Chapter 4: Withdrawing from the Affair

Looking at Liu Tongshu’s corpse on the ground, Fang Qingyuan felt no particular sympathy, even though he had originally hoped to befriend the man.

Perhaps it was because Liu Tongshu was injured, or maybe it was the unique fluctuations from the Earth Escape Talisman, but Fang Qingyuan had detected him the moment he snuck in.

He had to admit, high-grade talismans were incredibly effective. With just two single-use, high-grade talismans, Liu Tongshu, a late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator, had been killed on the spot.

First, he used a Mist Flowing Shadow-dwelling Talisman to conceal his presence and cloud Liu Tongshu’s senses, then launched a sneak attack with a Nine Luminaries Dragon Abyss Sword Talisman. It was simple, but effective.

The only pity was that these two talismans were worth at least two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. If Fang Qingyuan had to earn that back from his ferrying job, who knows how many years it would take.

He could only hope Liu Tongshu’s storage pouch contained something valuable; otherwise, he would have taken a serious loss.

Just as Fang Qingyuan formed a hand of Spiritual Power to retrieve Liu Tongshu’s storage pouch, Lao Bai returned.

Not only had he returned, but he was also carrying the corpse of a Cultivator. Fang Qingyuan went over for a look and found the face somewhat familiar.

After a moment’s thought, Fang Qingyuan recognized him as Liu Tongwen, who had dined with them at the Liu Family’s home the previous night. With him and Liu Tongshu on the ground, two of the Liu Family’s only three late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators had now died by his hand.

He took Liu Tongwen’s storage pouch as well and stored it away. Not knowing how many more pursuers from the Liu Family might be on their way, Fang Qingyuan didn’t want to linger. He called out to Lao Bai, who understood immediately and, carrying Fang Qingyuan and Huo Xiaolan, resumed the journey back to the mountain.

On the way back this time, Fang Qingyuan sensed no more pursuers from the Liu Family. After arriving at Celestial Gate Mountain, he took the unconscious Huo Xiaolan to see Lechuan directly.

"What? Infant theft?"

Lechuan shielded the area from other disciples. Even he couldn’t help but lose his composure upon hearing the news. He never imagined that Fang Qingyuan, who had just taken up his post, would bring him such a massive "surprise."

Fang Qingyuan then said in a low voice:

"I don’t know much either. The only witness is still unconscious. As for how to handle this, I ask for your decision, Dean."

Lechuan paced back and forth. Looking at the unconscious Huo Xiaolan, he raised a hand and drew her toward his palm, preparing to perform a Soul Search. Yet, just as his hand touched her forehead, he stopped.

Seeing Lechuan’s hesitation, Fang Qingyuan knew what he was worried about. Infant theft was a major taboo for the Great Zhou Academy, and Lechuan clearly didn’t want to get involved.

After hesitating for a moment, Lechuan tossed Huo Xiaolan back to Fang Qingyuan and said:

"Take her away for now to rest and heal. Don’t let anyone else know about this. When the people from the Great Zhou Academy arrive, hand her over to them. This matter has nothing to do with our Beast Taming Mountain. If anyone is to be held accountable, it should be the Wei Family."

Hearing Lechuan’s orders, Fang Qingyuan couldn’t have been happier. He had only stumbled upon this mess by chance; he certainly never wanted to get involved.

But before leaving, Fang Qingyuan couldn’t help but ask:

"About my position as Sea Patrol... may I resign?"

’I’ve only just started, and it’s already this dangerous and stirred up so much trouble.’ Fang Qingyuan was deeply worried about what other, even greater, dangers might be waiting for him.

He possessed the Immortal Mansion and could even alter his aptitude. As long as he focused on his training, becoming a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was a certainty. He even had a chance at reaching the Golden Core realm. It wasn’t worth fighting to the death for some trivial short-term gains.

Only by staying alive and safe was there a future. After this incident, any thought Fang Qingyuan had of obtaining some minor post within the sect had vanished completely. Now, all he wanted was to cultivate in peace.

Lechuan stared at Fang Qingyuan, a hint of disappointment on his face, before slowly saying:

"In this matter, you have performed a service and are without fault. This issue would have come to light sooner or later. The Wei Family has only just left, so they can’t escape responsibility. If this had blown up after we had fully taken over, we would have been in a passive position.

For now, you look after this witness. We’ll discuss everything else after this is resolved. At that time, if you still don’t wish to continue in your post, you won’t have to."

Having spoken, Lechuan waved his hand, dismissing Fang Qingyuan. But as Fang Qingyuan carried Huo Xiaolan out of the main hall, he heard Lechuan mutter to himself from within:

’You crafty Wei Tong... setting a trap for me here.’

Three days later, people from the Great Zhou Academy arrived. After Fang Qingyuan handed Huo Xiaolan over to them to be taken away, he himself was questioned several more times about the course of events.

Fortunately, as Fang Qingyuan was a disciple of Beast Taming Mountain and also the one who reported the crime, the Great Zhou Academy did not perform a Soul Search on him.

The members of the Liu Family, however, were not so lucky. Fang Qingyuan later learned that all of the Liu Family’s Cultivators had been taken away by the Great Zhou Academy. It was estimated that once judgment was passed, they would be sent to mine in a newly opened Land Realm.

The environments in newly opened Land Realms were incredibly harsh, and ordinary Cultivators were unwilling to go there. The Great Zhou Academy often populated these places with criminal Cultivator Clans, treating it as another form of "reform."

In addition to the Cultivators, the mortals who relied on the Liu Family for protection would also be relocated and sent away along with them.

In just over a month, the Minshan Liu Family had become history. Their vast territory was now empty and desolate.

It wasn’t that other families didn’t covet this spiritual land, but the Great Zhou Academy forbade it, as they planned to move another Cultivator Clan to Minshan.

The Central Plains were dangerously overcrowded, with three or four sects often crammed onto a single spiritual land. This led to constant conflict and infighting, which was an endless headache for the Great Zhou Academy.

Consequently, every year the Great Zhou Academy would relocate sects from the Central Plains to the surrounding regions to alleviate the pressure.

But none of this had anything to do with Fang Qingyuan anymore. After handing the still-unconscious Huo Xiaolan over to the Great Zhou Academy, he resigned from his post as the Southern Sea Patrol and returned to Tianshan Villa.

Tianshan Villa was quite deserted now. Most of his fellow disciples from the past had moved to Celestial Gate Mountain.

Celestial Gate Mountain was a third-rank top-grade spiritual land, which was far superior to the villa’s second-rank middle-grade spiritual land. With a better place to cultivate, it was only natural that his fellow disciples were unwilling to return.

After bidding farewell to Lao Bai, Fang Qingyuan took his Camel Skate and returned to the small courtyard he hadn’t seen in a long time.

The vegetables in the courtyard, having been left untended, had grown wild and luxuriant. The few Pig Fish in the pond had also grown much fatter.

He picked some vegetables, stewed the Pig Fish, and steamed a bowl of rice. After eating his fill, Fang Qingyuan lay down on his bed and let out a contented sigh.

His own little nest was truly the most comfortable place. For the past few months, he hadn’t had a proper rest—first, he’d followed the Wei Family to fight at Shandu, then he’d been ordered to transport mortals, and finally, he’d been dragged into the infant theft case.

Reflecting on the events of the past few months, Fang Qingyuan couldn’t help but sigh. All that running around, year after year, just for a few Spirit Stones. Withdrawing from it all now was the wisest move.

Although Lechuan was in dire need of people right now, and a good performance could have earned him some status in the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, none of those achievements were more important than advancing his own cultivation.

Cultivation was the foundation; worldly affairs could only slow down his training. After these recent experiences, Fang Qingyuan had come to understand some things more clearly.

With this thought in mind, Fang Qingyuan closed his eyes and began his daily meditation and cultivation.