Fang Yuan gave a low whistle.
"Quite a lineup," he muttered.
"They acted in unison," she went on, "and their coordination implies they were either herded or manipulated."
Felicia glanced at him aningfully but didn’t push the theory aloud.
"The Gu family," she continued, "responded by mobilizing their spirit cannons... but they exhausted half of their spirit stone stockpiles just to repel the four spirit beasts."
Fang Yuan’s hands ca together in a slow, almost theatrical clap.
He clapped again, sharper this ti, his grin wide and full of gleeful sarcasm.
"Wonderful. Absolutely brilliant."
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
"They spent years hoarding stones and putting on airs... and now, not even one day after I touched the border of that city, they’re already bleeding dry."
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Fang Yuan applauded.
"Bravo. Truly spectacular. The heavens do have eyes."
He leaned back, eyes gleaming with vicious amusent.
"So the Gu family finally bleeds, and now they want the Fang family to help stitch their wounds? Truly shaless, I gotta learn a thing or two from them, alright.."
"Mm." He then leaned his cheek against one hand.
"Like beggars at the temple. But dressed in gold."
Felicia cleared her throat gently, then added, "There is one more part, Clan Head."
Fang Yuan gestured. "Let’s hear it."
"The ssage also says... a cultivator in white was seen interfering briefly in the battle. The Gu family couldn’t identify him.
But he held off the peak-stage Saberfang for the ti it took for an incense stick to burn out.."
Fang Yuan’s eyes narrowed.
"A white-robed cultivator?"
Felicia then continued. "Soone strong enough to hold a beast like that for even ten breaths should be known by na.
Let alone soone who could withstand it for about the ti it took to burn out an incense stick."
"And yet," Fang Yuan muttered, "he’s not."
Then he stood up and stretched, his robes flowing around him like a shadow stirred by wind.
"Well, we can’t delay. Send the Gu family a reply," he said.
Felicia readied her brush. "And what should we write, Clan Head?"
Fang Yuan smirked, fingers lightly stroking his chin in thought.
"Be polite, of course. And tell them..."
He paused, letting the mont stretch just enough to drip with mock sincerity.
"...that the Fang family expresses its deepest concern," he said smoothly, "and is currently reviewing its options with the utmost gravity."
Then, a glint of amusent flashed in his eyes.
"Oh, and make sure to add this: ’The Clan Head himself is personally attending to the matter.’"
He leaned back, satisfied.
Felicia raised an eyebrow. "So we’re stalling."
"We’re watching," Fang Yuan corrected. "If they’re desperate enough to beg, then it ans they’re wounded."
He turned toward the window, gazing out at the moonlit grounds.
"And wounded beasts... either crawl to die or bite harder."
Felicia hesitated for a breath, then spoke with careful weight in her voice.
"Clan Head... the Gu family believes you might be one of the reasons those spirit beasts attacked.
It’s why they sent the request so quickly."
Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow, unsurprised.
"Well, obviously," he said with a shrug. "But it could just as easily be a setup. They might’ve staged the whole thing just to throw the bla on ."
Felicia blinked. "Wait... so you’re saying they sabotaged their own city just to accuse you?"
Fang Yuan gave a small laugh and beckoned with a finger. "Felicia, Felicia. Co now."
She stepped closer.
He leaned slightly forward, his gaze playful yet piercing. "Look at ."
She t his eyes, reluctant but curious.
"What have I been doing the past few days?" he asked.
Felicia gave a long, exaggerated sigh, catching on imdiately.
"Oh! Clan Head, you’re finally out of seclusion. The entire family has been waiting with bated breath for your return."
Fang Yuan let out a dramatic groan as he stretched.
"Ugh, yes. My back. I can’t believe I was stuck in that cave for... what, two months? Ti has no rcy."
Felicia couldn’t help but smile, slipping into the ga.
"Shall I prepare a warm bath then, Family Head? You reek."
With that matter settled, Fang Yuan eased himself into the warm bath Felicia had prepared.
Steam curled lazily around the room, fogging the polished wooden walls of the chamber.
The soft scent of spirit herbs lingered in the air, relaxing, rejuvenating.
Outside, the night wind rustled faintly, but within the bathhouse, silence reigned.
Felicia had long since taken her leave, bowing out respectfully, saying it was far too late.
"Rest well, Clan Head," she’d said with that usual calm grace of hers before vanishing into the night.
Now, alone and finally still, Fang Yuan leaned back against the smooth stone edge of the tub.
The hot water lapped gently at his skin, drawing out the tension buried in his bones.
He exhaled, long and slow, a faint smile tugging at his lips as thoughts returned to the chaos far to the north.
Ah... Gu Jian. Gu Lanyue.
If only the beasts had swallowed you whole.
His grin widened, dark amusent flickering in his eyes.
I would have raised a glass. No.. make it two.
He scooped a bit of water and poured it slowly over his head, letting it trail down his face.
As the heat soaked into him, a mory resurfaced—
The mont when he had deliberately let his spiritual pressure leak, just briefly, as he flew from the dark forest towards the Gu family’s estate in Phungrei City.
A subtle act. It was barely even a heartbeat in duration.
And yet... just enough for the Saberfang spirit beasts to sll his qi, the culprit, the thief, the one who stole their path to greater glory!
Ten sprouts of Hollow Yeklo Grass stolen... and from Saberfang territory, no less.
He leaned further back in the bath, satisfied.
Until....
A soft giggle echoed behind him.
Then ca the voice, as silken as moonlight brushing skin:
"Husband~ Shall I wash your back?"
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