Three days have passed.
The disturbance Fang Yuan caused with his robbery and extortion did not spread or escalate; instead, it gradually died down.
No elders broke the rules or sought to cause trouble for Fang Yuan. The academy elder, naturally, turned a blind eye, acting as though nothing had happened. During this time, two or three youngsters, unwilling to accept the loss of their primeval stones, challenged Fang Yuan. However, after Fang Yuan easily defeated them, everyone realized that unless they trained hard in martial arts, they would never be able to defeat him.
Among these teens, a wave of enthusiasm for martial arts erupted.
The martial arts instructor was overjoyed. He had never seen a group of students so eager and dedicated to their training. Before this, when he taught, the students were uninterested, yawning throughout the day. But now, they constantly sought his advice, their eyes full of energy and determination.
The academy elder specifically came over to inquire about the situation.
The martial arts instructor had an excited tone as he reported, "The students have been showing unexpected enthusiasm, and this change is too great. Only one student among them called Fang Yuan remains as lazy as ever."
The academy elder laughed and patted his shoulders. He said, "This student that you speak of is the cause of the other student's transformation."
The martial arts instructor was puzzled, but of course, the changes went beyond just that.
After the incident, Fang Yuan had undoubtedly become the public enemy of the entire class. Everyone was hostile toward him, and he became isolated. No one spoke to him anymore, and no one greeted him.
The youths poured all their energy into training their basic techniques in private. With encouragement and inspiration from their parents and elders, they had resolved to reclaim their honor with their own hands.
Beneath the calm surface, an undercurrent of tension was building.
Four more days passed.
The academy elder distributed the primeval stone allowance once again, and the time for Fang Yuan to act had come.
"Fang Yuan, once wasn't enough for you, you still want to rob away our primeval stones again?!" The students were shocked and angry as Fang Yuan blocked them at the gates once more.
Fang Yuan stood in the middle of the entrance, his hands behind his back, his expression cold and tone flat. "A piece of primeval stone per person and you'll be spared of physical pain."
"Fang Yuan, your bullying is excessive. I want to challenge you!" Gu Yue Mo Bei roared angrily, coming out first.
"Oh?" Fang Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly.
Mo Bei raised his fists and rushed forward. After a few rounds, he fainted onto the ground.
"Mo Bei, you're too useless! Watch me!" Gu Yue Chi Cheng yelled loudly and dashed towards Fang Yuan. After a transition of attack and defence, he joined after Mo Bei's footsteps.
Fang Yuan's battle experience was ten thousand times more than theirs; although he only started cultivating, every force inflicted was used properly. Meanwhile, this bunch of students had only started their journey. If they came at him together, they might still be able to bring him a little trouble. But with them coming up to challenge him one by one, it was more relaxing than the first time of extortion.
After fifteen minutes, Fang Yuan leisurely walked away with a bulging money bag, leaving behind a floor full of youths. Some of them were lying motionless, and some were holding their bellies or clutching their crotch as they moaned and howled.
"Brothers, time to come up and sweep the field fast!" The guards shouted and all rushed over.
In the garden of Gu Yue Mo family
"I've trained hard in basic martial arts for seven consecutive days, but to think I only managed to endure 2 strikes from Fang Yuan and lost consciousness afterwards. Shame, unforgivable shame!" Gu Yue Mo Bei exclaimed, full of anguish and regret.
In the family garden, he faced the wooden puppet, unleashing punches and kicks that were resulting in resounding echoes.
Suddenly, he heard a laughing voice. "Little brother, do you have deep hatred for the puppet? Why the great resentment?"
Upon hearing this familiar voice, Gu Yue Mo Bei relaxed and stopped his attacks. He turned his head. "Sister, you're back!"
"Uh-huh, the family council sent me out for an investigation mission which lasted more than ten days…" Gu Yue Mo Yan laughingly replied. She was Mo Bei's blood-related sister, a Rank two middle stage Gu Master.
But soon, her face turned grim, her eyes sharply gazing at Mo Bei. "Brother, what's the matter with those bruises on your face? Who bullied you?"
"Ah, it's nothing. I accidentally tripped and fell." A hint of panic flashed across Mo Bei's face as he came up with an excuse. He did not wish for his sister to know of such an embarrassing event. The truth of the Mo family's future heir and the family head, Gu Yue Mo Chen's beloved grandson, consecutively knocked out twice in combat. But the fortunate thing was that he wasn't the only unlucky one. The others had suffered as well.
"Oh, you have to be more careful in that case. As for your combat training, this won't do. You do not have a Guthat enhances your defense right now, so use thick towels to cover yourself. This will protect your limbs from getting hurt." Gu Yue Mo Yan instructed before leaving.
"Hello, young Miss!"
"Good morning, young Miss!"
"Young Miss is back! Your servant greets you, Miss!"
Gu Yue Mo Yan hastily walked with a cold demeanor, and the servants she met on the way bowed and paid respects to her without fail.
She walked to the study room. Without any warning, Mo Yan pushed the door and entered through. Inside the room, Gu Yue Mo Chen was practicing his calligraphy art with his back facing her.
"You're back?" Gu Yue Mo Chen asked directly without turning his body. "After investigating for half a month, what is the situation with the wolves' den?"
"How did you know it's me, grandfather?" Mo Yan gasped, slightly taken aback.
"Hmph, in the entire family, you're the only person that dares to enter my room without even knocking the door once. Who else can it be besides you, my beloved granddaughter," Gu Yue Mo Chen reprimanded, although his face showed traces of concern and warmth, and he looked at Mo Yan with a smile.
Mo Yan pouted. "When it comes to doting, you actually adore little brother more. However since he's the future family head, you are more strict on him so others cannot sense your concern for him."
After a while, she asked: "Grandfather, little brother was beaten up! I asked him and he lied about the situation, so I had no choice but to ask you."
Gu Yue Mo Chen's face turned serious. "You have not answered my question." He put down his brush and sat down.
Mo Yan reluctantly reported, "The wolves' den is almost full, so according to the current rate of breeding speed, although there won't be an outbreak this year, there will definitely be a wolf tide next year at our mountain village."
Gu Yue Mo Chen enquired again, "Generally there's an outbreak every 3 years, so this is no surprise. However, within that hoard, how many Thunder Crown Wolves are there?"
"Around three."
Gu Yue Mo Chen nodded, feeling assured. The Thunder Crown Wolves were the head of the pack, and were the most troublesome to deal with during an outbreak.
Three wasn't a large number since Qing Mao Mountain had three clan villages. Each village could handle one wolf, and the pressure of the outbreak would be greatly reduced.