Weishui Inner City, Fang Family.
As one of the Four Great Families of Weishui County, the Fang Family's prestige was naturally immense. The Fang Family's pavilions stood in rows, with exquisite gardens, waterside pavilions, exotic flowers, and rare plants, all showcasing luxury.
In a garden in the backyard of the Fang Family, an old man with white hair, like a gardener, was trimming branches and weeds, speaking casually.
"I heard Zuo Wumei died?"
"Yes, Old Ancestor, he died," a middle-aged man standing beside him respectfully replied.
"Who killed him?" The old man carefully trimmed a branch without even turning his head.
"It seems to be a Petty Officer Candidate from the Outer City's alleyways, named Chen something..." The man recalled, "Oh, right, Chen Ping'an. His Family background is clean; he's just an ordinary person. I heard he's not very old, just reached adulthood, and is already at the Qi and Blood Fifth Stage Realm. What do you think, Old Ancestor, should we try to win him over?"
The old man didn't reply but carefully snipped off the branch in front of him. After finishing, he slowly straightened his body.
"I can't control what happens outside, nor do I want to. I'm old; I just want to enjoy my old age in peace. Whether to win people over or absorb them into the Family is for the Family Head and the people of the Outer Hall to decide."
The old man chattered on, and the middle-aged man listened carefully, his body slightly bent.
"I can't control what happens outside, but I do want to talk about the people of the Family."
At this point, the old man's voice suddenly changed, as if he had become a different person.
"Zuo Wumei!"
"He's nothing more than a discarded disciple of the Shadowless Saber Sect. At his peak, he was only at the Inner Qi Second Level. Now, his Dantian is crippled, so at most, he's at the Inner Qi First Level, and a weaker tier at that. How dare such a person attempt to infiltrate my Fang Family at night?"
"Who gave him the guts!"
The old man's voice wasn't loud, but an indescribable aura of power instantly enveloped him.
"And! Such an incident occurred, and he actually managed to escape! Who were the Family members who acted at the time? Where were the others? I'd like to ask, what were they all doing?! A mere discarded disciple with a crippled Dantian dares to act so recklessly, coming and going as he pleases! First, the trade routes encountered setbacks, then this Zuo Wumei incident—how will the other Families view my Fang Family? Do they think the disgrace my Fang Family has suffered isn't enough?"
The old man's display of unyielding authority made the middle-aged man beside him tremble in fear.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but as the old man grew angry, the thriving flowers and green leaves nearby seemed to wilt, losing all their vitality.
This scene continued for a while before the old man slowly turned around. When he saw the wilted and withered flowers, his expression changed, and he let out a wail.
"Oh, my flowers! Quick, call the gardener! My precious flowers!"
"Yes, Old Ancestor."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man felt as if he had been granted a great pardon and quickly left.
The old man said nothing, yet it was as if he had said everything. For the things he spoke of, there would naturally be people within the Family who would suffer, and subsequent punishments would be carried out one by one.
In the Fang Family, he was heaven!
The Fang Family was prosperous and flourishing, with a complex network of direct and collateral lines. The fastest way for any branch to rise was for a martial arts master to emerge. However, in a Family like the Fang Family, even reaching Internal Energy was still far from being considered a true master.
The so-called Outer Hall Old Ancestors were merely for show. To become a true power holder in the Fang Family, one had to enter the Inner Hall.
And the old man was a very special one among the Inner Hall Old Ancestors.
...
Chen Ping'an had no way of knowing how the Fang Family discussed matters internally. However, the Fang Family truly lived up to its reputation as a thousand-year-old magnate Family in Weishui County, keeping its promises.
On the third day after Chen Ping'an killed Zuo Wumei, someone from the Fang Family came to invite him to their Treasure Pavilion to choose a treasure.
"Young Master Chen, I am Steward Fang of the Fang Family. As promised, I am here to invite you to the Fang Family to select a treasure."
The speaker was a man with a benevolent face, dressed as a Steward. Behind him was a carriage pulled by two horses.
Truly worthy of a Family with profound heritage; it was indeed luxurious!
Chen Ping'an sighed in admiration and readily agreed.
Riding in the Fang Family's carriage, Chen Ping'an traveled all the way to the Inner City. As they passed the boundary between the Outer City and the Inner City, the guards saw the Fang Family's emblem on the carriage and let it pass directly without even stopping it.
"Indeed, the treatment for aristocratic Families is vastly different from that of commoners!"
Chen Ping'an felt emotional as he watched the scene before him.
Ordinary commoners wanting to enter the Inner City not only had to pay money but also had to undergo a thorough body search, as if they were thieves. However, members of aristocratic Families naturally enjoyed privileges, not even needing to alight from their carriages.
The feeling of riding in a carriage was vastly different from walking.
Sitting in the carriage, looking at the pedestrians walking back and forth outside through the windows on both sides, from a high vantage point, one naturally developed a sense of disdain. A feeling of being superior arose spontaneously!
"No wonder it's often said that in the eyes of aristocratic Families, ordinary commoners aren't even considered human!"
It was Chen Ping'an's first time riding in a carriage, and he had many thoughts.
Different positions lead to different mindsets. Actions and behaviors then become vastly different.
The carriage moved quickly, and Chen Ping'an soon arrived at the Fang Family.
"Young Master Chen, we've arrived," the Steward called from outside.
"Mm." Chen Ping'an nodded and stepped out of the carriage.
The Fang Family's entrance was grand, with a gleaming golden plaque above, and formidable servants stood guard at the gate.
Though called servants, as Chen Ping'an walked past them, he noticed that each one was a martial arts initiation Qi and Blood expert.
"Truly luxurious!"
The Steward led Chen Ping'an through the gate, winding through several turns, until they arrived before a pavilion.
The pavilion was several stories high, with many guards stationed outside. The Steward led him to the first floor, and they entered a room and sat down.
"Young Master Chen."
The Steward said with a smile.
"I haven't formally introduced myself. My name is Fang Shicheng, a third-class Steward of the Fang Family."
"Greetings, Steward Fang."
From Fang Shicheng's demeanor, it seemed he had something to say to him.
Chen Ping'an guessed correctly. Sure enough, Fang Shicheng then began to tell him about the Fang Family's history and Legacy.
"Young Master Chen, my Fang Family was established over twelve hundred years ago, at that time..."
Fang Shicheng was a good speaker, and his stories were quite interesting.
He spoke of how the Fang Family's Old Ancestor had carved out a place for himself in Weishui County and firmly established the Family. He spoke of how prosperous the Fang Family had become, and how remarkable its descendants were...
He also spoke of the Fang Family's influence and industries.
Finally, Fang Shicheng revealed his purpose for this visit.
"Young Master Chen, your killing of Zuo Wumei is a great service to my Fang Family. In recognition of your meritorious deed, my Fang Family intends to invite you to join the Family."