Chapter 349 - 346: Trouble
Chapter 349: Chapter 346: Trouble
Just as Fang Han stepped through the moon gate of Tingyu Pavilion, two figures hurried out from the main building.
It was his father, Fang Zheng, and his mother, Lin Wan.
"Han’er!"
His mother, Lin Wan, rushed forward, grabbing Fang Han’s hands and looking him up and down, as if trying to etch his every change into her memory.
"You’ve gotten thinner... You must have suffered a lot at the Sect."
"You’re back."
His father, Fang Zheng, stood beside his mother, his usually stern face now filled with excitement.
His lips moved a few times, but in the end, he just patted Fang Han’s shoulder heavily.
"Father, Mother, I’m back."
Fang Han squeezed his mother’s slightly cold hand and smiled at his father.
His gaze went past his parents’ shoulders toward the entrance of the main building.
There stood a small figure in a little pink jacket, her hair tied in two topknots.
A pair of large, dark eyes blinked as they looked over. It was his little sister, Fang Ying.
"Brother, did you bring me a present?"
She ran over and hugged Fang Han’s arm with unrestrained joy and affection.
"I did, of course I did."
Holding Fang Ying’s hand, Fang Han walked into the hall, as warm as springtime, with his parents.
Hot tea and snacks were already prepared in the hall, and a charcoal fire burned brightly, dispelling the winter chill.
The family sat together. Lin Wan held Fang Han’s hand and asked him one question after another, and while Fang Zheng didn’t say much, he listened intently, nodding from time to time.
His little sister, Fang Ying, stuck close to Fang Han, chattering about fun things at home and at school, making everyone laugh now and then.
Enjoying this rare, carefree happiness, Fang Han’s heart was filled with peace and tranquility.
Fang Han took out the few items he had prepared.
"Father, Mother, Xiaoying, I brought you all some small gifts this time."
He first took out a pair of crystal-clear Jade Pendants that faintly emanated a warm current and handed them to his parents.
"This is ’Warm Yang Jade.’ Wearing it close to the body helps nourish one’s qi and blood and dispel cold and dampness. It will be good for your health."
Then he took out a Jade Rabbit Pendant, carved with an adorable little rabbit that could calm the mind and soothe the spirit. It was strung on a red thread, and he handed it to his little sister, who was staring at it eagerly.
"This is for Ying’er."
Finally, he took out several Jade Bottles containing Elixirs.
"These are ’Ginseng Pills.’ Their medicinal properties are gentle, suitable for Father, Mother, and Ying’er. They can strengthen the body and improve one’s complexion."
The gifts were all things he had carefully selected to be genuinely useful to his family.
His parents accepted the Jade Pendants and Elixirs, their eyes filled with gratification.
Little Fang Ying was especially fond of the Jade Rabbit Pendant, playing with it nonstop and smiling so widely her eyes crinkled shut.
After sitting and chatting with his parents and little sister for about two hours, Fang Han got up and went to the main courtyard to pay his respects to the Patriarch, Fang Lingyuan.
There were some matters he needed to discuss with the Patriarch in detail.
Fang Lingyuan seemed to have anticipated his visit and was already waiting in the study.
Inside the study, the charcoal fire was warm, and the fragrance of tea wafted through the air.
"Fang Han, sit."
Fang Lingyuan gestured for Fang Han to sit opposite him and personally poured him a cup of hot tea, a warm smile on his face.
"Thank you, Patriarch."
Fang Han accepted the teacup and expressed his thanks.
After taking a sip of hot tea, he put down the cup and took a small, oilcloth-wrapped package from an inner pocket close to his chest.
He slowly unwrapped the oilcloth, revealing five handwritten booklets inside.
He gently pushed the five booklets across the desk to Fang Lingyuan.
"Patriarch, upon my return this time, I exchanged for five Middle Grade Cultivation Techniques from the Sect for the family."
"Five Middle Grade Cultivation Techniques?"
Hearing Fang Han’s words, Fang Lingyuan’s pupils contracted, and his breath hitched.
He stared intently at the five booklets on the desk.
He reached for the topmost one, the *Evergreen Technique*, picked it up carefully, and slowly opened it.
His eager gaze swept over the lines of meridian diagrams and energy circulation methods. This was the advanced Martial Arts he and the family had dreamed of.
Although they were only Middle Grade, for the Fang Family, whose highest Grade Martial Arts was currently only Low Grade, they were priceless treasures.
With these Cultivation Techniques, the Fang Family could finally break free from the limitations of being confined to a small city and have the potential to produce Middle-Grade Martial Artists.
"The Fang Family’s long-held wish has finally been realized."
Fang Lingyuan’s chest heaved, and the rims of his eyes actually turned a little red.
He clutched the *Evergreen Technique* tightly, as if he were holding the future hope of the Fang Family.
The long-cherished wish, the dream of revitalizing the family, was now presented before him in such a direct and profound way.
’How could I not be moved?’
"Fang Han, the Fang Family owes you a great debt!"
Fang Lingyuan took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his tumultuous emotions, and spoke with the utmost gravity.
With these Cultivation Techniques, not only was the family’s future promising, but even he, who had been stuck at a bottleneck for years, could finally see the light of a breakthrough to the Middle Three Grades!
"Patriarch, you exaggerate. I am also a member of the Fang Family. A strong family is a strong backing for me as well."
Fang Han shook his head and said seriously.
"According to the Sect’s rules, these Cultivation Techniques cannot be practiced by anyone outside the Fang Family bloodline. I hope the Patriarch will keep them safe, choose carefully who to teach them to, and establish strict rules to prevent them from being leaked."
"Of course. This is the lifeblood of our family. I will guard it well!"
Fang Lingyuan’s expression was solemn as he made his earnest promise.
He carefully re-wrapped the five secret manuals in the oilcloth and placed them in a locked hidden compartment under the desk, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a priceless treasure.
Only after doing all this did he sit back down in his chair and let out a long sigh, his face still flushed with a lingering smile.
"Thanks to you at the Qingxuan Sect, our Fang Family has developed extremely quickly this past year."
Fang Lingyuan composed himself and began to slowly recount the family’s changes over the past year.
"The Silver Mine’s excavation is proceeding smoothly with stable profits. The family has also acquired more farmland and shops. Now, in Liangshui City and the surrounding towns, our Fang Family is deservedly the number one family, our prestige growing by the day."
"Several promising saplings have also emerged among the younger generation. Though they can’t compare to you, they are still outstanding in a small place like Liangshui City."
...
Inside the study, the fragrance of tea swirled, and the charcoal fire crackled.
Fang Lingyuan finished his general account of the family’s business operations, property expansion, and the cultivation of the younger generation over the past year, his face a picture of gratification and contentment.
However, beneath this gratification, a layer of lingering gravity remained.
He picked up his slightly cooled teacup, took a sip, and unconsciously rubbed the smooth porcelain.
After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke slowly, his voice a little lower than before.
"All is well with the family’s affairs, which should be a joyous thing, but... recently, a troublesome matter has arisen near Liangshui City."
"A troublesome matter? What might that be?"
Fang Han, who had been leaning back relaxedly in his chair, sat up a little straighter and looked at Fang Lingyuan.
"It started about a month ago."
Fang Lingyuan lifted his teacup, took a small sip, and paused thoughtfully before continuing, his voice lowered.
"Several villages to the north, near Black Cloud Ridge, were attacked one after another. A lot of livestock was dragged away, and many villagers were killed."
Fang Han, who had been leaning back relaxedly, sat up a bit straighter, his eyes fixed on Fang Lingyuan’s face, waiting for him to continue.
"At first, we just thought it was an ordinary fierce beast or a common Demon Beast causing trouble."
Fang Lingyuan’s brows furrowed.
"The County Yamen sent constables to hunt it down with the village hunters, but they were completely wiped out. Not a single person came back alive."
"Later, the Chief Constable, who has a Seventh Grade Cultivation, led a group of constables into the mountains, and the result..."
He paused, his voice growing heavier:
"Only two constables escaped, covered in blood. They said it wasn’t an ordinary Demon Beast at all. It was as fast as a phantom, immensely strong, and impervious to blades and spears. The Chief Constable... was gone in a single encounter."
"A Seventh Grade Martial Artist, in a single encounter?"
A sharp glint flashed through Fang Han’s eyes.
To be able to kill a Seventh Grade Martial Artist so easily, this Demon Beast’s strength was not to be underestimated. It had to be at least at the level of the Middle Three Grades.
Liangshui City was a remote place where a Seventh Grade Martial Artist was already considered a "top-level expert." A Demon Beast at least comparable to a Martial Artist of the Middle Three Grades was indeed a massive threat.
"Yes."
Fang Lingyuan nodded, the worry on his face deepening.
"Once the news spread, panic ensued. Everyone from those villages who could move has moved into the city. People in the suburbs also lock their doors early every day and don’t dare to venture out."
"Didn’t the County Yamen report it to their superiors?"
Fang Han asked with a frown.
"They did. The Commandery City sent down a Demon Hunting Team from the Demon Suppression Bureau. They’re staying at the Government Office, but I don’t know if their Demon Hunting will be successful."
Fang Lingyuan said with some concern.
A Seventh Grade Martial Artist, just like him, had been killed in a single encounter. This left him feeling deeply unsettled.
"A Demon Hunting Team from the Demon Suppression Bureau..."
Fang Han repeated in a low voice.
The Great Xia Court established the Demon Suppression Bureau in each commandery, recruiting Martial Artists to handle Demon-related threats within their borders. Its members were all called Demon Hunters, and they were experienced, with methods specialized for countering Demons.
"I hope they can resolve it smoothly."
Fang Lingyuan sighed.
"As long as that thing isn’t eliminated, Liangshui City will know no peace. Our Fang Family now has a lot of property and mines outside the city, and the tenant farmers and miners are all on edge. It’s had a significant impact."
Fang Han’s fingertips slowly traced the rim of the warm teacup.
Liangshui City was the foundation of the Fang Family. Black Cloud Ridge was only about a hundred li from the city, so a rampaging Demon Beast was indeed a direct threat to the family’s assets.
Not to mention the innocent commoners who had lost their lives.
"Patriarch, please rest assured."
Fang Han spoke, his voice steady, yet carrying a reassuring strength.
"Now that I’m back, I naturally won’t stand by and watch. Let’s first see what the Demon Suppression Bureau’s team can do. If they can solve it, that would be for the best. If they fall short..."
He lifted his gaze slightly, his eyes clear and confident.
"Then I’ll take a trip to Black Cloud Ridge myself."
"Don’t be reckless. The family relies on you for so much now. Your safety is what’s most important."
Fang Lingyuan said gravely upon hearing this.
"I understand," Fang Han nodded.
After discussing some other miscellaneous family matters for a while longer, Fang Han rose to take his leave.
...
「Liangshui City Government Office, a secluded side courtyard in the back.」
This place had been temporarily assigned for the use of the Demon Hunting Team from the Commandery City’s Demon Suppression Bureau.
There were five people in the main hall. A brazier burned brightly, dispelling the chill from outside, but it couldn’t disperse the heavy atmosphere that hung between the five of them.
The five of them—three men and two women—sat around a square table. All were dressed in the distinctive dark cyan uniforms of the Demon Suppression Bureau, with a xiezhi pattern embroidered in silver thread on their chests.
They wore sabers or swords at their waists, and their auras were sharp and steady, completely different from ordinary Jianghu Travelers. They carried an air of iron-willed vigilance, honed by years of fighting demons and evil.