The young Gu Master, Jiang Ya, abruptly halted in his tracks. His lips twitched slightly as he let out a sharp breath. He had just finished issuing his warning, and yet, the moment he was done, Fang Yuan asked for the wine—as if deliberately ignoring him and delivering a slap to his face.
Jiang Ya turned slowly, narrowing his eyes as he shot a cold, piercing glare at Fang Yuan.
But Fang Yuan met his gaze, his expression calm and emotionless, showing not a hint of fear.
Jiang Ya's eyes flashed and the coldness in his gaze slowly disappeared; he felt the aura of primeval essence on Fang Yuan's body. After realizing Fang Yuan's identity, he lit up with a smile and said warmly, "Ah, it's a junior brother."
The others quickly realized the truth, and their gazes toward Fang Yuan shifted.
It made sense now—no wonder this young teenager wasn't the slightest bit intimidated by a Gu Master; he was one himself. Despite still being in the academy, his status was already set apart.
"Lord Gu Master, your wine!" The waiter hurried over, a wide smile on his face. Fang Yuan gave a slight nod to the young Gu Master, took the jar of wine, and made his way out of the inn.
Fang Yuan walked into the secret cave. This time, he went to trigger the video that was supposed to play when he first entered.
As the video and sound echoed through the cave, he ignored them and went to the rock wall to continue chiseling away at it.
After a few hours of shaving the rock wall he stops, it was already late at night.
Under the night sky, the crescent moon cast a soft, pure light. Its glow was like the gentle touch of a lady saint, tenderly caressing the Gu Yue Village. The bamboo houses, standing in clusters like jade statues, lined the path as the night breeze drifted by.
Guided by the moonlight, Fang Yuan made his way back to the inn, only to find the door had already been shut. Without hesitation, he knocked loudly on the door.
"I hear you! I hear you! Who is it, knocking on the door at this late time…" The inn worker grumbled as he opened the door, his eyes puffy from sleep.
But when he saw Fang Yuan standing at the door, all the displeasure and sleepiness from his expression changed, and he bent his waist and said with a flattering smile, "Ah, it's his young lordship. This little one is very lucky to be able to open the door for his lordship."
Fang Yuan nodded his head, his expression cold with indifference, and walked into the inn.
His expression made the worker laugh in a more humble manner, and he took the initiative to ask, "My lord, are you hungry? Would you like me to notify the kitchens and make some small dishes for you as supper?"
"No need," Fang Yuan shook his head and only ordered, "Go and prepare some hot water for me, I would like to wash myself."
"Yes!" The worker immediately nodded, "My lord, go on to your room first. I guarantee you, the hot water will be sent over immediately."
Fang Yuan let out a noise of approval and went up the stairs, heading towards the second floor. The worker watched Fang Yuan's back, his two eyes glittering in the light, revealing an expression of jealousy.
"This is a Gu Master, oh if only I had the talent to cultivate, how good that would be!" He shook his fists, sighing deeply. These words floated into Fang Yuan's ears and he shows no expression on his face.
A Gu Master had the power to transcend mortals, becoming a man above men, but in this process the price that was to be paid was also very high.
The first major hurdle was securing financial resources. A Gu Master needed primeval stones for nearly everything—cultivation, battle, refining Gu, even for trading.
Without primeval stones, how could cultivation even be possible?
This was something an ordinary mortal, like the inn worker who merely observed, would never understand.
Take, for instance, earlier that evening, when the young Gu Master, Jiang Ya, had vented his frustration on the hunters after knocking over their wine jars. His actions spoke volumes—he couldn't bear to waste primeval stones on something as trivial as green bamboo wine, yet these ordinary men had enough money to indulge in it.
Looking deeper into the situation, this alone revealed much about the life of a Gu Master. While they possessed immense strength and achieved far more than regular mortals, the cost was immense. For lower-ranked Gu Masters, every single primeval stone had to be spent with great care. Beneath the surface of their apparent glory, the reality was that their lives were constantly weighed down by financial strain.
Fang Yuan let the worker leave and closed the room door. He put down the door latch, washed himself and got up to his bed.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and using the Liquor worm to cultivate before going to bed.
Time slipped away quietly.
The morning light squeezed through the narrow crack in the window and shone into the room. It was like the window had a light edge.
Fang Yuan opened his eyes. "It looks like, in this life, I will reach rank one middle Stage earlier than before." Thanks to his constant cultivation, the results would soon show.
"Obviously, I won't be able to expose my cultivation this early on." Fang Yuan planned to reveal his cultivation at the same time as in his previous life.
At this moment Fang Yuan's stomach came up with a cry of protest.
After a night of chiseling the rock wall and intense cultivation, Fang Yuan was naturally hungry.
Fang Yuan rubbed his belly and went downstairs. He went to the cafeteria and picked a seat at the corner, ordering a few kinds of breakfast dishes.
Just as he was beginning to eat, his younger brother Gu Yue Fang Zheng appeared.
"Big brother, why are you staying at the inn, why didn't you go back home and sleep last night?" His brother was very straightforward, his tone carrying the implication that it was demanding for an explanation.
Faced with his brother's question, Fang Yuan did not speak; he continued eating his breakfast. He knew his younger brother's character – Fang Zheng was not someone who could keep in his composure.
Sure enough Fang Zheng saw that his older brother did not even bat an eye at him, as if Fang Yuan pretended he was air. In the next moment he called out in a tone full of unhappiness, "Big brother, what did you do to Shen Cui? Ever since she came out from your room yesterday, she cried all over the place. When I comforted her, she cried even more."
Fang Yuan looked up at his younger brother, his face expressionless. Fang Zheng frowned, staring firmly at his older brother, waiting for his reply.
The atmosphere was growing tense.
But Fang Yuan just looked at him for a second before he lowered his head and continued eating.
The younger brother Fang Zheng was immediately flustered. Fang Yuan's attitude was clearly an undisguised contempt towards him. Under shame and frustration he banged his hand on the table, roaring loudly, "Gu Yue Fang Yuan, how can you act like this! Shen Cui as a servant girl has served you for so many years; I have seen her gentleness and care towards you. Yes, I know you feel lost, and I can understand your dejected feelings. Yeah you're just a C-grade talent, but it doesn't mean you can vent your anger on others just because of your own misfortune. This isn't fair to her!"
He had barely finished when Fang Yuan stood up, raising his hand in a flash.
Slap!
With a loud snap he gave Fang Zheng a solid smack.
Fang Zheng covered his right cheek, stumbling two steps backwards, his face full of shock.
"Useless bastard, what kind of tone are you using to talk to your own older brother?! That Shen Cui is just a servant girl! Just because of a lowly girl like her you would forget that I am your older brother?" Fang Yuan reprimanded in a low voice.
Fang Zheng finally reacted, his stinging pain on his face surging through his nervous system in waves. He stared wide-eyed, his breathing rough as he said in disbelief, "Big brother, you hit me? From the time I was still young until I grew up, you have never hit me before! Yes, I was found out to be an A-grade talent, you were just C-grade. But you also cannot blame me for it, this is all the arrangement of heaven…"
Slap!
Fang Zheng had not finished speaking, yet Fang Yuan used the back of his hand and smacked him again.
Fang Zheng covered both his cheeks with his two hands. He was stunned.
"Naïve fool, do you still remember! From young till now, how did I take care of you? When our parents died, our life was hard. During New Year, aunt and uncle only gave us both one new robe, did I wear it? Who did I give it to wear? When you were small you loved to eat sweet porridge, I would tell the kitchens to make another bowl for you everyday. When you were bullied by others, who brought you back? Not to mention a ton of other things, I don't feel like it is worth talking about. Well, right now because of a maid, you would talk to me like this, coming to question me?"
Fang Zheng's face was red. His lips trembled, ashamed and annoyed, as well as surprised and angry. Yet he was unable to say a single word of rebuttal.
Because everything Fang Yuan said was the truth!
"Whatever." Fang Yuan sneered, "Since you even gave up your own biological parents and admitted someone else, what am I worth to you, as merely your big brother?"
"Big brother, how can you say that. You also know that I have always longed for the warmth of a family since I was young, I…" Fang Zheng immediately explained.
Fang Yuan waved his hand, stopping his brother from continuing. "From today onwards, you are not my little brother, and I am no longer your older brother."
"Big brother!" Fang Zheng was surprised, opening his mouth to say more.
At this moment Fang Yuan spoke, "Don't you like Shen Cui? Don't worry; I didn't do anything to her. She's still a virgin, untouched and pure. Pass me six primeval stones and I'll pass her to you, from today onwards she can be your personal maid."