"Fang Yuan, congratulations on reaching Rank 1 Upper Stage," the academy elder said two days after the trip had ended. It had been quite fruitful for Fang Yuan, if not for anyone else. The prize of thirty primeval stones was graciously accepted by Fang Yuan as the others seethed.
'How did brother reach Rank 1 Upper Stage so fast? I thought he was still refining his second gu worm...' Fang Zheng thought. 'Unless... he was pretending to be behind? Elder brother, you're too crafty!' To straightforward Fang Zheng, such a strategy was unfathomable. If anything, he was the type to brag to anyone and everyone about his progress.
The academy elder clicked his tongue- Fang Yuan had pulled ahead yet again! Still, there was nothing more he could do but praise him. "Well done, as expected of the class president. The rest of you, continue to work hard! The mid-year examination will be approaching soon, and this is an excellent opportunity for all of you to show your skills. This year's task will be hunting for wild boar. You may team up in teams as big as three if you wish, and for each boar tusk you obtain, you will get ten primeval stones." Boar tusks were somewhat valuable, but could only fetch one or two primeval stones at most. This was an opportunity for many of them to earn some extra money.
Excited chatter immediately erupted from the student body like the buzzing of a giant beehive.
'This exam is different- is it because of my regression and changing things?" Fang Yuan thought. The task had been to gather honey, as far as he knew. However, this was ultimately good for him. He could gather meat and primeval stones in one fell swoop!
"Do you want to team up?" Yu Sai asked Li Mei. Both of them were trash D-grade talents, and would be hard-pressed to show a good performance on their lonesome. Li Mei hadn't forgotten about how Yu Sai had tried to peep on the other girls, but because they were part of the 'Fang Yuan Alliance' he likely felt that he had at least a moderately good chance of winning her over. The girls hated him, and many of the boys did as well (even if they secretly admired his guts) especially those who had taken a beating with him.
Li Mei sighed. 'How good would it be if I could be paired with the class president... but that's all just a pipe dream.' The four big shots would all be working alone and competing against one another. Because of that, she agreed.
However, even for this contest Fang Yuan was still a favorite to win. He had won everything flawlessly up to this point, and by now, an image of invincibility had been carved into the student body's minds. Even those like Mo Bei and Chi Chen were somewhat demoralized by his success.
There was someone who was having an even harder time because of Fang Yuan's success though- his uncle!
Uncle had ran into several problems lately. For one, people had taken Fang Yuan's comments that he had trained him quite seriously, and because of this random people kept approaching him on the street or when he was outside.
"Sir!" a very muscular Gu Master once asked him in a tavern. "I would like to challenge you to a martial arts contest!"
Uncle began sweating heavily. If he fought this man, he would certainly lose, and so, he took the man aside and said, "Ah, whatever issue you have with me, I'm sure we can resolve it without fighting. If you're in need of primeval stones..."
"No, no," the man said. "I'm not here because I am eyeing your assets! No, I merelly wish to improve myself by challenging the strongest martial artists the village has to offer!"
"Why are you challenging me then..."
"I have heard great praise from the martial arts instructor about the teacher of his best student- Fang Yuan! I wished to see your skill for myself!"
"Ah, no that's not true at all," Uncle said. "I... I don't have much talent when it comes to martial arts."
"Please, there is no need for Sir to be humble. I merely wish to fight a simple bought with you..."
If Uncle fought a bought, he would absolutely be crushed. And sensing weakness, after that, people who were after his assets would soon pop out of the woodwork to challenge him. He couldn't draw attention to himself like that.
"No, no, you misunderstand, I uh, was skilled back in my day but... after my injury and the loss of my Rank 3 cultivation my physical abilities were also sadly weakened... I can do nothing but train the next generation now and I'm afraid I would only disappoint you..."
"Is that so?"
The man left, but that was not the end of Uncle's worries.
Two days later, a man approached him with his son, about ten years old. "Sir! I would like you to train my son in martial arts! He is quite talented, and I wanted to find the best teacher for him, and so we have come to you!"
"Ah no.... my days of teaching are long behind me..." Uncle said wearily.
"Don't worry, Father," the kid said. "I know- this is how martial arts stories always work! The old master refuses to teach his disciple, until he challenges him. What do you want as a test? To take a pebble from your hand? Or to pluck a feather from your belt? Or a direct spar?" The kid, in a rush of exuberance, kicked Uncle in the shin, expecting him to block it.
Uncle would've beaten the kid on the spot if his father wasn't there! His knee still hurt from that incident.
Uncle confronted Fang Yuan about this while the latter was out and about. "Fang Yuan, stop spreading lies and slander about me!"
"Lies and slander? What are you talking about? This filial nephew is only trying to give Uncle some face."
"Filial my foot! If you were truly filial you would've given up on the inheritance! And please... stop giving me face!" Uncle said.
It was of little use, however. People knew the relationship between Fang Yuan and Uncle was not good- meaning that they took his praise to be the real thing. If Fang Yuan had said negative things about Uncle, it would be easy to dismiss- but praise from an enemy had to be genuine, no? Not to mention people assumed that someone had had to have trained Fang Yuan, and who else could've done so?
He could dispel their notions by losing, but how would he show his face to the village then? And then he would get a reputation as someone who was easy to bully. He could kiss the assets he had gotten from Fang Yuan's parents goodbye then.
It had gotten to the point where Uncle avoided leaving the house.
He had a bigger worry though- it seemed that Fang Yuan had not made a mistake, and was even rising in ranks rapidly.
If Fang Yuan was still a C-grade talent, Uncle wouldn't have been as worried as Fang Yuan would be easily dealt with. But with his 'B-grade talent', Uncle was under a large amount of pressure.
He tossed and turned in bed for many nights, losing sleep over it. One solution came to mind- only one, but did he really want to go down that route?
The more he thought about it, the more his stomach turned. But, he knew that not only his fortune, but his life would be in peril if Fang Yuan was allowed to advance. If Fang Yuan became an elder wouldn't that be the end for him and his wife? At the very least, they would lose all of their inheritance. As for Fang Zheng, he would be led astray by Shen Cui- that girl had a tight hold upon him, and that meant that Fang Zheng would eventually leave. What would they do without his direct protection, or if Fang Yuan struck at them before Fang Zheng could retaliate?
He was already in this state, it would only get worse as time passed.
'This is just self defense...' he thought to himself, finally steeling his resolve. He had to do what he had to do.
He had to kill Fang Yuan!