Their mutual stubbornness, the distance of a single flight of stairs, seemed to herald the growing rift between the two brothers.
The conversation was unpleasant.
"Big brother, you've gone too far! I never thought you would be this kind of person!" Fang Zheng stood downstairs, frowning, and shouted angrily.
Fang Yuan was not angry, but instead chuckled lightly. "Oh? What kind of person am I?"
"Brother!" Fang Zheng let out a long sigh. "After our parents died, Uncle and Aunt adopted us. They raised us. I never thought you would be so ungrateful, biting the hand that feeds you. Brother, is your heart made of stone?"
As he spoke, Fang Zheng's voice was trembling slightly.
"How strange. This family property was always mine. How is it biting the hand that feeds you to take back what's mine?" Fang Yuan retorted calmly.
Fang Zheng gritted his teeth and nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes! I know this property was left by our parents. But you can't just take it all! You have to leave some for Uncle and Aunt to live on in their old age! What you're doing is heartbreaking. I look down on you!"
He paused for a moment, then continued, "Have you been home to see how the two of them are living now? The family has already dismissed more than half the servants because they can't afford them. Brother, how can you be so heartless!"
Fang Zheng's eyes were bloodshot. He clenched his fists tightly and shouted loudly at Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan couldn't help but sneer. He knew that over the years, while managing the family property, his uncle and aunt must have accumulated a large amount of wealth. Even if they hadn't, the monthly income from the tavern alone would definitely be enough to support those servants. The reason they were crying poor was simply to instigate Fang Zheng to come here and make a scene.
Fang Yuan sized up Fang Zheng with his gaze and decided to speak directly. "My lovely younger brother, if I insist on not returning it, what can you do about it? You're sixteen as well, but don't forget, you've already acknowledged them as your parents. You've lost the right to inherit the family property."
"I know!" A gleam of light flashed in Fang Zheng's eyes. "That's why I came to challenge you to a Gu battle. I'm going to challenge you. We'll settle this on the arena. If I win, please return a portion of the property to them."
In this world, Gu battles were akin to martial arts sparring or contests back on Earth.
If there were irreconcilable conflicts between clan members, they would solve the problem using this method. Gu battles were also divided into many types. There were single battles and double battles, civil battles and martial battles. There were also life-or-death battles.
Of course, if Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng were to fight, it wouldn't be serious enough to warrant a life-or-death battle.
Looking at his determined brother downstairs, Fang Yuan suddenly laughed. "It seems that your uncle and aunt gave you very specific instructions before you came here. But, as my defeated opponent, are you so confident you can beat me?"
Fang Zheng squinted his eyes, involuntarily recalling the humiliating scene on the arena not too long ago.
Ever since then, every time he thought about it, a surge of anger would well up in his heart. This anger was directed at both Fang Yuan and himself.
He hated himself for being so useless and panicking before the fight. In truth, he had performed poorly in that match. His momentum was stolen by Fang Yuan, and he only thought to use his White Jade Gu at the very last moment. In the end, he lost suddenly and very frustratingly.
This self-hatred in Fang Zheng gave rise to a powerful feeling of unwillingness.
And so, inevitably, came the thought, "If things could happen all over again, I could definitely perform better and beat my brother!"
So when his uncle and aunt complained to him, besides wanting to reclaim part of the property for them, Fang Zheng also wanted to have a public rematch with Fang Yuan to prove himself again.
"Times have changed, brother." Fang Zheng looked at Fang Yuan, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. "Last time, I was off my game and you won. This time, I have successfully refined the Rank 2 Gu worm, Moonlit Robe. You will never be able to break through my defense!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a hazy blue light emerged around his body.
This light enveloped him, gradually condensing into a long, fluttering sash.
The sash wrapped around his waist and back, coiling around his arms. The middle part of the sash fluttered high behind his head, giving Fang Zheng an ethereal and mysterious immortal aura.
"It really is the Moonlit Robe. How foolish, directly exposing your trump card like that." Fang Yuan stood upstairs, witnessing the scene, his eyes flickering.
The Moonlit Robe was a Rank 2 Gu worm, a defensive type. Although it was slightly inferior to the White Jade Gu in defense, it had the ability to help defend others, making a significant contribution to the entire team during group battles.
With this Gu, Fang Yuan really could no longer break his defense with just his fists. His punches would land like they were hitting thick cotton, completely losing their explosive power.
Even the Moonlight Gu wouldn't work, only the Moonbeam Gu. So if Fang Zheng really issued a challenge, according to the clan rules, Fang Yuan would have to accept. Without being able to reveal the White Jade Gu, Fang Yuan might actually lose.
An A-grade aptitude was an A-grade aptitude after all. With the clan leader's careful cultivation, Fang Zheng grew very quickly. If it was said that in the school, Fang Yuan suppressed Fang Zheng, now he had to admit that Fang Zheng had gradually bloomed with the brilliance of a genius, gradually posing a threat to Fang Yuan.
"But, did you think I hadn't anticipated this?" Fang Yuan looked down at his brother, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
He said to Fang Zheng, "My persistent little brother, of course you can challenge me. But did you ask your team members for their agreement? If your team happens to be assigned a mission during the challenge period, how will you make your choice?"
Fang Zheng was stunned. He really hadn't thought of this aspect.
He had to admit that his brother Fang Yuan made a lot of sense. A team had to act together. If a member wanted to act alone, they had to report it beforehand.
"So, why don't you go back, find your team leader, Gu Yue Qing Shu, and explain the situation. I'll be waiting for you at the tavern at the east gate," Fang Yuan said.
Fang Zheng hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth. "Brother, I'm going right now! But I have to tell you, stalling isn't going to work."
He arrived at Gu Yue Qing Shu's residence. A servant led him inside. Gu Yue Qing Shu was practicing with his Gu.
His figure moved nimbly across the practice field in his courtyard, turning and leaping with unmatched agility.