Elder Yin froze.
Her cheeks turned a vivid shade of pink, and she quickly lowered her hand, glancing up at Fang Yuan with wide, bashful eyes.
Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow, gaze sliding to Jingyi.
She rely smiled innocently, one arm still draped around Elder Yin like an older sister teasing a younger one. "She’s just eager to help," Jingyi said sweetly, as if that explained everything.
Fang Yuan sighed, muttering under his breath, "This is my clan... these are my people..."
He rubbed his temple, then returned to his seat with the weight pressing down on him.
"Alright then," he said at last. "As we are all too broke to even own a spatial ring."
His fingers brushed against the spatial ring on his hand, as he leaned slightly forward, "We can only do this the long way, the loud way, and the deliberate way."
He glanced to the map displayed on the jade screen beside him.
"Let the Gu family hear the footsteps of every mule. Let their ears ring with the clatter of every wheel."
A beat of silence followed.
Then, as if the spell were broken, the eting shifted toward more mundane business.
Fang Yuan began the formal ordination of new elders.
Fang Bo, Fang Yang, and Fang Ruì stood proudly as their nas were called, joy and awe flashing in their eyes.
Each received their titles with clasped hands and deep bows.
Then ca Fang Tian.
Fang Tian stood up, calm and composed. "I would prefer to be nad an honorary elder... Clan Head."
Fang Yuan’s brow lifted slightly in surprise.
"Why?" he asked simply, voice neutral.
"I plan to go on treasure hunting after this," Fang Tian replied, unflinching. "I won’t be able to participate in clan affairs."
Before Fang Yuan could say anything, another voice broke the silence.
"That is totally irresponsible of you." Elder Fang Ra stood, stroking his beard, his voice heavy with disapproval.
"The clan is in a precarious situation. Every helping hand is needed, and you wish to leave? Now, of all tis?"
Fang Yuan said nothing.
He didn’t agree, but he didn’t object either.
The truth was plain: the clan’s finances were thin. Their number of active elders could nearly be counted on one hand. Every extra hand right now mattered.
Then Elder Fang Long rose from his seat.
"Young man," he said, voice low and heavy with age-earned weight, "I understand the desire to explore. I once did too. But tell , why request the title of honorary elder? Do you wish to enjoy the na without the responsibility? To help only when it suits you?"
He took a step forward, turning toward Fang Yuan with a rare look of defiance.
"Clan Head," he said, bowing respectfully, "forgive , but this should not be entertained. He may be your brother, but leaving the clan to chase personal ambitions as of now only sends the wrong ssage."
He was firm but not rude.
But before his words could carry further, Fang Yuan raised a single hand.
Fang Long paused, falling respectfully silent.
Fang Yuan turned to look at Fang Tian, eyes sharper now.
"Brother," he said softly.
The word echoed.
A few heads turned. Titles and formality were the standard in clan etings. To use familial address here was rare, it usually ant seriousness.
Fang Tian stiffened slightly. He also understood as his brother never joked when it ca to clan affairs.
So he knew his brother was not addressing him as Clan Head right now... but as blood.
"Do you truly understand what you’re asking for?" Fang Yuan said.
The question held no anger, only a quiet weight. Sothing heavy and unspoken lingered behind it.
Fang Tian took a breath as be stood straighter.
"Yes," he said. "I believe this place is holding back my cultivation. If I stay, I’ll rot in comfort. I want to grow stronger, and I can’t do that here. I need to spread my wings."
A hush fell across the room.
For a brief mont, Fang Tian caught what seed like a flicker of sadness on his brother’s face, subtle, almost imperceptible before it vanished beneath the familiar, unreadable coldness he always wore.
"...The family is holding you back, huh?" Fang Yuan murmured, almost to himself.
Then he nodded, slowly, expression unreadable.
"Very well."
He looked out at the elders, not raising his voice but making sure each word hit its mark.
"If that is how you feel... I’ll grant you the title of honorary elder."
He turned his gaze directly to Elder Ra and Elder Long.
"And I will hear no objections."
The two elders exchanged glances, gritted teeth and furrowed brows but remained silent.
Faint murmurs rippled through the seated crowd, uneasy but muted by Fang Yuan’s absolute tone.
A ding echoed faintly in Fang Yuan’s consciousness.
[ System Notification: -7 Faith Points (Elder Ra). -5 Faith Points (Elder Long). ]
He ignored it.
Because at the end of the day, every cultivator must find their own path even his little brother.
He waved the screen away, lips tightening.
He leaned back in his chair again. "Anyone else want to be an honorary elder before we finish the eting?"
There were a few nervous chuckles but no hands raised.
"Good."
He stood again, brushing down his robes with practiced ease. "This eting is adjourned."
Fang Yuan watched silently as the elders filed out of the hall, their footsteps echoing faintly behind him.
What was ant to be a joyous day, a day of appointnts, unity, and new beginnings had sohow turned sour.
The weight of leadership pressed against his shoulders like an unseen chain.
He stared at the report lying on the table before him.
Without a word, he picked it up, eyes scanning the inked figures, though his mind was elsewhere.
Just then, the door opened with a soft creak.
Felicia stepped in, graceful as ever in her pale servant uniform, her steps silent against the polished floor.
Fang Yuan looked up, his expression still dulled. "What brings you here?"
She bowed politely. "Family Head, a young man by the na of Da Pang from the Xiao family is requesting to see you."
"Da Pang?" Fang Yuan blinked, confused. "As in... Great Fatty?"
And then it hit him.
His eyes lit up with sudden recognition.
"Ahhh—it’s Xiao Pei!" His mouth broke into a rare smile.
"Send him in! What are you waiting for!"
The gloom that clung to him lifted in an instant.
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