Obtaining Top Art on Family's Extermination Night

Watching Fang Shuwen so skillfully pull on the Deer Hide Gloves, both Chen Yan and Lin Fan felt their lips twitch.

This was especially true for Lin Fan.

From what he’d seen of Fang Shuwen’s style, the man was outrageously bold, and his martial arts were truly exceptional.

So, he had subconsciously assumed Fang Shuwen was the type of person who looked down on everyone, acted without restraint, and feared nothing in the world.

Even when facing Ye Wufeng, he had dared to ask for the location of the Sword God Palace, planning to go settle a score.

But now, faced with a letter of unknown origin, he had suddenly become cautious.

Lin Fan couldn’t tell if Fang Shuwen was bold or timid.

Fang Shuwen paid no mind to what the others were thinking. After taking the letter, he examined it closely before cautiously opening it.

’Since the other party paid the bill for our group, they must know who we are.’

’If they intended to harm us, poisoning the letter would be an almost indefensible move.’

’When dealing with something of unknown origin like this, one could never be too careful.’

However, it seemed the letter wasn’t poisoned. He took out the note inside and slowly unfolded it. But after reading it, he didn’t, as the waiter had claimed, understand everything.

It contained only a single sentence: Qifun Workshop on Ancient Tree Street awaits your presence.

"Qifun Workshop... What kind of place is that?"

Fang Shuwen was puzzled.

Hearing this, Chen Yan suddenly smiled.

"What did you arrange with the Golden Bell Tower earlier?"

Fang Shuwen glanced at him. ’Mentioning the Golden Bell Tower at a time like this... Could Qifun Workshop be the Golden Bell Tower’s branch in Pojun City?’

He explained the arrangement he had made with Xiao Yanyu, and Chen Yan nodded.

"It seems they couldn’t wait any longer. After discovering your tracks in Pojun City, they’ve taken the initiative to invite you to their door."

"So, what’s the verdict? Are we going?"

"We’re going."

Fang Shuwen said with a smile,

"I would have gone even without an invitation, and besides, they treated us to a meal."

Chen Yan nodded without a word. Fang Lingxin and Shui Qianrou naturally deferred to Fang Shuwen’s decision.

Lin Fan pondered for a moment, then cupped his fist and said,

"Thank you for your hospitality today. I have other matters to attend to, so I must take my leave now."

Fang Shuwen glanced at him.

"Are you in Pojun City for the Seven-String Ancient Chapter?"

Lin Fan’s body stiffened slightly, as if he didn’t know how to respond.

But Fang Shuwen continued,

"If you are, I’d advise you not to waste your efforts. The true effects of that item are still unknown."

"At any rate, I can’t see anything profound about it... Wasting so much effort and taking such risks for an object of unknown purpose could very well leave you with nothing to show for it."

’A certain Lion King would have the most to say on this matter. He killed so many people, expended so much effort to obtain the Dragon-slaying Saber, thinking he could use it to command the Jianghu... but in reality, what was hidden inside was Wumu’s Legacy.’

’There’s just no making sense of it...’

"...Thank you for the advice."

Lin Fan cupped his fist to Fang Shuwen once more, then turned and left.

Fang Lingxin watched his retreating back, a baffled expression on her face. ’We’re his saviors, so why is he acting like we’re complete strangers now?’

As the group walked out of Langhuan Restaurant, Chen Yan watched Lin Fan’s back disappear into the crowd and shook his head gently.

"It’s a tragic story. Such a large family, and overnight, he was the only one left."

"He was a perfectly fine young master, yet he’s been forced to struggle and scrape by in the Jianghu."

"To make matters worse, his enemy’s strength is far from ordinary. In his current state, even with the Purple Nether Sword in hand, revenge is all but impossible."

Fang Lingxin was startled to hear this.

"His enemy is that powerful?"

"Mm."

Chen Yan nodded but didn’t say who the enemy was.

Fang Lingxin’s brow furrowed slightly.

"Then... how can he ever get his revenge?"

"It’s hard to say. He’s probably seeking the Seven-String Ancient Chapter because of its legend, hoping he might gain some kind of insight from it."

"If he could obtain a legendary martial art and master it with the Purple Nether Sword, and you give him another ten years, he might actually have a chance."

"Ten years..."

Fang Lingxin was stunned.

"Of course, if he doesn’t want to wait, it’s not like there are no other options."

"What other options?"

"He could ask your master to help, of course."

Chen Yan said,

"His enemy may be powerful, but your master is no weakling either. If they were to clash, the outcome would be uncertain, but it’s a far better chance than he has on his own."

"No!"

Fang Lingxin shook her head instinctively.

Though she was worried about Lin Fan, she was unwilling to ask Fang Shuwen to risk his life for him.

She didn’t want Fang Shuwen to put himself in danger over this matter.

Chen Yan gave Fang Lingxin a thoughtful look, then glanced at Fang Shuwen walking ahead of them. He suddenly lowered his voice and asked,

"How did you and your master meet?"

Just as Fang Lingxin was about to answer, Fang Shuwen called out from up ahead,

"Brother Chen, where is this Ancient Tree Street? You’ll have to lead the way."

Chen Yan called back in acknowledgment, a slight smile playing on his lips, and didn’t press his question.

Fang Shuwen, meanwhile, sighed internally. ’Chen Yan is already suspicious. That kid has a sharp eye; the first time he saw me and Fang Lingxin, he noticed our resemblance.’

’It was something even Fang Mingxuan had never noticed.’

’Not that I can blame Fang Mingxuan. For one, while the resemblance is there, it isn’t obvious.’

’For another, there are so many different kinds of people in this world; it’s hard to make that kind of leap just because of a slight similarity in appearance.’

’Over the years, he has even met many people my age, some of whom resembled him more than I do, but they never turned out to be his son.’

’Besides, from his perspective, his son was just an infant in swaddling clothes when he was lost. If he had been adopted, he would surely have taken on his new family’s surname.’

’The chances of him sharing the same surname were slim to none.’