Chapter 183 - 76: Covering the Sky

Chapter 183: Chapter 76: Covering the Sky

Life on the road was, after all, nothing like the comfort and stability of Changshan City. To make matters worse, they had to be on constant alert.

’The only ones who were truly carefree, perhaps even more lively than usual, were probably the two little girls, Ling’Er and Nannan!’

He glanced toward the two little ones.

Not far away, Fang Ling and Nannan were gathering firewood.

Well, to be precise, the two little girls were gathering firewood. The chattering came from the two small birds, one perched on each of their shoulders.

Fang Rui had caught and tamed the two small birds for the girls, noticing they were bored.

He hadn’t even used Tribulation Points to upgrade his Beast Taming Technique. Instead, he had simply dedicated some of his focus to practicing it during their travels. He succeeded by combining the training methods from the technique with some of the medicinal baits it described.

His Great Success Medical Skill proved to be a great help when preparing the baits, allowing him to succeed on his very first attempt. Afterward, Fang Rui even optimized the formula.

In short, not counting Fang’s Medical Skill, Beast Taming Technique was the first skill he had managed to learn up to the Beginner level entirely on his own.

"Brother, we’re here!" Fang Ling skipped over, placing the firewood she had gathered into the fire pit.

"And mine!" Nannan followed closely behind.

FWOOSH!

As the flames leaped higher, the rich aroma of the food in the iron pot wafted out, filling the air under the great pine tree amid the shifting light and shadows.

...

The journey resumed in the afternoon.

’Chang Qing didn’t emerge all afternoon. He was probably keeping Mrs. Chang company in the carriage, and perhaps... keeping an eye on her?!’

When they stopped to camp at dusk, Chang Qing was still nowhere to be seen.

Fang Rui, for his part, was happy for the peace and quiet.

...

「In the middle of the night.」

Fang Rui was startled awake from a light sleep.

What startled him awake wasn’t the cat-in-heat noises from the previous two nights, but the sound of an argument. The voices of three people—Chang Qing, Elder Wang, and Mrs. Chang—cut sharply through the silent night.

’Looks like Young Master Chang heeded my warning and stayed on his guard tonight. He must not have been drugged, and then... he discovered his own mother having an affair with Elder Wang?’

After a moment’s thought, Fang Rui pieced together what had happened. ’What an iconic, cringeworthy scene! How awkward must that have been?! I... I can’t just let this go. I have to listen in and pass judgment!’

He pricked up his ears and listened quietly.

"Mother! Elder Wang! What are you doing?!" Even without seeing him, the furious, teeth-grinding rage in his voice was palpable.

"Qing’Er, it’s not what... Please, let me explain..."

...

’It seems Mrs. Chang isn’t entirely willing either.’

Fang Rui was speechless.

’But, alas! I did warn him, but Young Master Chang still couldn’t keep his composure. If Elder Wang is shameless and ruthless enough, the young master is in for a world of trouble!’

Sure enough, another voice spoke up.

"Pah! When I feel like it, I call you Young Master. When I don’t, you’re nothing! You think this is still the Chang Family of old? Hmph! If I wasn’t interested in your mother, why the hell would a grand Seventh Grade Martial Artist like me stick around?"

"Elder Wang, you... please, have mercy. He’s just a boy, he doesn’t understand. Spare him this one time!"

"Haha, don’t you worry, Madam. After all, I’m practically his stepfather now, so I won’t hold a grudge. In the future, I’ll still call him Young Master. Whether he calls me Elder Wang or ’Dad’ is up to him. We’ll each go our own way!"

"Ah... I..."

...

’Clearly, this Young Master Chang isn’t the type to endure a Gou Jian-level humiliation. Then again, how many people like that have ever existed?’

’Anyway, Young Master Chang is screwed. But what’s that got to do with me?’

Fang Rui shook his head with a small smile, not wanting to get involved. After hearing the end of the drama, he rolled over and went back to sleep.

Outside the carriage, the night was deep. A sudden wind rose, hiding the moon and plunging the land into a darkness so thick you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

...

「Early the next morning.」

Mrs. Chang hurried out to find Steward Chen. Not long after, Steward Chen came over, and at his invitation, Fang Rui also went over to take a look.

It turned out that something had happened to Chang Qing. He had supposedly suffered a stroke; his whole body was paralyzed, and he couldn’t speak.

"How is he?" Mrs. Chang asked anxiously.

The caravan’s Physician took a look, stroked his beard, and shook his head. "It is indeed... a stroke. Please forgive my incompetence, but I am unable to treat this."

’A stroke? What a joke. This was clearly man-made! The Physician is just playing it safe, obviously wanting no part in this. Can’t say I blame him, though.’

Fang Rui shook his head privately. ’Speaking of which, this Elder Wang is one ruthless man. He strikes decisively. Now that I think about it, the ’accident’ that befell Chang Qing’s father back then might not have been so simple either.’

Of course, none of this was his business, and he couldn’t be bothered to get involved.

They were just strangers who had met by chance; why would he meddle in their affairs?

It was just like when Chang Qing had yelled for Elder Wang to go back and guard their own donkey cart. So now, wasn’t it perfectly normal for Fang Rui to watch the fire from across the river?

Steward Chen, being old and shrewd, seemed to have noticed something as well. But he merely offered a few words of comfort before making an excuse about being busy and leaving in a hurry.

Fang Rui left with him.

...

At midday, the caravan stopped at a planned location for a temporary rest.

The Fang Family was in the middle of preparing a meal.

Mrs. Chang suddenly came over and asked to speak with Fang Rui privately. Once they were aside, she fell to her knees with a thud. "I beg you, Young Master, please treat my son!"

But Fang Rui stepped aside, avoiding her bow, and asked calmly, "Madam, what makes you think I can treat your son?"

"This morning, you came over as well, Young Master... The caravan’s Physician said he couldn’t treat him, and he was being truthful. But you... you didn’t say a word, and from your expression, it looked like you were contemplating something..." Mrs. Chang said carefully.

That morning, Fang Rui had gone over with Steward Chen and had also checked Chang Qing’s pulse after the caravan’s Physician was done.

’So that’s where the issue was. Still, Mrs. Chang is probably just making a guess.’

Fang Rui nodded slightly. "Let’s be direct. Your son’s condition is very tricky. Even for me, it would be quite an undertaking. It’s true that I can treat him, but... why should I?"