Chapter 132

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Chapter 132: Buy a House Early

Several days later.

Inside Fang Yuan’s residence.

Young Gaoler Fang Yuan took out a small box filled with silver coins and looked at Qiao Mu.

"Senior Qiao, the money to buy the old house is ready. However, I think we can wait a bit longer and buy it later, no need to rush."

"Oh? What’s the matter?" Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow.

Qiao Mu was a bit impatient.

If he could get his hands on the Blood Moon Chart soon, he would be able to provoke the Spirit Refining martial artist Sword Ghost, as well as Wan Ronghua from the Great Dao Sect who was standing behind him. The sooner they died, the sooner they could be reborn.

Fang Yuan explained:

"After all, if I, Fang Yuan, took the opportunity to acquire the Fang family ancestral home, there’s a chance that Wan Ronghua would hear about it."

"It’s actually quite common for haunted houses to sell at a lower price. If I were to buy the house after causing a commotion with ghosts, it might reveal my intentions too soon."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Mu glanced at Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan came from a merchant family. Despite being young, he was careful in his actions and had a lot of insight.

However…

"You, young lad, why are you so cunning and cautious at such a young age?" Qiao Mu frowned.

"Let me ask you, is it possible that Fang Yuan being a prison guard in the heavenly prison has escaped Wan Ronghua’s notice?"

Fang Yuan’s eyes widened slightly, clearly startled.

"Clearly, it can’t deceive him." He appeared slightly discouraged.

Wan Ronghua, along with his Sword Ghost, were the enemies who brought destruction to his family.

If Wan Ronghua were to inquire, as a mere prison guard, he wouldn’t be able to hide it at all.

Now, if the enemies don’t completely eliminate him, it’s simply because as a prison guard in the heavenly prison, he hasn’t caught Wan Ronghua’s attention at all.

"So, don’t think too highly of yourself." Qiao Mu squinted his eyes and spoke of the past:

"I had a friend before, someone I shared a strong bond with. He also liked to overthink and plan before taking action. Later, he realized that all his calculations couldn’t compare to a reckless move. It was because he considered too much, losing the courage of a martial artist and missing opportunities. As a result, my friend was killed by evil people."

"Of course, what I’m saying is not an elderly lecture. If you don’t like it, you can ignore it. Whether to seek revenge or when to purchase your family’s estate, it’s up to you."

"And I, just a mere outsider, leave the decision to you."

If Fang Yuan continues to hesitate, Qiao Mu will naturally find another way to approach Wan Ronghua and the Sword Ghost, who can kill with their eyes.

Fang Yuan couldn’t help but be moved by Qiao Mu’s old and nostalgic appearance.

Senior Qiao is said to be ninety years old, and at this age, most of his friends have already passed away.

For a ninety-year-old man whose close friends died at the hands of an evil person, merely recalling this past event must be a cruel way to reopen old wounds.

For Senior Qiao, inflicting wounds upon himself was to help Fang Yuan make a firm decision, warming his heart in the process.

Fang Yuan didn’t make a decision right away, but instead thought carefully for a long time.

Qiao Mu couldn’t help but stand up, preparing to leave first and giving him some time to think. Finally, he spoke:

"I probably… understand now."

"Actually, I am just scared." he said mockingly.

"If I take the first step towards revenge, it might invite Wan Ronghua’s hostility… It’s better to continue being a timid person, train hard for decades."

Even though he was cunning, Fang Yuan was just a young man in his twenties.

When facing important matters, it is normal to hesitate and feel afraid.

But how many more decades can he wait in life?

Time is the most merciless.

Even after several decades, even if Fang Yuan becomes a Spirit Refining martial artist, what can he really do?

He redeemed the ancestral home, actually using it as a beacon of hope. He thought as long as he bought back the ancestral home, his little sister might come back… maybe?

If it’s another few decades from now, not to mention that little sister will become an old lady, with the average lifespan of the people in the Great Yan Imperial Court, it’s hard to say if the little sister can live until then.

So…

"Buy a house early." Fang Yuan came to such a conclusion.

Qiao Mu:…..

"Senior Qiao, why not buy a house today? I have already prepared the money," Fang Yuan said seriously.

"Did I lead you astray with my words?" Qiao Mu started to reflect.

How strange, when did he change careers to become a real estate agent?

"No, no, no, it was not Senior Qiao’s words that made me change my mind." Fang Yuan’s eyes brightened as he said firmly:

"It’s just that I finally saw my inner fears clearly."

"This is my decision, unrelated to Senior Qiao," Fang Yuan laughed.

"Allow me to repeat a somewhat impolite phrase," he said.

"Senior Qiao, don’t think too highly of yourself, this is definitely my own decision."

"Oh – since it’s unrelated to me, should I leave?" Qiao Mu pretended to walk away.

"No, Senior Qiao, I was just joking, I was rude," Fang Yuan suddenly became anxious.

Bantering with this young person in his twenties made Qiao Mu, who often played the role of an elderly person, feel unusually relaxed.

In reality, if we talk about actual age, Qiao Mu’s age is actually similar to this Fang Yuan’s.

"Let’s discuss the next course of action," Qiao Mu stopped walking.

"After finding the Blood Moon Chart in your old house, I will take this painting and also release information about the Blood Moon Chart," Qiao Mu said.

"From Sword Ghost’s attitude towards the Blood Sun Chart, it seems that he must be eager to get his hands on this Blood Moon Chart, which can lure the enemy out."

"By then, I will have the upper hand," said Qiao Mu confidently.

"If Senior Qiao is so sure, and can deal with that Spirit Refining martial artist – the Sword Ghost, I heard he’s at the 3rd rank?" Fang Yuan asked, puzzled.

At this time, Fang Yuan was only at the 9th rank of martial artists. Qiao Mu and the Sword Ghost were far beyond his level, he couldn’t gauge Qiao Mu’s strength and didn’t know if Qiao Mu was stronger or weaker than the Sword Ghost.

Of course… Qiao Mu didn’t know either.

Winning means revenge, losing means using a resurrection coin to start over!

"So, what do I need to do, Junior?" Fang Yuan asked.

"Saving money to buy a house and finding the Blood Moon Chart, that is your main task," said Qiao Mu.

This statement once again stunned Fang Yuan… He never imagined that in this revenge plan, he was just a minor character whose role was to save money to buy a house.

From what I understand, is Qiao Mu the one who took the Blood Moon Chart and fought against Sword Ghost? And did he provoke Wan Ronghua?

Did he take on both good and bad things on his shoulders?

"At this point, there’s no need to be polite with me," Qiao Mu said with a faint smile.

"Actually, I’m just very curious about the Blood Moon Chart and Blood Sun Chart. Helping you seek revenge is just a side matter."

"After all, my martial arts skills are unparalleled. It’s just a matter of time before I become the number one in the world. Killing a mere 3rd rank Sword Ghost is just child’s play for me."

Fang Yuan was slightly stunned.

"I’ll speak frankly, without sparing your feelings," Qiao Mu said without any hesitation.

"Fang Yuan, with your current strength, you are still too weak."

"I’m not judging whether it’s right or wrong for you to continue cultivating and training in seclusion."

"There is only one better solution in front of both of us right now."

"That is… Let me do it."

I’ll take the blame, I’ll sacrifice myself, and hold onto the hatred firmly.

Fang Yuan only needs to be responsible for watching.

If you’re weak, take a rest.

If I’m strong, I’ll take charge.

Fang Yuan blinked his eyes and showed some emotion.

What does "There is only one better solution in front of both of us right now" mean?

This is clearly Fang Yuan’s private matter!

And his solution, surprisingly, was to let Fang Yuan watch and let this senior handle it?

Fang Yuan remained silent for a long time.

Just like before, he didn’t ask Qiao Mu how he managed to make the old house haunted, nor did he inquire about Qiao Mu’s reasons.

But he couldn’t help but take a deep look at the elderly senior in front of him, feeling deeply moved inside.

"Such demeanor is truly captivating." he sighed in his heart.

………….

One hour later.

In front of the main gate of the Wastern House in the eastern part of the city.

The middle-aged man with a square face from the Wan family was looking at the young gaoler Fang Yuan beside him.

"Mr. Fang Yuan, have you truly decided to buy this old house?"

The middle-aged man furrowed his brow and slightly raised his chin as he looked down at the young man in front of him.

Before Fang Yuan suggested buying the Fang family’s old house, he roughly checked Fang Yuan’s background.

He discovered that Fang Yuan had numerous connections to their Wan-family Chamber of Commerce.

"My mind is made up." Fang Yuan nodded and took out a bag of silver coins he had prepared in advance, totaling five hundred coins.

The market value of the Fang family’s old house, before it plummeted due to the haunting incident, was approximately five thousand silver coins.

One-tenth, which is five hundred silver coins.

In fact, when Fang Yuan was in the heavenly prison before, he exchanged two hundred silver coins with "Qiao Zhong" for a technique, and now he still had around eight hundred coins.

If he needed money, he could try to borrow some, and at most, he could gather one thousand silver coins.

For Fang Yuan’s age, it can be considered quite rare.

After all, Captain Qiao of Heyang City couldn’t become a military officer because of his background, and he didn’t gather the one thousand and two taels of silver to redeem his father’s life for half a lifetime.

"Wait, Mr. Fang Yuan, you may have misunderstood," the middle-aged man smiled and said.

"Five hundred taels was the market price some time ago. Now, this house is not priced the same. It needs… seven hundred taels."

"Are you raising the price here?" Fang Yuan frowned slightly.

From the middle-aged man’s words and actions, he probably already knew Fang Yuan’s identity. He was intentionally raising the price just to annoy him.

"Seven hundred taels it is then, that’s settled. Do you want to sign an agreement with life and death as well?" Fang Yuan mocked.

"Haha, Mr. Fang Yuan is indeed generous… This is the house deed," the middle-aged man smiled and instructed his subordinate to bring out the prepared deed.

Fang Yuan didn’t argue over these two hundred taels.

After all, the ancestral home was originally worth five thousand taels, but because of Qiao Mu’s troublemaking, he has already made a lot of money.

Let this side of the family eat another two hundred taels, it doesn’t matter.

The deal was reached, and both sides were very satisfied.

For the Wan family, having such a famous haunted house is like holding a hot potato. They can’t wait to get rid of it.

Being able to swindle two hundred taels from Fang Yuan is already a pleasant surprise.

"If I had known that this boy was so attached to the ancestral home, I should have raised the price, or perhaps I lacked some courage." The middle-aged man’s mood slightly improved as he looked back at the old house and quickened his pace to leave.

He didn’t want to stay in such a haunted place any longer.

"This boy actually wants to reclaim his ancestral home amidst the chaos? I wonder if he has the guts to do it," the middle-aged man sneered.

He didn’t connect the haunting incident with Fang Yuan.

Because Fang Yuan was just a prison guard for heaven, this was a decent job for ordinary people, but in the eyes of the Wan family, one of the four wealthy merchants in the Imperial Capital, he was just average.

How could someone like Fang Yuan be involved in the haunting incident?

After all, the tenants who died tragically in the old mansion were even Fourth Rank martial artists. It would be ridiculous to think that someone like Fang Yuan would be involved in this matter just for an old house.

….

Fang Yuan opened the mansion gate with the key and walked into this recently famous haunted house.

As he looked at the furnishings and layout of the mansion, his childhood memories gradually overlapped. He stared attentively, and memories flooded his mind involuntarily.

This old mansion was still the same… except for one small difference. On the floor of the hall, there were faint traces of dark red… bloodstains?

Fang Yuan’s expression became slightly strange, and he couldn’t help but glance at Qiao Mu beside him.

Qiao Mu remained focused and coughed lightly, saying:

"Kid, you should find the Blood Moon Chart."

"That’s what the senior said."

Fang Yuan seemed unsure about the location of the secret room, but he searched repeatedly relying on his familiarity with the mansion.

It took a whole half hour, but after lifting a wooden board in the backyard bedroom, a staircase appeared without the expected rumbling sound.

The secret room was actually quite small, almost like a large hidden compartment. The room was covered in a thick layer of dust, clearly untouched for many years.

Lighting a match, the only thing that came into view in the empty display case was a painting.

Blood Moon Chart.

Qiao Mu pondered and looked up at the image of the Blood Moon Chart.

As evening fell and stars dotted the sky, a crimson red moon hung high above. The moon was enormous, almost covering half of the sky, and its red color resembled that of blood.

The red moonlight in the painting flowed down like thick, sticky blood, dropping little by little onto the ground. Even the frame of the painting was soaked in blood, and the blood continued to trickle down, dripping onto the floor of the secret room…

Huh?

Qiao Mu squinted his eyes and took a closer look. He realized it was just an illusion. The so-called Blood Moon Chart was just a painting. How could real blood be flowing from it?

Qiao Mu glanced at Fang Yuan beside him and saw that he showed no signs of surprise.

"Did this painting, created by a Spirit Refining martial artist hundreds of years ago before their death, stir my spirit?"

Qiao Mu had practiced the Martial Saint Spiritual Technique. Although he didn’t have complete spiritual refining martial arts, he still had moments of intuition. At this moment, he vaguely sensed the extraordinary nature of this painting.

"With this painting, I can use it as bait to lure out that Sword Ghost…"

"And then either it will kill me, or I will kill it."