Chapter 263 - 262: Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng
Chapter 263: Chapter 262: Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng
Fang Han watched Su Yu approach. His brow twitched almost imperceptibly, his gaze calm and unwavering as he spoke directly.
"You must be Su Yu, the twelfth True Inheritor of Tingyu Building, I presume? You stopped me... Could it be that you, like Qin Xiaoran, believe I am unworthy of my place on the Celestial Pride List and wish to offer me your guidance right now?"
His tone was level, yet it carried an invisible, sharp edge.
Though his aura fluctuated slightly after the intense battle, it remained as solid as a mountain. And while his Flowing Wind Sword was sheathed, the faint, clear echo of its ring still lingered.
He radiated an air that suggested he would take the stage and fight again at the slightest disagreement.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Su Yu simply shook his head upon hearing this. The smile on his face never wavered as he spoke in a warm voice.
"Brother Fang, you misunderstand."
His gaze swept over the spot below the stage where Qin Xiaoran had collapsed, spitting blood, his tone carrying a trace of sincere admiration.
"Brother Fang, your performance in the last battle was extraordinary. I witnessed your strength with my own eyes. To be able to defeat Qin Xiaoran after he emerged from his seclusion and ascend to the Celestial Pride List is a truly deserved honor. How could I possibly doubt it?"
His words left everyone present stunned.
’He’s not here to challenge him?’
’Then why has Su Yu appeared now?’
A flicker of surprise also crossed Fang Han’s eyes, but he did not lower his guard. He simply watched Su Yu quietly, waiting for him to continue.
Su Yu smiled faintly, looked Fang Han straight in the eye, and continued.
"I did indeed come to issue a challenge. However, not for this moment. I wish to make an arrangement with Brother Fang to spar tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
The surprise in Fang Han’s eyes deepened.
He had assumed Su Yu would take advantage of his currently depleted Inner Qi to challenge him, but he never expected the man to set the time for tomorrow.
Su Yu nodded, his tone frank.
"Yes, tomorrow. Brother Fang has just fought an intense battle with Brother Qin, and your Inner Qi and mental energy are both drained."
"If I were to challenge you now, even if I were lucky enough to win by a move or two, it would be an unfair victory. That is not the way of a gentleman, nor is it my purpose in seeking to test my Martial Arts."
His words were sincere, his gaze clear, and he stated his reasons without any reservation.
As soon as he said this, a low uproar swept through the crowd below the stage.
The gazes of many people toward Su Yu were now filled with a newfound respect.
In this competitive Martial Arts World where the strong are revered, to willingly give up an opportunity to take advantage of someone’s weakness and instead choose a fair fight...
Such bearing and confidence were far beyond that of an ordinary person.
Fang Han gave Su Yu a deep look, as if trying to see through those smiling eyes to his true intentions.
Su Yu met his gaze openly, his eyes clear and unwavering.
After a few breaths, the sharpness in Fang Han’s eyes gradually receded, and he slowly spoke.
"Brother Su, your magnanimity is admirable. Since you are willing to offer your guidance, it would be disrespectful of me to refuse. I will await your visit at the Qingxuan Villa tomorrow."
’After witnessing my battle with Qin Xiaoran, Su Yu still dares to challenge me—and to choose a fair fight at that. His confidence and strength must be extraordinary.’
’This Su Yu is definitely a formidable opponent!’
But Fang Han felt no fear in his heart.
"Excellent! Brother Fang is a straightforward man! Then it’s settled. See you tomorrow!"
The smile on Su Yu’s face widened. He clasped his hands in a salute, said no more, and turned to depart gracefully, leaving behind a crowd of onlookers with their own various thoughts.
With the challenge set for the next day, the tense, blade-drawn atmosphere in the courtyard finally relaxed completely.
The disciples from the various factions began to gather in small groups of three and five, based on their allegiances, and started to converse.
Maids in exquisite dresses, with pretty faces, moved lightly through the courtyard like butterflies flitting among flowers, carrying trays laden with delicate pastries, fragrant teas, and fresh fruits.
As representatives of the Qingxuan Sect, and with Fang Han having just made a name for himself in battle, he, Luo Bingyun, and Qin Hao were naturally led to a main table in an excellent location, draped with a brocade cloth.
At the same table, the most eye-catching person was a young man.
This man was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in a purple brocade robe embroidered with dark gold cloud patterns. He was handsome and bore a slight resemblance to today’s guest of honor, the Zhang Family Patriarch, though he looked younger and sharper.
He had a high-bridged nose, thin lips, and the corners of his mouth were naturally turned up in a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
His eyes were bright and lively, and his every glance held an extraordinary bearing. He was none other than the Zhang Family Patriarch’s most valued eldest grandson, Zhang Hao.
Although Zhang Hao had not joined the Seven Sects, he had relied on the Zhang Family’s vast resources and his own considerable Talent to rank thirteenth on the Celestial Pride List. His strength was not to be underestimated.
The others at the table were all core disciples from factions that were either friendly with the Qingxuan Sect or neutral, and their Cultivation was by no means weak.
"Brother Fang, Senior Sister Luo, Brother Qin, please, have a seat."
As a semi-host, Zhang Hao stood to welcome them. His smile was warm but perfectly measured, not at all fawning, and his proper demeanor showcased the bearing of a great family.
"Brother Fang, to have such strength at your age... I am ashamed to say I was no match for you when I was your age!"
He personally poured Fang Han a cup of fragrant tea, his tone sincere as he praised him.
"Brother Zhang, you flatter me."
Fang Han clasped his hands in return, his tone calm.
He had already met Zhang Hao, the host, when he arrived and knew his identity.
Luo Bingyun gave a slight nod, which served as her greeting.
Qin Hao, on the other hand, let out a hearty laugh.
Everyone took their seats, and the atmosphere became harmonious.
After a few pleasantries, the conversation naturally turned to Martial Dao Cultivation and stories from the martial world.
Everyone seated here was an outstanding member of Qingyang County’s younger generation. By exchanging insights on Cultivation and discussing difficult points in Martial Arts, they could often create sparks of inspiration, from which everyone benefited.
As the host, Zhang Hao was also a skilled conversationalist. He was witty, well-informed, and would occasionally bring up some strange and unusual tales, piquing everyone’s interest.
After several rounds of tea, Zhang Hao seemed to recall something. He set down his cup, a mysterious look on his face, and lowered his voice.
"Speaking of strange tales, I heard an interesting bit of news a few days ago. Perhaps you all might be interested."
"Oh? Go on, Brother Zhang. Don’t keep us in suspense."
Qin Hao, being the most impatient, hurriedly urged him on.
Zhang Hao smiled and said.
"It’s said that in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, eight hundred li west of the Commandery City, a Medicine Gatherer discovered a ’thousand-year-old ginseng’ that has gained awareness!"
"A thousand-year-old ginseng?"
As soon as he said this, a sharp glint flashed involuntarily through the eyes of everyone at the table, including Fang Han and Luo Bingyun.
Ginseng is already a Spirit Medicine that greatly replenishes primal energy. The older it is, the more astonishing its medicinal effects.
An ordinary hundred-year-old ginseng is already rare, and a five-hundred-year-old one can be considered priceless. But a thousand-year-old ginseng... that is a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure capable of bringing the dead back to life and regenerating flesh on bones!
Its value simply cannot be measured in ordinary gold and silver.
Seeing that he had successfully captured everyone’s attention, Zhang Hao continued.
"A thousand-year-old ginseng can already travel underground and knows how to use the mountain mists to conceal itself. The Medicine Gatherer who discovered it was not weak—already at the Seventh Grade—yet he couldn’t even touch one of its roots before it easily escaped."
He paused, his tone tinged with a hint of wistfulness.
"Speaking of which, a thousand-year-old ginseng appeared at the Ten Thousand Treasures Building’s year-end auction in the Commandery City five years ago. Guess how much it sold for in the end?"
"Three million taels?"
Qin Hao guessed.
Zhang Hao shook his head and slowly uttered two words.
"Seven million taels! Of silver!"
"Seven million taels?!"
Even though everyone present was from an extraordinary background, they couldn’t help but gasp quietly at the number.
Seven million taels of silver—this was an astronomical fortune that even a small or medium-sized family might not be able to produce even if they exhausted all their resources!
A flicker of emotion also crossed Fang Han’s eyes.
’Seven million taels! If I could get my hands on it and convert it into system wealth, I could reach my goal of ten million instantly.’
Zhang Hao took in everyone’s reactions and said with a smile.
"Such a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure already knows how to seek fortune and avoid disaster. It would be incredibly difficult to obtain. It’s best we just treat it as a story."
"Come, try this newly served ’Snow Lotus Cake.’ It’s a specialty of our residence’s pastry chef."
He changed the subject at the right moment, clearly intending only to share it as a strange tale and not to encourage everyone to go searching for it.
Hearing this, the others also knew how difficult the matter was and didn’t discuss it further, turning instead to enjoy the food and continue their earlier conversations.
Fang Han committed the words "Cloud Mist Mountain Range" and "thousand-year-old ginseng" to memory, but on the surface, he remained impassive, chatting and laughing with the others.
The birthday banquet lasted for the entire day, and it wasn’t until evening that the guests began to take their leave one by one.
After bidding farewell to the Zhang Family, Fang Han’s group also boarded a carriage and returned to the Qingxuan Villa.
Upon returning to the villa, Shen Moyan offered Fang Han a few words of encouragement before going to rest.
Fang Han parted ways with Luo Bingyun and Qin Hao and went straight back to his own courtyard, though he did not go to sleep immediately.
He still had his arranged battle with Su Yu tomorrow, and he needed to get himself into peak condition.
Inside the Quiet Chamber, sandalwood smoke curled into the air.
Fang Han sat cross-legged in the Five Hearts Facing Heaven posture. He slowly circulated the Profound Wind Technique, guiding his Inner Qi to nourish his meridians and recover from the minor exhaustion of the day’s battle. At the same time, he focused his mind, cleared away distracting thoughts, and prepared for the fight tomorrow.
’Su Yu’s choice to fight tomorrow seemingly gives me time to recover, but in reality, it’s a display of his own confidence and strength.’
’An opponent like this will be anything but easy to deal with.’
...
「The next day, at dawn.」
Outside the Qingxuan Villa, it was several times more bustling than usual.
Young disciples from various factions who had heard the news, and even some older generation Martial Artists who took a keen interest in the clashes of the youth, had all gathered here after hearing the word.
The arranged duel between two geniuses from the Celestial Pride List, Fang Han and Su Yu, was a far greater attraction than yesterday’s match against Qin Xiaoran.
Tingyu Building was subtly the strongest and most mysterious of the Seven Sects.
As the twelfth True Inheritor of Tingyu Building, for Su Yu to still dare challenge Fang Han—and to a fair fight at that—after seeing his battle with Qin Xiaoran, he must have been quite confident.
This battle was bound to be even more spectacular.
Fang Han rose early, practiced a round of Swordsmanship in the courtyard to limber up his body, and adjusted his condition to its peak.
After breakfast, he picked up his Flowing Wind Sword and walked with steady steps toward the villa’s Martial Arts Arena.
The area around the Martial Arts Arena was already crowded with people.
When Fang Han arrived, the crowd automatically parted to form a path, and countless gazes, filled with anticipation, focused on him.
The disciples of the Qingxuan Sect all cheered for him, creating a fervent atmosphere.
Fang Han’s expression was calm as he walked to the center of the Martial Arts Arena, came to a stop, and closed his eyes to compose himself, quietly awaiting his opponent’s arrival.