Chapter 397: Autumn Arrives

This was none other than the Qingfeng Village Chief, one of the former Qilian Six Strongholds.

Fang Rui gave the man a deep look. “If there’s nothing else, you may leave.”

Su Bo dared not say more and could only take his leave.

Soon after he left, another person arrived. This time, it was the former Huagang Village Chief, Kang Jie.

…

「On this day.」

Fang Rui arrived.

“My lord, what brings you here? Please, have a seat. I’ll pour you some tea myself.”

Song Gong was as solicitous as ever.

However, a closer look at his micro-expressions would reveal he held less fear than before.

‘It makes sense. After conquering several counties and taking the title of Marquis Song for himself, surrounded by nothing but flattery, how could he not get arrogant?’

“I’ll pass on the tea. I came because I heard you ordered the release of an Official Army unit that had been slaughtering villages and wiping out strongholds. I’m giving you a chance to explain.”

Such domineering words made Song Gong’s expression shift, but he quickly forced a smile. “My lord, please listen. It’s like this: I feel we should focus on preserving our strength right now and avoid provoking…”

“I understand. Are you thinking of surrendering to the Court?”

Fang Rui tapped his fingers on the table.

For some reason, Song Gong suddenly sensed a mortal danger, and his heart trembled. However, the thought of his own preparations calmed him down. “So what if I am? My lord, you’d best not push me too far. Everyone has their own ambitions. If our paths diverge, we go our separate ways.”

“This place is already heavily surrounded by my trusted men. I’ve also sent people to your home, my lord. You’d best…”

He was done pretending, tearing off his mask of benevolence completely.

“All the men of your clan shall be exterminated. The women will be forced into military brothels…” Fang Rui’s voice was calm, like an executioner reading a verdict.

“You’ve gone too far! Fine, fine! You forced my hand, my lord!” Song Gong’s face turned vicious as he suddenly clapped his hands.

“Who dares harm my Brother Song?!”

In an instant, with a voice like a crack of thunder, a dark-skinned, brawny man burst in, leading a squad of Armored Soldiers.

“Kill him!”

In addition to his Military Secret Technique, Song Gong had somehow acquired a Qi Fortune Secret Technique. An almost tangible image of a black serpent soaring on clouds materialized above his head.

The strategist surnamed Wu also appeared. With a series of hand seals, rays of Spiritual Light from an Array rose into the air.

“Is this the source of your confidence?!”

With a flick of his sleeve, Fang Rui’s Spiritual Essence surged, transforming into a hurricane that swept through the room. It shattered the Array, broke the military formation, and blasted both the brawny man and the strategist Wu to pieces.

The other Armored Soldiers were sent flying like kites with their strings cut.

STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!

Song Gong was forced back several steps, and the image of the black serpent and clouds above his head shattered like glass.

“Die!”

Fang Rui’s figure flickered, moving as if teleporting, and he grabbed Song Gong by the neck, lifting him off the ground.

“Hkk… hkk…!” Song Gong’s eyes were wide with rage and disbelief.

“Surprising, isn’t it? Wondering why your Qi Fortune and Military Secret Technique are useless against me? It’s because the very foundation of your civil and military power was a gift from me!”

Ignoring Song Gong’s pleading gaze, Fang Rui squeezed lightly, and the man’s body was annihilated into dust.

HISSSS!

A black serpent of Qi Fortune appeared and lashed back at him, but it collapsed the moment it reached Fang Rui.

“If it were a Flood Dragon backed by complete military and political power, I might have been wary. But a mere black serpent of Qi Fortune? Heh! And one built on a foundation I provided, no less!”

A moment later, Fang Rui cleaned up the scene, summoned Song Gong’s civil and military subordinates, and announced, “Your Marquis Song rebelled and has been executed by my hand…”

The people below wore strange expressions upon hearing this. It was the first time they had ever heard of their own lord committing treason.

“From now on, you are Marquis Li, the new master of this territory.” Fang Rui’s gaze swept over the crowd before he suddenly pointed at Li Yu.

This was the former Huangfeng Village Chief.

“Why him (me)?” the other former village chiefs cried out in unison.

“Because… he’s the only one who didn’t come looking for me!” A mischievous, almost cruel, smile appeared on Fang Rui’s face.

…

「Upon returning.」

The Purple Feathered Crane flew over, flapping its wings. It gestured at the corpses outside the door, as if presenting its achievements.

“Good job.”

Fang Rui was not at all surprised by this outcome.

The Purple Feathered Crane was an Upper Grade being. Besides, he had left a strand of his will on Xin Xue’Er.

It was just like the measure Bao Sichun had once placed on Li Xuantong. With a technique like this, Fang Rui could fend off even an ordinary Super Grade expert for a time.

“Xue’Er, were you scared just now?”

“No.”

Fang Rui smiled.

Xin Xue’Er had helped him find his way back to his true self, so he was looking after her for a while. In the process, her companionship offered him some comfort.

To call her a burden or a weakness would be a great exaggeration.

Fang Rui would make arrangements to keep Xin Xue’Er out of harm’s way as much as possible, but he could never give her the same place in his heart as Fang Ling and Nannan, for whom he would have avoided all risks and given his all.

—This was the price she had to pay for the choice she made back then.

Of course, where in this world was there no risk? In comparison, staying by Fang Rui’s side was where the danger was most negligible.

…

「Half a month later.」

Li Yu conquered two more counties, taking control of an entire Mansion, but was then stopped by Fang Rui.

‘At this point, One Mansion is the limit. Any more, and we’ll probably face the iron fist of the Great Yu… Now that the Heifeng Stronghold model has been proven viable in Liangzhou, it’s time to cultivate more Gu Insects.’

Fang Rui made up his mind. “Xue’Er, come on. We’re moving.”

“Oh!”

Xin Xue’Er nodded obediently and went to pack her things.

She didn’t have much: two sets of clothes he had bought for her, and an old piece of clothing that had belonged to her mother.

Fang Rui didn’t have much either. There was a pot with a Jade Lotus, and the clay figurines and wind chimes on the windowsill.

RUSTLE!

A single, withered yellow leaf drifted lazily in through the window.

“So, autumn is here.”

Fang Rui sighed, brushing the leaf away as he packed up the last pair of clay figurines.

A memory of one long past crosses the heart, and looking back, the world has turned to autumn.