Chapter 162 - 69: Grand Birthday (Part 2)

Chapter 162: Chapter 69: Grand Birthday (Part 2)

...

"Throughout history, the common people have poured their yearning for heroes into one story after another. But in reality, the heavens won’t help you. The only one who can ever help you is yourself!"

Hearing these voices, Fang Rui shook his head and went back inside.

’Still, I have to admit, the Xia Family’s move of pushing the gangs to the forefront to take the blame while they reap the rewards is a really effective strategy.’

’Just like now. Among all those voices, they’re almost all cursing the Wild Dog Gang, with very few aimed directly at the Xia Family.’

However, Fang Rui wasn’t some commoner who could be so easily fooled, left dizzy and confused just because the Xia Family used an intermediary.

’Whether it was the old Tiger Gang or the current Wild Dog Gang, more than half of the sins they’ve committed should be blamed on the Xia Family behind them. It’s just like they say: it’s not the knife that kills, but the person wielding it!’

’If it were the old me, with my insufficient strength, I probably would have just chopped off this outstretched dog’s paw. But now? I’d rather swat the master holding the leash!’

Fang Rui understood full well that one acts according to their strength.

With his current strength, the Tribulation Points he had at his disposal, and a thorough plan, he was more than ninety-five percent confident he could resolve the issue without getting hurt!

’Isn’t the whole point of increasing my strength to protect my family and settle my scores? If I act like a coward for too long, always trying to play the pig to eat the tiger, I’ll just end up a real pig.’

’The Xia Family? Fine! All those years of collecting protection money from my family, plus that last search... I’ll settle all the accounts at once this time!’ Fang Rui’s heart grew cold.

...

Dusk fell, and the moon climbed over the treetops.

It was dinnertime again.

The Fang Family’s dinner tonight was exceptionally lavish: stewed hen, red-braised rabbit, and pancakes fried with pork lard and egg... The spread covered the large table.

Under the warm, yellow glow of the flickering oil lamp, the food was steaming hot and bursting with aroma.

"Mother, Third Sister, Ling’Er, Nannan, eat up! Don’t hold back!" Fang Rui said, serving food onto everyone’s plates.

"Brother Rui, you’re the one who needs to eat more since you practice martial arts!"

"That’s right!"

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady immediately started heaping food into his bowl.

"Brother, you eat, you eat!"

"Brother Ah Rui!"

Fang Ling and Nannan, the two little girls, joined in on the fun, each placing a piece of rabbit meat in his bowl.

"That’s enough, that’s enough, I don’t need any more," Fang Rui said, shaking his head vigorously.

Ever since he had obtained the Great Medicine and Old Medicine, his appetite had, on the surface, decreased significantly.

In truth, as long as he didn’t fight and only needed to maintain his Realm, a tiny sliver of Great Medicine each day was sufficient—if not for the fear of attracting too much attention, several large barrels of chicken, duck, and fish could achieve the same effect.

If he did have to fight, recovering his Power would require a little more.

All in all, for someone like Fang Rui who was just coasting and only thinking about maintaining his Realm, it was a very frugal existence.

Other Martial Artists would consume resources much faster for their daily cultivation; breaking through a Realm would cost even more.

’In a remote place like Changshan County Town alone, there are quite a few Middle Grade Martial Artists. If you expanded that to the entire Great Yu, who knows how many there would be.’

’And with so many Martial Artists, it’s interesting that the world’s medicinal herbs haven’t been harvested to extinction!’

There was a deep mystery here, and this small glimpse was enough to hint at a much larger picture.

This was also why Fang Rui was so cautious.

Even though he knew he could gain Tribulation Points by stirring up trouble, he really didn’t dare to get too reckless!

’As an Immortal, time is what I have plenty of. No need to rush! What’s that saying again? The more days you spend stirring up trouble, the fewer days you have with your family.’

Thinking this, Fang Rui reined in his wandering thoughts, calmed his mind, and immersed himself in the peaceful moment.

Dinner ended in this lighthearted atmosphere.

...

After dinner, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady went to wash the bowls and scrub the pots; the two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, wiped the table and swept the floor.

Fang Rui entered the inner room.

’If I’m going to make a move on the Xia Family, I need another round of upgrades to be safe.’

Fang Rui wouldn’t use his Tribulation Points carelessly when he didn’t need to, but he wouldn’t be stingy when it was time to use them, either. Like right now.

After all, if something happened to him, what good would a hoard of Tribulation Points on his status panel be?!

’Besides, things like Martial Arts have to be upgraded eventually. Upgrading them now isn’t a waste.’

He closed his eyes and summoned his status panel.

Fang Rui first looked at the *Life-taking Saber Technique* in the Skills column. ’Let’s start with you!’

Tribulation Points -500, *Life-taking Saber Technique*: Great Success!

As he gripped his saber again, he felt a sense of unity, as if man and saber had become one, their intentions linked.

If Minor Achievement in the *Life-taking Saber Technique* was considered Professional Level, then this was generally the level of Swordsmanship possessed by Fierce Bandits who lived on the edge and assassins who killed with skill.

By that token, reaching Great Success in the *Life-taking Saber Technique* meant his Saber Technique had entered the Master Level. A Grand General who had carved his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood would have this degree of Swordsmanship!

...

’Continue!’

Tribulation Points -870, *Rapid Trace Step*: Great Success!

Upon testing it, Fang Rui discovered that at his full-power burst, his speed was now a surprising five percent faster than before.

One must know that between experts of the same level, the slightest difference could be fatal, let alone a five percent difference in speed at a critical moment!

...

’Again!’

Tribulation Points -870, *Thirteen Throws of the Flying Swallow*: Great Success!

BZZZZZZ!

Hearing the buzzing of a mosquito by his ear, Fang Rui’s eyes snapped open. He flicked a finger, and a Transforming Force Needle instantly pierced the insect.

...

’Finally, the *Disguise Technique*. Upgrade!’

Tribulation Points -370, *Disguise Technique*: Minor Achievement!

That’s right, this time Fang Rui only upgraded his *Disguise Technique* to Minor Achievement because at the Minor Success Level—the Professional Level—it was more than enough for a small place like Changshan City for the time being.

He was now confident that with a few tools and materials, he could completely change his appearance, creating a disguise so convincing that no one would be able to see through it.