Obtaining Top Art on Family's Extermination Night

At that thought, he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. His gaze swept across the courtyard one more time before he spoke in a low voice:

"You may not know this, but the reason the Eldest Young Master left Celestial Water Palace was because of the Young Palace Master.

"If you let him know the Young Palace Master is here, he will never show up."

"Is there bad blood between them?"

Fang Shuwen asked.

"No."

Ironman sighed.

"It’s just that the Eldest Young Master harbors some resentment.

"Whether in terms of intelligence or Martial Arts, he is far superior to the Young Palace Master, but... Celestial Water Palace passes its leadership to women, not men. Even if he were a million times stronger than her, the Young Palace Master’s title would still never be his.

"So this time, he left Celestial Water Palace and came to the Eastern Domain to seek the Seven-String Ancient Chapter, all because he wants to strike out on his own.

"He won’t meet with the Young Palace Master before then."

This explanation didn’t surprise Fang Shuwen. When Shui Qianrou had told him about Shui Qianliu earlier, Fang Shuwen had already sensed something was amiss.

Back at the Celestial Wolf Institute, when Ironman and the others called Shui Qianrou "Young Palace Master" and Shui Qianliu "Eldest Young Master," he had already guessed most of it.

"What if Shui Qianrou’s life was in danger?"

Fang Shuwen suddenly asked.

"Setting aside their titles as Young Palace Master and Eldest Young Master, he is Shui Qianrou’s brother. If his own sister’s life was in danger, wouldn’t he come looking for her?"

"Well..."

Ironman was stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter laugh.

"You can’t set them aside."

"What’s the harm in trying?"

Fang Shuwen picked up his teacup and took a sip. The slightly bitter taste of the tea filled his mouth, but before he even swallowed, a fragrant aroma began to flow through it.

When he finally swallowed the tea, the aroma grew even stronger.

Ironman was silent for a moment before finally nodding.

"The Young Palace Master trusts you, but I hope you don’t betray that trust.

"More than that, I hope your cleverness doesn’t backfire."

Fang Shuwen glanced at him.

"You may go."

"Hmph!"

Ironman snorted coldly. He wanted to say a few threatening words but felt it would be useless.

Lost in thought, he walked toward the exit, heedless of his footing. Suddenly, the ground beneath him gave way...

"AARGH!"

Ironman cried out in alarm, instinctively looking back at Fang Shuwen.

He saw Fang Shuwen raise an eyebrow slightly.

"Can a person really fall into the same pit twice?"

"..."

Ironman felt his breathing grow heavy. He scrambled to his feet. ’This Fang Shuwen is just ridiculous!’ he thought.

’Fine, be arrogant with the Young Palace Master’s backing.

’But digging a pit by the door to trap people? How outrageous!!’

Just as he was about to stride away, he heard Fang Shuwen speak again.

"Close the door. It’s too windy."

Ironman stepped over the pit, closed the main door, and his footsteps gradually faded away.

Fang Shuwen silently watched the closed door, his brow furrowing even deeper.

As the sun gradually shifted west, Shui Qianrou and Fang Lingxin came out of their room.

By the looks of it, Shui Qianrou’s condition had improved considerably, but she seemed anxious, pacing back and forth in the courtyard.

Fang Lingxin had already done her best to comfort her, but unfortunately, some things couldn’t be fixed by comforting words alone.

Suddenly, a loud noise came from outside the gate. With a CRASH, the main door was thrown open, and a gray and white donkey charged in.

A figure spoiling for a fight was in hot pursuit, but just as he was about to cross the threshold, the ground beneath his feet suddenly gave way...

"AARGH!!"

Fang Shuwen, Fang Lingxin, and Shui Qianrou all turned to look at the entrance. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

They saw Chen Yan, whose face was already a mask of misery and bitterness, looking even more so now.

Fang Shuwen thought for a moment.

"You may rise."

"If the Court still controlled the world today, for those three words alone, you would have lost your head."

Chen Yan stood up with a dark expression, patting down his robes as if nothing had happened.

He glanced at the donkey, which had already found a spot to lie down. It looked back at him, calm and unperturbed, its eyes full of amusement.

Chen Yan gritted his teeth, itching to go fight that donkey to the death.

Fang Shuwen tried to dissuade him.

"That’s enough. Why lower yourself to a donkey’s level?"

"..."

Chen Yan was speechless. Looking into the donkey’s eyes, he fumed with anger.

Finally, with a dark face, he sat down across from Fang Shuwen, poured himself a cup of tea, and downed it in one gulp to calm himself.

Fang Shuwen asked with a smile,

"See anything interesting while you were out today?"

"I did not."

Chen Yan let out a long breath.

"Pojun City is filled with all sorts of characters right now, but before the Flower-Picking Conference, all sides will exercise restraint.

"Even those with grudges against each other won’t make a move at this time.

"After all, if someone stirs up trouble and makes Dong Wuyou cancel the Flower-Picking Conference, the people gathered in Pojun City would probably eat the culprit alive."

Fang Shuwen nodded.

"What’s for dinner?"

"Let’s have roast!!!"

...

...

Of course, they weren’t having roast. In the end, dinner was delivered by Xiao Yanyu.

However, when she reached the door, she too nearly fell into the trap.

After leading her people to set down the dazzling array of dishes, she took her leave. As she left, she couldn’t help but keep looking back, puzzled. ’I didn’t see this pit when I came at noon,’ she wondered.

’Could Fang Shuwen have dug this?’

But she didn’t dare to ask directly... In the end, she could only leave, her mind full of questions.

When Ironman returned again, he had finally learned his lesson.

He didn’t use the main gate, but climbed directly over the wall instead.

As soon as Shui Qianrou saw him, she immediately asked:

"Any news?"

Ironman nodded, took an object out from his robes, and handed it to Shui Qianrou.

Shui Qianrou was overjoyed after reading it.

She then hurried to show it to Fang Shuwen.

It was a slip of paper. It was damaged, as if pierced by a dart or something similar. A single line was written on it: "Tonight at midnight, the withered woods by the north gate."

The corner of Fang Shuwen’s mouth twitched.

"What’s with everyone using paper slips to pass messages?

"Is this... your brother’s handwriting?"