Chapter 266: Gu Yuanzong

Alliance Leader?!!!

The expression on Fang Shaoyi's face could no longer be described in words; the combination of these two words with the identity of the person before him was simply too shocking!

Who could have imagined it?! And who would have thought it?!

The Alliance Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance was actually the same person as the Gu Family Head!

No wonder the incident with the Fang Family caused such a stir, yet the Inspection Division didn't send a single soldier or officer, and didn't even ask a single question!

In Jinling, besides this big shot before him, there was no one else who could make the Inspection Division sell a favor and give face!

"To think it would be like this..."

Fang Shaoyi's voice was hoarse and trembling, like a whisper squeezed from the depths of his throat, carrying a trace of incredulous horror.

His lips parted slightly, and his breathing became rapid, as if every breath was an effort to digest this shocking fact.

"Fang Family Head, no need to be nervous. Sit down and let's talk."

Gu Yuanzong's smile remained gentle throughout, though to Fang Shaoyi, that gentleness was the benevolence and pity of a superior.

Fang Shaoyi sat upright, facing Gu Yuanzong across the desk.

Gu Yuanzong smiled and said, "The Fang Family has suffered such a great disaster and is in ruins; I imagine the Fang Family Head must be having a very difficult time right now."

"Many thanks for your concern, my lord. I can still manage; I will definitely not hold you back."

Fang Shaoyi replied cautiously.

"I naturally trust in the Fang Family Head's abilities."

Gu Yuanzong said, "The specific dealings between the Fang Family and the Gu Family will be clarified to you by Xuanwu. Additionally, I will specifically instruct that five thousand Pills be given to the Fang Family to help your people cultivate and return to their peak."

Upon hearing the word "Pill," Fang Shaoyi's brow twitched inadvertently, and he said, "Many thanks, my lord."

"Oh, right. How many people in the Fang Family currently have profound cultivation or, shall we say, special constitutions?"

Gu Yuanzong asked again.

This time, Xuanwu answered first: "My lord, the Fang Family Head's granddaughter, I think she is quite good."

Fang Shaoyi's body jolted violently, and he explained, "That is an orphan I picked up when I was traveling in my youth; her aptitude is mediocre, and she is hardly of much use."

"The Fang Family Head is being modest. Since she is good, then let her cultivate well and take more Pills. I will certainly make arrangements to put her to good use."

Gu Yuanzong said with a smile, though that smile held unfathomable thoughts.

Fang Shaoyi wanted to say something more, but Gu Yuanzong did not give him the chance.

"Alright, Fang Family Head, tell me now about the process of Zhuque's death."

Gu Yuanzong said again.

Fang Shaoyi had no choice but to swallow the words on the tip of his tongue and repeat the prepared story he had already told Xuanwu.

After listening, Gu Yuanzong did not say much, only looking deep in thought for a moment with a profound gaze.

"You have worked hard, Fang Family Head. I understand the situation now, and I believe the Fang Family will certainly return to its peak."

Gu Yuanzong said.

Fang Shaoyi understood that he could not stay any longer, so he stood up, bowed, and left the Gu Family compound under Xuanwu's guidance.

When Xuanwu returned to the room, Gu Yuanzong was sitting in his chair, wondering what he was thinking about.

"My lord, Fang Shaoyi's life is now in my hands; he will not lie."

Xuanwu said.

Gu Yuanzong nodded and said, "I am just suspicious. From the destruction of the Shanghai branch to Zhuque's death, and those mysterious people... I keep feeling that these events are connected."

"Are you implying that someone is deliberately targeting us?"

Xuanwu pondered, "Someone with this ability and courage... could it be Beijing?"

"No."

Gu Yuanzong shook his head and said, "If it were truly an order from Beijing, it would be impossible for me not to have heard even a whisper of it."

"Then what do you mean?"

Xuanwu asked for instructions.

"Zhuque must have known something, but it is a pity he is already dead. I will leave the investigation to you."

Gu Yuanzong remembered something else and instructed, "Also, the night of the full moon is approaching. The Fang Family and the other families must not have any more problems before then. Furthermore, increase their supply of Pills. You, along with Azure Dragon and White Tiger, keep a personal watch on them."

In short, before the Ritual is completed, I will not allow anything else to happen."

"Yes!"

…………

"Master, Fang Yuying of the Fang Family says she has something she needs to tell you in person."

When Chen Che received the call from Shen Qi, he had just finished his daily cultivation.

Several days had passed since the incident with the Fang Family, and the three senior sisters, Li Qingyan, Cheng Kexin, and Song Jinhe, had all left according to their previous plans.

Su Xiao had also asked Shen Qi to find her a quiet place to cultivate, just like Song Jinhe.

Chen Che had spent these past few days at his residence, cultivating to heal the injuries he sustained at the Fang Family while waiting to see how things would develop.

"Bring her over."

Chen Che hung up the phone and stretched. After a morning of meditation, he was covered in sweat, but fortunately, his injuries had already healed.

Now, thanks to the help of Su Xiao's blood from the previous few times, the Great Red Sun Poison had clearly weakened, and the strength he could exert had stabilized at the Post-Heaven Earth Master level.

Chen Che got out of bed, opened the window to let in some air, took a shower in the bathroom, and then went to the kitchen to find something to eat.

Passing through the living room, he found that Shen Qi and Fang Yuying were already waiting there.

"Master, we saw you were showering just now, so we waited here for you."

Shen Qi explained.

Chen Che nodded, glanced at Fang Yuying, and said, "Miss Fang, please sit."

After speaking, Chen Che dismissed the idea of going to the kitchen and sat directly on the sofa, gesturing for Fang Yuying to sit down.

Fang Yuying stared at him blankly, looking somewhat dumbfounded, and for a moment, she did not hear what Chen Che had said.

Because Chen Che had just come out of the bathroom, his body still carried a fresh mist of water; his hair was damp, with a few strands hanging casually over his forehead, and water droplets slid from the tips of his hair from time to time, gliding down his handsome face, adding a touch of uninhibited charm.

He leaned back on the sofa, his eyes carrying a hint of languor, as if the bath he had just taken had relaxed him to the extreme. He was casually draped in a loose bathrobe, the belt tied loosely, revealing his sturdy chest and the faintly visible lines of his abdominal muscles.

The fabric of the bathrobe swayed gently with his movements, revealing a casual and natural temperament. His skin appeared healthy and lustrous from being soaked in hot water, as if every inch of his skin was telling of his vitality.

Seeing Fang Yuying frozen in place, Chen Che looked up at her, a casual smile hanging on the corners of his mouth—a confident and dashing smile that made one involuntarily drawn to his charm.

For a moment, Fang Yuying was even more entranced!

"Is it good to look at?"

Chen Che asked playfully.

Fang Yuying quickly shifted her gaze away from Chen Che, not knowing if she had been teased by this remark or startled by his casual handsomeness and dash.

A flush of youthful shyness appeared on her face, the kind of bashfulness unique to a young girl who had not yet experienced the world.

Her fingers lightly rubbed the corner of her clothes; this small gesture revealed her nervousness and unease. Her breathing was light and rapid, and every inhalation seemed like an effort to suppress the turbulence in her heart.

Chen Che was not in a hurry either; he waited quietly for her to calm down, and took this opportunity to look her over carefully.

Fang Yuying's hair was dark and thick, draped smoothly over her shoulders without excessive decoration, simple and natural, just like her pure and flawless personality.

Her attire was simple, without excessive adornment, yet it still could not hide her natural beauty. Her demeanor revealed an innocent temperament that made one want to protect her.

"That... that..."

Fang Yuying finally realized her lapse in composure; she lowered her head gently, but the flush on her face became even more pronounced.

Her voice swirled in her throat; she seemed to want to say something, but found it difficult to speak due to shyness.

Her age was similar to Chen Che's, but because she had spent years in seclusion practicing with Fang Shaoyi, she had not had much contact with the outside world.

Therefore, this youthful and inexperienced temperament of hers made one feel a special kind of innocence and beauty, like the early morning of early summer, carrying the freshness and vitality of dew.

"Is there something Miss Fang needs from me?"

Seeing her stammering, Chen Che chuckled and had to ask; as he spoke, his arm rested casually on his waist, the muscle lines appearing and disappearing under the light, inadvertently showcasing his sense of power.

That night, I only saw his face and it was already very good-looking; observing him from such a close distance today, how could he be so stunning?!

It's over, it's over, my heart is beating so fast!

Fang Yuying's mind was in a mess, and she almost forgot the purpose of her visit. She swallowed hard and said, "Great-grandfather asked me to come find you, today..."

Fang Yuying recounted the matter of Xuanwu going to the Fang Family from beginning to end.