Chapter 171

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Chapter 171: The Secret of the Inhuman War 40 Years Ago

In the alley.

Fang Yuan stood alone at the entrance of the alley, with the shadows on the wall covering half of his face, making it difficult for Fang Fang to see his expression.

Under the moonlight, the two of them stood still, neither of them spoke. Their shadows stretched long on the stone pavement.

Fang Yuan came here by coincidence.

From "Qiao Senlin’s" mouth, he learned that Fang Fang had married Wan Ronghua under a false name, and even made the former maid, intentionally or unintentionally, frame Qiao Shuanglin… this had happened a few days ago.

In these past few days, Fang Yuan had no intention of visiting the Wan mansion to search for relatives.

It was not until today’s outing when Fang Fang instructed an old man to provoke a fight and was severely beaten, that Fang Yuan finally made up his mind to sneak into the Fang mansion tonight to investigate.

Who knew that many unexpected events happened at the Wan family mansion this night. Fang Yuan, hearing the commotion, didn’t dare approach and hid in the distance, listening by the corner of the wall. He could only vaguely deduce that Wan Ronghua was assassinated by the Qiao family, and his long-missed childhood sister was leaving the estate with a package.

So he came here.

"Fang Fang?" Fang Yuan spoke first, taking a step forward and emerging from the shadows on the wall, allowing Fang Fang to see his expression.

"Why do you look like this? Have you gotten married and run away from home?" Fang Yuan completely ignored Wan Ronghua’s situation, only showing concern on his face.

Fang Fang was first surprised, but then forced a slight smile.

"It’s not running away from home, I just went out to visit a friend."

"My…husband is very generous to me and he has bought me many valuable jewelry pieces."

As she spoke, she casually raised her wrist, showing off the moon-like white jade bracelet and the golden hairpin in her hair, illuminated by the moonlight.

"Is that so?" Fang Yuan still had a smile on his face, he stepped aside, giving her space to pass:

"If you have free time, remember to visit the old house."

"I have bought back our old house that our parents had long ago. The two trees in the courtyard have grown much taller, but the small vegetable garden that our mom planted in the corner of the courtyard has been neglected…"

"Hehe, I’m tired tonight, next time for sure…" Fang Fang forced a smile.

"Do you still remember what dad said before he passed away? He planted those two jujube trees, saying that they would bear fruit for future generations. In a few years, when you have children, it will be time for the jujube trees to bear fruit too. You should come back in the autumn then…"

The two siblings walked in the alley, one in front and one behind. Although the atmosphere was slightly awkward, they occasionally smiled and chatted about everyday matters, not too uncomfortable.

As they continued walking, Fang Fang’s smile became more and more forced, and eventually, she became a little impatient.

"Stop pretending, Fang Yuan," suddenly said Fang Fang.

Fang Yuan was shocked and paused his steps slightly. "Pretending what?"

"Pretending to be this friendly brother-sister act," Fang Fang’s face lost its fake smile at this moment, only leaving indifference.

"You showed up at this time just to see how miserable I am, right?"

"Yes, it’s true. I am now very poor and have been kicked out of the Wan family’s house. But I still have money and jewelry that I can pawn. I believe that one day I will be able to rise again like the Mount Dong."

While talking, Fang Fang also patted the swollen package, making a sound of gold and silver objects clinking inside.

Fang Yuan stopped walking and turned around, his face also became dark.

"Why won’t you continue acting with me? Even if it’s just a play, it could bring me some comfort."

When he returned to the old house, he talked a lot with Qiao Mu about the beautiful memories they had there – the two jujube trees planted by their father, their mother’s vegetable garden… But astonishingly, there was no mention of Fang Fang, his younger sister.

Fang Yuan pressed his hand against his waist and slowly drew out a long knife. The blade shimmered in the moonlight.

You?!" Fang Fang felt a mixture of fear and shock, thinking to herself, "Oh no, this is not good.

Upon seeing her non-blood related brother, she secretly felt the need to prove herself and impulsively showed off her wealth…

This is not good, Fang Yuan seems to have become interested in her fortune. She feared that he might ambush and kill her here…

"Fang Yuan, what do you want to do? I’m your sister," Fang Fang couldn’t help but say.

"Now you know that you’re my sister and I’m your older brother?" Fang Yuan’s voice turned cold.

"How can you marry Wan Ronghua?"

"Our real parents, both dad and mom, died at Wan Ronghua’s hands…"

"Not only them, but also Senior Qiao, who courageously intervened, was involved and died… It seems like you had something to do with his death too."

He held a knife in his hand, looking at his sister Fang Fang in front of him.

Fang Fang was so scared that her lips turned white, but she still stubbornly refused to bow down, staring with wide eyes and saying:

"Who made dad biased? It’s not fair at all. Clearly, I’m the biological daughter, so why should the family inheritance be given to you? It’s better to become a concubine in the Wan family."

"At least after the Wan family takes over the Fang family’s inheritance, there will be a portion for me inside.." Fang Fang sneered.

"My dear brother, all you’re saying is that you want to find a noble reason to justify your robbery."

She hadn’t even finished speaking.

A bright flash of a knife blade passed through the alley, splattering Fang Yuan with blood.

Fang Fang’s eyes widened, and her body slowly fell to the ground.

The package she had been holding tightly slipped from her hand, and the gold and silver jewelry inside rolled onto the ground. Some of it rolled into a smelly gutter, mixing with blood and mud.

Fang Yuan slowly lowered his knife, stood there staring at Fang Fang on the ground, and then casually grabbed a handful of the gold and silver jewelry.

"In this chaotic world, life is not easy. Money is very important, sometimes even more important than life itself," he murmured.

"I also like money a lot. Who doesn’t like money?"

Fang Fang took deep breaths, with only one breath left in her, she watched helplessly as Fang Yuan snatched her jewelry and instinctively reached out trembling hand towards Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan’s expression suddenly turned cold, and he loosened his tightly clenched hand.

Regardless of the gold and silver jewelry in his hands, they fell to the ground with a jingling sound and dropped into the nearby smelly drain.

Fang Fang widened her eyes and could only hear her brother, who looked somewhat unfamiliar, saying:

"But in life, it’s not all about money. There must be something more important than wealth."

He stood up and looked at the mixture of blood and mud, as well as the scattered gold and silver, on the floor. Instead of picking them up, he just turned around and walked away.

These things came from the Wan family and Fang Fang herself, but he didn’t take them because they were dirty.

When he reached the corner of the alley, he couldn’t help but turn back and take a look at Fang Fang’s lifeless body.

"Now, I have no family left."

……….

Half an hour later.

Fang Yuan, alone, returned to the courtyard of the old Fang family house.

The night breeze picked up, the tree shadows swayed. He sat cross-legged under a tree, watching the shadows dancing on the wall. He also looked down at his bloody hands, feeling a bit dazed.

They all died, everyone died, only he was still alive.

Apart from his family, those who died because of this, even included two elderly Qiao family members who got involved in this matter, Qiao Shuanglin and Qiao Senlin.

Fang Yuan wasn’t very familiar with the latter, they were quite distant.

It’s because he was afraid of this old man, who looked even older than Qiao Shuanglin. He was also a kind-hearted old man, and got involved in that Wan Ronghua’s matter.

But things didn’t go as he had expected, Qiao Senlin still died.

When he felt helpless, someone helped him with an umbrella, giving him a glimpse of fleeting hope. But not long after, the person who helped him with the umbrella also died.

Even though he had avenged his great enemy, his heart felt empty and hollow.

No need to look for little sister anymore, because little sister had already died in his hands.

No need for revenge anymore, because both Wan Ronghua and Sword Ghost had died at the hands of the old Qiao family.

In his current state, his heart was filled with confusion.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, practicing the "Xumi Mountain King Sutra" over and over again. Unaware of the passing time, the eastern sky gradually turned pale.

The sky gradually brightened, with the rising sun casting a golden glow on the clouds, gradually illuminating the sky.

Fang Yuan opened his eyes, feeling slightly relieved of the heavy burden in his heart.

When a person is alive, they always have to find some purpose and direction for themselves.

As he looked at the rising sun, his heart still felt empty, but occasionally, he caught a glimpse of the retreating figure of an old man who was not particularly generous.

"It would be nice if I were part of Qiao’s family."

Fang is not his real last name. Fang Yuan’s biological father has the last name Qiao, but he’s just an ordinary person without much background.

Fang Yuan lowered his head and looked at the dried bloodstains on his hands.

"Even if my hands are stained with blood, even if I’ll be scorned by the world and labeled with shame… I still want to know what it feels like to shelter someone, to hold an umbrella for them."

He doesn’t aspire to be a righteous and heroic figure in the human world. He doesn’t have such noble ambitions.

It’s just that in the past, Qiao’s family had sheltered him with an umbrella, so he thought… if he could also become someone who shelters others, maybe the pain and emptiness in his heart would fade a little.

The morning light illuminated the sky, and the sound of roosters could be heard from outside the courtyard. Fang Yuan sat cross-legged on the ground, silently practicing.

………………

Two hours ago, when it was still dark.

Qiao Mu has escaped from his pursuers and is determined to rush towards the vegetable market.

This Death Assessment: C (You have died, but the mighty and wealthy will now consider you a taboo not to be messed with).

Lifespan consumed by death: 5 (two times 5 equals 10) years.

Remaining resurrection attempts this week: 3 out of 5.

Current age: 108 years old.

Vitality: 41%.

Skills: None.

Fragmented Virtual Finger (Intermediate level).

One death, followed by five years of arduous cultivation.

Memories became like a dream for Qiao Mu. In his memories, he practiced day and night, sweating profusely, and tasted the sweetness of "Fragmented Virtual Finger". He continued to practice hard and finally mastered Fragmented Virtual Finger to a small level of proficiency.

Now, he had a stronger control over his internal strength, allowing him to condense it even more. This extended the range of the Fragmented Virtual Finger’s long-distance attack to ten meters away.

Coming back to reality, Qiao Mu swiftly passed through the market and finally landed on the eaves. His gaze locked onto Qiao Zhong’s head stuck on the wooden stake.

Qiao Shuanglin, who had already been proven innocent, remained silent.

But Emperor Yonghe considered Qiao Zhong a traitor. His severed head was displayed in the market for many days, even with special preservation to delay decomposition.

Qiao Mu was not afraid of taboos when it came to corpses.

Even if Qiao Zhong’s head continued to be displayed in the market for half a month, it would not make him unhappy.

But since the Qiao family members have set up the plot of seeking revenge on their blood relatives, it is only right and logical for him to make a trip to the market and take away the head of Qiao Zhong, who is a "descendant of the family."

Just as Qiao Mu was about to take action.

A rainbow light came down from the sky and hung in the air. It was Dao Zhen, a disciple of the Great Dao Sect.

"Okay, it seems like the Qiao family’s martial artists are strong and unyielding. They can’t be defeated. Even this Dao Zhen knows I’m going to the market to collect heads."

Qiao Mu felt helpless, and stretched his muscles. He placed his hand on the sword sheath at his waist.

"Elder Lao, please don’t be in a hurry," Dao Zhen smiled and raised his hands, indicating that he had no intention of attacking.

Dao Zhen was very curious about the Qiao family.

At first, he was just interested and casually observed those among ordinary people who showed extraordinary determination.

Whether it was the Qiao family, Hai Wuya in the heavenly prison, or Qin Shiqing who killed his wife to achieve enlightenment, they were all extraordinary in his eyes and worth observing closely.

After a few failed attempts to use Soul Capturing Technique, he sensed that something was wrong.

Naturally, Soul Capturing Technique couldn’t be successful every time. There was indeed a possibility of failure.

After failing three times in a row, he came up with a more interesting idea.

"Don’t be too quick to attack. It would be meaningless for you to die by my hands, Qiao’s family. You deserve a more meaningful way of dying," he smiled.

"If you dare, why not let me show you a spectacular path to death?"

Qiao Mu blinked his eyes in interest, but still had a cold smile on his face.

"What? Are you suggesting that I sneak into the palace at night?"

"What does it matter to you why I fight, why I die?"

Dao Zhen couldn’t figure out the thoughts of this person and instinctively questioned, not wanting to follow the path pointed out by the other side.

Who knows what this person is plotting in his mind?

"Sneaking into the palace at night? That sounds interesting," Dao Zhen actually pondered it seriously.

"If you really want to sneak into the palace at night, it can be done. I can show you the way."

"This could also be a way to meet your demise. But are you really willing to die like this? If you are a true hero who values honor over life and death, you should have other options."

Qiao Mu frowned, wondering if this cultivator was using a provocation technique.

He speculated that as a member of Qiao’s family, who feared neither life nor death, he was preparing to entice him with something.

"Why don’t you tell me about it?" he asked.

"Forty years ago, during the Inhuman War that shook Jiu Province, there was another hidden story," Dao Zhen smiled.

"The world only knows that the entire army of the Great Yan Imperial Court, consisting of a hundred thousand elites, was annihilated, with only one Martial Saint surviving. But they don’t know that it was actually a deception."

"What if I told you that there are other survivors among those hundred thousand elites, still fighting in the depths of the Immortal Gate to this day?"

"Qiao’s family has always valued honor over life and death. If you are a true hero, are you willing to go to that place of certain death and meet the remnants of the ancient army who have been resisting all this time?"

Dao Zhen held his chin and carefully observed Qiao Mu’s expression.

Although Qiao’s family had already gained a reputation, the family name couldn’t represent a person’s character, so he asked this question.