Even though he had inherited his parents' legacy, the time Fang Yuan had to accumulate wealth was still a bit too short.
He didn't cultivate Life Leaves every day either, as it consumed a great deal of time. Often, generating just nine leaves would take up the better part of a day.
Fang Yuan considered. The Red Iron She Li Gu would only be available for one day. To raise such a large sum of Yuan Stones in so short a time, the only method was to mortgage the tavern and bamboo building he held.
There was nothing to regret about that.
In a year, the Wolf Tide would come. In his memories, under the wolves' siege, Guye Stockade had teetered on the brink of collapse several times. The most perilous occasion — the main gate had even been breached. The clan head and the Elders had pinned down the Lightning Crown Wolf King while Gu Yue Qingshu sacrificed his life to plug the gate, barely stabilizing the situation.
The Wolf Tide would cause severe casualties among the three great families of Qing Mao Mountain. While it wouldn't quite leave nine out of ten households empty, at least half the population would be gone.
By then, with houses outnumbering people, what point would there be in renting out bamboo buildings? The tavern sat right by the eastern gate — who would dare drink at the front line? Even if someone wanted to, the tavern would have been requisitioned by the clan long ago and converted into a defensive tower.
Right now, many in the clan were greatly underestimating the severity of the Wolf Tide. At a time like this, if he could offload the tavern and bamboo building, he could actually get the best price.
"Wealth is merely external. One's own cultivation is what truly matters. However, selling to the clan would fetch a slightly lower price. Selling to a private individual would bring more. But who would happen to have such a large sum of money on hand? Who could afford to buy his bamboo building and tavern? Such a major deal couldn't be settled in a single meeting — both sides would need to inspect, haggle, and that would consume time. And he only had one day. Wait — perhaps there was someone who could..."
A flash of inspiration suddenly struck Fang Yuan, and he thought of a particular person.
This person was none other than his uncle, Guye Dongtu.
His uncle and aunt were shrewd and stingy. Over the past dozen or so years of running the tavern, the bamboo building, and selling Life Leaves, they must have accumulated a considerable fortune.
Moreover, this property had originally been managed by them — they knew it inside and out, which would save the time needed for inspection.
More critically, they themselves were now desperately in need of property to manage. No matter how much money they had, without income it was like water with no source — watching Yuan Stones dwindle day by day, anyone would grow anxious.
It could be said that his uncle and aunt were the most suitable trading partners at present.
With that thought, Fang Yuan hesitated no longer. He left the tree house and headed for Guye Dongtu's residence.
The one who opened the door for him was Shen Cui, his former maid.
"Ah — it's... it's you!" Seeing Fang Yuan, she was greatly startled.
Quickly, she realized her slip of the tongue and turned deathly pale with fear. Fang Yuan was now a Second Transformation Gu Master, while she was merely an ordinary mortal — the gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth.
What was more, Fang Yuan was the sort of ruthless man who dared to kill even a Mo Family servant, dismember the body, and send the remains back to the Mo Family.
"Your servant greets Young Master Fang Yuan. Welcome home, Young Master Fang Yuan." Shen Cui trembled with terror, her knees buckling as she sank to the ground.
"Home?" Fang Yuan stepped into the courtyard. He surveyed all that was familiar, a faint look of mockery crossing his face — not a trace of nostalgia or sentimentality.
After a year's absence, he had come here once more.
Compared to his memories, the place was noticeably more desolate. Just as Fang Zheng had said, some of the household servants had already been sold off or dismissed.
Fang Yuan's sudden arrival naturally alerted his uncle and aunt.
Nanny Shen, the housekeeper, rushed over first thing. Bowing obsequiously, she ushered Fang Yuan into the parlor and personally served him tea.
Fang Yuan settled into a chair and looked around the guest parlor.
Many pieces of furniture were missing, and the furnishings were far more sparse and shabby.
But this didn't mean his uncle and aunt were without savings.
"Guye Dongtu was still clever — this was his self-preservation. He had long since retired from active duty, and his combat strength had already plummeted. Most critically, losing the Nine-Leaf Life Grass meant he had lost his trump card for maintaining his network of connections and could no longer exert influence from the outside."
An innocent man becomes guilty when he holds a jade beyond his station.
After Fang Yuan inherited his legacy, it had aroused the envy and covetousness of many clansmen.
For his uncle and aunt, they faced the very same problem. The large sum of savings in their hands was both a blessing and a curse.
Keeping their wealth hidden — for them, that was the correct way to survive.
Just then, the sound of rapid footsteps came approaching.
The footsteps drew nearer and nearer, and his aunt appeared at the doorway.
"Fang Yuan, you actually dare to show your face here!" The moment she saw Fang Yuan, fury surged through her, and she screamed, "You ungrateful little wolf cub! Do you forget how we raised you? And this is how you treat us — do you have no conscience? Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?!"
"You still have the nerve to come here? The nerve to sit here and drink tea? You came specifically to gloat at our miserable state, didn't you? Well, now you've seen it — are you satisfied?!"
She jabbed a finger at Fang Yuan with one hand while the other rested on her hip, cursing like a fishwife.
Had it not been for Fang Yuan's striking Second Transformation Gu Master uniform reminding her of his status, she would likely have already lunged at him, clawing and pinching.
With his aunt pointing at him and showering him with abuse, Fang Yuan's expression didn't change — as if he hadn't heard a word.
After a year apart, his aunt's sallow face, though filled with rage and ferocity, could hardly conceal her haggardness.
She had switched to simple hemp clothing, and her hair ornaments were fewer. Without cosmetics, she looked sharp-faced and monkey-cheeked.
Fang Yuan reclaiming the family property had dealt a significant blow to her life.
Fang Yuan paid her tirade no mind whatsoever. Leisurely, he picked up his cup, took a sip of tea, and said in an unhurried tone, "I came today to sell the tavern and the bamboo building. I was wondering whether my uncle and aunt might be interested?"