Chapter 204 - 151: What a Pity (Part 2)
’Fang Yue is truly no ordinary person. He has a boundless future. He really isn’t someone I should be fantasizing about!’
She kept muttering to herself, her expression dazed.
~~~~~~
Meanwhile,
In a sprawling courtyard compound within Shanyang Prefecture City.
Compared to the joyous and lively atmosphere outside, the Wang estate was deathly silent.
A gloomy aura spread throughout the room, so oppressive it felt like it could explode at any moment.
All the servants and guards in the house were prostrated on the floor, trembling, not even daring to breathe loudly.
"You bastards, how do you handle things?! What’s the use of me keeping you all? So many days have passed, and for my son, there’s no sign of him, dead or alive!!"
"Master, please calm your anger. The Eldest Young Master is blessed with great fortune. He will surely be safe!"
"Get out! All of you, get out! Get the hell out of here!"
"Yes, yes! Master, calm your anger." The crowd fled in a hurry, as if granted amnesty.
"Bastards! A bunch of worthless trash! What’s the point of me keeping all of you?!"
A series of CRASHES and BANGS echoed from within the Wang residence. Tables, stools, and vases lay shattered on the floor.
A burly, white-bearded old man sat in the main seat. His cloudy eyes, filled with rage and killing intent, stared at the servants prostrated on the ground.
He was none other than the Patriarch of the Wang Family, Wang Shifu.
"Master, you have to calm down! The Eldest Young Master is so clever and sharp, how could anything happen to him? He must just be delayed by something. You mustn’t worry, Master."
The steward stepped forward to placate him, an obsequious look on his face.
Wang Shifu’s expression remained grim. He snarled, "Hmph. Weren’t there several people who saw Teng’er last? Investigate them, one by one! If you still can’t find anything, then kill them all, one by one! Let them accompany Teng’er in death!"
"Yes, yes!" The steward nodded hastily in agreement.
Hearing Wang Shifu’s order, the steward couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. ’Those are seven or eight Martial Scholars!’
At this thought, the steward lowered his head even further.
Meanwhile.
The messenger bearing good news had arrived at the inn where Fang Yue was staying. After Fang Yue tipped him some silver coins, the government constable joyfully informed him that in three days, he was to attend the Flower-Pinning Banquet at the Banquet Guest House, hosted by the Mansion Master. The constable then took his leave.
Fang Yue returned to his room to continue his training.
The Earth Element True Skill didn’t require much space; he could cultivate by sitting in meditation and refining his Qi.
This was no problem at all for Fang Yue.
Fang Yue sat cross-legged. As his cultivation session progressed, he found that under the effect of his Basic-Level Qi Sensing Talent, this time was indeed different from before.
In the past, he had no clue what he was doing during cultivation, relying solely on the automatic circulation of the Cultivation Technique to attract Primordial Qi.
The efficiency was extremely low.
But today, he discovered that the Primordial Qi—which had once been impossible to grasp, difficult to even sense, and hard to absorb—was now becoming clear. It even seemed to have a discernible pattern.
With this strange new perception, Fang Yue felt that he could absorb the surrounding Primordial Qi whenever he wished.
It was a truly marvelous feeling.
’It’s like... it’s like I’m comprehending Primordial Qi!’
Fang Yue’s eyes flew open in surprise, a bright light flashing within them. A hint of joy touched the corners of his mouth.
’So it’s like this!’
「One hour later.」
Fang Yue concluded his practice and opened his eyes, his face filled with excitement.
This was the first time he had sensed the existence of Primordial Qi! It was also the first time he had truly felt a sense of progress while practicing this Cultivation Technique.
’It seems that as long as I practice diligently, I’ll reach the Qi Sensing realm sooner or later!’
He thought to himself, his mood exceptionally joyful.
When evening arrived, he finished his cultivation and had just come out of his room, preparing to eat dinner.
Just then, someone from the Qinghe Gambling House came looking for him.
Since this was the same person who had handled Fang Yue’s bet on himself passing the Prefecture Examination, they were acquainted.
"Congratulations, Master Fang! My sincerest congratulations!"
After a round of fawning congratulations, the man said that the Qinghe Gambling House was interested in befriending Fang Yue.
Their Shopkeeper had extended a warm invitation, hoping Fang Yue could spare some time for them to meet.
Fang Yue shook his head and declined. After all, who among those who open gambling dens could possibly have clean hands? Fang Yue naturally had no intention of associating with such people.
After politely refusing and collecting the silver he was owed, Fang Yue went out for dinner.
~~~~~~~~
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, three days had gone by.
The Flower-Pinning Banquet began. Fang Yue arrived on time at the Banquet Guest House to find that the other Martial Scholars were already there.
After another short wait, the Mansion Master, Zhu Quan, arrived, accompanied by a retinue of high-ranking officials.
"The man in the middle wearing purple is the Mansion Master, Lord Zhu. Beside him is his nephew, the Commander of the Guard Army, General Zhu Weilei."
The quiet conversation of the other Martial Scholars nearby drifted over.
Hearing this, Fang Yue couldn’t help but look toward Zhu Quan in the center of the crowd.
He saw that the Mansion Master was dressed in casual purple robes and had a refined, scholarly appearance, completely lacking the oppressive aura of a Martial Dao master.
However, on first glance, Fang Yue was slightly startled.
This Mansion Master, a third-rank official of the Great Wei dynasty and one of its governors, was rumored to be nearly two hundred years old.
Yet judging by his appearance alone, he looked no older than forty or fifty.
He even looked much younger than the man beside him—his nephew, Zhu Weilei, the Commander of the Guard Army.
Forget them being uncle and nephew; people would have believed it if you said they were father and son, with the roles reversed.
’So this is a powerful Martial Dao expert?’
’By cultivating the Martial Dao, one can possess such a long lifespan? Is it really possible to achieve immortality?’
’If so, then perhaps Immortals truly exist in this world, and those Demon Fiends and monsters might not just be legends.’
’And if the Martial Dao is already like this, then how powerful would a Qi Cultivator—who is stronger than a Martial Artist—become if they cultivated to a high enough realm!’
’Can one achieve immortality by cultivating to a profound realm?’
This realization left Fang Yue somewhat shaken.
"Hehe, congratulations to all of you for passing the Prefecture Examination. Please, sit. Let us drink freely," Zhu Quan said with a benevolent smile.
"Thank you, Mansion Master! Thank you, Mansion Master!" the many Martial Scholars replied, thanking him repeatedly as they took their seats.
At the same time, Fang Yue’s gaze fell on a person beside Zhu Quan.
The man had a full beard and lacked the obvious, constrained demeanor of the other officials around Zhu Quan. Instead, he spoke with Zhu Quan very casually.
And in the instant Fang Yue looked over, the man happened to look back at him.
Their eyes met, and a trace of surprise appeared in both their gazes.
’It’s him?’
Seeing his face clearly, Fang Yue knew he wasn’t mistaken. This was the man he had seen at Bai Li’s place on his last trip to the Prefecture City—the one who had told him he was going down the wrong path in his cultivation.
’I can’t believe I’m seeing him here after all this time.’
’And what’s more unbelievable is that his status doesn’t seem to be low at all; he can actually chat and laugh with Zhu Quan.’
Their interaction was seen in its entirety by Zhu Quan, who had been watching them, and a flash of surprise crossed his face.
"Brother Hui, have you run into an acquaintance?"
Zhu Quan turned his head and inquired. A year ago, Hui Hengli was just a slightly higher-ranking Inspector in the Observatory; Zhu Quan wouldn’t have needed to treat him with such courtesy.
But now, this man was in charge of the entire Shanyang Prefecture Observatory.
Although his cultivation was inferior to Zhu Quan’s, his status was transcendent, and even Zhu Quan had to treat him with respect.
Hui Hengli smiled and shook his head. "Mansion Master, you misunderstand. We’ve only met once. His Talent is decent, but I didn’t expect to see him here again. It’s a pity. He’s taken the wrong path, so I’m afraid it will be difficult for him to achieve Qi Sensing in the future."
"Oh? What do you mean by that?" Zhu Quan asked curiously.
Hui Hengli immediately told Zhu Quan about Fang Yue.
A moment later, Zhu Quan also glanced at Fang Yue and shook his head. "That truly is a pity."
He naturally trusted the other’s judgment. After all, the Observatory had special methods for distinguishing between Qi Cultivators and Martial Artists.
If this Fang Yue came from a great family, then with the Talent he was currently displaying, he would be worth continuing to nurture.
But, since his background was ordinary, it was truly a pity.
If his cultivation couldn’t break through to the Qi Sensing realm, then he couldn’t be granted an important official post.
The banquet continued, ending only late at night.
However, Fang Yue didn’t know yet that Zhu Quan, who had originally planned to follow convention and appoint him as a commander in the County Guard Army, had changed his mind.
A few more days passed quickly. During this time, the Martial Scholars who had passed the Prefecture Examination were appointed to official posts one after another.
Those who received official posts with real local power or were allowed to remain in Shanyang Prefecture were overjoyed.
Originally, everyone thought Fang Yue was a lucky fellow who had scraped through the Prefecture Examination by a fluke, an object of envy for all.
But then, the higher-ranking Martial Scholars were appointed to their posts one after another, and Fang Yue was not.
And right at this moment, a rumor about Fang Yue also began to spread throughout Shanyang Prefecture.