Free Web NovelChapter 123: Chapter 123: The Fang Family
Weishui Inner City, the Fang Family.
As one of the Four Great Noble Families of Weishui County City, the Fang Family’s prestige was naturally immense. Their estate was a forest of pavilions and towers, with waterside gazebos, exotic flowers, and rare plants. Every corner exuded luxury.
In a garden in the Fang Family’s rear courtyard, a white-haired old man, looking just like a gardener, was trimming branches and weeds as he spoke nonchalantly.
"I hear Zuo Wumei is dead?"
"Replying to the Clan Elder, yes, he is dead," a middle-aged man standing nearby answered respectfully.
"Who killed him?" The old man meticulously pruned a twig, not even turning his head.
"I believe it was a Candidate for Deputy from the Inspectorate, from some alley in the Outer City. Named Chen something..." The man recalled, "Oh, right, Chen Ping’an. His background is clean—he’s just an ordinary person. I heard he’s not old, just came of age, but he’s already at the Qi Blood Fifth Realm. Elder, what do you think? Should we take this opportunity to recruit him?"
The old man didn’t reply. Instead, he carefully snipped off the branch before him. Only after doing so did he slowly straighten up.
"I can’t be bothered with outside affairs, nor do I want to. I’m old. I just want to enjoy my remaining years in peace. Whether or not to recruit someone, to bring them into the family... that is for the Patriarch and the people of the Outer Hall to decide."
The old man rambled on, and the middle-aged man listened attentively, his body slightly bowed.
"I can’t be bothered with outside affairs, but when it comes to people in our family, I do have a few things to say."
At this, the old man’s voice abruptly changed, as if he had become a different person entirely.
"Zuo Wumei!"
"He was nothing more than an outcast from the Shadowless Blade Sect. At his peak, he was only at the Second Stage of Inner Qi. Now, with his Dantian destroyed, he was at best at the First Stage of Inner Qi—and a weak one at that. A man like that dared to sneak into our Fang Family’s estate at night."
"Who gave him the nerve!"
The old man’s voice wasn’t loud, but an indescribable aura of power instantly enveloped him.
"And another thing! An incident like this happens, and he actually managed to escape! Who from the family made a move back then? Where were the others? I’d like to ask what the hell they were doing! A mere outcast with a ruined Dantian dares to run rampant, coming and going as he pleases! First, our Trade Route suffers a setback, and now this business with Zuo Wumei. What will the other Noble Families think of our Fang Family? Do they think the Fang Family hasn’t been embarrassed enough?"
The old man’s imposing air, intimidating even without anger, terrified the middle-aged man beside him into silence.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but as the old man grew furious, the flourishing flowers and green leaves around him seemed to wilt, losing all their vibrant life. freewebnoveℓ.com
This scene continued for a long while before the old man slowly turned around. When he saw the wilted, drooping flowers clearly, his expression changed, and he cried out in anguish.
"Ai, my flowers! Quick, call the gardener! My precious flowers!"
"Yes, Clan Elder."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man felt as if he had been granted amnesty and scrambled away.
The old man had said nothing, and yet he seemed to have said everything. Because of his words, people within the family would surely suffer, and the subsequent punishments would be carried out one by one.
In the Fang Family, he was the sky itself!
The Fang Family was prosperous, with a large population and sprawling branches. Direct Lineage and collateral branches were intertwined. For any branch to rise, the fastest way was to produce a Martial Arts Master. But in a family like the Fang, even reaching the Inner Qi realm was far from enough to be considered a true master.
The so-called Clan Elders of the Outer Hall were merely for show. To become a true power-holder in the Fang Family, one had to enter the Inner Hall.
And this old man was an exceptionally special member of the Inner Hall’s Clan Elders.
...
Chen Ping’an had no way of knowing what discussions were taking place within the Fang Family. However, the Fangs truly lived up to their reputation as a great Noble Family that had stood in Weishui County City for a thousand years; they were true to their word.
Three days after Chen Ping’an killed Zuo Wumei, someone from the Fang Family came to his door to invite him to their Inner Treasury Pavilion to choose a treasure.
"Young Master Chen, I am a Steward of the Fang Family. As promised, I have come to invite you to the Fang estate to select a treasure."
The speaker was a man with a genial, prosperous-looking face, dressed as a steward. Behind him was a carriage hitched to two horses.
’They really are a Noble Family with deep foundations. So extravagant!’
Chen Ping’an marveled inwardly and gladly accepted.
Riding in the Fang Family’s carriage, Chen Ping’an headed toward the Inner City. When they reached the border between the Outer City and the Inner City, the guards on duty saw the Fang Family emblem on the carriage and let it pass without so much as a second glance.
’The treatment of the great Noble Families is truly different from that of commoners in every respect!’
Chen Ping’an watched the scene unfold, his heart filled with emotion.
For an ordinary commoner to enter the Inner City, not only would they have to pay a fee of silver coins, but they would also be thoroughly searched, treated like a common thief. But the members of the great Noble Families possessed a natural privilege; they didn’t even have to dismount from their carriages.
The feeling of riding in a carriage was completely different from walking.
Sitting in the carriage, looking down through the windows at the pedestrians outside, a sense of disdainful superiority naturally arose. The feeling of being a cut above the rest was palpable!
’No wonder it’s often said that in the eyes of the great and powerful Noble Families, ordinary folk aren’t even considered human!’
Riding in a carriage for the first time, Chen Ping’an was overcome with many feelings.
Your position in life determines your perspective. And your perspective determines your actions.
The carriage moved swiftly, and Chen Ping’an soon arrived at the Fang Family estate.
"Young Master Chen, we’ve arrived," the Steward called from outside.
"Mm," Chen Ping’an nodded and stepped out of the carriage.
The entrance to the Fang estate was wide, with a plaque inscribed with brilliant golden characters hanging above. At the gate stood imposing servants. freewebnøvel.coɱ
Though they were called servants, as Chen Ping’an walked past them, he noticed that every single one was a skilled practitioner of Qi Blood at the Entry Level of the Martial Dao.
’Truly extravagant!’
The Steward led Chen Ping’an through the gate. After many twists and turns, they arrived before a multi-storied pavilion.
The pavilion was several stories high and guarded by numerous guards. The Steward led him to the first floor, and the two entered a room and sat down.
"Young Master Chen."
The Steward said with a broad smile.
"I haven’t formally introduced myself. My name is Fang Shicheng, and I am a third-rank Steward of the Fang Family."
"A pleasure, Steward Fang."
From Steward Fang’s expression, it seemed he had something he wanted to say.
Chen Ping’an guessed correctly. Sure enough, Fang Shicheng then began to tell him about the history and heritage of the Fang Family.
"Young Master Chen, my Fang Family was founded over twelve hundred years ago. At that time..."
Fang Shicheng was a good storyteller, and he recounted the events in a very interesting manner.
He spoke of how the Fang Family’s ancestor had carved out a place for them in Weishui County City through sheer force, establishing a firm foothold. He spoke of how the Fang Family flourished, and how their descendants...
He also spoke of the Fang Family’s power and its enterprises.
Finally, Fang Shicheng revealed the purpose of his visit.
"Young Master Chen, by killing Zuo Wumei, you have performed a great service for our Fang Family. In recognition of your meritorious deed, the Fang Family is interested in recruiting you."
