Chapter 621 - 403: Taking the Blame

Chapter 621: Chapter 403: Taking the Blame

At the Fang family.

Fang Xu paced back and forth, a faint sense of unease gnawing at his heart. Now that push had come to shove, he somewhat regretted provoking Xu Yang in the first place.

If Pang Xiong failed to kill Xu Yang and sold out the Fang family, they would be completely ruined.

The Celestial Strategy Academy was not like those Sects that disregarded the life and death of their disciples. On the surface, not even a Thousand-Year-Old Noble Family would dare to blatantly murder a student of the Celestial Strategy Academy.

He shook his head secretly, thinking, "I shouldn’t have been so hasty. Huo Xiaochen will kill him sooner or later, so why did I have to stick my neck out first?" As the dignified young master of the Fang family, he really shouldn’t have risked his neck against a lowly commoner like Xu Yang.

Succeeding would bring no real benefits, but failing could lead to the confiscation of their property and the extermination of their clan.

"What are you afraid of? That Xu Yang is only at the Celestial Essence Second Layer. It won’t take Pang Xiong more than three moves to kill him," Fang Yongnian scolded coldly.

This son of his had great talent, and his future achievements in the Martial Dao would surpass his own. However, his temperament was somewhat lacking. He was the one who had explicitly proposed killing Xu Yang, yet now that the plan was in motion, he had grown fearful.

"Teachers often pass by the area between Yunzhou City and the Celestial Strategy Academy. What if someone happens to bump into them..." Fang Xu voiced the worry in his heart.

He wasn’t afraid that Pang Xiong wouldn’t be able to kill Xu Yang. But there were too many coincidences in this world. What if an expert from the Celestial Strategy Academy happened to catch Pang Xiong in the act of murder?

"Relax. Pang Xiong won’t dare to say a word. His family is still in the hands of our Fang family. Even if he does speak out, not just anyone can slander us," Fang Yongnian said.

"But everyone knows that the Fuhu Gang is supported by the Fang family. Why don’t we pull our men back? Huo Xiaochen will kill him sooner or later anyway, so he might not even get the chance to strike at me. Besides, I only threatened him a little back then; he might not necessarily seek revenge." Fang Xu was getting cold feet. As long as they hadn’t actually made a move, the situation could still be salvaged.

Seeing his son’s cowardly display, Fang Yongnian was infuriated. "If you were bullied by someone, wouldn’t you seek revenge once you grew stronger?"

Of course he would!

Fang Xu was just about to speak when a figure rushed in hurriedly from outside. "Brother, the Fuhu Gang has been wiped out."

At these words, the previously composed Fang Yongnian stood up in shock, exuding a terrifying oppressive aura. "Wiped out? When did this happen? Where is Pang Xiong?"

Fang Xu shuddered all over. "Did Xu Yang do it?"

His mind immediately jumped to Xu Yang. After all, the Fang family had just sent someone to notify Pang Xiong to kill Xu Yang, and in the blink of an eye, the Fuhu Gang had been destroyed. He couldn’t help but associate the two events.

Fang Wei’s expression was gloomy. He shook his head and said, "Pang Xiong is dead, and more than half of the Fuhu Gang members were beaten to death. It wasn’t Xu Yang. It was the person who killed Yang Zheng last time. That animal came back for revenge."

Fang Xu heaved a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn’t Xu Yang, their plot hadn’t been exposed. That was all that mattered.

"Let’s go!"

Fang Yongnian strode out of the hall, his figure soaring into the sky. He knew exactly why Fang Wei had come to him.

Fang Wei’s Cultivation was only at the Celestial Essence Third Layer. Since that person could kill Pang Xiong, they could naturally kill Fang Wei as well. He didn’t dare to investigate the scene at the Fuhu Gang alone.

Fang Xu and Fang Wei quickly followed behind, and the three of them soon vanished from the Fang family.

Meanwhile, in the wilderness.

"Five hundred and thirty Spirit Coins, four bottles of Spiritual Essence Pills, twenty-four stalks of Spirit Medicine—ten of which are over five years old—and fifteen pieces of Spirit Iron, all of the uncommon variety."

Xu Yang beamed with joy. The loot he obtained this time was even greater than the last. Coupled with Pang Xiong’s Spiritual Soldier and those few drops of Exotic Beast Essence Blood, these Cultivation Resources would be enough to sustain his training for two or three months.

He thought, "I’ll save the Spirit Iron to forge a Pill Furnace later, and exchange the Spirit Coins for more Cultivation Resources."

After burying all the items, Xu Yang changed his appearance once again and swaggered confidently toward Yunzhou City.

"Fang Xu. The Fang family!"

He hadn’t expected that the one to make a move against him during this baiting attempt wouldn’t be Huo Xiaochen, Wan He, or Huang Yi, but rather Fang Xu, someone he hadn’t paid much attention to. To think this guy was so impatient to kill him.

He pondered, "It must be because the talent I displayed far exceeded his."

His initial ranking on the Lingyun List had been in the nineties, while Fang Xu’s was seemingly in the seventies. Now, his rank was second only to second-tier geniuses like Sun Tao, whereas Fang Xu was still hovering in the seventies. The guy was probably getting anxious. They had a prior conflict and some unpleasantness. Even if he claimed not to hold a grudge, Fang Xu probably wouldn’t believe him anyway.

He soon arrived at the Spirit Treasure Workshop. After another round of haggling, just like last time, he spent all eight hundred Spirit Coins to buy Spiritual Essence Pills and Tiger Essence Blood Marrow Pills.

He thought, "The Fuhu Gang’s Treasure Vault really is a wonderful place."

He genuinely hoped the Fang family would rebuild the Fuhu Gang. That way, the next time he ran out of resources, he could just come back and rob them again. Why risk his life adventuring in Jade Dragon Mountain when robbing the Fuhu Gang was so much easier? Most importantly, the rewards from adventuring might not even be this lucrative.

Returning to the spot where he had buried his loot, Xu Yang dug everything up and brought it all back to the Celestial Strategy Academy.

Back at the Fuhu Gang’s headquarters.

"Animal!"

Fang Yongnian arrived at the Fuhu Gang with his younger brother, Fang Wei, and his son, Fang Xu. The entire Fuhu Gang had been completely reduced to rubble; only the specially reinforced Treasure Vault was still standing. However, the vault’s heavy doors had long been blasted open. All the truly valuable items inside had been cleared out, leaving behind only some mundane gold and silver, along with a few low-aged medicinal herbs.

Even the Exotic Beast, the Two-Horned Tiger, which the Fang family had spared last time and spent a fortune nurturing until it was comparable to a Celestial Essence Third Layer Martial Artist, had been slaughtered. Its Essence Blood was completely drained. The losses were exceptionally disastrous.

"Bastard! This animal is treating the Fuhu Gang like his own personal piggy bank, coming to rob us whenever he pleases!" Fang Wei roared, utterly furious.

Revenge was only one part of the perpetrator’s motive. His main goal was clearly the Fuhu Gang’s Cultivation Resources. He hadn’t spared a single item that possessed any Spirituality. If the Two-Horned Tiger’s carcass hadn’t been so massive, he probably would have taken that away, too.

"Did anyone get a clear look at his face? For daring to treat the Fang family like this, I will definitely slaughter this beast!"

Several surviving lackeys of the Fuhu Gang had been called over, and Fang Yongnian questioned them with a dark, menacing expression. The culprit obviously didn’t have much of a background; otherwise, he wouldn’t be acting so sneakily.

"He covered his face, so we couldn’t clearly see what he looked like. However, the Gang Leader recognized the Fist Technique he used. It’s called the Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist," one lackey replied in a trembling voice.

"The Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist?"

Fang Yongnian’s Spirit was greatly lifted. With this Martial Technique as a clue, investigating would be much simpler. "Is there anyone in Yunzhou City who knows this Fist Technique?"

Fang Wei shook his head. "I’ve never heard of anyone who knows the Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist. It’s said that this Fist Technique is exceptionally profound, and ordinary people find it extremely difficult to master. However, with a solid clue, it’ll be easy to track down.

"Give me three days, and I will definitely dig this person up."

Fang Yongnian nodded. "When this person killed Yang Zheng, he was only at the Celestial Essence Second Layer. He must have only recently broken through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer. Find him. I will make him learn the true cost of provoking the Fang family."

An icy wave of killing intent surged from his body. Although the Fang family was only an average clan in Yunzhou City, they were still not an entity that ordinary people could afford to offend.

"Han Yingjie!" Fang Xu suddenly spoke up.

Someone who knows the Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist and recently broke through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer? Doesn’t that perfectly describe Han Yingjie from the Celestial Strategy Academy?

"What did you say?" Fang Yongnian turned back to look at Fang Xu.

Fang Xu’s eyes gleamed coldly. "There’s a student at the Celestial Strategy Academy named Han Yingjie who knows the Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist. And he also recently broke through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer."

At the Celestial Strategy Academy.

The dining hall was at its liveliest during the evening. Even students who didn’t plan on eating would stop by after a full day of Cultivation. They would sit down, exchange insights with their classmates, and gather news from the outside world.

"Han Yingjie! How fucking dare you touch the Fang family’s property! You little bastard, you’d better watch your back!"

Suddenly, a furious roar pierced the ears of everyone present. Everyone looked up to see Fang Xu glaring furiously at Han Yingjie, his eyes practically blazing with rage.

"What did Han Yingjie take from the Fang family?"

"Looking at Fang Xu, it seems they’ve formed a blood feud."

"When I went out today, I heard someone say that the Fuhu Gang—the one backed by the Fang family—was slaughtered by someone who practices the Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist. I didn’t expect it to be Han Yingjie."

A knowledgeable bystander revealed what he knew to the crowd.

"Explain yourself! What property of your Fang family did I touch?" Han Yingjie stared blankly at the enraged Fang Xu, utterly baffled as to what was going on.

"You know exactly what you touched! The Fang family’s property isn’t something just anyone can take!" Fang Xu sneered coldly.

Not far away, Xu Yang had a very strange expression on his face. He never expected Han Yingjie to end up taking the fall for him. Because of the Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist—a Martial Technique he had acquired from the Song Family—Han Yingjie was now firmly identified by the Fang family as the culprit who killed Pang Xiong and eradicated the Fuhu Gang.

"To think Han Yingjie actually dared to rob a prominent clan like the Fang family... he sure has some serious guts."

Xu Yang glanced over at Fang Xu and Han Yingjie, who were still locked in a tense standoff.

Jiang Fan scoffed, "What kind of ’prominent clan’ is the Fang family? If they didn’t have some nepotistic marital ties with the Thousand-Year-Old Kong Family, they would have been wiped out several times over by now."

Xu Yang feigned surprise. "The Fang family isn’t a prominent clan? Seeing how Fang Xu usually swaggers around, I thought their influence was quite powerful."

"The Fang family is nothing special. Their strongest expert is merely at the Celestial Essence Fifth Layer. In Yunzhou City, where experts are as common as dirt, they barely even count as a proper family..."

Xu Yang beat around the bush a bit more, and soon coaxed quite a lot of information about the Fang family out of Jiang Fan. A Celestial Essence Fifth Layer Cultivator might be nothing in Jiang Fan’s eyes, but for Xu Yang at his current stage, it was still an existence he couldn’t afford to provoke. Aside from their strongest Celestial Essence Fifth Layer expert, the Fang family also had several Celestial Essence Fourth Layer Cultivators. Their actual strength was quite formidable.

Jiang Fan could afford to look down on them because of the profound strength of the Marquis Mansion. Xu Yang, however, lacked such backing. He would have to be careful in the future. Although he had killed Pang Xiong, he couldn’t rule out the possibility that the Fang family might take matters into their own hands.

Over there, Fang Xu exchanged a few more heated words with Han Yingjie before quickly departing.

He wasn’t acting brainlessly by alerting the enemy. Rather, he wanted to firmly establish the narrative that Han Yingjie had provoked the Fang family first. That way, when the Fang family inevitably slaughtered Han Yingjie in the future, the Celestial Strategy Academy wouldn’t be able to complain. Although the Celestial Strategy Academy protected its students, it couldn’t allow a situation where its students could simply bully outsiders with impunity. If Celestial Strategy Academy students were the only ones allowed to bully people, they would have long since run rampant, tyrannizing everyone in their path.

"Bastard! When have I ever touched the Fang family’s property?" Han Yingjie was shaking with anger.

He tried to explain himself, but to no avail. Fang Xu stubbornly insisted that he was the one who killed Pang Xiong and eradicated the Fuhu Gang. At first, he thought Fang Xu was just intentionally picking a fight. But after listening to the chatter from the bystanders, he finally realized that the Fuhu Gang, which was backed by the Fang family, had indeed been wiped out by someone at the Celestial Essence Third Layer whose Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist had reached the Great Success Realm.

These conditions matched him perfectly. No matter how he tried to explain, it was completely useless.

"Brother Han, your way of doing things is far too sloppy. How could you expose your own signature trump card like that?" Liu Yuanqing shook his head.

Murder and robbery—which Martial Artist hadn’t done such things? But people usually made sure not to leave behind any evidence or clues. This idiot Han Yingjie had actually left behind an incredibly glaring clue like the Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist, allowing the victims’ backers to trace it right back to his doorstep.

"I didn’t do it! I’ve been in Closed-door Cultivation for the past few days!" Han Yingjie growled.

Seeing that Han Yingjie was still stubbornly denying everything, Liu Yuanqing scoffed, "Didn’t you say yourself that the Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist is a Martial Technique exclusive to your wife’s maiden family? Besides you, who else could have possibly cultivated the Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Fist to the Great Success Realm?

"It’s smart of you not to admit it, but you should still be careful. Since you struck at the Fang family first, even if they kill you in retaliation, the Celestial Strategy Academy will have nothing to say."

Seeing that even his close friend didn’t believe him, Han Yingjie was momentarily at a loss for words, not knowing how else to explain himself.