

Elder Fang shook his head with a resigned smile. “And even that five thousand taels was considered a bargain at the time! They only accepted it because they respected your brother’s reputation. Otherwise, how many people carrying mountains of silver still couldn’t find a way into the Academy? Now that your brother… is finally gone, they couldn’t even be bothered to eat our mourning feast. We have the silver ready, but I’m afraid we won’t even find anyone willing to accept it…”

“There’s silver to offer, yet no one will take it?”

Having made up his mind, Fang Cun actually felt more relaxed now.

He picked up a pastry, stuffed it into his mouth, and draped one leg over the other, mirroring his father’s pose, shaking it with an air of nonchalance. He waved off Elder Fang’s worried words dismissively. “There’s no cat that refuses meat. If they truly won’t accept it, I’ll just charge up the Academy’s Rear Mountain!”

“Charge up the Academy’s Rear Mountain?”

Elder Fang paused for a second, stunned, then gave another bitter laugh. “You take after me. Don’t I know what you’re capable of?”

The abruptness of the question left Fang Cun speechless. He didn’t know how to respond.

Elder Fang’s worry was not without reason.

Willow Lake City’s White Xiang Academy opened its doors once every three years to select students, teach them, and pass on the Qi Refining arts.

It had now been two years since the Academy last accepted students; another year remained before the doors would open again. If he didn’t want to wait a whole year, the only option was to find alternative methods. There were a few paths available: either secure a recommendation from a powerful figure, or catch the eye of a qualified Elder Mentor within the Academy and be selected as an exception to begin cultivating Qi Refining…

If it had been the old Fang Cun wanting to enter the Academy, any of these methods would have been easy.

He wouldn’t even have needed to consider these routes; a simple word from him could have made him an Academy disciple.

But now, the Fang Family’s situation had drastically changed. His brother was dead. Going to ask others for favors now might yield refusal.

A single rejection could shatter even the surface-level civility he took such great care to cultivate…

Given this, taking the Rear Mountain path really might become the only viable option.

……

Where there is court, there is a separate world governed by its own unwritten rules. Where there is a front gate, there is invariably a Rear Mountain.

The past life and this one were no different!

The White Xiang Academy was no exception. Besides its triennial official enrollment, those sincerely wishing to become disciples could also approach the Rear Mountain. With permission from an Elder Mentor, they could attempt to enter the mountain gate alone. If successful in passing through the Rear Mountain and entering the gate, they would be acknowledged by the Academy and become its disciples. Furthermore, those who ascended through the Rear Mountain even enjoyed a special status higher than regular disciples.

After all, successfully entering the Academy via the Rear Mountain was proof of one’s ability and talent in itself.

Within the Academy, many potential students eligible to enter through the front gate still wanted to try the challenge of the Rear Mountain.

Only, the Academy’s Rear Mountain was not an easy path.

The Academy was a place for screening Qi Refiners, a place of strict rules. How could it let anyone just wander up to challenge the Rear Mountain? Behind it lay confusing formations, strange mystical arrays, venomous insects, demonic beasts, and fierce wandering spirits — it was one of Willow Lake City’s most infamous perilous zones. Ordinary folk weren’t even qualified to try challenging it; just venturing inside for a stroll could be fatal. It was said even the Academy’s own Instructors weren’t confident enough to traverse it!

Though he had managed to nourish some of his Innate Qi with the help of the Celestial Merit Record, Fang Cun had only just surpassed three cun. That barely met the Academy’s minimum standard. He didn’t know a single technique or method for cultivating Qi. Trying to charge the Rear Mountain with his current level was a joke…

Elder Fang, fully aware of his son’s limited capabilities, naturally took it as such.

“All right, all right, don’t entertain wild notions…”

Seeing Fang Cun sink into silent contemplation, Elder Fang shook his head in resignation. “These past days have been eventful at home. I know you wish to share my burdens, but you’re still young. Stop worrying about all these messy things. Forget about how hard it is to enter the Academy now. Even if you managed it, the mere title of Academy disciple wouldn’t likely intimidate a fierce character like Lao Chao from the Devouring Sea Gang…”

He spoke while leaning on a small table to stand. A maid hurriedly stepped forward to support him. Suddenly, Elder Fang turned his gaze back to Fang Cun, his expression extremely serious. “Child, we’re not chasing fame or wealth anymore. You’re the only one left now. All I want is for you to be safe and secure!”

“Safe and secure…”

Listening to his father’s words, Fang Cun sighed inwardly.

He wished even more that he could continue living the peaceful, stable life as before. But was that even possible?

This elder brother of his had died far too suddenly.

Because he had been a good man, his death seemed almost inevitable. That the Fang Family should suffer ill fortune also seemed inevitable…

But why should a good man necessarily be doomed to death?

Why must the good man’s clan suffer retribution precisely because he performed kindness?

“Rest assured, I will definitely get into the Academy, and Lao Chao won’t get his wish either!”

Fang Cun suddenly addressed Elder Fang as the old man was preparing to return to his room, startling him. Elder Fang turned back to look and saw his son speaking as if it was nothing unusual. “So many people are waiting to see the Fang Family stumble, but they’ve forgotten one thing…”

Fang Cun picked up a tea cup, smiling. “Fang Cun has two sons!”

……

The next day, Fang Cun rose early and instructed the steward to select some gifts.

The old steward was already overwhelmed managing the aftermath of the funeral and the disruption to various business matters, but seeing his young master Fang Cun give such serious orders, he didn’t dare delay. Quickly, he went to the family’s treasure pavilion and gathered items like the red jade carving and the medicinal pearl box. Then, he watched helplessly as the Young Master personally shifted a decorative rock garden and retrieved two jars of fine wine Elder Fang had secretly stored away.

He had no idea what the Young Master was planning to do. He wanted to advise that they should economize now that times had changed, but the words stuck in his throat.

“To the Qingliu Lane in the West City!”

Fang Cun settled into the carriage, reclining comfortably, and gave the order to the driver, Old Huang.

The horse’s hooves clip-clopped steadily as it pulled this notoriously elegant carriage across the main streets of Willow Lake City.

Many people recognized the distinctive carriage belonging to the Young Master of the Fang Family and pointed it out, whispering among themselves.

News of the events that happened in the inner hall during the Fang Manor’s funeral feast last night had already spread throughout Willow City. The Fang Family, already under intense scrutiny due to the death of the eldest son, suddenly found itself embroiled in scandal as relatives turned against each other over inheritance. This instantly fueled countless more pieces of gossip over tea and conversations. It was through these rumors that many realized the Fang Family now was unlike the past.

Without that eldest son whose achievements were widely known as massive but whose exact limits remained elusive, could the Fang Family of Willow Lake continue to hold its ground?

Especially with a power like Lao Chao from outside the city walls already coveting the Fang Family’s businesses? What would the Fan Family do?

Fang Cun, however, ignored these shifts entirely.

Or rather, he had long anticipated a day like this.

The carriage arrived at West Qingliu Lane, stopping before a luxurious mansion beside the lake in the western district. Old Huang stepped forward and knocked on the estate’s heavy door, presenting the visiting card Fang Cun had personally written. Throughout this, Fang Cun stayed inside the carriage, quietly waiting.

Sure enough, moments later, the reply came through the mansion’s servant outside the carriage window: “The Master is not at home.”

“The first step didn’t go smoothly…”

A peculiar smile flickered across Fang Cun’s face. How to proceed down this path?

If he were his brother, would he have resorted to sincerity? Standing at the gate in the snow to win the other’s heart?

……

Fang Cun chuckled lightly and said to Old Huang, the steward, “Take that box of Snow Dragon Pills. Knock on the door again!”

Old Huang complied. Moments later, a servant’s voice from the mansion gate announced, “The Master has just returned. He invites the Young Master Fang in for a talk!”